Corey Linsley has been quiet force in middle of Packers' O-line

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But it does. Linsley, in a quiet and understated manner, has been a pillar on the Packers' offensive line for 89 starts spread over six seasons, and has snapped to Rodgers more than any other center during the two-time MVP's 12-year run as starting QB.


Over time, he's developed a comprehensive understanding of the nuances unique to Rodgers' cadence and snap count, both of which have been on display in Green Bay's first two road games played in large empty domes.


Between Week 1 in Minnesota and last Sunday in New Orleans, Rodgers has drawn the opposition offside on five third downs. Two resulted in automatic first downs, one led to a 39-yard pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and another that precipitated a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone.


Rodgers nearly took a timeout on that one, until calling at the last second for the ball when Saints linebacker Demario Davis jumped into the neutral zone. From there, it was up to Linsley to know when it's time to deliver the ball to his quarterback.


"It's very, very complex," said Linsley of Rodgers' cadence. "It's not like we're sending rockets up into space or anything … but it's complex enough to where being on the same page as him takes a lot of time and effort from studying, playing, all of that. It takes a concerted effort to get used to his cadence."


Linsley recently talked with Bakhtiari, the longest-tenured veteran on Green Bay's offensive line, about how the two have grown to anticipate what Rodgers is going to do and the quantitative effect that's had in potential free-play situations.


It's not just creative chemistry that's made Linsley a stalwart on the O-line since 2014, though. It's his communication at the line of scrimmage, reliable pass-blocking and sneaky athleticism to get to the second level to block for his running backs.


A few of Green Bay's big runs this season – Aaron Jones' 15-yard pickup in Minnesota and Jones' 75-yard touchdown against Detroit – were keyed by Linsley and Jenkins clearing the interior for Jones to power into the second level.


"It's amazing, there are so many guys on the team who sometimes go unnoticed. He's one, he's been incredible," offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said. "His leadership role, the ability to run the entire offensive line, from all the calls that he makes, just his athleticism. The things that we ask him to do, there's not a lot of guys who can do what he can do."