LaFleur: Jenkins' main area of focus will be at guard

-- As far as organized team activities go, it isn't a secret where the Green Bay Packers want Elgton Jenkins playing on their offensive line.

While being multipositional is one of the best qualities you can sport if you're playing on the offensive line in Green Bay, the second-round pick is going to be honed in on the guard position.

"Yeah, we do work with him a little bit at [center], but his main area of focus is going to be at the guard position," head coach Matt LaFleur said after the team's practice on Wednesday.

The Packers practiced in front of those in attendance and surrounding media for the second time this month. All of their other OTA practices have been within the confines of the Don Hutson Center.

From what reports have gathered, Jenkins saw time filling in at center for the Packers on Wednesday. With starting center Corey Linsley absent due to a delayed flight back home from Memorial Day weekend, it certainly offered the perfect opportunity to help Jenkins solidify depth at a position where he's experienced.

At Mississippi State, Jenkins played both interior guard positions and even briefly filled in at right tackle. He played almost exclusively at center for the Bulldogs in his final two seasons at the collegiate level.

Jenkins is just one of several options the Packers have at a suddenly well-stocked guard position. With Lane Taylor and Billy Turner the presumed starters at left and right guard respectively, Jenkins offers a promising prospect as depth -- or as someone who can potentially steal one of the starting spots this summer.

Cole Madison returned to football after stepping away from the game last August due to a personal tragedy; 2019 will essentially be his rookie season. The Packers also have Justin McCray and Lucas Patrick, who are both capable of starting at guard in the event of injury.

Turner, who the Packers inked to a four-year, $28 million dollar deal in March, could bounce out to right tackle as well if the Packers ever need him to. Such a move would give way to one of the aforementioned players filling in at right guard in Turner's place.

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (21)

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Lare's picture

May 30, 2019 at 06:22 am

Makes sense. I'm curious to see who the starting OL are for the first game of the season.

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Big_Mel_75's picture

May 30, 2019 at 09:19 am

I hope we end with the same 5 that we start with...

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NickPerry's picture

May 30, 2019 at 06:38 am

This guy was one of my favorite picks in the draft. I like his versatility and love that he's got a bit of nasty to him. Nasty left this O-Line when TJ Lang went to Detroit. I think it's only a matter of time before he replaces Lane Taylor at LG.

For the first time in years I like what the Packers O-Line looks like across the line and the depth they have with (Taylor or Jenkins) Madison, McCray, and Patrick. BUT the key is the versatility they have with Turner, Jenkins, and even Madison who played Tackle in college but most think he's an NFL Guard.

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Handsback's picture

May 30, 2019 at 07:52 am

"For the first time in years I like what the Packers O-Line looks like across the line and the depth they have with (Taylor or Jenkins) Madison, McCray, and Patrick. BUT the key is the versatility they have with Turner, Jenkins, and even Madison who played Tackle in college but most think he's an NFL Guard."

Nick, I totally agree with this statement and it has been a long time since Green Bay has had an Oline this good with depth. They can run/pass block equally well making it tough on defenses to stop.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

May 30, 2019 at 11:14 am

I would have preferred McCoy over Jenkins because McCoy would be perfect for a ZBS and I don't think Jenkins is that well suited for it. Still, Jenkins is a talented guy as well and went about where he should have in the draft. McCoy went two picks after Jenkins so GB had their choice and chose Jenkins instead.

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stockholder's picture

May 30, 2019 at 07:40 am

Drafted for Guard. My bet is he will end up at RT.

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Coldworld's picture

May 30, 2019 at 08:08 am

This makes sense. Learning center in the nfl is as much about mastering the scheme and adjustments. Let him practice playing at guard where we also need him and center can come later in camp.

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PeteK's picture

May 30, 2019 at 08:07 am

Starting line--Bak, Taylor, Linsley, Turner, Bulaga. The big mystery for me is Madison. He had a very durable career in a pass heavy offense at RT. I know it's a stretch ,but wouldn't it be great if could develop into our starting RT because I'm just not comfortable with Turner nor Spriggs there.

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Coldworld's picture

May 30, 2019 at 08:15 am

I doubt Madison is a right tackle as I think Turner and Jenkins look more likely prospects. That said, Nagler mentioned that, while you can’t properly evaluate linemen without pads, the word from the team is that at this point Madison is looking positive.

I am a lot more upbeat about Turner than many. Here’s an insight as to why:

"What the Green Bay Packers are getting in OL Billy Turner." by Sayre Bedinger at predominantlyorange.com:

"The Broncos had been working hard this offseason to re-sign Turner, but couldn’t come to terms. The former third-round pick out of North Dakota State was a key piece of Denver’s offensive line this past season. …

After battling through some injuries, Turner finally got the chance to show what he could do in 2018 and earned this new contract with strong play both as a pass protector and run blocker.

Despite playing multiple positions on an injury-riddled line, Turner allowed just three sacks in over 800 total snaps and in my opinion, he did his best work as a pass protector as a tackle."

Ironically, he never started for Denver at his nominal position of RG, playing 4 games at RT due to injury and then 7 at LG due to another. Despite that he established himself amidst a chaotic line. I think there is a good chance he proves to be a really good pick up. If he replicates last year, I will be very happy with the immediate upgrade.

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PeteK's picture

May 30, 2019 at 09:10 am

Great quote, I was wondering how he performed at Rt in Denver since his bad showing in Miami at , I believe LT.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

May 30, 2019 at 11:28 am

Hope you're right, Coldworld. I watched four condensed games Turner started at RT for Denver (well, one was just a 9 minute highlights clip because that's all I could find). Serviceable is the word I might have used.

Maybe I am misreading the market. If teams thought of Turner as an average starting RT, I think a bunch of teams would have been willing to pay $7M. Chris Hubbard (50th OT) and Morgan Moses (53rd OT) signed for $7.3M and $8M AAV, and Massie, who is pretty good but is 30 this year, got $8M AAV as well.

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Coldworld's picture

May 30, 2019 at 11:45 am

I’m just going on what I heard and read from Denver. Certainly the Packers competed to get him, so they must feel that he has something. Rodgers seems pleased for what that’s worth before the pads go on.

But let’s be clear, I see him as a starting guard first and foremost. We aren’t going to get better than BB this year and I’m not convinced he won’t be playing for us beyond that. A better backup perhaps this year than Spriggs. Jenkins is a center who they think can play guard, and are teaching him that. Let’s see how that goes. Madison is a bonus that they had planned as if would not be coming.

We will still need Spriggs to have a damascene revaluation this year to avoid taking a tackle early next year in my view unless Nijman really was undervalued. But Nijman and de Beer may develop over the next year or two. I see Turner as a better fill for that gap over the next year or two but potentially behind an extended Bulaga while playing guard.

Jenkins is insurance for Linsley and Taylor. If Madison proves to be starter material, he may be the one that allows Taylor to move on eventually.

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jannes bjornson's picture

May 30, 2019 at 11:24 pm

Maybe Madison beats out Spriggs as backup RT/G. I wouldn't count him out.

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Gman1976's picture

May 30, 2019 at 09:48 pm

I am hoping that Jenkins plays so well that he will have to start somewhere on the OL. He was a force in college.

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jannes bjornson's picture

May 30, 2019 at 11:25 pm

Taylor is feeling the heat.

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Since'61's picture

May 30, 2019 at 08:46 am

If all of the parts remain healthy we can have a formidable OL in 2019. We have a solid mix of experience and youth and our depth on the OL is more athletic and versatile than it has been for ages.

Long term I see Jenkins evolving into a full time starter whether it is at guard or at the RT position. One question that I have yet to see addressed is who is the primary backup for Bak? It certainly can't be Spriggs. Thanks, Since '61

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Packers2020's picture

May 30, 2019 at 09:15 am

I agree, 61.

Our tackles are very solid. (When Bulaga is healthy) It was mainly our interior that caused issues last year. By that I mean guards. Now we have Turner and Taylor will be healthier. Depth is what excites me with Jenkins and possibly Madison in the fold.

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Freezn's picture

May 30, 2019 at 10:10 am

Aron Loves Turner which in turn gives Aron confidence which in turn makes our offense very potent giving Aron time to pick apart apposing defenses

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ILPackerBacker's picture

May 30, 2019 at 11:49 am

The ACTUAL depth of the OL is nothing. As of today there are not 5 starters who have earned the position or played up to it last year.

There is POTENTIAL, a vastly different thing

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Johnblood27's picture

May 30, 2019 at 01:48 pm

AR is going to say good things about all personnel when he is asked or feels compelled to give the "new" guy some strokes.

AR is not a talent evaluator.

Please just stop with the "we will be OK at position X because AR likes player Z.

That doesn't mean a damn thing. realize this please.

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flackcatcher's picture

May 30, 2019 at 02:18 pm

Need to see the preseason on this group. This is a rebuild on depth and future starters. Still, IAMGUTE did make this a priority, so we will see. But because of the slashed OTA and shorten training camp, we won't see the full impact until 4-6 games into the regular season.

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