Green Bay Packers receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has put together two impressive practices over the last three days, but coach Matt LaFleur still wants to challenge his young pass-catcher to achieve a much higher level of day-to-day consistency.
Valdes-Scantling created a couple of notable plays on Saturday, including a pair of catches from Aaron Rodgers late in an 11-on-11 drill. LaFleur noticed. Now, the Packers coach wants to see it every day.
“I’ve seen him stack two great practices back to back,” LaFleur said Saturday. “That’s the challenge to him on a daily basis. He has to go out there and do it. I know he has the physical ability. He’s got great speed, and he can really scare a defense. But he has to be consistent with it. I’ve been proud of his effort but we’re going to continue to challenge him, try and put him in more and more positions to make plays for us.”
Valdes-Scantling enters 2020 as one of the most important young players on the Packers offense. His second season went off the rails after he suffered knee and ankle injuries in October. After a strong month and a half to open the season, his impact and playing time all but disappeared as the Packers powered into the playoffs and advanced to the NFC title game.
But Valdes-Scantling has a valuable trait and a valuable skill: deep speed, and the potential of vertical playmaking ability. The Packers need both to show up more consistently in 2020.
LaFleur knows Valdes-Scantling can do it. The challenge now is to get him to do it every single day. Consistency is a word all coaches use when talking about young players and specific performances. Most NFL players can do something once. The ability to do something consistently is what separates the different tiers of players.
Two really good practices in a row is a good start for Valdes-Scantling. This is a huge summer for the Packers receiver. If the consistently finally clicks, he’ll be an important part of what the Packers do on offense in 2020.
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