wpr
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13 years ago

Just one week remains before the start of the regular season and the Green Bay Packers still don't know if they have a functional backup at center or guard.

The situation is about clear as mud because rookie Caleb Schlauderaff and veteran Nick McDonald, the two players the Packers hoped would solidify their interior, have failed to emerge.

After a lousy performance in Indianapolis, Schlauderaff was pushed back to third-string guard this week in favor of veteran Evan Dietrich-Smith, who has quietly put together a very solid training camp.

Dietrich-Smith, the No. 3 center behind Scott Wells and McDonald throughout August, appears to have drawn abreast of McDonald at center, too.

With the starters projected to play just a series or two, the backups will be battling it out for more than three quarters Thursday night against Kansas City to decide what looks like two openings on the 53-man roster.

"We need some more information before I'm comfortable saying this guy is our backup guard, he's on our team and he's not," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said Monday. "It's still wide open. We're going to wait and watch the film to figure it out."

As of Tuesday, the No. 2 unit, from left to right, consisted of top pick Derek Sherrod, Dietrich-Smith, McDonald, rookie Ray Dominguez and Marshall Newhouse.

When Dietrich-Smith shifted to center, McDonald played left guard ahead of Schlauderaff.

The No. 3 line had two players: Schlauderaff at left guard and rookie Spencer Genus at right guard.

"These preseason games are my Super Bowl games," said Dominguez, a free agent from Arkansas. "Hey, I want to prove to Coach (Mike) McCarthy and Mr. (Ted) Thompson that I belong here. If they don't see it, hopefully, the other 31 teams will."

A year ago, the Packers enjoyed ample depth inside with Jason Spitz, who started 47 games at both guards and center from 2006-'09, and T.J. Lang. For the first time under McCarthy, the Packers kept a 10th offensive lineman. That was McDonald, who was inactive for 20 games.

In Week 13, Spitz played poorly at guard in relief of Daryn Colledge in Detroit and was pulled at halftime in favor of Lang, now the starter at left guard. Memory of that outing is one big reason why the Packers let Spitz walk to Jacksonville on July 28 as an unrestricted free agent.

Tony Moll proved to be an excellent backup guard in McCarthy's first two seasons, making 13 starts. Josh Sitton was the No. 3 guard as a rookie in 2008, and both Lang and Spitz handled that hole the last two years.

"How many starts did Spitz have?" said Philbin. "But I think we'll be all right. There's a bunch of candidates still out there. I wouldn't rule anybody out."

Dietrich-Smith lost his roster berth to McDonald last Sept. 4, spent a month in Seattle and was brought back Dec. 31. He's better at center than guard, but with his strength he's probably more effective at guard than McDonald. In a pinch, he can play left tackle, too.

"He's done well," Philbin said. "Tough guy. Pretty good knowledge of the system."

At 6 feet 2½ inches and 308 pounds, Dietrich-Smith looks dumpy compared to the sculpted McDonald (6-4, 302). Physique and potential are reasons why McCarthy has been so high on McDonald, but Dietrich-Smith has played stronger.

"He (Dietrich-Smith) is a really compact kind of guy," offensive line coach James Campen said two weeks ago. "Has good leverage. Maybe a little ahead of Nick as far as fundamentals playing center."

McDonald has played 13 series to Dietrich-Smith's nine at center in three exhibition games. Dietrich-Smith went 11-1 in his last 12 reps in the one-on-one pass-rush drill compared to 10-6-3 earlier, whereas McDonald might have hit a plateau.

"He's still growing," Campen said, referring to McDonald. "The thing is, he has to keep his pad level down when he has guys in his face."

McDonald didn't play any guard until this week. He did start at guard in 2008 at Grand Valley State.

Before deciding what to do with Schlauderaff and Dominguez, the Packers must decide what to do with Sherrod.

Beaten out by Lang at left guard, Sherrod has played strictly left tackle for 10 days in what can be assumed is the process of becoming Chad Clifton's successor. Certainly, Sherrod is more of a left tackle than guard, but given their options the coaches still might view him as the best alternative for a No. 3 guard.

Sherrod, however, might not even be active on most game days in favor of Newhouse, who also has demonstrated that he can play right tackle. Sherrod has never played the right side; Newhouse has outperformed him this summer.

jsonline wrote:



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DarkaneRules
13 years ago
This fourth preseason game is not helping concerns regarding quality oline depth. One player goes down on the line and things will go from acceptable to bad quick... maybe.
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
beast
13 years ago
I tried watching back-ups inside OL with Dietrich-Smith, McDonald and Dominguez. I didn't catch all the plays but what I noticed seemed like McDonald was getting more push than the other two but also had way too many mental errors. And Dietrich-Smith and McDonald switch positions at times but one of them got beat bad while at LG. Though overall none of them really impressed me tonight when I was watching them. Again I didn't watch them every play.

I think Dietrich-Smith has the least potential, but McDonald made more mental errors. One of those two will be on the roster because the team needs a back-up Center and I'm not sure ether one can be put on the practice squad or not after being on the team a year though I don't think McDonald ever suited up during a game (nether did Newhouse). And they might be able to get Dominguez on the practice squad... then again they might not... some teams really need some OL help.
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Greg C.
13 years ago
I don't think there would be any problem getting Dominguez onto the practice squad. I doubt that any of the Packers' O-linemen are coveted by other teams. That's the last thing they have to worry about.

The backups were playing against the Chiefs first string all night, and they were overmatched at times. Somehow, though, the Packers came back and won the game. The Chiefs look like a disaster right now.
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Pack93z
13 years ago
IMO.. the Packers keep 10 offensive lineman.. they have a ton of questions in depth and IMO are going to need more time to sort it out. At least I would.. alot of questions and a fundamental unit of a championship team.

Color me still not a fan of Campen and his tutelage of this unit over the years.. every year we have more question than answers and they always seem to start the season out shaky. I believe this is the weakest link on the coaching staff.. yes even more so than Slocum. The specialists on the special teams are at the very least solid.. the offensive line is still in a state of flux. Again.


"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
beast
13 years ago

IMO.. the Packers keep 10 offensive lineman.. they have a ton of questions in depth and IMO are going to need more time to sort it out. At least I would.. alot of questions and a fundamental unit of a championship team.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 



I agree with your point but I question the keeping 10 idea. I agree it would be nice to keep them and let them sort it out who's best but the problem is time is up and IMO it would mean cutting a player that has shown more at another position. The WRs and TEs have seriously shown up, why not cut the 10th OL for a WR or TE that has shown more?

Speaking of which how would you rank the those 3? (meaning Dietrich-Smith, McDonald, Dominguez)

Honestly since they haven't sorted themselves out (in my mind) I'm going by what i think their potential is.... I think Dietrich-Smith has the lowest potential so I'd put him last. And they need a back-up Center so I'll put McDonald first... though it's kind of hard to do ever he just made a ton of mental errors. But hopefully they grow with their potential.
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Greg C.
13 years ago

I agree with your point but I question the keeping 10 idea. I agree it would be nice to keep them and let them sort it out who's best but the problem is time is up and IMO it would mean cutting a player that has shown more at another position. The WRs and TEs have seriously shown up, why not cut the 10th OL for a WR or TE that has shown more?

Speaking of which how would you rank the those 3? (meaning Dietrich-Smith, McDonald, Dominguez)

Honestly since they haven't sorted themselves out (in my mind) I'm going by what i think their potential is.... I think Dietrich-Smith has the lowest potential so I'd put him last. And they need a back-up Center so I'll put McDonald first... though it's kind of hard to do ever he just made a ton of mental errors. But hopefully they grow with their potential.

Originally Posted by: beast 



I agree. When depth is poor at a position group you don't keep more of those players. If anything, you keep fewer. They'll probably go with the usual nine. If one of them gets hurt or turns out to be a total dud, they can always get someone off the practice squad or from someone else's practice squad or off waivers.

I wonder why I didn't see Caleb Schlauderaff on the field against the Chiefs. Was he hurt? From what I'm hearing, he has a good chance to make the roster.
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Pack93z
13 years ago
On a "normal" year I would agree.. however with the short evaluation window of this season.. I think you overprotect a trouble area and sacrifice depth in a unit of less concern where you know you have guys that can play.

TE depth probably remains at 4... protection for Finley. I think a guy like Taylor would slip into the PS.. keeping Crabtree, Finley, Quarless and Williams.

You probably don't keep 10 for the season.. but for the first couple weeks... I would until you know what you have and more importantly don't have. This changes if you can trade for or pickup players that have proven they can play already and shore up your depth concerns.

Roster counts would look something like this..

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Schlauderaff was on the field.. actually quite a bit.


"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Zero2Cool
13 years ago
8 DB's ???????? EIGHT???? It's a passing league man, you need you some DEFENSIVE BACKS!!!!!!!!!!!111


:) I think 6 CB's 4 S's is the way to go, providing you have the value with those numbers. And the Packers do.
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Pack93z
13 years ago

8 DB's ???????? EIGHT???? It's a passing league man, you need you some DEFENSIVE BACKS!!!!!!!!!!!111


:) I think 6 CB's 4 S's is the way to go, providing you have the value with those numbers. And the Packers do.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 




Bush crosses over and does double duty.. Somehow I think House is going to see IR..

That leaves Woodson, Williams, Shields, Bush, Lee. Sorry I don't see Gordy nor Ross being ready to maintain a spot.

At Safety I would keep Collins, Burnett and Peprah. Levine faded.. Bratton flashed late and Jennings looks like a project.

I put a heavier count for rotation purposes for pass rush at linebacker.. Zombo is IR'd then it opens another spot elsewhere and maybe you keep another DB.


"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
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Zero2Cool (15h) : 27, 59, 91, 129 and 136 are only ones worth having of theirs.
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