Packers Shake Up OL- Bulaga to LT

I guess we have our answer on Bulaga's recovery.

Barclay / Newhouse at RT will be a battle.

Backup LT will be interesting. Sherrod?, Bakhtiari? Datko?

"We're going to be better on the offensive line, particularly on the left side." Or something to that effect was what MM said after the season.

Draft 2 RB's and put your two best OL on the same side of the ball...

They're not screwing around on offense this offseason.

This could be fun. Bulaga is a huge upgrade at LT (I can't believe he's only 24). Sitton is an upgrade at LG, and Lang is much more suited to RG. Love it.

I'd be surprised if Barclay isn't the starter at RT. MM can complain about the team being characterized as soft, but he knows it's true and Barclay brings a toughness that Marshall simply doesn't have.

Good, time to build a line that doesn't give up 50+ sacks or get knocked backward every single time on 3rd/4th and inches. Get these guys locked in to their respective positions (no more line shuffling) and get them ready. Losing Greg Jennings has the potential to be a good thing for this team in the long run. McCarthy has shown a bad tendency to get goofy with his play calling when he has too many toys to play with in the passing game. This flip, along with the RBs they drafted and fact that they didn't draft any WRs until 7th round was a great sign that this team has the right attitude on how an offense that wins games in December and January in Green Bay, Wisconsin is supposed to look.

quote:

Originally posted by Satori:

Flipping the whole OL

WOW

I originally was in favor of keeping Bulaga where he was, but since we didn't get a first round or second round OT, and he's played there before so I can't argue with the logic.

I don't think anyone anticipated Sitton switching sides. If anyone did, I didn't read about it. Lang at RG should be a decent fit.

Forward.

quote:

Originally posted by michiganjoe:
I'd be surprised if Barclay isn't the starter at RT. MM can complain about the team being characterized as soft, but he knows it's true and Barclay brings a toughness that Marshall simply doesn't have.

Newhouse could possibly start, but I agree that Barclay has shown that he is more physical. Bhaktiari will be in the mix at OT too, eventually.

I'm just glad they didn't try to do this two weeks before the season started.

don't worry, it will all change again.

Now let's hope they add some diversity to the run scheme, traps, wham blocks, pulling guards, etc.

me too!

Now, let's hope for no major injuries. We're due for a low injury year.

I have a hunch they liked what Barclay showed at RT a lot. I bet they think Barclay is/will be a better RT than Newhouse is/will be at LT. Bulaga is simply too good of a player to keep off the field. Barclay has that Mark Tauscher quality about him...nothing special about him physically, but he just gets the job done.

Hopefully Bulaga's short arms won't hinder him at LT!

quote:

Originally posted by Grave Digger:
I have a hunch they liked what Barclay showed at RT a lot. I bet they think Barclay is/will be a better RT than Newhouse is/will be at LT. Bulaga is simply too good of a player to keep off the field.

Exactly what I was just going to post.

I really hope that is what happened because my next thought is MM and Campen sitting around a table is some sort of Three Stooges movie trying to figure out what to do and they decide maybe they'll just flip the whole line end for end! That will fix it!!

I fear that neither Newhouse nor Sherrod are long term solutions.

Newhouse has backed up several positions in the past so I can only guess he'll go back to doing that.

Yeah, flipping the whole line has a hint of desperation to it but if it works I'm down wit it.

They should have used an orange cone for Finley on the graphic. He blocks about as well as one.

quote:

Originally posted by titmfatied:
don't worry, it will all change again.

Rodgers to throw the ball left-handed this year?

I don't think it's desperate, I think the way they had the line before was desperate. Newhouse and EDS are the kind of guys you definitely want as back-ups/depth, but you can't settle on them being starters. Newhouse will have to at least show he can be reasonably effective at RT if he wants to stay in GB. They'll keep Sherrod obviously, but if Newhouse can't play RT then I see him getting shipped off for a late round pick.

I think this is a move they always intended to make, but Newhouse/Bulaga were the best LT/RT tandem they had available. Now that they have a potentially legit RT, they can make the move they always intended to make.

Moving Sitton strikes me as trying to solidify Rodgers blind side.

quote:

Originally posted by PackFoo:
They should have used an orange cone for Finley on the graphic. He blocks about as well as one.

Newhouse always struck me as being better suited at guard than tackle.

I've read that Barclay is better at run blocking but doesn't have the ideal length or athleticism to pass block on the edge. Newhouse has better size and better feet for pass pro but his run blocking is anemic at best.

Given those two less than ideal choices, it would seem that Newhouse would be the front runner for RT. They also put Sherrod in competition for RT and he'd likely be the best solution of all - with Barclay and Newhouse as the top backups

With GB looking to bolster the run in 2013, the addition of Mulligan and Quarless means they can help out both of the tackles with a 2 TE set if they need to. I think Newhouse gets the early nod at RT, and am hopeful Sherrod takes it away from him in August. Barclay stepped up, but not sure he can handle the edge rushers without help and we know the opponents will move their guys around- saw it with Peppers and with Watt last year. They will attack Barclay

Of course, it's all subject to change, Just yesterday there was this.
David Bakhtiari in mix at Left Tackle (?)
"I feel I can play left tackle," Bakhtiari said. "I've shown it in college, but wherever the Packers want me to play is what I'm going to play. They're going to give me the playbook; they're going to let me know the position, and I'm going to study it and try and become the best I can."

Awww, rookies are so cute.

Would the statement be 'If you have four Right Tackles, you don't have one' be applicable? Obviously they'd like to have their best five linemen on the field but there's a nauseous feeling that if EDS is one of them then there's still a problem. GVR is fighting for a roster spot also inside.

Can i just say that I still think MM is just a crappy running game manager? The man is a passing genius. I'm not going to expect this team to suddenly morph into the '62 Packers.

I really hate having AR be the most sacked QB in the NFL. I imagine MM does too.

quote:

Originally posted by FLPACKER:
Now let's hope they add some diversity to the run scheme, traps, wham blocks, pulling guards, etc.

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bet Henry is pissed they didn't flip EDS as well...on his head.

draft and DEVELOP. maybe with a season and an offseason under his belt Barclay has gotten better at protecting the edge? I think I'll take the nasty run blocker and give him help before I take the dancer.

I really hope someone emerges at center as I'm not convinced EDS is the answer there. I will be pulling for Tretter or Van Roten to step up.

Barclay's pass protection leaves a bit to be desired but the upside and room for improvement is there. Newhouse is a versatile and competent backup but that's it and we've seen his ceiling.

The possibility is also there that one of the draft picks could emerge and put himself into the mix at RT. Should be a very interesting training camp.

quote:

Originally posted by FreeSafety:

quote:

Originally posted by Grave Digger:
I have a hunch they liked what Barclay showed at RT a lot. I bet they think Barclay is/will be a better RT than Newhouse is/will be at LT. Bulaga is simply too good of a player to keep off the field.

Exactly what I was just going to post.

x3

quote:

Originally posted by Tdog: draft and DEVELOP.

enough of this. this line under m3 has been maybe average at best and a set of musical chairs every year.

quote:

Originally posted by chickenboy:

quote:

Originally posted by Tdog: draft and DEVELOP.

enough of this. this line under m3 has been maybe average at best and a set of musical chairs every year.

How fast should the development occur?

2008
Draft - G Josh Sitton Rd.4b

2009
Draft - T/G T.J. Lang Rd.4

2010
Draft - T Bryan Bulaga Rd.1; G/T Marshall Newhouse Rd. 5b
Free Agent - C/G Evan Dietrich-Smith

2011
Draft - T Derek Sherrod Rd.1

2012
Draft - T Andrew Datko Rd.7a
Free Agent - G Don Barclay; G Greg Van Roten

quote:

Originally posted by Hungry5:
How fast should the development occur?

yeah, the GBP would be so much better off spending millions upon millions more on free agent OL. yes, that's exactly the way to go about it. can't believe Ted hasn't seen that light yet.
chickenboy, you should write him a letter.

Dear TT,

Your oline has been mediocre and has put a franchise QB at risk. Also, they change positions too much.

Sincerely,

Chickenboy

why, you can't even win a SB with mediocre OLs like that...
by the way, letters are written on paper.

quote:

Originally posted by Tdog:
why, you can't even win a SB with mediocre OLs like that...

The Packers won a Super Bowl 2 years ago. Everything is perfect. No need for improvement.

Also, C-Boy rolls green.

and how did they put together the OL which won that SB two years ago?
and who claimed this nonsense?

quote:

Everything is perfect. No need for improvement.

fNck, sometimes I piss myself off. there's a reason I have you on ignore. back to my principles.

quote:

Originally posted by Tdog:
fNck, sometimes I piss myself off. there's a reason I have you on ignore. back to my principles.

Yep. If you spend time poking the board idiot with a stick, how or why would you expect anything but stupidity in response?