MintBaconDrivel
11 years ago

GREEN BAY — Whatever you think of the Green Bay Packers decision to shuffle their offensive line deck — that it smacks of desperation, that it was an overreaction to the 51 sacks Aaron Rodgers absorbed, that it absolutely had to be done or that it's the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard — you have to acknowledge this much: The idea is predicated primarily on the belief that Bryan Bulaga will be a significant upgrade at left tackle.

If Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, offensive coordinator Tom Clements and offensive line coach James Campen didn't believe that, then it's hard to imagine the point of making any of the moves, which not only shifted Bulaga from right tackle to left tackle, but moved Josh Sitton from right guard to left guard, T.J. Lang from left guard to right guard and Marshall Newhouse from left tackle to right tackle, where he'll compete with Don Barclay, David Bakhtiari and Derek Sherrod to keep his spot in the starting lineup.

The moves came after Rodgers was sacked a league-high 51 times last season and the Packers' running game ranked 20th in the league in rushing yards per game (106.4) and 22nd in yards per attempt (3.9).

McCarthy said it himself when the news broke ("I wouldn't have done it if I didn't have full confidence in Bryan") and reiterated that stance multiple times this offseason, including during organized team activity practices ("I feel Bryan is our best tackle") multiple times. McCarthy also gave other reasons, too, but if McCarthy didn't think Bulaga would be an appreciable improvement over Newhouse, he probably doesn't pull the trigger.

Even though he played left tackle in college at Iowa and will admit when pressed that left tackle is his preferred position, Bulaga never once complained about being a right tackle, as he was thrust into the starting lineup there as a rookie first-round pick in 2010 after longtime starter Mark Tauscher went down with what ended up being a season-ending shoulder injury. Bulaga had actually made his NFL debut at left tackle when veteran Chad Clifton had struggled against Buffalo, and he'd spent virtually every practice working at left tackle before Tauscher went down, forcing the move.

"You wouldn't have heard a peep out of me. You haven't heard it for four years," Bulaga said of not complaining about waiting so long to move to the left side. "I think it took me a little while longer my rookie year (to get used to right tackle) because I was still trying to get the playbook down and grasp the playbook and get on the same page with Josh. He'd been playing with 'Tausch' for a couple years and he was used to 'Tausch.' It was him and I both trying to get on the same page and me trying to grasp the playbook and switching sides.

"I think this will be a little more smooth. I know the offense a lot better. It's just a matter of switching sides now — footwork and technique. But it's going to take reps. That's all it is."

Bulaga only played 587 snaps last year because of the hip injury that ended his season, but before going down against Arizona on Nov. 4, he had allowed four sacks, three quarterback hits and 20 pressures, according to ProFootballFocus.com. Of those, two sacks, one hit and eight pressures came in the Packers' Week 3 loss at Seattle, when Bulaga had the worst night of his career.

Bulaga said during OTAs that he was 100 percent recovered from the hip injury, and he did take all of the first-team reps set aside for him during offseason practices.

"I feel good. I feel the hip healed very well. In the offseason, no issues with it, no setbacks," Bulaga said. "It felt great the entire time. Obviously, not initially when I first did it, but every week it seemed to progress and get better.

"I'm just trying to get comfortable with what I'm doing out there again. It's going to be a little bit more of a transition. It's going to take a little more time to get that back."

If there is a concern about Bulaga, it's how he'll handle speed rushers. There were questions about how he'd handle speed rushers coming out of Iowa (it even mentions it in his official draft profile from the league ) and his poor performance in Seattle came against lightning-quick, undersized rusher Bruce Irvin, who beat him for both sacks and one pressure.

Among the athletic pass rushers Bulaga figures to face this season are San Francisco's Aldon Smith, Cincinnati's Michael Johnson, Minnesota's Jared Allen, Chicago's Juilus Peppers, the New York Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul and Dallas' DeMarcus Ware.

"I mean, you never want to hear your name being called in that sense, negatively. But, it happens," Bulaga said of the Seattle game. "I think the important part is learning from it and moving on. I think I settled down in the second half. I didn't use any fundamentals for most of the first half. I was just out there, I don't know what I was out there doing. I just wasn't playing my game, and that's what happens. I know that's not going to happen again."

Jason Wilde  wrote:


Zero2Cool
11 years ago
If Bryan Bulaga doesn't suck it up at LT like he did at RT, the Packers should be in good shape.
UserPostedImage
DarkaneRules
11 years ago
One question about this article... What about Datko!?
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
11 years ago

One question about this article... What about Datko!?

Originally Posted by: DarkaneRules 



I think the fans are more enamored with Datko than the staff is. People see his size and give a big discount to his past injury. The coaches look at how well he knows the play book. His technique and all the other issues as well. Things that the general fan does not have access to unless a reporter makes a comment about it.

During the past several months I thought he might have a shot at making the 53 man team because he had the PS year under his belt but I really felt he would probably have to go that route a 2nd year at least with GB.
UserPostedImage
DarkaneRules
11 years ago
Probably right, but he is a part of the competition at tackle to my knowledge so I was more taking a jab at Wilde 🙂 If he ends up on the PS this season I don't expect him to stay there. Let it be decided in training camp.

I am so excited about the competitions!
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
Zero2Cool
11 years ago
Yikes ... not good looking the 2nd most important Packers player.
UserPostedImage
DarkaneRules
11 years ago
Yep, LT always behind the QB. No reports of any talks to acquire from outside. Looks like it is promotion from within starting now. Really think the rookie takes the job as competition continues.
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
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Mucky Tundra (6h) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (16h) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (16h) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (17h) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
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TheKanataThrilla (22h) : Sam Howell to Vikings...guess no Aaron
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : 1 round 7 min, with one extra minute if there is a trade. 2nd round 4 minutes, 3rd -3, 2 thereafter IMO
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Agree
dfosterf (26-Apr) : Great idea imo
dfosterf (26-Apr) : 1st round to 7 minutes with one extension
dfosterf (26-Apr) : NFL comissioner wants to shorten the 2st
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : @jalenreagors They’re discussing if Sheduer can go back to college on NFL Network LMFAOOOOO
beast (26-Apr) : Great point Martha
beast (26-Apr) : Buddy Ryan used to say if a candy bar goes missing, there are two to blame, Rex and Rob 🤪 jk 😁
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Bum Phillips used to say there are two ways to get better. Get better players or get players to play better. We have a new DL coach
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Yes. Look at the losses last year. They can win.
beast (26-Apr) : Can Packers win with their current DL?
bboystyle (26-Apr) : waiting for a pass rusher.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes between picks in the 3rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 3rd. Hate this phone
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 4rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes in the 4
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 7 minutes between picks in the 2nd round
Martha Careful (25-Apr) : Sorry to bitch, but the headline writers in that section absolutely mislead, or don't know how to read. It is maddening
Martha Careful (25-Apr) : No thanks. Not a dependable guy to be in the right place and run the right route. Dumb as a box of rocks.
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : Losing 2nd round pick for a one year rental, not ideal. Especially a headcase.
TheKanataThrilla (25-Apr) : Pickens for Jaire may be interesting. Definitely not sure we want Pickens long term.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : No.Absolutely not
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : NO NO NO NO NO NO!!1 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
dhazer (25-Apr) : scenario: Our main prospects are off the board when our pick comes around, do we just throw a 2nd round pick at Pittsburgh for Pickens
TheKanataThrilla (25-Apr) : Hopefully she had some comfort that her son will be live his dream when she passed away. Sad news.
Mucky Tundra (25-Apr) : Damn that sucks
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : News about Derrick Harmon mom, saddening.
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : Mark Murphy: "I predict we will trade up once and down twice."
beast (25-Apr) : Rip the Packers and getting the fans yelling and booing him
beast (25-Apr) : Super competitive Bears fan and WWE "superstar" wrestler, Seth Rollins is supposed to announce a Bears pick and absolutely rip Packers
packerfanoutwest (25-Apr) : Golden
beast (25-Apr) : I want DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
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Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : btw, new site chat won't delete auto like
Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : because everyone left like wimps
TheKanataThrilla (24-Apr) : I am wondering if there is some type of autoclear when there isn't activity after a certain amount of time.
Mucky Tundra (24-Apr) : What happened in the chat? Me and Zero posted a few things earlier and they're all gone
dfosterf (24-Apr) : 10-15 min bs plus flyover
dfosterf (24-Apr) : Yes
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