JSO doesn't like the Tausch signing.

[sharpe1027]

I haven't said this out loud yet, but I really feel like the Packers Offensive Line coaching staff has a problem with developing players.

Now, if you couple that with Teets and the scouting staff having what appears to be a weakness when it comes to evaluating Offensive Line talent... you need to sign both Cliffy and Taush.

Anyone else feel like we can scout and acquire talent everywhere else except the O line?

Chicken or the egg problem. Are the linemen bad because they do not have the right talent to succeed or because they aren't being developed properly.

I think the best measure may be whether or not the Packer's unsuccessful O-linemen suddenly become successful elsewhere. Meredith and Moll come to mind. Unfortunately, the jury's still out on both.

[Iron Mike]

Anyone else feel like we can scout and acquire talent everywhere else except the O line?

You're conveniently forgetting that at the time of M3's switch to the ZBS, one of the benefits of the change was supposed to be the fact that the system allowed you to draft "smaller, more athletic" OLinemen rather than the "big, road grader" type that the majority of teams draft, and that you could acquire them in the later rounds of the draft....so TT drafted Colledge, Spitz and Moll in '06 and Barbre in '07....which were at the time they were drafted, were labeled as "smaller, more athletic" types. Now...4 years down the road and everyone is bemoaning the fact that TT has to re-sign Clifton and Tauscher because our current OL sucks.

Maybe it has more to do with the fact that TT was drafting players that "fit the system" and M3, Philben and Campen failed to coach them up, rather than TT sucking at drafting OL.....

[CaptainKickass]

Anyone else feel like we can scout and acquire talent everywhere else except the O line?

You're conveniently forgetting that at the time of M3's switch to the ZBS, one of the benefits of the change was supposed to be the fact that the system allowed you to draft "smaller, more athletic" OLinemen rather than the "big, road grader" type that the majority of teams draft, and that you could acquire them in the later rounds of the draft....so TT drafted Colledge, Spitz and Moll in '06 and Barbre in '07....which were at the time they were drafted, were labeled as "smaller, more athletic" types. Now...4 years down the road and everyone is bemoaning the fact that TT has to re-sign Clifton and Tauscher because our current OL sucks.

Maybe it has more to do with the fact that TT was drafting players that "fit the system" and M3, Philben and Campen failed to coach them up, rather than TT sucking at drafting OL.....

Nope - not forgetting that at all. I've factored in your valid points to ask the above question, plus I'm also including the "no-name" O-Line guys TT went and got for Sherman's last year. (Can't even remember their names....Klemm maybe? & someone else...) They were also unspectacular at best.

"Acquiring talent" includes the Draft, Free Agency, and looking under unturned stones.

It's either inability to get O-line talent, or inability to develop the O-line talent. Or both.

Right now - I'm feeling its both.

[RashanGary]

I don't know if the Packers have been so bad with OL talent.

Colledge - serviceable starter
Spitz - serviceable starter
Sitton - good starter
Lang - appears to be serviceable starter or better


We land a LT and we have 5 solid players up front.

[Deputy Nutz]

I don't know if the Packers have been so bad with OL talent.

Colledge - serviceable starter
Spitz - serviceable starter
Sitton - good starter
Lang - appears to be serviceable starter or better


We land a LT and we have 5 solid players up front.

Sitton is the only one that stands out to me as a player that not only has talent but translates it to the position. He is also the only one that is asked to play only one position, and amazingly enough he is growing into a very successful football player. With the four fellas you mentioned it is hard to call any of them a bust, maybe Colledge who was a second round pick, but he has started almost every game for the Packers in the last 4 years.

Last year the offensive line suffered as a whole due to the lack of any consistency, with Tauscher missing the first half of the year, Clifton missing several games and pieces of a couple more. The biggest problem I see on this offensive line is if and when Clifton gets hurt the Packers are currently in a position to have to turn to a rookie to protect Aaron Rodgers blind side, and with Jared Allen, Julius Peppers, and Kyle VandenBosch in the Division it would make me a little nervous.

Again the Packers could have TJ Lang fill in at RT, LT, LG, but then I think you are doing him a deservice stretching him too thin. I don't mind Guards and Right Tackles learning multiple positions, but my philosophy is that you have a starting left tackle, and reserve left tackle. Groom a rookie to take the reigns in 2011. Instead of using the draft to fill holes, use it to stock your stables in future years especially at tackle where there are two aging veterans.

[RashanGary]

I understand what you're saying, Nutz. It's certainly more ideal.

However, there are what? 20 starting caliber LT's in teh NFL. We have one, barely. After him, we have what appears to be a serviceable LT backup in Lang. I'm really hoping that a good LT prospect makes it to us at some point early in the draft.

If it doesn't happen though, I think we almost have to practice Lang at LT. I'd prefer your scenerio, but we don't know if that's possible yet.


IF we dont' find a LT in this draft, Lang almost has to backup both tackle spots and Spitz backs up all interior spots. I'm OK with that, although I'm really hoping for your scenerio too.

Best case:

Clifton/Promising high draft pick
Colledge/Spitz
Wells/Spitz
Sitton/Spitz
Tasucher/Lang

Hopefully it works out ideal, but there is no guarantee it will.

[3irty1]

I'm glad Tauscher is back but I agree with ND and maybe others that it doesn't mean a whole lot. Tausch is a class act and a fine pass protector and will probably start which probably means another year of struggling to run off tackle. He left a lot to be desired in a zbs RT even before his knee injury which imo didn't seem to slow him down or considerably change his play. The guy is a technician, he's not particularly athletic or by any means a road grater but his kung fu is strong and he'll keep A-Rod up right. If College is indeed a douche and plotting to holdout then I could see our OL go something like this:

LT: Clifton/Lang
LG: Lang/Spitz
C: Spitz/Wells/EDS
RG: Sitton/Spitz
RT: Tauscher/Gio/Barbre

This puts Lang at what is believed to be his most natural position on the OL and a good looking interior line. Last year at this time with Tausch out the job seemed to be Gios to lose which he did by getting Matt Flynn killed in preseason and also by getting hurt. Then Barbre came in and sucked but by the time Gio was healthy Barbre's play had improved quite a bit. I hope for the sake of the OL that Gio can make big strides once again this offseason to show us why Meredith was the one who went to the PS and not Gio. I also will not count out the possibility of a rookie beating out Tauscher this year should some stud LT of the future fall to us.

[GoPackGo]

Tauscher will be 19 months removed from his ACL surgery when training camp begins next summer and should be even better than he was this season.

The Packers do have other options at right tackle with second-year man T.J. Lang and third-year player Breno Giacomini.

Allen Barbre, who started seven games at that spot last year, failed miserably and figures to be a long shot to make the roster.

The Packers know they have to improve the O line or what should be a promising season could be lost. I have to believe TT will make some steps in the right direction without screwing the Packers in any way.

[Brandon494]

I'm glad Tauscher is back but I agree with ND and maybe others that it doesn't mean a whole lot. Tausch is a class act and a fine pass protector and will probably start which probably means another year of struggling to run off tackle. He left a lot to be desired in a zbs RT even before his knee injury which imo didn't seem to slow him down or considerably change his play. The guy is a technician, he's not particularly athletic or by any means a road grater but his kung fu is strong and he'll keep A-Rod up right. If College is indeed a douche and plotting to holdout then I could see our OL go something like this:

LT: Clifton/Lang
LG: Lang/Spitz
C: Spitz/Wells/EDS
RG: Sitton/Spitz
RT: Tauscher/Gio/Barbre

This puts Lang at what is believed to be his most natural position on the OL and a good looking interior line. Last year at this time with Tausch out the job seemed to be Gios to lose which he did by getting Matt Flynn killed in preseason and also by getting hurt. Then Barbre came in and sucked but by the time Gio was healthy Barbre's play had improved quite a bit. I hope for the sake of the OL that Gio can make big strides once again this offseason to show us why Meredith was the one who went to the PS and not Gio. I also will not count out the possibility of a rookie beating out Tauscher this year should some stud LT of the future fall to us.

I believe that is the best O-line rotation we have, no Colledge I think is the best part about it. Only change I would make is that I believe a rookie will take eitehr Gio or Barbre spot