Wells "limited" in off season

[Patler]

I didn't realize Wells' back is still a problem. Per the JSO, he is limited in workouts, will miss the optional minicamps, and may even miss the OTAs.

It's looking more and more like Colledge-Spitz-Sitton in the middle of the line.

[Lurker64]

Re: Wells "limited" in off season

It's looking more and more like Colledge-Spitz-Sitton in the middle of the line.

Unless of course Preston can work his way in there.

[Patler]

Re: Wells "limited" in off season

It's looking more and more like Colledge-Spitz-Sitton in the middle of the line.

Unless of course Preston can work his way in there.

Both TT and MM have said things about him being there for depth. No real talk of him as a starter. I have read several articles with quotes from scouts who all said he is a decent backup who can play for a game or two, but not yet a guy you would want as a regular starter.

It doesn't seem that the Bills made much effort to re-sign him, even though he started 11 games for them; or Fowler, the guy Preston replaced due to injury. They also released a starting guard. If they thought much of him, they sure had openings for him.

Preston fits into MM's plans to not have to move players when an injury occurs. He could come in at any of the interior positions, leaving the others where they were. Makes him very valuable on the game day active roster

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Can Clifton Play RT?

Lets go

Colledge-Preston-Splitz-Sitton-Clifton

[Waldo]

Can Clifton Play RT?

Lets go

Colledge-Preston-Splitz-Sitton-Clifton

No.

Clifton is a LTO by contract, age, and skills. His run blocking is worse than ever, but he is still semi-reliable as the blindside protector.

[Patler]

Don't expect too much from Preston in '09. You are likely to be disappointed.

[Partial]

Don't expect too much from Preston in '09. You are likely to be disappointed.

I don't know anything about him. I take it he's not penciled in at RT?

[Patler]

Don't expect too much from Preston in '09. You are likely to be disappointed.

I don't know anything about him. I take it he's not penciled in at RT?

I thought that might be a possibility, but in the last couple days both MM and TT have said they are not looking at him for RT. Writers still suggest it though. Sitton could get a long look at RT if Wells holds on at center.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: Wells "limited" in off season

Both TT and MM have said things about him being there for depth. No real talk of him as a starter.

I thought I read McCarthy said he will compete for a starter position on the interior, but not RT.

My likely lineup: Clifton, Colledge, Spitz, Barbre or Preston, Sitton.

I think the RG job is there for Barbre, if he can handle it. If Barbre and Preston both fail, then it's Wells at OC and Spitz at RG. To me, the "competition" at OC depends on what happens at RG--not whether Spitz can beat out Wells. It's a group with a ton of potential, but could also be a disaster.

[packrulz]

Preston a versatile option along interior of line

By Rob Demovsky • rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com • March 27, 2009
The Green Bay Packers aren’t looking at their newest player as a possible starter at right tackle.

General Manager Ted Thompson on Friday said free-agent pickup Duke Preston, who on Thursday agreed to a two-year contract, will be considered for all the interior positions on the offensive line. Preston has made 20 NFL starts combined at center and right guard during his four years with the Buffalo Bills.

“We like to have versatile guys,” Thompson said. “We think he gives us that on the inside but probably not on the outside.”

That means at this point the Packers aren’t considering Preston as a possible replacement for the unsigned Mark Tauscher, the Packers’ starting right tackle for the majority of the last 10 seasons. Tauscher is still recovering from his late-season knee injury and might not be ready for the start of the regular season.

“We were looking for another interior offensive lineman, and we just felt like adding another guy that’s been around the block a little bit,” Thompson said. “We’ve heard a lot of good things about him as a person. We visited with him last week, and all of us here were very impressed with the way he carried himself as a person.”

The 6-foot-5, 326-pound Preston became the second player Thompson has signed since the start of free agency last month. He joins safety Anthony Smith. Thompson wouldn’t say whether he would sign any more free agents.

“You never know,” he said.

Thompson said he wasn’t sure when Preston will join the Packers’ offseason program that began nearly two weeks ago. Thompson did confirm that safety Nick Collins remained absent from the program, which is voluntary. Collins remained in Florida this week, and his wife is expecting a baby. But Collins also has asked the Packers to extend his contract, which expires after this season.

[Lurker64]

I'm curious as to TT and MM's plan at RT this year. I mean, every offensive lineman on the roster at this point has played Tackle at some point in their career other than Spitz and Wells, but I'm a little nervous, probably irrationally.

[Tarlam!]

I'm curious as to TT and MM's plan at RT this year.

If Andre Smith is there at #9, that might be the pick. According to the lead article on JSO, that is. They say he's a LT, but could conceivably play RT until Cliffy finally calls it a career.

Even if TT doesn't take an OT at #9, or does something really unheard of and trades out of the first round, you know he's taking an OT, prolly on Day One.

[Joemailman]

Re: Wells "limited" in off season

Both TT and MM have said things about him being there for depth. No real talk of him as a starter.

I thought I read McCarthy said he will compete for a starter position on the interior, but not RT.

My likely lineup: Clifton, Colledge, Spitz, Barbre or Preston, Sitton.

I think the RG job is there for Barbre, if he can handle it. If Barbre and Preston both fail, then it's Wells at OC and Spitz at RG. To me, the "competition" at OC depends on what happens at RG--not whether Spitz can beat out Wells. It's a group with a ton of potential, but could also be a disaster.

You're not the first person I've seen list Sitton at RT, even though last year the Packers had him at RG. I do know last year the Packers had him concentrate at RG because they didn't want to make a rookie learn 2 positions. Has MM talked about moving him to RT, or is that just an educated guess? I have my doubts about Barbre at RG, but think he has a better chance to succeed at RT.

[Lurker64]

Even if TT doesn't take an OT at #9, or does something really unheard of and trades out of the first round, you know he's taking an OT, prolly on Day One.

Well... Thompson always drafts tackles. Sitton, Giacomini, Barbre, Colledge, Moll, and Whitticker were all OTs at some point in their careers. It's more notable that Thompson simply doesn't appear to draft guards, he drafts Tackles (Sitton, Giacomini, Barbre, Colledge, Moll, Whitticker) and Centers (Spitz, Coston).

I think Thompson is likely targetting some of: Lydon Murtha, Augustus Parrish, Xavier Fulton, and Joell Bell as late round tackles. All those guys seem like typical later round Thompson OT picks.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: Wells "limited" in off season

Has MM talked about moving him to RT, or is that just an educated guess? I have my doubts about Barbre at RG, but think he has a better chance to succeed at RT.

Yes, unless my memory is failing me, McCarthy did say Sitton will get a shot at the RT spot.