Green Bay Packers at Houston: 3 X-Factors for Sunday’s Game
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers LT
David Bakhtiari is listed as doubtful, and as of this moment, we don’t know who will be taking over at left tackle for him. Green Bay could roll with Rick Wagner, who took over for Bakhtiari in Tampa, where he allowed a sack on 14 pass-blocking snaps. However, Wagner would be playing out of position as just about all of his NFL snaps have come over at right tackle.
Billy Turner is another option, but after having two nice starts against New Orleans and Atlanta, he was exposed by this Tampa Bay pass rush. I do have to say, with J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus on the defensive line, I would be worried about Aaron Rodgers’ blind side if Turner were the left tackle.
Lastly, and who I think is the best option, is Elgton Jenkins. Jenkins held up very well at right tackle Week 1. And between his strength, 34″ arms, and quick feet, I believe that you can make the case that he is the second-best tackle on this roster behind Bakhtiari.
But regardless of who takes the job, they’ll have to play well. As I’ve already mentioned, led by Watt and Mercilus, this is a Texans defense with the third-most sacks in the NFL and the fifth-highest adjusted sack rate, which measures sacks on a per snap basis while taking into account other factors such as the down, distance, and the opponent.
As we saw in Tampa, the name of the game is keeping Aaron Rodgers upright, so whoever is the Green Bay Packers left tackle will have to be on their “A” game against this Houston defensive front.