Paul Bretl | 8/29/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — On the initial 53-man roster, the Packers went heavy at defensive end, rostering six players. Realistically, there isn’t going to be enough snaps for all of them, but the play of Arron Mosby this summer forced the Packers’ hand, and made him someone they couldn’t risk losing.
A practice squad player for the Packers in 2023, Mosby made a big jump in his second season with the team. Brian Gutekunst said the Packers’ transition to a 4-3 scheme under Jeff Hafley with the defensive ends putting their hands in the dirt really allowed Mosby to take off and make those high impact plays.
For Mosby, the focus this offseason was on getting faster, now playing in an attack front, where the primary objective is to get off the ball as fast as possible and into the backfield.
“I would say really just cutting back on a little bit of weight, got my speed back,” said Mosby at his locker on Wednesday. “Really, this defense is all about speed, applying pressure on other offenses, so really just attacking guys. Got my speed back and just going forward, not trying to go backward. Just going forward.”
In three preseason games, Mosby–a former college linebacker and safety–would play 57 defensive snaps, totaling four pressures and a sack, along with making two tackles in the run game. He would, of course, cap off the preseason with a force fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Anthony Johnson and then coming away with an interception later in the game.
“You’ve got to give him a lot of credit,” said Gutekunst. “He’s put a lot of work into it and really not only as an edge rusher and his ability to rush the passer and do all the things that we’re asking him to do on the defensive line but in special teams as well.”
Along with the obvious production, Mosby’s versatility and taking on a variety of roles along the defensive front also helped distinguish him. As the old saying goes, the more you can do.
“Everything we asked him to do, challenge-wise,” said defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich, “there’s things that we’ve asked him–whether it’s to drop in scheme. Whether it’s something we’re doing to get in the backfield. I mean he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do.”
That special teams component that Gutekunst mentioned is a critical factor in Mosby making the team. Of course, the splash plays on defense matter and there will be a certain prerequisite of playing defensive end that Mosby will have to continue to meet, because of the depth at that position, there may not be many defensive snaps available this season. Four-man rotations at defensive end are fairly common.
However, where Mosby can make a greater impact is on special teams. While fellow defensive end Brenton Cox still has to prove he can be relied upon heavily in that phase of the game, Mosby appears ready to take on that role, playing 26 snaps in three preseason games–the sixth-most on the team–and across four different phases.
“Really, put my effort into special teams,” said Mosby. “That’d be the big thing. Going into this week, trying my best to make that impact on special teams and that’s the No. 1 thing how you make a team. And then, hopefully, my opportunity comes in the game and I can make an impact.”
Facing uncertainty throughout the summer as a fringe roster player, Mosby took control of the situation about as good as anyone could have, making splash plays on defense, and showing that if on the roster he will be able to contribute on special teams. While what many will remember was Mosby’s performance against Baltimore in the final game, his play in that game was the culmination of what had been an impressive all-around summer.
Like I said at the beginning, when it came to keeping or releasing Mosby, he made the decision an easy one for the Packers. There’s no way they could have let him go.
“He’s put a lot of work into it and really not only as an edge rusher and his ability to rush the passer and do all the things that we’re asking him to do on the defensive line but in special teams as well,” added Gutekunst.
“His ability to play multiple spots there and play it well and then he produced. He just did a really nice job producing. He kept getting better each week. It was showing up in practice; it showed up in the games. Excited for what he was able to accomplish this camp.”