With so many unknowns around this Green Bay Packers offense coming into the season, one element that we thought they would be able to hang their hats on would be the play of the offensive line. However, due to injuries and poor play, that has not been the case.
David Bakhtiari missed Weeks 2 and 3 before being placed on IR, which has forced the Packers to rely on second-year tackle Rasheed Walker. Walker has certainly done some good things, but he’s experiencing the usual growing pains that most young players go through. Elgton Jenkins missed two and a half games with an MCL sprain, and playing in his place was Royce Newman, who struggled.
In the run game, the offensive line ranks 29th in ESPN’s run-block win rate metric. As a team, the Packers rank 29th in yards per carry with 3.5–and even that figure is inflated by some chunk runs from Jordan Love.
The struggles on the ground have put the offense behind the sticks on early downs, resulting in them being in predictable passing situations, where now the defense is able to get into favorable matchups, and the defensive front can be very aggressive in getting after the quarterback. As we’ve seen, then trying to move the ball through the air in these instances becomes very challenging when the defense is the one doing the dictating.
In pass protection, this unit was doing exceptionally well through three games. This provided Love with the time he needed to go through his progressions without being rushed and gave the pass catchers additional time to get open as well. Through the first three games, Love had seven touchdowns to only one interception.
However, the offensive line was bullied by Detroit. According to PFF, Love was pressured on nearly 50 percent of his dropbacks in that game, a massively high rate. When a quarterback is under that much duress and oftentimes pressured quickly, it doesn’t really matter what the play call is at that point, as it has little opportunity to find success.
This unit did perform better in pass protection against the Raiders, but edge rushers Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce were able to pressure Love 11 times, according to PFF, disrupting the timing and rhythm on nearly one-third of his total dropbacks.
It was pressure on the final play of the game that delayed Love getting rid of the ball when he probably should have, allowing the Raiders cornerback to get into a better position to defend Christian Watson. Even if a sack doesn’t happen, the impact of pressuring a quarterback and getting him off his spot can be massive.
Pressure prevented Jordan Love from throwing to Christian Watson sooner on the game-sealing interception. Love is initially looking to Watson’s side of the field but drops his eyes to evade a sack. pic.twitter.com/k2Bx8L5Nk5
— Brandon Carwile (@PackerScribe) October 11, 2023
Love has now thrown five interceptions in the last two games. While that certainly does not all fall on the shoulders of the offensive line, Love’s accuracy and decision-making have to improve, and his pass catchers have to be more precise with their routes and fight for contested catches, it’s also not a coincidence there have been more turnovers when the pass protection hasn’t been nearly as good as it was through the first few games.
Green Bay’s offensive line has also been flagged 11 times this season, which includes seven false starts and four holding penalties.
There isn’t any one thing that is magically going to turnaround this Packers offense. As Matt LaFleur has said, all 11 players have to be better, and he has to do a better job of putting them in positions to be successful with the game plan he draws up. But with that said, while all eyes are on Love and the young pass catchers, success for this unit begins with the offensive line. Without a run game to lean on or to help open up opportunities in the passing game or time for Love to survey the field, nothing else matters.