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13 years ago
Lang makes bid for left guard spot 

T.J. Lang certainly isn't talking like a player who expects to take a back seat to a first-round draft pick this year.

Lang, the Green Bay Packers' fourth-round draft pick out of Eastern Michigan in 2009, is competing with rookie Derek Sherrod to be the starting left guard for the reigning Super Bowl champions. The spot was left vacant when Daryn Colledge signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent, and naming a successor is one of the top questions facing the Packers in training camp this season.

And after shuffling between tackle and guard his first two seasons - with a few appearances as a defensive lineman thrown in - Lang now intends on taking up permanent residence between center Scott Wells and left tackle Chad Clifton.

"My goal is to start, and the best shot is going to be at left guard, and that's pretty much where all of my focus has been in the first week of camp," Lang said Monday. "That's where I'm really trying to hone my skills."

Lang isn't getting much of a look so far, as Sherrod is taking the majority of snaps with the first-team offense in practice. But Lang figures that might change as the Packers progress through camp and the preseason. The Packers begin preseason play at Cleveland on Saturday after visiting the White House on Friday.

"I think the big evaluation will be once we start getting into these preseason games," Lang said. "With Cleveland coming up, that's going to be a huge step for me to take to get out there on an actual game field and perform."

And if Lang plays like he has been practicing for the first week of camp?

"I think I'll be in pretty good shape," he said.

Whether Sherrod or Lang wins the left guard competition, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said either player will be challenged to match Colledge's consistency and intelligence.

"We'll have to find somebody, either Derek or T.J., and to make sure we're sure we have a guy who is mentally sharp," Rodgers said last week. "Because our offense is so diverse in what we're trying to do. And we can do a lot of things at the line of scrimmage if we want to, and a lot of different calls."

Lang, who converted from defensive line to offensive tackle in college, hasn't found a permanent spot on the line during his time in Green Bay.

He was pressed into service at tackle early in his rookie season because of injuries, making three starts. Coming off wrist surgery, Lang played less frequently last year, with his most extensive action coming as an injury replacement at left guard in a loss at Detroit on Dec. 12. He also was used occasionally as an extra defensive lineman in short-yardage situations.

"I really haven't had much game experience (at left guard), just a half last year in Detroit was pretty much all I have to work on from game experience that way," Lang said. "But I think I've had enough snaps the last two years, I'm comfortable when I go out there. I don't feel like I'm being thrown into the water like I was for a couple games my rookie year. I feel like when it does come time, I'm poised, ready to take over. I feel comfortable and confident I can get the job done."

Sherrod hasn't stood out at left guard in the first week of camp - which is understandable, given the fact that he was a left tackle in college and didn't get a full offseason worth of team-organized workouts. Lang said he isn't worried about which offensive unit he's lining up with for now, but he would like more chances to see what he can do against B.J. Raji and the Packers' No. 1 defense.

"When you go against guys like that, there's something in the back of your mind," Lang said. "You do want to prove a point."

And with a more compressed training camp in the wake of the lockout, Lang said his knowledge of the offense could swing things in his favor.

"That's the biggest thing I've noticed so far this year to last year, outside of being healthy, was just my mental grasp of the offense," Lang said. "The first day, kind of getting back into it, there was confusion and questions. But the more each day went on, I looked at it, just started realizing that I know this stuff, it's just a matter of getting out there and doing the repetitions."

CBSSports wrote:


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bozz_2006
13 years ago
I have felt all along (since we first realized Colledge wasn't coming back, anyhow) that Lang will be the guy this year. I think he will do well, and being put in a position to win the spot from a rookie should serve as good motivation.
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Zero2Cool (2h) : $45m over three years. Yikes.
dfosterf (2h) : Seahawks sign Cooper Kupp
Zero2Cool (7h) : Colts sign CB Corey Ballentine.
dfosterf (7h) : At least give it some spins in your mocks. Not Martha, she's disqualified, lol
dfosterf (8h) : You have to like Tyliek Williams DL from Ohio State to agree with me on this
dfosterf (8h) : quality dl in the 2nd and quality edge in the 3rd
dfosterf (8h) : Taking Mathew Golden WR in the 1st is consistently working out for me in getting q
Zero2Cool (10h) : LB Eric Wilson to Vikings
Zero2Cool (13-Mar) : Hobbs said Jaire reached out and congratulated him.
Martha Careful (13-Mar) : ditto, I wish nothing but the best for AJ Diilan and Josh Myers. and yes dfosterf, you are correct
Mucky Tundra (12-Mar) : Love AJ but it was time to move on. Also, gonna be interesting to see how he does behind Phillys oline
Mucky Tundra (12-Mar) : Josh Myers to the Jets one a one year, 3.5 million dollar deal
dfosterf (12-Mar) : Wish nothing but the best for AJ Dillon!
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Eagles landed AJ Dillon
wpr (12-Mar) : The Packers did not tender restricted free agent John FitzPatrick. The tight end played in nine games after signing with Green Bay
wpr (12-Mar) : The Eagles are signing former Packers running back AJ Dillon, a league source confirms.
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Might be waiting for the right place, or right cash, or both
dhazer (12-Mar) : I can't believe Chubb is still a free agent why wouldnt someone take a chance on him he is a stud with stuff to prove
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : I wanna find it too
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : if they find it, i wanna know how !!
dfosterf (12-Mar) : According to the OTC cap figures, Miami has one minute to find 10.3 million in cap space lol
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : lol nice one
dfosterf (12-Mar) : MVS to the Seahawks. I know Martha is relieved, lol
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Pelissero: Cooper Kupp to be released by the Rams.
dfosterf (12-Mar) : OTC has increased Packers cap room to over 32 mil
Martha Careful (12-Mar) : RIP Junior Bridgeman. An excellent businessman and NBA er
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : It's better to have $17m to use on players who will be on the field. That's why trade/release is talked
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : post june is $7m cap hit with $17m saving
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : oops meant $10m cap hit
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : And pre june is $10m savings
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Can't make him play.
dhazer (12-Mar) : I am curious why the big need to release Jaire, we have 29 million cap space we arent spending and would only gain $6 million/ make him play
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Joey Bosa signed with Bills?
dfosterf (12-Mar) : What they are offering is a left over case of Leinies from the Chippewa Falls plant
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : 27, 59, 91, 129 gets you Jaire and our 3rd
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : they give us those five, or even first four, they can have Jaire.
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : 27, 59, 91, 129 and 136 are only ones worth having of theirs.
dfosterf (12-Mar) : What they don't have is cap space, at least presently at 5.6 mil
dfosterf (12-Mar) : Poor bastards only have 11
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Ravens ain't got crap for picks.
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Aaron Rodgers is choosing between Steelers and Giants. The Vikings are officially out on him, per RapSheet
dfosterf (12-Mar) : Current cap space 29.6 million.
dfosterf (12-Mar) : Hobbs 2025 cap hit just under 6 million. Banks 2025 cap hit just over 9 million
Mucky Tundra (12-Mar) : beast, this is news to me! Tell me more about these, "draft picks." They seem mighty mysterious! 😉
beast (12-Mar) : Yes, the Ravens have draft picks
dfosterf (12-Mar) : Good luck to him.
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Eric Stokes signs with Raiders
Martha Careful (11-Mar) : Tyler Linderbaum C
Mucky Tundra (11-Mar) : Cap space?
Zero2Cool (11-Mar) : Do Ravens have anything we'd even entertain to have?
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