wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
16 years ago
My turn.

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Thursday, May 21, 2009
Packers by position: Offensive line
Each weekday until the Packers open organized team activity (OTA) practices on May 27, the Press-Gazettes Tom Pelissero breaks down the roster at another position and gives his (extremely) preliminary thoughts on who will make the cut. Agree? Disagree? Voice your thoughts via Twitter.

Day 4: Offensive line.

On the roster: C Scott Wells, C/G Jason Spitz, C/G Duke Preston, G Nevin McCaskill, G Josh Sitton, G/C Evan Dietrich-Smith, G/T T.J. Lang, G/T Daryn Colledge, G/T Allen Barbre, G/T Andrew Hartline, T Dane Randolph, T Jamon Meredith, T Chad Clifton, T Breno Giacomini, T/G Tony Moll.

How many theyll keep: 8 or 9.

Best guess (*=starter): LT Clifton*, LG Colledge*, C Spitz*, RG Sitton*, RT Giacomini*, Lang, Preston, Barbre, Meredith.

Breakdown: The Packers once again enter offseason practices with uncertainty at multiple offensive line spots but where those holes are is the difference.
The only spots that can be regarded as locked down are left tackle, where Clifton returns a 10th season, and left guard, where Colledge settled in last season and played the best of anyone on the line.
Clifton (6-5, 320) turns 33 next month, is coming off surgery to clean up both knees and had one horrible game last season in a loss at Minnesota. Hes due close to $6.4 million in total compensation in this, the last year of his contract, and has a monster salary-cap number of $8,034,170. But the Packers arent lacking for cap space and have no clear successor for Clifton, who remains a top pass-blocking left tackle despite the wear and tear and figures to finish his deal while the Packers develop young players behind him.
Colledge (6-4, 308) has played some at right tackle, but his play last year convinced the Packers he belongs at guard and theyve had at least preliminary talks with his agent about extending his contract, which expires after this season.
Wells (6-2, 303) has been a full-time starter since 2006 but dealt with persistent injuries the past two seasons, giving Spitz (6-3, 302) chances to show his best position might be center. They likely will split reps throughout offseason practices and the early stages of training camp. If Spitz wins the job, the Packers might look to unload Wells, whose $1.85 million in total compensation would be high for a backup center, particularly since Preston was brought in to back up all three interior spots.
Sitton (6-3, 317), a fourth-round pick last year, probably would have started as a rookie if not for a knee injury. He held up fairly well in limited action but must gain confidence to exploit his size and mean streak on the play side.
The biggest question is at right tackle, where unrestricted free agent Mark Tauscher has started since 2000. Unless the Packers re-sign Tauscher at this point, it seems unlikely, as he continues to work his way back from ACL reconstruction the job figures to be decided in a competition between Giacomini, Barbre and perhaps the rookie Lang and Moll, who was benched after two starts at right tackle last December.
Giacomini (6-7, 311), a nasty fifth-round pick in 2008 who made big strides with the scout team as a rookie, would be the clear favorite if he werent coming off ankle surgery that has sidelined him for much of the offseason program.
Barbre (6-4, 305) is another mean guy and played tackle in college, but he is coming off a disappointing second season and has worked almost exclusively on the left side.
Coaches have indicated Lang (6-4, 316) will get a look at multiple spots during OTAs he worked at right tackle and left guard during rookie camp this month and might be better-suited to play inside. But with a position so wide open, theres no ruling out the rookie from Eastern Michigan if he performs well in training camp and the preseason.
Moll (6-5, 306) is entering his fourth season a key evaluation point for a guy who only played one college season on the line after moving from tight end. But he might end up competing with Preston for a multi-positional backup role more than competing for a starting job.
Preston (6-5, 316) played in 59 games, starting 20, over four seasons in Buffalo. His contract (two years, $2 million, including a $150,000 roster bonus) doesnt make him a lock, but his versatility and playing experience make him a decent bet to earn a backup role.
Likewise, Meredith (6-5, 304) cant be considered a lock, but his physical tools and ability to play left tackle made him a value pick in the fifth round. He worked at left tackle in rookie camp and probably will keep getting work there, behind Clifton.
McCaskill (6-4, 315) was a late-season signing off Philadelphias practice squad and will have a hard time returning to the 53-man roster.
Idaho States Dietrich-Smith (6-2, 305), Marylands Randolph (6-5, 300) and Central Michigans Hartline (6-5, 297) are long shots as undrafted rookies. Randolph is a freakish athlete who might be worth developing on the practice squad.

Up next: Defensive line.


UserPostedImage
Dulak
16 years ago
Oline is the most interesting position for me this offseason - mainly because I feel we need alot of work here.

I really hope we improve our line and get some guys there that can do the job. I really like our choices and I'm eagerly awaiting to see how our guys play this next year.
PackFanWithTwins
16 years ago
Holy crap, paragraphs are a good thing.

Oline is definitely the biggest concern right now. Can the new guys step in and take of like Clifton and Tauscher did in 00'. Would be nice, can't wait for that group to put the same 5 guys on the field for more that 1/2 a season.
The world needs ditch diggers too Danny!!!
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
16 years ago

Holy crap, paragraphs are a good thing.

Oline is definitely the biggest concern right now. Can the new guys step in and take of like Clifton and Tauscher did in 00'. Would be nice, can't wait for that group to put the same 5 guys on the field for more that 1/2 a season.

"PackFanWithTwins" wrote:



Hope this helps.
UserPostedImage
dfosterf
16 years ago
Chad Clifton---

Knees failed him. I guess they have both been 'scoped, and I didn't see the direct source, (does anyone have this?) but I did read that his " ? knees/he is in the best shape in years?". Hell of a thing to be taking an 8 million dollar cap hit when there are question marks looming. It damn well better be bad knees (I believe it is) that caused him to get used in the latter part of the season. I don't put this on him, btw. Chad is a big-time gamer. I put it on the so-called depth behind him...or should I say, the lack of it.

Then we get to one of my favorite players to discuss (NOT)... Daryn Colledge. Daryn Colledge just got over-f333 rated again. Best lineman in 2008? He had some good games, he had some TERRIBLE games. "Move him to tackle, that's where he belongs." My ### he does. He can't play guard at a consistently high level, what the fuck makes anyone think he can play tackle? Oh, he can play tackle all right, just make sure it's in college, not the National #### football league.

I gotta quit now, I was gonna do the rest, but have worked myself into a froth. Sorry for the bad words, but they accurately reflect my perspective. More to come when BP drops. Sorry.

Colledge will get Aaron Rodgers killed. Sorry..gotta go... sorry...
Rockmolder
16 years ago
Well, if they do want Colledge to play RT, he'll slide in pretty easily. Or at least, he should.

Apart from the overload blitzes, we should have an easier time blocking the left side of the defense (Our right side), since most of the team have no good rusher lining up at the left side. Ofcourse we're facing teams like the Steelers, Cowboys and Ravens, but teams like the Lions, Vikings, Bengals, Bears and Seahawks have no great rushers coming off that side.

We should be able to see how he does in single coverage a lot more than in double coverage that way aswell.

As for Clifton, I certainly hope this his knees are ok. He's losing some speed and had to hold way to much for my liking last season. I hope this was mainly due to his knees. If so, he might be able to push a speed rusher around again.

Ofcourse, he is aging, so he'll never be as good as he once was, but still, he's far above average if he gets this sorted out.

EDIT: Btw, Foster-Dave, do you ever sleep? :blackeye:
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
16 years ago

Well, if they do want Colledge to play RT, he'll slide in pretty easily. Or at least, he should.

Apart from the overload blitzes, we should have an easier time blocking the left side of the defense (Our right side), since most of the team have no good rusher lining up at the left side. Ofcourse we're facing teams like the Steelers, Cowboys and Ravens, but teams like the Lions, Vikings, Bengals, Bears and Seahawks have no great rushers coming off that side.

We should be able to see how he does in single coverage a lot more than in double coverage that way aswell.

As for Clifton, I certainly hope this his knees are ok. He's losing some speed and had to hold way to much for my liking last season. I hope this was mainly due to his knees. If so, he might be able to push a speed rusher around again.

Ofcourse, he is aging, so he'll never be as good as he once was, but still, he's far above average if he gets this sorted out.

EDIT: Btw, Foster-Dave, do you ever sleep? :blackeye:

"Rockmolder" wrote:



Marines never sleep. They wait until they are on leave and then they pass out.
UserPostedImage
dfosterf
16 years ago
WPR wrote:

Marines never sleep. They wait until they are on leave and then they pass out.



lol.

Old habits die hard. Jarheads always sleep when they can. Absolutely the laziest pack of individuals you would ever meet, if given the opportunity. The bitch is "they" never let you. They being everyone else in this world except you as an individual jarhead.

Plus if I slept, someone might get a word in edge-wise. Not on my watch, they won't...LOL..that would also be another jarhead trait.

Truth be told I have been sick for a week. Some sort of infection. Too sick to sleep much. Too stubborn to go to doc. (imagine that, dfosterf is stubborn) Seems to be subsiding, though.
Tezzy
16 years ago
For me I'm always concerned about the left side of our line, no matter who is playing. So i did a quick comparison against what some pundits argue to be some of the better oline groups. All I compared were the combined stats of the LT and LG of the respected teams. What really catches my eye is the discipline of the left side of the Queens line. I don't know if the sacks are a by product of too many games with the sitting duck Gus in there, but the penalties alone make me jealous. That's that many less drives killed because of mental errors. I'm hoping in the near future the NFL agrees to start tracking pancake blocks as an official stat so we can get a better comparison of run blocking. A lot of tape to go through to really do that, though the summer is long, maybe I'll get to it 😛 In conclusion, yes I'm worried about the line, but here's to hoping no more musical chairs will allow the players to start playing and not have to think too much to remember where on the line they are that play.

UserPostedImage
On top of every beard grows a man.
"The Bears are shell-shocked... and it's breaking my heart."
Dulak
16 years ago

For me I'm always concerned about the left side of our line, no matter who is playing. So i did a quick comparison against what some pundits argue to be some of the better oline groups. All I compared were the combined stats of the LT and LG of the respected teams. What really catches my eye is the discipline of the left side of the Queens line. I don't know if the sacks are a by product of too many games with the sitting duck Gus in there, but the penalties alone make me jealous. That's that many less drives killed because of mental errors. I'm hoping in the near future the NFL agrees to start tracking pancake blocks as an official stat so we can get a better comparison of run blocking. A lot of tape to go through to really do that, though the summer is long, maybe I'll get to it 😛 In conclusion, yes I'm worried about the line, but here's to hoping no more musical chairs will allow the players to start playing and not have to think too much to remember where on the line they are that play.

UserPostedImage

"Tezzy" wrote:



where do you get these stats? I'm curious about denvers and the titans stats last year
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