As far as high draft picks are concerned, it’s difficult to remember a Packer having a worse rookie season than Sean Rhyan. That’s saying something considering Steve Warren, Kenny Peterson, Joey Thomas, Donnell Washington, Brian Brohm, Pat Lee, Jerel Worthy, Khyri Thornton, and Jace Sternberger all wore the green and yellow in just the past two decades.
Bad wouldn’t be a strong enough word to describe Rhyan’s first year in Green Bay. Not only was the third-round pick stuck behind the likes of Jake Hanson and Royce Newman on the depth chart, but he spent the final six games on the suspended list for violating the NFL’s policy on performing-enhancing substances (There’s no truth to the rumor that Rhayn’s appeal consisted of videos of him getting beat like a rented mule on the practice field by journeyman Chris Slayton, who’s been with six teams since entering the league in 2019, and Jack Heflin, who’s currently playing in the XFL).
After re-watching all 83 of Rhyan’s preseason snaps from last summer, it’s hard to believe how awkward he looked at right guard. Granted, he played tackle at UCLA, and the transition isn’t easy, but it shouldn’t be that difficult. Either Rhyan is a slow learner, or first-year O-line coach Luke Butkus is a bad teacher. Or perhaps it’s a combination of the two.
Whatever the case, Rhyan has a lot of work to do if he expects to stick on the 53-man roster for a second season. He needs to spend the next few months getting a lot stronger in the upper body and improving his technique. Both were issues last August. Despite standing 6-foot-5 and weighing over 320 pounds, Rhyan wound up on the ground far too often.
In this video, 49ers defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (#96), despite weighing 270 pounds, tossed Rhyan (#75) aside like he was an undrafted tight end.
When Rhyan wasn’t on the turf, he was often whiffing on relatively simple blocks and allowing his opponent to either tackle the running back at the line of scrimmage or pressure the quarterback. Based on his college tape, the 22-year-old is more than capable of getting the better of backup defensive linemen, but that wasn’t the case at any point last summer.
In these videos, Rhyan (#75) proved to be no match for Saints backup defensive linemen Malcolm Roach (#97), who was the better player all night.
It was clear from watching Rhyan during two practices early in training camp that his hand placement and footwork were going to be problems in the preseason, and that proved to be the case. Due to poor technique, he wasn’t able to create extension in pass protection, and he continually fell off blocks in the run game. Is this the first time I’ve seen a young player struggle in August? Nope, but I can’t remember such a physically talented rookie looking so consistently bad.
If Rhyan continues to struggle at guard, the coaching staff could always move him back outside, where he more than held his own against elite edge rushers in the Pac-12. However, the NFL isn’t usually kind to tackles with short arms, and at 32 3/8″, Rhyan is well below average. Still, it would be an option if he’s still floundering inside midway through camp.
IN CONCLUSION: It would be foolish to dismiss Rhyan after one terrible season, but the Packers would be even more foolish to count on him for 2023. The prospect I watched on tape before last April’s draft looked nothing like the player I watched on the field a few months later. Add in the suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, and it’s difficult to feel confident about Rhyan being the player to finally break general manager Brian Gutekunst’s streak of third-round busts.
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Sad commentary, perhaps he’ll rebound but his play, suspension and college tape remained me of Tony Mandrich from the 80’s. Not that they’re the same player but once they couldn’t take the juice they just weren’t able to recover and play well in Green Bay. Hopefully, this isn’t the case here, but I’d be surprised if it’s any different and that’s just a sad story.
Michael how do one make a donation?
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When drafted, I recall your comparison to Josh Sitton which seemed fair at the time. This looks to be a make or break camp for Rhyan. Gutekunst won’t waste a roster spot if he can’t play, see J’Mon Moore and Jace Sternberger. Zac Tom lessens the sting out of this pick. When you draft at the back end of the third round there’s very little difference between a 4th round pick. It’s not like Gutekunst picks have been reaches for the most part in the third round. Thyri Thornton was a big time reach in the third round. Very uncharacteristic for Ted.
It would be great to see Rhyan replace Runyan at right guard, but I’m not holding my breath. Runyan is a decent starter, but he might’ve already maxed out. Myers, Runyan, and Nijman, from center to right tackle, isn’t going to put the fear of God into any defensive lines.