The tight end position has been up in the air for the Green Bay Packers. With Robert Tonyan still on the PUP list, there have been questions of how the depth chart will shake out. Aaron Rodgers has always loved throwing to tight ends so it is an important part of the offense. Training camp would hopefully answer a lot of questions for the Packers. The tight ends have been making strides at Packers camp.
Meet the Tight Ends
The first tight end is a fan favorite and has the least amount of questions. Mercedes Lewis is a veteran of the league and of the Packers. His blocking has been key to the Packers success in the running game the past couple of seasons. Don’t discount his pass catching ability either. He always seems to come up with some big catch throughout the season. Behind him there are 3 tight ends: Josiah Deguara, Dominique Dafney, and Tyler Davis. Deguara showed flashes last year while Dafney was mainly a blocking and special teams players. Similarly, Davis has done little on the field only catching 4 passes last year. The position is thin but seems to being making improvements in training camp.
Run Blocking
Tight ends coach John Dunn has got to be happy where his unit is in the respect of run blocking. The Packers have two great running backs with high hopes for the season. The offensive line is important but a true elite running game gets help from the tight ends. As stated above, Lewis is already an elite blocker and his presence and coaching seem to be rubbing off. Both Dafney and Deguara had nice blocks in drills to help achieve a big run. If the Packers end up having to rely more on the run, the tight ends will be a key cog in the wheel of this offense.
Pass Catching
I’m less concerned about the pass catching. Rodgers has taken many players and turned them into solid pieces of the offense. The main thing the tight ends have to do is be in the right spot. It was positive to see Tyler Davis find a hole during a scramble drill to pick up a big gain. Rodgers and the Packers offense have feasted on teams during scramble plays over the years. If the tight ends can keep finding the holes in the defense, Rodgers will find them.
The hope is that Tonyan comes back healthy and returns to his touchdown scoring ways. In the meantime, the Packers tight ends are making strides in training camp. While their impact may not be felt on the stat sheet, it will definitely reflect in the running game.