The Green Bay Packers’ offense stresses defenses in so many ways. They can run directly at you with Josh Jacobs, stretch you vertically with Matthew Golden, or give the ball to Tucker Kraft and let him barrel his way through defenders. The Washington Commanders had a front-row seat to the Kraft Show on Thursday Night Football.
That’s not even including the ice-cool consistency of Romeo Doubs and the eventual return of Christian Watson, who is the ultimate game-changer when healthy.
We can add another name to the mix: Savion Williams. The third-round rookie provided a sneak peek of how LaFleur can use him as a do-it-all weapon in the Packers’ offense.
Packers are beginning to reveal how Savion Williams can become a matchup nightmare for defenses
The Packers shocked the world by drafting Williams in the third round just a day after ending their first-round wide receiver drought on Golden. He drew Cordarrelle Patterson comparisons for his ability as a returner and versatile chess piece on offense.
We’re beginning to see why.
It’s only one play, but it was a glimpse into a new element LaFleur may have just unlocked. As Williams broke free and looked destined for the end zone, it sent a warning sign to the rest of the league.
On a 2nd-and-8 with Green Bay leading Washington by only seven in the fourth quarter, LaFleur pulled out the wildcat formation. Love slid to the left to allow Williams to take a direct snap. He then made one defender miss and had green grass in front of him with a clear view of the end zone.
But he slipped. Williams still picked up 16 yards and a first down, but the Lambeau turf prevented a potential 35-yard touchdown.
The outcome is irrelevant. The potential is undeniable.
It’s one of many ways LaFleur can use Williams. LaFleur is among the most creative play-callers in the game, and he will undoubtedly have spent his summer drawing up plays like an artist with a blank canvas.
As Mike Luciano of FanSided noted in his scouting report, “Williams is such a headache for opposing defenses.” He is a nightmare to defend when he gets the ball in the open field, as we saw briefly on Thursday.
Injuries limited Williams’ practice time throughout the summer, and the Packers are smartly easing him in.
The rookie saw a notable spike in his snaps from Weeks 1 to 2, partly due to Jayden Reed’s injury. That will increase in the games ahead, especially with Reed likely out for at least six weeks.
Defenses have so much to deal with when Jordan Love leads his crew onto the field. Now you add Williams to the mix? It’s only Week 2, but in just a handful of snaps, LaFleur has already used him to take a direct snap.
Just imagine what he has in store. Williams is just getting started, and so is LaFleur.
The league has allowed the Packers to hand LaFleur, one of the most creative and genius play-callers in the NFL, a new cheat code. And Williams might make this offense unplayable.
