Lukas Van Ness Ahead of Schedule on the Rashan Gary Development Plan

Van Ness may not have set the world on fire as a rookie, but his future still looks very bright.

When the Packers selected Lukas Van Ness with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, more than a few people connected the dots between him and Rashan Gary.

Gary was taken 12th overall four years earlier, meaning Green Bay used their highest draft picks since 2011 on the two edge rushers. They were both 21 years old on draft day and are both top tier athletes.

In pre-draft testing, Gary posted an incredible 9.95 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) out of a possible 10, while Van Ness achieved a 9.39. Each player ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, which is an elite time for an edge rusher, especially at their size.

Both Gary and Van Ness are big edge rushers. The former was 6’4 ⅓”, 277 lbs entering the league, while the latter was 6’5”, 272 lbs. This makes their superb combine testing even more impressive. These are true athletic freaks.

So, two players at premium positions, with premium athletic testing, taken with premium draft picks. Like Gary, Van Ness was also considered a raw prospect coming out of college, albeit not to the same extent.

Indeed, Van Ness had more sacks (13.5) in the two seasons at Iowa he saw playing time than Gary did (9.5) in three. Many pointed to the fact Van Ness never started a game as evidence of his greenness, although this is a misnomer, since Iowa decides who starts purely based on experience.

There were certainly elements of Van Ness’s game that needed, and still need, refinement, but he was not as much of a project as Gary was entering the league.

Like Gary, though, he was not relied upon to contribute significant snaps right away, as he sat behind two proven edge rushers. For Gary, it was Preston and Za’Darius Smith, while for Van Ness, it was Smith and Gary, both of whom are still ahead of Van Ness on the depth chart entering 2024.

Given all the similarities between the two, and the very recent history for Packers fans observers to use as a reference point, it was surprising to hear some describe Van Ness’s rookie season as a disappointment.

Van Ness is very much on the Rashan Gary development plan. That path worked out pretty well for Gary, and frankly, Van Ness’s rookie year was better than Gary’s.

For starters, he played more snaps, with 444 to Gary’s 253. That is a huge part of what puts him ahead of schedule, for two reasons.

Firstly, because more snaps means more experience, and generally, faster growth. Secondly, because he earned those snaps, indicating the trust the coaching staff had in him as a rookie.

Part of what earned that trust will have undoubtedly been his run defense and tackling, which was impressively disciplined and reliable for a rookie. He had a 69.3 PFF tackling grade and missed only 6.1% of tackle attempts in 2023.

Van Ness also had 21 ‘stops’ to Gary’s 10. PFF defines ‘stops’ as an offensive gain on first down that is kept to less than 40 percent of the line to gain, less than 50 percent of the line to gain on second down and any third- or fourth-down play kept without a first down or touchdown.

Whether you look at official sack numbers, or PFF’s, which count half sacks as full ones, Van Ness had double the amount Gary did as a rookie (4 official, 6 at PFF for Van Ness, 2 and 3 respectively for Gary).

The former Iowa standout still needs to develop more of a pass rush plan and a general ability to win with something other than his raw athleticism, but he has all the physical tools he needs to improve.

In new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme, both Van Ness and Gary will return to the traditional 4-3 defensive end alignment they played in college.

Besides the actual scheme switch, Hafley’s more aggressive style could bring the best out of both, but perhaps more importantly, accelerate Van Ness’s growth as he enters year two.

While it has been an encouraging start from Van Ness, the key will be improving year on year, as Gary did during his first few seasons in the league.

That is not a given, and progress is not always linear in the NFL, but for now, despite his rookie season not being flashy, Van Ness is on, or maybe even ahead of schedule compared to Gary who preceded him.

 

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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres

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Comments (43)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
TKWorldWide's picture

May 24, 2024 at 06:57 am

Athleticism plus attitude plus scheme fit? You can check all those boxes. How can anyone not be excited about this kid?

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

May 27, 2024 at 01:55 pm

I'm still rooting for

LUKE NESS MONSTER

GPG!!

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Sapgooey's picture

May 24, 2024 at 07:03 am

All last season watching Van Ness play I kept thinking, “wait till next year.” I can’t wait to see what kind of second-year jump he takes. Especially in Hafley’s more aggressive defense, how could any Cheesehead not be salivating waiting for a serving of Hercules version 2.0!!!
GO PACK GO!!!

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PackEyedOptimist's picture

May 24, 2024 at 07:40 am

VanEss 4.58
Gary 4.58
Cooper 4.51
Walker 4.52
DeVonte Wyatt 4.57

The potential for stunts is mind-boggling.

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T7Steve's picture

May 24, 2024 at 07:54 am

This is the first time I remember being able to compare with an actual NFL player. I might even have them beat.

I think my IQ tested out at 4.505.

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cdoemel's picture

May 24, 2024 at 01:14 pm

🤷‍♂️. I laughed

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DoubleJ's picture

May 24, 2024 at 07:56 am

Wyatt had a 4.77/40 but a 1.6/10.

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Duneslick's picture

May 24, 2024 at 03:06 pm

Devonte Wyatt 4.78

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egbertsouse's picture

May 24, 2024 at 07:50 am

The 12th and 13th picks of their respective drafts should be ready to play on Day 1. Fourth round picks can be “projects.”

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DoubleJ's picture

May 24, 2024 at 07:55 am

Van Ness did play on Day 1 and got a sack of Justin Fields.

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mrtundra's picture

May 24, 2024 at 08:15 am

And Van Ness had to run him down to get that sack! Love this kid's motor!

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T7Steve's picture

May 24, 2024 at 07:57 am

I think that changed when players can come out before playing their senior year.

Lot of physical and other development left for a big guy who's around 21.

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GregC's picture

May 24, 2024 at 08:28 am

Usually that is true, but in both cases the Packers had two very high quality starters already in place at OLB. They were drafting for the future instead of just plugging holes on the roster. It's a strategy that's generally worked well for them.

This is why the draft is not quite as fun when your team is good. On crappy teams, those players would be day one starters, and there would be no talk of them being "projects." No patience required for fans, just throw them in there and let them sink or swim. Or more likely, the crappy team picks players who were more dazzling in college but have less long-term potential.

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dobber's picture

May 24, 2024 at 08:43 am

++Yawn++

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gkarl's picture

May 24, 2024 at 02:22 pm

no cookie, yawn, but it is the off season. I believe in LVN.

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Turophile's picture

May 24, 2024 at 10:45 am

@egbertsouse. You could say the same of a first round QB..................like Love.

You see how Gary turned out, you see how Love turned out. Your thinking is flawed, or at the very least situational.

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PackerBackerAZ's picture

May 24, 2024 at 02:10 pm

I see how Gary has progressed. He doesn't set the edge on runs and gets washed out on double teams. Two games with three sacks but other than that a low effort guy. Hopefully, Hafley can get him to play with some aggression and coach him not to overrun plays. Nobody knows how Love will play. Bad like games 3 through 8 or great like games 9 through 17. The last pass of the post season, an interception, was Favresque and very concerning. I hope his play will continue to be like the last half of 2023, but there isn't any data to support that. His first season was down and up. This season needs to start off with elite play and continue throughout, then we'll know that the Packers have their next franchise qb.

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DoubleJ's picture

May 24, 2024 at 02:23 pm

I think the edge setting by Gary is a product of what Barry wanted him to do more than anything. In college he set the edge quite well so he can do it.

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Packers0808's picture

May 24, 2024 at 10:49 am

Were you totally ready for your job and knew everything to know on Day One? Little different when put self there, I bet.

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Leatherhead's picture

May 24, 2024 at 11:50 am

A person graduates from the Air Force Academy at 22. They're commissioned and given a 5 year contract. The people at the top of the class would certainly be equivalent to a first round draft pick.

They're not expected to fly an F15 yet. In fact, there are very few expectations for new graduates. They usually go for some additional training in specific areas. They have to learn how to adult......live on their own, pay rent, etc.

You don't get deployed into a combat zone right after you graduate. The military understands that it takes time to learn the things you're going to need to know before you start doing your job. Why doesn't that apply to highly paid professional athletes?

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cdoemel's picture

May 24, 2024 at 01:16 pm

When every draft is different, to make that statement as if it’s written in stone somewhere is silly.

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WestCoastPackerBacker's picture

May 25, 2024 at 02:37 pm

Are you drafting for “NFL ready” or for a higher ceiling? I’d rather have someone who will change games in year 2-3 than someone who starts right away but maxes out and doesn’t get better.

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GB@Germany's picture

May 24, 2024 at 08:09 am

Van Ness was great in some games and completely invisible in others.
To get a more consistent performance from him is key from my point of view.
Would be interesting, if his low performance games correlate to specific types of opposing O- liners.

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Doug_In_Sandpoint's picture

May 24, 2024 at 08:39 am

The way we bring along players like Gary, Van Ness, and Love shows patience and maturity. The Packer way seems to be adult-like…postponing instant gratification for the overall good of the team. I see similar work being done on the offensive line. It seems to work well for us, and I’m surprised that other teams don’t emulate our practices.

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TXCHEESE's picture

May 24, 2024 at 09:58 am

Agree completely with this post. We have to remember both Gary and LVN were only 21 when they were drafted. Give those guys a couple years to physically mature, and they could be terrors for opposing offenses in the very near term.

The one advantage Gute and staff have, is there is not a meddling owner pushing them to make their shiny new toy a day 1 starter.

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Guam's picture

May 24, 2024 at 10:36 am

I think Atlanta just did - the signed an aging Cousins to be big QB contract and then drafted Penix. Similar to the Favre/Rodgers/Love development plan.

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Bitternotsour's picture

May 24, 2024 at 10:59 am

they even referenced it by saying - it's how the Packers do it and it seems to be working out for them...

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Leatherhead's picture

May 24, 2024 at 11:51 am

I think other teams would be stupid not to look at how Green Bay has successfully acquired and developed QBs for the last 30 years.

That doesn't mean they'll be able to duplicate it

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Bitternotsour's picture

May 24, 2024 at 01:17 pm

you not only need to draft a qb, you have to draft the right one. In GB's case, they were able to do that late in the first round twice in a row. Also, they did it at the right time. Lightning in a bottle.

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CanPackFan's picture

May 24, 2024 at 01:21 pm

And articles I've read is that Cousins is none too happy with it? All I can say to him is "suck it up buttercup"! That apparent attitude may have something to do with how a good-to-great QB still does not have a Super Bowl ring on his finger... Just saying

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Bitternotsour's picture

May 24, 2024 at 01:52 pm

you may note that neither Rodgers nor Favre were too keen on the drafting of their successors

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LLCHESTY's picture

May 24, 2024 at 06:19 pm

"suck it up buttercup"

There's a 180 million reasons why he'll do just that. Guaranteed.

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CanPackFan's picture

May 24, 2024 at 01:16 pm

I give credit to GB for choosing this course because it's contrary to what young athletes today believe. For example, Caleb Williams is already expecting his legacy in Chicago to be "immortal"? Yikes! Imagine Chicago's coaches trying to make this young man behave like a team player? My point is that it's a hard - and admirable path - the Packets have chosen!

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cdoemel's picture

May 24, 2024 at 01:16 pm

The Falcons are in

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Handsback's picture

May 24, 2024 at 09:06 am

I hope that the defense has turned the corner and have the pieces in place to make it a hard to score against team.
LVN had a good year, but let's not proclaim him a breakthrough player quite yet. I'm not saying people are, it's just that big guys can take longer to develop and fans tend to lean to the what have you done for me lately trend. Gary developed pretty quickly, but LVN may take longer.
The one thing that will make this team great is in their lines. The defense won't need LVN to be the man with all the other players around him. Same with the offensive line...they could be great w/o any individual player making the pro bowl. That gives a player a better chance to develop and in turn makes that group stronger.
This team seems to have something the other Packer teams in the past haven't had...the it factor. I just hope they carry that onward.
Or I could be drinking the Kool aid...

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PackerBackerAZ's picture

May 24, 2024 at 02:32 pm

The offensive line has a right tackle that played good, but the front office says can play better at guard and great at center. The right guard position is in flux with no sure starter. The center is mediocre at best but is seemingly secure due to being drafted one slot before Creed Humphrey. The left tackle is battling this years short armed first round draft pick to keep his starting job. What the heck is the "it" factor there? Have another glass.

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cdoemel's picture

May 24, 2024 at 04:21 pm

Short armed. Pshhh. Joe Staley, Jake Matthews, Jason Peters, La'el Collins, Riley Reiff, Ryan Ramczyk, Mark Tauscher, Josh Sitton, Jason Kelce. If you’re gonna try and find stuff to be negative about, find something that isn’t a negligible part of being a successful O-lineman. Just cause the pundits put out these useless stats doesn’t mean they’re important.

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dblbogey's picture

May 24, 2024 at 10:40 am

Nice article, though I'm disappointed Stockholder didn't post so I could downvote him.

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Packers0808's picture

May 24, 2024 at 10:50 am

Come back and with his "brilliance" you will be able too!

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stockholder's picture

May 24, 2024 at 04:07 pm

See- you missed me. -
The article said it all.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

May 27, 2024 at 02:04 pm

We have the ijit from AZ to make up for it?

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Oppy's picture

May 24, 2024 at 07:32 pm

I hope LVN turns out to be a monster. That being said, a few things to think about in terms of the numbers put up and the way this article handles them.

LVN played almost double the snaps than Gary, as you stated (444 vs. 253 means LVN played 75% more snaps).

You also point out LVN had "double the stats" or Gary as a rookie, which isn't too surprising seeing as he played almost double the snaps.

Something else that needs to be considered is LVN had the opportunity to play many of those snaps as a rookie while Rashan Gary was also on the field. As we all know, Gary commands a lot of attention at this point in his career. I'd wager more than either Smith did when Gary was a rookie.

For me, it's great to see LVN's rookie numbers look so promising. The prospect of having bookend pass rushers of a high caliber is always welcome. With that being said- based purely on the eye test - I don't think LVN has the ceiling that Gary does. Gary can flat-out overwhelm linemen. Maybe LVN will get there, that'd be great, but while the numbers are "double", I don't see the same type of beast in LVN that Gary has in him.

LVN does have more positional flexibility across the line, though, and that's a great asset. Having them both on the field will be a pleasure.

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MadJam's picture

May 25, 2024 at 02:58 pm

Let’s hope.

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