Colledge Vs. Bulaga

[Joemailman]

This is a real nice problem to have. A 4 year starter being challenged by a talented rookie. Until last night, I thought it was likely to be Colledge starting on opening day. However, I think Bulaga might have pulled ahead by a little bit last night.

[mraynrand]

This is a real nice problem to have. A 4 year starter being challenged by a talented rookie. Until last night, I thought it was likely to be Colledge starting on opening day. However, I think Bulaga might have pulled ahead by a little bit last night.

I liked some little things I saw from Beluga - things like kicking out to help a worthless tackle, getting into the second level. Economy of blocks. Sustained blocks. Have to rewatch to see if he has the short yardage road-grader ability that you want from a guard. But he has a lot of those finished touches you don't expect from most rookies. Colledge seems to have reached his peak, and it's about as impressive as Rib Mountain.

[Fred's Slacks]

I don't think the coaches would have moved him if they didn't think he was already better than Colledge. I think they would have just left him as the one backup to Clifton and let him get his reps there. They're letting the competition unfold and as usual College is putting up a good fight, but I think it was already decided that Bulaga is too talented to be on the bench. I think they will see what they can get for Colledge when the final cut downs are looming.

[mission]

Bulaga just straight looks the part. We might have pulled another here with the kid.

He looks plain mean out there on some plays and generally seems to react without thinking. Like his genetics are that of an OL, he just feels the flow. I tried to follow him as much as possible last night... 75 plays to the whistle.

mraynard and slacks -- good posts, i agree with both there. not sure how i'd feel about trading a relatively capable backup but if the value was right, an OLB/DL/RB could all improve our team.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I would hate to trade Colledge or Splitz. They are both very capable backups. We could suffer two injuries anywhere on the oline and be fine if we have them both on the team. Clifton goes down, Bulaga moves to LT and Colledge comes in at LG. Wells hurt, Splitz comes in. Sitton gets hurt, either Colledge or Splitz goes in. etc. etc.

Why not keep both of them and know that we will not be as weak as we were last season on the oline? We trade Colledge or Splitz and we are an injury or two from Rodgers getting sacked crazy again.

Who are we really going to get for them anyways that will make more a difference on the team then just keeping them? If we get an OLB are they really going to be better than Chillar or Jones?

I hope we keep our guys. I actually feel good about the online for the first time since 04.

Also, after watching the game yesterday I can't believe that Thompson let Jon Ryan go. That guy can really punt and he has got his punting inside the 20 down. He discovered him and them let him go. Not a good move.

[Fritz]

I think you're all forgetting that Campen is going to get his mitts on Bulaga and coach 'em down.

[HowardRoark]

This is a real nice problem to have. A 4 year starter being challenged by a talented rookie. Until last night, I thought it was likely to be Colledge starting on opening day. However, I think Bulaga might have pulled ahead by a little bit last night.

I liked some little things I saw from Beluga - things like kicking out to help a worthless tackle, getting into the second level. Economy of blocks. Sustained blocks. Have to rewatch to see if he has the short yardage road-grader ability that you want from a guard. But he has a lot of those finished touches you don't expect from most rookies. Colledge seems to have reached his peak, and it's about as impressive as Granite Peak.

Fixed. http://skigranitepeak.com/

[vince]

Bulaga is better than Colledge is now and ever will be. I'm for keeping Colledge on the roster though in the likely event of injury somewhere.

[vince]

Also, after watching the game yesterday I can't believe that Thompson let Jon Ryan go. That guy can really punt and he has got his punting inside the 20 down. He discovered him and them let him go. Not a good move.Perhaps Thompson's biggest f'up. It's definitely on Thompson, but I firmly believe this decision came at the behest of the previous Special Teams Coordinator (the old guy whose name is escaping me), who was frustrated by Ryan not changing his approach to improve his get-off time - and Frost, whom he had previously worked with, becoming available.

[Pugger]

Bulaga is better than Colledge is now and ever will be. I'm for keeping Colledge on the roster though in the likely event of injury somewhere.

I agree. :)

[pbmax]

Also, after watching the game yesterday I can't believe that Thompson let Jon Ryan go. That guy can really punt and he has got his punting inside the 20 down. He discovered him and them let him go. Not a good move.Perhaps Thompson's biggest f'up. It's definitely on Thompson, but I firmly believe this decision came at the behest of the previous Special Teams Coordinator (the old guy whose name is escaping me), who was frustrated by Ryan not changing his approach to improve his get-off time - and Frost, whom he had previously worked with, becoming available.
Agreed. Also, it demonstrated the issue KYPack talked about; how parochial special teams coaches can be. Strock did not want Ryan to go to the punting specialist is AZ because he didn't want "too many voices in his ear" or something similar.

After being released, Ryan went to that school and said that he learned several valuable things. One if which was probably that Mike Strock is/was an idiot.

[Pugger]

Also, after watching the game yesterday I can't believe that Thompson let Jon Ryan go. That guy can really punt and he has got his punting inside the 20 down. He discovered him and them let him go. Not a good move.Perhaps Thompson's biggest f'up. It's definitely on Thompson, but I firmly believe this decision came at the behest of the previous Special Teams Coordinator (the old guy whose name is escaping me), who was frustrated by Ryan not changing his approach to improve his get-off time - and Frost, whom he had previously worked with, becoming available.

Yes, cutting Ryan was one of TT's lesser moves :wink: but I think we might be okay with either of the fellas duking it out right now. Like someone said on another forum, the winner of this competition may well boil down to who is the better holder.

[rbaloha1]

BB is a tough no nonsense assignment sure player. Playing like a first round pick. Also played lt well -- what happened to the short arms?

DC is really hustling and trying. But BB emerges. DC should be traded since he can not function as a backup.

Lang and Spitz can play multiple positions.

[Brandon494]

Also, after watching the game yesterday I can't believe that Thompson let Jon Ryan go. That guy can really punt and he has got his punting inside the 20 down. He discovered him and them let him go. Not a good move.Perhaps Thompson's biggest f'up. It's definitely on Thompson, but I firmly believe this decision came at the behest of the previous Special Teams Coordinator (the old guy whose name is escaping me), who was frustrated by Ryan not changing his approach to improve his get-off time - and Frost, whom he had previously worked with, becoming available.

If cutting a punter is our GM's bigger fuck up I think we are pretty damn lucky :lol:

[mission]

Also, after watching the game yesterday I can't believe that Thompson let Jon Ryan go. That guy can really punt and he has got his punting inside the 20 down. He discovered him and them let him go. Not a good move.Perhaps Thompson's biggest f'up. It's definitely on Thompson, but I firmly believe this decision came at the behest of the previous Special Teams Coordinator (the old guy whose name is escaping me), who was frustrated by Ryan not changing his approach to improve his get-off time - and Frost, whom he had previously worked with, becoming available.

If cutting a punter is our GM's bigger fuck up I think we are pretty damn lucky :lol:

You beat me to it. :idea:

[packerbacker1234]

BB will be the starter - I think they anticipated that when they decided to make him start working at the position. The clear intent was to replace college, who while he shows good effort, has proven to be a very inconsistent player. A solid backup type, not really a full time starter. While BB wont be at LG forever, I think for our start 5, it just looks better with him in it, and college out of it.

He has looked very solid. Maybe not Joe Thomas type solid out hte gate, but he has definitely done his job the right way.

[Lurker64]

BB is a tough no nonsense assignment sure player. Playing like a first round pick. Also played lt well -- what happened to the short arms?

There were really two knocks on Bulaga going into the draft: his arm length, and the fact that he didn't have feet as pretty as some of the other LT prospects. Neither of those things really matter at all when you're playing G, since mediocre T feet are great G feet, and the most important part of arm length for a T is controlling a guy when he tries to get the corner on you, and nobody is ever going to get a corner on an OG.

Whether or not Bulaga is a quality LT of the future (I think he will be, but I've been wrong before), he's at worst a pro bowl calibre guard long term (barring injury of course.)

[HarveyWallbangers]

Bulaga had another solid game. He looks ready now. I'd still keep Colledge--unless they can get good value in a trade.

[sharpe1027]

I thought Colledge looked good in the last preseason game, but I think he's in for tough battle.

[Joemailman]

http://packerupdate.net/?p=6146

Daryn Colledge has done absolutely nothing wrong this summer, but Bryan Bulaga should be the starting left guard at Philadelphia. The rookie was solid against Cleveland and he was even better on Saturday night. Bulaga’s strength makes him almost impossible to bull rush, and while he needs to improve his technique in the run game, that will come with experience. The former Iowa standout might eventually be a good left tackle; there’s no question that he could be a perennial Pro Bowler at guard.


So what if Bulaga wins the LG spot, and it becomes obvious by year's end that he is one of the NFL's best Guards? If you are TT, do you still plan to move him to LT eventually, or do you plan to leave him at Guard and resume the search for Clifton's eventual replacement?

[sharpe1027]

So what if Bulaga wins the LG spot, and it becomes obvious by year's end that he is one of the NFL's best Guards? If you are TT, do you still plan to move him to LT eventually, or do you plan to leave him at Guard and resume the search for Clifton's eventual replacement?

I'm not sure that it matters.

Once Cliffy's gone, they'll at least need a backup LT. I'm sure they'll be looking for a LT regardless of how well BB plays at guard. They'll put the best LT at that position (it is more important) and let the rest sort itself out.

[pbmax]

I think you're all forgetting that Campen is going to get his mitts on Bulaga and coach 'em down.
I would laugh, but I am actually worried this happens. :(

[Joemailman]

I'm not convinced Campen has been such a problem. I think maybe some of the early guys TT drafted just weren't very good. It's not like Junius Coston had great success somewhere else once he got away from Campen. I'll bet Allan Barbre won't either.