Absorbent structures with high strength and low MD stretch

A two-ply, through air dried creped paper towel product, comprising:

• a laminate of two plies;
• a surface having a first edge and a second edge opposite to the first edge, the surface having a plurality of first channels and corresponding first ridges that extend in a continuous manner across the surface in a first direction from the first edge to the second edge of the surface in an unbroken manner and a plurality of second ridges that extend perpendicularly from the plurality of first ridges, the plurality of first ridges and the plurality of second ridges forming a plurality of pockets within the plurality of first channels, the first channels having a channel depth between 0.60 mm to 0.80 mm,
• wherein the product has a measured Y-Connected Area parameter greater than 20%, and a Surface Channel Spacing of less than 2.5 mm,
• wherein the product has an absorbent capacity to MD stretch ratio of greater than 1.2,
• wherein the product has an absorbent capacity greater than 12.2 g/g, and
• wherein the paper towel product is produced without cellulase enzymes.