Diving into Robert Tonyan’s film against the Chicago Bears

Everyone saw the potential, but no one could have predicted Green Bay Packers’ tight end Robert Tonyan’s rise in production in 2020. In 11 games this year, Tonyan has totaled 37 receptions, 458 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns, all of which are career-highs for the third-year tight end. In Green Bay’s offense, Tonyan is not only a weapon but one of the most impactful tight ends in the NFL.

When the Packers released Jimmy Graham this offseason, all signs pointed toward Jace Sternberger as the likely replacement. In 2019, the team invested a third-round pick in Sternberger with the plan to develop him into a viable threat in Matt LaFleur’s offense. However, Sternberger isn’t having the success the team hoped for in year two. Meanwhile, Tonyan is flourishing in his second year in LaFleur’s offense and, as a result, has forced Green Bay’s hand to make him the starter.

There’s no disputing that Tonyan has been the best tight end on the Packers roster this season. Not only has he improved as a blocker, but his ability as a receiver is something opposing defenses need to account for every week.

Slowly but steadily, Tonyan is becoming a more respected tight end around the league. His offseason work with George Kittle has paid in dividends, and his three-touchdown performance against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4 is plenty of justification.

This week, during a 41-25 win over the Chicago Bears, Tonyan put together another solid performance on the field and showed why he’s the tight end of the future in Green Bay. He caught all five of his targets and led all Green Bay receivers with 67 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown.

Now let’s look at the film to see what went into another good outing from Tonyan:

Tonyan hasn’t always been a great blocker, but he’s improved drastically since arriving at the Packers. Learning behind one of the best blocking tight ends in league history in Marcedes Lewis has probably helped. Here, Tonyan is going to try to execute a split zone cut block against Bears All-Pro Khalil Mack. He doesn’t quite roll through the hips of Mack, but it was still an effective block. Mack was unable to make a play on the ball, and Aaron Jones ran through the running lane that Tonyan helped create to pick up 14 yards.

Later in the game, Tonyan executed a cut block much better on Chicago edge rusher Robert Quinn.

In the play above, Tonyan doesn’t get the ball, but it was worth noting how good of a route he ran. Roquan Smith is in coverage and bites hard on the stick n nod route by Tonyan. The Green Bay tight end uses great technique and deception on this route to get on top of Smith down the seam. If Aaron Rodgers had seen this, it could have been a huge gain.

This play highlights one of Tonyan’s best traits, which is his ability to run clean, effective routes. Even an athletic linebacker like Smith will find it difficult to play man against Tonyan.

Tonyan hasn’t dropped a single pass all year, according to Pro Football Focus. Here, he makes a great shoelace grab running a slide route, which is a staple in LaFleur’s offense. Tonyan’s hands are as solid as they come in comparison to most tight ends.

On this mesh concept, it looks like Tonyan is trying to rub the man covering Jamaal Williams to try and free him up. After Tonyan releases from the mesh point, he accelerates and separates from Danny Trevathan. Again, another great display of deceptive route running.

Here is the 39-yard reception that went for a touchdown. Rodgers has been deadly on play-action in 2020, but it helps to have your tight end running routes such as this.

Tonyan sells the corner route beautifully before crossing the face of Eddie Jackson. Jackson tries to recover with a speed turn, but Tonyan has already separated by at least a few yards. If Tonyan can make this play against an All-Pro in Jackson, he can make it against any safety in the league.

Tonyan has to continue to produce before getting consideration as one of the top tight ends in the NFL. However, if he continues to improve as a run blocker and remains one of Rodgers’ favorite targets in the Packers’ offense, he certainly has a chance.

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