Chicago Bears film room: How Rashan Gary completes Packers pass rush

The Chicago Bears are going to struggle with the Green Bay Packers pass rush

The Green Bay Packers pass rush broke out last season with the Smith Brothers, two huge free agent signings in Za’Darius Smith, and Preston Smith who changed the defense moving forward. However, as the Chicago Bears get ready for a crucial week 12 matchup against the Packers, the name that they will have to remember is a former first-round pick, Rashan Gary.

While the two established veterans took off last season Gary was slow to get going as a rookie. However, in his second season, he is starting to get his footing in the NFL. In the past two games, Gary has caused 11 pressures, which is half of the 22 pressures he has committed all season.

According to PFF, he has been the second most productive pass rushers over the past two weeks. Below is a play where Gary is not even credited with pressure. However, watch the pure power as he pushes the right tackle back into the quarterback. Just watch the feet of the right tackle. Now, imagine that is Rashaad Coward or even Jason Spriggs.

The emergence of Gary has been crucial to potentially ignite the Packers pass rush for a playoff run. Of course, the question is how they can get him on the field more with both Smith’s being paid big money to play on the edge.

The answer is to get all three on the field at the same time. Za’Darius Smith has always moved around as a pass rusher, but in recent weeks Gary has been successful from the interior, which has given the Packers a variety of looks to rush from.

Look at the image below. Gary is lined up against the right guard, while both Smith’s take on tackles. This added rush from the interior is a big boost to the defense.

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Again, in the play below Gary is rushing from the interior. This time he is lined up against the left guard. Germain Ifedi and Alex Bars are going to have to deal with a much quicker interior rusher than they are used to. However, Green Bay has Kenny Clark on the field for this rushing play as well. That is a strong combination of four rushers.

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Below, Gary is on the outside but Za’Darius Smith is rushing over the guard. This will be a nice way for the Packers to get one of the best pass rushers in the NFL matched up against Alex Bars in his second NFL start.

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Lastly, we can see the biggest benefit of getting Gary involved more. With Gary and Preston Smith to the outside, the Packers kept two interior defensive linemen on the field and lined Za’Darius up as a blitzing linebacker. This created a five-man rush with one-on-ones at every spot.

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Below you can see the benefit of getting Smith matched up on the interior. Za’Darius Smith beats A.J. Cann clean off of the football. It is a quicker path to the football, an easier matchup for Smith and a tougher ask for Cann. If Cann is going to struggle here, Germain Ifedi will struggle with Za’Darius Smith.

Below, Za’Darius Smith lines up over the right guard, but stunts inside and beats the center for an easy pressure. This is Smith at his most effective, and having Gary and Preston Smith on the outside unlocks him.

It also gives the Packers freedom within their rush, as well as their alignment. Below you can see Za’Darius Smith lined up over the guard and Rashan Gary over the tackle. The duo stunts, and Smith takes out both the tackle and guard on his path to the outside.

This gives a free rush lane for the young pass rusher who hits the hole and pushes the quarterback to throw the football away.

In the play above, Smith and Gary are lined up on the left side. But on the play below, they take on the right side of the Indianapolis Colts line. Also, we see a different alignment, despite the same results.

Za’Darius Smith rushes from standing over the tackle, and stunts inside. He takes out the guard, and once again frees up Gary for a clean path to the quarterback. Gary has been getting pressure the last two weeks, but a lot of it has to do with the players around him and how he has been utilized up and down the line.

The Chicago Bears offensive line has had issues with stunts, especially in shuffling so many left guards. Alex Bars handled stunts better than Rashaad Coward, and Arlington Hambright, which is a positive. Still, Coward may start at right tackle, and Smith and Gary may load up on Ifedi and Coward.

Overall, seeing a bigger impact out of Gary this season has made a huge impact on the Green Bay Packers pass rush. He has been able to let them get more creative, and highlight the strengths of Smith and Gary.

With the Chicago Bears having issues at left guard, and right tackle, the Packers can key in on these positions with their top pass rushers. Their alignments avoid double teams and let them dictate the matchups. The Chicago Bears are going to struggle with the interior rush.