ROUND 4 PICK 122 - G J.C. TRETTER (CORNELL)

If?

I wasn't blown away by EDS, but he had a very solid season on the best line this team has fielded in a decade.

Matt Slauson is a year younger, had arguably a better season than EDS and just re-signed for $12.8/4 with $5M guaranteed. I think Ted would do that in a heartbeat.

Best line in a decade?

Crack kills.

So now you need a veteran backup center. Is that so when the veteran backup qb plays they are both veteran?

You can make a strong argument.  The 2004 Line (Clifton, Wahle, Flanagan, Rivera and Tauscher) was obviously better, but after the middle of the line was gutted by free agency the next year, the Packers' OL hasn't been spectacular.  This year, while breakdowns in pass protection continued, the run blocking was definitely improved - and the line as whole got better as the year went on.

I know I'm excited to see what next year will be like with Bakhtiari a year wiser, and Bulaga back in rotation.  Then, if Tretter can improve the C position, the Packers will really have something.  Obviously, injuries will ruin my hopes, but for the next six months I'm going to enjoy the idea.

I wouldn't say the best line in a decade, but I do think it's the best performing line since McCarthy has been year. The '03/'04 line was much better. 

Only team in the last ten years to top 2,000 rushing yards. Three different backs averaged 4+ yards per carry and had a 100+ yard game (I don't think I need to rehash that drought.) Pro Football Focus, while imperfect, had them as the 4th best pass blocking unit on the year, in spite of protecting 4 different signal callers with varying abilities, knowledge of the offense and internal clocks.

Not sure you can make a better case for another unit since 2004,

The 2010 line was better. Clifton was holding on, sure, but he was still a good pass protector and he and Colledge had good chemistry on the left side, Wells was a better center than EDS and a healthy Sitton/Bulaga was a strong right side as Bulaga was more solid as a rookie than Bakhtiari. Lang was pretty solid as the swing lineman.

The OTs this year were pretty weak overall (Barclay was #57, Bakhtiari #60 OT per PFF and then there's Newhouse) and EDS was only decent at Center. Guard play was strong.

2013 outrushed 2010 by more than 500 yards. PFF also has them as slightly better in overall pass blocking with a Pass Blocking Efficiency of 82.5 vs 80.8.

There's obviously a lot of factors beyond the five linemen that affect each of these stats, but I don't think calling this group the best in a decade is a stretch nor proof of one's crack habit.

The good news is there was still room for improvement, and I think Bulaga replacing the weakest link in Barclay and a year of experience and weight lifting for Bahktiari could make this a special group.

They also had FAR better RBs this year than then. Lacy is the best back since Green and Starks as a change-of-pace actually stayed healthy. Heck, even Franklin flashed in his opportunities.

2010 was B-Junk and Nance. That's a cavalcade of crap.

It's probably close, but I'd give the 2013 OL a slight edge over the 2010 OL.  I never thought Colledge was any good, and time has not softened my opinion of him.  The Clifton of 2010 was a capable pass blocker, but his run blocking had deteriorated badly. 

I also strongly disagree with the notion that Bulaga was more solid as a rookie than Bakhtiari.  Bulaga had his struggles that year too, and he was playing the easier position. 

I'm surprised they had Bak as the #60 OT.  So he's almost the worst starting OT in the NFL?  I must be missing something. 

You were used to seeing Newhouse there from last year.

Bulaga had his rookie struggles, sure, and it definitely helped he was playing on the right side but Colledge wasn't  bad. He and Clifton had great chemistry and held the left side well from pass rushers.  Both tackles were weak this year. Bakhtiari did as well, or better, than expected but it took him a while to get acclimated then he wore down late. Barclay was pedestrian at best, similar to having Newhouse at LT last year.

It is also extremely delicious.

quote:

I'm surprised they had Bak as the #60 OT.  So he's almost the worst starting OT in the NFL?  I must be missing something.

Suddenly both Feya and I are feeling so terribly randy.

"terribly randy", it's a soccer thing, isn't it?

Tretter is the preferred starting Center for 2014 according to Steve

Veteran interior back-ups listed in order of costliness include:

Big Ern

Don Barclay

Scott Wells (33)

This Viking cheerleader doesn't know if shes coming or going.

Nice pic of your sister BK.

And now for some eye bleach courtesy The Genius.

More info on Tretter from his former QB at Cornell

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/246402461.html

Tretter = Smart Feller

Here's a scout's comments on Tretter, pre-draft

NFC scout: "One of the favorite guys I did this year. He was a late riser. He wasn't on my list until November. He played left tackle there. He has been the backup center, which he doesn't practice. He's an inside player. He is very athletic. Very smart and very tough. He could go as high as the third round, but you get him in the fourth you're getting a bargain. He will start at an interior position. I would work him at center right away. His strength isn't bad. He's not overwhelming but he's not a guy who's going to lose on strength. And he's only going to get better now that you've got him in an NFL system and he's not going to Ivy League classes all day long."

Tretter may be all that.  But he didn't even get past OTAs last year.  He hasn't hit anyone from another team in the NFL yet.  I think it is a little presumptuous to assume he can play in the NFL.  I would sign EDS for a either a two or cut-able four year contract.  Then spot play Tretter and see if he really can play.  If he can, trade EDS and move on. 

Who are these teams who would trade for EDS?  This isn't Matt Birk we're talking about.

Nobody, he's an UFA.

Was it presumptuous to start a rookie 4th rounder at LT ?

EDS won't take a half-assed contract with an easy-out for the Packers. He wants a long- term commitment and he wasn't given one.

That's fairly illuminating given the war chest Thompson is currently sitting on

It isn't the same thing at all.  Bak made it thru OTAs, impressed in TC, played well in PS games, and then it took Bulaga going down for the year for him to have a chance.  Bak proved himself.

None of that history exists for Tretter.  And he is coming off a bad injuy besides.  The good news (if there can be any) is that the injury occured before the season started, so he has had a chance to heal and get some strength back. 

I think there is a bit of difference between Bak and Tretter.  First and foremost, is that Tretter was out all year due to injury.  Also, the Center position, makes all the calls (probably a bit more to understand), than to place Bak out on an island and say "don't get beat, we might provide help to you here and there."  

On a side note, why does the Center "have" to make calls?  Could Lang or Sitton make the calls, they have been in the league and presumably have seen most of the DL fronts?   

I hope Tretter is the C of the future, but takes alot of trust for a rookie to be a C, and one that has been injured his first year in the league.  

I can see the parallel / comparison Satori made though, if Tretter hadn't been injured who knows what he might have done last season? So, to presume he can't play now is wrong. Like Bak last year at this time and going into TC, we didn't know if he could play, but he showed us he could. Tretter could do the same. Also, I don't see Tretter as coming off a bad injury. He broke his ankle, recovered, and was activated late in the season. 

Bak also had Bulaga in front of him.  And if EDS leaves (that is key to my point) Tretter, who has never thrown a block in the NFL, is the guy.  Tretter may very well be the player they think he is.  But on the chance that he isn't, wouldn't you like to know that before handing him the position - and maybe that is my misconception in all of this.  I should say this assumes no OL FAs are signed - but TT could surprise us. 

Broken ankle not bad?  I had one and respectfully disagree.  My ankle was not right for a long while after that.  There was more healing that had to occur than just the bones. 

Sucks about your ankle, but I'm gauging Tretter's severity based on his return late in the year. Agred, I'd like to know more about Tretter before naming him the starter, but I'll defer to Thompson and the rest of the staff if they say he is ready this year. 

On a side note, why does the Center "have" to make calls?

They have the perfect butt height.

like this?????

Yes EXACTLY like that. 

The Packers always try to let competition sort it out and we'll see over the next few weeks what moves the Packers make at Center. Whatever they do will shed light on what they think of Tretter. He's light years ahead of any rookie given an entire year in the playbook and meetings. Next few weeks should be fairly illuminating in FA and the draft. (I don't think EDS is coming back to be the sloppy 2nds)

And here's a cool article at NFP from an NFL MD and he talks about the difference between a broken bone and torn ligaments. Its not that a broken ankle isn't bad, its that relatively speaking, its less bad.

http://www.nationalfootballpos...Morning-MD-9719.html

scroll down to Silva vs Gronk

Bone healing, like in Silva’s case, is more reliable than the soft tissue healing of the ligament graft (like in Gronkowski’s case). Also, injuries to the shaft of bones have less long-term potential consequences than injuries to joints.

Silva’s injury may have been more gruesome and painful, but the recovery is overall more predictable. I don’t want either injury to occur, but that is why if I had to choose, I would rather have Silva’s leg fracture.

I don't care what you posted Satori, you will never beat the post above yours. I've read what you've posted 3 times but I can't finish it. I keep scrolling back to the one above yours.

I'm guessing if Tretter flops Lang will move over and Barclay comes in.  Will be interesting to see if they do musical chairs during training camp or let Tretter focus on reps.  There's a lot less training camp than there used to be.