How five Packers players to watch performed vs Bucs
The Green Bay Packers lost another game in which they were favorites. After the 34-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field, the playoffs look like a pipe dream again. It was a bad defensive performance, and the offense wasn't able to make up for it. Check out how five players to watch […]
The Green Bay Packers lost another game in which they were favorites. After the 34-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field, the playoffs look like a pipe dream again. It was a bad defensive performance, and the offense wasn't able to make up for it.
Check out how five players to watch performed on Sunday.
Romeo Doubs
He is a good role player, but not much more than that. He finished the game with three catches for 30 yards. Doubs had a solid seven-yard reception on the first scrimmage play of the game, but that was pretty much it.
When there are more pieces around him, Doubs will eventually make important plays. However, he's not the type or caliber of player to be a primary weapon. Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks are already more productive, and the offense clearly misses Christian Watson as a deep threat.
Jayden Reed
Reed is impressively polished for a second-round rookie. The best example on Sunday was his beautiful touchdown catch in the third quarter. He followed what Jordan Love was trying to do when the pocket collapsed, got open, and was smart and had enough ability to put his two feet in to make a great play. He had already had a big third-down catch in the first quarter.
His ability to create great plays from the slot gives the offense another dimension, and he clearly has a bright future in front of him.
Patrick Taylor
He had two consecutive catches for -4 yards at one point in the third quarter. That mostly sums it up how ineffective Taylor was as a playmaker for the Packers. He is still a useful player to be on the field on third down to pick up blitzes, but Matt LaFleur clearly doesn't trust him as a runner.
Fortunately for the Packers, Aaron Jones was available to play, so they were able to be relatively efficient on the ground. Taylor is nothing more than a running back 3 at this point, and it doesn't seem it's going to change anytime soon.
Keisean Nixon
It was another tough outing for the Packers starting slot corner. The Bucs slot receiver, Chris Godwin, had seven receptions for 108 yards in the first half. After halftime, Nixon allowed a first down on a 2nd & 18. Darnell Savage didn't play on Sunday, but it's looking like the better plan is to start Savage in the slot, with Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens deep.
Nixon has value as a kickoff returner, but his contributions to the defense are minimal, and he should focus on where he can be a truly impactful player.
Preston Smith
Smith is a solid player, and he helped the defense to contain the Bucs rushing offense to a certain degree. When the Packers needed defensive stops, though, Tampa ran it all over the yard, and Preston wasn’t very effective — just like the interior of the defensive line.
The veteran didn't have much impact as a pass rusher, and that's a problem when he's playing ahead of Lukas Van Ness. Smith is still a valuable piece of the defense, but it’s not clear at this point if he will be that for much longer.
There’s one negative difference for LaFleur compared to the other “Playcallers”
There are always comparisons between LaFleur, Shanahan, McVay, and McDaniel
