Often, Taylor ends up on the ground, on top of his guy.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
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3 games. 3 solid performances.
Rating the Lions (McGinn):
You’d be hard-pressed to come up with a negative play for the left side of David Bakhtiari and Lane Taylor. Like Bakhtiari, Taylor didn’t allow a pressure or “bad” run. The Lions’ four-man rotation at DT isn’t bad. However, on play after play, Taylor just blocked his man, run or pass. In August, teams had success getting on his edge. The Lions kept trying to bull rush Taylor, but he was too thick and wouldn’t be taken back very far.
No doubt Taylor has played well but if this evolves into a 'I told you so' on the Sitton release, I still would not agree with that decision as I suspect the depth that Taylor (or Sitton) will need to provide down the road would be nice.
I will also add that I think the team could handle a pouty, pissy Sitton if he rode the pine.
Sitton was/is a Pro Bowl player, it's too early to say Taylor has replaced him. That said, it seems like a pretty solid move to free up some cap space. I think most were in agreement that this move would only be worth it if there was no noticeable drop-off in production. So far there hasn't been. Again, too early to say he's "replaced" Sitton, but he seems to have replaced Sitton's production.
Biggest compliant I saw about the move was a lack of compensation for Sitton. Haven't really heard his name at all since he's been starting and that's a pretty good indication he's playing well.
There are/were a lot of people waiting for the guy to fail. Both some fans and those in the media.
You are right - 3 games in it's hard to say he's fully replaced Sitton and he may never play to that level. However, he's been dependable in the passing game and very good in the running game.
Far from a liability for sure - as some had predicted.
When in doubt I'll trust TT. He's made some questionable moves over the years, but more often than not the guy makes the best choice for the team and it works out.
chickenboy posted:No doubt Taylor has played well but if this evolves into a 'I told you so' on the Sitton release, I still would not agree with that decision as I suspect the depth that Taylor (or Sitton) will need to provide down the road would be nice.
I will also add that I think the team could handle a pouty, pissy Sitton if he rode the pine.
Yeah, that would be a good use of cap space and do you really think Sitton is going ride the pine or take a pay cut to be depth? Use your ****ing head.
Its a win win for Sitton and Taylor
Sitton got his $$$ and starts and Taylor steps in and is playing well
where's the problem again? Oh a hypothetical situation got it
Chicken thinks you can pay a guy 6 million to ride the pine. That is some fine cipherin Jethro
Pack has plenty of cap space and coulda snagged a pick after the year. This has all been hashed over. Let's hope the depth either could have provided doesn't come back to bit 'em (or 12 specifically).
The team has more pressing issues right now than OL depth
Can't wait for the "they should have resigned Davon House or Casey Hayward" crowd to chime in
Henry posted:do you really think Sitton is going ride the pine or take a pay cut to be depth? Use your ****ing head.
This.
Lots of people were surprised by how fast the Sitton move went down. My belief is they told Josh that Taylor was going to be the starter in game 1, but they valued Josh and wanted him to stick around as the 6th OL. Sitton said no thanks, trade me or cut me. His agent leaked this which limited the Packers position for trade... and then Josh and his agent were able to cash in on the Bears deal.
Tschmack posted:The team has more pressing issues right now than OL depth
Can't wait for the "they should have resigned Davon House or Casey Hayward" crowd to chime in
Casey Hayward was all the talk on call-ins on the radio yesterday evening.
I just
Tschmack posted:The team has more pressing issues right now than OL depth
Can't wait for the "they should have resigned Davon House or Casey Hayward" crowd to chime in
Casey Hayward is second in the league with 3 INTs, which is 1 more INT than GB has as a team. Based on the first 3 weeks of the season, which obviously is an insanely small sample size, if there is anything to argue it is that!
If Taylor continues to play well and both he and Lang play a 16 game season, no harm. If we have to suffer through Don Barclay getting PT, that's a different story.
Dear lord, Barclay may be the primary backup at all five positions right now. *shudders*
No one expected the rash of injuries at the DB position. That's why the Hayward banter is silly. Coulda shoulda woulda armchair GMs crack me up. Makes for good sports talk radio though.
Ironic too considering Hayward was always getting dinged!!
"The one that got away!!" Uff da
Three games is a pretty good judge of Taylor. If there were to be a learning curve, the first few games should have been where he failed. True, defenses could learn his weaknesses over time but it's a good sign if he held up well against the Minnesota defense.
The team that could consist solely of the "ones Ted let get away" would be able to have beaten the 18-0 Patriots.
Tschmack posted:No one expected the rash of injuries at the DB position.
Probably didn't expect the growing pains the young corners are going through either. My guess is long-term it was the absolutely correct move by TT.
Tschmack posted:The team has more pressing issues right now than OL depth
Can't wait for the "they should have resigned Davon House or Casey Hayward" crowd to chime in
Davon House - no. However, Casey Hayward was consistently ranked as one of the best slot CBs in the league. You don't want him covering the Diggs, Jeffries, or Julio Jones types, but he had a skill set that worked well against guys like Golden Tate (or Randall Cobb). Whether that's worth 15 million over 3 years is the question. You can't pay everyone.
It is worth it to ask if you'd rather have Heyward and an extra 5 million or Randall Cobb?
Taylor started 2 games last year, 1 at each G spot. One of the games was vs MIN. He did better than okay in those games.
Heyward had a very good 2015 season for GB but he was a luxury we could not afford. Long term I think Randall and Rollins will be just fine.
The way Nick Perry is playing he's setting himself up for a big payday as well. However, he's not been healthy (consistently) either.
After having a terrific rookie year, many are forgetting Hayward then sustained a number of injuries who a number of scouts felt he lost some speed and wasn't quite the same. Agree that he had a nice 2015 season but the 2 years prior to that I thought he was just ok. Happy for him he's off to a great start. But like Davon House, who is dealing with yet another nagging injury, these guys weren't exactly Cal Ripken.
Maynard posted:The team that could consist solely of the "ones Ted let get away" would be able to have beaten the 18-0 Patriots.
Even if they were coached by McCarthy and Capers? 
Hayward's value will always be questionable b/c he can't play outside. Better put, he's a pro bowler in the slot playing against #3 WRs, but when asked to play outside against top WRs, he struggles. Slot CB has value but you don't pay those guys premium money.
Back to Lane........hell of a start for him. I think this is what TT realized: Sitton may be top 5 guard, but the difference between a top 5 guard and average isn't enough to warrant a $6m salary. Think WAR in baseball. A guards WAR is probably the lowest on the team (ahead of punter and maybe kicker). Still would have liked to get something in return for him though......
OH, and something else to think about regarding Sitton. The Bears interior offensive line is playing as well as any trio in the league right now (Long, Whitehair, Sitton). But guess what? Their offense still sucks.
Maynard posted:The team that could consist solely of the "ones Ted let get away" would be able to have beaten the 18-0 Patriots.
But how would they have fared against the '72 Dolphins? 
Tschmack posted:No one expected the rash of injuries at the DB position. That's why the Hayward banter is silly. Coulda shoulda woulda armchair GMs crack me up. Makes for good sports talk radio though.
I've posted (half-jokingly) that the Packers should have kept Heyward. It sounds nice until you look at his contract, not great value considering the other CB's they have (when healthy).
TT made the right call with Sitton. I think fans would have been more approving if they had been able to trade him but oh well. More cap space to lock up Bak and others; Lane Taylor has been solid. Long term, and this is speculation, I think they'd like to move Bulaga inside to OG and roll with Bak and Spriggs on the ends.
Hayward is playing outside in SD. The money aside, Rollins has too much upside to sit on the bench and Hayward would have stunted his growth had he remained.
chickenboy posted:No doubt Taylor has played well but if this evolves into a 'I told you so' on the Sitton release, I still would not agree with that decision as I suspect the depth that Taylor (or Sitton) will need to provide down the road would be nice.
I will also add that I think the team could handle a pouty, pissy Sitton if he rode the pine.
I agree with chicken's observation
chickenboy posted:No doubt Taylor has played well but if this evolves into a 'I told you so' on the Sitton release, I still would not agree with that decision as I suspect the depth that Taylor (or Sitton) will need to provide down the road would be nice.
I will also add that I think the team could handle a pouty, pissy Sitton if he rode the pine.
A player that is viewed as a leader by teammates, who is oppositional to coaches & management, is a drag on the entire team. Almost worse than a TO or Dez, who are crazy enough acting that players know it & don't really listen to them. Guys like Sitton are more subversive and can have more negative effect on younger teammates.
Long term plan could be once Linsley is back, kick Tretter out to LG.
GBFanForLife posted:Chicken thinks you can pay a guy 6 million to ride the pine. That is some fine cipherin Jethro
Do some gozintas for us, Jethro! LOL!
FLPACKER posted:Guys like Sitton are more subversive and can have more negative effect on younger teammates.
The Green Bay Packers are not a middle school team.
Locker room chemistry is important and even emphasized by MM/TT. There wouldn't be such a thing if pro players weren't also human. These guys are in their 20's, not 40's.
PackFoo posted:Long term plan could be once Linsley is back, kick Tretter out to LG.
As long as Tretter is better than Taylor, sure.