Packers rookie Zach Tom continues to impress & should have chance to start

Green Bay Packers rookie offensive tackle Zach Tom has carried over his strong play from the practice field to the preseason.

Tom hasn’t been a part of the first offensive line unit on the field, but he has been with the starters, taking over for Royce Newman at right tackle while Newman slides to right guard in place of Jake Hanson.

Tom has also taken snaps at guard more recently with the Packers’ second-team offense.

In terms of the typical size requirements that we see at the offensive tackle position, at 6’4” – 304 pounds, Tom is a bit undersized. He also doesn’t have the prototypical length either.

But what he may lack in size and length, Tom makes up for with athleticism — posting a RAS of 9.59 — and technique, allowing him to work comfortably in space.

"“I know it’s a different game, but he’s done it in college, and he’s got the athleticism, and he’s got great technique. He really does,” coach Matt LaFleur said via Packers Wire. “For what he lacks maybe in sheer size, he can really sink his hips and anchor and does a great job with that.”"

Through the Packers’ first two preseason games, Tom has taken 37 pass-blocking snaps and is yet to allow a pressure, according to PFF ($$).

Overall, the offensive line play this summer has been up and down. The group has held their own for the most part in pass protection, although they have been aided by the quick passing game. While in the run game, it has been tough sledding for the Packers running backs.

The second offensive line combination with Tom at tackle and Newman at guard has seemingly been the more effective grouping, especially in the run game. However, Matt LaFleur has continued to stick with Hanson at guard and Newman at tackle on the right side as the go-to option.

We do not know whether Elgton Jenkins will be available for Week 1, but if he is, and he presumably starts a right tackle, that leaves the right guard position as the only real opening along the offensive front.

Given how well Tom has fared at tackle so far, I would like to see him get more opportunities at right guard with the starters to see if he can push Newman and Hanson for playing time.

As already mentioned, when at guard, Tom had been on the left side — where Jon Runyan plays — and with the second unit.

We will see if that changes over the next week or if the starting offensive line we’ve been seeing is what the Packers roll with in Minnesota, if they are without Jenkins.

But regardless, Tom has very much impressed up to this point, and as Matt LaFleur searches for his “best five,” as he likes to say, it’s hard to argue that Tom isn’t one of them while Jenkins and David Bakhtiari are out.