Now in his third NFL season and second as a starter, the common word used to describe Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Jon Runyan is “consistent.”
On Wednesday, when speaking with reporters, Aaron Rodgers called Runyan a “very, very consistent player.” Later in the day, and unrelated to the question Rodgers was asked, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich echoed similar sentiments, calling Runyan the most consistent interior offensive lineman on the team this season.
Through four games, Runyan is the only guard in the NFL to play at least 60 snaps and not allow a single pressure, per PFF. His pass-blocking grade also ranks as the sixth-highest.
In the run game, Aaron Jones is averaging 6.4 yards per carry when rushing in Runyan’s direction, while AJ Dillon is averaging 4.7 yards on six attempts.
Runyan improved as the 2021 season went along as he gained more experience, allowing just four pressures in the final six games, but as is often the case for players going from Year 2 to Year 3, we’ve seen him make a big jump. According to Runyan, this is a product of feeling more comfortable but also improved play around him as well as continuity – a very important element to offensive line play.
“I feel a lot more comfortable going into this season and through camp, knowing I was going to be a starter in there,” said Runyan on Wednesday. “And I feel like this year, Josh has really grown a lot, and everything up front really starts with the center and as a guard that makes you feel more comfortable. Getting a couple of guys back, like Dave and Elgton and Royce getting a lot better, too; I feel like, slowly, all five of us are starting to mesh. On the field, I feel like I’m starting to pick up my things and play really well. Overall, just feeling a lot more comfortable and cohesion.”
Due to injuries, the Packers experienced a lot of movement along the offensive line last season that included seven different offensive line combinations. Josh Myers, who missed quite a bit of time with an injury of his own, and Royce Newman were also rookies, both of whom, to varying degrees, experienced the growing pains that come with starting in your first NFL season. Yosh Nijman fits into this category as well as a first year starter in 2021, who the Packers had to game plan around.
This season, Myers ranks 10th among all centers in PFF’s pass-blocking grade and Newman is 33rd out of 73 eligible guards in pass-blocking grade from Weeks 2-4 if we take that first game at tackle out of the equation.
As a team, the Packers rank ninth, averaging 5.0 yards per carry this season, along with Jones being among the best in generating big plays. From a pass protection standpoint, the Packers’ offensive line has room for improvement as they rank ninth in pressure rate allowed this season, but to a degree, those inconsistencies are to be expected with both Elgton Jenkins and David Bakhtiari working their way back from serious injuries along with Green Bay utilizing a make-shift unit in Week 1 against Minnesota.
Although all eyes are often on Rodgers and the Packers passing game, the level of success that this offense will have begins and ends with the offensive line play, and Runyan has provided some much-needed stability and consistency inside.
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