Ty Dunne:

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Yeah, always fear the worse with knees man especially with linemen.

And I agree Yerko, to me Newhouse is a backup tackle. He is not starting caliber. Last year, Bulaga was up and down too, but he was coming into his own during training camp. Really unfortunate.

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I think it is early to write Marshall Newhouse off. He's only played two years, and had a rough go in his second season. Typical sophomore slump. No? I like to think of how differently he may have fared had we shown a balanced attack through the first half of 2012, like we did the 2nd half of 2012...

Give the guy a chance. But, CYA, absolutely!!!!! I am hoping Ted makes a trade for a sure starter, and reserved completely to the idea that he may not, and just go with what he has got. That, to me, seems a bit foolish, but he may look to the waiver wire at cut downs. I would much prefer Ted said, "Aaron, you aint got nothin' to worry about. I'm on the MF." Make a trade for a stud LT.

[aiee]

Newhouse hasn't been the greatest Tackle but he hasn't been as bad as some are insinuating. I feel like he's been on the cusp of being a starter quality pass blocker and he's very young with a decent amount of experience and he did improve some last year from the year before. Either way we are in a better position on the OL than we were last year when Bulaga went down just because guys have more experience and time to prepare plus the rookie has been looking good and will most likely improve the line. BTW Rodgers got sacked just as much with Bulaga last year as he did without him.

The best thing in this situation is that the line has enough time to get some quality practices in and play together as a unit no matter which guys are playing. It sucks that Bulaga is gone but it's in no way a catastrophic loss. We are still in a better position than we were last year barring further losses.

If we are forced to find a bright spot in all this I think it should be safe to say that we can't be any worse than last year and not just because it would be nearly impossible to be worse than last year (although that may be a possibility) I think the interior line will be better. Sitton will be an improvement at LG and I think Lang will be better at RG than he was at LG so the guard position will be better. I am confident that with the added time EDS will be be better at center than Saturday was and will improve on his own body of work. Whoever plays LG will be at least as good as the position last year and whoever plays RG will be better than they were at LG so even though this sucks to high heaven I don't think it is nearly as disastrous as many seem to think.

They key to it all is more effective running. Not necessarily more running but more effective running and I think they have added the personnel to do just that (namely Lacy) if they can get to a point that 3rd and 2 is no longer an automatic pass that should help the Oline and may help mitigate this loss. The way I see it the loss of Bulaga this year won't be as bad as his loss last year.

OK, I'm done trying to put a positive spin on it, I'm going to go crack open a nice cold Leinenkugels and cry a little bit.

Bleh was out of town taking my wife on a trip for her 40th and get to read this news ... what was it 2 years ago we were away in Belfast pre-Christmas and got to read about Rodgers and his concussion ...

hmmm I think Ill tell my wife no more trips 🙂 (that will go over well)

no idea what should be done about the LT - was trying to tell my wife the packers issues on the way home but its like talking calculus to a child ... (just not interested and don't understand).

I didn't think Barclay did that great last year did he? ... new house again? ... and the rookie bakrati (spelling) we going to start a rookie? ... lol least we got our RB position covered this year (for now).

According to Bob McGinn’s analysis , he’s allowed 40 pressures in each of the last two seasons. I didn’t chart every pressure myself, but that number affirmed what I saw while watching the games. I don’t think he has the physical chops to play tackle, and I don’t think he has the nastiness to run block. In his defense Rodgers does hold onto the ball, but 80 pressures in two seasons, is terrible by any standard.

They can overcome this, but it'll be difficult. They overcame a lot in 2010, but eventually, you burn yourself by playing with too much fire. Aaron Rodgers is great, but he’s only human back there. They really need (as you say) this unit to gel with the time they have.

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I state that I try to grab Joe Thomas. I would try to offer multiple high picks, with a first rounder even.

In other words, you TRY to get a stud at LT, enticing them with multiple high picks spread over more than one draft and even offer them a (i.e. ONE) first rounder.

You make a valid point about the difficulty of trading for a franchise LT during TC - especially one in Thomas that has not (publicly, at least) indicated he wants out. However, for a re-building team, multiple high draft picks (which, again, do not necessarily mean only first rounders) for an almost 30 year old might be something a team considers. Maybe talks evolve and you end up having a couple of high picks + Finley in return for Thomas. My point is that you explore what may be there and try to entice the other team with an offer if they are open to the possibility of moving Thomas. Nonetheless, you first try to hit the home run, in my opinion.

As regards to it "not being frugal or stupid" to go with our 4th round pick or Newhouse.... really? You want to hand back the LT job to a player (Marshall Newhouse) who the staff moved to a different position and whom the coaches made clear had to improve his play? You want to hand back the LT job to someone who allowed a total of 84 pressures the past two years? To someone like Newhouse who himself admitted his game needed to improve? (Source ) Clearly you must know something I do not, because past evidence tells me Newhouse should NOT be the guy protecting the blindside of our best player and the highest paid player in the NFL.

As for Bakhtiari... dude weighs 295 pounds. You want to hand him the starting LT job without going against any opposing NFL player? Someone who would give up a hell of a lot of weight to 3-4 DEs (just see 49ers front line). Your retort might be that Bakhtiari and Newhouse can battle it out... um, you would feel comfortable giving the job to someone that managed to beat Newhouse (see player flaws described above)?

It is absolutely being stupid to think there is no other player that you can add (be it trade or FA) to increase the competition in the group. There is a time to be frugal (hell, given the UFAs we have after this season I support any penny-pinching efforts by Ted), but when you lost the player most responsible for keeping your MVP and franchise player healthy then frugality is the absolute last thing that should be on your mind.

I see no reason about why "[just sticking with the guys already here] is the way that just has to be done". Why? So Ted can prove a point about not being totally unequipped in case Bulaga got injured? Ted is not that stupid. No one probably is. There should be no ego, or money, stopping Ted from going out and insuring his organization's ass after losing Bulaga. While Thomas may be a pipe dream, I have to think Ted does something that ends in him adding another body - if for nothing else than to increase the competition at the LT position. Beating out Newhouse simply means beating out a LT that has played somewhat below-average most of his time here. That isn't exactly the same thing as beating out an all-pro or above-average player.

Hence, I have to believe Ted will eventually do something - even if it is not trying to hit a home run by landing a stud LT.

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I agree allaboutdapack. Most of it. Newhouse is actually quite young, with a lot of starting experience. Played well as a rookie, then struggled year 2. He could bounce back. But, Bakhtiari may indeed be too small. We are talking LT again, Rodgers' blind side. Ted should insure his safety a bit more with a legit veteran LT who can take over.

I trade away from next year for this too, without hesitation, to get Thomas.