Take these snap counts with a grain of salt. Just because a player received a lot of snaps might not translate into a pecking order; it might mean only that the Packers wanted to look hard at that player. Indeed, it might mean that such a player is a candidate for deletion.
| PLAYER | SNAPS | % | STs Snaps |
| Nijman | 54 | 100% | |
| Braden | 39 | 72% | 1/4% |
| Runyan (Moved from OG to OC @ 12;54 in the 2nd) | 28 | 52% | 1/4% |
| Kelly | 28 | 52% | |
| Patrick | 28 | 52% | 1/4% |
| Hanson | 26 | 48% | 1/4% |
| Newman | 26 | 48% | 1/4% |
| Van Lanen | 26 | 48% | |
| Myers | 15 | 28% | |
| Love | 28 | 52% | |
| Benkert | 26 | 48% | |
| M. Taylor | 36 | 67% | 6/22% |
| Funchess | 34 | 63% | Zero |
| Am Rodgers | 32 | 59% | 4/15% |
| Begelton | 23 | 43% | 14/52% |
| Blair | 10 | 19% | Zero |
| Thomkins | 9 | 17% | 4/15% |
| Sternberger | 26 | 48% | 5/19% |
| Kaufusi | 24 | 44% | 12/44% |
| Crawford | 13 | 24% | Zero |
| Nauta | 9 | 17% | Zero |
| Hill | 23 | 43% | 7/26% |
| P. Taylor | 15 | 28 | 8/30% |
| D. Williams | 10 | 19% | 9/33% |
| Dillon | 6 | 11% | 1/4% |
The Packers certainly wanted a long look at Nijman, who played every snap at left tackle. While Love was playing quarterback, I thought he got beat twice, once in 2.3 seconds, and then in 2.6 seconds (on the strip sack). Nijman got walked back once but stayed between the rusher and Love.
Runyan had a terrible time at left guard with Houston’s DeMarcus Walker, number 44. Walker had 4.5 sacks for the Broncos in 2020 and has played in 36 NFL games. Walker is not a world beater, though, having signed with Houston for $1.45 million ($500,000 guaranteed). With 12:54 left in the second quarter, Runyan moved to center. I did not see him have any pass protection issues while he played center.
Runyan and Myers were the only two offensive linemen to have a Pro Football Focus run grade over sixty. The Packers had three rushing yards at the half, good for a 0.3 yards per carry average. Kelly was beaten in pass protection at least twice, and Lucas Patrick missed a stunt while Love was playing.
Funchess was the star for the wide receivers. He caught six passes on eight targets for 70 yards, and he threw some blocks on screens and running plays. However, though he has been taking repetitions in practice, that started only recently and he was not used on STs against Houston. Watch to see if that changes in the remaining preseason games. Malik Taylor caught five passes on five targets for 50 yards, and he played special teams. Blair and Thompkins each were targeted twice but had no receptions.
Nauta played nine snaps and then was in street clothes. That is interesting, as is his non-use on special teams. However, the Packers have listed him with a chest injury. Sternberger caught three passes on three targets for 35 yards, including a 34-yarder down the seam. His other two receptions were crossers than gained a combined yard. Other than Sternberger, no tight end was targeted in the passing game.
Dexter Williams carried the ball four times for 32 yards, an 8.0-yard average. Those carries came late in the game. Patrick Taylor slogged his way for 24 yards on 9 carries. Hill took a screen pass 22 yards for a touchdown, but had negative two yards on five carries.
The Packers allowed 2 sacks and 2 quarterback hits, but the Texans managed to pressure Love pretty consistently while he was in the game.
| Scott | 64 | 85% | 10 – 37% |
| Ento | 56 | 75% | 14 – 52% |
| J. Jackson | 46 | 61% | 6 – 22% |
| Black | 41 | 55% | 8 – 30% |
| Jean-Charles | 35 | 47% | 10 – 37% |
| Gaines | 34 | 45% | 17 – 63% |
| Hollman | 20 | 27% | 9 – 33% |
| Martin | 15 | 20% | 8 – 20% |
| Stokes | 13 | 17% | 7 – 26% |
| Uphoff | 11 | 15% | 10-37% |
| Sullivan | 7 | 9% | Zero |
| Rivers | 41 | 55% | 9 – 33% |
| Burks | 41 | 55% | 8 – 30% |
| Wilborn | 34 | 45% | 17 – 63% |
| Harris | 34 | 45% | 15 – 56% |
| Garvin | 34 | 45% | 11 – 41% |
| Gileai | 34 | 45% | 7 – 26% |
| Summers | 28 | 37% | 8 – 30% |
| Barnes | 13 | 17% | 5 – 19% |
| Previlon | 59% | 79% | 6 – 22% |
| Slaton | 46 | 61% | 2 – 7% |
| Delontae Scott | 41 | 55% | 11 – 41% |
| Heflin | 40 | 53 | 2 – 7% |
| Kemp | 19 | 25% | 2 – 7% |
| Lancaster | 10 | 13% | 1 – 4% |
| Avery | 9 | 12% | Zero |
Vernon Scott, Black and Gaines all had positive games. Scott had 6 tackles (4 solo) and a pass defensed, Black had 3 tackles (2 solo) plus another tackle on special teams, and Gaines had a pass defensed and a tackle on special teams.
Ento had 2 tackles, an interception and a pass defensed. Jean Charles had 2 tackles, a pass defensed, and a tackle on special teams. Josh Jackson had 5 tackles, all solo, and a pass defensed, but allowed 7 completions on 10 targets.
Burks had 6 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, a quarterback hit and a tackle on special teams. Ty Summers and Chauncey Rivers each had 4 solo tackles. Wilborn had 4 tackles (2 solo). Slaton had 5 tackles and Heflin had 4 (both with 3 solo). Delontae Scott had 4 solo tackles.
The Packers only mustered 1 sack and 2 quarterback hits (Burks and Garvin). The Packers allowed just 33 rushing yards in the first half, a 2.4 yard average. The Packers allowed 133 yards on 13 carries, 10.23 yard average, in the second half, which included two long carries that each went for 25 yards. The Texans average 4.6 yards per carry for the game.
Here is one take on the first preseason game:
Packers weren’t kidding about being displeased with their guards in the preseason opener: First practice back, rookie Royce Newman gets his first chance at RG with the No. 1 OL. Ben Braden at LG. In the game it was, Lucas Patrick at RG and Jon Runyan at LG. Demovsky
Leave a Reply