MintBaconDrivel
12 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
12 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
12 years ago
One question about this article... What about Datko!?
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
12 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
12 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
12 years ago
Yikes ... not good looking the 2nd most important Packers player.
UserPostedImage
DarkaneRules
12 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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Zero2Cool (22h) : Well, not crazy, it makes sense. Crazy I didn't notice/find it earlier
Zero2Cool (22h) : it's crazy how one stored procedure to get data bogged everything down for speed here
dfosterf (23h) : to herd cats or goldfish without a bowl. They reminded me of the annual assembly of our fantasy league
dfosterf (23h) : out on a field trip, outfitting them with little yellow smocks. Most of the little folk were well behaved, but several were like trying
dfosterf (23h) : Yesterday my wife and I spent the afternoon on the waterfront here in Alexandria, Va. A daycare company took about 15 three/four year olds
wpr (23h) : seems faster. yay
dfosterf (23h) : Wife of reason posted on the in/out thread on fleaflicker that both she and vor are in
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : This page was generated in 0.135 seconds.
Mucky Tundra (7-Aug) : Tbh, I can never tell the difference in speed unless it's completely shitting the bed
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : Sure does feel like site is more snappy
Zero2Cool (6-Aug) : I thought that was the Lions OL
Mucky Tundra (6-Aug) : Travis Glover placed on IR; seasons over for him
Zero2Cool (6-Aug) : found bad sql in database, maybe site faster now?
dfosterf (5-Aug) : I'm going to call that a good move.
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : Packers sign CB Corey Ballentine
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : I'm not sure how to kill the draft order just yet so it's not so confusing.
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : *to be able
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : and because it's not a dynasty league (which makes a lot more sense to be ability to trade picks)
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : Oh I know; I was just exploring and it blew my mind that you could trade picks because of the whole reordering thing
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : Zero, I think I preferred my offer: your 1st for my 15th rounder
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : Keep in mind, we do a draft reorder once all members locked in
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Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : Hey i didn't know we could trade picks in fantasy
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Update: Rock has tried a cheese curd, promises it's not his last
Zero2Cool (3-Aug) : watch it!! lol
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : you're right, we never did leave, the site just went down :P
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Rock claims to have never eaten a cheese curd
Zero2Cool (3-Aug) : We did not leave.
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Family Night! WE ARE SO BACK!
Mucky Tundra (2-Aug) : To this day, I'm still miffed about his 4 TD game against Dallas on Thanksgiving going to waste
Martha Careful (2-Aug) : Congratulations Sterling Sharpe. He was terrific and I loved watching him play.
beast (2-Aug) : I believe it's technically against the CBA rules, but Jerry just calls it a simple unofficial chat... and somehow gets away with it.
beast (2-Aug) : Jerry Jones is infamous for ̶n̶e̶g̶o̶t̶i̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ chatting with players one on one... and going around the agent.
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Oo just saw a blurb saying that Dallas negotiated directly with Parsons and not through his agent
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : I assumed that both guys will get paid, just a matter of when or how we get there
Zero2Cool (1-Aug) : McLaurin nor Micah going anywhere. They will get money
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : the Synder years or do they take care of one of their own?
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Do the Commanders risk losing a top WR with an emerging QB just because he's turning 30 and potentially risk damaging the rebuild from
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Turns 30 this September, plays at a high level and Washington has some cap space I believe
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : More interesting is Washington with Terry McLaurin
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : I would imagine Dallas will resolve this issue with a truckload of money
Zero2Cool (1-Aug) : Micah pulling a Myles with trade request
beast (1-Aug) : Packers should make some cheese forks
Mucky Tundra (31-Jul) : GRAB THE PITCHFORKS~
Zero2Cool (31-Jul) : CUT HIM
Mucky Tundra (31-Jul) : Socieltal collapse imminent
Mucky Tundra (31-Jul) : The West has fallen
Mucky Tundra (31-Jul) : After starting off camp with 25 straight made field goals, Brandon McManus has missed one
Zero2Cool (31-Jul) : But it should be stable
Zero2Cool (31-Jul) : It's probably gonna be slower.
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