OL Rankings

[swede]

#23 is low. Thompson was a major buffoon last season for believing he had an NFL caliber OL going into the season. It was more like a Mountain West caliber OL.

Once Thompson pulled his head out of his ass (800 sacks in the first 6-8 weeks finally brought him around) he bolstered the OL with Tauscher and the line was not nearly as bad in the second half of the season. Now you add a first round pick (Bulaga) who some thought was good enough to be a top ten pick, and this OL isn't a bottom feeder.

Still not enough depth and too injury prone for my tastes...but they are probably more in the 15-18 range right now, with the potential to move up if Bulaga is a horse and our old guys stay healthy.

Right. Because Tauscher was sitting around unemployed because Thompson didn't want him instead of because he was recovering from a serious knee injury. <sigh>

EDIT: Unless you were being sarcastic, in which case I totally misread your tone and withdraw my exasperated sigh.

I don't think Teddy anticipated that Tausch was going to be vital to our late-season success. I think he thought that Tausch was done playing for the Packers, though. And he probably was quite relieved that the old man recovered and was still available when we needed him. So, yeah, TT was not stupid to handle the Tauscher situation the way he did, but he was a little bit lucky that it turned out the way it did.

[Smidgeon]

Agreed that he was lucky that Tauscher's addition helped so much. Disagree (personally) that he mucked it up in the first place. I will agree that it appears evaluating O-Linemen is not his specialty. He's been working on that O-line ever since he came in.

The number of O-linemen drafted since TT joined staff:

2010: 2
2009: 2
2008: 2
2007: 1
2006: 2
2005: 2

That doesn't include the non-drafted free agent O-linemen that have made the team. While he (or his staff) may not be great at evaluating O-linemen (which is debateable since Sitton's been a success, Lang appears to have a bright future, Spitz was solid before the injury, and Colledge has been ranked by some to be the best LG in the division), he appears to at least be trying to stock his team with good linemen.

With nine draft picks in the first 5 drafts, I would think that GB'd have more starters on the line than two (Colledge/Sitton). The other three are Sherman holdovers. In my opinion that speaks either to poor evaluating of those positions by the talent scouts or to poor development. But hardly because TT was ignoring the position.

[Lurker64]

The number of O-linemen drafted since TT joined staff:

2010: 2
2009: 2
2008: 2
2007: 1
2006: 2
2005: 2

Thompson clearly is neglecting the offensive line, otherwise he would have drafted 2 OL in 2007.

[Patler]

I don't think Teddy anticipated that Tausch was going to be vital to our late-season success. I think he thought that Tausch was done playing for the Packers, though. And he probably was quite relieved that the old man recovered and was still available when we needed him. So, yeah, TT was not stupid to handle the Tauscher situation the way he did, but he was a little bit lucky that it turned out the way it did.

I think Tauscher was always his fall-back plan. I think he hoped (expected?) Barbre to take the position and run with it; but in the event he didn't, Thompson knew Tauscher would likely be available at mid-season. I also think after the first few weeks of the season it was obvious to both TT and Tauscher that he would be back in GB. Had Barbre played well, Tauscher would have shopped himself more aggressively.

[Fritz]

Agreed that he was lucky that Tauscher's addition helped so much. Disagree (personally) that he mucked it up in the first place. I will agree that it appears evaluating O-Linemen is not his specialty. He's been working on that O-line ever since he came in.

The number of O-linemen drafted since TT joined staff:

2010: 2
2009: 2
2008: 2
2007: 1
2006: 2
2005: 2

That doesn't include the non-drafted free agent O-linemen that have made the team. While he (or his staff) may not be great at evaluating O-linemen (which is debateable since Sitton's been a success, Lang appears to have a bright future, Spitz was solid before the injury, and Colledge has been ranked by some to be the best LG in the division), he appears to at least be trying to stock his team with good linemen.

With nine draft picks in the first 5 drafts, I would think that GB'd have more starters on the line than two (Colledge/Sitton). The other three are Sherman holdovers. In my opinion that speaks either to poor evaluating of those positions by the talent scouts or to poor development. But hardly because TT was ignoring the position.

Yes, I think this is the bottom line. Are there ex-Packer linemen drafted by TT whom we can evaluate under other offensive line coaching staffs? I can think of James Meredith, and it'll be interesting to see how he does this year in Buffalo. Any others?

[Patler]

Agreed that he was lucky that Tauscher's addition helped so much. Disagree (personally) that he mucked it up in the first place. I will agree that it appears evaluating O-Linemen is not his specialty. He's been working on that O-line ever since he came in.

The number of O-linemen drafted since TT joined staff:

2010: 2
2009: 2
2008: 2
2007: 1
2006: 2
2005: 2

That doesn't include the non-drafted free agent O-linemen that have made the team. While he (or his staff) may not be great at evaluating O-linemen (which is debateable since Sitton's been a success, Lang appears to have a bright future, Spitz was solid before the injury, and Colledge has been ranked by some to be the best LG in the division), he appears to at least be trying to stock his team with good linemen.

With nine draft picks in the first 5 drafts, I would think that GB'd have more starters on the line than two (Colledge/Sitton). The other three are Sherman holdovers. In my opinion that speaks either to poor evaluating of those positions by the talent scouts or to poor development. But hardly because TT was ignoring the position.

Yes, I think this is the bottom line. Are there ex-Packer linemen drafted by TT whom we can evaluate under other offensive line coaching staffs? I can think of James Meredith, and it'll be interesting to see how he does this year in Buffalo. Any others?

He actually drafted 3 in 2006, Colledge, Spitz and Moll. Most of his draft picks are still with the team. Not sure what can be learned from the post Packer careers of Coston, Whitticker, Moll, Meredith. One was a 7th round pick, the other 3 were 5th rounders. Not many picked that low have careers beyond their 4th or 5th seasons anyway. Two of the four are still on rosters.

This is what the Baltimore site says about Moll:

Tony Moll, 5th season
What He’s Done: The most-experienced of the backups, Moll owns 18 career starts, at right and left tackle and right guard. He was a key reserve last year, seeing action in five games.
What He’s Going For: Moll is pushing for a job as the top reserve tackle, mainly a battle with Cousins. His versatility makes Moll a valuable part of the roster.
What He Needs To Do: The fifth-year veteran needs to hold down the right tackle position when he’s on the field with the second team. Moll will likely play there to bookend Cousins during preseason games.

...and a Bill's article on Meredith, who is lining up as the starter at LT with Bell out:

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-3/Meredith-finding-a-comfort-zone/abc98e53-af3f-43b1-b74d-cbaa763fbb4f

[Scott Campbell]

............. with the potential to move up if Bulaga is a horse and our old guys stay healthy.

Those two things might be mutually exclusive. If Cliffy stays healthy, Bulaga probably won't play.

[Joemailman]

I think TT has gotten better at drafting offensive linemen lately. Sitton was their best lineman last year, and Lang was pretty impressive for a rookie who had to keep switching positions. Now he's drafted Bulaga. I think the Packers were overly fixated on drafting guys with great mobility, and are now drafting guys who can also push you around a little bit.

[swede]

I think TT has gotten better at drafting offensive linemen lately. Sitton was their best lineman last year, and Lang was pretty impressive for a rookie who had to keep switching positions. Now he's drafted Bulaga. I think the Packers were overly fixated on drafting guys with great mobility, and are now drafting guys who can also push you around a little bit.

Excellent take, Joe.

To look at it in a positive light, it is possible that as McCarthy and TT have dialed in on an offensive philosophy they have both improved at evaluating OL talent that matches their needs.

That or the draft is always a crap shoot.

[Scott Campbell]

I'm a lot more concerned about the DL than the OL.