Quick passing game helps Packers OL against 49ers

Through the first two weeks-plus of training camp practices, it’s been rough going — seemingly more often than not — for the Green Bay Packers offensive line.

Running the ball outside the tackle box has been particularly challenging, while there has been steady pressure from the Packers’ defensive front.

However, against the San Francisco 49ers on Friday, at least in pass protection, this Packers’ offensive line held up.

The Packers have utilized a few different offensive line combinations this summer but went with the one they’ve used the most in practice, which was with Royce Newman at right tackle, followed by Jake Hanson, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, and Yosh Nijman. We also saw Zach Tom take over at right tackle with Newman then moving to right guard.

With these two combinations of blockers on the field, quarterback Jordan Love was kept clean for the most part. According to PFF ($$), Love had 26 dropbacks against the 49ers, but he was pressured on only four of them.

LaFleur would give credit to the offensive line following the game, but in part, they were aided by Love getting the ball out of his hands quickly. Love’s average time to throw against San Francisco was only 2.45-seconds, which for some context, would have ranked as the third quickest time to throw in the NFL last season.

It’s also important to remember that his Packers offensive line wasn’t going up against Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, or some of the other 49ers starters.

In the run game, the offensive line didn’t find the same success. Running back Tyler Goodson, who took the bulk of the carries while the starters were in, averaged just 3.1 yards per rush. The Packers’ offensive line appeared to be physically out-matched in the run game.

The overall performance that we saw from this unit on Friday isn’t much unlike what we saw last season as they dealt with injuries.

By design, and at times out of necessity, Aaron Rodgers got the ball out of his hands in 2.59-seconds on average, the quickest average time he has had since 2011. However, he was still pressured more in 2021 than in 2020.

The run game last season took a step back as well — again, not unexpected with the injuries — as the Packers went from averaging 4.7 yards per carry in 2022 to just 4.3 in 2021.

If this is the offensive line unit that the Packers have to begin the season with, I do think they can hold up well enough to win some games–just as they did in 2021. But for a team with hopes of winning a Super Bowl and an offense going through some changes without Davante Adams, the Packers need more than a unit that can hold up.

Getting Elgton Jenkins and David Bakhtiari back will be a must if the Packers want to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.