Quick Observations from Camp: Love, Reed Shine
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers took to the practice field Saturday after a lighter workout on Friday.
A full recap of Saturday's practice from Bill Huber can be found here.
Here are some of the observations I had from being at practice.
The biggest one is the most obvious one. Jordan Love.
Love has been up and down at the start of camp, which is to be expected. This is his first year as the team's starting quarterback. Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst have tried to temper expectations.
Love had one of his best days as a Packer. He looked smooth. He looked decisive. The results were there, too. Unofficially, he ended the day completing 16 of 22 passes.
He spread the ball around to his receivers. Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Samori Toure all made plays, highlighted by a 30-yard completion to Toure between two defenders.
It was just practice. Love will need to get results in games.
That being said, if the Packers get the version of Love everyone saw on Saturday, their ceiling rises. They could win the division and compete in the playoffs if this practice can be carried through the regular season.
More importantly, they'll know if Love is their long-term quarterback.
Keisean Nixon
There was more to Saturday's practice than Jordan Love. Perhaps the biggest storyline was Keisean Nixon taking reps with receivers during individual drills.
During the offseason, coach Matt LaFleur discussed the possibility of using him on offense.
“I was joking with him, I said, ‘Hey, you never know, there might be some opportunities offensively," LaFleur said at the NFL's annual meetings.
Getting the ball in Nixon's hands more should be a priority. The Packers don't have a ton of proven playmakers on offense. Nixon isn't proven on offense, but the world knows what can happen when the ball is in his hands.
Right now, the only way to do that is via the return game. Returning kickoffs is tough when opposing kicks can boom the ball out of the back of the end zone until the weather gets colder.
It appears the Packers are at least toying with Nixon not being the primary punt returner with Jayden Reed taking the first reps at that position.
All of those things make sense with Nixon hunting more opportunities on defense. It also limits the ability to get the ball in his hands.
Putting him on the field as their jet motion player or having a special package for him could give him those opportunities. It looks like the Packers are at least considering the possibility.
Jayden Reed
Jayden Reed (Photo by Tork Mason/USA Today Sports Images)
Reed was drafted in the top 50 to add to a receiver room in the midst of a youth movement.
He may end up returning punts, but he wasn't drafted that high to be a punt returner. The prevailing thought is he will be the team's primary slot receiver. Reed likes the idea.
“Playing the slot for the first time in a long time, I actually like it – working with space, being able to attack guys, step on their toes and make a move," Reed told reporters.
“It’s really helping me out a lot to be able to work in space. I haven’t been able to do that in a long time and I’m enjoying it right now."
The Packers appear to be enjoying it, too. They've found ways to get him the ball in space with their team periods. The team hasn't had a true yards-after-catch threat since Randall Cobb was in his prime.
Reed certainly looks the part. He has some juice with the ball in his hands.
For now, it appears the Packers might be using that slot position in different ways. LaFleur said it will be based on matchups. If Reed continues to make plays with the ball in his hands, it'll be hard to keep him off the field.
Lukas Van Ness
Van Ness worked mostly with the twos and threes throughout the offseason and the start of training camp. Before practice on Saturday, LaFleur said he didn't want players worrying about the depth chart.
Van Ness took the advice and made what might have been play of the day.
Love kept the ball on a zone read that Van Ness completely wrecked. He threw Josiah Deguara, Love's lead blocker, into the backfield. The play was blown dead before Van Ness could cause any more damage.
It was a glimpse of what type of ability Van Ness could provide to the defense once he finds his way onto the field.
Tucker Kraft
Rookie tight end Tucker Kraft dropped out of practice and finished the day with ice on his leg. Whether it's serious or not remains to be seen. Before he dropped out of practice, however, he was the first tight end in team periods with Luke Musgrave.
Early reps with the starters have been a rarity for Kraft, who has mostly been behind Musgrave, Deguara and Tyler Davis.
Kraft combines with Musgrave for the most significant investment the team has made in the tight end position since drafting Bubba Franks in the first round.
It'll be interesting to see what kind of role they have in mind for him if he's able to quickly return from injury.
The team will hold its first padded practice of the year on Monday.
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