Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers have spent the opening weeks of the season constantly adjusting their offensive line, leaving the group without much stability heading into Week 4. Green Bay responded by bringing in veteran reinforcements who have combined for 434 career starts, adding a level of experience the unit had been missing. the Packers head coach, though, offered a much simpler explanation for why those additions could matter.
“I think it just calms down the offensive line when you have veterans in there who have been through the war,” commented the Packers head coach via NFL insider Ryan Wood.
Green Bay has brought in Kevin Zeitler, Laken Tomlinson and Mekhi Becton to reinforce the offensive line, with the three veterans bringing 434 combined NFL starts. That experience stands in stark contrast to the Packers’ Week 3 guard combination of Jacob Monk and Jager Burton, who had entered the Atlanta matchup with only three starts between them.
Matt LaFleur and his revamped Packers offensive line
The difference in experience also sheds light on why LaFleur emphasized staying composed. The Packers clearly need stronger blocking, but they also need dependable veterans who can bring stability to an offensive line that has been disrupted by injuries, constant changes and repeated protection issues.
The Packers had little choice but to make changes after a rough opening stretch, and the numbers show why. Green Bay allowed pressure on 44.7 percent of dropbacks, the 31st highest rate in the league, even though Jordan Love had the second fastest average release time among quarterbacks with multiple starts. The ground game offered little relief either, with Packers runners averaging just 0.92 yards before contact per attempt.
LaFleur’s comments made it clear that the veteran additions will need to win more of their individual matchups.
Ultimately, LaFleur’s “war” comment captured what Green Bay expects from its veteran additions. The Packers need more stability, fewer breakdowns and a more reliable offensive line as the team looks to fix its problems quickly.
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