T.J. Lang is pretty much in the same mold as him. I like him a lot, he's just too damn inconsistent.
Originally Posted by: Gaycandybacon
I REALLY like Lang... but the guy is SO looking like an OT/OG tweener that fits in at neither place. Lang has an OG body but his natural style is that of an OT. I thought he might be able to become a good RT like Tausher but he didn't, partly because when they give him shots at RT he's already banged up.
In the NFC Champs game against the Bears, Clifton got banged and was out for three drives. Lang came in and most people remember the first drive where MM called a lot of pass plays and Peppers was burning Lang. But not many people the next two drives... one drive it was pretty much a stale mate with neither getting push, and the other was ALL Lang as he pushing Peppers backwards on run plays. But I don't think Lang is going to get another healthy shot at OT.
Part of me is starting to think Lang might be an over sized FB. He moves very well for his size and at times has been GREAT at getting to the second level and taking out LBers. And it's a goal line Package I REALLY have wanted to see.
Who has a finesse offensive line anymore? You can still have big players and run the zone scheme.. I mean come on... how hard is it to double team block and move up field? I'm no offensive lineman, but big fellas are able to move well too.
Originally Posted by: Gaycandybacon
As a former OL, I can say harder than most think. Also I hear a lot of fans say it's about size and speed... I very much disagree with that. It's a lot more quickness, acting as one unit and mental muti-tasking/reacting skills.
And I agree with you, big players can have all that stuff as well, if they have quickness and mental parts down.
Look who the Bears got. Kyle Long. THAT GUY IS HUGE. They pretty much got better because of his size..
Take a chance Ted Thompson. Draft 2+ Big offensive lineman next year. See how much better your team will be.
Originally Posted by: Gaycandybacon
Bears also got Tramon Williams cousin, who's earn the starting RT job, he's raw but in a couple years he and Long could be very tough.
One thing that has surprised me (on both sides of the ball) Packers don't seem to care about the length of linemen as much as other teams. Every year I hear the Packers are going to take a prototypical 3-4 DE (aka a guy with a lot of length normally 6'4" or taller that's about 300 pounds) almost every year they don't... other than maybe Datone Jones but weight wise he's still light.
Same with OL. They go for OT/OG tweeners most of the time.
That's my only pet peave. Sometimes we draft for Size, Speed, and Strength. Most of the time we draft players that fit our system. Which is fine! But anyone can learn a system..
The 2 positions imo that lacks size on this team is Saftey and Offensive Line. I swear to god if we had size in that secondary next to Burnett, we'd be a hell of a lot better. Get rid of Jennings. McMillian is fine, JUST DRAFT SOME SAFTEYS!
Originally Posted by: Gaycandybacon
Everyone MIGHT be able to learn a system, but just because a guy learns it (in the class room) doesn't mean he can go out there and do it at an NFL speed, power and quickness.
I disagree with you a bit for the Safety size...
Packers want SS that can also play FS, so they can rotate the two S positions and use that to trick the QB sometimes as Burnett and Collins would do at times.
Honestly, I think Burnett is a SS and is playing out of position because the teams needs him too, and McMillian is a SUPER undersized, but super athletic LB whose trying to learn S. (I really like the idea of having McMillian at ILB on for sure passing downs, though looks like Hyde could do that as well)
I think the Packers need a true FS (which Jennings is) but they need them to have NFL starting talent (which Jennings doesn't).