Packers by position: Offensive line 

Once again this April, the Press-Gazette will provide a pre-draft breakdown of the Packers roster at each position by beat writer Rob Demovsky. This will lead up to the start of Pete Doughertys annual position-by-position draft series on April 21.

Offensive line

What they have

Tackles: Chad Clifton, Bryan Bulaga, Mark Tauscher, Chris Campbell

Guards: Daryn Colledge*, Josh Sitton, Adrian Battles

Centers: Scott Wells

Guards/Tackles: T.J. Lang, Marshall Newhouse

Guard/centers: Jason Spitz*, Nick McDonald, Evan Dietrich-Smith

* Could be an unrestricted free agent depending on a new CBA

Position analysis

The Packers believe Chad Clifton will hold up for another year. In fact, coach Mike McCarthy said at last months NFL annual meetings that Clifton played the best six-game stretch I think Ive ever seen him play, even in the run blocking, which sometimes hasnt been his strength. He was talking about the final two regular-season games plus the playoffs/Super Bowl. When asked if that meant Bryan Bulaga, who started the last 12 regular-season games and all of the postseason as a rookie, would remain at right tackle, McCarthy said: Definitely. Im counting on Chad (at left tackle). That would also seem to indicate that the Packers arent going to move Bulaga to left guard, assuming Daryn Colledge becomes an unrestricted free agent under the terms of the new CBA and moves on. Spitz, who has been injury prone, probably would do the same.

That leaves left guard as the only open starting spot. T.J. Lang could get a shot there, although there are some in the organization who believe hes a better tackle prospect than a guard. Nick McDonald, the undrafted free agent, didnt play a down all last season, so it would be a huge leap to the starting lineup, but they like his tenacity and his upside. Marshall Newhouse might be more of a tackle than a guard and would need to take a huge leap to be a starter. Both McDonald and Newhouse badly needed time in the offseason program, which theyre not getting because of the lockout.

Wells and Sitton graded out as the top-two Packers linemen last season and, barring injuries, will be back at center and right guard, respectively.

The future

Even though Clifton will return for another season, theres no telling how much longer the 34-year-old can hold up. So the Packers are going to have to start planning for his replacement. Even if that means moving Bulaga to the left side, theyll still need another tackle. Tauscher, whose shoulder injury ended his 2010 season and possibly his career, almost certainly wont be back.

Guard, too, is a position of need because, again, theres no clear-cut starter if Colledge doesnt return. If Baylor guard Danny Watkins is on the board when the Packers pick at No. 32, he could be a Ted Thompson pick.

I like Watkins, but his age scares me. He'll turn 27 this season. If he signs a 5 year deal, he'll be 32 when it ends. He doesn't really seem like a Ted pick, but maybe his ability to immediately start makes up for his older age. For comparison, Bulaga is 22.

I'd still like to see a tackle that could also play guard. That way, we'd have an immediate starter at LG and an eventual player we could move to RT once Bulaga moves to the left side once Clifton retires.

"millertime" wrote:

"millertime" wrote:

This is the fifth in a position-by-position series evaluating the Green Bay Packers needs entering the 2011 draft.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Need level: Moderately high

On the roster: T Chad Clifton, C Scott Wells, G Josh Sitton, T Bryan Bulaga, T/G T.J. Lang, C/G Nick McDonald, G/T Marshall Newhouse, T Mark Tauscher, C/G Evan Dietrich-Smith, T Chris Campbell and G Adrian Battles.

Free agents: C/G Jason Spitz, G Daryn Colledge

Outlook: After a couple of rough seasons, the offensive line came together and provided QB Aaron Rodgers and the running game with enough support to be successful. But theres no question there are soft spots that could cause big trouble this year and beyond. Clifton hung in well in his 11th season, but he turns 35 in June and could suffer a steep decline soon. The coaches arent sure yet whether Newhouse is better at left tackle or left guard, but they like his quick feet and intelligence. Bulaga is an option at left tackle after playing on the right side his rookie year. There is no pre-determined successor to Clifton. At left guard, expect Colledge to leave for big bucks and Spitz for a center job. That leaves a serious hole at the guard position, which could get worse the following year if Sitton leaves in free agency. Lang slipped in his second season, partly because he lost his off-season to wrist surgery. He was the seventh lineman and the top backup at tackle, but guard is going to be his spot. McDonald will someday replace Wells and could very well play some guard, but he might be a year away still. Tauscher has probably played his last snaps for the Packers and maybe for anybody else. The others will be given a chance to compete for back-up spots in camp.

Eye-opening stat: GM Ted Thompson has taken at least two linemen in five of his six drafts (2007) and has waited no longer than the fourth round to select a lineman in all but his very first draft.

Whats available: Its a very good year for offensive linemen and Thompson could find himself using his first-round pick on one for the second year in a row. The three who have a shot at being available with the 32nd are Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi, Mississippi State tackle Derek Sherod and Baylor guard/tackle Danny Watkins. Carimi likely will be gone, Sherod needs seasoning and Watkins still needs to find a spot on the line. Still, Watkins, who attended the same junior college as Rodgers, would be more Sitton than Colledge, and with a full training camp could play right away. Thompson has leaned more toward linemen who play in big-time college programs or for pro-style offenses, so players like Florida State guard Rodney Hudson, Indiana tackle James Brewer and Wisconsin guard John Moffitt probably will be tracked through the first three or four rounds. Later in the draft, Arkansas' Willie Smith, a former tight end, and Pittsburghs Jason Pinkston might appeal to Thompson as tackle prospects.

Bottom line: Theres no question Thompsons going to address this position. Its just a matter of where and how early. You could argue that he needs a tackle or guard more than any other position on the team and given the offensive line depth in this draft, hes likely to address his need on the first or second day. Its not a position to mess with when you have someone as important as Rodgers in the backfield. Too many times, Rodgers had to scramble out of pressure and the odds of him staying healthy are a lot better if he can spend more time in the pocket.