wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
11 years ago

GREEN BAY — The competition for the Green Bay Packers' starting center job is on.

The plan, for now, is to let youngsters JC Tretter, Garth Gerhart and rookie fifth-round pick Corey Linsley battle to take over as the starter in the wake of Evan Dietrich-Smith's free-agent departure, but offensive line coach James Campen would not rule out veteran players — like guards T.J. Lang or Josh Sitton or tackle Don Barclay shifting to center if necessary.

"You never know what happens," Campen said after Linsley was taken with the 161st overall pick in the NFL Draft Saturday. "But we have other guys that have played. Obviously T.J. has been in there. Josh has snapped balls for us, Donnie Barclay has snapped balls for us. Those things will be decided moving forward, but if you really looked at it right now, you have three guys that are centers, that are going to play center and they're going to battle it out."

Linsley was the sixth true center taken during the draft, after Weston Richburg of Colorado State (second round, No 43); Marcus Martin of USC (third, No. 70); Travis Swanson of Arkansas (third, No. 76); Bryan Stork of Florida State (fourth, No. 105); and Russell Bodine of North Carolina (fourth, No. 111).

Whoever ends up with the job will give the Packers their fourth different opening-day starter in four years, with Scott Wells having started the 2011 opener, Jeff Saturday the 2012 opener and Dietrich-Smith last year. Tretter suffered a broken ankle during the first organized team activity practice last May, opened the season on the physically unable to perform list and did not suit up for a game once he was activated to the 53-man roster at the end of the year.

"Yeah, everyone would like to have some stability there," Campen said. "But in reality, everyone comes in and learns the system. There are two very good guards that are very smart and obviously a very smart quarterback (in Aaron Rodgers), so the progression of learning is accelerated when you have smart people around him.

"Certainly you'd like to have the same center and quarterback. Who wouldn't (want them) on the same wavelength? But I'll say this, you look at the short time that Aaron and JC have been together now and they're flowing very well. ... So I don't think that's a problem."

Jason Wilde  wrote:



For the past several years I expected GB to take a center in the lower rounds. I realize a lot of fans wanted GB to take a center higher in the draft. It just doesn't seem to be Uncle Teddy's thing.

The battle in TC will be interesting. As of now I am giving Tretter the edge.
UserPostedImage
DarkaneRules
11 years ago
It is JC's to lose
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
nerdmann
11 years ago

For the past several years I expected GB to take a center in the lower rounds. I realize a lot of fans wanted GB to take a center higher in the draft. It just doesn't seem to be Uncle Teddy's thing.

The battle in TC will be interesting. As of now I am giving Tretter the edge.

Originally Posted by: wpr 



Ted's philosophy is that you can get by with "just guys" in the middle of the line. However he's got Sitton and Lang there now, we'll see what kind of player steps up for the C position.
“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
warhawk
11 years ago
competition and depth.

I don't think they would keep two true centers but if Linsley can long snap it would work out. Just enough versatility there to justify a spot.
"The train is leaving the station."
Users browsing this topic
    Fan Shout
    Zero2Cool (9h) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
    Zero2Cool (10h) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
    Zero2Cool (10h) : No sir. I did not.
    dfosterf (10h) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
    wpr (11h) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
    dfosterf (12h) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
    Zero2Cool (12h) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
    wpr (12h) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
    Mucky Tundra (13h) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
    Zero2Cool (13h) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
    Zero2Cool (14h) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
    wpr (16h) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
    wpr (16h) : The site is much more better.
    Zero2Cool (16h) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
    Zero2Cool (16h) : I saw that and thought it was kind of lame.
    dfosterf (16h) : Packers new locker room is pretty awesome. Great for morale, imo
    Zero2Cool (17h) : Shuffled things on the web server. Hope it makes it faster.
    Zero2Cool (17h) : Other times, it's turtle ass
    Zero2Cool (17h) : Sometimes it's snappy, like now.
    beast (18h) : I feel like it's loading at the top of the next minute, or something like that.
    beast (18h) : Also the thanks/heart takes FOREVER to load, and posting in the shout box takes three times FOREVER!
    beast (18h) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
    beast (18h) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
    Zero2Cool (18h) : Yeah, I noticed that too. Is it slow for PackerPeople.com too?
    wpr (19h) : I don't know what you IT guys call it but the page loading is very slow for me today.
    Zero2Cool (19h) : SSL might be settled now.
    Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Still working through SSL cert issues
    wpr (23-Jul) : Glad to be back
    Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I think PH original finally working.
    dfosterf (22-Jul) : Can tell you are having a fun day Kev
    Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Yep, I had to manually move them. It'll fix itself after more posts.
    Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : Same deal with the songs/videos thread, says you replied last but when I go there it's what I posted earlier is last
    Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : I had to manually move three posts.
    Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : But when I go it, Martha's is the last reply
    Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : Still a little screwy; it shows on the main forum that you were the last person to reply to the Jenkins trade thread
    Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Host issues, been crazy day
    Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : Connect 4?
    Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Connecting to new database
    Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : What the hell
    beast (22-Jul) : Packershome going to the Whiteout unis again
    Zero2Cool (21-Jul) : Oh wait, they got Cam Ward. 1st overall right? haha oops
    Zero2Cool (21-Jul) : They could send Packers a 1st for a QB they are familiar with
    Zero2Cool (21-Jul) : Titans QB Will Levis to have season-ending shoulder surgery
    Zero2Cool (19-Jul) : Their season did kind of start there, so 🤷
    dfosterf (19-Jul) : Eagles put an engraved Brazil flag on their super bowl rings
    Zero2Cool (18-Jul) : Benton unsigned no more
    Zero2Cool (17-Jul) : That's good analysis, yes you are getting old. It'd a blessing!
    dfosterf (14-Jul) : *analysis* gettin' old
    dfosterf (14-Jul) : One of the best analyisis I"ve ever watched at this time of an offseason
    dfosterf (14-Jul) : Andy Herman interviewed Warren Sharp on his Pack a day podcast
    Please sign in to use Fan Shout
    2025 Packers Schedule
    Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
    LIONS
    Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
    COMMANDERS
    Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
    Browns
    Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
    Cowboys
    Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
    BENGALS
    Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
    Cardinals
    Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
    Steelers
    Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
    PANTHERS
    Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
    EAGLES
    Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
    Giants
    Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
    VIKINGS
    Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
    Lions
    Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
    BEARS
    Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
    Broncos
    Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
    Bears
    Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
    RAVENS
    Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
    Vikings
    Recent Topics
    1h / Around The NFL / beast

    2h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

    4h / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

    7h / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

    8h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

    8h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

    19h / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

    23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

    22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

    22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

    20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

    18-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    15-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

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