Packers Lack Depth on the Interior Offensive Line
By GilMartin
The Green Bay Packers head into the 2024 offseason with high hopes. The team surprised a lot of people with their strong finish that earned them a playoff berth. They even beat the Dallas Cowboys convincingly in the playoffs before nearly pulling off an upset against the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.
But the team still has some needs to fill as we head into this offseason. One of them is the interior of the offensive line. The team has only one starter on the interior line who has graded out well and that is left guard Elgton Jenkins. Jenkins appears to have fully recovered from the knee injury he suffered in 2021 and is once again playing at a high level.
But the other two positions along the interior have major questions. Center Josh Myers has started all 17 games over the past two seasons, but he has yet to match the expectations for a second-round pick.
Myers graded out as below average among qualified centers by Pro Football Focus. In fact, he was close to the bottom of the list of ranked centers. Both his run blocking and pass blocking were at about the same level and neither were good.
The former Ohio State star is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will be back with the team next year. Despite Myers’ availability, the Packers could certainly use an upgrade at the position.
There is no depth at the center position. The next players on the depth chart are either starters at other positions, like Jenkins or right tackle Zach Tom, or are unlikely to be back with the team next season. Even if Myers remains the starter, more depth is needed at center.
The right guard position is also up in the air. Jon Runyan was the starter again for the third consecutive year. Unfortunately for Runyan, 2023 was a struggle on the field. His run blocking, which was never his strong point, regressed even further. This was especially true in the first half of the season. His pass blocking was also not as good as it had been in the past.
Runyan’s rookie deal is over, and he is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent next month. While he is a serviceable starting guard, he is not expected to re-sign with the Packers who will likely be looking for an upgrade at the position. Runyan expressed a desire to return to Green Bay, it would make more sense financially for the Packers to find a cheaper alternative with more potential.
During the season, the Packers started to rotate 2022 third-round pick Sean Rhyan into the lineup for several series each game. Rhyan clearly made progress over his disappointing rookie season, but he still needs work. He graded out lower than Runyan in both pass blocking and run blocking. His run blocking is his strong point. The UCLA alum needs to work on his pass blocking technique to establish himself as a starter in the NFL.
Rhyan played tackle in college and the change of position plus the step up to the pro game have been an adjustment for him. While Rhyan has some promise, it is still not clear if he is good enough to start at right guard for the Packers next season.
The only experienced player on the depth chart after Rhyan is Royce Newman. Newman struggled as a starter in his rookie year and has not progressed in the two seasons since then. Any time he has been put into the lineup, the team struggled to block for the run and the overall line play dropped off. Newman had even lower grades than both Runyan and Rhyan. He may not even make the team in 2024 and is certainly not ready to start.
That leaves Brian Gutekunst with several options. It would be wise to add a guard or two in the draft to upgrade the position. Typically, the Packers select college tackles and convert them to guard, so look for them to add some players to the roster that way.
Gutekunst could also re-sign Runyan on a team-friendly, short-term deal, or he could go out and sign another moderately priced free agent who could provide the team with some experience at the position while the draftees develop.
Either way, the interior of the offensive line is an area that definitely needs upgrades in 2024 if the Packers hope to be true contenders.
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Comments (69)
Turophile
February 17, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Center or right guard first ?
Powers-Johnson, Frazier, Van Pran................
or Haynes, Fautanu, Beebe
SicSemperTyrannis
February 17, 2024 at 01:28 pm
All viable options. All might be gone by #25.
I'd like to see draft prioritize O line, and FA add S and RB.
ZEKE! Can you imagine #33 and Zeke in our backfield?!? I love the combination of #33 and 28 on the field at the same time but all season I said they might not both be back in '24, and towards the end of the season it became increasingly clear that trying to use them both correctly is simply above MLF's ability while he's also trying to be HC.
It will be interesting to see what they do ...
Leatherhead
February 17, 2024 at 04:02 pm
Turo.....when you put together your line, you start with LT, because he protects the backside of the QB. They get paid the most money and they line up across from incredible athletes every week. Next is Center, because he handles the ball on every play and adjusts the blocking assignment. A good Center makes both guards better.
Then comes RT, where we current have a very good player in Tom. Then LG, where we have another very good player in Jenkins.
RG is always going to be the least important spot on the offensive line. Ron Wolf famously said that he could find a RG anywhere.
So first, the Packers are going to have to decide about LT. IS Walker the real deal, or should we draft a starter and make Walker a backup? Or should we move Tom to LT? If we're talking about drafting a starter, we're probably talking about pick #25.
Once that decision about the LT spot is made, the other stuff can be worked out. I'd rather draft a guy who could beat out Walker and let Tom stay where he is. I'd also draft a replacement for Myers, who is in the last year of his contract and will probably not return. Do you think we could get a starting level OC at #88?
dblbogey
February 17, 2024 at 07:24 pm
This is from The Sporting news. There are 5 Off. Tackles in the top 25 prospects, the top guard is rated #29. Jackson Powers-Johnson, G, Oregon (6-6, 320 pounds)
....."plays with great power and quickness as a top-flight run blocker who can grow in pass protection."
Johnson/Zach Tom could be a powerful run blocking unit, but yea, we've got to upgrade Myers as well and also draft A. Jones' back up and eventual replacement. If we have half as good a draft as Gute did last year, I'll be happy, because that was exceptional.
Coldworld
February 18, 2024 at 08:20 am
I find it hard to believe that a true plus LT prospect will fall to us. That rarely happens with LTs. The position is too valuable and the supply too limited. When it does, those players often are overlooked gems taken in day 2.
Of course the draft is unpredictable, but I do not want to see us trade up for a LT. We have too many other needs. We need our picks for S, ILB, IOL, slot, RB and CB. If the draft doesn’t give at LT, don’t force it.
EricTorkelson
February 18, 2024 at 08:35 am
Totally agree Leatherhead, forget about the safety folks... Draft a solid heavy right takle at #25 and move Tom to the left side, or draft a LT if a good one is still available...Protecting Love is priority 1
Turophile
February 19, 2024 at 06:18 am
Best chance of a center at 88 at this time (if you go by mock drafts rankings) is Van Pran, who is often rated in the mid to late 70's. He started a few months back being rated at about pick 40-50, but has slid since then.
golfpacker1
February 17, 2024 at 12:47 pm
Rhyan really hasn't been given a fair shot with the Packers yet. He started at LT for 4 years @ UCLA and I think he is better than what you give him credit for. I look for a breakout year for him in 2024.
That said the other side of Myers is up for grabs and If we can get one of Powers-Johnson, Cooper Beebe, Zac Zinter, or Christian Mahogany in the first 2 rounds, the interior looks a lot better. I also like Dominic Puni from Kansas and he can play all five positions better than Barton-N Carolina.
Sleeper Brandon Coleman-TCU played LT and Guard.
Lastly, yeah its beating a dead horse, But GB screwed the pooch by passing over Creed Humphrey-the #1 center, and picking Myers, the #4 center. This is what they said about both on DraftBuzz:
Pro-day Update-Humphrey
Creed had excellent performance in the athletic testing portion of the Sooners’ Pro Day workout last week. , where he recorder unofficial times of 5.09 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 4.46 seconds in the shuttle, and 7.54 seconds in the 3-cone drill while posting a 33-inch vertical and a 9-feet, 4-inch broad jump with 29 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.
Humphrey is the top center in this year's draft, and after a great workout at his pro-day is shooting up draft boards, and could even be the first interior lineman selected. We evaluate him as late a first-round talent but may fall to the second because he is somewhat undersized.
Even though he is bigger than Myers @ 6'5 320lbs.
Myers:
Needs to prove his worth in a straight-ahead running game.
A short-area blocker with limited range and doesn't consistently get to the second level. Will play undisciplined at times, especially in space. Lacks a finishing attitude.
Needs to work on his technique in pass protection, using more consistent leverage and continuing to move his feet.
Isn't an elite quick-twitch blocker and his height causes him to be out-quicked. Leaks inside pressure when his technique gets sloppy.
Flashes the ability to move his man with his hands, but is not yet consistent in this are.
We missed bad on that one.
Turophile
February 17, 2024 at 03:19 pm
Perhaps a little unfair to give all the negatives of Myers and positives for Humphrey, although there is no denying Humphrey is looking the better player by some distance.
I think perhaps the Packers thought Myers would be the better guy to call protections pre-snap, but it was strange to see a GM who loves RAS scores as much as Gute does, fail to draft a guy with a perfect 10 there.
TKWorldWide
February 17, 2024 at 11:34 pm
I know. Very disappointing that they took Myers over Humphrey. Never did see any explanation as to why they preferred the Ohio State product.
MooPack
February 17, 2024 at 12:51 pm
Many have said this ad nauseum, including myself, Zach Tom's best position is Center, where he was projected coming out and Gute alluded to. I had Tom in all my pre draft mocks, but as a Center. Is he a good RT? Yes, for this team, because they have nothing better and he came better than advertised. But, I believe he would be a Pro-Bowl level Center. They can get an even better RT in this draft, such as King Sua. Kill two positions with one draft pick. That, to me is a no brainer. Two starting positions upgraded with Myers going backup to increase depth. Then grab a true RG in Cooper Beebe. That would be 3 starting OL positions upgraded, for the price of two, for a very long time and two depth positions with Myers at C and Rhyan at G. Leave Jenkins where he is. A Pro-bowl level LG if fully healthy. That could be a very good OL from Jenkins -> all the way right.
This is the best OL draft I've seen in a very long time. Don't waste it relying on 4th or later line picks just because they've found some outliers in the past. That is not sustainable strategy long term or you end up where they are now. Average+ in one area, but not dominate all areas.
You could also go the LT route, but most of those will be gone earlier in the draft. Jordan Morgan is probably the best true LT that would be left. I wouldn't mind that option, but it solves less. More moving parts, especially if still moving Tom to C. Then Walker would have to go right. I think King Sua is the better player and option than Jordan Morgan.
jannesbjornson
February 17, 2024 at 01:29 pm
I Still take Morgan as the LT, if all the primo CB/Safeties are off the board by #25. Move Walker to RT and slide Tom inside. Two birds with one stone philosophy you presented with Sua. The guard depth can land in Rd four with Coleman. Layden Robinson from Texas A&M, is moving up boards.
MooPack
February 17, 2024 at 01:50 pm
I like Jordan Morgan quite a bit, but Kingsley Suamataia is better, imo. Also, Huddle Report just came out with their updated Big Board standings yesterday and King Sua has moved up to where Morgan was at the bottom of the 1st and Morgan dropped to #50.
I'm of the philosophy that you take the better player at a slightly lesser position than the lesser player at the slightly more important position. In this case it's not apples to oranges anymore. LT vs. RT is not the big difference that it used to be. You better have above average players at both. Too many good rushers being moved around by Def schemes these days makes them pretty close to equal.
SicSemperTyrannis
February 17, 2024 at 01:31 pm
BRILLIANT!
Turophile
February 17, 2024 at 03:14 pm
I have to disagree with this MooPack. If a guy can play as well as Tom did at RT, then positional value says you keep him there..........and the way he is playing, he could be a Pro-Bowl level RT/LT (I'm not sure which is the best place for Walker and Tom, who should be LT and who at RT).
I'd rather see Elgton Jenkins at Center than Tom (though I think the best solution of all is that another prospect is drafted). It's not that Myers doesn't have talent, it is that he is inconsistent, which is borderline criminal for an O lineman.
MooPack
February 17, 2024 at 05:23 pm
Ok, don't mind disagreement. It's good we bounce ideas off each other. I have a question though. If you want to keep Zach Tom where he is at because he "could be a Pro-Bowl level RT/LT" for positional value, why would you move Jenkins who is a 2x proven Pro-Bowler at LG?
Turophile
February 18, 2024 at 02:07 am
I don't really want to move Jenkins, I just pointed out I'd rather do that than move an OT to Center. However, I do consider Center to have a higher positional value than left guard, so there is some merit to it.
As I said earlier, my preferred option is to draft a new Center and leave Elgton where he is.
jannesbjornson
February 18, 2024 at 09:30 am
Veach gives Andy Reid veterans who were pro bowlers to fill spots like Thuney , then he bagged a former #1 in Jawann Taylor to fill the RT. Trey Smith was a steal to cover the RG spot taken as a #6 pick when he was carrying a #1 grade until his heart ailment scared off Some personnel depts. The Creed Humphrey whiff is inexcusable.
The archive shows the Fan's discontent during that particular moment in 2021 draft.
Doofapotamus
February 17, 2024 at 12:54 pm
I think we can all agree that we want to see Newman off of the team. We need an upgrade at C and we definitely need a stronger O-line to maul in the run game. There are plenty of talented and big mauler-style O-line man in this draft. I would love to see Powers-Jonhson and Mims come to GB with our first two picks. I also wouldn't be upset if either of them made it and were followed up by Nubin or Kinchens. One thing is also certain, we need more talent at LB this year especially with the new 4-3 being established. There are plenty of talented LB's as well, so an ideal draft for GB would be something to the extent of T, G, S, LB and CB, in no particular order, in the first 3 rounds.
golfpacker1
February 17, 2024 at 01:10 pm
2 O-lineman in the first 2 rounds guarantees we miss out on all of the top 10 RBs, which is a bigger need than OT for sure. Skip the OT, we can get one later.
I agree completely on LB and hope Payton Wilson falls to us.
SicSemperTyrannis
February 17, 2024 at 01:35 pm
There is no need more important than O line. If it leaks, the entire offense stagnates and our suddenly very expensive QB is at risk of season ending injury, or worse. Conversely, if the entire O line is dominant it facilitates every aspect of the O, including QB and RB. It also improves the success rate of our D.
MooPack
February 17, 2024 at 01:54 pm
Yep, don't understand the downvote for that. Keep Offense on the field with longer sustained drives by opening running lanes better and converting those 3rd and shorts and you give the Defense a breather.
golfpacker1
February 17, 2024 at 02:19 pm
Sic, they looked pretty freaking dominant the last 4 games of the year. Did 3 of them leave the country or what?
Coldworld
February 18, 2024 at 08:24 am
Not against the 49ers. Jones was a major factor in helping us counter Dallas, as Love has since made public even if you weren’t watching. Chicago has no rush. Add to that the only really improved IOL by independent consensus was Runyon, who may well not be back. Context is everything.
PhantomII
February 17, 2024 at 02:35 pm
Common sense is not so common. Bad ass OL...GPG ...More first downs...better pass pro without xtra TE's blocking and instead catching a pass or opening huge holes on run plays because everyone is doing their job. The
offense puts up more points making opposing teams pass to catch up. The defense can use more juice to get 3 n outs. We get the ball back...rinse repeat. Seems logical.
TKWorldWide
February 17, 2024 at 11:40 pm
Huge advocate of O-line here as well. Enhances every aspect of the offense.
golfpacker1
February 17, 2024 at 01:06 pm
While i always love the idea of trading back for more picks, especially when we are picking late like we are this year. I would run the pick up to the podium if Powers-Johnson is there @ #25. Probably even over DeJean, but not by much. Powers Johnson could start immediately @ LG, would instantly make Myers better, and if we found another good interior O-lineman next year could replace Myers completely.
Even if we took Powers-Johnson with #25, we can score Nubin or Kinchen @ #41. #58 will get us T J Tampa, Khyree Jackson, or Cam Hart. That fills 3 big holes right off the bat, with RB and LB to get filled in the 3rd round.
That would be a helluva start!
jannesbjornson
February 17, 2024 at 01:35 pm
These safeties will not fall to #41. Tampa seems like a guy who could play safety.
golfpacker1
February 17, 2024 at 02:24 pm
No Safeties will be picked in round 1. They rarely are, unless you are GB and trade up for one that should have been a 2nd rounder.
Tampa is rated a top 7 CB on almost all services. He won't be a Safety, but I would sure love him in the 2nd round if we don't score a CB in the 1st.
Coldworld
February 17, 2024 at 05:47 pm
That’s at best an over exaggeration. Per ProfootballNetwork: “The three safeties drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft ended a quiet streak for the position. No safety had been selected in the first round of the previous two drafts. At least two had been selected in the first round in seven of the previous eight drafts.”
SicSemperTyrannis
February 17, 2024 at 01:36 pm
Don't move Jenkins off LG.
TKWorldWide
February 17, 2024 at 11:41 pm
Where does Jenkins go in your proposal?
golfpacker1
February 17, 2024 at 01:16 pm
Is there any chance GB resigns Njiman to a contract, prove it or otherwise? What would he make and can he get more elsewhere even though he doesn't even start for us.
Also what is the floor and ceiling of the other 2 huge OTs we have. Are they good or just filling roster spots?
SicSemperTyrannis
February 17, 2024 at 01:40 pm
Nijman would not return to GB, no matter what. They screwed him over too much for him to consider it under any circumstances.
Mt Caleb dominated in TC. Telfort and Tenuta are 6'7 and 6'8". Add Walker at 6'6" and that's 4 HUGE OTs. They were reluctant to play even one of them. It's like GB wastes O line talent the way Chicago does to QBs.
Coldworld
February 17, 2024 at 05:53 pm
I was not particularly impressed by Telfort. They clearly really like Tenuta, but we’ve seen next to nothing of him due to him due to the timing of his injury and in season arrival. Jones has looked good to me. They’ve rostered him for two years, so they presumably see value in developing him.
Leatherhead
February 17, 2024 at 03:06 pm
Two downvotes for asking two perfectly appropriate questions.
golfpacker1
February 17, 2024 at 06:54 pm
Bunch of tough keyboard weiners aren't they Leather.
SicSemperTyrannis
February 17, 2024 at 01:23 pm
For all the positions of need to address in this draft, the entire offense can do no better than the O line. This MUST be priority #1, which does not mean I'm saying that the highest 3 picks need to go to it. If only 7 O linemen return, Gutey indeed needs to add 3, all of whom need to be good.
It's possible they bring back Bakh on a team friendly deal with a cap hit of less than $2MM (plus the $19MM cap hit that's unavoidable no matter what) that pays him the guaranteed injury amount of over $2MM if he were cut, plus a negotiated amount per full game played. I'd love to see it! I'm not predicting this happens. It's possible they bring back JRJ on a team friendly deal; he seems to bleed green and gold, and he played injured for some unknown amount of the season which means improved play is guaranteed simply based on off-season recovery. The ONLY depth on the interior is between him and Sean Rhyan, however they manage that. Newman needs to be gone. Nijman will not return no matter what, why should he?
As critical as I've been of Josh Myers all season, he was playing hurt for much of it so improvement there is also certain. Even so, he improved during the season. I still want to see legitimate competition for the position. Is it impossible for Zach Tom to play his best at C due to how long he's been away from it? Gutey clearly drafted him as a C and it seems there has been a substantial disconnect between how he drafts and how MLF utilizes. The addition of a new DC might improve that, or the added variable might make all that worse. Right now is when these three can be creating the DYNASTY we all want to see, by putting their heads together and collaborating well. It seems to me that this is a strength of MLF. Competition for the starting C position between Josh Myers, Zach Tom, and a rookie drafted specifically to play C seems ideal to me, as long as favoritism doesn't enter into it and merit determines the roster. That clearly is not what happened from TC to week 1, and Nijman may not have been the only one on the O line who was done dirty.
There are 4 OTs on the roster not named Tom or Bakhtiari, at 6'6" 6'7" 6'8" & 6'9". If they refuse to play them why give them a roster spot? Why draft people that big if your best two are both 6'4"? I don't have answers to this, but Gutey and MLF need to. Mt Caleb dominated at TC. In 2022 I wanted to see 3 of them called in on third or fourth and short to block for Quadzilla running it up the middle. Instead we were treated to the drive ending via trying to thread needles from a mile away. Even if it didn't work you'd at least have film on these guys to help with the "draft and develop" idea, and maybe it would've worked and marched right down the field for a TD? The only way to know is to try. Without that GB is just wasting talent, much like Chicago does with QB. Speaking of which, hopefully they burn their #1 pick on another QB who they destroy, rather than simply improving around Fields. They aren't winning a championship either way.
GPG!
jannesbjornson
February 17, 2024 at 01:33 pm
These tall guys have little Bend. TC is not the live stuff on Sundays. If Caleb was so dominant, why was he sitting on the P squad all season?
Coldworld
February 17, 2024 at 05:57 pm
He was not, he was on the active roster. That was Telfort. Tenuta was on IR.
dobber
February 17, 2024 at 07:51 pm
Since Milt Hendrickson came to GB, they've been very enamored with these magnum T with super-long wingspans as developmental pieces.
My opinion of Jones in camp last year was that he seemed slow footed and "lungey" (if that's a word) in the passing game. He seemed to be playing way out over his toes. Still, with his wingspan, it takes a long time to get 'round him.
jannesbjornson
February 18, 2024 at 09:43 am
Maybe Tenuta shows up on the roster as a backup? They can draft two guys for the O line and sign a group of UDFA to compete for a Job. The College game is about motion. The O linemen have to learn smash mouth in the Pros.
LLCHESTY
February 17, 2024 at 01:51 pm
Tall guys normally don't make great drive blockers. I'd much rather have 6'-5" guy with long arms than a 6'-8" playing tackle is you want to run the ball.
Coldworld
February 18, 2024 at 09:26 am
There is a difference between tall build and just massive. I accept that blocking is in part about leverage but it’s also about inertia. A truly large guy who can bend enough can be very effective.
jannesbjornson
February 18, 2024 at 09:48 am
6'-2 to 6'-4 guys have an advantage getting under the defender's Pads. Low-man wins.
PhantomII
February 17, 2024 at 02:00 pm
With all the Packers lack of DB talent and depth...It is the OL lack of Size / Strength / Mean streak that has been our stumbling block against Elite Defenses like SF. When we CAN exert our will in the run game and pass game without relying on TE's to chip block every snap against a 4 man DL...We will find ourselves in the NFCC game annually with a chance to thrash the competition. We cannot use our offense to run routes with a combination of a couple WR's and maybe a TE against top end talented defenses while we are having to use 7 guys to block 4 DL. It's a matter of numbers and THIS is the root cause of our perennial failures at the worst time against the best teams. Bad ass OL / Couple really good smart DB's and Hog DL and 1- great complimentary RB to Jones with a little more weight behind him with some twitch and burst and we will put the hurt on the NFC and Victory in the SB. GPG....
splitpea1
February 17, 2024 at 02:01 pm
The Packers may lack depth on the IOL right now, but it shouldn't be sending any alarm bells off. Keep in mind the Packers allowed the third-fewest sacks at 30 and the running game finished slightly above the league average for the season. That being said, what would really be helpful is that short yardage power in the middle for first downs and the goal line.
There are some candidates both in free agency and the draft that fit the bill, but the question is how high of a priority it should be. Gute is the wild card here in this. How strongly does he believe in some of these guys? Or is a tackle going to be too tantalizing to pass up in the draft, thereby necessitating a shift in the OL, which may be beneficial. A lot of people seems to like Jackson PJ, but is Gute ready to draft a replacement at center, and one this high? Who knows?
I think we need to be prioritizing our defensive needs with most of out first five picks. The secondary needs highly talented prospects if it's going be successful with the new defense and we're also going to need help at ILB if Campbell isn't re-signed.
Leatherhead
February 17, 2024 at 03:11 pm
''''I think we need to be prioritizing our defensive needs with most of out first five picks.'''''
I think if we improve the offensive line and add a good RB, we'll score enough points that most teams won't be able to keep up. When the change was made, they emphasized there wasn't going to be a lot of personnel turnover. Either our defense needed a new DC, or we needed better players. Which is it? I mean, we were the #10 scoring defense in the league and we crushed the Cowboys at home in the playoffs. They fired the coach. That must mean they think that somebody else can do better with what they have.
I think we'll probably get help for the secondary in the draft, but at least 3 of those first five picks should go to the line and RB.
golfpacker1
February 17, 2024 at 02:42 pm
Thank you splitpea1. To listen to some posters on here, our whole offensive line really didn't play well the 2nd half of the season. And somehow they all entered the transfer portal and we are starting over from scratch.
We freaking need to hit on these first 5 picks so we can draft really good, hopefully long-term, players at "Our Biggest Draft Needs." Not slide other needs that somehow, just today, have become the biggest needs by far, over what they were yesterday. How does that suddenly happen when we haven't lost anybody else? It will be much harder after the 3rd round to get anyone we want without over drafting them because all the picks after #91 are late in the rounds.
GB has a history of identifying good O-linemen in mid and late rounds so everyone RELAX.
Also, what good is it going to do the team to restructure/extend David Bahktiari ? We can't count on him anymore so let's not make the same mistake we made with Rodgers by keeping him too long. 9 games in 3 years is not worth it. Time to cut our losses and say goodbye.
PhantomII
February 17, 2024 at 04:45 pm
I don't think you realize how much we depend on TE's chip blocking for the OL constantly. We do pretty good on average teams, but it really shows when a team like SF rushes 4 DL and we have 3 offensive targets to throw to and they have 7 defensive players to cover these 3 receivers while our TE's are either late to the route or have to stay and help block and it also lets the defense literally look like 8 in the box on run/ pass plays. The only way to counter it is flood more WR's and TE's and spread things out.....You can't do that if they are in tight chipping because our 5 OL can't go toe to toe with good 4-DL. Not improving the OL is going to continue to hold our offense back from being able to open up the pass game with all of our offensive talent and running 5-wide sets even against teams like SF....We finally have the WR horses..we need them to run all the way to the Super Bowl. They don't do any good sitting on the sideline. That's what the difference is between a good and great OL. A great OL also imposes our will on the run game. When we get it right they won't be able to crowd the box so badly and it will open the run game up better also.
MooPack
February 17, 2024 at 05:27 pm
Well said.
golfpacker1
February 17, 2024 at 06:57 pm
I might set a record for downvotes on one thread. I am a genius!
stockholder
February 17, 2024 at 02:46 pm
I NO LONGER want a tackle turned into guard.
So if most scouts project these Ots to be guards.
"Because of their Reach". Etc. Pass!
I want true guards -
If they won't resign Runyon.
And as long as Newman and Rhyan struggle.
Not to mention others drafted by Gute.
The best solution is to avoid Ots available @25.
The true athletic guy failed too.
If you remember Spriggs.
And the way Gutey patched the RT after Bulaga.
Maybe the best play is to sign a FA for the OL.
After all Turner was better than Runyon.
LLCHESTY
February 17, 2024 at 02:58 pm
Tonyan?🤔🤣
stockholder
February 17, 2024 at 03:00 pm
Thanks - fixed it.
Coldworld
February 18, 2024 at 08:29 am
Turner really wasn’t better than Runyon over the longer term. Runyon had a big drop off for the first 3/4 of the games this year. Turner had a very poor season this year with the jets though too, though he was playing T. He was worse than Nijman this year in fact.
jannesbjornson
February 18, 2024 at 09:52 am
Spriggs was another failed experiment bagging a guy who started as a TE in college. First Red Flag. I want guys who learned the position from grade seven football, forward. Why did you bring him up?
BAMABADGER
February 17, 2024 at 03:03 pm
Cooper Beebe in the second. Set at right tackle for a decade.
Leatherhead
February 17, 2024 at 03:04 pm
We dress 9 and have another one or two on the practice squad. We start 5 of those 9, and the other four have to be good enough to start if somebody else is hurt.
Right now, Tom and Jenkins are plus starters.
Walker and Myers are average-ish.
Rhyan has been getting prepared for two years now, and he's a Day 2 pick.
Runyan could be resigned on the cheap.
So that's six. We need 9. IMO, two of those guys should be Top 100 picks. It's not just depth, it's quality of starters. By bringing in better starters, our starters become backups and that improves the depth.
The team that does the best job protecting the QB usually wins the game.
Coldworld
February 18, 2024 at 08:33 am
Walker is ascending and was above average for the second half of the season by som margin. Myers is consistently at replacement level depth grades. The constant desire if some to massage less bad to barely average as a long term celebrated positive is baffling. The uptick in play late was mostly at RG compared with Runyon through November. That in itself might account for Myers improvement.
With Walker the question us can he sustain and grow such that we pencil him in as a starter. With Myers it is a question of looking now to find a better alternative, ideally, or at least to have one to back him up and get ready for next year when his rookie contract expires.
Behind those we have Rhyan who is still something of a question entering his 3rd year and nothing. That’s not sustainable. Right now Rhyan is starting and behind that front 5 there is no other interior IOL body under contract that we know anything about. That’s a ridiculously large hole in an absolute sense and also in terms of competition.
brenner
February 17, 2024 at 11:46 pm
Depth across the entire ol must be addressed, not just the interior.. db needs to be addressed first, but I'd be fine with the next few picks on the ol. I like Morgan from AZ and Haynes from uconn.
If Tom moves to c then maybe walker at rt. Add another rt candidate and a c later..
Newmann and Myers could get replaced.
ArlenWilliams
February 18, 2024 at 01:44 am
Josh Myers seemed to improve as last season went on. Zach Tom is a natural center. Shucks. Why not move him to guard and give huge, long-armed, strong Caleb Jones a chance?
Bitternotsour
February 18, 2024 at 10:44 am
Center is more than a physical position, and you have no idea if Zach Tom is a NFL center. None of us do. We have some indication that he's a Tackle. He plays tackle, he starts at tackle.
I'm willing to make a bold prediction, Zach Tom is a tackle.
The Packers will have a second center on the roster, it won't be Tom. That player will likely come via the draft. The Packers plan for succession, and Myer's contract is up after 2024. A second center is coming.
Coldworld
February 18, 2024 at 01:41 pm
He has played C in college and I think has played all positions in practice and has taken a snap or two at all of them in games. In addition to the physical challenges in doing that, there’s a vast learning curve as to assignments etc. I have little doubt that Tom has the mental ability to play C as well as the physical.
However, it’s harder to find athletes able to play T than at C. For that reason, now that we have the chance, we should look to find a C who can master leverage as well as calls. If we instead find a premium T then Tom to C would be back on in my opinion despite not being the ideal in my mind. Get the best 5 out there.
Bitternotsour
February 18, 2024 at 03:27 pm
My understanding is he played center as a freshman, and was a tackle thereafter. You want to convert a player whose proven pro experience is as a tackle, who has one season as an 18 year old as a center, and move him into a foreign position in a very sophisticated NFL offense, well, I'm not thinking that is a wise use of resources.
That's just me.
Bitternotsour
February 18, 2024 at 03:32 pm
I contend that Myers is vastly improved when they get the right guard sorted (now that Jenkins appears to be recovered from his injuries).
golfpacker1
February 18, 2024 at 09:42 am
We could do a lot worse than a Top 5 CB @ #25
Nubin or Kinchens @ #41
Cooper Beebe or Christian Mahoghany @ 58
to start the draft.
golfpacker1
February 18, 2024 at 10:14 am
Green Bay needs to be very active in the UFDA market this year for Safeties, interior O-linemen, RBs and LBs. I follow this closely after the draft and it seems like GB does not prioritize this potential goldmine as much as other teams do.
I wonder how this is handled during the draft. I would think NFL teams would have a separate group or unit that monitors and contacts potential players of interest that look like they won't be picked. Cox was our biggest potential get in the UFDA market in years, and the fact that I didn't hear anything bad about him this year, after all the trouble he had in college, is encouraging. Good for the Packers to give him another chance to change his life. Marry the potential with a better head and we could have a wildcard.
WD
February 18, 2024 at 11:34 am
Earlier in the season I felt the O-line needed new players. However, toward the end of the season the line improved markedly in both pass blocking and the running game. I agree the Packers need depth on the O-line and that is what the middle rounds are for. Critical needs and starters are needed at Safety/CB, LB and RB if they can't sign AJ Dillon. Bottom line: first three picks ( first and second round) for defense. Third round a premier RB. After that, assess for the best available O- lineman. It is premature at this time to give names because of the two big variables. 1) the combine. 2) playing the draft as it comes to us. It is important. What the Packers do during free agency and the draft will determine their success for next season.