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13 years ago
Third-year veteran Lang fights for Packers left guard spot 

Josh Sitton made a grave mistake Tuesday. He left his cellphone unattended, with no password. This was too easy. T.J. Lang, his usual partner in crime, swiped the phone and fired off a tweet.

Viewer discretion is advised.

"Damn I just took a huge crap.. used a whole roll of t.p. was like mud."

Yes, gross. Sitton couldn't return the favor - Lang's phone has a password. Nothing like a friendly hit-and-run to liven up training camp.

"He was just mad that I got to him before he could get to me," Lang said. "That's all he was mad about. I didn't go overboard. It was pretty harmless."

They're already close friends, what with both pointing a red laser pen at James Jones during one locker room interview. Now comes the hard part for Lang - sticking around and overtaking that left guard spot opposite Sitton. Don't let the pranks fool you. Lang realizes this is a critical camp for him. The third-year veteran figured to be the front-runner at the position heading into camp. Instead, coaches have given first-round pick Derek Sherrod, a tackle since high school, the first crack at the job.

Two weeks in, Sherrod has been erratic while Lang has impressed on the No. 2 offense. This is a sink-or-swim year for the 2009 fourth-round pick. After bouncing around at guard and tackle, this could be Lang's best (and final) shot to earn a long-term spot.

Saturday is his opportunity to build on progress made at practice.

"My No. 1 goal is to get out and compete at the level I've been playing at," Lang said. "I need to keep building on the things I'm doing well. You want to win every block you have out there. This will be a huge evaluation for me, going into the first preseason game.

"I need to go out there, finish and do the extra things to show them I want that spot."

The conventional decision would have been to start Lang immediately at guard, the spot vacated by Daryn Colledge. Instead, the Packers are set on giving Sherrod every opportunity at the position with the No. 1 offense. The rookie has been understandably inconsistent.

Lang knows all about position switches. In two seasons, he has played in 28 games with three starts and some goal-line work on the defensive line sprinkled in. It hasn't always been pretty. In 2009, the Packers allowed an NFL-high 51 sacks.

Cycling back and forth between guard and tackle was "overwhelming" for Lang.

"Looking back, I was frustrated," Lang said. "My first two years, I was a swing guy and had to know multiple positions. You always want to come in, learn one spot and compete for it. Looking back at it now, I think it definitely helped me and my future. If anything happens, teams know I can play both tackle and guard on the left and the right.

"When you're out there as a rookie, you're thinking too much and it slows you down a little bit. When things slow down, your athletic ability can shine."

That's where Lang says he is now. He's comfortable, finally settled into one position. During 11-on-11 segments, he has rarely given any ground to defensive tackles.

B.J. Raji has faced Lang plenty in practice, particularly in one-on-one drills. Raji likes what he's seen in Sherrod, too. He said Sherrod is athletic and maintains good leverage.

With Lang, one quality stands out.

"The big thing with offensive linemen is, you're going to get beat," Raji said. "But he has the ability to recover. That's what separates the good offensive linemen - if a guy beats you with one move and you're able to slide back and get in a good position to keep him off the quarterback. I think T.J. has that ability."

EDITED

JSOnline wrote:


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beast
13 years ago
If back-ups are out playing the guy in front of them I wonder how long it will take coaches to make the changes in what line they're playing.... with all the good stuff I've read about Newhouse, I'm a bit surprised it's not Newhouse vs. Lang for starter at LG with Sherrod learning LT.
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dfosterf (8h) : You have to like Tyliek Williams DL from Ohio State to agree with me on this
dfosterf (8h) : quality dl in the 2nd and quality edge in the 3rd
dfosterf (8h) : Taking Mathew Golden WR in the 1st is consistently working out for me in getting q
Zero2Cool (10h) : LB Eric Wilson to Vikings
Zero2Cool (13-Mar) : Hobbs said Jaire reached out and congratulated him.
Martha Careful (13-Mar) : ditto, I wish nothing but the best for AJ Diilan and Josh Myers. and yes dfosterf, you are correct
Mucky Tundra (12-Mar) : Love AJ but it was time to move on. Also, gonna be interesting to see how he does behind Phillys oline
Mucky Tundra (12-Mar) : Josh Myers to the Jets one a one year, 3.5 million dollar deal
dfosterf (12-Mar) : Wish nothing but the best for AJ Dillon!
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Eagles landed AJ Dillon
wpr (12-Mar) : The Packers did not tender restricted free agent John FitzPatrick. The tight end played in nine games after signing with Green Bay
wpr (12-Mar) : The Eagles are signing former Packers running back AJ Dillon, a league source confirms.
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Might be waiting for the right place, or right cash, or both
dhazer (12-Mar) : I can't believe Chubb is still a free agent why wouldnt someone take a chance on him he is a stud with stuff to prove
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : I wanna find it too
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dfosterf (12-Mar) : According to the OTC cap figures, Miami has one minute to find 10.3 million in cap space lol
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Martha Careful (12-Mar) : RIP Junior Bridgeman. An excellent businessman and NBA er
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : It's better to have $17m to use on players who will be on the field. That's why trade/release is talked
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : post june is $7m cap hit with $17m saving
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : oops meant $10m cap hit
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : And pre june is $10m savings
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Can't make him play.
dhazer (12-Mar) : I am curious why the big need to release Jaire, we have 29 million cap space we arent spending and would only gain $6 million/ make him play
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Joey Bosa signed with Bills?
dfosterf (12-Mar) : What they are offering is a left over case of Leinies from the Chippewa Falls plant
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : 27, 59, 91, 129 gets you Jaire and our 3rd
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : they give us those five, or even first four, they can have Jaire.
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : 27, 59, 91, 129 and 136 are only ones worth having of theirs.
dfosterf (12-Mar) : What they don't have is cap space, at least presently at 5.6 mil
dfosterf (12-Mar) : Poor bastards only have 11
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Ravens ain't got crap for picks.
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Aaron Rodgers is choosing between Steelers and Giants. The Vikings are officially out on him, per RapSheet
dfosterf (12-Mar) : Current cap space 29.6 million.
dfosterf (12-Mar) : Hobbs 2025 cap hit just under 6 million. Banks 2025 cap hit just over 9 million
Mucky Tundra (12-Mar) : beast, this is news to me! Tell me more about these, "draft picks." They seem mighty mysterious! 😉
beast (12-Mar) : Yes, the Ravens have draft picks
dfosterf (12-Mar) : Good luck to him.
Zero2Cool (12-Mar) : Eric Stokes signs with Raiders
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