PDA

View Full Version : COLLEDGE POSSIBLY DEMOTED



Bretsky
08-14-2006, 11:45 PM
How does anybody think TT should have brought in quality Vet Help ?

Drawing the line
Colledge demoted after poor performance
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 14, 2006
Green Bay - After a performance like the one the Green Bay Packers' offensive line gave Saturday night, each and every one of the starters had to wonder whom they would be lining up with Monday afternoon when practice began.
Guard Daryn Colledge needs to get up to speed if he wants to be a starter again.


Someone was going to receive a one-way ticket to the second team.

It turned out that second-round pick Daryn Colledge, the former Boise State left tackle who is trying to make the transition to left guard in the National Football League, was the one to go. When the Packers lined up in practice, rookie Jason Spitz had moved from right to left guard and fifth-round pick Tony Moll, recently considered a project at right tackle, was in place at right guard.

No one on the starting offensive line played particularly well against San Diego, but Colledge probably struggled the most. He was a step behind on too many plays and did not get his pads down low enough to be effective in the running game.

The coaches insisted that the moves were not necessarily permanent and that Colledge, who practiced at left guard with the second team, could earn his way back into the lineup. But after being named a starter practically from the day he was drafted, the 6-foot-4, 299-pound Colledge got every opportunity to prove himself.

"I use the analogy that when you're sick, you need medicine," offensive line coach Joe Philbin said of Colledge's future. "You either react to it and get worse or respond to it and get better. He had to take a dose of medicine today. I think he's going to respond well and he'll get better."

The Packers thought Colledge, the sixth offensive lineman taken in the draft, would be another Mike Wahle because of his speed and athletic ability. But they were gambling he could make a seamless transition from tackle to guard and that obviously hasn't been the case.

Philbin said Colledge needed to play a little faster, that he might have been thinking too much about his assignments and not playing up to the speed of the defense. Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said when Moll played well in his second straight live performance, the decision was made to see if he could help immediately.

Thus, Colledge was the odd man out.

"It's on me," Colledge said. "I have to do some better stuff. I have to improve. I'm still making rookie mistakes. There's some stuff I have to correct. We're trying to find the right combination of guys. There's no reason they might move me to the other side, move Jason there or move me to a different position."

For now, the Packers want to find out if Moll, a 256-pound tight end until his senior season at Nevada, has what it takes to be a starter.

Just a week ago, Philbin said Moll had made the most improvement of any lineman since arriving in Green Bay, but that he was a project who probably wouldn't see the field this season. Philbin said then that the coaches probably would take a look at him at guard somewhere down the line, but considered him a long-term answer at tackle.

That was after the Packers' intrasquad scrimmage when Moll played solidly at right tackle against the defense's No. 1 unit.

Then on Saturday, Moll came into the game in the second quarter while the Chargers still had their No. 1 defense on the field and threw a shutout against linebacker Shawne Merriman, the Chargers' soon-to-be superstar pass rusher. Moll, who now weighs 308 pounds, played more aggressively than anyone on the line.

"The thing we liked about him is that he's playing the game physically," Philbin said. "He's playing aggressive, he's playing fast. That's not easy to do as a rookie. He has that attitude. He probably didn't even know who Shawne Merriman was, which might have been a good thing. I think there's something to that.

"He's going to play the game and do his job. The guy across from him is not going to be that big of a factor."

By all appearances, Moll seemed to handle his duties at guard Monday pretty well. But the biggest question with him is whether he's strong enough to handle the talented and powerful defensive tackles of the NFC North.

Two years ago, Moll put on nearly 50 pounds to become a lineman and he's still working at turning the added weight into muscle. When he worked out for scouts in the spring, he bench-pressed 225 pounds 18 times, which if stacked up against those who went to the combine would rank second-last among all tackles who performed the exercise.

"We'll have a better feel after a day or two in pads," Philbin said of the strength issue. "Some of those guys (defensive tackles) aren't necessarily speed guys, they're more anchor guys. Is that a great fit for him in there? We'll have to see. We really don't know."

In the meantime, Spitz, a third-round pick, moves from right guard to left guard. It isn't much of a challenge for him because at Louisville the guards switched positions on given plays depending on which side they were going strong and which side they were going weak. It wasn't unusual for Spitz to switch positions every other down.

Though Spitz had a rough game against the Chargers as well, he is more of a natural guard than Colledge and looks more comfortable playing the position. He, like Moll, is a physical player but needs work on his pass-blocking before he can be considered a reliable starter.

As for Moll, he was taking his promotion in stride. He came to camp not having a clue what was in store for him other than a lot of practice at becoming a better offensive lineman and a lot of rough moments against NFL-caliber players.

His rise to starter has been rocket-propelled.

"It's extremely exciting to be working with them," Moll said of the starters. "Just being in the huddle with those guys, they're very professional every play and they're very confident in what they do. It's nice to be able to run in there and be with them because they know what they're doing. If I'm unsure about something, I can look to my right or my left and both of them can tell me what to do."

In the next couple of days, Moll will get a chance to show he belongs.

PaCkFan_n_MD
08-14-2006, 11:51 PM
I actually think Moll will do better than colledge because of size and strengh. And after the last game I can't see how he could be any worse........

gbpackfan
08-14-2006, 11:56 PM
I agree. Moll did a really nice job against Merriman and hopefully he can continue to do well inside. I think this move needed to be done. Like Pack said, it really couldnt get any worse! And I mean that!

Rastak
08-14-2006, 11:57 PM
I'm a bit surprised...College was getting good reviews out of camp....Moll was getting bad reviews....

HarveyWallbangers
08-15-2006, 12:12 AM
I'm shocked. I'm hoping this is to light a fire under Colledge.

superfan
08-15-2006, 01:37 AM
I would be shocked if Moll was starting over Colledge in Game 1 vs. the Bears. I like this move now, though. Might as well get as extended a look at these guys as we can. Both should play a lot next week.

Rastak
08-15-2006, 06:47 AM
I would be shocked if Moll was starting over Colledge in Game 1 vs. the Bears. I like this move now, though. Might as well get as extended a look at these guys as we can. Both should play a lot next week.

The only thing I'd watch out for, is the way Sherman juggled that line last year right to the start of the season. I think you want the lads to develop a sense of timing together. Maybe get that line set by week 3 of the preseason.

Scott Campbell
08-15-2006, 07:34 AM
The only thing I'd watch out for, is the way Sherman juggled that line last year right to the start of the season. I think you want the lads to develop a sense of timing together. Maybe get that line set by week 3 of the preseason.

Absolutely. You play as a unit on the OL, and they need time together.

Scott Campbell
08-15-2006, 07:37 AM
"I use the analogy that when you're sick, you need medicine," offensive line coach Joe Philbin said of Colledge's future. "You either react to it and get worse or respond to it and get better. He had to take a dose of medicine today. I think he's going to respond well and he'll get better."



Does that line really work on NFL guys??? I can see it working in Pee Wee League. Larry B. had better quotes.

Rastak
08-15-2006, 07:44 AM
"I use the analogy that when you're sick, you need medicine," offensive line coach Joe Philbin said of Colledge's future. "You either react to it and get worse or respond to it and get better. He had to take a dose of medicine today. I think he's going to respond well and he'll get better."



Does that line really work on NFL guys??? I can see it working in Pee Wee League. Larry B. had better quotes.

Yea, I thought that was pretty damn weird when I read it...

run pMc
08-15-2006, 08:37 AM
This is a move to wake-up Colledge and get him focused. He was handed the job from Day 1; they want to push him a little and see ho whe responds. I think he'll do fine.

The move also rewards Moll for his hard work and strong play in live action.

Finally, it helps to cross-train these young guys for depth. GB's already lost Klemm & Barry. Injuries are a part of the game. Assuming they can pick it up, it's better to train them now than in week 12.

Partial
08-15-2006, 08:39 AM
This is a move to wake-up Colledge and get him focused. He was handed the job from Day 1; they want to push him a little and see ho whe responds. I think he'll do fine.

The move also rewards Moll for his hard work and strong play in live action.

Finally, it helps to cross-train these young guys for depth. GB's already lost Klemm & Barry. Injuries are a part of the game. Assuming they can pick it up, it's better to train them now than in week 12.

I am all for cross-training, but the initial training needs to happen first

pbmax
08-15-2006, 08:44 AM
I'm a bit surprised...College was getting good reviews out of camp....Moll was getting bad reviews....
Wasn't Moll getting bad reviews at Left Tackle early? I thought they moved him over after he struggled.

Seems to have been a different story at Right Tackle. I didn't know he had success against Merriman, that would seem to indicate he can at least pass block.

pbmax
08-15-2006, 08:48 AM
I would be shocked if Moll was starting over Colledge in Game 1 vs. the Bears. I like this move now, though. Might as well get as extended a look at these guys as we can. Both should play a lot next week.

The only thing I'd watch out for, is the way Sherman juggled that line last year right to the start of the season. I think you want the lads to develop a sense of timing together. Maybe get that line set by week 3 of the preseason.
I'm all for continuity, but the reason Sherman and Beightol were juggling in preseason is apparent now. The new guards stunk.

Lets hope this year these are growing pains.

Remember it took Wahle three years and a position switch to find a home after an inseason demotion. Colledge has plenty of time.

pbmax
08-15-2006, 08:49 AM
Two words.

Logan Mankins.

As APB says, a one man ticket to the Super Bowl : )

MJZiggy
08-15-2006, 08:51 AM
I think it was a lot to expect of Colledge to come in as a rookie, learn a new position and start from day one. Why not put Moll in if he is performing better and give Colledge some reps at tackle where we have little depth and see if he can perform well there and then he can rotate in when necessary.

HarveyWallbangers
08-15-2006, 08:54 AM
Moll is a rookie with far less experience who is now learning a new position.

Pack0514
08-15-2006, 08:58 AM
I dont think this will last very long...... but if it does, at least we would potentially have a backup tackle in Colledge.

red
08-15-2006, 09:02 AM
hopefully the demotion is only for a few days to light a fire under his ass. i agree the line needs to be playing together and getting use to each other.

what really ticked me off about the game the other night was on one of bretts sacks. he went down hard, the line had just failed him, i'm not sure who exactly gave up the sack. but college just walked by brett as favre tried to get up off the ground. i don't care if its a legend like Favre or ingle Martin, if you give up a sack, or even if the qb just gets knocked down, it would be nice to see the guy that was resposible at least try to help him up

not just look down at him and walk away

and YES, i am worried, and think we should have brought in a vet. both starters are rookies and now it looks like our top backup is also a rookie. thats scary

Astonishment
08-15-2006, 09:42 AM
IMO this is just a motivationsal tool, hopefully it works out because if College isn't good enough to start we will be in alot of trouble

Guiness
08-15-2006, 10:20 AM
Wow - Moll seems awful weak for a lineman - especially a guard. Tackles just have to be good at getting in the way, but with that kind of strength at guard, I can't see him getting a Grady Jackson type of player out of the way.

And don't give me that technique bullshit. You just gota be powerful in there.

MJZiggy
08-15-2006, 10:21 AM
Cut at Grady's knees and does he really have a prayer?