Kenny Clark is one of the main stars of the Green Bay Packers defense and how well the defense does these upcoming season starts with the play of the man in the middle.

Clark had a breakout year in 2018 racking up 55 tackles and six sacks and giving offensive lines headaches for the entire season. With breakout years come big expectations for the following year and that is no different with Clark. The goals will be back for the 2019 season so let's breakdown which three are the most important for Clark to accomplish.

3. Improve Sack and Tackle Numbers

Last year, Clark had six sacks which were 1.5 better than the previous year and in each of the last two seasons, he has had 55 tackles.

There is no reason that Clark can't improve those numbers, especially with the sacks. Six sacks is nice, but if he could even try to get to the nine or 10 sack level that would be a huge plus for the Packers.

After another offseason of training, he should be stronger, which means he should have a little easier job getting through the double teams.

Kenny Clark

2. Improve Team Rushing Defense

Clark can't do everything by himself on the defensive line, but the rushing defense for the Packers wasn't good enough last year, giving up 119.9 yards per game which was 22nd in the league.

Being a team leader and constantly drawing double teams, the rush defense should be stronger this year and he needs to make sure he is leading by example.

Clark is constantly drawing double teams, and even so, he needs to make sure that he is getting through them. There is no reason the Packers should be giving up more than 110 yards per game on the ground, which should put them right around top 10 in the league.

1. Stay Healthy

The biggest goal for Kenny Clark needs to have is to stay healthy. As a rookie, Clark played 16 games, but each of the last two years he has missed at least one game and in 2018 he missed three games because of an elbow injury.

Kenny Clark, Packers

Clark knows his fifth-year on his contract is guaranteed but he doesn't have a long term deal yet, but barring an injury he should be getting one from the Packers. The last thing he wants is to tear an ACL or hurt his Achilles and the team decides to not lock him up long term.

He is also a key part of the Packers defense and if he misses a game or two that is a huge blow to a team that is trying to compete for the NFC North again. If he can stay healthy for all 16 games, and any playoff games, there is a good chance the Packers make the playoffs, and he should get the long-term deal that he has been playing for.

If Clark can accomplish all three of these goals, there is no doubt he should have a lot of awards coming his way at the end of the season and the Packers should also have a lot of wins racked up.