The Green Bay Packers are holding a legitimate competition for the starting center position, and coach Matt LaFleur wants Josh Myers — a 23-game starter at center for the Packers over the last two seasons — to start showing more consistency.
Myers, a second-round pick in 2021, is competing with Zach Tom, who got first-team reps at center during Tuesday’s practice.
“Josh has done a really good job, but we need more consistency,” LaFleur said before Thursday’s practice. “We have complete confidence that he is fully capable of doing that, and we’ve seen that from him.”
Myers has gone relatively unchallenged at center over the last two training camps. In Tom, Myers now have a starting-caliber player competing against him for the spot, and that’s exactly how LaFleur wants it.
“It’s like every other position we have, we need to pull out the best from everybody. When you have capable people, it naturally creates competition, and it makes us a better football team when we guys pushing for starting jobs,” LaFleur said.
Myers gave up three sacks and 13 total pressures as a 17-game starter at center last season. He also received poor run-blocking grades at PFF. In terms of overall blocking grade, Myers ranked 27 out of 39 centers who played at least 300 snaps in 2022.
In other words, the Packers need to see Myers take a big third-year jump.
Complicating the center’s task in camp has been blocking the likes of Kenny Clark and T.J. Slaton. So far, an inability to keep the interior blocked up has made training camp difficult for the Packers offense.
“More consistent play. You can’t have people in the quarterback’s face,” LaFleur said. “Overall, more consistent play.”
The center’s value can’t be overstated. He handles the football on every play, directs all the communication to the other four offensive linemen and must be on the same page with the quarterback — first-year starter Jordan Love — at all times in terms of protections and calls.
What is LaFleur looking for in the center competition?
“Just a level of play that is consistent and up to the standard we have for the position. That is a key part, they are the guy talking to the other five, getting everyone on the same page.”
LaFleur said Myers and Tom will play a lot during joint practices and the preseason so the Packers have enough evaluation opportunities to determine the best center to open Week 1 against the Chicago Bears.