Offensive Line's Depth and Versatility Are Now Strengths
With the emergence of Justin McCray and addition of veteran Byron Bell, the Packers now appear to have the depth and flexibility to weather the storm in 2018.
By mkelley
It’s become a well-known aphorism that NFL offensive lines operate as one five-man unit, instead of a collection of five individuals. While every team would love to get through 16 games with the same five starters, it’s simply not realistic to count on perfect health.
With the addition of veteran Byron Bell, the Packers now appear to have the depth and flexibility to weather the storm in 2018.
The offensive line position group has been a steady model of the draft-and-develop philosophy that the Packers, like so many other teams, love to use. Besides the occasional veteran addition like Jeff Saturday or Jahri Evans, the Packers have relied on a steady stream of young up-and-comers to fill the ranks of the offensive line, and this year should be no different.
With the left side of the line all but set in stone with starters David Bakhtiari, Lane Taylor and Corey Linsley, much attention this offseason has fallen on the right side.
Bryan Bulaga is among the longest tenured Packers on the roster and would be an easy choice to be the starting right tackle if he weren’t recovering from a torn ACL suffered last November. And while some fans are assuming the former first-round pick will be back in the starting lineup sometime this fall, it’s far from a guarantee for Bulaga, who’s entering his ninth NFL season.
That should open the door for any number of combinations involving the newly acquired Bell and a long list of relatively unproven younger players, among whom Justin McCray has shown the most promise. Despite playing some right tackle last year, the team seems to feel McCray fits best at right guard, where he’ll have plenty of opportunity to win the starting job.
McCray’s story is a remarkable testament to perseverance. Undrafted out of Central Florida, McCray signed with the Titans practice squad in 2014, only to be cut a year later. Two years passed with McCray out of football, working at an Orlando hotel, until he landed with the Packers and was a valuable Swiss Army knife for an injury-riddled unit in 2017.
He performed well last year after the line was decimated by injuries, but he’ll face an entirely different set of expectations this year, as most fans expect him to be a day-one starter.
A tier below McCray is a collection of young players who will have a hearty battle to make the 53-man roster this fall. Kyle Murphy, Lucas Patrick and Jason Spriggs all made starts with varying results last year due to injuries. Adam Pankey and Kofi Amichia spent most or all of 2017 on the practice squad and may be poised to spend more time on the active roster this year. Add versatile fifth-round pick Cole Madison, and roster battle on the offensive line may be the most intriguing during the Packers’ preseason.
Assuming Bell and McCray make the opening-day roster, only two or three of the above six players will dress when the Packers kick off the season on September 9 against the Bears. But attrition is synonymous with NFL football, and the rest of the group may be called upon at some point this season even after starting the year on the practice squad.
Luckily, many of those players have experience at multiple positions, giving Mike McCarthy and offensive line coach James Campen the ability to mix and match players if a series of injuries occur. And given the Packers’ track record of drafting and developing offensive lineman, one of those players may prove to be a diamond in the rough.
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Matt Kelley is a staff writer for Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter via @hustleandheart1.
Comments (44)
Minniman
June 01, 2018 at 05:23 pm
Not wanting to "diss" on the emerging o-line talent and acquisitions, but I think that next February (hopefully) when we look at this season in review, the importance of the addition of Marcedes Lewis for the Packers this year will be pivotal to the o-line.
Barring injury, the versatility as a receiving weapon and o-line assistant might just be the deciding factor in "bending but not breaking" in those tight games that the packers have lost in recent years (especially with McCarthy's insistence that RT doesn't get help - if that continues???)
Lare
June 01, 2018 at 05:38 pm
Between McCray, Bell, Murphy and Madison I think the right side of the offensive line will be alright. But the Packers need to make sure that is the case. With Rodgers being a right-handed QB they can't afford to be having him taking unnecessary hits while rolling to the right.
NickPerry
June 02, 2018 at 10:50 am
One just has to look at the 2015 playoff game in Arizona (Hail Mary #3) or the "Play of the Year" in the 2016 playoffs when he hit Cook to set up Crosby's game winner in Dallas. Both throws while rolling to his left that were fricking amazing. Then there's all those other throws before and after that were pretty damn good too.
But I also agree with Lare...The Packers DO need to make sure the right side is sound. Rodgers isn't going to change his style, he's even said as much. But the Packers need to do EVERYTHING they can to ensure Rodgers is kept as clean as possible on every pass play. Personally I loved those plays they highlighted in 2014 when they'd put a clock on the amount of time Rodgers had to throw. I remember one which was 12.8 seconds or something close to that. It was ridiculous!
Hopefully moving forward to 2019 and 2020 the Packers can actually start using some high picks on Offense for once. Hell maybe on the O-Line!
Rossonero
June 02, 2018 at 08:43 pm
Amen. If Rodgers wants to play into his 40s, he needs to get rid of the ball quicker. I cringe watching him take unnecessary hits. One thing Tom Brady has either led or been at the top of statistically is the shortest time for the ball to come out of his hand.
Obviously some of that is Belichick's play calling, but it's not like Brady has had amazing offensive lines in the past either.
egbertsouse
June 01, 2018 at 06:11 pm
Getting a little bit ahead of yourself, aren’t you? The O-line is now a strength because we have some bodies to plug in? C’mon man, let’s not anoint them until we see them in a game. It’s all just blah-blah at this point.
Bearmeat
June 02, 2018 at 12:17 pm
No. I don't think he is. I'm not the most optimistic fan in the world, and I do think the offensive line is going to be above serviceable as a unit this year and has the potential to be excellent. There is youth, talent, veteran leadership, and depth. In a hard salary cap league, what's not to like?
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
June 03, 2018 at 09:34 am
Agree!
Have some reservations
I bleed green more
June 01, 2018 at 06:13 pm
I like it, they got experience last year. I thought while healthy Murphy showed promise hope he makes it.
Packer_Fan
June 01, 2018 at 07:14 pm
I wouldn't call the OL a strength, but hopefully with Bell, it will have depth. We really need to have Murphy, Spriggs or Patrick take the next step up. Then depth with a lot of competition which is good
Tundraboy
June 01, 2018 at 08:47 pm
Wishful thinking but don't have much choice until we see.
HankScorpio
June 03, 2018 at 12:06 pm
The article oversells Justin McCray, IMO. He's certainly got the inside track at RG but I think the job is more open than taken. Madison, Patrick and even Trent Murphy (edit: Make that Kyle Murphy h/t to Kevin Ven) could easily leapfrog him in the pecking order.
Rak43
June 02, 2018 at 03:07 am
IMHO, all McCray has to do is continue to do exactly what he did in the run game and improve a bit in the pass game by being more consistent. He is a dominating run blocker and avg to slightly above avg pass blocker.
4Drumz
June 03, 2018 at 09:57 am
Do you mean Kyle Murphy? He also ended the season on IR btw.
HankScorpio
June 03, 2018 at 10:09 am
Yes, sorry for confusing the pass rusher Murphy with the pass blocker Murphy. My bad..
Andrew Lloyd Peth
June 02, 2018 at 08:26 am
People panic over the lack of proven veterans on the right side (I don't count Bulaga due to injury), but I see a very solid batch of young talent.
McCray is primarily a run-blocker, which is ideal at RG.
Spriggs is super-talented, improving in technique, and is adding ballast strength to anchor.
Murphy is underrated in my view--I'd have little concern with him at RT. Nice technique, length, and strength.
Patrick is too easily ignored, but he's developing into a very solid guard. Pankey also has potential.
And how about Amichia? Everyone writes him off because he was totally lost last year, but that's exactly what a raw project should be in Year 1--totally lost. But this kid is a terrific athlete who is ideally built for guard, and he's also learning the backup center role. I would LOVE to see Amichia take a Year 2 jump and make this team.
As for Cole Madison, while everyone insists He's a guard, I see a gifted outside pass-blocker who is nowhere near strong enough for inline run-blocking.
Do I panic over the right side of our O-line? Not one bit. We're young, deep, and talented.
Rossonero
June 02, 2018 at 08:51 pm
I agree, esp. about Amichia. According to PFF, he excelled at pass protection in 2016 and only allowed two sacks, one QB hit, and six hurries on his 403 pass-blocking snaps. Amichia’s pass-blocking efficiency rating of 98.2 ranked fifth in the 2017 draft class. Not bad at all.
4Drumz
June 03, 2018 at 10:01 am
Kofi Amichia has NOT played 403 snaps. He wasn’t even on the regular roster (practice squad yes). You must be thinking of someone else, unless your are counting pre-season, which would have been against 3rd string or lower.
Since'61
June 02, 2018 at 08:29 am
Assuming Bulaga returns and the rest of the starting OL is healthy, then I would consider the OL a strength for the team. Bell, Spriggs, or Murphy may start at RT but I don't see any of them playing as well as a healthy Bulaga.
As for RG, McCray has the inside track for now but it is still TBD if he can play as well as Evans and I doubt he will reach Lang status any time soon.
Our OL depth has improved over 2017 but it remains to be seen if whoever starts on the right side will actually be starter material. For me, the sooner Bulaga returns the better. Thanks, Since '61
Andrew Lloyd Peth
June 02, 2018 at 08:41 am
I have little confidence that Bulaga can stay healthy. He doesn't factor into my thinking--and that's with him being one of my long-time favorites.
Minniman
June 02, 2018 at 06:47 pm
ALP + Since 61',
With the strengths of the defensive fronts that the packers will be facing this year, I'm not convinced that many 5 man o-lines will cope for a full game without assistance.
This isn't a sleight on the packers unit which I agree with the author as being solid (with a potential to be good if some players step up as anticipated), but the trend in the game is going back to power inside rushing (even evidenced by Pettine's own words in an interview on PackersWire the other day).
I applaud the organization for adding experienced depth as they should count on injuries being a factor.
WRT Bulaga, I like the fact that the organization doesn't feel that they have to rush him back into service until he is truly ready.
Rossonero
June 02, 2018 at 08:59 pm
I agree the Vikings are by far and away the best. The Bears have a solid pairing in Eddie Goldman, a former 2nd rounder out of FSU and probably one of the best -- if not THE best FA signings of 2016, Akiem Hicks. He's had 15.5 sacks since the Bears signed him after not doing much for the Saints or New England.
NickPerry
June 03, 2018 at 04:43 am
Wow...Didn't realize that about Hicks (15.5 sacks) since going to the Bears. Gives me even more hope Wilkerson can come in and contribute in a huge way. I read somewhere Pettine is really going to be counting on his inside guys to get sacks so if that's the case Wilkerson, Daniels and Clark should all put up some decent numbers...
Rossonero
June 03, 2018 at 06:28 am
I know, he's been a beast and was a huge bargain for them for his initial 2 year contract. Durable too. Played in 32 of 32 games with Chicago.
Minniman
June 03, 2018 at 05:58 pm
I agree with you that the vikes have a established power front, and that the bears have an emerging unit. This year Detroit may not be in the same realm as these teams, but I think that we should expect that a Matt Patricia team will eventually have a good well drilled defense and place an emphasis on managing the pocket and setting the edge (as they did at NE).
I see the LA Rams in the regular season as an established power rush test (Donald and Suh - are you kidding me) and these and the Eagles in the post-season.
I'm going to be interested in seeing how the opponents of these teams game plan for such dominant fronts, as with Clark, Daniels and Wilk, the packers fit that category now too.
Cartwright
June 02, 2018 at 08:38 am
Jason Spriggs looked so bad last year, Aaron had to run for his life when he was out there. I'm surprised he's still on the team. If he's battling for a tackle spot I think you can write him off right now. Gute isn't attached to this second round pick, it wasn't his. Spriggs better come loaded for bear and I hope he surprises me and does. He was picked to become Bulaga's replacement.
dobber
June 02, 2018 at 09:15 am
Spriggs played no offensive snaps for the Packers with Aaron Rodgers under center last year.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SpriJa00/fantasy/2017
He looked bad in camp, got hurt, came off IR, played OK, then got hurt again.
Spriggs was picked to provide OT depth after that disastrous 2015 season where they couldn't keep OTs on the field and had to rely on players like Lang and Tretter taking snaps at LT. Shortly after Spriggs was drafted, they signed Bakhtiari to an extension. They'd just signed Bulaga to his 5-year deal.
Bearmeat
June 02, 2018 at 12:11 pm
I'd say that he was picked to replace Bakh if they couldn't re-sign him, or if he regressed in 2015. And for insurance to Bulaga's knees.
Having a quality backup for Bulaga on paper was wise. Bakh? Man, what a beast. Spriggs had all the measurables in the world except core strength, which can be built. He just hasn't put it together and so far looks like a bust. Does anyone remember the name of the high-upside OT we had early in the Rodgers years? He was awful. We let him go and he later caught on with Seattle and Philly and did a pretty ok job for them.
marpag1
June 02, 2018 at 02:53 pm
Maybe you're thinking of Allen Barbre, although the descriptions of "high upside" and "pretty OK" might be a little bit generous for him in my opinion.
dobber
June 02, 2018 at 08:30 pm
There was Breno Giacomeni, too. He's still knocking around somewhere...
Bearmeat
June 02, 2018 at 09:13 pm
I think it was Barbre. But Giacomeni fits the bill too.
realitybytez
June 03, 2018 at 06:58 pm
both guys are prime examples of players that either the packers gave up on too early or they are prime evidence that our coaches aren't all that good at coaching up inexperienced, but talented players. when you add in guys like micah hyde and casey hayward and even lawrence guy, and i think it begins to become apparent that our coaches are not getting the best out of our players.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
June 03, 2018 at 09:39 am
Concerned with Spriggs feet. Doesn't move well laterally against speed rushers and over reaches.
4thand1
June 02, 2018 at 09:10 am
Injuries, we all know are going to happen. Linemen are more likely to miss games for concussions now more than ever. It's the long term injuries we hope to avoid like Bulagas. The Packers picked up the best blocking TE in Lewis for a reason, protect the franchise QB. I think we'll see him lining up on the right side early until they feel comfortable there. Spriggs needs to show a lot of improvement, they invested to much in him. If not, move on and clear up a roster spot.
Thegreatreynoldo
June 02, 2018 at 11:08 am
PFF ranked Sitton as the 6th best guard. He signed day one of FA with Miami. The deal is for 2 yrs at $13.5M, or a one year, $8.45M. There are apparently some incentives as well. Chicago moved on from Sitton for reasons that had little to do with his quality of play and a lot to do with getting younger because the bears still stink.
Despite my love for cap savings, yeah, I am still not happy about this transaction, but at least Lane Taylor is okay at LG. The savings from cutting Sitton has been the source of almost all of our rollover the last two years.
Bearmeat
June 02, 2018 at 12:12 pm
Sitton was a helluva player. He also was a bit of an A-hole. I know it's unverifiable, but rumor has it that there was a nasty altercation between Josh and HaHa right at the beginning of the anthem crap.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
June 03, 2018 at 09:43 am
Interesting if true!
I remember game couple years ago on sideline TV showed HaHa creating some disturbance with Packer players on bench including Peppers who got upset with HaHa. Any one else recall this?
dobber
June 02, 2018 at 08:35 pm
Concussions are up for all positions across all teams. I'd argue it's a function of more baseline information and testing on players, and greater caution on the parts of teams and coaches.
Thegreatreynoldo
June 03, 2018 at 03:40 am
Sorry, JS. I guess I feel that the two situations were too different to mention in the same sentence. Lang wasn't re-signed. Few wanted to pay him $19M guaranteed like the Lions did, so those who complained took up the JSO line about how TT could have extended Lang earlier but low-balled him.
Sitton was cut September 3 (?) after we paid him $300K in a workout bonus (trust me not to forget wasting $300K). We didn't get his play or a 4th round (5th at worst) comp pick, or even a day three pick by trading him. Instead, we cut him for reasons that are disputed. I wrote what I'd have to call a rant.
I mention Sitton's play because I thought we had a chance in 2016. I think TT was pretty much all in as well (for TT). We rolled over $7.9M into 2017, but had we kept Sitton as I think TT intended GB would have rolled over just $1.4M. Couple more injuries or a couple of guys hit some incentives and things would have been real tight. Jared Cook alone lost $125K for missing games and had $900K in incentives (none earned). I love my cap savings, and can even be arguably inconsistent about it, but I like going to the super bowl more. As it happened, it turned out that too many guys got hurt.
NickPerry
June 03, 2018 at 04:57 am
I'm one of those that "who complained took up the JSO line about how TT could have extended Lang earlier but low-balled him." Then again I'm in the category of Packers fans who think Thompson was a putz which I think he showed over and over again his last few years in GB.
Thompson has a history of it. He is either getting rid of a player near or at 30, or low-balling them so they have no choice since the money is so different between GB and the other team signing the player.
I'm not so sure that's the only place I read it though. IIRC it seemed more than just JSO reporting it.
No matter we have a new sheriff in town. Gutekunst doesn't seem to be the type of GM who will try to ride his on his QB's jockstrap. Gute seems to be the type who's getting his QB's jockstrap all the help he can.
marpag1
June 03, 2018 at 06:16 am
I'm not sure I agree with your characterization (or caricaturization?) of TT, Nick. Sure, we can certainly argue (as TGR has) whether it was better to have Sitton + a big cap hit, or Taylor + a big cap savings. That's a difficult question to answer conclusively. Same with Lang vs. Evans (FWIW, PFF rated Lang vs Evans at 79 vs 72 last year). But what we can't deny is that for the last four years when Sitton and Lang played together in GB, Thompson and the Packers paid more for their starting guards than any other team in the league. In the four years from 2012 to 2015, Sitton's average salary ranked 8, 9, 6 and 7, while Lang's annual salary ranked 15, 17, 15 and 15. Paying both guards premium top-15 salaries doesn't really fit the image of a cheapskate.
4thand1
June 03, 2018 at 09:43 am
JS, I've read some studies on O and D line men and the studies are scary. They suffer more head trauma than any other position. Frontal lobe concussions that lead to more severe CTE damage. Also linemen are less likely to report symptoms. They have more head on collisions than other positions. You can't take 300 lb men smashing into each other head on, and not be affected.
marpag1
June 03, 2018 at 10:26 am
"Linemen are more likely to miss games for concussions now more than ever."
It's an interesting discussion, 4thand1, and I have no way of knowing the numbers. You may be right. The one thing I would say is that back in the days of the infamous Deacon Jones 'head slap' (60s and 70s) O-linemen were getting punched in the head, literally, on virtually every single play, and oftentimes it was more like a forearm shiver right to the noggin. Deacon probably gave some poor dude a concussion nearly every single week. Offensive linemen would sharpen the buckles on their chin straps to discourage guys from doing it. Nowadays, it's been outlawed, of course. Back then, you'd 'rub a little dirt on it' and play on. Today you'll get a 15-yarder if you give a helmet a stern look.
Minniman
June 02, 2018 at 06:58 pm
While I'm not so sure about your second line re OL concussions, I do agree with most of the rest of your comments.
As they will be entering their 3rd years this will be a good time to see just what the Packers have in Spriggs and Murphy as either a RT or RG.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
June 03, 2018 at 09:47 am
Completely agree!
Sure hope both take huge strides.