The Packers’ Future Is With Sean Rhyan Right Now
Is Sean Rhyan qualified to take the field? He’s been playing more and more in the rotation with Jon Runyan since there’s only one way to find out..
Green Bay, Wisconsin The Green Bay Packers’ year has been spent walking a tightrope between winning in 2023 and preparing for 2024. This delicate balancing act is exemplified by the team’s choice of veteran Jon Runyan and rookie Sean Rhyan to start at right guard.
This season, Runyan has started every game, however in the second part of the schedule, Rhyan has been used sparingly for a few series. But over the past two weeks, the snap count has been roughly 50/50.
It’s obvious that the coaches think Runyan is the superior player because he consistently starts for a club that makes the playoffs. However, at the end of the season, Runyan will be available as a free agency. The Packers, who heavily invested in Rhyan as a third-round pick in 2022, would be thrilled to give him the job.
Rhyan doesn’t have the larger picture in mind. Instead, he is solely focused on the game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night.
Rhyan recalled his grandmother telling him that if you gaze too far into the future, you’ll never see what’s right in front of you. I’m just living day by day, week by week. I’m not attempting to plan too far ahead. We’re simply aiming to go 1-0 as a team and concentrate on this week. I have no idea what the future will bring. All I know, though, is that I’m eager to take a little swing at the Vikings this week.
The Packers have always had a defined philosophy. Choose Runyan, the reliable performer with experience, but give Rhyan some crucial experience to see whether he can take Runyan’s spot the next season. Is Rhyan good enough to start after a disappointing rookie season in which he didn’t play a single snap from scrimmage and finished the season with a six-game suspension?
There’s just one approach to learn more.
Rhyan has played 115 snaps, starting with the victory over the Rams in Week 8. In the previous two weeks, there have been 62 snaps.
Does that mean Rhyan will be a starter the following season?
With a background in offensive line play, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich remarked, “Yeah, I think he’s got a chance to be.” He still has some work ahead of him. From a physically perspective, I like what I see in him. At the point of attack in the run game, he performs admirably.
He still needs to work on pass protection, though. That will be his main focus going ahead. He must, of course, succeed in that area if he hopes to establish himself as a mainstay guard in this league. To improve that area of his game, it is one area we will give him a lot of attention coming forward.
The data backs up that claim. In 526 pass-protecting snaps, Runyan has given up two sacks and 20 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. For per 26.3 passing plays, there is one pressure like that. In 73 pass-protecting snaps, Rhyan has given up four pressures and zero sacks. With 18.3 passing plays per 100, it is one pressure.
To put it mildly, rotating offensive linemen is unconventional. It was once said by former Packers coach Mike McCarthy that cohesive offensive lines are the most effective. More teams would be using the revolving-door strategy if it were the best course of action.
Nevertheless, there has been an unanticipated benefit beyond providing Rhyan with the experience he needs to make an important offseason choice.
Rhyan stated, “Obviously, looking ahead, yeah, it would be nice to be a starter, but as things stand right now, Johnny and I are rotating, and I think that’s given us an edge.” “Man, why do you guys keep rotating guards? I stepped in there for the second set of the game [against Carolina], where we were facing Derrick Brown. I’m not able to adjust to any of you. I think, “Oh, that’s great.”
Thus, it’s fantastic. Of course, everyone wants to start. Getting into that starting job is, I believe, their primary objective in the NFL. Naturally, that’s what I have my sights set on, but for now, rotating this year is keeping things headed in the right way a little bit.
League data shows that when Rhyan is on the field, the team is averaging 6.12 yards per rushing play for the season. That is an improvement of 1.79 yards over his off-field position. Rhyan gave up no pressure on 15 passing-play snaps against the Panthers, including a few against the outstanding Brown
Rhyan remarked, “Playing against him was fun.” Everyone in the league is terrific, but I enjoy it when we enter the film room and realize that we have Derrick Brown—a talented player. “Well, since he’s such a good player, let’s pursue him and see what we can accomplish,” I thought to myself.
The challenger this week is Harrison Phillips of Minnesota; the opponent the following week is Andrew Billings of Chicago. Though they aren’t as good as Brown, they are still excellent starts and useful benchmarks for Rhyan and the Packers.
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