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.