Throughout the years, the Green Bay Packers have been blessed with some wise veterans players. Defensive back Charles Woodson was the veteran voice for the Packers defense when the Packers won the Super Bowl in 2011. Prior to the 2014 season, the Packers brought in standout defensive lineman Julius Peppers. In his three seasons with the Packers, he chalked up 25 sacks and became the leader of the Packers defense. Once again, the Packers have another veteran that is making his presence known. However, this time, it is on the offensive side of the ball. Tight end Marcedes Lewis is providing not only leadership but solid play.
Green Bay Packers Offense Bennefitting from Marcedes Lewis
All the way back in 2006, the Jacksonville Jaguars used a first-round pick to select Marcedes Lewis. Lewis, a standout at UCLA, was with the Jaguars from 2006-2017. During that time, he caught 375 passes for 4,502 yards with 33 receiving touchdowns. It was quite a run for Lewis and the Jaguars. Even with doing so much for the Jaguars organization, they decided to allow Lewis to depart as a free agent after the 2017 season.
Ending up in Green Bay was a no-brainer for Marcedes Lewis. Why was it a no-brainer? The answer would be Aaron Rodgers. The presence of Rodgers has made Green Bay a go-to destination for veteran players in search of winning a Super Bowl ring. Lewis knew what he was getting when he signed, but what were the Packers getting?
Turns out, the Packers were getting a very valuable piece to their team. Not only has Marcedes Lewis been a presence with his block skill, but he has also started to contribute with his catching ability.
The Best Blocking Tight End in the NFL
When Marcedes Lewis entered the NFL, not only was Lewis known for his size, but also his catching ability. He finished his Bruins career with 126 career receptions for 1,571 yards with 21 touchdown receptions. His ability to catch the ball was never in question when he entered the league, but his blocking needed time to develop. But it was well worth the wait.
As his career progressed, so did Marcedes Lewis blocking ability. The prospect more known for his receiving ability when he entered the league, became more known for his blocking. By the time his career in Jacksonville had come to an end, he was known as the best blocker in the NFL.
His blocking ability with the Jaguars has carried over to the Packers offense. His blocking prowess is not just in the run game as well. His ability to pass protect from the tight end position has been a thing of beauty, especially this season.
With starting left tackle David Bakhtiari on the PUP list and his replacement Elgton Jenkins out with an ankle injury, the Packers inserted Yosh Nijman as their starter. Against the San Francisco 49ers, Nijman made his first career start. Not only was it his first career start, but he would also be facing one of the best pass rushers in the NFL in Nick Bosa.
Luckily for Nijman, he had help. The help was Marcedes Lewis. Lewis provided Nijman extra help when needed. Then when it was time for Lewis to handle Bosa one on one, he was up for the task. Lewis and his blocking ability have also rubbed off on his younger teammates. Robert Tonyan, the Packers top pass-catching tight end, has seen his blocking ability grow since playing with Lewis.
Still Making Catches at 37 Years Old
In 2010, Marcedes Lewis earned a spot for the Pro Bowl. That season, he caught a career-high 58 catches for 700 yards with 10 touchdown receptions. But those days are long gone for the veteran pass-catcher. While those days might be over, Lewis still brings something to the passing game.
While Lewis won’t match the numbers he put up in 2010, Lewis is making his catches count. Former standout tight end Greg Olsen announced the Packers 24-10 victory over the Washington Football Team on Sunday. As he pointed out when Lewis makes a catch it seems like he always makes the first would-be tackler miss. Along with that, when Lewis makes a catch, it brings excitement to the Packers sideline.
The main duty for Lewis is to continue to provide upper echelon blocking for the Packers offense. But this season, it seems that Lewis is being targeted more by his quarterback. His top season as a pass-catcher for the Packers came in 2019 when he caught 15 passes for 156 yards with one touchdown. This season, in just six games, he has already caught six passes for 77 yards.
His numbers will not blow fans away, but Marcedes Lewis is making every catch count. Rodgers has always leaned on receivers he can depend on. It appears that Lewis has gained the confidence of his MVP quarterback.
Leadership Just as Important as Stats
Aaron Rodgers is not the only fan of Marcedes Lewis. Head coach Matt LaFleur might be the biggest fan of all. LaFleur raves about his work ethic and understands what Lewis brings as a veteran. While leadership won’t show up in the box score, for LaFleur, what Lewis is doing as a leader is just as important.
That leadership is also rubbing off on the other young tight ends on the Packers roster. Tonyan has learned a lot from Lewis. Tonyan has talked about what he has gained in knowledge from Lewis in the past several seasons playing with him. Tonyan isn’t the only one either. Dominique Dafney and Josiah Deguara, both younger tight ends for the Packers, are getting to see up close and personal, what a true professional Lewis is.
Football fans love to see players give their all, which is why many love watching Lewis play. Lewis will not wow fans with diving catches and big stats. Instead, he does his job, the dirty work, and does it well. There is a reason he has earned the respect of Rodgers, LaFleur, and the rest of his teammates.
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