Colledge clicks in third season

[HarveyWallbangers]

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081120/PKR01/81120191/1058

This was supposed to be the year Daryn Colledge ran out of chances.

Allen Barbre was supposed to beat him out for the starting job at left guard. When Barbre didn’t, rookie Josh Sitton was supposed to get the nod.

But sometime during the Green Bay Packers’ offseason-long guard derby — perhaps, because of it — Colledge made the leap the team had been waiting for.

In his third NFL season, Colledge has done more than hang onto his place in the lineup. He’s arguably playing the best and the most consistently of anyone on the offensive line...

He still sounds borderline cocky later in the article, but it appears the coaches are happy with his play. Actually, the interior OL has much less of a problem than recent years, but the edge guys have struggled more.

[Jimx29]

Re: Colledge clicks in third season

He still sounds borderline cocky later in the article, but it appears the coaches are happy with his play.

I recall last year he was on the Donald Driver show and they did a spot with him and his house, etc.... and he really came off as arrogant then

[boiga]

I've been enjoying his "The Colledge Experience" clips on the official Packers site. Colledge is still a blowhard, but the other players give him shit and he's a good sport about it. I think Spitz being his roommate has helped him keep a level head about it all.

This year, he's been much more willing to take responsibility on his own shoulders for his mistakes. Even when he has a good game, he's stressing his own need for improvement. He still sounds like a cocky bastard, but he's a cocky bastard with the right mindset to help the team.

As far as his play is concerned, the improvement has been dramatic. Where as last year he was consistently bull rushed by opposing D-Linemen, he's been a rock in Pass defense. And I was amazed that he can actually push quality D-Linemen back in the run game now. He's turned a corner, kudos to Daryn.

Now if only he didn't have a crush on Palin....

[PlantPage55]

“I expect myself to have success in my position now. The excuses are over,” Colledge said this week. “If I’m not producing now, they’re going to find somebody who can.

“Luckily, I’m playing at a level right now that I seem to be able to keep my job, and as long as I’m doing that, then I’m helping this team win.”

I don't see how he's cocky now. In the past, I've seen it. But this article? Everything he's saying is absolutely the right thing to say.

He expects to be good. He knows that he will not be around if he ISN'T. He's right. He NEEDS to play well now that he's been around 3 years.

And it's true - if he plays well, the team is better for it. It's all about the team. How is that cocky?

[Freak Out]

North Pole guys are bull headed and slow learning but they tend to be some tough bastards. People who know him knew with the right coaching he could get it done.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I don't see how he's cocky now. In the past, I've seen it. But this article? Everything he's saying is absolutely the right thing to say.

You are right. That's why I said borderline cocky.

"I knew who I was. I know what I’ve done. I know the success that I’ve had."

Coming from Driver, I don't think this would sound cocky. Just having seen Colledge in previous interviews made this come across as a little cocky to me.

[RashanGary]

Those guys were very young, thrust into a position that they never should have been.

Now, that they've had the time to become players we have two good guards. Next year, with Sitton hopefully taking the step forward we'll have the abilty to replace Wells and have a dman solid interior line.

[hoosier]

Color me a skeptic on Colledge. Memories of him whiffing repeatedly against TB are still fresh in my mind. I'll believe it when I see it for a whole season.

[KYPack]

Colledge has improved by baby steps. He hasn't had a blow out, horrible game this season. His low point came in Pre-Season vs SF. I'm sure the presence of MTP threw him off his game (that and a stint at LT really had the boy reeling).

After that one, he settled down. He still isn't a marquee OLineman, but in general, he's consistent and gets his job done. That's a helluva a lot better year than his previous stints where he's been benched for poor performance a few times.

DC will be a good player for us, I think, and this is his turnaround year. Now if these guys can gel and get it together, we may have a dominant OLine in years to come.

[Kiwon]

The radio guys had a lot of good things to say about his play during the last broadcast.

[Fritz]

Interesting. After the Minnesota game, I was starting to wonder if TT's tenure would tank into the toilet (gotta love that alliteration) due to the play of the offensive line. I thought that maybe TT's future might be at stake - he seems to have put together most of the parts in most position groups, but at drafting offensive lineman he seemed to be doing poorly.

One game later, all is well - for the moment. Wow. All I can say is that it'd sure be nice if Colledge, Spitz, Sitton, and/or Barbre worked out...and Harv is right - the tackles haven't necessarily held up.

I tried not to panic and freak out this season. After the Tennessee loss, I even started a thread called "I Am Optimistic." But the Minny loss really got me down; thus I wondered if maybe, after all, TT was not going to be able to get it done.

Oh me of little faith.

I hope I was wrong.

[red]

my how opinions change after one game

him and the rest of the line (all 5 guys) sucked hard right up until the last game

[pbmax]

He still isn't a marquee OLineman, but in general, he's consistent and gets his job done. That's a helluva a lot better year than his previous stints where he's been benched for poor performance a few times.

What's the opposite of damning with faint praise? Hallelujah for faint praise?

Its looks far more positive for Colledge and the inside guys now, but like Fritz, I want to be assured that the Minnesota game was an aberration. A long string of strong performances starting Monday will do just fine, thank you.

[Fritz]

I know little or nothing about the Saints' defensive ends. Anybody have a scoop on who they are, and whether Clifton and Tauscher match up okay?

And how about their D-tackles?

[HarveyWallbangers]

him and the rest of the line (all 5 guys) sucked hard right up until the last game

I'm not sure people are saying the OL has been good. I think it's more that the interior OL have made some improvement, but our OTs have a bigger problem this year.