Packers rookie already flashing glimpses of how creative usage could maximize the offense in exciting new ways
Savion Williams offers positional and alignment versatility.
When the Green Bay Packers took Savion Williams in the third round of the draft this year, his flexibility was the main selling point. At TCU, the playmaker was primarily a wide receiver, but he could play inside and outside, at running back, and even as a wildcat quarterback.
You might think that it would be hard to replicate that usage at the NFL level, but it didn’t take long for head coach Matt LaFleur to show he’s truly willing to maximize the third-rounder, and how much it can create new layers to the offense.
In Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, Savion only had one one-yard catch. But things went to another level in Week 2, during the win over the Washington Commanders.
Backfield
The Packers have used a decent amount of 21 personnel. For example, with Josh Jacobs and Chris Brooks in the backfield. However, since the Indianapolis Colts game last year, when Malik Willis played at quarterback, LaFleur has tried to be more creative with those plays.
Instead of putting two running backs on the field, LaFleur inserts a normal 11 personnel, but one wide receiver moves to the backfield. It has been Jayden Reed most of the time, but now Williams is the perfect weapon to do it.
Wildcat QB
LaFleur has no issues copying plays from elsewhere. And there was no better place to see how Savion Williams could be utilized than his own tape at TCU. The Packers took one wildcat QB concept out of there, and it worked pretty well.
Jordan Love moved to wideout, Williams went to the shotgun, faked a reverse, and ran with left tackle Rasheed Walker leading as a blocker, while wide receivers Malik Heath and Dontayvion Wicks set the edge.
Production and role
Ultimately, the numbers weren’t crazy. Savion had two rushing attempts for 24 yards. But how efficient those plays were, and just how much Williams can affect defenses in multiple ways, it’s a combination of factors that has the potential to make the Packers’ offense even more explosive and effective.
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