Jason Spitz

[imscott72]

Another good decision by TT..

Third-rounder Will Rackley has beaten out veteran Jason Spitz for the Jaguars' starting left guard job.
A favorite of NFL Network's Mike Mayock, Rackley was a four-year starter at left tackle for small-school Lehigh. His power won out over Spitz's finesse, which is a rare piece of good news for Maurice Jones-Drew this season. A possible free agent bust, Spitz is expected to play a reserve role at center and guard.

[KYPack]

Another good decision by TT..

Third-rounder Will Rackley has beaten out veteran Jason Spitz for the Jaguars' starting left guard job.
A favorite of NFL Network's Mike Mayock, Rackley was a four-year starter at left tackle for small-school Lehigh. His power won out over Spitz's finesse, which is a rare piece of good news for Maurice Jones-Drew this season. A possible free agent bust, Spitz is expected to play a reserve role at center and guard.

Spitzy wasn't ever a huge talent. He never recovered from those neck miseries. He was starting to "get it" when hurt. Now I really feel old, Jason Spitz is the aging vet beaten out by the young kid?

[Patler]

I don't think Spitz is a free agent bust for the Jaguars, even if he plays only a reserve role. They aren't paying him very much, just $4.5 million over three years, and a $750,000 signing bonus. If they release him, they are out very little; and if the keep him he is a capable, experienced, veteran backup that doesn't cost them a lot.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I don't think Spitz is a free agent bust for the Jaguars, even if he plays only a reserve role. They aren't paying him very much, just $4.5 million over three years, and a $750,000 signing bonus.

exactly, chief. And what do the Packers need desperately now if not a backup LG? (I haven't given up on Sherrod, but I'm laying the groundwork for a possible betrayal.)

I'm think the Pack ought to pickup a veteran OL backup for both guard positions. Not sure if Spitz is the answer, as KY speculates he might be washed out.

[Patler]

exactly, chief. And what do the Packers need desperately now if not a backup LG? (I haven't given up on Sherrod, but I'm laying the groundwork for a possible betrayal.)

I'm think the Pack ought to pickup a veteran OL backup for both guard positions. Not sure if Spitz is the answer, as KY speculates he might be washed out.

I had hoped Spitz might stay around just for that reason, but apparently he was really excited about returning to where he grew up. He implied in one article that he had a higher offer from the 49ers.

[vince]

McDonald and EDS or Schlauderaff if one of them makes the 53-man roster will probably back up both guard spots. Probably only one of them makes the 46-man gameday roster.

[KYPack]

There is an aspect to all this that has long driven me nuts. When the Pack drafted Spitz, Colledge, and that group, the justification was the ZBS. They supposedly ran zone in college. They had all these great ZBS talents and that's why we got 'em. Then they got here and none of 'em zone blocked worth a shit.

I never understood why we went so long with some of these weak assed guys.

[Patler]

There is an aspect to all this that has long driven me nuts. When the Pack drafted Spitz, Colledge, and that group, the justification was the ZBS. They supposedly ran zone in college. They had all these great ZBS talents and that's why we got 'em. Then they got here and none of 'em zone blocked worth a shit.

I never understood why we went so long with some of these weak assed guys.

I think TT replaced them very methodically. He drafted Sitton, then Lang, then Bulaga and Newhouse, now Sherrod and Schladerauf. However, whereas Sitton, Lang and Bulaga are from a different mold than the guys you complain about, I wonder if Sherrod is a bit of a reversion to the previous style, in spite of his size?

[rbaloha1]

Spitz is worth bringing back as insurance.

[Smeefers]

I really thought Spitz was going to be a great center and take over for wells. Boy was I wrong. I hope he does a little better than second string for his hometown team though. I always thought that guy had potential.

[Spaulding]

I really thought Spitz was going to be a great center and take over for wells. Boy was I wrong. I hope he does a little better than second string for his hometown team though. I always thought that guy had potential.

I could see the potential as soon as they took his draft pick which reflected him high on something with that shit eating grin. Flashback baby:

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/packer/img/news/apr06/spitz0429.jpg

[MadScientist]

I think TT replaced them very methodically. He drafted Sitton, then Lang, then Bulaga and Newhouse, now Sherrod and Schladerauf. However, whereas Sitton, Lang and Bulaga are from a different mold than the guys you complain about, I wonder if Sherrod is a bit of a reversion to the previous style, in spite of his size?

I think Sherrod was meant to be in the mold of Clifton - keep the QB's blind side safe, any run blocking is a bonus.

[Patler]

I think Sherrod was meant to be in the mold of Clifton - keep the QB's blind side safe, any run blocking is a bonus.

I didn't mean run blocking vs pass blocking. Clifton may not be the world best run blocker, but in pass protection he has power and strength (in addition to a "nimbleness" unusual for his size and injury history). When Clifton first sets up and punches the rusher, he stuns the guy, usually stopping him in his tracks. He takes the momentum away from the pass rusher. That's one reason he is so effective in pass protection. I'm not sure Sherrod has that type of power and strength, at least not yet.

[Upnorth]

Sherrod has good movement, but has not shown enough power yet. I think the power concerns will fade as he bulks up, his frame looks like it can take more.

[Fritz]

I could see the potential as soon as they took his draft pick which reflected him high on something with that shit eating grin. Flashback baby:

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/packer/img/news/apr06/spitz0429.jpg

He has aged a little bit:

http://www.dreamstime.com/fat-man-laughing-thumb7397219.jpg

[bobblehead]

exactly, chief. And what do the Packers need desperately now if not a backup LG? (I haven't given up on Sherrod, but I'm laying the groundwork for a possible betrayal.)

I'm think the Pack ought to pickup a veteran OL backup for both guard positions. Not sure if Spitz is the answer, as KY speculates he might be washed out.

KY likes Genus. I like Dominguez. Consensus is that schladeroff is crap....he likely gets the job.

[KYPack]

KY likes Genus. I like Dominguez. Consensus is that schladeroff is crap....he likely gets the job.

Dominguez is a RT, no? I like him, guy really shows a lot of hustle. Genus plays his ass off, but it would be a miracle for him to make the roster. Sled Her Off hasn't shown much of anything. I think Dominguez is a candidate for PS. Maybe it's time to bump the who makes the team thread?

[channtheman]

I could see the potential as soon as they took his draft pick which reflected him high on something with that shit eating grin. Flashback baby:

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/packer/img/news/apr06/spitz0429.jpg

That's all I can think of when I think of Spitz.

[RashanGary]

Sherrod has a few problems. First he plays high. Maybe that's the old, knee injury excuse. His 2nd problem is that his punch doesn't line up with his steps.

If you've ever seen the drills where the linemen stay low, slide their feet and punch. . . I find it kind of amazing how they can get so much power when their feet are moving so consistently, there's no way they can be planted to get any kind of power from their punch. But they are planted, there is just zero wasted motion, zero wasted time. Their feet are planted for a split second, the same split second they're throwing their punch.

Bulaga looked like that coming out. The guy hoodie drafted looked like that. Clifton and Tauscher look like that. Newhouse looks like that on the left side and started looking like that on the right side.

I watched a full game tape of Sherrod coming out. The good thing is, he always stayed in front of his guy. He never missed his block. The bad thing is, rather than having a rhythmic step/punch technique, he had more of a defensive approach where he just stayed in front of his guy and didn't let him around. He kept moving back. Problem is, in the NFL, it's not nearly as easy to keep a guy in front of you without the technique that gives the powerful punch. I said all of this when he came out.

I wouldn't read too much in just yet though. That technique can be learned. A year of pure fundamental work and Sherrod might have that technique down. He looked natural staying between the DL and the QB in college. Even with sloppy technique, he had a way of getting his block. There's something to a feel for blocking that might be natural. Now he just needs the learned part because he's going against the best now.

[RashanGary]

He'll benefit a lot from an offseason of work. But his main problem, even now, isn't physical. If you asked each lineman to plant his feet and punch, Sherrod might throw a perfectly powerful punch. Now ask the same lineman to fit that punch into a pattern of steps and then you find out if they can play NFL tackle.

He needs work. You can't teach his big frame. You can't teach his work ethic and attitude. I watched every snap of Sherrod in the Kentucky game (for some reason someone posted every offensive snap of the line with no delay on youtube) I watched Sherrod. While he didn't do it the way I'm used to seeing it, he never missed a block. I said back then though, if he doesn't find a way to fit a punch in with his steps, Juilius Peppers is going to run right through him.

Now he works on his set. It's as simple as that. If he looks like shit next year, then I start to draw conclusions. I wasn't in love with the Sherrod pick, but we'll see. I didn't like the Matthews pick either.

[RashanGary]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRmI6EvsnWU

for anyone who cares to watch it. The 5:15 mark is a good example of a bizarre looking pass set. He never punches. He just leans into the guy. That's just weird.

[Deputy Nutz]

Spitz was actually a better center then Wells, then he got that neck injury along with a bunch of other injuries that zapped his strength. He had a high ceiling in a hurricane.

[Deputy Nutz]

Sherrod's knee bend and his feet sucked ass in the last game. Could it improve this week? I think it could

[rbaloha1]

Sherrod has good movement, but has not shown enough power yet. I think the power concerns will fade as he bulks up, his frame looks like it can take more.


Modern lt -- ability to "dance" with a pass rusher thus creating a pocket. Sherrod displays smooth and shifty footwork.

[RashanGary]

Looking back at that kentucky tape, I like him a lot better run blocking. He did a good job blocking in space, pulling, sealing the backside and in drive blocking. He looks good moving forward. He gets low and has good balance going forward. He plays to the whistle and beyond. When he has to recover, he looks fast. His movement is excellent, especially for a guy his size. It's that ugly pass set. He could use a month just working on his steps and punch. Sucks he missed the whole offseason.

[Guiness]

thanks for the link JH.

I like the way he turned his guy outside on a few of those runs - the long run for a TD at the 1:40 mark is a good example.

His backpedal looks really awkward, but seems to work

[hoosier]

There is an aspect to all this that has long driven me nuts. When the Pack drafted Spitz, Colledge, and that group, the justification was the ZBS. They supposedly ran zone in college. They had all these great ZBS talents and that's why we got 'em. Then they got here and none of 'em zone blocked worth a shit.

I never understood why we went so long with some of these weak assed guys.

I always assumed the problem was with player development--or lack of it--rather than talent analysis. But then again, what do I know?

[pbmax]

I think TT replaced them very methodically. He drafted Sitton, then Lang, then Bulaga and Newhouse, now Sherrod and Schladerauf. However, whereas Sitton, Lang and Bulaga are from a different mold than the guys you complain about, I wonder if Sherrod is a bit of a reversion to the previous style, in spite of his size?

Left tackles are usually a different mold. Rare is the case like Thomas where you might find a drive blocker among the best.

Edit: As for the idea of punch, I have never thought of Clifton as having an especially strong punch. I might simply have been ignoring it. But what he does do is wrap up the arms of the DE/OLB and when they try to go wide, he is still fast enough (and deep enough) to drive them past the pocket.

[pbmax]

Spitz was actually a better center then Wells, then he got that neck injury along with a bunch of other injuries that zapped his strength. He had a high ceiling in a hurricane.

Agree with this. That Wells gets it done at all is a small miracle. Pun was unintentional.

[Smidgeon]

Left tackles are usually a different mold. Rare is the case like Thomas where you might find a drive blocker among the best.

Edit: As for the idea of punch, I have never thought of Clifton as having an especially strong punch. I might simply have been ignoring it. But what he does do is wrap up the arms of the DE/OLB and when they try to go wide, he is still fast enough (and deep enough) to drive them past the pocket.

I'm not very surprised at Clifton's effectiveness. When I was looking at the Packers' combine numbers, he had the second best burst/weight ratio on the team after Raji. Consistently.