Packers Offensive Line Holds the Key for 2006

The Green Bay Packers offensive line will hold the key to the offense’s success in 2006. Even a future Hall of Famer like Brett Favre can’t throw the football while on his back and running backs need holes to run through to make the offense work. The new regime of head coach Mike McCarthy and offensive line coach Jeff Jagodzinski is introducing a new zone blocking scheme similar to the one used by the Broncos and Falcons and that will require some adjustments, even for returning veterans. The Packers are also planning to start two rookies at guard and a relatively inexperienced center. The learning curve is steep and the fear is that the offensive line may not be working efficiently by opening day September 10 against the Bears. As of now, it appears this could be a difficult season for the Green Bay offense.

There is good news along the Packers offensive front. Green Bay still has two of the better tackles in the NFL in Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton. Both are experienced players who do an excellent job of protecting Brett Favre and a solid job at the point of attack on running plays. Both players are also in their prime: Tauscher is 29 and Clifton 30 and both are entering their seventh NFL season.

The Packers also appear set a center. With Mike Flanagan gone to Houston via free agency, the Packers will rely on third-year man Scott Wells. Wells has some starting experience, taking over last year when Flanagan missed time with an injury and making a solid contribution in 10 starts. Wells also figures to do well in the zone blocking scheme which will play to his strengths such as mobility and intelligence while downplaying the fact that he is a bit undersized and can be overpowered at times at the point of attack.

The big questions remain at guard. Entering training camp, the Packers had planned to start two rookies at the position: second round draft pick Daryn Colledge out of Boise State and Jason Spitz, a third round selection out of Louisville.

In the first pre-season game, it was clear the offensive line was not ready. The Packers scored just three points and could not move the ball at all when the first string offense was on the field. Packer quarterbacks were sacked five times and there were very few holes for running backs to dash through. The Packers gained only 44 yards rushing in the game. Najeh Davenport, Samkon Gado and Noah Herron all saw action but none of them stood out. On several plays, Chargers defensive tackle Jamal Williams penetrated the backfield by literally pushing blockers back into the ball carrier.

After the game, McCarthy switched his first string offensive line around in practice, elevating Tony Moll, a fifth round pick out of Nevada, to first string at right guard. Spitz was moved from right guard to left guard and Colledge was demoted to second string. Moll had been practicing with the second string unit as a right tackle and up until last week, coaches were declaring him a project who would not likely see the field during the regular season. Since training camp opened, however, the coaching staff has been impressed with Moll’s play and for the moment, he appears to figure more prominently in the club’s plans. McCarthy would not say how long the new arrangements would remain in place but clearly he was trying to send a message to his offensive linemen.

The problem is that of all the units on the football field, offensive linemen probably need to be the most familiar with each other in order to be successful. When blocking, linemen need to instinctively know where their teammates are going to be, to know when to help out the player next to them and when their fellow lineman will pick up a penetrating defensive lineman. If linemen have to think about what to do, they will hesitate and be beaten by the defensive player. Even a half-second hesitation can destroy a well designed play.

In 2003, the Packers had a veteran offensive line that helped Ahman Green run for a team record 1,883 yards and allowed Favre to be sacked only 19 times in 16 games. Most analysts felt the combination of Tauscher, Flanagan, Clifton along with guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle was among the best units in the league. They had played together for the better part of five years and it showed on the field. Now, in addition to introducing a new system to all five players, the Packers are looking to introduce two new starters to the unit. Both of them are likely to be rookies making a big jump to the NFL.

Players like Colledge, Spitz and Moll certainly have talent and will eventually adjust to playing at the NFL level, learn the new zone blocking system and grow comfortable playing with each other. Unfortunately for Packers fans, it is highly unlikely that will happen by September 10. Look for the Packers offensive line and offense in general to be much better in December than it is in September. Mike McCarthy and the Green Bay coaching staff had better hope the improvement starts to show closer to October than December. Otherwise, Brett Favre’s final season in a Packer uniform could be a long and frustrating one. The Green Bay offense will only be as good as its offensive line.