Starting RT

[rbaloha1]

AB is a wait and see at rt. Physically capable. ZBS is instantly improved since AB and Sitton are capable of reaching the second level thus potentially bigger runs.

Pass blocking is going to be interesting though.

[Joemailman]

This year

Clifton
Colledge
Spitz
Sitton
Barbre


Next year

Colledge or draft or FA
Lang or Colledge
Spitz
Sitton
Barbre

Just wondering, what does everybody see in a guy like Barbre - who hasn't really gotten any PT in a couple years of being here - that makes everyone comfortable with him becoming a starting tackle? I guess I'm indifferent about Barbre, because I've really not seen him play. But if Tony Moll was listed higher on the depth chart than Barbre and made several starts at RT where Barbre hadn't even earned that chance, I'm not real comfortable with the idea of Barbre being a regular starter there. Am I missing something?

Although Barbre was a Tackle in college, I believe this is his first real shot at Tackle with the Packers. The Packers tried to turn him into a Guard, and it didn't work out. I think Moll proved last year that he'll likely never be a starting-quality RT, so they decided to give Barbre a shot there. McCarthy is now saying that Barbre is probably better suited to tackle than Guard. Barbre's problems his first 2 years may be more due to a coaching decision gone bad than his own play.

[Fritz]

The real problem is with this "Allan" or "Alan" crap. If people would start calling him "Al" he'd get his nasty back right quick.

[Joemailman]

I really like our 2 picks this year in Lang and Meredith. I think Lang projects more of a Guard than a Tackle, and Meredith has the potential to be one of the best...but that's just potential.

This Year -
LT - Cliffy
LG - Colledge
C - Wells
RG - Spitz
RT - Barbre

I could See in the Future -
LT - Colledge
LG - Lang
C - Spitz
RG - Sitton
RT - Meredith

I don't see the love for Gia either, he just hasn't impressed me in the limited play time he's had. He is the guy every coach loves to hopefully develop, 6'7" (if not taller), a lean 300+....but I donno. I tend to not trust those "hopefuls".

Sitton had the RG spot won last year when he got hurt. It would be a pretty big surprise if he's not the starter this year. The only way I see Spitz at RG is if Barbre bombs and they move Sitton to RT. Unless of course, Sitton gets hurt again.

[RashanGary]

Just wondering, what does everybody see in a guy like Barbre - who hasn't really gotten any PT in a couple years of being here - that makes everyone comfortable with him becoming a starting tackle? I guess I'm indifferent about Barbre, because I've really not seen him play. But if Tony Moll was listed higher on the depth chart than Barbre and made several starts at RT where Barbre hadn't even earned that chance, I'm not real comfortable with the idea of Barbre being a regular starter there. Am I missing something?

My brother said this too. They had him at left guard only (maybe because he's not the fastest learner and they wanted to keep his situation stable. Colledge ended up winning the spot and doing quite well at it. Barbre did end up playing a lot of snaps in the last game of the season and I don't remember him playing poorly.

LG requires strength and smarts
RT requires strength and athleticism

His best attributes are athleticism and strength so he seems better suited for tackle.

He's coming into his third year, a prime year for a raw small school prospect to break out.

I see no reason to write him off. The whole reason TT keeps drafting lineman after lineman after lineman is so there would be guys ready when an opening comes available. Hopefully that's what happens here. Hopefully a guy gets to learn in the wings and then step in seamlessly (barbre in his third year instead of being tossed in as a rookie)

[SnakeLH2006]

Just wondering, what does everybody see in a guy like Barbre - who hasn't really gotten any PT in a couple years of being here - that makes everyone comfortable with him becoming a starting tackle? I guess I'm indifferent about Barbre, because I've really not seen him play. But if Tony Moll was listed higher on the depth chart than Barbre and made several starts at RT where Barbre hadn't even earned that chance, I'm not real comfortable with the idea of Barbre being a regular starter there. Am I missing something?

My brother said this too. They had him at left guard only (maybe because he's not the fastest learner and they wanted to keep his situation stable. Colledge ended up winning the spot and doing quite well at it. Barbre did end up playing a lot of snaps in the last game of the season and I don't remember him playing poorly.

LG requires strength and smarts
RT requires strength and athleticism

His best attributes are athleticism and strength so he seems better suited for tackle.

He's coming into his third year, a prime year for a raw small school prospect to break out.

I see no reason to write him off. The whole reason TT keeps drafting lineman after lineman after lineman is so there would be guys ready when an opening comes available. Hopefully that's what happens here. Hopefully a guy gets to learn in the wings and then step in seamlessly (barbre in his third year instead of being tossed in as a rookie)

Snake agrees and remembers hearing about Barbre's mental aptitude being less than par for learning...but maybe he does it at RT, but wouldn't be surprised if Langy started this year and Meredith next year in 2010. Bottom line though, WTF has Breno done other than be 6'7" 300? Can't remember that guy even getting waters for vets at a scrimmage, much less being in line to start. Forget that guy. He's had a coupla years to get on the radar...time to move on Barbre (to see if he has "it") and Langy and Meredith as sliders in the draft with talent. Love both those guys.

[Lurker64]

Snake agrees and remembers hearing about Barbre's mental aptitude being less than par for learning...but maybe he does it at RT, but wouldn't be surprised if Langy started this year and Meredith next year in 2010. Bottom line though, WTF has Breno done other than be 6'7" 300? Can't remember that guy even getting waters for vets at a scrimmage, much less being in line to start. Forget that guy. He's had a coupla years to get on the radar...time to move on Barbre (to see if he has "it") and Langy and Meredith as sliders in the draft with talent. Love both those guys.

I think Meredith grades out significantly better at LT than he does at RT, and I would be surprised to see him in the mix at RT next year (or this). He's not a tremendous mauler and doesn't generate a great amount of push in the run game. We have a lot of guys who have mauler potential at RT (Barbre, for example) and I don't see Meredith beating all of them. What Meredith does have, that makes him a good option at LT in the future is that he has very quick feet, very long arms (34"), and he's a natural pass-blocker (he has good "knee bend" in the scouting parlance). His pop isn't great, and he's a little uncomfortable blocking downfield, but he has excellent awareness and is a natural pass blocker. Next year, after Clifton is put out to pasture, I fully expect the LT competition to be between Meredith and Colledge (with Lang probably taking LG if Colledge wins).

[SnakeLH2006]

Snake agrees and remembers hearing about Barbre's mental aptitude being less than par for learning...but maybe he does it at RT, but wouldn't be surprised if Langy started this year and Meredith next year in 2010. Bottom line though, WTF has Breno done other than be 6'7" 300? Can't remember that guy even getting waters for vets at a scrimmage, much less being in line to start. Forget that guy. He's had a coupla years to get on the radar...time to move on Barbre (to see if he has "it") and Langy and Meredith as sliders in the draft with talent. Love both those guys.

I think Meredith grades out significantly better at LT than he does at RT, and I would be surprised to see him in the mix at RT next year (or this). He's not a tremendous mauler and doesn't generate a great amount of push in the run game. We have a lot of guys who have mauler potential at RT (Barbre, for example) and I don't see Meredith beating all of them. What Meredith does have, that makes him a good option at LT in the future is that he has very quick feet, very long arms (34"), and he's a natural pass-blocker (he has good "knee bend" in the scouting parlance). His pop isn't great, and he's a little uncomfortable blocking downfield, but he has excellent awareness and is a natural pass blocker. Next year, after Clifton is put out to pasture, I fully expect the LT competition to be between Meredith and Colledge (with Lang probably taking LG if Colledge wins).

I agree...sorry Lurk, but didn't make it clear. Meredith is a no doubt LT prospect with his length. I only meant that Langy is a RT guy maybe this year and Meredith if the chips fall, the LT maybe, and a big maybe next year....then again, both were looked at as first round guys that slid from 2007. I totally agree with your assessment Lurker though, as that is how I looked at it too.

[Scott Campbell]

WTF has Breno done other than be 6'7" 300? Can't remember that guy even getting waters for vets at a scrimmage, much less being in line to start. Forget that guy. He's had a coupla years to get on the radar...

Breno was a rookie last year.

[Gunakor]

WTF has Breno done other than be 6'7" 300?

Rumor has it that the Packers were working on building bulk to match his frame, and that was a big reason he did not see any PT last season. Last year's 6'7" 300 could be 6'7" 325 this year. If he can learn techique and footwork, which he may or may not have a grasp on already, he still as as good a chance as anybody. He hasn't been given a chance to fail yet either.

[Patler]

What do we know about Barbre's ability to be a starter? Not much.
What do we really know about Sitton's? About the same as we know about Barbre.
As for Lang and Giacomini, we really know nothing at all.

Barbre is no more uncertain than Rivera was going into his 3rd season. The light may go on for him, it may not. Let's hope that it does, because he has uncommon athleticism for an O-lineman.

[Scott Campbell]

What do we know about Barbre's ability to be a starter? Not much.
What do we really know about Sitton's? About the same as we know about Barbre.
As for Lang and Giacomini, we really know nothing at all.

Most of us know only what we've read in a few paragraphs from a scouting report. JH attends practices, and probably has a better feel than most. But it's still not much to go on. A guy could conceivably get killed one day in practice because a coach told him to work on something specifically. Bystanders wouldn't know.

The coaching staff are really the only ones well equipped to judge progress - at least until we can watch these guys in games.

[Fritz]

WTF has Breno done other than be 6'7" 300? Can't remember that guy even getting waters for vets at a scrimmage, much less being in line to start. Forget that guy. He's had a coupla years to get on the radar...

Breno was a rookie last year.

And besides, it's not that easy to be 6'7" and 300 lbs. You try doing that.

[Patler]

And besides, it's not that easy to be 6'7" and 300 lbs. You try doing that.

Heck, I've been trying my whole life. I figured out that the 300 lbs part of it is more easily attainable than the 6'7" part!

[hoosier]

And besides, it's not that easy to be 6'7" and 300 lbs. You try doing that.

Heck, I've been trying my whole life. I figured out that the 300 lbs part of it is more easily attainable than the 6'7" part!

My image of you has been shaken. Here, I found a new avatar for you that will help restore my faith in images.