Who is the weak link on the O-Line?

[ThunderDan]

Oh and that doesn't include his 3 lost fumbles.

[PackerTimer]

So you're telling me that every single time Manning or Favre or Big Ben runs into pressure like this, they always have a good offensive performance? They've never once had the o-line completely fall apart and have it result in a loss?

they probably have never had 50 passing yards late in the 3rd quarter.. no matter how bad they've played... he was embarrassing today and im sure brett is chuckling in NY

Were we watching the same game? Rodgers had 98 yards at halftime. Nothing stellar but I'm sure Favre and many other QB's have had those types of numbers.

Keep in mind Rodgers hardly had the ball at all in the third quarter considering an interception return for a TD and the punt return. I doubt he would have put up big numbers considering all that had happened. Besides, your stats aren't even correct.

And don't tell me your counting sack yardage into that equation. Because nobody subtracts sack yardage from a QB's passing yards.

Rodgers played a pretty bad game, but really, RG is 100% right, your Favre man crush has made you a complete and utter idiot when it comes to Aaron Rodgers.

[Harlan Huckleby]

remember, the Packers O-line pretty well handled the Vikings defensive line in the first game.

The dome is hard on O-linemen, obviously. ITs loud, and the defenders get a better jump on turf.

I thought Clifton was embarassed. But it was more of a group failure, a lot of the pressures on Rogers came from unblocked defenders. That means the O line was confused.

[MateoInMex]

remember, the Packers O-line pretty well handled the Vikings defensive line in the first game.

The dome is hard on O-linemen, obviously. ITs loud, and the defenders get a better jump on turf.

I thought Clifton was embarassed. But it was more of a group failure, a lot of the pressures on Rogers came from unblocked defenders. That means the O line was confused.

I have heard that playing in the Metrodome is one of the toughest places for opposing teams linemen. And the first game of the Packers/Vikings series 2008-09 seems years ago...but they did play that game in GB. I agree with you Harlan, but I would also say that Brad Childress' record against GB since he took over was 0-5.

0-5!!!!! Childress is on the hottest of hot seats...I would have thought MM would have had his team better prepared going into this game. MM's been to the Metrodome plenty of times, he and his staff know how loud it can get in there.

I am also not sure how much of an issue defensive players jumping off the turf should be made into. That's on the coaches. The Packers themselves practice on turf at the Hutson, so I wouldn't expect them to be surprised at the difference in the jumpoffs, offensive or defensive. They weren't prepared IMO, they overlooked the Vikings...and they played like sh**.
There is only so much manufactured noise the GB sound guru's can plug into the Hutson Center to give it a more real playing environment, but it was the Packer line that struggled, on both sides. But as fans, we hear that all the time...the false starts are major mental mistakes. Being an NFC team, the Packers should NOT struggle that much on false starts in a place they play every freaking year.

[RashanGary]

I'd say Wells and Clifton are the two weak links. Wells being #1.


Rodgers was also confused today and the pass protection was just unsure all day. The Vikings employed a similar defense to the one that the Giants used to beat New England. They brought 8 up to the line and most of the time dropped the linebackers back to devour slants.

Rodgers has had a habbit of checking to run or throwing slants against blitz pressure (similar to what NE likes to do) so he would make a presnap read and when the play developed, the LB would be there to get the slant or hot read. Rodgers would then hold the ball and look to his next option. In the mean time, the OL was confused by the stacked line and the Vikings top DL would be having their way with our guys with one on one blocks. Because the hot reads were being jumped and the pressure was to heavy to stop we never were able to gash them deep like we would have if the line held up. Same as the NE game. Remember Bradys big eyes. He was getting crushed.


The Vikings called a great game, the same type of game that gave the biggest SB underdog a win against what was thought to be the best team in NFL history. It all starts with a couple dominate lineman and then when you throw in some confusion, those dominate players get put in positions to succeed. We lost. The Vikings called a great game on defense and their best players played great.

Rodgers and the Packers can learn from this. The OL can get better, but I think it will be without the two weak links.

[packrulz]

I think Cliffy's knees are so bad he can hardly play anymore, Colledge is average at LG, he might be better suited to back up Cliffy at LT, or cut him. I think they should move Spitz to LG & put Sitton in at RG. I thought it was a typical fistfight at the humpdome, I thought Crosby would make the field goal at the end, oh well. The Packers smoked the Queens in the first game, so I'm not ready to scrap the whole season, it wasn't like they got their asses kicked. The Williams boys make lots of O-lines look bad. I agree with Troy Aikman, M3 doesn't run the ball enough to keep the defense honest, the need to use BJack more too. I like the picks by our D, Woodson is playing lights out, nice return by Blackmon.

[cpk1994]

remember, the Packers O-line pretty well handled the Vikings defensive line in the first game.

The dome is hard on O-linemen, obviously. ITs loud, and the defenders get a better jump on turf.

I thought Clifton was embarassed. But it was more of a group failure, a lot of the pressures on Rogers came from unblocked defenders. That means the O line was confused.

I have heard that playing in the Metrodome is one of the toughest places for opposing teams linemen. And the first game of the Packers/Vikings series 2008-09 seems years ago...but they did play that game in GB. I agree with you Harlan, but I would also say that Brad Childress' record against GB since he took over was 0-5.

0-5!!!!! Childress is on the hottest of hot seats...I would have thought MM would have had his team better prepared going into this game. MM's been to the Metrodome plenty of times, he and his staff know how loud it can get in there.

I am also not sure how much of an issue defensive players jumping off the turf should be made into. That's on the coaches. The Packers themselves practice on turf at the Hutson, so I wouldn't expect them to be surprised at the difference in the jumpoffs, offensive or defensive. They weren't prepared IMO, they overlooked the Vikings...and they played like sh**.
There is only so much manufactured noise the GB sound guru's can plug into the Hutson Center to give it a more real playing environment, but it was the Packer line that struggled, on both sides. But as fans, we hear that all the time...the false starts are major mental mistakes. Being an NFC team, the Packers should NOT struggle that much on false starts in a place they play every freaking year.

McCarthy could have had them perfectly prepared, but its on the players to take that from the practive field and film room to the game. Thats why I never have bought into the old line "coach X didn't have them prepared" becuase it absolves players of any blame.

[AV David]

I haven't formed an opinion on Scott Wells yet. I had an end zone seat at the game yesterday. From what I could see, the most pressure came from the offensive left side of the line. I use then word "offensive" in its dual descriptive capacity. It was horrible.

I am now ready to join the "scrap the zone blocking scheme" crowd. It has been 2 1/2 years and it just doesn't work here. Whether that is coaching or lack of talent, I don't know.

As an interim measure, maybe the Packers should run a couple of zone plays mixed with more traditional power blocking plays. (I did see a really nice trap play in the first half where Grant gained 10 - 12 yards.)


In my view, the biggest weakness is the guard play, especially on third down or other short yardage runs. The Packers have been describing Allen Barbre as tough, strong and mobile for 1 1/2 years now. I say give him a chance. Same with Sitton. If he was good enough to be named the starter before his injury, he ought to be worth a shot now. I think we have to see what all of these guys can do NOW.

I say move Spitz to center. Put Barbre at LG and Sitton at RG. They are both supposed to be brawlers. If they can handle the nuances of the job, problem solved. If not, at least you know they cannot handle the job. Move Colledge to LT. Leave all of them there until it is clear they have succeeded or it is clear they have failed. In my experience, there is only one thing worse than being screwed: Being screwed and not knowing it yet. You cannot fix something until you know what's broken.


It looks to me the 2009 draft should be heavy on OL and DL.

I need to preface this next remark: I was not on drugs nor was I drunk, but J. Harrell made two very nice plays yesterday. On one he stood up to a double team extremely well. On the next play, he moved to his left and made the tackle for a 2 yard gain. That is all I could really see. Most of the action yesterday was near the far end zone. Thompson did not look good to me at all.