The Green Bay Packers’ offensive line has become a constant topic of conversation in recent seasons, as the coaches relentlessly mix and match their linemen with the goal of finding the best combination.Entering training camp this year, it seemed reasonably cut and dry, with Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Anthony Belton and Zach Bako-Bewele expected to be the starting five.Instead, it has turned into a legitimate competition at both guard spots, and Belton, a second-round pick from last year, seems to be fighting an uphill battle to win the right guard job over rookie fifth-round pick Jager Burton and former fifth-rounder Jacob Monk.Green Bay’s coaches have talked plenty about how Belton’s acclimation to the guard position as a rookie was not helped by repping almost exclusively at tackle throughout camp, and the idea was that this summer he would get a proper runway on the interior.That has not really happened. Mostly due to Bako-Bewele working his way back from injury, Belton has again spent much of camp at right tackle, and quite frankly, has struggled.It does make sense to keep cross-training Belton at tackle as well as guard because as things stand, the Packers are not entirely sure who will be first off the bench if Morgan or Bako-Bewele gets hurt. They need to find the answer to that issue, and Belton needs to be in that conversation.However, it appears to be hurting Belton’s ability to get comfortable and truly compete at guard, where Burton and Monk are playing every day. In fact, Burton has even begun to threaten Banks’ job on the other side.Head coach Matt LaFleur was asked earlier this week whether he sees Belton as a guard or a tackle.He said: “He’s got the versatility we feel that he could do either or, and with some of the situations we had, Zach (Bako-Bewele) being down for as long as he was, we wanted to get him more reps at tackle and when he first got here that’s primarily where we played him as well.”The obvious follow up question was that if he is going to be part of the battle at right guard, do the Packers need to let him play there more? LaFleur said: “Potentially. We’ve played one preseason game, not that we have a ton of time, but there’s still some time left.”Meanwhile, Burton has received plenty of his adulation for his performances in camp.General manager Brian Gutekunst said of Burton on Tuesday: “He’s done a really nice job for us so far, and for me it’s just really exciting. He’s a young guy, who’s only gonna get better, who can play center and guard. Those guys are hard to find.”Compare that to what LaFleur said about Belton: “He’s still a young player, he’s still growing, he’s still learning, we just wanna keep seeing that improvement from him.”Belton appears to be falling behind in the battle for the right guard job, and he has somewhat been a victim of his size and versatility. There is a chance he spends his age 25 season as a swing tackle, rather than the start
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