Left tackle situation

[Fritz]

Re: Left tackle situation

Once again Thompson is sticking his head in the sand during free agency.

Holy fucking shit. How about we judge how FA went when it ends, not 12 hours after it begins? Looks like Madden GM syndrome is setting in early this year.

I was going to congratulate Scott and his ilk on their extreme patience, waiting so long to bag on Thompson. They gave the guy 12 hours, Skin. And according to another poster, Clifton to the Skins and Kampman to the Seahogs are "done deals."

It's clear that Thompson has failed. Everybody says so. Why do you insist on waiting until the guys actually sign somewhere else and Rodgers is getting brutalized next season thanks to our yet-to-be-determined-but-obviously-a-bum-of-a-left-tackle?

[SkinBasket]

I don't know why I'm still surprised each year when there's a few people who believe our GM can sign anyone and/or everyone that particular fan believes are the answer to a guaranteed Superbowl victory within the first 2 hours of free agency. And if it doesn't happen, it's not because there's 31 other teams or because the player doesn't reciprocate the interest the team does or the player isn't worth the money they sign for or doesn't fit the team. It's because our GM is a bum.

[retailguy]

"We're fine there."

How many years at $7 million would you be willing to go? And how much guaranteed? Bedard's Twitter is VERY short on important details.

Wasn't the point of my comment.

I said in another thread that I didn't think Cliffy was worth more than the $5m offered. My frustrations center around consistent problems for 5 years running now on the line, and no backup LT on the roster of ANY capability (if you believe the coaching staff that Lang doesn't project well there).

I was answering Scott's question of "shouldn't the line be a priority" with Ted's stock press corps answer. Nothing more to read into it than that.

Now to address Harvey's inane point...

[swede]

I don't know why I'm still surprised each year when there's a few people who believe our GM can sign anyone and/or everyone that particular fan believes are the answer to a guaranteed Superbowl victory within the first 2 hours of free agency. And if it doesn't happen, it's not because there's 31 other teams or because the player doesn't reciprocate the interest the team does or the player isn't worth the money they sign for or doesn't fit the team. It's because our GM is a bum.

Snow melts, flowers bloom, free agency arrives, and dopes spring eternal.

[retailguy]

Re: Left tackle situation

Yeah, and then Retail with his usual Thompson cheap shot. This is his time of year.

And your "time of the year" to criticize and ignore my point or take it completely out of context (again).

I was responding, tongue in cheek with Ted's stock answer to every personnel related question.

If you laud him for not giving away any information, then you shouldn't be so offended that we parrot back his standard answer. It was my way of saying "no news on that until training camp". Just deal with it.

Do I think it's stupid? Of course. Do I expect newspaper reports about who we're signing? No. But, you know, if we're building from within, shouldn't we have a backup LT on the roster since ours is older and has had consistent knee problems for 3 years running now?

Shouldn't we be a bit concerned that the OL has been the most glaring problem our team has faced for the past 5 years, and the only thing that has been consistent is inconsistent play?

Shouldn't we be concerned that the only backup that currently projects to a starting role is Lang? Deitrich Smith hasn't played much, if at all. Barbre was a disaster.

Spitz has been woefully inconsistent. Started as a RG, but couldn't do it. Then we're told that "his best position" might be center. Won the camp battle (barely), over a "over achieving midget" and then got hurt (again).

Meanwhile Colledge resembles a turnstile more than an OL. Yet we still hear that "last year" he "graded out as our best lineman". The first 7 games of each of the last three years have been abject failures and we're still talking about who the best lineman is? WHO CARES?

Sitton is the only one currently signed who is worth a shit, and Lang is the only backup with legitimate reason to believe he'll help.

So if you want to continue to "harp" about my motives, fine, but you are making yourself look stupid. That's Ted's stock answer to the media. You can't deny that. I told you and the rest of the forum what he'd say if he had the chance. Just deal with it. That's our GM, who, however you'd like to spin it, has NO LT of any substance on the roster. And no plan of any type we can rely on. Does he have a plan? Hope so, but the last 5 years don't give me any confidence that it is "under control".

[packrat]

We need depth, but other than at LT, we are not in bad shape. Wells is better than average, Sitton and Lang have potential to be better than average. Spitz is at least average. But the killer LT is a necessity and I think the way to solve it is with a RFA and a lower round draftee. If Clifton moves, that becomes a necessity.

[get louder at lambeau]

I don't know why I'm still surprised each year when there's a few people who believe our GM can sign anyone and/or everyone that particular fan believes are the answer to a guaranteed Superbowl victory within the first 2 hours of free agency. And if it doesn't happen, it's not because there's 31 other teams or because the player doesn't reciprocate the interest the team does or the player isn't worth the money they sign for or doesn't fit the team. It's because our GM is a bum.

Annoying, isn't it?

[Lurker64]

We need depth, but other than at LT, we are not in bad shape. Wells is better than average, Sitton and Lang have potential to be better than average. Spitz is at least average. But the killer LT is a necessity and I think the way to solve it is with a RFA and a lower round draftee. If Clifton moves, that becomes a necessity.

If we lose Clifton, there are a number of strategies available to our GM:

1) Tra Thomas is set to be released by the Jaguars. We could either wait for him to get cut, or get him for modest trade value.

2) Baltimore LT Jared Gaither is tendered for a first. He might be worth that alone, but that first round tender is basically an invitation to negotiate.

3) St. Louis LT Alex Barron, was tendered at a 2nd round pick. That too might be worth it, but a modest trade could also be worked out. St. Louis can use everything.

4) Hold out, and pray that you get a tackle at #23 that can play as a rookie.

[steve823]

Whoever our LT is, he's going to have to play good. I have confidence in TT though.

[red]

We need depth, but other than at LT, we are not in bad shape. Wells is better than average, Sitton and Lang have potential to be better than average. Spitz is at least average. But the killer LT is a necessity and I think the way to solve it is with a RFA and a lower round draftee. If Clifton moves, that becomes a necessity.

If we lose Clifton, there are a number of strategies available to our GM:

1) Tra Thomas is set to be released by the Jaguars. We could either wait for him to get cut, or get him for modest trade value.

2) Baltimore LT Jared Gaither is tendered for a first. He might be worth that alone, but that first round tender is basically an invitation to negotiate.

3) St. Louis LT Alex Barron, was tendered at a 2nd round pick. That too might be worth it, but a modest trade could also be worked out. St. Louis can use everything.

4) Hold out, and pray that you get a tackle at #23 that can play as a rookie.

i'm starting to think that gaither might be a pretty good option

he's young and he's already proven he can play LT. x chances are the first tier of tackles will be gone by #23, and only projects will still be around

trading 23 to get a sure fire tackle might not be a bad option

[steve823]

Gather is more of a run blocking Tackle then pass blocking. Considering we need to protect Rodgers from getting sacked all the time from peppers and allen I don't think it would be a good choice.

Alex Barron might be more logical, but still he hasn't lived up to expectations and commits a lot of penalties.

[red]

this might come down to what the coaches and tt think of tj lang

i thought he looked good when he was in there

maybe there's a chance the organization feels they already have our LT on the team?

if thats the case, then i would like to see tausch signed so we don't go into next year with two new, young tackles.

then maybe draft a tackle in the 2nd or 3rd or so in the draft to take over the other side in two years

[steve823]

I was under the impression that Lang was our future RT..but maybe they feel he could be a good LT. Not really sure what goes on in their minds.

I still wouldn't be surprised to see our 1st pick be a non-tackle. No point of reaching to grab a tackle that isn't worth the pick.

[Tony Oday]

2) Baltimore LT Jared Gaither is tendered for a first. He might be worth that alone, but that first round tender is basically an invitation to negotiate.

Any chance we could trade a 2 and 4 for him instead?

[Brandon494]

So you guys still think we aren't going to select a OT with our 1st round pick?