This season, the NFL’s worst rushing offenses include the Green Bay Packers.
Of course, Aaron Jones’ hamstring injury in Week One prevented him from playing in the Packers’ games against the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints.
In an effort to ease him back into the lineup gradually, he was only given a few snaps when he did come back for the loss to the Detroit Lions.
Fans have heavily criticized AJ Dillon for not gaining yards on the ground as quickly as they anticipated him to in Jones’ absence. Emanuel Wilson and Patrick Taylor haven’t been able to establish themselves this year as reliable rushing threats in a similar manner.
However, the majority of the criticism leveled at the running backs is completely unjustified. The truth is that, even when they are all fully healthy, none of the Packers’ offensive linemen are effective run blockers.
With the exception of the Lions game, the offensive line consistently fails the running back in the lineup even though it excels at blocking passes.
The Green Bay Packers’ offensive line performs run blocking below average.
Ben Jones, Zach Tom, and the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers are ranked 24th in the NFL for team run blocking, according to PFF, with a grade of 52.7. Green Bay, on the other hand, ranks third in the NFL with a pass blocking grade of 72.6.
The Packers have not constructed their line to run the ball, as Packers legend Gilbert Brown has noted numerous times this season.
Aside from the defeat to Detroit, they have done a great job protecting the quarterback with the line they have built.
In actuality, it makes no difference who the Packers’ starting running back is—whether it’s Jones, Dillon, or Jonathan Taylor.
No matter who runs the ball, the running game will be poor if the offensive line cannot run block.
Josh Myers, a center for the Green Bay Packers, is one of the worst run blockers in the NFL.
Josh Myers, a Packers center, has the fourth-best pass blocking grade (68 points) among all NFL centers who have participated in at least 80% of offensive snaps this season.
He appears to have made progress in this area during the offseason.
He was never a better run blocker than a pass blocker, though, and the difference this year is alarming.
Myers has the second-worst grade among starting centers in the NFL for run blocking, according to PFF, with a grade of 57 points. Only Chicago Bears’ Lucas Patrick (47.0) is worse.
The Green Bay Packers are urged to sign free agent center Ben Jones.
Former Pro Bowl center Ben Jones should be signed by the Green Bay Packers.
According to Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, the Packers should consider signing free agent center Ben Jones in order to improve their center position.
This Packers offensive line needs a veteran who can provide stability and leadership now that Baktiari and Jenkins are injured.
Given how effective Zach Tom has been at right tackle, moving him to the pivot is not an option.
“Ben Jones might be a good fit for this job. The 34-year-old former Tennessee Titan had a PFF grade of 71 while allowing just one sack on 682 snaps last year.
Jones was cut by the Titans due to a failed physical, but he hasn’t ruled out a comeback in the league.
He would make sense to add if he’s healthy.
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Although his 2022 run blocking grade of 73 points would appear even better on the Packers’ offense, his 71 point nine overall PFF score looks good.
Green Bay is only a few weeks into the season, so the likelihood that they would make such a move to replace Jordan Love’s center during the season is low.
But whether it happens now or later, whether it happens now or later in the offseason, the center position unquestionably needs an upgrade.