Eager to make an impact
Gary fresh, ready for second year
GREEN BAY - For the better part of 17 consecutive months, Rashan Gary was playing football in some capacity for the University of Michigan or the Green Bay Packers.
It’s not an unusual schedule for NFL rookies, who begin their fall camps in August of their final college season and then after it’s over roll right into the scouting combine and pro day training before the NFL draft, then go right to work as professionals in rookie camp.
Gary played nine games for the Wolverines during the 2018 season, and including preseason and the playoffs, 21 games for the Packers in 2019.
No matter the way it is dissected, that’s a lot of workouts, practices and games.
“Having the veterans that Green Bay has, the situation I ended up walking into was the best for me,” Gary said. “Because I’ve been seeing what Preston (Smith), Z (Za’Darius Smith), Marcedes (Lewis), both Aarons (Rodgers and Jones) are doing in terms of taking care of their body. I’m just taking notes and I’m doing the same thing. So in-season I was icing up, getting treatments, hopping in the sauna, stretching out, getting extra work in the weight room and things like that and stay on top of my body that way. So when I was doing that during the season, it helped me get through it.”
Gary said the sour taste of losing in the NFC championship had him wanting to get back to work right away, but the 22-year-old did treat himself as he entered his first true professional offseason. “A couple weeks off,” Gary said. “Spend some time with family, you could definitely tell the difference of when your body has an opportunity to relax and recover and get back.” The motor has been running since. Through home workouts with body weight and jump rope to stay safe-athome to his private training sessions in the Dallas area, Gary has been preparing for an increased role in the 2020 Packers defense after a rookie season in which he played in every game, but for just 24% of the total defensive snaps (244).
“I expect myself to come back in top shape and ready to play ball whenever that time is; I’ll be ready,” Gary said. “I feel like the player that’s coming back to Green Bay is a person that understands the game of football (better) than what he did in year one. And going into a system where you know how it feels, when you’re going into something that you know — you just gotta tighten up on the little things. I’m excited about that.
“Also just with my training, for me breaking down my film from last year and coming out and just working on parts of my game. I’m just excited to get back with the guys and start working so when it comes to the season I can have the season that I want and that’s basically for me to be an impact player and that’s what I’m going to be.”
The No. 12 overall pick last season, Gary finished his rookie campaign with two sacks and 21 total tackles, one fumble recovery and five pressures as the clear fourth linebacker in a group headed by Za’Darius Smith (872, 84%) and Preston Smith (870, 84%) who each set career highs in total snaps and percentage of snaps played.
Kyler Fackrell played 40% of the snaps (415) and often was the one tasked to drop into coverage. He signed with the Giants as a free agent in the offseason.
Gary said standing up in the defense and learning how to drop and play coverage were the biggest adjustments for him coming out of Michigan. Pro-football-reference.com’s advanced defensive stats had Gary targeted three times in coverage, two of which were complete for 55 yards and a score.
“(Fackrell’s) drops are going to have to be absorbed throughout that room, but I do see Rashan taking a significantly increased role,” Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said.
“I do think at times where Preston and ‘Z’ probably played maybe a little too much, that we do want to take some off their plate. So I do know Rashan is certainly built to handle giving those guys a break. I just think because of his skill set, we can use him more like we used ‘Z,’ on third down especially. He can kick down inside and rush from a tackle spot as opposed to always being on the edge.”
Pettine said offseason film review showed Gary being very effective at setting the edge in the run game and how he violently handled tight ends and “certain blocking patterns,” leading Pettine and the coaches to feel he had earned more reps on early downs.
To reward that faith Gary said the primary focus of his offseason training has been to bring a more consistent pad level to practice and games. At 6 feet, 5 inches, Gary maintained his weight (275) but has worked on hip fluidity, movement and hand work to help him stay lower — and be more explosive — off the ball.
“He’s taking this time really as an advantage because he doesn’t know the timetable (to return to Green Bay),” said Josh Hicks, owner of 3Hunnid Fitness in Carrollton, Texas, and Gary’s movement trainer.
“So the ones that are sitting down and not being active, that’s not doing nothing; Rashan’s doing something, so he’ll be ready.”
With all the physical work Gary has put in this offseason, rolling that into what he knows about the defense is why he is most excited to get back onto the practice fields.
“There’s been a lot of things I’ve been working this offseason that just need to be put to work and actually go against a body with pads,” Gary said. “I feel like I’ve been crafting. I’m doing the first part of my craft and once I get back with my team, that will be the second part and I’ll be ready by the season. Just hearing 5-2 being called a lot and ‘Gary’ being screamed and for Green Bay to be happy.”