Colledge put on notice

[SnakeLH2006]

Think Colledge would take the vet min. to resign? He'd be a good bench option.

[Waldo]

Things have changed a little.

Colledge is clearly ~10 pounds heavier this year than previous years. He used to be hands down the most mobile lineman on the field. What made Colledge good was not his work on the LOS. He was an acceptable pass blocker, and could get some push, and had top notch tech to seal off big hogs in the run game, but he was not a pile driver. When he got off a combo block into the 2nd level, he planted LB's on their ass. He was quick and agile in space, they had no chance against him. His bulking up has sapped some of his speed and balance, he's no longer the 2nd level demon that he was, and his pass blocking has declined with the weight gain as well.

10 pounds is responsible for all that in a 300 pound guy? I don't buy it - I get a good workout, a nights' sleep, drop a coil and I lose five pounds and I hover around 215 to start. Plus, shouldn't most of that extra 10 pounds be muscle? What gives?

I tend to agree with this. a 3% increase in body weight, especially considering probably half is lean mass (otherwise why bother, honestly), would have minimal effect on athletic performance imo.

He did gain weight. That has been said by the coaches and is apparent looking at the players side by side. He is definitely slower. His pass blocking has declined and he is nowhere near the 2nd level blocker he was last year. While one might not have caused the other completely, it plays a role. He is too young to be "slowing down", how else do you explain his declining athleticism.

Hawk is only 5-10 pounds heavier than he was when he was drafted; you cannot tell me that he can run just as fast today as he could his rookie year. He too is noticeably bigger, and noticeably slower. For the job that he has been doing it has helped him a great deal though.

[pbmax]

This is a case in point as to why it can be in some respects difficult to criticize Thompson too much on the offensive line. As a couple posters noted, last year Colledge played really well in the second half and seemed poised to become the Packers' best offensive lineman. Couple that with Sitton and an improving Spitz, and there was reason to be optimistic. Clifton, too, was supposedly healthier than he'd been in a long time.

At the beginning of the season it appeared that four of the five line spots were solid and Barbre was the question mark. Clifton's slippage and Colledge's msytifying free fall into mediocrity and worse were not predicted in many, if any, places.

If Colledge was good last year, clearly he has talent. I knew Will Whitticker, and he's no Will Whitticker.

The mystery of Colledge is probably the biggest factor in this season's offensive line woes. That, and the consistent push DE's get on whoever is playing offensive tackle for the Pack.

So the same coach that coaches DC to all that massive improvement gets ingnored for last year and takes the bullets this year ? I don't buy it.

I'm not making excuses for TT and this OL

Forget excusing TT, he allowed (or caused) the roster to be constructed poorly at tackle this year, among other things that have gone wrong. Including the role that the RT position has had in complicating the decision to replace Colledge.

But does it make sense to blame inconsistency on him? That would seem to be the realm of the player and coach, almost exclusively. Colledge isn't dumb and he has the talent. Colledge had every reason to succeed this year and he fluctuates like a sine wave. He was lights out at times last year and I think McGinn graded him out as the best lineman.

[Fritz]

I put colledge on notice 3 freaking years ago. Nice that the rest of you and the Packer staff have finally caught up with me.

You're so much ahead of everyone, Retail. So please do give us your insight regarding Raji, Lang, and anyone else whose future seems obscure to us mere mortals.

[mraynrand]

I like this like from the JS about the Niners LG:

"The weakest link appears to be LG David Baas. "Bad football player," one scout said. "He's gotten heavy and he's not a quick-footed guy to begin with. He's got no quickness, no twitch to him. To me, this year, he's a complete reject.""

All they would have had to add is my favorite scout description: "Bad body." Let's hope Jenkins eats this guy's lunch.

[pbmax]

I like this like from the JS about the Niners LG:

"The weakest link appears to be LG David Baas. "Bad football player," one scout said. "He's gotten heavy and he's not a quick-footed guy to begin with. He's got no quickness, no twitch to him. To me, this year, he's a complete reject.""

All they would have had to add is my favorite scout description: "Bad body." Let's hope Jenkins eats this guy's lunch.

But Mike Singletary is SO intense, it more than makes up for mere physical deficiencies like this. Just look at his eyes. Imagine having to pass by him with that look on the sideline. Makes you a better player just because of the shivering.

[rbaloha1]

Unsure of Colledge's decline. Upper body strength was always an issue. Still appears to be an issue. Shoiuld not be resigned.

TT must concentrate on the o-line for the upcoming draft.

[The Shadow]

I really wish we would harken back to the old Redskin's days, and start signing a few hogs for the offensive line. Finesse, when it works, is certainly effective, but we play in the NFC North, and the 2nd halves of seasons need road graders.
The draft always features guys who don't pass the 'eyeball test', and possess 'athletic ability' - but are pure hardnosed FOOTBALL players.
Let's get some!