How can the Packers solve their offensive line woes
There are two opposing schools of thought about how an offensive line should be built. One, more old school, believes the coaching staff should find out who the best five players are, and then shake the formation in a way to allow them all to play. Another, adopted more frequently over the last decade, projects […]
There are two opposing schools of thought about how an offensive line should be built. One, more old school, believes the coaching staff should find out who the best five players are, and then shake the formation in a way to allow them all to play. Another, adopted more frequently over the last decade, projects positional value and how to use the best players when they impact the game more. Both have its merits and reasoning, and the Green Bay Packers live that conundrum right now.
The Packers have an offensive line problem, which is something they aren't used to and weren't expecting before the season. David Bakhtiari's knee injury popping up again opened a new series of issues, exposing the depth and limiting the unit's ceiling.
For now, head coach Matt LaFleur, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, and offensive line coach Luke Butkus have prioritized positional value while choosing who is going to play. That's why Zach Tom, their best offensive lineman so far, plays at right tackle. But that also means Yosh Nijman, a solid and experienced tackle, is on the bench while Josh Myers and Jon Runyan play in the interior of the offensive line.
Philosophically, the choice makes sense, until one piece reaches the unplayable level. And it's been hard to watch Josh Myers. According to Pro Football Focus grades, Jon Runyan is the worst starting for the Packers, but PFF's methodology is based on play-by-play analysis. Myers has his good moments and is not consistently bad, but the lows are really low. The lack of a decent floor is not something new for him.
When asked during training camp what he looked for when promoting a center competition, Matt LaFleur mentioned consistency. And that's not a coincidence.
"Just a level of play that is consistent and up to a standard that we have for that position," said LaFleur. "Certainly, I think that's a key part. They're the guy talking to the other five, getting everybody on the same page."
There are also some questions about the Yosh Nijman situation. He was the starting right tackle for most of last year, even ahead of Zach Tom. This year, he lost the job to Tom, which was expected to a certain degree, but also lost the swing tackle job, that eventually became the starting left tackle job, to Rasheed Walker.
"Right now, he's a backup tackle for us,” offensive coordinator and former offensive line coach Adam Stenavich said during camp. "That's where he's at. Football is a very competitive sport and some guys rise to that competition and some guys don't, so that's basically what I have to say about that."
These words weren't positive at all, but the Packers moves indicate a decent level of satisfaction. The team applied a second-round tender on Nijman in the offseason. Right before the regular season, they restructured his deal, adding void years to lower his cap hit and making a trade unlikely.
Even though he's not a primary option anymore, Nijman has already played this season. He's had 11 snaps at left tackle and eight snaps at right tackle. And his performance was as solid as always, even if never spectacular.
Based on PFF grades (and that matches the eye test), the Packers best offensive linemen are Zach Tom (75.6), Yosh Nijman (65.0), Elgton Jenkins (61.4), and Rasheed Walker (61.3). After that, there is another tier with Josh Myers (59.1) and Jon Runyan (54.3). Royce Newman (46.1) is not a viable option at this point.
Even with so many problems, the Packers are still the best offensive line in the league in avoiding quick pressures, and also third in pass block win rate.
But the run blocking has been a big issue. They are 29th in run block win rate, and the lack of success in this area affects everything Matt LaFleur wants to do schematically. In that regard, Tom, Nijman, Jenkins, and Myers are the highest PFF grades on the team, while Newman, Runyan, and Walker have been liabilities.
How can the offensive line work?
If the Packers want to base their offensive line construction on the best available players, they would have to move Zach Tom to center — the position he was expected to play coming out of college, but the only one throughout the line in which he hasn't played any regular season snap in the NFL.
That would allow Yosh Nijman to enter the lineup as a tackle — LaFleur would choose on which side Walker and Nijman would play, but for the sake of continuity, Walker would probably keep the left tackle job. Elgton Jenkins is the obvious answer at left guard. Initially, Jon Runyan could keep the right guard too, but Josh Myers could theoretically fight for that spot.
It's still early in the season, and these young players need time to develop. But the Packers need to give Jordan Love and their young receivers a real chance, and if the current version of the offensive line can't give it to them, the coaching staff will have to step up.
Packers HC says he’s ‘very concerned’ with David Bakhtiari’s situation
Left tackle has been placed on IR
