Offensive line’s woes keep adding up
GREEN BAY – Eight penalty flags and eight hits and five sacks on quarterbacks Brett Hundley and DeShone
Kizer against Oakland didn’t look great in live speed Friday night, and after being able to break down the performance of the offensive line in more detail since, it didn’t age any better for Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy.
“We didn’t play it very well,” McCarthy said Sunday of his group up front. “We had too many penalties, as far as the fundamentals, and that’s what this last week we’ll focus on.”
The Packers started, from left to right, Jason Spriggs, Aaron Pankey, Lucas Patrick, Byron Bell and Kyle Murphy in Oakland. Dillon Day, Austin Davis, Alex Light and Kofi Amichia also saw snaps.
All but Amichia were called for a penalty, though a hold on Patrick was declined. The flags totaled 65 yards.
“It isn’t like it was just one thing,” McCarthy said. “It’s a product of, you go through it – every individual had some things that didn’t go very well. So I mean, Kyle’s injured, so we’ll see how he is the next couple days, that was part of what he was dealing with.
“Actually I thought Spriggs played better. Lucas he hadn’t play a whole lot of center in games but he did some really good things.
“It’s just, unfortunately, there’s positive plays to build off of, it’s just the big plays that we gave up as far as the hits and the sacks and the penalties, and where you really don’t get to establish a rhythm and be productive –we were able to accomplish that the first two weeks.”
Of the group of players who have gotten reps at the tackle positions through three preseason games, McCarthy did single out Spriggs as someone who can man those spots behind starters David
Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga.
“He’s had some ups and downs, but once again that’s what training camp is for,” McCarthy said. “He’s playing at a different weight this year, so I think he’s progressed. I think he’s done a lot of really good things Friday night.”
Murphy in a walking boot: Murphy had his 2017 season end prematurely with a broken left foot suffered in Week 3 of the regular season against Cincinnati, and on Friday night in Oakland he left the game early and received attention on his right ankle.
On Sunday, he was seen in a walking boot.
The 6-foot-6, 305-pound tackle out of Stanford started on both sides of the line in the first three weeks of last year before going on injured reserve Sept. 26.
Kumerow on the mend: Preseason sensation Jake Kumerow continues to get treatment on an SC joint sprain following a somersault into the end zone against Pittsburgh on Aug. 16.
“I’m feeling good,” Kumerow said. “Just taking it day by day, doing what they tell me and hoping for the best.”
The 26-year-old wide receiver caught six of 10 targets for 190 yards and two scores through the first two games of the preseason, including touchdown catches of 52 and 82 yards. He is in a battle for a roster spot with several draft picks.
As for potentially being ready to get on the field Thursday in Kansas City, “I’m not sure yet,” Kumerow said. “Still waiting to hear what they say. I feel good.”