The Green Bay Packers have struggled in one particular aspect of their offense in recent seasons. It’s also an area the team will need to improve upon especially in games where Jordan Love is either unavailable or his mobility is limited. If the Packers cannot improve in this area, the offense will struggle, especially if Love misses time or if his mobility is compromised when he returns. The Packers will need to improve at this position to have success this week and beyond.

The Packers Need to Improve at this Position to Have Success: The History

Blocking for the run has been an issue for the Packers in recent seasons. Last year, the offensive line was strong at pass protection but struggled opening holes for the running game.

This can be illustrated by the difference between the team’s running attack when Aaron Jones was in the game versus A.J. Dillon. Dillon was a runner who got the yardage that was available to him, but he was not particularly elusive. Dillon averaged a career-low 3.4-yards per carry.

Jones is a more elusive, cutback runner. When he was healthy, he was able to be more productive because he could create space with his ability to change directions. He averaged 4.6-yards per attempt and even more when he was fully healthy.

By the end of the season, most of the Packers offensive linemen graded out poorly when it came to run blocking. The exceptions were Zach Tom and Elgton Jenkins who graded out well. But the other three starters struggled.

This Season, Week 1

Last week, the Packers opened the 2024 season against the Eagles in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In the first half, running back Josh Jacobs ran the ball six times for just four yards. The most successful run was a jet sweep by Jayden Reed which went 33 yards for a touchdown.

In the second half, Jacobs broke off some longer runs because he was able to make some players miss. The run blocking was a bit better, but much of the yards gained were a result of individual efforts by Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson.

By the end of the game, the team’s running statistics were solid, but the run blocking grades according to Pro Football Focus. Again, Tom was outstanding, and Jenkins was good. But the rest of the line was average or below.

Rookie Jordan Morgan fared OK and graded out as an average run blocker. But Sean Rhyan, Rasheed Walker, and center Josh Myers all graded out poorly. While Rhyan and Morgan split time at right guard, the bottom line is that three of the five offensive line positions had poor run blocking grades.

The Packers Need to Improve at this Position to Have Success: Looking Ahead

The Packers are unlikely to have their starting quarterback available Sunday when they host the Indianapolis Colts. Love has not officially been ruled out but with a sprained MCL, the injury is likely to take 3-6 weeks to heal. The Packers have remained optimistic Love could be back on the early side.

If Love is out of the lineup, Malik Willis will start at quarterback. Willis has been with the Packers for less than three weeks. He is still learning the offense and getting familiar with his new teammates. The likelihood is that head coach Matt LaFleur will simplify the playbook for Willis and focus on some of the new quarterback’s strengths.

Willis also lacks experience. If he starts on Sunday at Lambeau Field, it will be just his fourth career NFL start.

This means the Packers will need to rely on their running game even more than they typically do. Expect a lot of carries for Jacobs, Wilson, and if he’s healthy, rookie MarShawn Lloyd. LaFleur will also look to take advantage of Willis’ mobility. There will be run/pass options (RPOs), and we should expect Willis to run with the football more often than Love usually does.

This also means the Packers will need their offensive line to block better for the run. Myers, Morgan, Rhyan, and Walker will need to improve to make this possible.

If the Packers run blocking doesn’t improve this week, they may have a hard time moving the football consistently against the Colts. Even when Love returns, they will need better run blocking to maximize the potential of the offense.

We’ll soon see if the linemen are equal to the challenge.

 

 

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

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