Paul Bretl | 8/9/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers open up the preseason on Saturday afternoon in Cleveland taking on the Browns. Most of the established starters will see at least a little playing time, but at this time of the year, much of the attention is on the positional battles taking place for both playing time and roster spots.
“I think it’s the totality,” said Matt LaFleur of the evaluation process. “I think you can’t put too much stock in one or the other. You’ve got to look at the whole. Granted, those games get heavily magnified because of the situation. That’s when you’re playing real football, so, obviously, there’s a lot of value to that and making sure that we get the right guys in there to see what we need to see in order to make the best decisions possible for the football team.”
So with those positional battles in mind, when the Packers have the ball and are on offense, here are seven players in particular that I’ll have my eyes on.
Sean Clifford: In this preseason game, Clifford needs to look like the more experienced quarterback compared to Michael Pratt. Ultimately, that is what should be the biggest differentiator between the two. Although Clifford only has one year of NFL experience compared to Pratt, at the quarterback position, that can mean quite a bit.
“I will say he’s learning,” said Adam Stenavich about Pratt. “He shows really good arm talent, good arm strength. But any quarterback, and Sean Clifford kind of went through this last year, when you start getting into all these installs and all these plays, it’s not an easy thing to do.”
It was a rough start to training camp for Clifford who has been turnover prone. A key factor in the inconsistency that we’ve seen from him was due to the play of the offensive line, which has had its issues blocking the defensive front. In those instances, Clifford is unable to get into a rhythm and at times is trying to do too much by forcing the ball where it shouldn’t be going.
On the flip side, as the offensive line play has improved as of late, Clifford’s play has as well and we’re getting more glimpses of the player we saw last preseason. While Clifford’s Family Night performance wasn’t perfect, it did feel like a turning point, with him making several on time and in rhythm throws during the team portion of practice.
“Probably just to continue what I’ve kind of found in the last two weeks for me personally,” said Clifford on what he wants to show on Saturday. “I thought the first week just with everything going on and getting 1s reps and how fast the game was going, there was a lot of overthinking, there were a lot of thoughts from the OTA time and minicamp where I almost like saw a hitch in my arm of overthought.
“And now the last two weeks, Family Night, kind of capped it for me. I feel like I’m back and I feel like I’m able to spin the ball, really get the ball out quick, see the field really well, and I think it’s a big, big testament to these guys as well. A lot of trust in the wide receivers, the O-line, just kinda getting back in flow and excited to show that on Saturday.”
MarShawn Lloyd: If you’ve read my observations articles following training camp, you’ve probably seen me mention how impressive Lloyd is with the ball in his hands. After the draft, both Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst said something to the effect of, Lloyd bringing a different element to the backfield for the Packers, and you can see that with his ability to make cuts and accelerate.
Lloyd is going to be a factor in some capacity this season, but he is still behind AJ Dillon on the depth chart currently. While, of course, there is a perquisite that Lloyd needs to have as a ball carrier–and like I said, he’s quite impressive in that regard–but the way he’s going to catch Dillon is with his reliability as a pass-catcher, pass blocker, and on special teams.
While Dillon will need to continue showing more playmaking ability with the ball in his hands, something he’s hoping to accomplish after an offseason that has him in the best shape he’s been in, Dillon is rock solid in those other key areas that are apart of playing running back, especially for the second and third players on the roster. Dillon is seeing some starting special teams snaps, and he’s proven to be reliable as a blocker and in the passing game.
“I envision going out there and balling out every time I’m on the field,” added Dillon. “Whatever that is, that’s for the coaches to decide. Like I said, I’m putting myself in the best position possible, in great shape, working, trying to lead, trying to cross my T’s and dot my I’s.
“Whether that’s special teams, running back, receiver, tight end, fullback, kicker, quarterback, I’m down to do whatever. I’m happy to be here. Like I said, I’m just going to put my helmet on and go to work.”
Now, this isn’t to say that Lloyd hasn’t been those things, he had a terrific blitz pick up in pass protection on Wednesday. However, the day before he had a drop and a fumble as well, and isn’t working with the starters on special teams. What we need to see from Lloyd, along with his continued playmaking with the ball in his hands, is consistency.
“It’s on all gas no breaks,” Lloyd said. “All my goals is all for the team right now. I don’t have anything individual. I feel like what we do as a team, those things will come. I just want to be able to utilized in all ways to help the team as much as possible.”
Andre Dillard, Kadeem Telfort, and Caleb Jones: The competition at swing tackle is one of the more unclear positional battles taking place. The rotation is so heavy right now that the only thing that I can somewhat confidently say is that Telfort and Dillard appear to be ahead of Jones in this competition, but when it comes to where things stand between Dillard and Telfort, I’m not sure. All three players are rotating in practice between the right and left side of the line.
“We’re going to keep shuffling it up and try to create a competitive situation and may the best man win,” said Matt LaFleur.
Stenavich would recently praise Telfort for his overall consistency while also mentioning that Dillard needs to continue improve his play from the right side. When both have had opportunities at right tackle with the starters as Zach Tom was working his way back, as you’d expect, both took their lumps against Rashan Gary. My biggest takeaway from watching this competition unfold is that if there is an injury does occur at tackle, I think Plan B for the Packers is to move either Elgton Jenkins or Jordan Morgan to that spot and have Sean Rhyan fill in for one of them at guard.
Grant DuBose: Not to be forgotten about in the crowded and talented Packers’ wide receiver room is second-year wide out Grant DuBose, who has built upon a strong showing during offseason programs with a fast start to training camp, become a favorite target of Clifford and Pratt’s. His consistency has even gotten him some reps here and there with the starting offense.
We often hear about the Year 2 leap for NFL players and DuBose appears to be finding success from that. For one, he’s lightyears ahead of where he was as a rookie because he’s healthy and able to be on the practice field. He also has the added comfortability that comes with knowing the offense, and spent the offseason working out with Dontayvion Wicks and Jayden Reed in South Florida.
“I’m way ahead,” said DuBose about this offseason compared to last. “Last year this time around, I was sidelined still. I didn’t come back until the second preseason game. You know I’ve taken a big leap from last year. I’m feeling a lot stronger. I’m feeling faster. You know, just healthier overall. So I’m in a good spot.”
At this stage, I still wouldn’t quite pencil in DuBose to a roster spot, but a the very least I do think he’s pushing Malik Heath for that final spot on the 53-man. Heath has made his share of plays, but has experienced some drops as well. As I described with Lloyd at running back, there is the obvious prerequisite that each of these players has to have as a pass catcher, but run-blocking and special teams contributions will be two other key areas in the evaluation process. Heath still appears to have the upper hand on teams, but we will learn more in the first preseason game.
“I think it brings out the best in all of us,” said DuBose of the competition at receiver. “That room, we compete at a high level. I think that we appreciate each other’s work, which allows us to be able to compete at a high level but also play for each other. I enjoy it. It makes us all better. I guess it’s just may the best man win. All the reps count. You just gotta take advantage of all the ones that you get. Come down to decision-making time, hopefully it’s in your favor. That’s the mentality.”
Sean Rhyan: I mentioned on Thursday in my takeaways article that I’m not sure how much of a competition is actually taking place at right guard. When Jordan Morgan is healthy, he’s a constant at that position. Then during Thursday’s practice with Morgan out, Rhyan started at right guard, but on the first play of 11-on-11, he was flagged for a false start. Jacob Monk would then take Rhyan’s place and he didn’t see another snap with the ones for the rest of practice.
“They were good,” said Monk after practice about his reps. “Really just nice getting adjusted. Just keep working, honestly.
“It’s crazy lining up and seeing someone like Kenny Clark right in front of me and seeing the speed that he plays with and the intent that he has coming off the ball,” Monk added. “It’s definitely different to see out there.”
Again, I certainly could be reading too much into this, but I wouldn’t expect that approach for someone who’s in contention for playing time, especially when that player isn’t seeing consistent starting snaps as it is. But with Morgan still sidelined, Rhyan will have the opportunity to right the ship, so to speak, after what happened on Thursday.
Where Rhyan has been at his best is as a run-blocker with his heavy hands and ability to move defenders. But where he needs to get more consistent is in pass protection. Throughout camp, and as of late, primarily with the second unit, we’ve seen Rhayn at both guard spots and even center.
“I’m just trying to get, you know, crackerjack at both,” said Rhyan. “Trying to minimize that lag just so that I can flip both sides real quick. So that whether something happens, left, right or center, I can just be able to–they can be like ‘alright go in,’ and I don’t have to worry about ‘is this pass set gonna’–you know? Are his hips aligned? Are his hands good? It’s all of that type of stuff. Just trying to minimalize that lag.”