Packers: Analyzing DeShone Kizer ahead of second preseason game

Green Bay Packers quarterback DeShone Kizer played well against the Tennessee Titans in the preseason opener, but is he poised to be the key backup going into 2018?

DeShone Kizer looked good last week against Tennessee, but most Packers fans are wondering if the rookie QB is fit to be the backup to Aaron Rodgers.

Kizer has improved overall as a player since being traded from Cleveland earlier this year. But many question if he’s improved enough to the point where Green Bay can trust him as the main backup. The Packers have had the entire offseason to analyze Kizer, and see if he can really handle the pressure. So is he the guy?

It’s only the preseason so it can be difficult to fully evaluate players as the games don’t matter, and most of the starters are out. But it’s still football, and they’re still trying to win. Based on what we saw from Kizer, we should be able to grasp somewhat of a preview of how he’s going to play.

Last Thursday night, Kizer completed nine of 18 passes for 134 passing yards. He looked a lot more disciplined, and much more balanced handling the ball than he did in his days as a Cleveland Brown.

Kizer was able to handle the pressure outside and inside of the pocket. He did, however, struggle to put the ball in the end zone.

Here’s what Kizer had to say about his play in the red zone, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

"“It’s 100 percent timing,” Kizer said. “When you take a game that is built for 100 yards and you’re bringing it down to 10 or 20, you’re taking a lot of guys and putting them in a little bit of space. In order to complete those passes, you have to have great timing, you have to have great anticipation and you have to understand defenses.”"

The Packers have Brett Hundley, Tim Boyle, and Kizer to choose from. They could choose to keep more than one on the 53-man roster, but only one will be the main guy to back up Rodgers.

Kizer still has a lot to improve on. But he’s definitely got a lot better since coming to Green Bay.  And with the continuation of Kizer being guided by Packers coaches, there is no reason why he shouldn’t fit in.

Packers fans should be excited to see what happens with Kizer and the rest of the quarterbacks heading into the 2018 season.