Colledge - Worse than Whitticker?

[sharpe1027]

What I hope we don't do is keep such a cavalier atitude about building/replacing OLineman. Under the Wolf organization, Ron would pull out all the stops to patch the line. When LT was a problem, he would burn #1 picks and bring in a whole raft of FA's. You have to, sometimes that won't even get you a decent OT.

Under TT/MM, they don't try much of anything. When Tausch was down & gone last off season, we stood pat for some reason. These guys just announced they would move a failed/back-up guard to OT. I was so under the influence of the Kool-aide, I bought it for a bit. Not this year, we need to make some moves. Sign a decent FA and a whole passel of street FA's. Use a high pick and get a top kid and some college FA's. We need support in that Oline, & not just bring in a herd of college kids, either.

It is a problem, but the comparison to Wolf has a few holes. FA just isn't the same. Who was the big FA tackle last year...Pace? Thank god they didn't bother with that waste of money. Indeed, one of the few FA signings was an OL that started something like 8 games last year. He couldn't even make the team.

They had several guys slated for the position and only needed one of them to step up. Unfortunately it took them too long to realize that Lang was the right guy for the job, and by that time Tausch was healthy enough to sign.

It cost them games, but to say that they didn't try much of anything is a bit of a stretch.

[Joemailman]

The real question is how on earth was the decision made early to move Lang to guard after watching Barbre and Giacomini for weeks on end. That kind of lunacy should be fireable.

This and the decision to have Moll take the backup snaps at LT cost the Packers games early. If these decisions originated with MM, we'll just have to hope learns from his mistake. If these decisions were a matter of MM deferring to Campen, then we may see a different OL coach in 2010.

[Bretsky]

In five drafts TT has brought in 10 O-linemen, one second round, one third, three fourths, four fifths and a seventh. Not the highest of picks, but most clustered in the middle of the draft. Ten players, with nothing of significance to show for it. I have to question the coaching performance in making them into NFL caliber players. (I know, I am like a broken record on this topic.)

Maybe that's right and Campen is that bad....or maybe we just have the wrong guys.

[Bretsky]

Casey Hampton was said to have a down year this year and there are calls to get his replacement ready. Even if that is an overreaction, he went through Wells like he was an orange traffic cone when he was in the game. I still think Spitz lands at center, but if Lang is indeed the RT, then there may be two holes in the left side.

What I hope we don't do is keep such a cavalier atitude about building/replacing OLineman. Under the Wolf organization, Ron would pull out all the stops to patch the line. When LT was a problem, he would burn #1 picks and bring in a whole raft of FA's. You have to, sometimes that won't even get you a decent OT.

Under TT/MM, they don't try much of anything. When Tausch was down & gone last off season, we stood pat for some reason. These guys just announced they would move a failed/back-up guard to OT. I was so under the influence of the Kool-aide, I bought it for a bit. Not this year, we need to make some moves. Sign a decent FA and a whole passel of street FA's. Use a high pick and get a top kid and some college FA's. We need support in that Oline, & not just bring in a herd of college kids, either.

Good points..........DITTO for the secondary

[Bretsky]

Casey Hampton was said to have a down year this year and there are calls to get his replacement ready. Even if that is an overreaction, he went through Wells like he was an orange traffic cone when he was in the game. I still think Spitz lands at center, but if Lang is indeed the RT, then there may be two holes in the left side.

What I hope we don't do is keep such a cavalier atitude about building/replacing OLineman. Under the Wolf organization, Ron would pull out all the stops to patch the line. When LT was a problem, he would burn #1 picks and bring in a whole raft of FA's. You have to, sometimes that won't even get you a decent OT.

Under TT/MM, they don't try much of anything. When Tausch was down & gone last off season, we stood pat for some reason. These guys just announced they would move a failed/back-up guard to OT. I was so under the influence of the Kool-aide, I bought it for a bit. Not this year, we need to make some moves. Sign a decent FA and a whole passel of street FA's. Use a high pick and get a top kid and some college FA's. We need support in that Oline, & not just bring in a herd of college kids, either.

I get the point, but its too much to say they don't do much of anything. We are just begging the question here. Funny that when folks are looking to argue for FA everyone has moved on to the New Orleans secondary and Bruce Wilkerson and conveniently forgotten the Bears and Eagles O line signings. No one remembers the failures when discussing FA.

They have drafted more O lineman than anything else under Thompson. At RT they had Barbre, a second (or third?) year guy in Giacomini and a draftee in Lang at the start of camp. The real question is how on earth was the decision made early to move Lang to guard after watching Barbre and Giacomini for weeks on end. That kind of lunacy should be fireable.

I would say that like Matthews, Thompson might need to target someone in the first two rounds that he knows can be successful right away. And get him.

I'm not sure why I'd consider the Eagles a failure; some of their FA's were hit with injuries.

I've always said the key to free agency is not signing a bust. It's whether you decide to play or not

I'd rather swing and miss than keep looking at the called third strike

[pbmax]

Casey Hampton was said to have a down year this year and there are calls to get his replacement ready. Even if that is an overreaction, he went through Wells like he was an orange traffic cone when he was in the game. I still think Spitz lands at center, but if Lang is indeed the RT, then there may be two holes in the left side.

What I hope we don't do is keep such a cavalier atitude about building/replacing OLineman. Under the Wolf organization, Ron would pull out all the stops to patch the line. When LT was a problem, he would burn #1 picks and bring in a whole raft of FA's. You have to, sometimes that won't even get you a decent OT.

Under TT/MM, they don't try much of anything. When Tausch was down & gone last off season, we stood pat for some reason. These guys just announced they would move a failed/back-up guard to OT. I was so under the influence of the Kool-aide, I bought it for a bit. Not this year, we need to make some moves. Sign a decent FA and a whole passel of street FA's. Use a high pick and get a top kid and some college FA's. We need support in that Oline, & not just bring in a herd of college kids, either.

I get the point, but its too much to say they don't do much of anything. We are just begging the question here. Funny that when folks are looking to argue for FA everyone has moved on to the New Orleans secondary and Bruce Wilkerson and conveniently forgotten the Bears and Eagles O line signings. No one remembers the failures when discussing FA.

They have drafted more O lineman than anything else under Thompson. At RT they had Barbre, a second (or third?) year guy in Giacomini and a draftee in Lang at the start of camp. The real question is how on earth was the decision made early to move Lang to guard after watching Barbre and Giacomini for weeks on end. That kind of lunacy should be fireable.

I would say that like Matthews, Thompson might need to target someone in the first two rounds that he knows can be successful right away. And get him.

I'm not sure why I'd consider the Eagles a failure; some of their FA's were hit with injuries.

I've always said the key to free agency is not signing a bust. It's whether you decide to play or not

I'd rather swing and miss than keep looking at the called third strike

Free Agents don't get better and one of their signees came to the team with a knee injury and missed time. There is no way to avoid signing a bust in today's market. This year there be far fewer impact players in the pool if the CBA is not extended, which is not looking likely right now.

It would be ludicrous to ignore it, but there will be less help available.

[pbmax]

While the Packer line play was not acceptable in the first half of the season, the Eagles struggled in much the same way, against an opponent the Packers beat.

Les Bowen - Philly Daily News[/b]]The last time the Eagles played the Cowboys, back on Nov. 8 at the Linc, Donovan McNabb was picked off twice and never looked comfortable in the pocket.

The Birds' offensive line got shuffled when left tackle Jason Peters suffered a first-half ankle injury, then was reshuffled when he returned. It gave up four sacks and seemed overmatched, most notably when it couldn't pick up a key fourth-quarter first down from the Dallas 45 on second-, third- and fourth-and-1. (The spots on third and fourth down almost certainly were wrong, but let's not rehash that again.) The home team lost a very winnable game, 20-16.

The whole point is that there is nothing guaranteed. You need to hit on a player. And these days that player, especially in key positions, is less likely to be in FA.

[get louder at lambeau]

If you've ever watched "The Colledge Experience" on packers.com, you know Colledge's demeanor. He comes across as a good natured, wouldn't hurt a fly, even-keeled, kinda dorky type of person. Probably a good friend, but not a big mean monster who's gonna kick the other big mean monsters' asses. Not very intimidating, despite his size.

If he's playing so bad, get some more competition for him, but for fuck's sake don't cut ANYBODY if you don't have to. We need all the depth we can get on the OL. He'd make a great interior backup if nothing else.

[Joemailman]

I'm sure they won't cut Colledge. The question is how much do you want to pay to keep a guy who hasn't lived up to expectations.

[denverYooper]

I'm sure they won't cut Colledge. The question is how much do you want to pay to keep a guy who hasn't lived up to expectations.

Bingo. Tricky situation b/c he's in a contract year.

[Patler]

In five drafts TT has brought in 10 O-linemen, one second round, one third, three fourths, four fifths and a seventh. Not the highest of picks, but most clustered in the middle of the draft. Ten players, with nothing of significance to show for it. I have to question the coaching performance in making them into NFL caliber players. (I know, I am like a broken record on this topic.)

Maybe that's right and Campen is that bad....or maybe we just have the wrong guys.

Well maybe, but with 10 opportunities to develop a player, and not one shows any indication of improvement, leads me to believe there is something wrong with the instruction.

[pbmax]

In five drafts TT has brought in 10 O-linemen, one second round, one third, three fourths, four fifths and a seventh. Not the highest of picks, but most clustered in the middle of the draft. Ten players, with nothing of significance to show for it. I have to question the coaching performance in making them into NFL caliber players. (I know, I am like a broken record on this topic.)

Maybe that's right and Campen is that bad....or maybe we just have the wrong guys.

Well maybe, but with 10 opportunities to develop a player, and not one shows any indication of improvement, leads me to believe there is something wrong with the instruction.

I think you could credit him with Sitton. EDS and Lang played well, though EDS has not had to start yet. Could Campen have had an effect on those two?

[pbmax]

The real question is how on earth was the decision made early to move Lang to guard after watching Barbre and Giacomini for weeks on end. That kind of lunacy should be fireable.

This and the decision to have Moll take the backup snaps at LT cost the Packers games early. If these decisions originated with MM, we'll just have to hope learns from his mistake. If these decisions were a matter of MM deferring to Campen, then we may see a different OL coach in 2010.

Its good to have you back. Harlan would also be proud. He nearly went catatonic when they traded Moll. To be fair, I think Meredith and then Lang worked third string tackle.

Waldo was making noise that all the complaining about O Line musical chairs was missing a key element. Everyone, except perhaps you starting Left Tackle and maybe the starting center need to play two positions, if only to cover yourself during gamedays with inactive O Lineman.

This year they need to find a middle ground of no more than two positions.

[pbmax]

If you've ever watched "The Colledge Experience" on packers.com, you know Colledge's demeanor. He comes across as a good natured, wouldn't hurt a fly, even-keeled, kinda dorky type of person. Probably a good friend, but not a big mean monster who's gonna kick the other big mean monsters' asses. Not very intimidating, despite his size.

If he's playing so bad, get some more competition for him, but for fuck's sake don't cut ANYBODY if you don't have to. We need all the depth we can get on the OL. He'd make a great interior backup if nothing else.

If there is no CBA, then Colledge will be going nowhere. He will be playing for a less than top-shelf RFA tender. It'll be cheap for a guy with that much starting experience.

[Fritz]

Though it's cold comfort, it is comforting to think that it's Campen's lack of coaching ability rather than Thompson's inability to draft offensive linemen.

Thus, I hope Patler is correct and that further Campen is reassigned to assist the assistant special teams coach.