Luke Musgrave proves he's a unicorn during Packers-Patriots practice
The chatter around Green Bay Packers rookie tight end Luke Musgrave is he's a Travis Kelce-like matchup problem. Meaning, the guy is essentially a wide receiver in a tight end's body. There's a lot you can do in today's NFL with that type of player. Especially if said player is in a creative offense like […]
The chatter around Green Bay Packers rookie tight end Luke Musgrave is he's a Travis Kelce-like matchup problem. Meaning, the guy is essentially a wide receiver in a tight end's body.
There's a lot you can do in today's NFL with that type of player. Especially if said player is in a creative offense like Andy Reid's.
Well, as it just so happens, Matt LaFleur's offense is pretty creative in its own right. And based off what we've seen so far throughout camp, Musgrave is going to have a pretty nice role in 2023.
In fact, Musgrave showed off his insane speed and athleticism on Wednesday when the Packers used him on a jet sweep in the red zone against the New England Patriots.
Yes, that's right: a tight end on a jet sweep. It's hard to remember the last time that happened – if it ever happened, at all.
“Yeah, we did do that, yeah,” Jordan Love said after practice. “When you’ve got a guy that’s as fast as that, like Luke, [you] just try to find different ways to use him. It’s interesting. It’s a new play for us, something we haven’t been able to do in the past, but with his speed, like I said, [we're] just trying to find ways to use him.”
The formation in itself is pretty interesting. It's a 2×2 set with Musgrave and Christian Watson on the boundary -Watson in the slot and Musgrave on the perimeter is a nice wrinkle, as well- and Tucker Kraft and Romeo Doubs are on the field side with Doubs in a tight split.
Watson in the slot allows him to see a potential matchup against a linebacker or safety, whereas Musgrave could use his 6-foot-6, 254-pound frame to box out a smaller cornerback in the end zone. Then on the field side, Doubs, Kraft, and even Patrick Taylor have a ton of room to work with when it comes to the route tree.
Taylor and Kraft can't hold their blocks, which essentially ruins the outcome of the play. But still, the fact the Packers even feel confident using Musgrave on a jet sweep just shows all the different ways he can be -and will be- used in Green Bay.
h/t @KuhnwaldMatt on Twitter/X
Jordan Love hits Christian Watson for deep touchdown against Patriots
This was not an easy thing to do, either.
Featured image via @KuhnwaldMatt on Twitter/X
