Green Bay Packers: Josh Myers Impresses in Preseason Debut

Josh Myers walked into a situation here with the Green Bay Packers that came with some very big shoes to fill, taking over for Corey Linsley, who was a seven-year starter, had an unmatched rapport with Aaron Rodgers, and a recent All-Pro.

While it’s not fair to compare Myers to Linsely or assume that after OTAs, mini-camp, and a few weeks of training camp that he will fill those giant shoes of Linsely’s, he sure is doing his best to try.

Since joining the Green Bay Packers, Myers has impressed, with Larry McCarren of Packers.com saying that he “looks and acts the part of a starting center” during mini-camp.

More recently, Aaron Rodgers would call Myers’ comfortability with the offense and his ability pre-snap “pretty impressive.” While Matt LaFleur would tell reporters that he expects him to be the Week 1 center—something that we assumed but a designation that still had to be earned, and to Myers credit, was earned rather quickly.

Now Myers is coming off his first preseason game, and although as a whole many across this Green Bay Packers offensive line struggled, Myers was not one of them—once again showcasing why this was such a sound selection:

"“He’s got great football intelligence,” said OL Coach Adam Stenavich via Packers.com. “He’s very poised. We put a lot on his plate, and he handles it very well. He played very well last night, did exactly what I thought he was going to do, just went out there and handled himself well, played with physicality, run the huddle. He did a good job. Just a mature kid.”"

According to PFF ($$), Myers was on the field for 15 offensive snaps, and he didn’t give up a sack or a pressure, and he was the lead downfield blocker — something often seen on his Ohio State film — on the screen pass to Kylin Hill that resulted in a touchdown.

Chad Reuter of NFL.com handed out grades to several rookies after Week 1 of the preseason, and Myers earned a well-deserved A. Here is a look at some of what Reuter had to say:

"“In the run game, he pancaked a defender on one play late in the first quarter and proved agile enough to stay with defensive tackles down the line of scrimmage on later stretch plays. His powerful punch stopped linebackers when combo-blocking and helped both guards in pass protection. Myers’ most important block was his last, taking out veteran Kamu Grugier-Hill a few yards downfield on the screen-pass touchdown scored by fellow rookie Kylin Hill. Myers wasn’t tested by great quickness from the Texans’ front, but he will likely be up to that challenge.”"

In the grand scheme of an NFL season, whether it’s a good performance or a bad one, we shouldn’t get too high or low on what happens during the preseason—I mean, it is the preseason, after all.

But when it comes to Myers, this first preseason game was just another example of why he is ready to assume the starting center role here in Green Bay. Since joining the Packers, Myers has impressed every step of the way and those big shoes that I mentioned in the beginning? Well, it’s his goal to fill them:

"”I don’t take that responsibility lightly (being the starting center), and I’m just doing everything that I can to be as good as I can for this team,” said Myers. “Corey (Linsely) is an incredible person to replace and I’m doing everything I can to make it look like there is no drop off from last season. That’s my goal and I’m definitely not taking that role lightly.”"