The Green Bay Packers figured things would be much better on the offensive line once left tackle Chad Clifton returned from injury.
Well, it wasn't. The Packers gave up five sacks and were called for numerous penalties in their 26-0 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
And after Clifton left the game with 2:47 left in the third quarter with an aggravation of his right ankle injury, the Packers are back to finding a way to survive without one of their most valuable starters.
"That's football," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "We have a game coming up on Sunday, we have to get five guys ready to go. . . . If a guy's hurt, you've got to keep moving and find a way to get your best players out there."
The Packers moved left guard Daryn Colledge to left tackle after Clifton hurt his ankle in the second game against the Cincinnati Bengals, and the switch was a near disaster the next two weeks.
The Packers decided during the bye week that rookie T.J. Lang was a better option than Colledge, so he came on for Clifton against the Lions.
The Packers didn't give up a sack for the rest of the game. But up, 26-0, they only dropped back to pass twice.
"It was definitely a lot easier than the last time I got thrown in there," said Lang, who played the final two drives against the Vikings when Colledge was hurt. "Taking the reps all throughout practice at left tackle definitely helps. Just being able to focus at one spot is always easier. I really knew that if anything happened today I would be the first guy in there."
So when Clifton went down and offensive line coach James Campen came to Lang to see if he was ready, Lang didn't hesitate.
"I said, 'I'm ready to go. Let's not change anything we're doing. Trust me. I'm going to get out there and do my job,' " Lang said. "I thought we did a pretty good job."
Lang was a left tackle in his final 2 1/2 years at Central Michigan. The scouting report was that his arms were too short to play tackle in the pros. But he has impressed the coaching staff with his intangibles.
"He's got good very athleticism," Philbin said. "He moves his feet well, looks comfortable kicking and sliding, dragging that inside foot back and some of the things you need to do in pass protection as a left tackle.
"Doesn't appear from an assignment standpoint or execution standpoint, in the heat of the battle, that he's going to get frazzled, so you like that about him because he's obviously very young and doesn't have a lot of reps under his belt. So far, so good."
It's up for debate whether Clifton was really ready to return. He appeared slow on pass protection and was called for four penalties - two on back-to-back plays.
Clifton twice was called for illegal formation because the officials thought he wasnt lined up properly.
Hes absolutely frustrated, but its a situation where its a judgment call by the referee, Colledge said of the infractions. He felt Chad wasnt far enough on the ball. The thing with Chad, he plays in an upright stance when hes in a two-point and he gets his shoulders back, which is great. Hes been doing it for 10 years, but its something theyre emphasizing this year and he has to find a way to make an adjustment. And he will.
If Clifton is out for an extended period of time and it appears he will be Lang is confident hell do the job.
It helps me playing next to Daryn, Lang said. Hes a really smart player. He helps me out whenever I need help. If it happens that Chad cant go, I want them to trust me that I can go in and do the job. Im just continuing to get better each week, I think, and if comes down to where I have to start, Im pretty confident.
Nelson goes down: [ul]After losing returner Will Blackmon for the season with a knee injury, the Packers had to go to plans C and D once Jordy Nelson left with a knee bruise. X-rays were negative, but he didn't return.
Cornerback Tramon Williams returned one punt 45 yards before Charles Woodson took over. The Packers didn't have another kickoff return, but special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum said Williams would have filled in.
While it seemed like a risk to expose Woodson to injury - he was hurt on a punt return during the 2007 season - Slocum said the team felt more comfortable with Woodson catching the ball in the windy second-half conditions.
"He's done it for us, and I felt very comfortable with that. Mike (McCarthy) did too," Slocum said.
Look for Williams to take most of the punt returns in the event Nelson is out.
"Tramon is an explosive guy; he can really run," Slocum said. "I have a lot of confidence in him. Hopefully Jordy will be OK because he's shown what he can do. I think we're fine. I hate losing Will, but I think those two guys, with Charles being able to go in there and catch the ball on a bad day - I think we'll be fine."[/ul]
Bishop on the block? [ul]The deadline for teams to complete trades is 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The Packers aren't expected to be buyers - starting left tackles and stud running backs aren't plentiful - but they could be willing to part with linebacker Desmond Bishop for the right price.
After not playing in base defense in four games this season, Bishop said he wouldn't mind a change in scenery.
"It crossed my mind," Bishop said. I didnt know the deadline was Tuesday. I thought about it. Shoot, if anybody has reason to want a player, I wouldnt oppose it.
Bishop has impressed during his extended playing time in preseason games each of the past two seasons. But with Nick Barnett, Brandon Chillar and A.J. Hawk ahead of him on the depth chart, Bishop hasn't found much playing time.
He said he just wants an opportunity to play.
Right, Bishop said.[/ul]