The Lass Word: Is Criticism of Myers Valid?

I can’t help but notice lately that a lot of Green Bay Packer fans are on the bandwagon to get rid of Josh Myers.  A popular narrative has developed that Myers is the weak link on the team’s offensive line.  There seems to be a clamor for the former Ohio State star to be replaced by moving either Zach Tom or Elgton Jenkins to center. 

That sentiment gained great momentum when ESPN’s Rob Demovsky recently told a sports talk show that he doesn’t think Myers will be on the team next year, and that there are opinions within the Packers organization that Tom has Hall of Fame potential as a center.  Fans also took notice of rankings put out by organizations such as Pro Football Focus, rankings which list Myers below most of his offensive line teammates, and among the bottom of centers across the NFL.   As Myers enters the final year of his rookie contract, many supporters of the green and gold seem to feel it is a foregone conclusion that Myers will be allowed to walk next year to provide room for Tom or Jenkins or rookie Jacob Monk to step in.   

What makes this intriguing to me is that the signals coming from the Green Bay coaching staff seem to be completely different.  Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, asked during the 2023 season about replacing Myers on the O-line, remarked “Josh Myers is playing the best he’s played in his career.  I think he’s playing really well. So, I don’t think right now that is the best move for us because he is one of our best five players.” 

Long time Packers beat reporter Tom Silverstein recently wrote this for packersnews.com:  “The most common opinion among media and fans is that right tackle Zach Tom is going to replace center Josh Myers, forcing the 2021 second-round draft pick either to guard or the bench (and possibly a trade before the season starts).   Here’s the reality: the Packers like Myers and they don’t anticipate moving him out of the starting lineup.  Myers, whether you believe the Packers or not, had a solid finish to last season after struggling out of the gate. He did give up too many pressures overall as a pass blocker (14 pressures, five quarterback hits), but not as many sacks as many think he did.” 

I’m always a bit cautious in using PFF stats. They often seem contradictory and counter intuitive. For example, they have given Myers a lower 2023 rating in both run blocking and pass blocking than Tom, Jenkins and Rasheed Walker. Myers is rated higher than Sean Rhyan in both categories. Yet PFF’s figures show that Myers allowed fewer sacks than Walker. He allowed fewer quarterback hits than Jenkins or Walker. And he allowed fewer “hurries” than Tom, Jennings or Walker. 

Myers had six penalties flagged against him, four less than Walker, and just one more than Jenkins. Keep in mind Jenkins missed two games.  

No doubt one of the factors leading to the discontent over Myers’ play is the inevitable comparisons with Chiefs center Creed Humphrey. Myers was taken with pick number 62 in the second round of the 2021 draft. Humphrey, generally considered the top prospect at the center position going into the draft, was grabbed up on the very next pick by the Chiefs. The careers of the two prospects were destined to be examined side-by-side. So far, Humphrey has been voted to the Pro Bowl twice and consistently ranked among the best snappers in the league. Myers has not achieved such recognition. 

During a locker room interview before the divisional playoff game against the 49ers, Myers indicated to beat writers that he feels he is part of an offensive line that can be special right now. “Man, it feels great. We definitely feel like we’ve got lightning in a bottle a little bit right now,” he said. “I feel like everything’s coming together collectively.” 

Despite being a lightning rod for fan criticism, Myers enters training camp as the unquestioned starter at center. Zach Tom may or may not be better at the position, but at this point the coaches show no inclination to find out. They value Tom too much as a right tackle, and feel Jenkins’ best spot is at left guard.  

A year from now Green Bay will have to decide whether to let Myers walk. He hopes to use this season to make that decision much harder.