One of the areas we identified before the draft as an area of need for the Green Bay Packers was pass rusher. They addressed that in the third round by choosing Utah State outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell.
Fackrell (6-5, 245) finished the 2015 season with 82 tackles, 15 for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and five fumbles recovered.
You’re probably saying to yourself, four sacks? This guy is a pass rusher?
That’s understandable.
Fackrell missed the majority of his junior season because of a torn ACL (it’s good he got that injury out of the way BEFORE coming to Green Bay). He had 21 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 2012 and 2013 combined.
So, yeah, Fackrell never had huge sack numbers, but he’s long and athletic and that’s obviously the draw here.
While Fackrell has potential as a pass rusher, two areas he’s already solid in are setting the edge against the run and coverage. The Packers need more linebackers who can cover and this ability may make Fackrell a candidate to play a dual role in the middle of the defense on passing downs.
And let’s not underestimate the importance of setting the edge. Clay Matthews is still incapable of doing that eight years in.
If Fackrell can realize his potential as a pass rusher, there will be a huge role available for him in 2017. Julius Peppers is in the final year of his contract and likely, his career.
In the meantime, Fackrell just might be that coverage linebacker the Packers have been looking for.
On to the highlights!
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With his height & weight & speed, he will be a great transition project from OLB to DL
And then we can convert Kenny Clark into OLB.
#43 written by PF4L
04/28/2016 – 11:38 pm
I’m just not sure that this guy can lose enough weight to be converted to linebacker.
I was making a joke. It’s a Dom Capers tradition to convert his D-linemen into linebackers.
I know, i laughed, because mine is the same joke.
First pick irritated me, second one was OK, and this one leaves me feeling relieved and even a smidge excited. Kyle could be a big player, according to PFF he has one of the highest rated pass rushing grades in terms of pass rushing attempts. But even if that doesn’t pan out he’s very good in other areas. Great pick in terms of both talent and need.
Fackrell to start out will be a substantial upgrade over Neal, and possibly Thomas if used as the dime backer. Another good pick for this year and protection for the potential OLB losses after this year.
Covering big tight ends is what this pick is for.
Agreed, he’s brought in to cover #1 on third downs but he also has a similar frame to Clay which makes me think he and Clay can still move around a lot and occasionally switch off rushing up the middle in sub packages. Teams may be confused, especially if he can grow out that head of hair longer (haha).
Glad I attended this year’s draft rds2-3
Couldn’t agree more with the comment about Matthews and his problems with setting the edge. I am just a dummy, but it was always pretty obvious to me that he just wants to get sacks and too often ran himself out of the play. His feet are quick, but this too often had him out of position and the result was quick guys getting by him especially on the outside for big gains. He doesn’t like playing inside, but he is pretty damn good at it. His speed is more useful to the Packers on the inside. Maybe the Fackrell selection moves him back inside for the good of the team.
Two years ago today, we lost one of the biggest Packer fans in Northwest Wisconsin, my nephew Zachary. It was quite unexpected and set the stage for a most unusual visitation. It displayed a most impressive display of the memorabilia that he collected in his far too short life. Everyone was encouraged to wear something from their favorite team. The result was a lot of Packers stuff, but many NFL teams, baseball, college, and local sports were represented too. The visitation happened on the evening of the first round of the NFL draft. That evening the Packers selected HaHa Clinton-Dix. I think Zach would have been happy with that selection. Miss you very much.
Finally, a Linebacker (not named Clay) that can cover!
Don’t like taking a giy with acl. We’re already most prone to injuries. Nad pick on my opinion.
Huge fan of this pick. I liked him before the draft. Very athletic.