The Green Bay Packers offensive line is coming off what Matt LaFleur called the worst performance that this group has had since he took over as coach in 2019. Unfortunately, there won’t be much reprieve this week, or at least not in pass protection, against Washington.
“It’s going to be a great test for us,” LaFleur said Wednesday.
The New York Jets defensive front dominated the line of scrimmage last Sunday, frequently leaving the Green Bay blockers looking foolish while generating 20 pressures and holding the Packers to only 3.0 yards per rush.
To make matters worse, the Jets weren’t sending any wild or exotic blitzes. Rather, they are an aggressive gap-shooting group who threw in some stunts and twists as they bullied their way into the backfield.
Like the Jets, the Washington defensive front has also had a lot of success this season in getting after the quarterback. They enter Week 7 ranked third in pressure rate and sixth in total sacks. They’ve also done all of this without Chase Young, who has been on IR all season.
Individually, Montez Sweat ranks fifth among all edge rushers with 26 pressures. On the interior, Jonathan Allen ranks fifth among defensive linemen, and Daron Payne ninth in pressures created, according to PFF.
”It can give you nightmares if you let it,” said LaFleur about the Washington defensive front. “(On) Third down, you have to have a plan for it, and even when you have a plan, it still might not go the way you want it to go. They just wreck havoc on an offensive line and on the teams they’ve played. Certainly a really talented group. I think they’re well coached and they give great effort.”
Moving Yosh Nijman to right tackle, where he has no NFL experience, doesn’t guarantee that the issues on the right side are going to be solved, but LaFleur can’t continue sending out the same starting five. Although Sunday’s performance was by far the worst, this group has had issues all season long.
Hopefully, with Elgton Jenkins moving back to guard, where he is more comfortable, and some tight-end blocking help for Nijman, the Packers would see improved play.
While the Commanders have been very good at getting after the quarterback, this group hasn’t been as dominant against the run, allowing 4.7 yards per carry this season, which ranks 21st. By ESPN’s run-stop win rate metric, Washington ranks 20th.
Opponents may have been able to find some success on the ground against the Commanders this season, but if the Green Bay offensive line doesn’t improve its play, none of that really matters. As LaFleur said following the loss to New York, before the Packers can worry about what the opponent is doing, they have to make sure they can execute their own game plan.
The run game, specifically Aaron Jones, should be a focal point this week for Green Bay – as is the case most weeks. Washington has been susceptible on the ground, and a good run game can open up the playbook as well as take some burden off the offensive line in pass protection.
