While most of America was stuck inside of their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Packers outside linebacker Rashan Gary was working. After tallying just 13 solo tackles and two sacks as a rookie, the Michigan product’s desire to be great burned hotter than ever before.
“You can never question how Rashan goes after it,” said coach Matt LaFleur. “He came back in phenomenal shape, I saw a lot of the videos that he was posting the entire offseason. He is always working.”
LaFleur was referencing Gary’s offseason training videos, which he posted to his Twitter account.
“(Those videos were for) whoever wanted to watch it. It was just me working, just me wanting to be the best that I can be. That is just my work ethic. I know to be where I want to be, I got to work hard,” Gary said.
For the former No. 1 ranked prep football recruit, the hard work is already beginning to pay off.
“Talking about being leaner, I came back weighing 276. That’s where I wanted to be before we started getting into camp. The offseason was a little bit different because of COVID, so I had to go back to high school workouts. I was able to get in touch with my D-Line coach and we spent a lot of time working on my craft and technique.”
While the drills and training videos are certainly very impressive, it will all be for naught if Gary can’t produce when it really counts.
The edge rusher told reporters that he needs to be coachable in order for the work on the practice field to translate to success in games.
“You need to believe, too. Everything that we do in drill work, you have to truly believe that it works. I feel like once you believe, especially with a coach like Mike Smith, anything is possible. All you gotta do is believe and play.”
Gary is ready to help Green Bay win games in the 2020 season. He has put in all of the necessary work to become a great player. When asked how hungry he is for the opportunity to prove himself, Gary said, “That’s not even a question. Everything that I did in the offseason, coming up until this point, it has been about being the best me, it has been about me coming back and becoming an impact player. That’s what I want to be and that is what I will be.”
If Gary wants to avoid being tabbed as a bust, then he must prove his worth in the 2020 season. This is Gary’s chance to live up to his true potential.
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