Game overview:
The Packers 1st-team offense took it to the Browns 2nd-team+ defense on the opening drive, as you would hope/expect...and the Packers just outplayed the Browns from there.
I walk away from this game watch with the following thought...
The Packers were just BETTER here...they had talent coming in waves in this game, and they just manhandled the Browns down to when it was a fairer matchup of 2nd/3rd/4th teams going at it. The Packers are really, really good. They have a deep roster of talent. I can’t get too excited about the Lions to win the Super Bowl or the NFC...because they may not be able to get past the Packers.
The only NFC teams you can take seriously as ‘best in the NFC’ are (healthy at QB): GB-DET-SF-LAR...no team from the NFC South or NFC East.
Scouting Notes from the game:
-- Packers RB report...
Josh Jacobs (1-7-0, 1-0-0/1) started here and took a few touches and looked fine. Jacobs, for redraft, belongs in the discussion of RBs you can take in the Henry-Achane-Pacheco-Rachaad range of redrafts. He’s an option if your first choices get grabbed...or if he falls to the 30+ pick range. He’s gonna get a good run of pass game work this year on top of everything else...Love LOVES passing to the RBs.
A.J. Dillon (4-2-0) came into the game second, with the 2nd-team and did his usual AJD run up the middle for 1-2-3 yards...his boring stuff, but on his last touch he was headed off tackle/middle and did a jump cut and kicked it outside a bit for a nice gain – the first positive sign of his offseason weight loss impact.
MarShawn Lloyd (1-8-0, 1-1-0/1) was only in briefly and then left with a hamstring issue...and he’s out for an unknown amount of time. But what I saw of Lloyd here was nice...quick, aggressive, nice size. He’s legit in his movements. He is the heir apparent but probably not until 2026, unfortunately for him.
But then GB’s most talented runner entered the game after Lloyd (and after Ellis Merriweather, for some reason), Emanuel Wilson (13-67-1) -- and he stole the show. I’ve been saying it since last summer and then locked it in when we all saw him last preseason – Wilson is a star prospect, a legit NFL RB...but he’s buried in Green Bay behind three talented other RBs. Wilson is the ultimate hidden gem RB quietly sitting on a roster bubble in Green Bay.
If Dallas acquired Wilson for 2024, he’d rush for 1,000+ yards easily in 2024 and become a star. Instead, buried on the Packers depth chart – another example of the Packers’ great depth of talent.
We got to see the debut of another FFM fave UDFA rookie prospect, Jarveon Howard (8-44-0)...and, of course, he came in and did really well in his pro debut – ran with power and good movement skills...a legit NFL body likely headed to the Packers practice squad with no team grabbing him. The Packers have five legit NFL RBs...whereas most NFL teams are lucky to have 1-2 of them.
If Buffalo Bills handed the Packers James Cook for free, he’d be the 4th-best RB on the Packers depth chart...at best.
-- Packers WR report...
Not only are the Packers extremely deep at RB...but they have the deepest WR group of talent in all the NFL. They have the four starters: Doubs-Watson-Reed-Wicks, but then they have four legit backups...any one of which would be the Dallas Cowboys #3 starter today if they were there...
Grant Dubose (5-66-0/6) is a WR that I thought was very undervalued in the 2023 NFL Draft...and he had his best showing of his young NFL career here. But he’s at best the #6-7 WR here. Because Bo Melton (1-12-0/4) is the #5, who would be many team’s #3...ditto Malik Health (2-22-0/4). Samori Toure is a legit #4-5 NFL WR, who likely gets cut here.
Are the Packers the best talent evaluators on offense in the entire NFL? Who’s better? Most of the RB-WR talent they’ve amassed are 3rd+ round picks and UDFAs.
-- CLE/GB QB reports...
Just a couple of quick notes on the backup QBs in this game...
Tyler Huntley (6-9 for 41 yards, 0 TD/0 INT) was the second QB in the game here for the Browns. Deshaun sat out. Jameis started for a blip...then Huntley. Jameis and Huntley looked backup-fine.
But in the game last for CLE was Dorian Thompson-Robinson (14-18 for 134 yards, 0 TD/0 INT)...and he still doesn’t look the same from his nice debut in the 2023 preseason...it’s been all downhill since.
Sean Clifford (10-19 for 111 yards, 0 TD/0 INT) is a totally capable backup/spot starter for Green Bay. Not the best #2 QB in the NFL, but not the worst either.
-- Browns WR/TE report...
Rookie WR Jamari Thrash (3-43-0/5) accounted for himself well here. That dude just ‘gets open’. Hands are a question, but no question he can get open in a blink on short routes.
UDFA WR Ahmarean Brown (2-26-0/4) had some nice moments here, but he’s very likely headed to the practice squad.
Big ol’ TE Zaire Mitchell-Praden (3-30-0/3) is making a push to make the 53-man roster. A physical powerhouse, but a bit on the slow side in movement skills...but he accounted for himself well in this game – got open short in-between zones and made all his catches.
-- Browns RB report...
Jerome Ford (2-4-0) started and looked ‘meh’/fine enough running the ball...he’s much better in the pass game. If Nick Chubb is out to begin the season, I think it’s a Ford-Foreman duo at RB...and Foreman may get more touches than anyone would have thought...
UDFA RB Aidan Robbins (5-6-1, 1-8-0/1) looked promising, in a fringe NFL roster way, but he’s headed towards the practice squad I would highly assume.
-- IDP report...
Two IDPs to point out:
CLE grabbed ILB Caleb Johnson (6 tackles, 1 TFL) in free agency in January 2024 (was on the Arizona practice squad prior). The Browns cut him in July, then brought him back in August. I’m not sure what the issue is, but I thought he looked really good here...quite impressive in his instincts and movements. One I’ll be keeping an eye on for deep IDP situations.
GB DE Lukas Van Ness (3 tackles, 1 sack, 3 TFLs, 2 QB hits) was a WOW in this game. How is this guy not starting? More evidence of how deep in talent Green Bay is...and it extends to the defense. Van Ness was virtually unblock-able on about half his snaps. A 2023 #13 overall draft pick.
