The Green Bay Packers took an early lead on a Jordan Love touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs and then put away Friday night’s 20-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints on a 51-yard touchdown run from quarterback Danny Etling. Results this time of year don’t really matter. The process does, especially for players fighting for roster spots.
Based on grades from Pro Football Focus, here are the best and worst performers from the Packers’ preseason win over the Saints:
Top 5 offense
1. OT Zach Tom: 84.5
2. QB Jordan Love: 82.6
3. TE Sal Cannella: 82.6
4. TE Nate Becker: 80.6
5. QB Danny Etling: 78.6
For the second week in a row, Tom put himself into the top five grades among offensive players. After finishing second last week, he’s in the top spot coming out of this game. Tom played 40 snaps at right tackle and didn’t give up a pressure. Love had three “big time throws” but was once again hurt by four drops. He received an elite grade from clean pockets. More on him here. Cannella (five snaps, one catch for 13 yards) and Becker (nine snaps, excellent blocking grade) made the most of their limited snaps, while Etling got a big boost from his 51-yard touchdown run.
Top 5 defense
1. OLB Ladarius Hamitlon: 87.5
2. S Micah Abernathy: 82.9
3. CB Kiondre Thomas: 82.5
4. S De’Vante Cross: 74.7
5. LB Quay Walker: 71.5
Hamilton had the team’s best run defense grade (one stop) and second-best pass-rushing grade (two pressures). Abernathy produced two splash plays (interception, tackle for loss) and was excellent in coverage. Thomas didn’t give up a catch over four targets and had two stops in the run game. Cross had a stop in the passing game and was strong in coverage. Although Isaiah McDuffie produced a team-high four stops, Walker had a higher grade because he was better against the run and in coverage.
Bottom 5 offense
1. TE Tyler Davis: 25.2
2. TE Alize Mack: 39.9
3. G Sean Rhyan: 42.2
4. WR Samori Toure: 44.6
5. RB Dexter Williams: 46.5
Davis finishes late in overall grade on offense for the second straight week. He had a turnover-causing fumble and a penalty, and he received terrible grades as a blocker over 24 snaps. Rhyan was hurt by a poor pass-blocking grade, and Toure’s big drop killed his overall grade.
Bottom 5 defense
1. DL Jonathan Ford: 26.8
2. DL Devonte Wyatt: 29.7
3. LB Ray Wilborn: 46.2
4. LB Ty Summers: 46.8
5. OLB Tipa Galeai: 49.3
Ford has played two very poorly-graded games this preseason. His run defense grade was poor over 29 snaps. Rough start for Wyatt, the Packers’ second of two first-round picks. He played 26 snaps and did nothing more than register a single tackle. Wilborn tackled well and did fine in coverage but was dinged hard for his work in the run game. Summers missed a tackle. Galeai had three pressures but was trailing in coverage on the Saints touchdown and struggled against the run.
Quarterback
Jordan Love: 82.6
Danny Etling: 78.8
Love was excellent over 27 dropbacks, especially from clean pockets. Four drops robbed him of roughly 75 passing yards. He played on time, threw decisively and didn’t have a turnover-worthy play. On play-action, Love completed four of six passes for 52 yards and produced an elite grade. Etling threw just one pass but earned a strong grade due to his running production (51-yard touchdown).
Special teams
Kabion Ento, who played 11 snaps, earned the top special teams grade. Tipa Galeai and Shawn Davis missed tackles covering kicks, and Kingsley Enagbare had a penalty. Ramiz Ahmed earned a high grade after making both field goals and extra points.
