OFFENSIVE TACKLES-----PAST AND PRESENT

[RashanGary]

I'm just saying. . . As far as LT goes, not every scout or GM is convinced he's a LT. Bill Polian, SB winning GM and one of the most respected front office men in pro football, thinks Bulaga is not a LT. I apologize to anyone here if this is offensive, but I think Polian knows more than Tarlam of packerrats.


Going off what several scouts and front office personnel have said about Bulaga, I think there's a chance that at LT, he's not the great player we're hoping for. Most everyone thinks he'll be a hell of a right tackle.

So if he doesn't work out at LT, I don't mind. We can play him on the right side in the future. If he turns out being just so/so at LT, and holds us over until we can find something better and move him to the right, that will be OK too. As long as Rodgers never has to drop back and have a piece of crap at LT, we'll be OK. I'm pretty sure he's not a piece of crap, so right away I'm happy. I think he'll be a really good pro, just not sure if it will be all at LT. I hope it is, but I'm not sure.

[Tarlam!]

I apologize to anyone here if this is offensive, but I think Polian knows more than Tarlam of packerrats.

Harrell, if you didn't mean to offend me, you wouldn't have phrased your sentence the way you did, so the prelude is just a further attempt at insulting my intelligence.

Unlike some posters here, I don't profess to know anything. I observe what's in the press and what teams do and make assumptions and comments thereupon.

I think this is a preposterous statement of yours based on my observations:

Maybe you don't love him at LT, but I think he's good enough to hold you for a year or two until you find a better LT.

This is precisely why Chad Clifton was re-signed, which you conveniently fail to reflect upon when sharing your immense scouting ability with us.

Now, maybe Polian is correct and TT got himself a RT. But I'm pretty certain he planned on drafting a LT, which, if you had actually read my post, is what my opinion is about. My assumption is that if TT didn't feel he'd score a long term LT solution with Bulaga, then he'd have drafted differently. You'll find just as many scouts that love Bulaga and a bunch of conflicting reports on his level of athleticism. Obviously TT and Polian graded Bulaga differently.

Incidentally, The Raiders took an Iowa Left Tackle 2nd overall in 2004. They then played him with mild success for a year at RT, before trying to switch him back to LT. Today he's playing LG. I don't assume the Packers will screw up Bulaga's head the way the Raiders did with Robert Gallery.

My final point on this is that Cliffy only made one Pro Bowl, and that was as a replacement in 2008. Yet he's been a damned solid LT over the years and if Bulaga can learn behind him for at least half the season (Cliffy didn't start until midway through his rookie season) I believe he will benefit greatly and be better prepared for the task.

[Fritz]

As far as future studs, I'd say Thomas is first, followed by Long.Thomas was that rare guy that came in and played well from the get-go.

Those two look like the next generation of stars.

Funny how before the draft most mocks had Bulaga going between 12 - 18. When I fell to the Pack I was overjoyed. Now lots of folks are saying, "ah, he's okay."

I'm happy with that pick. I hope Cliffy stays healthy and this guy can watch and learn. And I trust Ted more than I trust unnamed scouts.

[retailguy]

I'm just saying. . . As far as LT goes, not every scout or GM is convinced he's a LT. Bill Polian, SB winning GM and one of the most respected front office men in pro football, thinks Bulaga is not a LT. I apologize to anyone here if this is offensive, but I think Polian knows more than Tarlam of packerrats.


Going off what several scouts and front office personnel have said about Bulaga, I think there's a chance that at LT, he's not the great player we're hoping for. Most everyone thinks he'll be a hell of a right tackle.

So if he doesn't work out at LT, I don't mind. We can play him on the right side in the future. If he turns out being just so/so at LT, and holds us over until we can find something better and move him to the right, that will be OK too. As long as Rodgers never has to drop back and have a piece of crap at LT, we'll be OK. I'm pretty sure he's not a piece of crap, so right away I'm happy. I think he'll be a really good pro, just not sure if it will be all at LT. I hope it is, but I'm not sure.

You need to get back on your meds quickly, and I apologize if that offends anyone.

[Deputy Nutz]

Jonathan Ogden
Orlando Pace
Walter Jones

are the top three in the last decade or so

Joe Thomas
Jake Long
D. Ferguson
and if he moves to the left side, Michael Oher

Bulga doesn't even register at this point, not that he won't be a servicable starter, but because he hasn't even played a game in the NFL yet.

If you want my opinion on him, he is going to be a servicable starter some where on the offensive line.

[pbmax]

Re: OFFENSIVE TACKLES-----PAST AND PRESENT

... DeBrickshaw Ferguson has wonderful reviews up to this point. They noted how his arms are so long it's an extreme rarity that a DL even gets to his full second step before Ferguson is putting that intial hit on him with his long arms...

If you got that quote right, that may be the dumbest thing I have heard. That a max of 4 inches stops (or allows) a full second step.

Possibly, they meant that he can trust those arms to catch an edge rusher and allow him to play with less of a kick step or backpedal. But then that is a question of technique, anticipation and recovery as much as it is about arm length.

As for dropping, several top of the line players have waited until the late first round or high second. That does not mean his has any disqualifying factors. Clifton went in the second round and was a fixture for 10 years. The only part of his background that worries me is the dropoff from sophomore to junior year. If it was all related to the thyroid infection and Ferentz was telling the truth, then the Packers got a steal. If he was exposed, then the Packers may have trusted his coach (and the coach's former assistant-Philbin) more than they should.

[bobblehead]

Re: OFFENSIVE TACKLES-----PAST AND PRESENT

... DeBrickshaw Ferguson has wonderful reviews up to this point. They noted how his arms are so long it's an extreme rarity that a DL even gets to his full second step before Ferguson is putting that intial hit on him with his long arms...

If you got that quote right, that may be the dumbest thing I have heard. That a max of 4 inches stops (or allows) a full second step.

Possibly, they meant that he can trust those arms to catch an edge rusher and allow him to play with less of a kick step or backpedal. But then that is a question of technique, anticipation and recovery as much as it is about arm length.

As for dropping, several top of the line players have waited until the late first round or high second. That does not mean his has any disqualifying factors. Clifton went in the second round and was a fixture for 10 years. The only part of his background that worries me is the dropoff from sophomore to junior year. If it was all related to the thyroid infection and Ferentz was telling the truth, then the Packers got a steal. If he was exposed, then the Packers may have trusted his coach (and the coach's former assistant-Philbin) more than they should.

I believe he probably got the quote right, but I also believe its absolutely ignorant.

Long arms give ONE advantage. If you can extend and lock on before the DE does you can stand him up. If you stand him up he loses all leverage and ability to shift and twist on you. Arm length is directly relevant in relation to the other guys arm length. It likely is the difference between an LT that can totally lock guys down and one who consistently gives the QB 4-5 seconds, but never 7-8. In our offense if ARod is holding the ball long enough for a DE to exploit BB's "short" arms then its on the QB.

[Fritz]

Is it legal for other species to play football in the NFL? If it's really all about arm length, couldn't Thompson sign a gorilla to play left tackle?

[Tarlam!]

Is it legal for other species to play football in the NFL? If it's really all about arm length, couldn't Thompson sign a gorilla to play left tackle?

I was thinking an orangotang, myself.

[pbmax]

Is it legal for other species to play football in the NFL? If it's really all about arm length, couldn't Thompson sign a gorilla to play left tackle?

You just stole the working thesis of the former Balco scientists, working on the next cream and clear.