5 Big questions in Packers v. Saints preseason matchup
By Paul Bretl
Before the Green Bay Packers take on the New Orleans Saints in their second preseason game, here are the five big questions facing this team.
Will the Packers starting offensive line be better in the run game?
As I wrote following last week’s game, the starting offensive line, made up of Yosh Nijmna, Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Jake Hanson, and Royce Newman, held up alright in pass protection, but it wasn’t without some help from the quick passing game.
In the run game, however, as a group, they really struggled to generate any consistent push against a San Francisco defensive front that was without Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead. Running back Tyler Goodson, who took the bulk of the carries with this starting offensive line, averaged only 3.1 yards per rush.
Not only in this game but throughout training camp, Myers and Runyan have been steady, but running right behind Hanson and Newman has been challenging.
Elgton Jenkins is back off the PUP list, but we do not know if he will be ready to go for Week 1. The Packers have also worked in Zach Tom at right tackle while sliding Newman to guard, but the configuration mentioned above seems to be Matt LaFleur’s go-to option at this time.
Without a reliable run game, moving the ball on offense will become all the more difficult for the Packers.