Green Bay Packers rookie offensive linemen has seven penalties through two preseason games. That’s by far the most in the preseason so far.
Much has been made about his debacle of a first half in Indianapolis this past Saturday – five penalties in the first half alone, including an unnecessary roughness that earned him a very public dressing down from Head Coach Matt LaFleur as they left the field at halftime.
It was ugly. And then Belton, a massive human being at six feet, six inches tall and 336 pounds, completely turned it around in the second half. The Packers, down 13-3 after an ugly first half, came back to win 23-19. Belton was pretty much flawless in the final two quarter.
Was it the tongue-lashing he took from LaFleur? Was it the clementine he was gifted during the half from fellow lineman Rasheed Walker?
Or is Belton just a rookie who’s figuring things out in real time? Frankly, I’m choosing just that.
We’ve seen mental errors aplenty. It’s baffling and frustrating. It leaves a taste in the mouth somewhere between expired milk and despair. But it’s two games that don’t count. He played an O-line high 62 snaps in the contest, so clearly the coaching staff is trying to help him get used to the NFL game.
Belton played 42 snaps the week before in the ugly 30-10 loss to the New York Jets, with two (unaccepted) penalties. But in those 42 snaps, he didn’t allow a quarterback pressure. Meanwhile, we’ve seen him plow through guys so physically that it borders on rude. In that Jets game he earned the line’s second-best run-blocking grade as well.
Back to the Colts game, and we got to watch Belton help bulldoze running back Amar Johnson into the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown to go with the solid pass protection.
Offensive line coach Luke Butkus took some blame following the first-half debacle, but told the media, “He’s aggressive. He’s playing hard, but you also have to play smart.”
Butkus credited Belton for his second-half rebound, saying the second-round pick “didn’t go down in the dumps.”
Meanwhile, LaFleur cooled off a bit following the game.
“I don’t want to put it all on him,” LaFleur said on Monday. “On some of those alignment things, the guards have to move up. Because he’s putting his post foot off the guard’s post foot. So we have to scoot our guard up.”
Five penalties is five penalties. But Belton him to bounce back like that says a lot. And on a team with potentially three starter-quality tackles in Zach Tom, Walker and Jordan Morgan, Belton can be afforded the opportunity to bring his game along slowly. Packers fans should be bullish on Belton.
“Stuff like that can't happen,” Belton said after the up and down Colts game. “I've just got to grow up. I've got to get out of those old habits. I've got to learn quick."
In the meantime, keep those clementines coming. Just in case.