As the Green Bay Packers learned the hard way in their early playoff exit to the Philadelphia Eagles, it's almost impossible to win without quality offensive line depth. One injury to Elgton Jenkins derailed everything as the Packers' postseason dreams slipped away.
Fast forward seven months to the blossoming of preseason hope. The Packers have reasons for optimism, but their paper-thin interior offensive line problem is once again ringing alarm bells.
General manager Brian Gutekunst reinforced the tackle depth with second-rounder Anthony Belton, while free-agent guard addition Aaron Banks effectively replaced Josh Myers despite playing a different position. The interior line depth, though, is an increasing concern, and the Packers' preseason performances have shone a bright light on Gutekunst's offseason failure.
Packers' failure to upgrade their interior offensive line depth is already haunting them
Jacob Monk received golden first-team reps while Jenkins sat out of the offseason program. The second-year player had the fast track to the backup center job, but then came the preseason.
Starting right guard Sean Rhyan has taken on the No. 2 center duties in the Packers' August dress rehearsals, a clear sign he is ahead of Monk. And the performances prove why.
According to Pro Football Focus, Monk allowed one sack and two pressures and gave away three penalties in last week's loss to the New York Jets. He didn't fare much better against the Indianapolis Colts, allowing three more pressures.
Donovan Jennings also had a game to forget, with a costly penalty negating a 31-yard completion (a one-handed catch by Julian Hicks, no less), while also allowing three pressures.
As things stand, the Packers are an injury or two away from Monk or Jennings getting regular-season reps.
Few teams can withstand multiple offensive line injuries, and the Packers are no different. But it's surprising Gutekunst didn't do more to increase the competition at the guard and center positions. If one of the starting interior linemen goes down, the Packers may need a significant reshuffle to make it work. That could mean Jordan Morgan or Anthony Belton playing guard.
Maybe they would move Zach Tom to center in a desperate situation, although that seems unlikely.
Green Bay may need to search for outside help. A free agent? A trade? A year after the Packers traded a seventh-round pick for Malik Willis after neither Sean Clifford nor Michael Pratt earned the backup quarterback job, could they make a similar move for an interior lineman?
That's easier said than done, and it's a concern Gutekunst should've addressed in the offseason. That mistake is already haunting the Packers and may become a problem when the real games begin.