Tuesday LaFleur: Tom’s Versatility Blessing or Curse?

What's more important: Zach Tom's play as a potential starter at right tackle or his ability to fill in anywhere at a moment's notice?

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Aug 1, 2023 11:23 AM EDT

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – As a rookie last season, Zach Tom played four spots on the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line. This training camp, he’s competing for a starting job at right tackle.

The Packers’ preference is to put their best five blockers on the field. However, Tom’s super-sub ability after starting games at left tackle and left guard and playing extensively at right tackle is an incredible luxury as a way to plug-and-play to handle an injury.

Could Tom’s versatility actually wind up being a curse when it comes to his quest to start?

“I think you always want to get your best out there and try to work on that continuity,” coach Matt LaFleur said before Tuesday’s training camp practice. “You always plan for the worst but you’re going to have to adjust, and that’s what this game’s all about. Who can make the quickest, most efficient adjustments usually is in their favor.”

Wherever he played last season, Tom played well. Clearly, winning the right tackle spot and being (mostly) locked in there day after day, week after week, could raise his game another couple notches.

Tom saw that happening last season, when he replaced left tackle David Bakhtiari for three late-season games due to an appendectomy.

“That made it better because I guess I knew what position I was going to be playing each week,” Tom said after Monday’s practice. “That helped out a little bit. I feel like toward the end of the year I kind of became more confident in knowing the playbook and just knowing what to do so I could go out there and execute it fast.”

Thus far in camp, Tom has played mostly right tackle though he’s worked in at center and left tackle, as well.

“Just being able to focus on right tackle makes a pretty big difference because the footwork is consistent. It’s helping me out a little,” Tom said.

Zach Tom takes a bike to practice. (Photo by Wm. Glasheen/USA Today Sports Images)

Here are a few other comments by LaFleur from his pre-practice news conference.

LaFleur took a fun walk down memory lane when asked about Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning being at practice on Monday:

“We talked about a lot of things. It was great. He addressed our team and the lessons he learned, especially as a young player, how to respond to adversity, the great teams he was on, his approach to the game. I thought there it was super-beneficial. Certainly, you’re talking about one of the all-time greats. I’ve had experience as a coach going against him and the lessons I’ve learned as a coach when you go against him.

I’ll never forget – I told the team this – in 2008 was the first time, I was with the Houston Texans and we’re playing Indy and we’re up 17 late in the fourth quarter and to watch this guy bring his team back and of course beat us in the 2-minute drive. Scored 21 points basically in about a 5-minute span. So, it was a great lesson early in my coaching career about, you’ve got to play til that clock says zero.

“I’ll never forget sitting up in that press box and we’re up 27-10, thinking ‘Oh, my gosh, we’re going to beat the Indianapolis Colts,’ only to see it evaporate quickly. It was a tough lesson to learn, but I think it’s one of those necessary things that you all got to go through.”

On defensive tackle TJ Slaton, who had a big day on Monday:

“I think T.J.’s really been working hard. I think by and large our effort, quite frankly, in particular with that position, just our guys’ ability to put their foot in the ground and retrace, has been outstanding. It’s probably been the best we’ve seen it, and T.J.’s done a nice job. He continues to take those steps and is becoming a better and better player. Obviously, we need that. You can never have enough big guys and he’s doing a great job.”

On competitive periods that result in post-practice push-ups or up-downs, of which the defense has won every day:

"I think it makes it a little bit more meaningful. Going back to my time in Atlanta where he’d always have competitions and we’d have a consequence for the team that didn’t get it done or the side of the ball that didn’t get it done. Also, going back to last season, we started implementing more competition periods as the season progressed. I thought our team got better – I thought there was more intensity to the practice. I thought there was more focus. I thought that’s when you started to see us really improving. That’s something we’ll probably do moving forward, as well."