Packers lastly discovered the key sauce to get the offense working
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 13: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates with Christian Watson #9 of the Green Bay Packers after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field on November 13, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Packers followers have been clamoring for an improve at broad receiver for properly over a 12 months. Seems that’s all of the offense wanted to get again on monitor.
A fast have a look at the Green Bay Packers‘ offensive depth chart within the preseason made it fairly apparent there was a dearth of expertise on the broad receiver place. Not surprisingly, Aaron Rodgers struggled to beat that problem for a lot of the common season.
Issues took a dramatic flip for Rodgers and the Packers’ offense in opposition to the Cowboys of their Week 10 additional time victory.
Christian Watson trying good as receiving possibility for Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Christian Watson out of the blue emerged as a viable No. 1 broad receiver for an offense that was beforehand starved of an enormous play menace on the skin. He completed the win with 4 catches for 107 yards and three touchdowns.
These uncooked statistical numbers really underrate the rookie wideout’s impression on the offense as a complete. Having Watson on the sector has dramatically improved Inexperienced Bay’s offensive effectivity all season lengthy. The Packers are averaging roughly 0.66 factors extra on drives that contain the previous North Dakota State standout than after they attempt to function with out him.
In order that’s 0.66 extra factors per drive with Watson in at any level on the drive than a drive with 0 Christian Watson snaps.
49 drives with Watson: 93 factors
51 drives with out Watson: 63 factors— Dusty (@DustyEvely) November 15, 2022
These numbers are clearly boosted by Watson’s breakout sport in opposition to the Cowboys, however he provides Inexperienced Bay’s offense a distinct menace even when he’s not catching the ball. His uncooked pace permits him to stretch opposing secondaries vertically.
On the very least, Watson’s presence on the skin forces opponents to maintain one security out of the field. That’s essential for a Inexperienced Bay floor sport that thrives on creating numerical benefits on the line of scrimmage.
Watson’s huge day in opposition to Dallas ought to solely enhance the quantity of consideration he receives from opposing defenses within the coming weeks. That is perhaps a detriment to his particular person manufacturing nevertheless it ought to profit his offensive teammates on the entire. His presence on the sector provides the Packers the kind of offensive stability they must be efficient.
Watson isn’t going to make Rodgers overlook about Davante Adams anytime quickly, however he does give the celebrity signal-caller a dynamic weapon to work with. That is perhaps simply sufficient to make Inexperienced Bay a harmful playoff crew when the postseason arrives.