Zero2Cool
16 years ago

With rookie guard Josh Sitton out with a knee injury for this Thursday's preseason finale vs. Tennessee, the Packers will have a different starting offensive line for the fourth time this preseason, but the flexibility gained through all of the shuffling should pay dividends down the road for the team.

Sitton suffered a sprained knee during the second series of Friday night's game at Denver, and backup Tony Moll slid into the right guard spot with the first unit. The line was also without center Scott Wells, who sat out for the second time this preseason with a trunk injury, so Jason Spitz slid over to center from the left guard spot, where Daryn Colledge earned the starting nod.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy said Sitton and Wells are both week-to-week with their injuries, so it is expected that Moll and Spitz will start at right guard and center against the Titans.

"It's our first time going through with Josh," McCarthy said. "Any time you get into these ligament sprains a lot of it is based on the severity of it, but also the individual. Once again, you talk to the medical part of it, it could be a couple of weeks. You talk to the player, it could be two days. I know he feels strongly about it, but that's why I put him in the week-to-week category."

After struggling as a unit at San Francisco a week earlier when the No. 1 offense put only three points on the board and gave up four sacks, the first group bounced back with their best performance of the preseason at Denver. The line helped quarterback Aaron Rodgers complete 18-of-22 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown, allowed only one sack, and helped pave the way for the Packers' first group to score on four of five possessions.

"I was very pleased with the way Daryn Colledge played," McCarthy said. "I thought he played with excellent energy. He's played about as good as he is played this year. Allen Barbre had his best contest as far as grading out in his two years being here. I thought Jason Spitz was definitely a lot better this week, a game better. Tony Moll did a nice job."

Injuries throughout the preseason have forced the Packers to experiment with several different combinations on the offensive line. Wells also missed the opener vs. Cincinnati, so Spitz started at center with Colledge at left guard.

With Wells returning the next week at San Francisco, Spitz went back to left guard and Colledge backed him up as well as left tackle Chad Clifton.

"We've got athletic guys, we've got smart guys, and I think everybody in that room can play multiple positions," Colledge said. "It comes down to every single week they are going to put the best five out there and hope those guys get the job done, and that's what we feel like we can do.

"We play a physical position with a lot of contact, and things happen. We've got guys that are flexible and willing to go around and play other positions. It doesn't matter where you start out at. It's just how we finish up every week."

Wells, who initially suffered a muscle strain in his trunk/back toward the end of OTAs, is responding well to his treatment, but McCarthy said the team will take a cautious approach as he works to get back out on the field.

"I just want to make sure we're not dealing with a long-term situation," McCarthy said. "Because he was healthy one week and then had an immediate setback, so we're going to make sure he's 100 percent ready to go when we get him back in there."

The only spots on the offensive line that have not been affected by injuries this preseason have been at the tackle positions, with veterans Clifton and Mark Tauscher providing stability. Despite not having the luxury of the same group working together to build cohesiveness heading into the regular season, McCarthy said the versatility many of the linemen are developing has been a plus.

"For a young group, Tony and Daryn, they have good experience," McCarthy said. "Allen Barbre has done a good job. It's unfortunate Josh got hurt, but the flexibility is what we were looking with this group and I think we have accomplished that. We've just got to get those guys healthy."



I think all the changes are hurting us in the long run. One could argue that all the changes are helping in case of an injury because all our OL has pretty much played every position.
UserPostedImage
DarkaneRules
16 years ago
I think I see it as a good thing. As long as a solid unit comes together throughout the season while we maintain a good record then it will be fine. I agree that having different guys knowledgeable on different positions is a plus.
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
Similar Topics
Users browsing this topic
    Fan Shout
    Zero2Cool (7h) : Chargers release Joey Bosa
    Zero2Cool (4-Mar) : Appears Jets released Adams. It'll be official in few hours.
    Zero2Cool (3-Mar) : We have re-signed LB Isaiah McDuffie
    Zero2Cool (2-Mar) : Jets taking calls for Davante Adams. That $38m cap number hurting lol
    Zero2Cool (2-Mar) : Guess it's not official until the 12th
    Zero2Cool (2-Mar) : Deebo went for a 5th to Commanders?
    Martha Careful (1-Mar) : Just like my late husband!!
    Zero2Cool (1-Mar) : Once fired up, it should be good
    Zero2Cool (1-Mar) : Sometimes, the first page load will be slow. it's firing up the site.
    Martha Careful (1-Mar) : The site is operating much faster...tyvm
    Mucky Tundra (28-Feb) : It's the offseason and the draft is still nearly 2 months away, what can ya do?🤷‍♂️
    Zero2Cool (27-Feb) : NFL teams were notified today that the 2025 salary cap has been set at $279,200,000 per club.
    Zero2Cool (27-Feb) : sssllllooooow
    Martha Careful (27-Feb) : is it just me, or has the website been slow the last couple of days?
    buckeyepackfan (26-Feb) : Damnit 2026 2nd rnd pick!
    buckeyepackfan (26-Feb) : Packers get Myles Garret and Browns 2926 2nd rnd pick.
    buckeyepackfan (26-Feb) : Browns get Jaire, + Packers #1 2025 pick and 2026 3rd rnd pick.
    beast (26-Feb) : Rams trying to trade Stafford and Kupp, then signing Rodgers and Adams? Just speculation, but interesting
    Zero2Cool (26-Feb) : Packers shopping Jaire Alexander per Ian Rapoport
    Zero2Cool (25-Feb) : Gutekunst and Jaire Alexander’s agent, John Thornton, are meeting this week in Indianapolis to determine the future of the Packers’ 28-year-
    Zero2Cool (25-Feb) : Gutekunst says Mark Murphy told him he can trade their first-round pick despite the draft being in Green Bay.
    Zero2Cool (24-Feb) : Packers. 🤦
    Zero2Cool (24-Feb) : One team.
    Zero2Cool (24-Feb) : One team petition NFL to ban Brotherly Shove.
    beast (23-Feb) : Seems like he was just pissed because he was no longer the starter
    beast (23-Feb) : Campbell is right, he's rich and he doesn't have to explain sh!t... but that attitude gives teams reasons to never sign him again.
    dfosterf (22-Feb) : I have some doubt about all that
    dfosterf (22-Feb) : I read De'Vondre Campbell's tweet this morning (via the New York Post) Florio says that if he invested his earnings wisely, he will be good
    beast (20-Feb) : I haven't followed, but I believe he's good when healthy, just hasn't been able to stay healthy.
    dfosterf (20-Feb) : Hasn"t Bosa missed more games than he has played in the last 3 years?
    Mucky Tundra (19-Feb) : He hasn't been too bad when healthy but I don't feel like I ever heard much about when he is
    Zero2Cool (19-Feb) : Felt like he was more interested in his body, than football. He flashed more than I expected
    Zero2Cool (19-Feb) : When he was coming out, I thought he'd be flash in pan.
    Mucky Tundra (19-Feb) : Joey seems so forgettable compared to his brother for some reason
    Zero2Cool (19-Feb) : NFL informed teams today that the 2025 salary cap will be roughly $277.5M-$281.5M
    Zero2Cool (19-Feb) : Los Angeles Chargers are likely to release DE Joey Bosa this off-season as a cap casualty, per league source.
    Zero2Cool (18-Feb) : If the exploit is not fixed, we'll see tons of "50 top free agents, 50 perfect NFL team fits: We picked where each should sign in March" lo
    Zero2Cool (18-Feb) : Issue should be solved, database cleaned and held strong working / meeting. Boom!
    Zero2Cool (18-Feb) : It should be halted now.
    Mucky Tundra (18-Feb) : usually spambots are trying to get traffic to shady websites filled with spyware; the two links being spammed were to the Packers website
    Mucky Tundra (18-Feb) : you know when you put it that way combined with the links it was spamming (to the official Packers website)
    Zero2Cool (18-Feb) : Yep. You can do that with holding down ENTER on a command in Console of browser
    Mucky Tundra (18-Feb) : even with the rapid fire posts?
    Zero2Cool (18-Feb) : I'm not certain it's a bot.
    Mucky Tundra (18-Feb) : I've got to go to work soon which is a pity because I'm enthralled by this battle between the bot and Zero
    Zero2Cool (18-Feb) : Yeah, I see what that did. Kind of funny.
    Mucky Tundra (18-Feb) : now it's a link to Wes Hodkiezwicz mailbag
    Mucky Tundra (18-Feb) : Now they're back with another topic
    Mucky Tundra (18-Feb) : oh lol
    Zero2Cool (18-Feb) : I have a script that purges them now.
    Please sign in to use Fan Shout
    2024 Packers Schedule
    Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
    Eagles
    Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
    COLTS
    Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
    Titans
    Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
    VIKINGS
    Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
    Rams
    Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
    CARDINALS
    Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
    TEXANS
    Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
    Jaguars
    Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
    LIONS
    Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
    Bears
    Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
    49ERS
    Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
    DOLPHINS
    Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
    Lions
    Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
    Seahawks
    Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
    SAINTS
    Sunday, Dec 29 @ 3:25 PM
    Vikings
    Sunday, Jan 5 @ 12:00 PM
    BEARS
    Sunday, Jan 12 @ 3:30 PM
    Eagles
    Recent Topics
    7h / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

    12h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    21h / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

    4-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

    4-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

    4-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

    3-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    3-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

    2-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    1-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / buckeyepackfan

    1-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

    1-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

    28-Feb / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    28-Feb / Around The NFL / Martha Careful

    27-Feb / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    Headlines
    Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.