What did the Packers Family Night practice reveal?
A year ago, Jordan Love and Christian Watson struggled to get on the same page during training camp. That has changed in a big way this time around.
Good morning!
The Green Bay Packers held their annual Family Night on Saturday. The event has changed over the years, most notably shifting from a scrimmage to a practice after Bryan Bulaga tore his ACL at Family Night in 2013. Despite the change, the current format still provides plenty of valuable information about the team, and this year's edition proved no different.
Today's edition of The Leap highlights what Family Night revealed about the 2024 Packers from position battles to how the coaching staff plans to manage the revamped kickoffs.
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What stood out most on Family Night?
Jason B. Hirschhorn: Jordan Love and Christian Watson have found their groove. A year ago, the two couldn't seem to get on the same page and stay there during training camp, an issue they didn't remedy until midway through the season. The situation looks far different in 2024 as the tandem's touchdown during one-on-ones helped demonstrate.
On the play, cornerback Jaire Alexander couldn't have put himself in a better position to defend the pass. However, Love placed the ball right in front of Watson where only he could get it.
Love also hit Watson on an end-zone fade later in the period, that time with Eric Stokes in coverage. The two nearly connected again on a deep bomb during 11-on-11 drills, though a hit from rookie safety Evan Williams jarred the ball loose and sent Watson to the sidelines (he later returned). Regardless, last year's inconsistencies between the two seem almost entirely gone, a development that bodes very well for Green Bay's title hopes.
Elsewhere on the offense, the Packers appear settled on Jordan Morgan as their starting right guard. While the first-round pick did take some reps at left tackle on Family Night, his work with the No. 1 offense came exclusively at right guard. This furthers a trend that has developed over the past week where the coaching staff has favored Morgan at that position over third-year pro Sean Rhyan, the de facto incumbent. Green Bay has yet to play a preseason game, and Morgan will have to perform well in those outings to fully lock down the job. But barring an injury or unforeseeable regression, the rookie should open the regular season as the starter in that spot.
That doesn't mean Rhyan can't force his way into the starting lineup, however. Even before Saturday, he took plenty of reps at left guard, allowing Elgton Jenkins to slide over to center. Family Night saw Rhyan work at center as well. Though it seems less likely that he would move to the pivot full time given Jenkins' familiarity with the position, it does seem the coaching staff wants Rhyan to get as many shots as possible.
With the new kickoff rules, how have the Packers adapted?
JBH: The Packers practiced the new kickoff rule before Family Night, but Saturday represented the most public debut of special-teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia's plan of attack. The kickoff unit utilized a single return man rather than two, a decision which allows for an extra blocker in the "setup zone."
By contrast, both of the clubs who played in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game utilized two returners on kickoffs. Placing two players in the "landing zone" provides a larger numbers advantage for the coverage team at the "start line," but the deep player who doesn't return the ball can get a moving start for his block.
At least right now, the Packers don't see the two-returner method as advantageous. Given how quickly Keisean Nixon accelerates and how often he breaks tackles at full speed, perhaps it makes more sense for Green Bay to approach kickoffs differently. Bisaccia and the rest of the staff will get a better idea of how their plan stacks up to the rest of the league once the preseason arrives.
Other takeaways
No matter how soon Zach Tom returns -- head coach Matt LaFleur said the third-year pro should progress to 11-on-11 work this week -- the Packers might have to consider adding depth at offensive tackle. Veteran pickup Andre Dillard continues to look like a lost cause in pass protection while Kadeem Telfort still has quite a ways to go before he can hold his water consistently. Saturday saw Caleb Jones crack the rotation for the first time since coming off the non-football injury list, but he too has plenty to prove before the coaching staff can make him the next man up at right tackle.
Sean Clifford's practice interceptions have become a meme on social media this summer, but Family Night also showed why the Packers think he has a real future. Clifford's arm strength allows him to make plays most backup signal-callers can't. During an 11-on-11 period, the second-year quarterback hit his receiver deep down the seams only to see the pass dropped. Clifford went deep on his next throw as well, this time connecting with tight end Joel Wilson to extend the drive. Clifford did throw a would-be interception to Robert Rochell, and rookie draft pick Michael Pratt had some flashes on Saturday as well during his reps under center. Still, it remains too early to discount Clifford's chances of holding onto the No. 2 job.
Even with Kingsley Enagbare sitting out Saturday's festivities with a hamstring injury, the Packers' defensive front looks considerably stronger than it has in recent years. Rashan Gary and the usual suspects regularly found their way into the backfield, but so did Lukas Van Ness and Jonathan Ford. Even Kenneth Odumegwu, an international player who has only played one full year of gridiron football at any level, recorded a tackle for loss during Family Night.
I’d be interested to see who makes the official back up QB for Love having seen the family day highlights.