Matt LaFleur spotlights area of improvement for offense
The Green Bay offense is entering this season with an all new look under Matt LaFleur. They’ve finished Top 10 in points and yards per game each of the last two seasons. Back to back MVP Aaron Rodgers has had plenty to do with that with 8,414 yards and 85 touchdowns combined in 2020 and 2021. With that said, changes to the offense this offseason will leave it up to LaFleur and Rodgers to keep that side of the ball afloat.
LaFleur discussed what the Packers need to focus on most heading into the preseason after their Family Night practice at Lambeau Field. He says while the defense have been tough opponents, they’ve revealed a weakness in the Green Bay offensive line.
“It’s a double-edged sword. I hope it’s that our defense is really stout and they’re going to be very tough to deal with,” said LaFleur. “The one area that we have to improve is just the consistency up front.”
Their offensive line includes names like Jon Runyan, Josh Meyers and Royce Newman at the guard and center spots. It’s what the Packers are missing at the tackle spots that’s hurting them. Left tackle David Bakhtiari required a second surgery in connection to an ACL tear he suffered in the 2020 season. Meanwhile, right tackle Elgton Jenkins is recovering from an ACL tear of his own in 2021.
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Injuries are no excuse for Matt LaFleur, though. He needs his next men up in order to be ready for the preseason and beyond.
“I mean granted I think we have a pretty good defensive front…I hope they are making our offense that much better. It’s obviously always tough when you’re missing two major players up front,” LaFleur said. “At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter who’s out there. They gotta get the job done. We’ve got to see improvement over the course of the next week and into the preseason.”
However many changes there may be in Green Bay, the NFL will still have massive expectations for the Packers this season. It may take all year for both lineman to return or for the offense to finally be used to life without Davante Adams. They won’t have that long, though, as they’re just five days out from their preseason opener against San Francisco on August 12th.