Now would be a good time to address this giant elephant in the room: BLOCKING!

I was thinking back to the U-71 with Kevin Berry - always thought Sherman should have used that more. The contemporary version was last run most successfully by OAK in 2011. In over 100 ATT in this formation they averaged 6.2 yds per rush. Very effective.
http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2011/6/28/2248015/the-packers-are-never-using-six-offensive-lineman 

Looking at 2012, our blocking was a disaster. We ranked #25 in run blocking, and #31 in pass blocking!
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/OL 

I would say we climbed to 25 with the stronger commitment in the 2nd half of the season, meaning, we were probably down around 30 in the 1st half of 2012. IMO, that compounded horrific pass blocking numbers. Defenses, knowing we were not running, pinned their ears back and made Aaron Rodgers THE most sacked QB in the NFL with 52.

How does this get fixed for 2013? Draftees are great there, but won't do a thing if they require a year or two to gain NFL weight and strength.

James Campen? Wow.

Addition through subtraction helps not having Saturday at C. We will need more from our OL and TEs, as well as our staff in getting this fixed.

Apparently the solution to the Packers blocking woes is to flip the right side with the left . I guess it makes sense to take your best linemen and put them on your QBs blindside. I guess that means the RT spot is up for grabs between Newhouse, Bakhtiari, Barclay and Sherrod. Part of me wonders if Sherrod is healthy and they want him to start but don't want him on the blindside.

Another thing, I keep seeing comments (like in the link provided) by people saying move Lang to C. It isn't recent either as I saw it last year. My question is, can Lang even play C or is this just fantasy roster making?

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8 of the Top 10 teams in run blocking went on to make the playoffs last year. The Ravens just re-signed Bryant McKinney, and Ozzie knows what he is doing here.

I would assume you judge run blocking on results - yards gained per carry or whatever. Pass blocking would take into consideration near misses - hurries, etc. I'm not saying the RBs are responsible for the poor blocking rating, but I expect it to improve with the new RBs just the same. I also would suggest the pass blocking might have been even worse rated if Rodgers hadn't bailed them out a few times.

I don't particularly like this left right switch solution, and I definitely am open to the idea that Campen ain't the greatest O Line coach. However, the Packers have been damn good on offense the past three seasons, and I'm inclined to give McCarthy et al the benefit of the doubt. The big key is Sherrod being back healthy, and even if he is, he still will be inexperienced. So maybe the right side is a good place. The even bigger key, maybe, is Bulaga doing good at LT - or if last year is any indication, Bulaga doing good anyplace. McCarthy seems to think he is OK, and Bulaga was in on the left right decision, so hopefully it is a positive solution.

Consider this also: it makes sense putting your two best run blockers together in the place you most want to run. Most teams have their best pass rusher - often the guy you want to run at - on their right/our left.

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Despite one all-pro, the Packers offensive line performance has been mediocre.

And Ted Thompson has given the line a lot of attention in his drafting tenure. That's why part of the "blame" has to be spread between the scouting/personnel department and partly with the coaching. Whether it's because the front office can't ID OL talent as well as it can ID talent at skill positions, or because the coaching staff can't coach OL, or both [IMO its both], the OL performance shouldn't be this uneven/inconsistent/vacillating between "mediocre" and "serviceable" year after year.

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This means they're not confident Sherrod will be back.

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I wouldn't be shocked to see Sherrod end up on injured reserve again this season. At least that way he would be about as healthy as he's ever going to be and would have one last shot at making the team next season. Even if he's healthy enough to actually practice and such this season, I just doubt that he'll be very effective due to the lingering affects of his injury. It's really unfortunate.

Yeah, it took Mike Flanagan 3-4 years to fully recover from a very similar injury to win the starting C job. I believe he had 4 surgeries over that span. If Sherrod can do it this year, my hat is off to the man.

What I do like seeing, is run blocking all of a sudden becomes very, very important to our success. I think there will be a heightened emphasis amongst the TEs and WRs too. More run blocking for the OL will lead to better pass blocking. The line will be dictating more than absorbing. I totally dig that.