Paul Bretl | 8/15/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — As was the case last summer, all eyes will be on the quarterback position for the Packers in the remaining two preseason games. But, of course, the obvious difference is that this year, the attention is on the backup quarterback–a camp competition that is heating up.
With Sean Clifford having taken just about all of the second-team reps in training camp practices, during Tuesday’s practice, in which Clifford threw two interceptions, it was Michael Pratt who we saw running with the twos during the red zone and two-minute periods at the end of practice.
However, if you ask Matt LaFleur, there is nothing to read into that–also alluding to that this wasn’t the first time Pratt was with the second unit.
“Certain team periods, we have two groups going, so it can fluctuate on a day-to-day basis,” said LaFleur about Clifford and Pratt’s playing time.
Perhaps there’s nothing to it, and this switch up is just part of what is a long training camp process that is unfolding. Outside of one series during Wednesday’s practice, Clifford was back to leading the twos, with LaFleur mentioning that he expects Clifford to start in Denver on Sunday with Jordan Love not expected to play.
But with that said, what took place on Tuesday is noteworthy, given that Clifford’s play–while improved–is still sporadic at times, and Pratt continues to trend upward.
Clifford has a gamer quality to him, one that quarterbacks coach Tom Clements compared to former Packers’ backup quarterback Matt Flynn. Two of Clifford’s better performances this summer have come on Family Night, in front of a near full crowd at Lambeau Field, and in the team’s preseason opener against Cleveland.
“Sean did a better job, probably Family Night was one of his better practices, and then he had a good game,” said Clements on Monday. “That was kind of Sean last year. He got in the games and he practices hard but sometimes in a game you just have that extra little spark to make you play a little better, and everyone else is trying to play as well as they can. He has that quality about him of being a game.”
LaFleur has often used the word resilient to describe Clifford, who has an impressive ability to bounce back regardless of what may have just happened. At a position where mistakes are inevitable, that’s an important quality to have because the past isn’t going to impact the future for Clifford.
The key for Clifford, like many quarterbacks, is to throw on time and rhythm. When able to do that, Clifford is able to let-it-rip, another popular phrase from LaFleur. Let-it-rip doesn’t mean being careless with the football, but instead, trusting what you see and getting the ball out on time. During Wednesday’s two minute drill, we saw this from Clifford, as he delivered a strike to Grant DuBose between two defenders on a comeback route and then on the next play place the ball perfectly to Ben Sims running up the seam.
However, the issue that Clifford also faces, is that if that timing is disrupted, whether it be from the pass rush or the play of the secondary, he gets out of rhythm, which can lead to inaccurate throws, or tries to do to much and make things happen on his own, leading to takeaway opportunities for the defense.
“It’s a one-play mentality,” said Clifford after Wednesday’s practice. “I know it’s cliché to say and it’s like the media answer but it’s true because if you compare it to the games, if I go out there this season and start a game, I can’t be thinking about the last play.
“The only thing that matters is the present and being able to wash whatever’s happening in the past is an elite trait that I think Jordan has and I’ve continued to learn that. I think that’s one of my best attributes is the last play could be the worst play of my career and I’m going to go out and still sling it the next one.”
Whether it’s LaFleur, Clements or Adam Stenavich being asked about Pratt, there is always this initial pause before they respond. The pause is not a negative or a knock on Pratt, who is doing all the right things and continuing to make plays on the practice field. The pause comes from him being a first year quarterback, who is learning a new offense, which LaFleur equates to drinking water out of a fire hose.
“I will say he’s learning,” said Stenavich. “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. He’s very diligent, he’s got an excellent work ethic, so I’m just excited to kind of see him two weeks from now, see him by the end of camp where he is and how he’s developed. He can make all the throws on the field, and he’s got a very good work ethic. So I’m hopeful.”
While Pratt may be navigating the learning curve that comes with making the jump from college to the NFL, there are instances–and they’re taking place more often–where you wouldn’t know that’s taking place. He has the arm strength to make just about any throw on the field. You can see his comfort and understanding of the offense growing with the anticipation throws, his decision-making, and ball placement–like we saw in the preseason game against Cleveland on that back-shoulder throw to Julian Hicks.
At this stage of training camp, the installs are in, so Pratt is able to go through everything a second and third time, only helping his comfort level grow. Coming into training camp, it was Clifford’s experience in the offense that may have been his biggest advantage, and not that Pratt has been perfect by any means or doesn’t have areas to improve upon–he certainly does–but Pratt also seemingly made up ground, at least somewhat in that regard.
“I think rookie minicamp and early OTAs, it was definitely trying to learn everything and every single play thinking about formation, motion, protection, concept, footwork; all those kind of things,” said Pratt at his locker. “Just over the course of time, dialing in on the smaller details and being able to get a more full grasp of the whole play and the whole offense has definitely let things slow down and now I can worry about things more like protections and getting to the right protections, eliminating things on reads based on what I’m seeing from the defense. I’m definitely at the point where I’m able to start playing a little bit faster.”
This next week-plus is going to go a long way in determining how the back-end of the Packers’ quarterback room shakes out. During that span the Packers will have a pair of joint practices and two preseason games. While the stats for each quarterback and the highlight throws will garner the attention, as LaFleur has described previously, the evaluation, especially at quarterback, is process driven.
For a quarterback, this means getting in and out of the huddle efficiently. It also emphasizes footwork, pre-snap adjustments, getting the ball out on time, going through the progressions, making the right read, and so much more. From the outside looking in, these elements aren’t as easy to decipher, but consistently getting the process right will lead to consistent results, playing a key factor in determining who wins this competition.
Although on the field Clifford and Pratt are locked into a positional battle to be Love’s backup, off the field the two have fully embraced the competition and know that each of them is getting better because of it.
“For Mike and I, it’s about battling every single day,” Clifford said. “We know we’re in a competition. It’s super-healthy. I respect him so much. He’s a great quarterback, so it’s awesome for me because, if I slip up, he’s going to come back and make a play. It’s balancing that back and forth and just knowing the situation, too. We know what’s at stake but you can still be friendly and have a good, competitive room and just want to win, because that’s what we’re here to do.”