As Matt LaFleur discussed on numerous occasions this offseason, there is a steep learning curve for first-year tight ends when it comes to making the jump to the NFL, especially as a blocker. But through two weeks, Packers rookie Luke Musgrave has held his own in that regard.
With his size, speed, and overall athleticism, Musgrave’s ability to impact the passing game is where he’ll make his biggest contributions. But in selecting Musgrave, the Packers also liked his potential as a blocker, with GM Brian Gutekunst calling him an “all-around” tight end following the draft.
However, throughout training camp, we saw the rookie take his lumps somewhat often as a blocker.
“Blocking is definitely different,” said Musgrave during training camp. “You can’t get away with just being athletic. In college, you can maybe get away with some bad technique–I’m going to push him out. Whereas here, you have to be on your stuff. Off the ball when it’s snapped. Take the right footwork. All of our guys are so good.”
But through two regular season games, Musgrave has been able to hold his own as a blocker. In fact, his level of play in that regard has been somewhat surprising, given the learning curve that comes with filling that role and the ups and downs we saw from him this summer. While from a technique standpoint, there are certainly areas he has to improve upon, Musgrave is aggressive and willing to do the dirty work, and those two aspects alone can go a long way for a young tight end.
Heading into Week 3, Musgrave is PFF’s 10th highest-graded run-blocker at the tight end position out of 75 eligible players. While PFF’s grades are far from the be-all-end-all, if a player is performing well, they mostly reflect that. The same goes for a player who is playing poorly. In a recent article from Mike Spofford of Packers.com, he highlighted several plays against Atlanta in which Musgrave made an impact in the run game.
“Good,” said offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich when asked about Musgrave’s blocking abilities following Week 1. “I thought all those guys did a good job. They have a lot to improve on, but you could see as the game was going it wasn’t too big for them. They all had good looks in their eyes. They were all aggressive. I like that room.”
With all that said, and as Stenavich mentioned, there is still plenty of room for improvements as well. The Green Bay run game has been an issue through the first two games of the season. The Packers inability to move the ball on the ground consistently has put them in predictable passing situations too often, and impacted the teams’ effectiveness through the air.
Of course, being better in the run game starts with the offensive line and the running backs, but as LaFleur has reiterated on a few occasions, all 11 players have to be better and on the same page. If the offense is going to find regular success this season, having an effective run game will be a requirement.
In having a tight end who can consistently make an impact in both the running and passing games, it adds a layer of unpredictability to the offense. It becomes more difficult for a defense to determine pre-snap what the offense is trying to do and because the tight end can handle several different roles, it allows the offense to run a variety of plays from just few different personnel groupings, helping to create mismatches that can be exploited, along with keeping the defense off-balanced.
Musgrave still has a ways to go in his development, both as a blocker and, in general, as a tight end. But the early returns from him as a blocker have been promising. While Musgrave’s big play potential is what jumps off the screen, given the makeup of the tight end room, his ability to make an impact in the run game or in pass protection and the continued improvement in those areas will be a must for this Green Bay offense as well.
“I thought for the most part they did a nice job,” said LaFleur of Musgrave and Ben Sims as blockers following Week 1. “I think there’s certainly things to work on, and hopefully, these guys, one of the things we talk about with our squad is you’ve been through your first week of the regular season in terms of how you prepare on a daily basis, how you’re taking care of your body, and now it’s about refining that process.
“It’s only natural to expect, whether it’s our team or any other team in the league that you learn and grow from that, and you’re better the next week. So we expect to see that jump this week.”