There is always plenty to worry about heading into the first matchup of the season.
Will first year Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley be the ointment that this defense severely needs? Not just in philosophy in being aggressive to the ball but making defensive players truly believe in what will make this team move forward.
Those things are important ahead of Friday night’s game down in steamy Brazil, but there’s something else that is making me wonder.
Jordan Morgan is slated to be the starting right guard for an offensive line that will likely be just above average this season. The rookie largely played left tackle at Arizona. He will likely be matched up against the ninth overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft — Jalen Carter.
The 6-foot-3, 314-pound defensive tackle had 32 tackles in his final season at Georgia in 2022 and also 31 hurries. All told, in 38 collegiate games, Carter had 18 1⁄2 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Carter only played 51 percent of the defensive snaps last season and is on track to get more of a role this year. He had a back injury in Week 8 last year, but he still only missed one game last season.
This is why the Packers covet versatility on the offensive line so much. They need guys that can virtually anywhere at any time. Morgan only played left tackle but the Packers knew that Morgan’s short arms would transform him to guard.
“Having guys who can play multiple spots that are athletic enough to do it and strong enough to do it and smart enough to do it, it gives you a lot of comfort,” said Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst after the 2024 NFL Draft.
Morgan was taken 25th overall simply because the Packers knew that they could move him where they wanted him to go. There’s no way the Packers take him in the first round if Morgan was unwilling to move to the right side and go to the inside.
The 23-year-old Carter will push the 23-year-old Morgan very quick. Morgan’s speed will be tested. Morgan’s toughness will be tested. But most of all, Morgan’s psyche and confidence will be tested. Carter will be looking for any way to throw a wrench into the Packers offense that looks like it is being fueled by rocket boosters.
Morgan doesn’t know it yet, but he is the key to how this offense gets off the ground through the early part of this season. Think about it. The majority of the offense has not played a meaningful amount of preseason snaps.
To counter that, Morgan is a proven winner by leading his team to the state playoffs for three straight years and he was also a key cog why Arizona improved by nine wins from 2021-2023 — the largest win improvement in that time in school history.
Friday night is a huge test for Morgan. He will be asked to do plenty but will get saddled for blame if things go sideways.
Morgan knows what this game means. Not just because this is the season opener, or because it’s the fabled Green Bay Packers. It’s because there is much riding on this season. The Packers are so close this year that they desperately want everyone to be in lock-step.
If Morgan can transfer that winning attitude he has grown accustomed to in high school and college, then the Packers are in for a real treat.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on “Clubhouse Live” and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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