Packers rookie Zach Tom will compete for starting spot against Bears

One of several issues that the Green Bay Packers experienced on Sunday in Minnesota was the play of their offensive line, specifically on the right side.

Given the issues, when Matt LaFleur was asked on Wednesday if Packers rookie Zach Tom would have the opportunity to start this week, he replied with:

"“Yeah, absolutely. I think that’s going to be something that we look at game to game.”"

Overall, Aaron Rodgers wasn’t pressured a ton, just 11 times, according to PFF ($$), and on only 28.9% of his dropbacks, which ranked 25th among quarterbacks in Week 1. But it was clear that the right side of the offensive line was having more issues than the other. Of the 11 pressures allowed, Jake Hanson at right guard and Royce Newman at right tackle accounted for seven of them.

In addition to the missed blocks that resulted in pressures, there was also some miscommunication, not only from Hanson and Newman but other members of the offensive line as well.

Tom put together an impressive summer, oftentimes taking snaps with the first-team offense at right tackle while also playing some left guard as well. In the preseason, Tom didn’t allow a single pressure, and his run-blocking grade ranked 19th among offensive linemen.

Oftentimes it appeared that this offensive line unit was at its best during the preseason when Tom was on the field.

Tom began Week 1 as a backup but found himself at left guard once Jon Runyan left with a concussion. Tom was credited with giving up one pressure, and for what it’s worth, he didn’t grade out very well as a run-blocker by PFF. However, more importantly, LaFleur felt he was prepared and held his own:

"“I thought he did a really nice job. Obviously, there was one play where he got beat pretty quickly in pass protection, but I thought all-in-all, he competed, he knew what to do, and you could tell that the moment wasn’t too big for him. I thought he did a really good job in there.”"

As LaFleur mentioned, Tom will have the opportunity to compete, but the question is where?

As I wrote about recently, plugging him in on the right side for either Hanson or Newman is likely dependent upon whether Runyan is available to play against Chicago–because if he can’t go, then Tom is in all likelihood going to be starting at left guard. That is unless the Packers want to get creative and reposition Tom, Hanson, and Newman, with Tom and Hanson switching sides, for example.

There is also the hope that Elgton Jenkins will be available, but that remains an unknown at this time.

Without question, the play from the offense as a whole in Minnesota was sub-par, but improving begins with Rodgers and LaFleur, but also the offensive line play. As we’ve often heard LaFleur say during his tenure as head coach, the Packers want to put the best five offensive linemen on the field, and it’s really hard to argue that Tom isn’t one of those players.