Rebuilding the OL, again

[Bretsky]

Surprised on your Colledge take ND; the only time we saw him at LT he was a nightmare this year

[Partial]

Colledge has been horrible this year. Last week he gave up 2 more sacks.

Spitz has missed the majority of the season due to injury but did not look good when healthy either.

Again, you said this in another thread. Could you please substantiate your claim that Spitz did not look good?

Read the articles on JSO and Packersnews. I don't have the articles handy, no, and I don't have specific plays in mind. I recall specifically reading their was talk of benching Spitz for Lang at LG, and Spitz for Wells at center, since he was underwhelming.

Can you provide an example of a play where he has looked great and willed the OL to a solid performance? We've been a sieve up the middle...

[Guiness]

why all the talk of Lang at guard?

[The Leaper]

Apparently our OL will all be rookies next year...because TT sure as hell won't sign a good FA guy.

[ND72]

Surprised on your Colledge take ND; the only time we saw him at LT he was a nightmare this year

But he played there last year and did pretty good. I think if we moved him to tackle, even if he sits next year, it pays off. Like I said, not a big contract, make it worth something if he contributes.

As far as Teddy going to sign some big time FA.....who knows who will actually become a FA next year, and none of us know how the whole uncapped deal will work out.

[ND72]

why all the talk of Lang at guard?

Lang is an NFL guard...everything about him screams Mike Wahle. I think he looks just like him in the way he plays.

[pbmax]

Do you ever think before you type, or do you start with a premise and just add in names, places and dates?? Spitz was doing fine at center and will be very good. Colledge has gone back to his 2nd year pass blocking technique. There is a problem there, I agree.

There was talk of benching Spitz when he was at Center and at LG. Furthermore, does this change the fact that they're likely in need of 3-4 new starting linemen after this year?

I cannot see Colledge being resigned. I don't see the Packers offering Spitz big money and I don't see him taking a short-term, cheap deal to play here coming off injury, either. I don't think either guy will be back.

I don't recall talk of benching Spitz while at center. He does have limited upside at Guard, which is why the coaches were eager to have Sitton challenge him even as a rookie.

McGinn said they had to have considered benching Colledge and moving Spitz over with Wells at center. At this point they may wish to consider Lang at LG.

But for next year, there is too much up in the air to say we are going to have 2-3 new starters. Spitz is not going to cost a fortune at center and Clifton might be reasonably priced after injuries. So then you may be faced with a decision to let Colledge go and fill in with Lang. The only new to us starter might be at RT.

[pbmax]

why all the talk of Lang at guard?

Lang is an NFL guard...everything about him screams Mike Wahle. I think he looks just like him in the way he plays.

I agree that Lang is not big (height and length) enough for Left Tackle, but I could see him at Right Tackle.

Barbre gave up four pressures in a half against Tampa according to McGinn. He has solidified, but its been from unacceptable to below average in pass protection. Problem is, he will not get better unless he plays it.

I don't think Colledge can do Left Tackle, but you have a point. He spent no time there this year and then was thrown to Jared Allen is his first effort. If he spent an entire offseason and camp preparing there, it might look different. That could be our best current line, but I would think you are still looking to replace him.

I think they should figure out where Lang will fit best and go from there. He and Sitton might be the only sure things.

[Brandon494]

Lang will not move to guard, he is will be starting RT next season. We need to get Spitz and Colledge as well. Hopefully we'll trade/sign/draft a starter at LT.

LT: TBD
LG: Colledge
C:Spitz
RG:Sitton
RT: Lang

[3irty1]

I predict a line something like this next year:

LT: Not on the team right now
Clifton doesn't have much in the tank if anything. The only other player on the roster who could potentially take this is Colledge who has been effective in the past as a backup but after his performance this year I don't think you can roll the dice. This may have to be a rookie next year. It'd sure be nice to have Meredith to at least compete.

LG: Colledge or Spitz
Colledge is the incumbent and was probably our best all-round O lineman in 2008 but Spitz has been more consistent but my be left without a place to start with Sitton playing so well at RG and Wells at center.

C: Spitz or Wells
Or maybe even a rookie. Spitz and Wells are basically a toss up imo. I'd give Wells a slight nod because Spitz can back up anything on the interior meaning less musical chairs if someone gets hurt.

RG: Sitton
A real player. So far this year he's our best OL.

RT: Lang or Barbre
Should be a great battle and should leave us with a solid tackle. Barbre isn't as bad as people seem to think. I think he's made good strides over the season.

[denverYooper]

Colledge should not be resigned. Too inconsistent. Unsure of the nature of Spitz's injury. Lang should replace Colledge. Still maintain Barbre should be a guard. Wells needs to be kept.

TT or whomever needs to use high picks on o-line. Ron Wolf found late round gems like Adam Timmerman, Mark Tauscher and Marco Rivera. Also used high picks on Aaron Taylor, Chad Cliffton and Earl Dotson.

TT has been unsuccessful in finding late round o-line gems. Needs to use higher round picks on o-linemen. Wonder if TT would have selected Andre Smith over Raji.

Lang will replace somebody, but I think it might be Barbre. Sitton might be considered a gem. In fact, last week was kinda weird in that it was the first time I remember our interior OL being the bigger problem in pass pro. Those guys have played pretty well for the most part.

Let's pretend for a minute that Andre Smith was available at 9. TT may have actually taken him. We don't know. But considering that he has yet to play a game after a holdout and broken foot and Raji is contributing and looking better every week, that pick would be going over like a fart in church right now.

[The Shadow]

I wonder most about how these guys would play under an O line coach other than Campen.

[Partial]

3irty1, you want the same line back outside of Clifton? Judging how this year has gone, what makes you think next year will be different?

These guys aren't young players anymore. This is Spitz's and Colledge's 4th year starting. Sitton, the youngen of the starters, has been the best player. Barbre is in his third year on the team.

They are going to kill the player (Flynn or Rodgers) under center if they do not address the line situation. Going back in with the same line and a rookie LT is the kind of thing that gets you fired in most cities after the debacle known as our line.

How much longer are we going to be rebuilding for? This is the not for long leagu, not the now and forever league.

[Smidgeon]

Can you provide an example of a play where he has looked great and willed the OL to a solid performance? We've been a sieve up the middle...

Bears: 3 sacks versus tackles, 1 sack versus interior
Bengals: 5 sacks versus tackles, 1 sack versus interior
Rams: 2 sacks versus tackles, 0 sacks versus interior
Vikings: 7 sacks versus tackles, 1 sack versus interior
Lions: 2 sacks versus tackles, 3 sacks versus interior
Browns: 0 sacks
Vikings: 5 sacks versus tackles, 1 sack versus interior
Bucs: 4 sacks versus tackles, 2 sacks versus interior

(all courtesy of sacktracker)

Coincidentally (or not so coincidentally), the sacks against the interior increased when Spitz was benched with the back injury.

[Partial]

Can you provide an example of a play where he has looked great and willed the OL to a solid performance? We've been a sieve up the middle...

Bears: 3 sacks versus tackles, 1 sack versus interior
Bengals: 5 sacks versus tackles, 1 sack versus interior
Rams: 2 sacks versus tackles, 0 sacks versus interior
Vikings: 7 sacks versus tackles, 1 sack versus interior
Lions: 2 sacks versus tackles, 3 sacks versus interior
Browns: 0 sacks
Vikings: 5 sacks versus tackles, 1 sack versus interior
Bucs: 4 sacks versus tackles, 2 sacks versus interior

(all courtesy of sacktracker)

Coincidentally (or not so coincidentally), the sacks against the interior increased when Spitz was benched with the back injury.

I believe the discussion was after the Lions game where they were discussing benching Spitz on JSO.

I'm not surprised the sacks against the interior went up. Colledge came back from Tackle and hasn't been the same player. Spitz went out and they had to bring in a less capable back-up, etc. The reasons are logical.