The Green Bay Packers offense ranks in the top 10 in the NFL in yards gained and points scored. The Green Bay offense is ranked in the top 10 in both rushing yards and passing yards. While most of the credit and the attention goes to players like quarterback Jordan Love and star runner Josh Jacobs, fans should not overlook the contributions of the team’s offensive line. The Packers offensive line has been a catalyst for the offense’s success.
The Packers Offensive Line is the Catalyst for the Offense’s Success: Pass Protection
The Packers offensive line has been strongest in pass protection. Through 12 games, Love and Malik Willis have been sacked just 15 times. That equals just 1.3 times per game which ranks them second in the NFL. When you consider the number of games Love had limited mobility due to injury, the number becomes even more impressive.
Love has given a lot of credit to his offensive tackles, Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker. The duo has excelled at pass protection throughout the season.
“They’re going against some of the best edge rushers in the NFL, and they’ve been doing a phenomenal job,” Love told the Packers official Web site when asked about Walker and Tom. “They’re going out there and just executing, giving me enough time to get the ball off. They’ve been doing a great job. I can’t say enough good things about them.”
That allows Love to have enough to time to find receivers downfield and to locate his second or even third read on a given play.
The interior offensive linemen have also done well. Guards Elgton Jenkins and Sean Rhyan and center Josh Myers have graded out well in pass protection according to Pro Football Focus. They have not graded as highly as the tackles, but they are still doing very well.
Run Blocking Has Also Been Good
While the pass blocking has been excellent, the run blocking shouldn’t be overlooked. The grades are not as high as the pass blocking, but the team is getting the job done.
Jacobs is 13 yards away from a 1,000-yard season after 12 games and he gives his offensive line a lot of credit for his success since joining the Packers. “Man, the O-line, I give them all the credit,” Jacobs added. “I tell them all the time they make my job easy.”
The way the offensive line opens up holes combine with Jacobs’ ability to make tacklers miss helps make the Packers running game one of the best in the league.
Backup running backs Emanuel Wilson (4.9-yards per rush) and Chris Brooks (4.6-yards per carry) are also very productive, which illustrates how well the offensive line has been run blocking.
The Packers Offensive Line is the Catalyst for the Offense’s Success: Staying Healthy Helps
The Packers offensive line has benefitted from good health and continuity. The starters have played nearly every game this season. Many of them have played through injuries, but they have still been in the lineup nearly every game and that helps. Knowing where your teammates are going to be and communicating with them with a glance or gesture can go a long way towards helping the blocking be more effective.
As of right now, the starting five have missed just one game between them. Myers had to sit out the loss to Detroit last month. Jenkins moved to center and rookie first round pick Jordan Morgan got the start at guard. Unfortunately, Morgan has since been injured and placed on the injured reserve.
Home Grown Talent
In addition to being healthy, all five starters are Packers draft picks. Walker was a seventh-round pick in 2022 who stepped into the starting job in 2023 when David Bakhtiari was lost for the season after just one game.
GM Brian Gutekunst added Jenkins in the second round in 2019. He has been selected to two Pro Bowls in his first five NFL seasons.
The Packers added Myers in the second round in 2021. While he hasn’t lived up to that second-round billing, his absence was clearly felt in the game he missed. His toughness to play through a painful wrist injury is also respected by his teammates.
Rhyan overcame early career struggles and the Packers infamous (and now discredited) third-round jinx. The Packers took the UCLA alum in the third round in 2022. He didn’t start a game until this season, but he won the starting job over Morgan and has excelled when given the opportunity.
The Packers added Tom in the fourth round in 2022. He has been the highest graded starter on the line and could be a future Pro Bowler despite his lack of ideal size.
The Packers offensive line has quietly done a great job for this team thus far. They will need to continue to play well if the team hopes to make a long playoff run in January.
