The Green Bay Packers face the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 of the preseason. The starters played offense for a series and it ended with a 65-yard touchdown from Jordan Love to Dontayvion Wicks.
Let’s evaluate what happened in the first two quarters when Green Bay led 17-3.
Jordan Love is so comfortable
Love played one series, and he did it against the Cleveland Browns’ backup defense, so we’re not drawing any final conclusions. But it’s easy to see how safe Jordan Love is based on the evidence from last season.
The touchdown pass was a perfect example of that. He worked well in the pocket before throwing it to Dontayvion Wicks. But in general, even without two offensive linemen in the starting lineup, Love is calm and in full control of the action.
It is clear that he has made several steps forward compared to last year.
Step forward for a former first-round pick
Lukas Van Ness didn’t have a big role as a rookie, but you can see why the Packers took him in the first round. In his first appearance as a sophomore, the edge defender managed a sack and three tackles for loss in two drives, and more pressure situations followed.
He was the backup attack for Cleveland, but Van Ness took advantage of that to a great extent, and that’s exactly what you would expect him to do to make a bigger impact behind Rashan Gary and Preston Smith.
Who AJ Dillon should be vs. who he is
We had a good feeling about AJ Dillon in training camp, but he had two chances to convert from short yardage and couldn’t. Second and second, then fourth and first, and he stopped both runs. It’s not like the offensive line opened up incredible gaps, but that’s exactly the type of play you’d expect from a running back like Dillon.
Meanwhile, Emanuel Wilson continues to show promise. After leading the NFL preseason in rushing yards last year, he made a few effective runs, including a five-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Harsh reality for the young linebackers
The two off-ball linebackers drafted by the Packers were unable to play due to injury. Edgerrin Cooper (hip) and Ty’Ron Hopper (ankle) were inactive, missing a key part of the development and evaluation process in their first training camp. They were not starters, and that is not the point here. It is more about their individual paths than what the Packers defense will look like at the start – and it looks like Isaiah McDuffie will be the short-term starter alongside Quay Walker.
Non-drafted rookie Ralen Goforth ultimately took advantage of the extra reps with several good plays and an impressive display of athleticism.
Exciting test
Sean Rhyan played right guard for the 1s because first-round rookie Jordan Morgan was unavailable due to a shoulder injury. But after the first drive for the 2s, the coaching staff made an interesting observation. Jacob Monk came in as right guard and Rhyan moved inside to center.
If the third-year lineman can play well there and was solid against the Browns, he could compete with Josh Myers for the starting spot.
Promising duo
The Packers’ two young safeties, Javon Bullard and Evan Williams, showed good signs early on. Bullard is a versatile defender who plays deep and in the slot. Evan Williams is always close to the action and is not afraid of physical contact.
