Left guard is one of the few positions in flux heading into next season, but fans neednt worry. The Super Bowl champions will be just fine regardless of whether long-time starter Daryn Colledge returns for a sixth season with the Packers. Thats because there are a number of quality alternatives already on the roster. Heres a look at the players who could be spending their Sunday afternoons squeezed between Chad Clifton and Scott Wells come September:
T.J. LANG- The former Eastern Michigan star missed the entire 10 offseason after undergoing wrist surgery and he was never able to recapture the form that allowed him to hold his own in three starts at tackle as a rookie. Last seasons version of Lang lacked strength and confidence. The former shouldnt be hard to recapture; the latter remains to be seen. My hunch is that the 23-year-old will bounce back strong, and if given the opportunity, will win the starting job at left guard. Lang has all the skills to be a solid interior lineman. Hes big, tough and more than athletic enough to do whats required of a guard in this offense. As long as he regains his strength, he should not only be an adequate starter right away, but he could be a very good one down the road.
MARSHALL NEWHOUSE- The offensive coaches were intrigued by what they saw of the former TCU star at left tackle last summer, but hell probably be asked to take the majority of his snaps at guard and/or right tackle if and when training camp begins. Thats because first-round pick Derek Sherrod figures to be Cliftons primary backup in 2010. Newhouse is probably best-suited to play outside because of his quick feet, long arms and underwhelming upper-body strength. Still, if Colledge signs elsewhere and Lang struggles, it wouldnt be a surprise to see Newhouse get a long look at left guard. Hes too smart and too athletic not to be given a chance to compete somewhere along the line.
NICK MCDONALD- Coach Mike McCarthy raved about this young man late last season, but Id be surprised if he proves to be a serious contender at left guard. Not only is the jump from Grand Valley State to the National Football League an enormous one, but McDonald looks more like a center than he does a guard. And with veteran Jason Spitz not expected to return in 2010, it would probably make more sense for the coaches to get the 23-year-old ready to play the pivot a position that lacks depth and where the starter (Wells) turned 30 earlier this year and has a long history of shoulder and back injuries.
CALEB SCHLAUDERAFF- It would be a huge mistake to dismiss the chances of the kid with the funny last name. Schlauderaff was a four-year starter at Utah, and unlike Lang, Newhouse and McDonald, hes a natural guard. He wont have to learn how to play in traffic. Whether hes talented enough to start at the next level remains to be seen. The sixth-round draft pick is barely over 300 pounds and hes a marginal athlete. But hes also intelligent, tough and strong in the hands. That was enough to get former Packer Marco Rivera to three consecutive Pro Bowls. And while Im not saying Schlauderaff has the same kind of potential, Im just saying not to count him out in this potentially wide-open competition.
"PU" wrote: