Is the future now for Green Bay's LT?
October 28, 2009 4:59 PM
Posted by ESPN.coms Kevin Seifert
The last time I saw the Packers in person, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was running for his life. So Im more than a little interested in a relatively quiet development thats taken place since then.
[img_r]http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/1028/nfl_a_lang1_300.jpg[/img_r]Rookie T.J. Lang played left tackle for portions of the Packers games against Minnesota and Detroit, and then replaced injured starter Chad Clifton for the entirety of last Sundays 31-3 victory at Cleveland. Hes been impressive at times and given up pressure on other occasions, but its notable that coach Mike McCarthy has rarely missed an opportunity to praise his performance.
Clifton is nursing an ankle injury and isnt likely to practice until Friday at the earliest. We dont know for sure who will start Sunday at Lambeau Field, but its enough to make an interloper wonder if the Packers arent hoping/praying/pushing Lang to take over the position on a more permanent basis.
During a conference call Wednesday, McCarthy said Lang "really fits the mold of a number of" recent draft picks and "has done a good job." He added: "Hes taken advantage of the opportunity he got to play in Cleveland, [and] Ive been pleased with the way hes played in the substitution role in both Minnesota and [against] Detroit."
We then asked McCarthy whether he could foresee Lang as his left tackle for the long term. McCarthys response: "Yeah, potentially. No doubt. If he keeps playing the way he is, hell be playing there for a long time."
Successful left tackles usually have a certain size and a unique skill set. When some NFL teams looked at the 6-foot-4, 316-pound Lang this winter, they projected him as a guard. McCarthy said the Packers viewed him as a tackle who could move inside if needed.
But regardless of whether Lang looks like the prototypical left tackle, theres at least some anecdotal evidence that the Clifton era is winding down in Green Bay. His contract will expire this winter and the ankle has forced him to miss at least a portion of five games this season. Im not sure if Lang is the full-time answer at the position, but the search is on.
All of which brings us to Wednesdays line of the day. If he starts Sunday, Lang will match up against Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen, who registered 4.5 sacks against the Packers earlier this month.
During a conference call with Wisconsin reporters, Allen was asked whether he was licking his chops to play against a rookie.
"I have to be honest," Allen said. "If I was licking my chops over a dude, Id be scared of myself."