1 out of 12 drafted isn't bad I guess.. but then of course looking just at one single player does not make a unit either.

So lets look at those stats.. (now some of that is also related to play calling as well)

2012 51 sacks allowed, 31st in the league. - Bear 44 25th
2011 41 sacks allowed 21st in the league - Bears 49 27th
2010 38 sacks allowed 19th in the league - Bears 56 32nd
2009 51 sacks allowed 32nd in the league - Bears 35 19th

I am pretty damn sure that is failing to develop a good unit ... about par with the Bears and I am pretty damn sure they shit canned a coach or two in that tenure.

13 lineman drafted in his tenure.. 1 Pro Bowl appearance.. I will stick by my statement. That goodness Rodgers is durable and can throw on the run... unlike Cutler.  Lineman.png You have insufficient rights to see the content.

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or a guy with a hell of some seriously embarrassing photos of MM & TT... :-"

But isn't the left side considered the more important than the right side? If so doesn't it make sense to put your best linemen on that side? Especially since they are going with the guys they have. They didn't draft a stud left tackle and they apparently are not going to sign one in free agency so if you want your best guys protecting your QB then you make the switch. You can argue about the wisdom, or lack thereof, of not drafting or signing players but in the long run that is irrelevant to the switch. Well, its not irrelevant, its the reason for the switch but what I mean is if you aren't going to bring in guys to make your line better you move your better guys to the most important positions. Hopefully the result is a better offensive line.

They have an entire off season to work it out. Somehow I think that if Bulaga and Sitton can make the change they will be fine. What I mean by that is if they have the physical and mental ability to make the switch (Bulaga played LT in college right?) I don't think time will be an issue. The biggest downside will be if they can not make the change, then they may switch them back and disrupt the entire thing again when they won't have the time to adjust to it.

I honestly don't think this is nearly as big of a deal as a lot of you are making it out to be unless you want to go back to the issue of failing to address the issue in the draft or FA. But again, I think that it is a totally different argument even though one may have been the direct result of the other.

I find this very interesting, putting the Packers best two OL on the left side.

The three guys I'm finding most interesting right now are Sherrod, Barclay and Lang.


MM has said Sherrod had another surgery and seems totally different (in a good way) which made it sound like a very good sign that he's coming back. It would be nice to get good 1st round OT play out of both OT positions.

Barclay didn't look good enough in pass protection last year (when he didn't have help) but he was a rookie and could grow and become good enough to maybe compare at RT. And he was the best run blocker last year IMO (Bulaga was out... and Sitton seemed to be banged up and not playing at 100%, those two could be the best run blockers if they're 100% healthy). But if Newhouse and/or Sherrod are able to lock up RT, I think Barclay should get a long hard look at RG.

As I just said, I think Barclay should get a long hard look at RG, if RT get locked up by someone else, which I thought might put Lang out, but MM said something interesting in his post draft press conference.

MM said Lang can play Center. Which might make it very interesting if Barclay wins RG, does Lang then compete at Center?

I think this would make a very interesting/good Starting OL

LT: Bulaga
LG: Sitton
OC: Lang or Dietrich-Smith
RG: Barclay
RT: Newhouse or Sherrod


I don't know if Lang can play Center and snap well and all that stuff but MM said he can play Center and he should know.

Lang has been very mobile and I LOVE watching him go to the second level to take out a LB because he's very good at it and it's like watching a FB go get a LB more than watching a OL go get a LB... Lang just seems much better at it than most OL.

But Lang isn't the best in power blocking... but that's the strength of Sitton and Barclay... and with both of them right next to him the mixture could be a great fit for the team. As they have a guy that can move up field or pull with the best of them and two very good power run blockers on each side.

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I don't mind the move. A little surprised. The big concern for me is that I think this really means Sherrod is not coming back despite the spin Mike & Co are giving us. Barclay is the new starting RT.

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I'm trying to think positive about it ... and the only positive I can come up with is ... perhaps Coach Mike is settling on a OL very early ... which I feel would be freaking swell.

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I would like to think positive but after so many times of under reporting the real nature of injuries I don't believe them.

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My only hope for Sherrod is the bit McCarthy said a week ago when he said he was progressing and was expecting him to contribute. That's more info than we got all of last season on the guy (Ok, bit of an exaggeration). If it comes down to Barclay vs Newhouse for RT, then Barclay's taking it.

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I agree with wpr on this.

However, it doesn't mean Sherrod will never be back. Didn't Flanagan need a couple years away? But I think it DEFINITELY means he's not where they want him to be. Good thing we have Bulaga. He's played LT before.

As for RT, I think Newhouse is the logical choice. He struggled at times at LT, but I think he'll be fine on the RT. You're not going up against the defense's best pass rusher on the RT. He'll have to beat out Barclay, Datko and the rookies though.

If Lang can play C, so much the better. I know the Packers love versatility on the line. I think there's gonna be competition there though. Which will be good.

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Sherrod just isn't in a position where they can go into the offseason expecting him to make a major contribution. He hasn't even had a single offseason in his career and he's still rehabbing from a brutal injury. As far as decision making goes you cannot really expect anything from him at this point but just hope for the best.