Nah, only three.

I want a dominant line. The best quarterback in the league deserves a dominant line. The most important team in the league deserves a dominant line. The best sports fans in the known universe deserve a dominant line.

Even if Bulaga were completely healthy, even if the Packers had zero injuries on the OL all year, this OL corps would not be dominant. Yah, we're starting T's #3 and #4. Why are you so convinced that said #1 and #2 are good enough if they are healthy.

IMO, and I said this back in February or whenever GB decided on the switch of Bulaga and Sitton to the other side, even had there been no injuries, the team was going to be entering training camp with substantial questions at four of the five OL positions (arguably 5, but I was and am willing to assume that Sitton would still be a stud despite the switch). That should not be the case entering year nine.

And, no, Thompson does not get a pass from me for those first years because Mike McCarthy wanted small/quick OL. Two reasons: i. GM hires coach, not coach dictates to GM. 2. He didn't get good small/quick OL either. Guy McIntyre was small but a very good OG, even when he played for us; a young Guy McIntyre could be a great OL today. Same for Gale Gillingham. And that's just guys whose names start with G.

When Mike McCarthy wanted the small guys, he didn't provide good enough ones. After Mike McCarthy changed his mind, he still hasn't provided enough good ones.

If you are content with "servicable" or "good enough" on the OL, you need to be aiming higher. I give Ted Thompson an A for effort at creating the proper line. But performance provides the grade.

Strive to be good enough, and you end up third rate. Strive to D O M I N A T E!

Originally Posted by: Wade 

You always hear announcers and analysts talking about how you need to get a RB lathered up, that they get better as the game goes on. That is actually incorrect.

The reason backs and running games get better as the game goes on is because the offensive line wears down the defensive front so there are bigger holes. What needs to get lathered up is the Oline, the more they run block, the better they become because defensive lineman tire more when being pushed back, rather than them pushing forward.

We never give our oline a chance to get going.

Originally Posted by: PackFanWithTwins 

Having to start our #s 3 and 4 guys isn't ideal. But the fact that we are able to do so and get by with it, while having depth to spare is a tribute to Ted's work. Not many teams could do that.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 

Ok. It is true. He's good at getting adequate backups.

That sort of tends to be the case, though, whenever you aren't getting enough starter-quality players. A team that has 3-4 backup quality starters has 3-4 more backups.

Originally Posted by: Wade