Packers O-Line deserves some Love
By GERY WOELFEL
ROME – Jordan Love is off to a sizzling start in his first season as the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback.A significant reason for Love’s impressive play through three games is the impressive play of his offensive line.
The O-Line, despite being hampered by injuries to a pair of Pro Bowl players in Elgton Jenkins and David Bakhtiari, has been consistently strong in each game.
The O-Line has been exceptionally good in pass protection. That is vividly demonstrated in the number of sacks they have allowed this season: one. That is a remarkable achievement when one considers nine NFL quarterbacks have already been sacked at least 10 times this season. Washington’s Sam Howell has been sacked 19 times and is easily the leader in that infamous category. Tennessee’s Ryan Tannehill and Chicago’s Justin Fields have been sacked13 times, while Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson, New York Giants Daniel Jones and Atlanta’s Desmond Ridder have been sacked 12 times. The other quarterbacks who have had serious problems staying on their feet are New Orleans Derek Carr, Houston’s C.J. Stroud – 12 each – and Denver’s Russell Wilson (11).The fact Love has been sacked just once speaks volumes of the O-Line exquisite protection. The fact they have excelled without Bakhtiari and Jenkins for much of their three games makes it all the more eye-opening.
But guard Royce Newman and tackle Rasheed Walker have admirably stepped up and blended in nicely with center Josh Myers, right guard Jon Runyan and right tackle Zach Tom.
The latter’s availability for Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Lions remains uncertain. If he is forced to sit out, the Packers’ O-Line will be severely tested. That’s because the Lions’ have one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the league in Aidan Hutchinson, who Is coming off a two-sack performance in the Lions’ 20-6 victory over Atlanta.Packer Nation undoubtedly remembers Hutchinson for his five-star performance against the Packers in last season’s finale, when he recorded two sacks and played a pivotal role in the Lions’20-16 triumph at Lambeau Field, a game that prevented the Packers from going to the playoffs.Hutchinson wreaked so much havoc that the Packers coaching staff pulled then starting right offensive tackle Josh Nijman in the first half.
In the ideal world for the Packers, Tom plays and keeps the uber-talented Hutchinson in check. But this hasn’t been ideal season so far for the O-Line anyway, and they’ve still found ways to get it done.Prediction: Packers 27, Lions 20.
