Rashan Gary ‘picking it up’ in recent games

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Through 14 games, Gary’s surest path to the lineup has been rotating with fourth-year veteran Kyler Fackrell as the third outside linebacker in the third-down rush package.


However, two unique modifications afforded Gary more defined roles on defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s unit in recent weeks. With Washington often playing with a sixth offensive lineman, Gary was utilized as a third outside linebacker in the Packers’ heavy base package. He registered four tackles (one for a loss) in only 13 snaps.


With Za’Darius Smith lining up as more of a rover against the Bears, Gary made his 18 snaps as an edge rusher count. Among his three tackles was an impressive sack of Trubisky before the first half’s two-minute warning.


Gary got a step on right tackle Cornelius Lucas off the snap and stayed with it to win the rush and bring Trubisky down for his second sack of the year. It caused the Bears’ drive to stall, with Chicago settling for a 30-yard Eddie Pineiro field goal.


“When I got to the edge of the tackle and I saw he still has the ball, I said, ‘Yes,’” Gary said. “I just turned it on an extra gear and made sure I got there.”


With 20 tackles and two sacks in 199 defensive snaps (23.3%), Gary continues to buy into the process in the outside linebacker room. He looks at the Smiths as “big brothers,” constantly watching how the two go about their business in meeting rooms and practice.


Now, Gary is working to carry lessons learned in practice into in-game settings like Preston (11½ sacks) and Za’Darius (10 sacks) have done during their breakout seasons. More than anything, however, Gary is just looking to “relax and play,” which he did on his sack against Chicago.