Coming into the training camp, the Green Bay Packers backup quarterback job was Matt Flynn’s to lose. We predicted he would indeed lose it to Scott Tolzien. This week, the contest was declared even.
“I think it’s up in the air right now,” quarterbacks coach Scott Van Pelt said. “It’s in a competition. That’s healthy for everybody.”
Scooter has been taking No. 2 reps this week, the first time he’s done so in training camp. The coaches say that’s unrelated to last week’s preseason performance, but Tolzien had by far the superior game, so draw your own conclusions.
Against Tennessee, Tolzien was 8-of-12 for 124 yards and Flynn was 5-of-10 for 49 yards. In addition to the statistical disparity, the Packers offense had another dimension with Scooter under center. Namely, the one that involves throwing the ball more than 10 yards.
With Flynn, the Packers passing game was dink and dunk.
The Packers haven’t publicly committed to giving Tolzien No. 2 game reps this week, but we fully expect to see him follow Aaron Rodgers against the Rams. If this really is an open competition, they have to get a look at Scooter with the No. 2 unit in a game at some point.
Everything seems to point to that time being now.
If the performances are similar to those last week, then Tolzien will have established himself as the man to beat for the job.