GREEN BAY – Marcedes Lewis is the Packers' best in-line blocker at tight end, and one of the best in the league.
Robert Tonyan is the Packers' top receiving threat at tight end.
But third-year pro Josiah Deguara is coming into his own as a diverse, multi-faceted blocking tool for Green Bay's offense, and that was on full display in Buffalo.
Here's an extensive sampling.
Play No. 1: Second-and-8 from the Green Bay 30, first quarter, 13:20 left
Result: 6-yard run by RB Aaron Jones
One of many places Deguara will line up is in the backfield, and on the Packers' second play from scrimmage, he cuts in front of Jones to run interference against DE Greg Rousseau (50) to assist on a nice gain. RT Yosh Nijman(73) does some good work on LB Tremaine Edmunds (49), too. But Deguara was just getting warmed up.
Play No. 2: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 39, first quarter, 12:05 left
Result: 9-yard completion to RB AJ Dillon
Two plays later is an interesting schematic wrinkle, as Deguara comes in motion from a far outside position to become a pass protector in the RPO action, engaging with Rousseau on the right edge as the rest of the line is moving left. He buys QB Aaron Rodgers just enough time to find Dillon in the flat.
Play No. 3: Second-and-1 from the Green Bay 48, first quarter, 11:22 left
Result: 7-yard completion to Jones
On the next snap, Deguara is in the slot to block for Jones on the swing pass, and he gets the job done against CB Taron Johnson (7) to move the chains and then some. WR Amari Rodgers (8) is also effective against CB Kaiir Elam (24) to allow for a productive play.
Play No. 4: Second-and-3 from the Green Bay 27, second quarter, 14:12 left
Result: 7-yard run by Dillon
Here's another play where Deguara comes in motion from a perimeter position, only this time it's to throw a run block on DE Boogie Basham (55), much like he would do from the backfield or an in-line alignment. Dillon makes his cut off the block, and if Nijman is able to hold his block against LB Matt Milano (58) a tick longer, a good run maybe becomes an explosive one.
Play No. 5: Second-and-1 from the Buffalo 30, second quarter, 8:04 left
Result: 13-yard run by Jones
Deguara's block is the highlight here as we see yet more diversity to his usage. He begins as a traditional fullback, motions into an off-set position, and then cuts back the other way to get after Milano. It's also worth noting the good work by LG Zach Tom (50) on DT DaQuan Jones (92) and by LT David Bakhtiari on Edmunds. Bakhtiari also benefits from a better angle on Edmunds thanks to Deguara's pre-snap shift.
Play No. 6: First-and-5 from the Green Bay 13, third quarter, 14:27 left
Result: 32-yard run by Jones
Here's the Packers' biggest run of the game, on the second snap of the second half, and no surprise, Deguara is right in the thick of it. His block on Milano is textbook, while RG Jon Runyan (76) seals off D. Jones, and Nijman gets to Edmunds on the second level. Much like Deguara's pre-snap motion on the last play, Dillon's motion draws Edmunds a few steps away from Jones' running lane as the ball is snapped, and Nijman takes advantage of a better blocking angle.
Play No. 7: Second-and-5 from the Green Bay 45, third quarter, 3:24 left
Result: 9-yard run by Dillon
There's a lot going on here, but once again, Deguara's block is a key piece of the action. This time he comes across the formation to pick off CB Dane Jackson (30), but the other stuff is fun to watch too. Lewis (89) fakes like he's going to block outside, and instead goes inside to take Milano by surprise. Hello. Tom pulls around to get Basham on the edge, and Nijman comes off the double-team with Runyan to push Edmunds downfield. Rather than draw too many lines and arrows back and forth, the blocker and corresponding defender are highlighted with matching shapes.
Bonus No. 1: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 21, second quarter, 1:50 left
Result: 11-yard run by Jones
With all the attention being given Deguara in this display, it's only fair to include additional good blocking work by the other tight ends. This one is Tonyan's on LB Von Miller (40) on the edge to spring Jones for another strong run.
Bonus No. 2: First-and-10 from the Buffalo 39, second quarter, 8:46 left
Result: 9-yard run by Jones
And of course, even with all that's been highlighted here, the best tight end block of the game belongs to the best at the craft, the Big Dog. Lewis simply takes Milano for a ride, and then finishes him.
