Mark Tauscher update

[Patler]

Last season was quite probably Tauscher's worst as a Packer. But I didn't realize Mark is only one of 3 T's re-habbing from surgery.

Breno Giacomini is rehabilitating from surgery on his right ankle and left tackle Chad Clifton is coming off minor knee surgery. For Cliffy, those tune-ups are practically annual. Breno got hurt, how? A spirited practice?

We are thin on troops at tackle. I'd say sign Tauscher to a 2 year, 5 million dollar deal. The vet min is $845,000. Give him a mil for '09. If he does get right, you've got him for '10. He is losing it, but he is a tricky old pro. No kid is gonna be ready right away. if you move Colledge or Sitton, you've got a back-up when MT gets healthy.

I don't know about the "send the team a message", stuff. If you wanna send a message, call Western Union.

Every OL on the roster but Spitz and Wells is capable of playing RT. The situation is not dire. There is a draft keep stocking up on depth behind the previous depth that is ready to start.

It also explains their interest in FA Duke Preston, who they had in for a visit last week. Big guy (6'5'', 330) who some think could find a home at RT, even though he has been used more at guard so far. If he can't do it, he provides another inside body if they move Colledge, Sitton or someone else outside.

[Waldo]

Tausher looked like crap last year. When low mistake Tausher looks like crap, that is bad news, he doesn't have the ability to "get better", he was maxed out that way. When he's getting beat or playing poorly, while not making mistakes, that is a very bad sign.

I don't know that he looked like crap, but he wasn't as good as he had been.

Your comments on this are insightful - Tauscher played mistake free (how many YEARS without a holding call?) so if he played mistake free last year, and got beat...he may well have lost that vaunted 'step'.

He never had a step to begin with. He was a better version of Scott Wells, very untalented, but smart, low error, savvy, and a very good technician to make up for that lack of talent.

Tausher looked like crap. Rodgers is a good enough QB to hide crap play from his RT, just like Favre was. The QB can see the rush coming from the RT, a good QB can get rid of the ball or move out of the way of a rush he can see, and rarely gets sacked by it. This is why awful pass blockers can get by on the right if they are dominant run blockers. Rodgers was pressured much too often, much too quickly off the right.

That situation would be OK if the RT was a dominant run blocker. But Tausher wasn't. Our running troubles last year stemmed mostly from the inability of both T's to get push. When that happens you can't stretch to either side. When you can't do that you have to call inside runs. When you do that too much opponents run blitz your middle. When that happens you have nowhere to run. That happened over and over last year.

Later in the season MM practically gave up on attempting to run an outside zone and starting running non-zone runs as a changeup to the inside zone runs, we weren't averaging anything more than a yard a carry on the stretch play midseason, but had to keep running it to keep the inside zone from being shut down, eventually he moved on to something else. All those 1 yard carries in the 1st and 2nd quarter where MM looked like an idiot for calling it, our line inept at blocking it, and the backs awful at running it, were necessary to keep the runs that worked open. Those runs didn't work because neither tackle could get push, on plays that don't work without good frontside tackle push.

[sharpe1027]

He never had a step to begin with. He was a better version of Scott Wells, very untalented, but smart, low error, savvy, and a very good technician to make up for that lack of talent.

Tausher looked like crap. Rodgers is a good enough QB to hide crap play from his RT, just like Favre was. The QB can see the rush coming from the RT, a good QB can get rid of the ball or move out of the way of a rush he can see, and rarely gets sacked by it. This is why awful pass blockers can get by on the right if they are dominant run blockers. Rodgers was pressured much too often, much too quickly off the right.

I don't know if saying he never had a step is fair. I think he had good talent, even if he didn't light up the combine. However, I do agree that between our two tackles Clifton was the one who relied upon his physical talent and Tauscher was the guy who got it done more through solid technique.

[Old School]

Ecellently explained, well thought out post, Waldo.

[Noodle]

That situation would be OK if the RT was a dominant run blocker. But Tausher wasn't. Our running troubles last year stemmed mostly from the inability of both T's to get push. When that happens you can't stretch to either side. When you can't do that you have to call inside runs. When you do that too much opponents run blitz your middle. When that happens you have nowhere to run. That happened over and over last year.

Later in the season MM practically gave up on attempting to run an outside zone and starting running non-zone runs as a changeup to the inside zone runs, we weren't averaging anything more than a yard a carry on the stretch play midseason, but had to keep running it to keep the inside zone from being shut down, eventually he moved on to something else. All those 1 yard carries in the 1st and 2nd quarter where MM looked like an idiot for calling it, our line inept at blocking it, and the backs awful at running it, were necessary to keep the runs that worked open. Those runs didn't work because neither tackle could get push, on plays that don't work without good frontside tackle push.

Waldo, Rather than lack of push, I think the bigger problem with our Ts was that they sucked at cutting backside pursuit.

To your point, neither of our Ts is all that athletic, and they both have struggled big time with the cutting required for ZBS to work. Bad cutting means no cut-back lanes at the LOS for the RB, which is really where you get the big gains in a ZBS system, I think.

We had a pretty good run game in GB when we ran power with these same Ts (Ahman Green may have had something to do with that success as well). Regardless, the point remains that it's probably time to say so long to Tausch.

[Gunakor]

That situation would be OK if the RT was a dominant run blocker. But Tausher wasn't. Our running troubles last year stemmed mostly from the inability of both T's to get push. When that happens you can't stretch to either side. When you can't do that you have to call inside runs. When you do that too much opponents run blitz your middle. When that happens you have nowhere to run. That happened over and over last year.

Later in the season MM practically gave up on attempting to run an outside zone and starting running non-zone runs as a changeup to the inside zone runs, we weren't averaging anything more than a yard a carry on the stretch play midseason, but had to keep running it to keep the inside zone from being shut down, eventually he moved on to something else. All those 1 yard carries in the 1st and 2nd quarter where MM looked like an idiot for calling it, our line inept at blocking it, and the backs awful at running it, were necessary to keep the runs that worked open. Those runs didn't work because neither tackle could get push, on plays that don't work without good frontside tackle push.

Waldo, Rather than lack of push, I think the bigger problem with our Ts was that they sucked at cutting backside pursuit.

To your point, neither of our Ts is all that athletic, and they both have struggled big time with the cutting required for ZBS to work. Bad cutting means no cut-back lanes at the LOS for the RB, which is really where you get the big gains in a ZBS system, I think.

We had a pretty good run game in GB when we ran power with these same Ts (Ahman Green may have had something to do with that success as well). Regardless, the point remains that it's probably time to say so long to Tausch.

The run game didn't die when Ahman left. The run game died when Whale left for Carolina and Rivera left for Dallas. Those guys are what made our run game go. Ahman barely cracked 1000 the year after they left, and a couple years after that he left for Houston and hasn't had a 1000 yard season since. The tackles have always been known as top flight pass blockers, but I never thought they were much better than average run blockers.

[Packers4Ever]

This is a golden opportunity for TT to demonstrate how the organization stands by its own, even if it doesn't have any obligation to.

Bring him back home, pay him for his past efforts and let him retire a Packer when the time comes.

I fully agree, Tarlam, I would like to see this happen to Mark. Also since he is a UW-Madison grad and has spent all his career with us it would be a nice gesture. He is the sort of young man you'd like to keep around as long as he is able.

[The Leaper]

Put me down in the camp of letting an aging veteran go and committing to youth. I love Tausch. He's a credit to the organization and himself. But let's face the facts...the guy has always been an effort guy with minimal physical skill. Now that he is losing what little physical ability he had to start with, he is a marginal starter at best...and a constant injury risk due to advanced age.

This team is now building around a young Rodgers. We need some guys on the OL who are young and hungry...not old and holding on. This team will NOT be a Super Bowl contender in 2009...the switch to a new defense all but cements that IMO. The focus now is 2010 IMO...which is why Thompson is not interested at all in free agency.

Now, if Tausch is willing to come back for a cheap contract because he doesn't get any strong interest elsewhere...I'm fine with him coming back and being a mentor to the young kids. But, I expect Green Bay to grab an OT relatively early in this draft. I would not pencil Tausch in as a starter in 2009.

[bobblehead]

Waldo. I remember reading all about that dude from Seattle that was going to give us so much problems in the playoffs. Tauscher made him disappear into a lambeau snow bank. He was dropping off last year, I agree. I happen to really like tausch and would like to see him rehab for the minimum and then have the club have an option for a very moderate contract for another year. I realize this isn't going to happen, but I can wish.

And Zool. I would throw my employee a retirement party and give him a parting bonus if he made me a lot of money over the years. I don't value money much beyond the point that it gives me independence.

[Bretsky]

completely agree with your sentiments bobble

But TT is all about youth and this seems to be the perfect reason to let him go by the wayside while we let the unprovens try to prove themselves.

[SnakeLH2006]

Lets say you own a company who has contracted employees and one of your employees goes on long term disability. During this, their contract expires. You like this employee and he/she has been a model employee for a lot of years, but there's no way of saying that they will be able to do their job anywhere near to the previous level when they come back. In fact it stands to reason with age and the nature of the extended disability that there will in fact be a drop off.

Do you give that employee a new contract while they are still on disability?

Depends. Is this employee a hooker, prostitute, or any other kind of lady of the night?

Snake's bet is TT moves on, as he likes 'em young. Taucher has been a godsend for many years, yet I doubt TT gives a fuck. Hard to blame him as injuries to a dude not known for athletic prowess are scary, as Snake feels Tauchy's (as much as I like him as a player) best days are gone.

Ho's have a 2 year rate of skill vs. production. They wear out quick and ALL must produce regardless. Tauchy produced at a high rate for years, but, alas...TT is all about the money for what he will get at an advanced hooker's age. It's sad but true, but Snake thinks TT may be a pimp, looking for the new breed to step up and make his money:

[Gunakor]

This is a golden opportunity for TT to demonstrate how the organization stands by its own, even if it doesn't have any obligation to.

Bring him back home, pay him for his past efforts and let him retire a Packer when the time comes.

I fully agree, Tarlam, I would like to see this happen to Mark. Also since he is a UW-Madison grad and has spent all his career with us it would be a nice gesture. He is the sort of young man you'd like to keep around as long as he is able.

Morally speaking, I'd agree 100%. It would be a very nice gesture to bring a guy that has given so much to this franchise as Tausch has.

But the problem is that nice gestures don't win football games.

In a cutthroat business like the NFL, where the ONLY thing that matters is winning, you keep the best players you can get. And I'm not sure that Tausch at this point could offer enough even as a backup to legitimately earn a spot on this football team. As I said before, he's damaged goods, and that's the only responsible way of looking at it. What he's done in the past should really have no bearing on the present, unless you truly believe that he'll be able to give the same production. I just can't bring myself to believe that the production he'll give when he finally does get healthy will be anywhere near what he's given in the past, so as much as I hate to see him go, it's time to cut the cord and move forward.

[Gunakor]

completely agree with your sentiments bobble

But TT is all about youth and this seems to be the perfect reason to let him go by the wayside while we let the unprovens try to prove themselves.

Do you really think that, given Tauscher's age and physical condition, he'll be able to beat out the younger guys on our roster? I mean, he's not even going to be ready to play until October. If he were going to be ready in August so that I could see him win a camp competition it'd be one thing. But he's not even going to be healthy enough to compete for his job when the compeition is underway. Isn't that a good enough reason for any GM to go younger?

[Guiness]

Do you really think that, given Tauscher's age and physical condition, he'll be able to beat out the younger guys on our roster? I mean, he's not even going to be ready to play until October. If he were going to be ready in August so that I could see him win a camp competition it'd be one thing. But he's not even going to be healthy enough to compete for his job when the compeition is underway. Isn't that a good enough reason for any GM to go younger?

Wow would I not write Tausch off. The doughboy has always got it done, and has stayed injury free for years, so it's not like his body is going to be breaking down. I see no reason to kick him to the curb; before the injury there was a lot of talk about how much it would take to re-sign him. And don't forget that hair!

I think GB will give him a 'prove-it' type contract, like Ahmad Green got after his knee injury. Vet minimum with bonuses built in for performance. Since he's an OL, the triggers would have to be based on snaps or starts. I don't think this is a big risk for the club (vet minimum is almost throwaway) and I think there would be at least a decent chance he sees the field a reasonable amount.

[Gunakor]

Do you really think that, given Tauscher's age and physical condition, he'll be able to beat out the younger guys on our roster? I mean, he's not even going to be ready to play until October. If he were going to be ready in August so that I could see him win a camp competition it'd be one thing. But he's not even going to be healthy enough to compete for his job when the compeition is underway. Isn't that a good enough reason for any GM to go younger?

Wow would I not write Tausch off. The doughboy has always got it done, and has stayed injury free for years, so it's not like his body is going to be breaking down. I see no reason to kick him to the curb; before the injury there was a lot of talk about how much it would take to re-sign him. And don't forget that hair!

I think GB will give him a 'prove-it' type contract, like Ahmad Green got after his knee injury. Vet minimum with bonuses built in for performance. Since he's an OL, the triggers would have to be based on snaps or starts. I don't think this is a big risk for the club (vet minimum is almost throwaway) and I think there would be at least a decent chance he sees the field a reasonable amount.

Again, there's little chance he'll even be cleared to practice until well after the season has started. By that time I hope to have a group in place on the line already. And Tauscher, for as good as he's been, will not be healthy enough to be part of that group. If he were still under contract I wouldn't release him, but seeing that his contract is up I wouldn't resign him either. I'd rather use that roster spot on a guy who can actually compete for a job come August.