Packers Film Room: Matthew Golden in Week 2

After coming in as a much-ballyhooed first-round pick, Matthew Golden hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. After 2 catches for 16 yards in Week 1, his stat line looked even less full in Week 2: 2 carries for 15 yards and 0 catches on 2 targets.

But stats and film are two different things, so I wanted to take a look at what Golden did in Week 2 against the Commanders, and I’m going to make it your problem.

First things first: let’s just talk about the two carries he got. The speed and shiftiness is certainly on display, and the Packers are clearly looking for ways to get the ball in his hands, which is a good sign.

Beyond what they’ve given him as part of the running game, they’re also asking him to hold his own as a blocker in the run game. At 5’11”, 191 lbs, he’s not going to be a lockdown blocker, but I’ve been impressed with his willingness and effectiveness. When looking at a WR as a blocker (particularly a rookie WR), I’m looking for two main things: does he give effort, and does he know his assignment? Through two games, I can say that the answer is “yes” to both of those for Golden.

Now, to the passing game, starting with the targets. He’s not doing anything spectacular on the first route, but it’s effective. He’s the outside man in a 2x2 formation against man coverage. He starts his route vertically to the outside before bending back in. It’s not much, but that initial outside push is enough to get his defender to open up to the outside, forcing him to flip back inside when Golden bends back in. Nice, subtle route to get the initial separation and the speed to keep that separation down the field.

Unfortunately, Jordan Love slightly underthrows the ball, leading to a pass breakup.

The next target sees Golden outside in a 2x2 once again. The Commanders have two men to his side, but Golden simply runs right through them. Love sets, loads & fires, and slightly overthrows Golden this time.

Split the difference on those throws, and we’re probably sitting here talking about a two-touchdown game from Golden. Unfortunately, that’s not how football works, so he’s 0/2.

As for the times he wasn’t targeted in the passing game? Pretty good!

One thing that was tough to tell from Golden’s college tape - from most WR college tape, really - was his release off the line. There are very few examples of press coverage in college, so it’s tough to know how effective a WR will be once he faces that in the NFL. The early returns are showing that Golden has a good enough release package off the line to get him free releases.

His footwork allows him to maneuver his defender out of position, then use his speed to stack his defender down the field to create separation and give his QB a good target.

His speed down the field allows him to push defenders back, giving him a cushion to work back to.

His suddenness at the top of the route can put defenders in extremely poor positions.

And, finally, his effort & willingness as a run blocker allow the coaching staff to give him creative outlets as a receiver. In the shadow of their own goalposts, Golden motions in as an insert blocker - a role they’ve used him for in the run game - then releases him vertically through the line.

Golden is able to slide right by the defender, looking to take him on through the line, finding some free grass. But the field position of the Packers - combined with the pressure through the line - sees Love deciding to take the easier throw to Tucker Kraft in the flat. That’s absolutely the right call in this situation, but they’ve also seen Golden wide open on this and have filed that away.

As I said at the top, the stat line isn’t going to blow anyone away. That being said, Golden put a lot of encouraging things on tape against the Commanders. Aside from the two near-misses on his targets, he was consistently open in the passing game and a willing blocker in the run game. When he was asked to simply be a vertical clear-out receiver in the passing game, he pushed hard to clear out, exactly like he’s supposed to do.

Aside from all those things, he was on the field for 59% of the Packers’ offensive snaps, second only to Romeo Roubs (74%) for wide receiver snaps.

We’re only two weeks in, but it feels like Golden is right on the doorstep of having a huge game. He’s doing all the right things, and the Packers seem to trust him. I’ve been extremely encouraged watching him, and I’ve loved what he has brought to this offense. If he keeps doing that, it’s only a matter of time before the stat line catches up with him.

Albums listened to: John Carpenter - Halloween III: Season of the Witch; Chevelle - Bright as Blasphemy; Lucy Dacus - Forever is a Feeling

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