Packers statistical breakdown: Offensive Line

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Mark Eckel

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By BOB McGINN

Note: One of a series wrapping up the Green Bay Packers’ season from a statistical standpoint. All statistics were recorded and tabulated by me. Playoff games included in previous season totals.

The Packers gave up 51 sacks, an average of 3.19 in 16 games that was their highest since the 2009 squad allowed an average of 3.29 (56 in 17 games).

It sent the Packers to a 27th-place finish in sack percentage, a drop from 13th last year. In 10 seasons with the same offensive line coach (James Campen) and the same quarterback (Aaron Rodgers), the Packers have never finished better than 13th in sack percentage. They ranked 18th in 2008, 29th in ’09, 20th in ’10, 22nd in ’11, 28th in ’12, 21st in ’13, 14th in ’14 and 24th in ’15.

The responsibility for the sacks in 2017 included 31 ½ for the offensive line, 11 ½ for the quarterbacks, three for the running backs and two for the tight ends. No individual fault was assigned on three sacks.

On the offensive line, Justin McCray led with seven sacks. He was followed by David Bakhtiari and Jahri Evans, five; Kyle Murphy, 4 ½; Jason Spriggs, 3 1/2; Lane Taylor, three; Bryan Bulaga, Lucas Patrick and Ulrick John, one, and Corey Linsley, one-half.

At quarterback, Brett Hundley was charged with eight and Rodgers with 3 ½.

At tight end, Martellus Bennett was charged with one and Lance Kendricks and Richard Rodgers, each one-half.

At running back, Ty Montgomery allowed two and Aaron Jones one. Jamaal Williams didn’t yield any.

In the last 19 seasons, the highest single-season sack totals both were recorded by tackle Marshall Newhouse: eleven in 2012, 10 ½ in ‘11. The next highest totals went to tackle Don Barclay: 9 ½ in 2013, nine in ’15.

A better way to rate the efficiency of a protection unit is pressures allowed. Pressures are defined as the combination of sacks, knockdowns and hurries.

The Packers allowed 232 pressures, an increase from 206 last year and 217 in 2015. In an interesting twist, although Evans yielded the most pressures with 28 ½, it was the fewest for the team leader since Chad Clifton led with 25 in 2008. T.J. Lang, who was Evans’ predecessor at right guard, gave up just 13 in 2016.

Following Evans in pressures allowed among the offensive linemen were McCray, 28; Taylor, 21 ½; Bakhtiari, 17 ½; Spriggs, 17; Linsley, 14 ½; Murphy, 13 ½; Bulaga, 13; Patrick, nine, and John, four.

At quarterback, Hundley was charged with 18 ½ pressures compared to eight for Rodgers.

At tight end, Rodgers had three and Bennett and Kendricks each had two.

At running back, Jones led with six followed by Montgomery and Williams, each with three.

Twenty pressures were judged to have no individual fault.

Meanwhile, the Packers gave up 92 “bad runs,” a 23.8% rate that marked a decrease from 26.8% in 2016 and 28.6% in ’15. A “bad run” is defined as a rush for 1 yard or less excluding kneeldowns and successful goal-line and short-yardage runs.

Evans also led the offensive line in this category with 15 ½, 4 ½ more than Lang had a year ago. He was followed by Linsley, 15; Taylor, nine; Spriggs, seven; Bakhtiari, six; McCray, five; Murphy, 2 ½; Bulaga, two, and Patrick, one.

At tight end, Kendricks was charged with six, Rodgers with 5 ½ and Bennett with three.

Jordy Nelson led the wide receivers with 3 ½. Aaron Ripkowski led the running backs with two.

The Packers pulled at least one lineman on 82 rushes. Those plays gained a total of 334 yards (4.07).

As the primary puller, Taylor’s 41 plays gained 204 yards (4.98), Evans’ 23 gained 96 (4.17), Patrick’s 10 gained 20 (2.0), Bakhtiari’s four gained 5, McCray’s three gained 5 and Linsley’s one gained 4.

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