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Packers pick probably projects as a guard
April 26, 2009 1:01 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert
Green Bay's first pick of Day 2 played left tackle his last two years of college. But you should probably slow down if you assume Eastern Michigan's T.J. Lang, selected with the ninth pick of the fourth round, is the heir apparent to left tackle Chad Clifton.
Lang was a late bloomer on the NFL draft charts, so much so that he was not invited to the combine. But after an impressive postseason showing, teams started investigating him. Lang visited 10 teams, including the Packers, but most of them projected him as a guard. (Atlanta told him they might use him at center.)
That doesn't mean the Packers won't take a look at him at tackle. But guard is the usual landing place for a player with the kind of makeup described here by Scouts Inc.:
Plays with an edge and an effective hand fighter. Upper body strength appears more than adequate and flashes the ability to deliver a violent initial punch. Finishes blocks. ... Stays engaged and makes it difficult for defensive linemen to get their hands up in passing lanes. Gets adequate knee bend, does a good job of resetting feet and can hold ground against bull rushers. Leans too much and is vulnerable to push-pull moves. Takes too long to redirect and going to have some problems countering double moves. Lacks elite initial quickness and going to have a harder time preventing edge rushers from turning the corner at the NFL level.
Speaking to the Oakland Press before the draft, Lang said he enjoyed his visit to Green Bay and added: "Going to Lambeau was definitely nice, just all the history there. It's kind of a small town, just a blue-collar, hard-working town and I think I'd fit in there pretty good, too."
Packers pick probably projects as a guard
April 26, 2009 1:01 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert
Green Bay's first pick of Day 2 played left tackle his last two years of college. But you should probably slow down if you assume Eastern Michigan's T.J. Lang, selected with the ninth pick of the fourth round, is the heir apparent to left tackle Chad Clifton.
Lang was a late bloomer on the NFL draft charts, so much so that he was not invited to the combine. But after an impressive postseason showing, teams started investigating him. Lang visited 10 teams, including the Packers, but most of them projected him as a guard. (Atlanta told him they might use him at center.)
That doesn't mean the Packers won't take a look at him at tackle. But guard is the usual landing place for a player with the kind of makeup described here by Scouts Inc.:
Plays with an edge and an effective hand fighter. Upper body strength appears more than adequate and flashes the ability to deliver a violent initial punch. Finishes blocks. ... Stays engaged and makes it difficult for defensive linemen to get their hands up in passing lanes. Gets adequate knee bend, does a good job of resetting feet and can hold ground against bull rushers. Leans too much and is vulnerable to push-pull moves. Takes too long to redirect and going to have some problems countering double moves. Lacks elite initial quickness and going to have a harder time preventing edge rushers from turning the corner at the NFL level.
Speaking to the Oakland Press before the draft, Lang said he enjoyed his visit to Green Bay and added: "Going to Lambeau was definitely nice, just all the history there. It's kind of a small town, just a blue-collar, hard-working town and I think I'd fit in there pretty good, too."
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