Joe Thomas has 32.5" arms

TJ Lang.. 32.75 arms..

Anyone want to argue that Thomas isn't a franchise left tackle?

British.. this isn't directed towards anyone in particular.. but other than prototypical height.. I don't see another weakness.. especially after watching him at this level.

My point here is that technique wise, I see no glaring weakness.. needs polish.

I really want someone to find and explain what I am missing in the kid.

With that said.. if you get a blue chip prospect sitting on the draft board staring you in the face next season.. take him.. but I wouldn't reach for one with Lang on the roster. I am convinced after studying Lang after the draft.. Lang could line up anywhere on the line.

"pack93z" wrote:

This was a question and answer in Greg Bedard's post game chat. I think he makes a great point. If Giacomini doesn't contribute somewhere next year then he's been a complete waste. His roster spot could have been used to groom our LT of the future (Meredith or someone else).

Q: mike, las vegas - Greg- Thanks for the chats. One simple question looking ahead. How are we going to replace 2 aging OT's in a draft that is weak at OT??

A: Greg A. Bedard - If Giacomini isn't starting next season, it's a complete joke and he's been an utter waste of roster space the past two seasons. So he has to be the starter there. Lang might be able to get you through a season, but I expect Clifton to be back in some capacity. There's no way the Packers can draft a LT next year and him be the starter. It just doesn't happen unless the guy is a top-10 pick. I've been saying for months the Packers are screwed at left tackle for the foreseeable future. That's what I didn't get about cutting Jamon Meredith. They should have cut Giacomini and kept Meredith in the same space-sucking role. At least Meredith has a chance to be a left tackle with his athletic ability.

"British" wrote:

Q: John Casper, Milwaukee - Bigger waste of a roster spot, B.J. Sander or Breno Giacomini?
A: Bob McGinn - B.J. v. Breno, I'd take Breno in a heartbeat. B.J. didn't quite have what it takes. Breno might not, either, but I've got a funny feeling Giacomini just might develop into something in his third year. He missed the entire off-season following major ankle surgery.

I still see no one offering up why Lang isn't a candidate for the long term on the left tackle spot.. pick apart his game and tell me why you think he can't be that left tackle. Please.

"pack93z" wrote:

4. T.J. LANG, G, EASTERN MICHIGAN

Eric DeCosta, Baltimore: "I like him. Third or fourth round."

NFC scout: "Like a sixth-rounder. Pretty good player. Somebody will get a good player for good value."

NFC scout: "I couldn't get excited about him. Too stiff for me. Tough kid. Great kid. Good worker. He's a terrible space player. He should be a guard. But if you're running a pull system or a zone scheme he's going to struggle. Not a very good balance athlete."

NFC scout: "I worked him out and spent a lot of time with him. If somebody takes him as high as the third round, God bless them. Good measurables. Super tough. Very strong. Play-hard guy. He doesn't play as athletic as he tests. There's a lot of up side to him. The fact he hasn't played guard hurts him a little bit. He's a little bit upright. He's going to have to learn to play a little bit lower. The only thing he really lacks is he doesn't unload his hips very well. He doesn't have lower-body pop. But he certainly pulls well enough and plays with enough range. Real strong upper body. Smart. Tough. He's the type of guard that will end up playing in the NFL for a long time."

Charles Fisher, Seattle: "He's a height-weight-speed prospect. He had everything that you would want to develop. He was very inconsistent this year. He struggled to play with leverage. He should get drafted and develop. Maybe a practice-squad guy for a year or two. Maybe you can move him to guard or center because he's not the biggest guy."

AFC scout: "He doesn't belong in the top group but he's a pretty tough guy. He's in the middle of the draft somewhere."

AFC scout: "We gave him a seventh-round grade."

AFC scout: "I thought he was just a guy. He played tackle for them but he is also a guard. He was their best athlete at tackle. Probably a late-round guy."

AFC scout: "He's getting a lot of good buzz from people but I bet he'll be a fourth or a fifth. Our guys didn't like him. We put him in the seventh."

AFC scout: "Very strong guy. Tough kid. Runs well enough. May end up at guard because of the height. Can anchor. Little stiff. Problem with change of direction. Doesn't have really good feet. Probably fifth or sixth round."

Green Bay Even when the right tackle position threatened the functionality of the Green Bay Packers' offense earlier this season, right tackle Breno Giacomini never got a call.

Which begs the question: Why is Giacomini, a non-entity since being drafted in the fifth round in 2008, still on the 53-man roster?

"That's a young football player," replied James Campen, the club's offensive line coach. "Breno is still an ascending player, in my opinion.

"I wouldn't give up on him. Give up isn't even in the vocabulary. He definitely will push next year."

Giacomini, 6 feet 7 inches and between 315 and 320 pounds, basically has been on scholarship for two years. Out of a possible 29 games, he has played in one, been active for two but didn't play, and been inactive for 26.

His playing time consists of one play from scrimmage (kneel-down, at Detroit, 2008) and three plays on special teams.

"We don't have a ton of information yet," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "As a rookie he did some nice things. You like what you see on the practice field. But I'm not sure we actually know enough to make a great decision on where he's at."

In their hope of hopes, Giacomini will develop into a brawling, effective right tackle like Jon Runyan (6-7, 330), who started for Tennessee and Philadelphia from 1997-2008.

"He's a big-boned kid who is as solid as this wall," Campen said. "He's very strong and has a motor that just won't quit. He has no learning problem. He's very assignment-sure."

Twelve months ago Campen was singing the same tune about Giacomini's in-season development when he wrecked his ankle in practice a few days before Christmas. When the injury didn't improve, he underwent major surgery Feb. 11.

As a result, Giacomini lost out on what might have been a crucial off-season. Although Giacomini was in pads from the start of training camp, Campen had restrictions using him during the first few weeks.

Giacomini posted a 17-3-2 record in the one-on-one pass-blocking drill, the best mark of any tackle in camp. But the coaches preferred to start Allen Barbre.

When Barbre's shortcomings were exposed, veteran Mark Tauscher was signed to replace him. When Tauscher had to miss a start, rookie T.J. Lang was used, not Giacomini.

Clearly, Lang is the most highly regarded young tackle. But if Giacomini can tighten his game together during the winter and spring, he could bypass Barbre, who came up short two seasons in a row, and emerge as the No. 1 backup at right tackle.

"I'm not going to say (next year) is his last chance," said Campen. "That's not fair to say. But that kid played tight end as a junior (at Louisville) and just one year at tackle. Then he hurts the ankle and is behind the 8-ball.

Joe Philbin said. "I'm not sure we actually know enough to make a great decision on where he's at."

"I'm not going to say (next year) is his last chance," said Campen. "That's not fair to say. But that kid played tight end as a junior (at Louisville) and just one year at tackle. Then he hurts the ankle and is behind the 8-ball."