Packers 2016 Recap: DE Letroy Guion
2016 Stats
- Played in 15 games
- 20 tackles, 1 pass deflection
- Pro Football Focus: 50.1/100 (63rd out of 127 qualified interior defenders)
Expectations going into the season: Moderate
Expectations were: Met
Analysis: Guion loses his pass rush, remains a solid run defender
Letroy Guion signed a three-year, $11.5 million extension in February, it was a small victory for the bad boys of the NFL.
"Can't win the Super Bowl with 'nice guys' on defense," teammate Mike Daniels said on Twitter after Guion’s contract extension. "Ask the Broncos, Patriots, Seahawks, and Ravens. Glad to see Letroy come back."
His ninth NFL season had its highs – he led the team with 7.5 tackles for loss – and its lows – after notching 16 pressures in 622 snaps in 2015, he had only one in 527 snaps this season.
When Guion played in Minnesota, his defensive line coach Brendan Daly said, “one of the best assets he has is explosiveness and his ability to move.”
Perhaps the days of Guion’s explosiveness are past, but he still can offer the Packers quite a bit next season. In a short yardage or early down, Guion has long arms (34 7/8 inches) that help keep offensive lineman from reach-blocking. Those missed reach blocks helped Green Bay start the season as the league’s stoutest defense against the run.
Late in the NFC Championship Game, the Packers were out of offensive lineman. With backup quarterback Brett Hundley in, Letroy Guion lined up at right guard. It was a strange sight seeing Guion on the opposite side of the line.
Not bad for a defensive lineman.