Green Bay Packers: 13 Quick Observations from Preseason Finale
By Paul Bretl
Put Malik Taylor and Jack Heflin on the Green Bay Packers roster
If there was any doubt as to whether or not Malik Taylor and Jack Heflin would make the final roster, their performances on Saturday should have removed any of that. Taylor was again efficient, catching five of his six targets for 69 yards while Heflin made plays against both the run and the pass.
Reggie Begelton had a nice performance as well, hauling in four of his six targets for 51 yards, but I don’t see him leapfrogging Taylor, and with all the pass-catchers that this Green Bay Packers team has, even as a special teams player, I don’t see them keeping seven receivers.
A quiet day for Jace Sternberger
This was Jace Sternberger’s last opportunity to come out and try to ‘wow’ the Green Bay Packers’ coaching staff, but unfortunately, it was a quiet day. He didn’t have any receptions and honestly what many will remember from his performance is that he whiffed on a reach block at the goal line that allowed AJ Dillon to be tackled in the backfield. Was it a difficult block? Yes. Was it block that he needs to make? Also yes.
To Sternberger’s credit, there were two blocks that stand out that I did see him make, but neither were of the magnitude of the one he missed on the goal line. This is a deep tight end room and when he does return from his two-week suspension, I’m not sure that there is room on the roster for a fifth one or that the Packers will want to move on from Dominique Dafney, who has been a solid special teams player as well.
A month ago, I thought for sure that Sternberger would be on the roster this season. This, of course, doesn’t mean that he won’t, but I am nowhere near as confident as I once was.
No worries about Royce Newman
Of course, he’s a rookie, and if Royce Newman does win the starting right guard job, he is likely going to take some lumps this season–that’s pretty much a given. But his performances these last two weeks should leave Green Bay Packers fans feeling confident that he can step into that starting role as a rookie and find success.
Newman came into Saturday’s game having allowed no pressures and is someone who had the second-highest run-blocking grade on the team, per PFF ($$). Against Buffalo, we again saw some nice running lanes on the right side of the offensive line where Newman was. He gets off the ball quickly, seems very aware of everything going on around him, and finishes his blocks.
As far as who the left guard is, well, my guess is that job will belong to Lucas Patrick for the time being.