A Reason for Hope

Finally, a reason for hope. After yet another debacle, Brian Gutekunst has finally decided to address the Packers offensive line, turning to the open market in hopes of protecting Jordan Love for the remainder of the season.

Through the first three weeks of the NFL season, the Packers’ season appeared to be over before it had really even begun. The team was setting records for all the wrong reasons, particularly when it came to the number of hits its franchise quarterback was taking.

Following Thursday’s game, I questioned what the plan was going forward. Were the Packers really going to sit back and watch their franchise quarterback get hit time and time again without doing anything about it?

I started to wonder what the conversations inside 1265 Lombardi Avenue sounded like. Did the front office recognize just how bad things had gotten? More importantly, was anyone prepared to do something about it?

As I found myself wondering how we got here and what it would take to right the ship, the Packers finally decided to act.

Packers Offensive Line: How Did We Get Here

There was once a time in my Packers fandom when the likes of David Bakhtiari, Josh Sitton, Corey Linsley, T.J. Lang and Bryan Bulaga anchored an offensive line that was consistently among the league’s best. Looking back, I somewhat consider those the glory days.

Unfortunately, those days appear to be long gone, and the Packers’ makeshift offensive line will have to figure things out quickly if this team has any hope of competing for another Lombardi Trophy.

The Packers used to excel at developing offensive linemen, cross-training players and building cohesive units capable of protecting their quarterback. That reputation is what makes the current situation so frustrating.

How did we get here, and how was this the product the Packers were comfortable putting on the field to begin the season?

Back in February, I wrote about my concerns surrounding the Packers’ offensive line and the need to address the position before the season began. I certainly wasn’t alone in recognizing the potential problems, which makes the current situation all the more frustrating.

How is it that I, along with countless other fans and writers, could see these issues coming months in advance, yet the general manager responsible for constructing this roster apparently couldn’t?

These weren’t problems that developed overnight. They were concerns that went unaddressed, and now the Packers are paying the price.

It’s difficult to place all the blame on one person. When things go this poorly, there are usually several people responsible. But if we’re going to start pointing fingers, we have to begin with general manager Brian Gutekunst.

Gutekunst has struggled not only to identify reliable talent through the draft but also to assemble a cohesive unit capable of protecting Jordan Love.

If you read any of my tweets following last season’s conclusion in Chicago, you know that one of the first changes I wanted the Packers to make was moving on from offensive line coach Luke Butkus. I didn’t believe he had earned his promotion, and the offensive line’s continued struggles have done little to change my opinion.

Next on that list was offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich.

Both coaches have offensive line backgrounds. In fact, Stenavich’s work with the offensive line was a significant reason he earned the offensive coordinator position in the first place.

The reality is that the Packers essentially have two offensive line coaches, hundreds of millions of dollars invested, and two premium draft picks committed to the offensive line.

With that level of investment, it’s difficult to imagine the allocation of resources going much worse than it has.

At some point, the conversation has to shift from injuries and individual performances to the people responsible for constructing and developing this unit.

Realistic Expectations

Fortunately, Gutekunst has finally decided to act, whether that decision came from pressure from new CEO Ed Policy or his own recognition that something needed to change.

The first move came when the Packers signed veteran left guard Laken Tomlinson from the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.

Tomlinson makes sense as a veteran addition. Having spent several years in Kyle Shanahan’s system and worked with Mike LaFleur, Matt’s brother, he should have some familiarity with the terminology and blocking concepts he’ll be asked to execute in Green Bay.

While there will certainly be an adjustment period, the learning curve shouldn’t be nearly as steep as it would be for someone unfamiliar with the system.

The Packers followed that move by signing Mekhi Becton, the former first-round pick of the New York Jets.

Becton’s career has been anything but consistent. After a promising rookie season, a string of knee injuries threatened to derail his career before he eventually landed with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he enjoyed a resurgence.

Gutekunst has mentioned wanting more size along the offensive line, and he certainly accomplished that. Between right tackle Anthony Belton and Becton, the Packers now have more than 700 pounds of offensive linemen to work with on the right side.

Perhaps the most exciting development, however, was the report earlier today that Wisconsin native Kevin Zeitler came in for a workout and physical.

Of all the potential additions, Zeitler might be the most significant. A veteran with an established track record, he could provide an immediate upgrade and some much-needed stability to an offensive line that has struggled to find either.

If the Packers can agree to terms with Zeitler, they’ll have taken another meaningful step toward assembling a unit capable of getting them through the remainder of the season.

Of course, none of this changes the fact that Green Bay is attempting to piece together its offensive line nearly a quarter of the way through the NFL season.

And frankly, part of me considers that malpractice on the part of our general manager.

Throughout the summer, I watched several interviews in which reporters questioned Gutekunst about the offensive line and whether the Packers needed to add more depth. Those concerns were apparent well before the season began, yet the front office appeared comfortable with the group it had assembled.

I don’t know whether Gutekunst was unwilling to admit that his plan for the offensive line was flawed or that some of the talent he had drafted wasn’t developing as expected.

Either way, the reality is that sometimes you have to be honest with yourself and acknowledge when you’ve made a mistake before someone forces you to.

For now, I’m hopeful the Packers can reach an agreement with Zeitler and that these additions will provide the stability this offensive line desperately needs.

The season has started in the wrong direction, but there’s still time to turn things around.

At least now, there’s finally a reason for hope.