The Green Bay Packers picked up their first win of the preseason on Friday night, comfortably beating the Broncos by a final score of 33-13 in Denver.
Unlike last week, Green Bay was able to maintain a certain standard of performance even as the deep backups got into the game.
Here are five takeaways from a successful night for the Packers:
Jordan Love and first-team offense look sharp
Love and the starting offense played the opening drive of the game, just as they did in Pittsburgh a week ago, and they put together a crisp, elongated drive which ended with a touchdown pass to MarShawn Lloyd.
The Broncos fans showed up in numbers for the exhibition game, and early on it had the feeling of a real game, with both team’s starters in the game and competing hard.
Matt LaFleur has spoken about how playing at least a smattering of snaps in these games can be beneficial for the starters, and in what was expected to be the final preseason action for Love and company, Friday night will have given them a nice dry run ahead of the regular season.
Young running backs impress
Lloyd’s touchdown reception with the starting offense was a terrific moment for a player who has been through so much adversity, and more than that, displayed his explosive burst as he left a Broncos linebacker in the dust on a Texas route before waltzing into the end zone.
He does need to become a bit more decisive as a runner, which will hopefully come with time after not playing real football for so long. It was another successful night for the former third-round pick though.
Besides Lloyd, Pierre Strong Jr. also had, well, a strong showing, highlighted by a 68-yard kickoff return as well as some smart runs on offense. Between Strong and Skyy Moore, it seems the Packers may finally have some competent returners.
Jaden Nixon also scored his first touchdown as a pro, plunging in from a few yards out after ripping off a 16-yard explosive run moments earlier. Green Bay struggled to run the ball in Pittsburgh last week, so Friday night’s performance was more encouraging.
Kamal Hadden will be tough to cut
Hadden is making a real run at a roster spot. The cornerback has performed well in practice and showed up in a big way against the Broncos as a nickel defender, specifically as an enforcer in the run game and with his tackling, as he made several important stops.
Tackling really matters at corner to the Packers, and Hadden is certainly not shy in that regard. He was threatening to get playing time at the end of last season before a gruesome injury, and now is making a strong case to be the backup slot defender in Jonathan Gannon’s defense.
Chris McClellan looks the part
Rookie third-round pick McClellan had a fruitful evening in Denver, being credited with six tackles during his extensive playing time with the backups. He was solid in the preseason opener and followed it up by flashing multiple times against the Broncos, contributing in both phases.
While unlikely to start, at least early on in the regular season, McClellan looks like he should be able to help the Packers as a rookie. A special mention to Anthony Campbell, who continues to make plays and fight for a roster spot. His sack of Sam Ehlinger was something to behold.
Will Sheppard announces himself
The battle for the final couple of wide receiver spots is getting fierce, and Sheppard put his name firmly in the mix with his performance in Denver.
A second-year player out of Colorado, Sheppard finished the night with six catches for 47 yards and a touchdown, showing some ‘toe-drag swag’ to haul in a fade from Tyrod Taylor. He also made a strong catch in traffic from Kyle McCord, and was a friendly target all night.
Elsewhere, Isaiah Neyor had 47 yards of his own on just three catches, as he continues to catch the eye. His catch radius is outrageous due to his 82 ⅝” wingspan, and that was on full display on one catch on a pass which was well outside his frame.
Between Sheppard, Neyor, Bo Melton and J. Michael Sturdivant, some tough decisions are coming at the wide receiver position.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: 5 takeaways from Packers 33 – 13 Broncos: Young running backs impress
Reporting by Mark Oldacres, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mark Oldacres, Packers Wire | USA TODAY Network
