Tag: Sean Rhyan

Green Bay Packers second-year offensive lineman Sean Rhyan finished the 2023 season in a rotational role at right guard with Jon Runyan Jr. and will now have the opportunity to win that job outright this upcoming summer.

“I’m gonna go into it, I guess, with the same mindset as last year,” said Rhyan said at his locker about the opportunity ahead this offseason. “Because obviously something worked out right, but just a little bit harder. Got a little bit of taste. I wanna help this team get further next year, so just work hard and let the chips fall where they may.”

The 2023 season was an immensely important one for Rhyan. After being a healthy scratch for much of his rookie season in 2022 as a third-round to being suspended the final six games for a PED violation, there’s a world where Rhyan may have been a cut candidate this past summer had his play not improved.

“I think there was a point when it first happened,” said Rhyan of the suspension, “where I didn’t really know what my future held. It was tough, but I looked at it as, I think my character speaks and kind of helped me out because they know.

“I had a slip-up, something happened, they know, they trust me and obviously I came back this year and proved to them that my character was still intact and why they drafted me. For a time there I was a little bit worried, but I learned, we’re ready, future’s the future now.”

The rotation at right guard started in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams, and according to Rhyan, there wasn’t any warning that he would be playing in that game. All of sudden, he was told “you’re in.”

For the first five games of that rotation, Rhyan saw maybe two to three series each week, but because of his play, he earned more opportunities. Beginning in Week 15 against Tampa Bay, he and Runyan were basically splitting snaps at a near 50/50 split each week.

“Huge,” said Rhyan on the importance of this past year. “Huge, especially last year, being a high-round draft pick and then not seeing the field really, this was hugely important and I think I did alright.”

Where Rhyan shined was as a run blocker. With his size and strength, he brings a different dynamic to the offensive line with his ability to simply move the defender across from him. Rather than just opening up a running lane by being positioned correctly, Rhyan generates push.

Pass protection is where Rhyan has to improve the most if he wants to be a long-term starter in this league, according to offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich. In just 128 pass-blocking snaps, Rhyan allowed eight pressures. Out of 84 guards, Rhyan ranked 52nd in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric.

“He’s still got a ways to go,” said Stenavich. “I like what I’ve seen from him from a physicality standpoint. He does a good job in the run game at the point of attack. But he still has a ways to go in pass protection would be his biggest thing moving forward.

“If he wants to be a staple guard of this league, you obviously have to excel in this realm. So that’s one thing we are going to focus on with as we move forward just to elevate that part of his game.”

This was only Rhyan’s second NFL season and one where he still didn’t see anywhere close to a full workload—of course there is still improvement needed. But what can’t be overlooked either is the progress he made, going from a healthy scratch as a rookie to playing meaningful snaps in the NFC Divisional Round.

For Rhyan, that all started with being more consistent.

“Consistency,” Rhyan said. “Definitely, that’s the most major one. I almost think last year, when I was first interviewed, consistency was one of the things that I was striving to improve on and I think that’s kind of what led to me getting some playing time this year.

“One way was just willing it,” said Rhyan when asked how he became more consistent. “Being real hard on myself. I’m my biggest critic, so I felt like last year, it was not me and then this year, I’m starting to get back to myself and not overthinking it, but not taking things too lightly either, so just being consistent in everything I do.”

A big contributor to the Packers overall turnaround on offense last season was the play of the offensive line drastically improving. Although Green Bay took an unconventional approach in rotating the right guard and left tackle positions, it’s a move that paid off. Whether you ask LaFleur, Stenavich, or offensive line coach Luke Butkus, that added competition elevated the overall play of the unit.

Returning interior offensive linemen from this past season’s 53-man roster include Rhyan, Josh Myers, Elgton Jenkins and Royce Newman. Additional competition is needed. While Rhyan has earned the right to compete for a starting spot, he still has room for growth and shouldn’t simply be handed the starting right guard job either this summer. Also, injuries happen and more depth is needed.

We often hear about the importance of a young player making a significant jump from their first to second season. Rhyan was able to do that, but now the next step is continuing to progress. And if he can, he has the potential opportunity to play an important role on a team with very high expectations entering 2024.

“That I could still play ball,” said Rhyan when asked what he showed this season. “Still can run block, still can pass block and I’m still Sean Rhyan, so like I said, simple answer.”

The in-game rotation at right guard continued for the Green Bay Packers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Sean Rhyan took on a much larger role this week.

The rotation between Rhyan and Jon Runyan has been going on steadily since Week 9. But even so, Runyan has still dominated that playing time. Coming into this week’s matchup, the most snaps Rhyan had seen in a game were 15 in Week 9. In two of those games he didn’t see more than seven. At most Rhyan was playing a series or two.

“It’s not as easy as playing,” said Rhyan about the rotation. “There’s the flow of the game. You know how that guy or this guy is going to play this or that. So coming out there about with two minutes of warming up on the sideline, it’s not hard but it’s definitely not easy. Just doing my job and hopefully track on and get after them.”

However, versus the Bucs, the snap count between the two was nearly a 50-50 split, with Runyan playing 31 offensive snaps and Rhyan playing 29.

Where Rhyan has been able to differentiate himself, not only from Runyan but others on the offensive line, is with his ability in the run game. Overall, this is a Packers’ offensive line that has struggled to create movement up front, but that has been where Rhyan has excelled.

In true pass-blocking sets, Rhyan is yet to allow a pressure since Week 9, although I will throw out the disclaimer that it is a relatively small sample size.

“My play speed,” said Rhyan on where he’s seen the most growth from Year 1 to Year 2. “Understanding the book and the plays. There’s the surface level of understanding the plays and then there is more in-depth. I think I’m starting to understand that a little bit more and playing a little bit faster.”

What led to the sudden change in Rhyan’s playing time this week is unknown. Unlike at the left tackle position where there has been a cadence to the rotation, there has seemingly been little rhyme or reason behind when Rhyan goes into the game.

My guess is that the decision this week was matchup based, rather than this being the beginning of the changing of the (right) guard—pun intended. With Vita Vea in the middle of what has been a stout Bucs’ run defense this season. Rhyan has shown to be a more physical player than Runyan, so perhaps the thought was that he would hold up better at the point of attack against an immovable force like Vea.

As a team, the Packers found modest success on the ground, with Aaron Jones averaging 4.1 yards per rush. In pass protection, there were some missed blocks, specifically off blitzes by Tampa Bay, but Green Bay held its own overall. According to PFF, Jordan Love was under pressure on just 31 percent of his dropbacks, despite the Bucs’ willingness to send extra defenders on over half of Love’s dropbacks. This was the fourth game in five weeks that the Packers have faced a blitz-heavy opponent.

“We have rules and plays and plans to pick up all these blitzes,” said Rhyan, “and it’s been nice that it’s all been back to back to back. It allows us to keep flowing, just tweak things here and there and knowing that if we pick those up there’s plays to be had. So there’s some comfortability in that uncomfortably that it provides.”

Both LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich have sounded very pleased with how the right guard and left tackle rotation has gone over the last month-plus. Specifically, they’ve been encouraged by the added competition it’s created along with it elevating the play of everyone on that unit, not only at the two positions being rotated.

Rhyan was a major unknown coming into the season after a rough rookie year that either saw him as a healthy scratch on game day or suspended. Runyan is set to be a free agent in 2024, and with his up and down play this season, he could be playing his final games in Green Bay. Rhyan still has two years left on his rookie contract, and what the Packers need to figure out is if he is someone who can compete for playing and be a potential starter, or if he’s best as a backup off the bench.

In-game opportunities are going to continue to come Sean Rhyan’s way. However, the right guard job is not his as of yet.

“I think every week it could be a little bit different,” said Matt LaFleur on Monday. “I think all those guys have gone in there and done a really nice job. It’s going to be a competitive situation.”

The rotation at right guard between Rhyan and incumbent starter Jon Runayn began in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams and continued against the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions. It’s been a small sample size for Rhyan, totaling just 34 snaps, but he’s held his own and looked the part when given the opportunity.

In 16 pass-blocking snaps, Rhayn has been credited with allowing only one pressure, according to PFF. Perhaps where he has stood out the most, however, is in the run game.

For much of the season, the Packers’ offensive line has struggled to generate consistent push and running lanes for the ball carriers. Green Bay’s 4.1 yards per rush ranks 20th, and that figure is up from where it was just a few weeks ago. But Rhyan brings an added level of physicality to the position and has shown to be more of a people-mover than others on this Packers offensive line.

“He’s done his job,” added LaFleur. “He’s a big guy that when he goes in there, he’s tough to move off his spot, and he’s done a nice job in both the run game and the pass game. It’s been very encouraging for what he’s been able to accomplish.”

On an offensive line unit that, as a group, has had its shares of ups and downs, Runyan has been the most inconsistent of the bunch. Andy Herman of the Pack-A-Day Podcast, who grades every play for every Packers player over the course of the season, currently has Runyan as his lowest-graded player on the entire offense–specifically struggling in the run game.

But with that said, whether talking to LaFleur, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, or offensive line coach Luke Butkus, the feeling inside 1265 Lombardi Ave. is that this added competition from the rotation at both right guard and left tackle is elevating the play of all players involved, therefore helping the entire offensive line unit.

“I think that’s what’s helping a little bit,” said Butkus on the rotation impacting the play of the offensive line unit. “Guys are feeling that, and everybody works their butts off, there’s no question about that, but this competition, building this room off of competition, everybody stepped up. Not just Sheed (Rasheed Walker), not just Yosh (Nijman), but JR (Jon Runyan) and Sean Rhyan. It’s been great for the room.

“Those guys are interchangeable right now with the communication factor. Elgton has trust in Yosh. He has trust in Sheed. Josh has trust in both those guys (Runyan and Rhyan). It’s been great, and we are going to continue to roll with it until someone really steps up and says okay, but I think it’s been great for the room.”

In a season that is, to a degree, about evaluation for Green Bay, and figuring out who they can build around moving forward, one would think that the Packers would be more willing to see what Rhyan can do. Runyan is set to be a free agent in 2024 and could be playing elsewhere. Ryhan, meanwhile, is a 2022 third-round pick with two years left on his rookie deal beyond 2023.

Is Rhyan someone who could compete for playing time as a starter in 2024? Is he a good backup option off the bench? Or should he not even be on the team? Of course, the Packers, who see Rhyan every day in practice, have a much better idea than any of us on where he stands, but ultimately, until he’s given more snaps, one can’t truly confirm or deny those current evaluations.

After a rookie season where Rhyan was not only suspended the final six games but also inactive for a number of games prior to that, the turnaround he’s experiencing is promising for Green Bay. He went from being a potential cut candidate over the summer to someone who could be starting at right guard at some point this season.

Green Bay Packers interior offensive lineman Sean Rhyan saw his first NFL snaps against the Los Angeles Rams and played quite well. Could there be more opportunities for him in the near future?

Rhyan played 15 snaps in total against the Rams. Eight came at the end in place of Elgton Jenkins at left guard with the game out of reach, but the first seven came early on with Jon Runyan Jr. on the sidelines being evaluated for an injury.

According to PFF, Rhyan was on the field for just two pass-blocking snaps and didn’t give up a pressure, but where he really stood out was as a run-blocker. For an offensive line unit as a whole that has struggled to get the run game going this season, Rhyan’s physical style of play provided this unit with a change of pace.

He’s a people mover, and when on the field, Green Bay moved the ball via the run game with relative ease. It’s a small sample size, of course, but out of 58 eligible guards in Week 9, Rhyan’s run-blocking grade from PFF ranked 20th overall. Pack-A-Day Podcast host Andy Herman, who grades every play for every player, had Rhyan with a positive final grade as well.

“I was really proud of how he stepped in there,” said Matt LaFleur on Wednesday. “We had a bunch of productive plays, mainly on the ground. But I thought he got a lot of good movement up front. He went in there and did his job at a high level.”

Between Week 4 and Week 9, Rhyan obviously jumped Royce Newman on the depth chart. When Elgton Jenkins was sidelined for those few games, it was Newman who got the start at left guard over Rhyan–a head-scratching move, to say the least. At this point, the Packers know what they have in Newman, but Rhyan is a 2022 third-round pick who is under contract for two more seasons; why not see what you have in him?

”It’s been a competitive situation,” said LaFleur on the decision to put in Rhyan instead of Newman. “He’s done it in practice. It was good to see that when he went out there he was able to do his job at a really high level. We’re always going to evaluate though and try to put the best guys out there that we feel the most confident are going to help us move the ball.”

But I digress. Outside of the offensive line’s performance against the Rams, the Packers have really struggled to get the run game going this season. They entered Week 9 averaging just 3.8 yards per carry, and even that figure is bolstered by a number of scrambles by Jordan Love.

There isn’t any one player along the offensive line that has been the sole contributor to these issues–it’s been everyone. However, Runyan, in particular, has struggled this season. Out of 87 eligible guards, Runyan ranks 73rd in run-blocking grade–although he has been better in pass protection.

As we saw on Sunday, having a run game to lean on does wonders for this young Packers offense. It helped keep them out of obvious passing situations, set up play-action, and took the playmaking burden off the passing game. Not surprisingly, Jordan Love had a very efficient day.

So given the importance of the run game for this offense, Runyan’s struggles, and the fact that this is an evaluation year and Runyan is a free agent after this season, while Rhyan – an aforementioned third-round pick – still is under contract, you could very easily make the case that he needs more opportunities. But with that said, I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon.

The continuity aspect of offensive line play is a very important element, and the Packers have had more of that as of late. There was a month-long stretch earlier in the season where the Packers were without Elgton Jenkins in practice consistently, while Runyan and Zach Tom also either missed practices or were limited. Josh Myers was recently limited in practice as well.

Truth be told, while the Packers starting five in games has been somewhat consistent this season, they haven’t had the same opportunity to work together in practice for a large portion of the year. A key contributor to the offensive line’s performance on Sunday was that they were all on the same page.

“All of us being on the same page,” said Zach Tom on Monday when asked about what was different this week compared to others. “The past few weeks, it has been one guy here or there, like everybody else is good, then one guy here or there not doing their job. Then, it messes up the whole play. But I thought yesterday we did a good job of all five of us being on the same page, and the tight ends, and the running backs, and you saw the results.”

All of this isn’t to say that there might not come a point in the season where Green Bay wants to take a closer look at Rhyan to get a better idea of what potential role he could fill in 2024. As I mentioned, it makes sense, but I don’t see that happening now.

The offensive line is coming off its best performance since Week 1. The continuity factor is important to the Packers, and for an offense that overall has struggled to get going and find some sort of consistent rhythm, more change isn’t something this unit needs right now.

Green Bay Packers rookie offensive lineman Sean Rhyan will be suspended six games without pay for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.

The Packers have six games remaining in the 2022 season, meaning Rhyan will miss the rest of his rookie season. He is eligible to return to the active roster following the Packers’ Week 18 contest against the Detroit Lions.

Rhyan was a third-round pick (92nd overall) out of UCLA.

While healthy all season, Rhyan has been active for just one game, playing one special teams snap in Week 9 against the Lions.

Rhyan will not count on the 53-man roster while suspended.

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