I don't see how Ted Thompson has improved the Packers. Basically, it is the same team Ted Thompson inherited from Mike Sherman. After 5 seasons, the Packers have a terrible O-line, terrible defensive backfield, and were eliminated in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Seems the same as 2004.

"dhpackr" wrote:

Are Packers headed for more offensive line turmoil?

By Greg A. Bedard of the Journal Sentinel
March 4, 2010 9:25 a.m.

Green Bay - Close your eyes for a second and imagine this:

In the 2010 season opener, the starting offensive line for the Green Bay Packers goes like this: left tackle T.J. Lang, left guard Mike Iupati (rookie), center Scott Wells, right guard Josh Sitton and right tackle Allen Barbre.
Backups? Breno Giacomini, Stanley Daniels, Evan Dietrich-Smith, and a few draft picks.

The league-leading 51 sacks the Packers gave up last season might not look that bad.

With 13 hours left before the start of free agency, the possibility is there that the Packers could be without four players that started games on the offensive line last season: left tackle Chad Clifton, right tackle Mark Tauscher, guard Jason Spitz and left guard Daryn Colledge.

How likely is it that all four players will not return? Not very. The Packers have gotten the reputation the past few years of not showing any indication of getting a deal done, and then all of a sudden flipping a switch and doing the deal.

But could most of them not return? Possibly.

If Clifton is going to be back next season, that contract scenario is going to have to unfold again. Because as it stands right now, a contract for the 10-year veteran that has started 106 of the last 112 regular-season games the Packers have played is not in close to fruition.
Tauscher, whose return last season solidified the line last year in coach Mike McCarthy's opinion, will only be back by the start of free agency at 11:01 p.m. CT if his coach gets his way.

General manager Ted Thompson wanted to move on from Tauscher last season. But Barbre fell on his face and opened the door for Tauscher's return.

Thompson wants to do the same thing this year -- with either Lang or Giacomini taking Tauscher's spot -- but McCarthy has been pushing for Tauscher's return privately.

The Packers' trump card with both Spitz and Colledge, who are both restricted free agents, is that they can match any offer another team may make.

But most NFL observers expect the poison pill -- a provision in a contract that makes it monetarily impossible for the player's former team to match an offer -- to return this season.

That being said, it's hard to see a team getting that creative for a player in Spitz who, while talented and healthy, is coming off back surgery. And in Colledge, any team would be getting a player that has been up and down since he entered the league.

But it would not be surprising if a team came after Spitz. On draft day after his rookie season, at least one team offered the Packers multiple later-round picks for Spitz.

As for Colledge, privately he is furious with the Packers.

He expected a first-round tender and likely did not get it (Colledge said on Boise radio last night he thought it was a second-round tender).
"If it's a second round, maybe I have a chance to move," Colledge said on KTIK. "Maybe I could be coming to a city near you."

Make no mistake, Colledge would like to leave Green Bay and his agent will be working hard to get a team to offer him a contract. He is tired of being forced to play multiple positions, which Colledge feels has hurt his development.

It's not a coincidence that the two best players on the offensive line last season were right guard Josh Sitton and center Scott Wells. Both have played the same position almost exclusively since joining the Packers.
Other players know that very well. That is why Colledge is not alone in his displeasure with the way the Packers have handled their offensive line.

And it's part of the reason why the Packers could be headed for a line reckoning.

Again, a lot of that is worst-case scenario.
Here's the most likely scenario:
Packers cave on Clifton this afternoon, knowing they have no other options at left tackle.
Tauscher is allowed to go free. Door still open to his return depending on what happens in draft.
Spitz gets an offer but Packers match.
Colledge gets no offers and has to sign his tender, so he reluctantly returns to the Packers.
But the point is the Packers have left themselves in a precarious position. After what they've gone through since Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera had to be let go to stay under the cap, you have to wonder why the Packers would even dance with this devil?
But here we are, and you can hear the music.

I don't see how Ted Thompson has improved the Packers. Basically, it is the same team Ted Thompson inherited from Mike Sherman. After 5 seasons, the Packers have a terrible O-line, terrible defensive backfield, and were eliminated in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Seems the same as 2004.

"dhpackr" wrote:

Make no mistake, Colledge would like to leave Green Bay and his agent will be working hard to get a team to offer him a contract. He is tired of being forced to play multiple positions, which Colledge feels has hurt his development.

"from article" wrote:

QB we have a bright future, not much of a drop off there.
RB we downgraded, but still get good production.
FB I miss Henderson.
OL massive downgrade.
WR edge goes to this years crop, easily.
TE big ass upgrade
DL I like our DL now more than 5 years ago
LB huge improvement
CB HUGE improvement, we had the freaking DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR for crying out loud.
Safeties I think Collins and Sharper are a wash and Bigby is helluva lot better than who, Mark Roman?
K downgraded from Longwell to Crosby
P we sucked at punting back then too but Bryan Barker or Jeremy Kapinos?



We had talent, but it was AGING talent. Now we have talent that's on the RISE.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:

One guy who continues to impress every time I see him this year is Indiana offensive tackle Rodger Saffold. Saffold is a 6-4, 316-pound prospect with 33 5/8 inch arms and has the versatility to play either the guard or tackle spots at the next level.

Saffold possesses a unique skill set as he has the athleticism, range and footwork to hold his own on the edge in space as a pass protector, but also showcases the natural flexibility to sit into his stance and anchor on contact. He was one of the real standouts this year at the East-West Shrine game, looking like by far the best offensive lineman in attendance. And to be honest, he could have been one of if not the best lineman at the Senior Bowl if given the opportunity.

Now, Saffold didnt drum up a ton of attention for himself at this years combine because he isnt a guy who will ever be confused with a workout warrior. Nevertheless, he was still one of the top performers in the vertical and broad jump, as well as the three-cone drill and short shuttle, showcasing impressive natural lower body explosion in both jumps and above-average coordination in the two change-of-direction events.

However, what stood out to me even more about him at the combine was his ability to keep his base down, back straight and head up consistently during position drills and fluidly slide his feet laterally when asked to mirror. Hes such a smooth, coordinated lineman and is able to really maximize his strength on contact because of his flexible anchor.

Therefore, when I evaluate him as a prospect, I not only think he has the ability to play as a left tackle in the NFL, but, because of his ability to keep his base down and redirect quickly through contact, I could also see him generating a lot of interest as a right tackle or even a guard prospect, as well. Nevertheless, the guy has the versatility to play all over an NFL offensive line, which in turn will only enhance his draft stock.

Now, in terms of draft stock, how high do I think he can go? Well, that all depends on the run of offensive linemen that go in the top half of the draft. But, if the likes of Bryan Bulaga, Russell Okung, Anthony Davis and Bruce Campbell all come off the board early on draft day, it wouldnt surprise me one bit to see Saffold make a run at the later portions of round one.

Overall, hes a talented kid that grades out fairly high in just about every aspect of his game. And to be honest, from a physical standpoint, he reminds me a lot of Baltimore Ravens 2009 first-round pick Michael Oher.

I think Roger Saffold OT is just the kind of guy Ted Thompson might target.

"British" wrote: