The Green Bay Packers need a big year out of defensive lineman TJ Slaton and what he did in the preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals is exactly what they are looking for.
Slaton played only eight snaps but made a strong impression as a run defender and pass rusher. According to Pro Football Focus, he had two tackles that constituted a “failure” for the Bengals’ offense and two quarterback pressures.
The Packers are promoting Slaton to a starting role this season following the departures of Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry. The 2021 fifth-round pick has fit seamlessly into the defensive front in training camp and might be one of the most improved players on the roster.
To get a better idea of how disruptive Slaton was on Friday, we are going to look at several of his plays using All-22 film.
Let’s begin.
After a sack from slot corner Keisean Nixon, the Bengals were backed up in their own territory to start the first drive. They called this run play to try and give the offense more wiggle room, but Slaton had other ideas, stopping the ball carrier for a minimal gain. Slaton starts the rep by getting a good punch and hand placement on former second-round pick Cody Ford. He controls the block by getting his arms extended and you can see he even peaks inside to get eyes on the running back. When Slaton sees the running back cutting to the left, he sheds the block and makes a great tackle.
I decided to slow this play down a tad to really highlight Slaton’s impact. Even though he doesn’t make the stop, Slaton plays a big part in freeing up his teammates. Lined up as the one-technique between the center and right guard, he used a quick lateral first step and a club-rip move to out-leverage the center. The left guard senses Slaton’s penetration and has to help before the play is blown up in the backfield. Meanwhile, Devonte Wyatt wins his one-on-one against the left tackle and prevents the running back from picking up additional yards. Double teams used to be something Kenny Clark dealt with on a consistent basis. If Slaton can command that sort of attention, guys like Clark and Wyatt will be able to make more plays.
Getting pressure from the interior is probably the best way to disrupt the opponent’s passing game. Slaton was known for his run defense coming out of Florida, but he’s developed into a formidable pass rusher as a pro. Look at how he uses his hands and feet to drive the center back and collapse the pocket. He doesn’t disengage from the block completely but still gets a hit on the QB.
Here’s another pass rush rep to wrap up. Slaton flashes explosive hands in a double swipe move to prevent the center from getting hand placement. The quarterback is lucky that he could make a quick throw because 93 is in his face almost instantly.
It’s important to note that Cincinnati did not play their starting offensive line. However, I think Slaton’s performance was still impressive, as he looked like an experienced starter making easy work of the Bengals’ backups. Green Bay will be counting on Slaton to have the same impact during the regular season.
