motife
07-24-2008, 05:29 PM
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/297525
Packers by position: A battle at left guard
By JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
jwilde@madison.com
GREEN BAY — While Brett Favre supporters and Ted Thompson defenders can debate until the cows come home whether Thompson blew it in 2005 when he chose not to re-sign Pro Bowl guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle, the fact is if Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz had played better than they have in their first two years as starters, the topic would've gone away a long time ago.
Instead, when Favre, the Green Bay Packers' semi-retired quarterback, was citing examples of why he doesn't trust Thompson as the general manager, Rivera and Wahle's names popped up yet again, even though Rivera ceremonially retired as a Packer earlier this week following two seasons in Dallas marred by back problems and Wahle is now in Seattle after being cut by Carolina during the offseason.
Colledge's inconsistent play has been perhaps the biggest reason for the guard issue still having life, and despite his 30 starts his first two NFL seasons, he faces a major training camp battle with second-year man Allen Barbre for the starting left guard spot — the only full-fledged starting competition on the offensive side of the ball when camp opens Monday.
"That's fair to say," said offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, the team's former offensive line coach. "It's going to be good. Both those guys have made a lot of strides, we think. One of the things about Daryn that we probably take for granted (is), he's got a lot of versatility, he's a smart guy, he doesn't panic. He's been inconsistent, sure but he's done some good things. He's improved.
"Obviously Allen Barbre's a different player now. He's got a chance to adjust to the pro game, so to speak. He's had a good session in the strength and conditioning area, and he's got some natural skills that'll help him. It'll be fun. We're excited about watching that."
Barbre's advancement is the reason for that excitement. A left tackle at Division II Missouri Southern State, he was inactive for nine of 16 regular-season games as a rookie, seeing only spot action against Minnesota on Nov. 11 (two series after right tackle Mark Tauscher's ankle injury) and the second half against Detroit in the meaningless Dec. 30 regular-season finale.
"I love him," offensive line coach James Campen said of Barbre. "I wouldn't be worried about (him) at all. He's a very gifted athlete and he's done a very good job picking up the mental side of it. He's seeing a lot of things he didn't see in Division II football — the speed of the guys, they're bigger, faster. He's done a very good job this offseason."
To his credit, Colledge has, despite his up-and-down play overall, answered the bell every time his starting position has been challenged the past two years.
"He's responded to every challenge he's had, absolutely," Campen said. "And we expect him to do the same in camp."
At the other guard spot, while he's certainly not assured a starting job, Spitz solidified himself somewhat toward the end of last season, Philbin said. After having his job security threatened like Colledge, Spitz responded, and Philbin admitted the staff might've been a little too critical of Spitz upon further review.
"After we watched the film from last year, we thought Jason Spitz played some pretty good football," Philbin said. "Was he perfect? No, but he played solid football for us."
That same postseason film review showed a dip in center Scott Wells' effectiveness, something Campen chalked up to perhaps expecting the undersized Wells (6-foot-2, 303 pounds) to do too much without help against big men inside.
"Scott played solid, (but) probably not as well as he would like," Philbin said. "We expect him to play better this year. He's our center — we definitely expect him to play better."
At tackle, old pros Chad Clifton and Tauscher are back for their ninth NFL seasons, and despite their advancing age, the Packers don't feel either one is in decline. Clifton's balky knees kept him out of most of the offseason practice sessions, while Tauscher took virtually every snap.
"I hope not soon," Philbin responded when asked if he saw either player reaching the end of the line. "Both those guys, you have to be smart with them. I don't even waste any of my day thinking about what (Clifton's) schedule is. I don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll do what he needs to to get ready, and when the time is right, he'll be out there."
Asked whether Tauscher, who shut down Seattle's Patrick Kerney in the playoffs last year, might be on the verge of slipping, Campen replied, "No. He's had a great offseason, probably his best offseason yet. What is he, 31? He understands it's going to take more work, more effort (at that age). Tausch is Tausch. He's a darn good football player."
The concern, though, is that no one behind either tackle is truly proven. Orrin Thompson, Tony Moll and rookie Breno Giacomini are all candidates for the third tackle job, but Philbin said Colledge would get the call if something happened to Clifton.
Nonetheless, Philbin said the overall depth on the line is "better than it's been."
"I don't know if it's the best it's been since I've been here, but it's the best it's been the last three years," Philbin said. "I think we have better competition, better overall talent."
Packers by position: A battle at left guard
By JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
jwilde@madison.com
GREEN BAY — While Brett Favre supporters and Ted Thompson defenders can debate until the cows come home whether Thompson blew it in 2005 when he chose not to re-sign Pro Bowl guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle, the fact is if Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz had played better than they have in their first two years as starters, the topic would've gone away a long time ago.
Instead, when Favre, the Green Bay Packers' semi-retired quarterback, was citing examples of why he doesn't trust Thompson as the general manager, Rivera and Wahle's names popped up yet again, even though Rivera ceremonially retired as a Packer earlier this week following two seasons in Dallas marred by back problems and Wahle is now in Seattle after being cut by Carolina during the offseason.
Colledge's inconsistent play has been perhaps the biggest reason for the guard issue still having life, and despite his 30 starts his first two NFL seasons, he faces a major training camp battle with second-year man Allen Barbre for the starting left guard spot — the only full-fledged starting competition on the offensive side of the ball when camp opens Monday.
"That's fair to say," said offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, the team's former offensive line coach. "It's going to be good. Both those guys have made a lot of strides, we think. One of the things about Daryn that we probably take for granted (is), he's got a lot of versatility, he's a smart guy, he doesn't panic. He's been inconsistent, sure but he's done some good things. He's improved.
"Obviously Allen Barbre's a different player now. He's got a chance to adjust to the pro game, so to speak. He's had a good session in the strength and conditioning area, and he's got some natural skills that'll help him. It'll be fun. We're excited about watching that."
Barbre's advancement is the reason for that excitement. A left tackle at Division II Missouri Southern State, he was inactive for nine of 16 regular-season games as a rookie, seeing only spot action against Minnesota on Nov. 11 (two series after right tackle Mark Tauscher's ankle injury) and the second half against Detroit in the meaningless Dec. 30 regular-season finale.
"I love him," offensive line coach James Campen said of Barbre. "I wouldn't be worried about (him) at all. He's a very gifted athlete and he's done a very good job picking up the mental side of it. He's seeing a lot of things he didn't see in Division II football — the speed of the guys, they're bigger, faster. He's done a very good job this offseason."
To his credit, Colledge has, despite his up-and-down play overall, answered the bell every time his starting position has been challenged the past two years.
"He's responded to every challenge he's had, absolutely," Campen said. "And we expect him to do the same in camp."
At the other guard spot, while he's certainly not assured a starting job, Spitz solidified himself somewhat toward the end of last season, Philbin said. After having his job security threatened like Colledge, Spitz responded, and Philbin admitted the staff might've been a little too critical of Spitz upon further review.
"After we watched the film from last year, we thought Jason Spitz played some pretty good football," Philbin said. "Was he perfect? No, but he played solid football for us."
That same postseason film review showed a dip in center Scott Wells' effectiveness, something Campen chalked up to perhaps expecting the undersized Wells (6-foot-2, 303 pounds) to do too much without help against big men inside.
"Scott played solid, (but) probably not as well as he would like," Philbin said. "We expect him to play better this year. He's our center — we definitely expect him to play better."
At tackle, old pros Chad Clifton and Tauscher are back for their ninth NFL seasons, and despite their advancing age, the Packers don't feel either one is in decline. Clifton's balky knees kept him out of most of the offseason practice sessions, while Tauscher took virtually every snap.
"I hope not soon," Philbin responded when asked if he saw either player reaching the end of the line. "Both those guys, you have to be smart with them. I don't even waste any of my day thinking about what (Clifton's) schedule is. I don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll do what he needs to to get ready, and when the time is right, he'll be out there."
Asked whether Tauscher, who shut down Seattle's Patrick Kerney in the playoffs last year, might be on the verge of slipping, Campen replied, "No. He's had a great offseason, probably his best offseason yet. What is he, 31? He understands it's going to take more work, more effort (at that age). Tausch is Tausch. He's a darn good football player."
The concern, though, is that no one behind either tackle is truly proven. Orrin Thompson, Tony Moll and rookie Breno Giacomini are all candidates for the third tackle job, but Philbin said Colledge would get the call if something happened to Clifton.
Nonetheless, Philbin said the overall depth on the line is "better than it's been."
"I don't know if it's the best it's been since I've been here, but it's the best it's been the last three years," Philbin said. "I think we have better competition, better overall talent."