Moll & Meredith - valuable backups

[Patler]

Did the Packers give up too soon?
Should they have kept Moll and Meredith, and dumped Barbre & Giacomini last year?

Article from Baltimore about Moll:
http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/201...h-cousins-out/

Article from Buffalo about Meredith:
http://www.buffalobills.com/news/art...c-def98360cdec

[get louder at lambeau]

And if they dump Barbre and Giacomini, will we be hearing how well they are doing in Oakland and Detroit next year?

[mission]

And if they dump Barbre and Giacomini, will we be hearing how well they are doing in Oakland and Detroit next year?

Probably. The James Campen Experience.

[Patler]

And if they dump Barbre and Giacomini, will we be hearing how well they are doing in Oakland and Detroit next year?

Probably. The James Campen Experience.

That's what I wonder, but I have always been a staunch critic of Campen's promotion.

On the other hand, Coston is out of the NFL as far as I know.

[rbaloha1]

Derrick Martin is a good player. IMO Newhouse is a better prospect than Meredith.

[Patler]

Derrick Martin is a good player. IMO Newhouse is a better prospect than Meredith.

But Martin may not even make the roster past Bigby's availability. Collins, Burnett, Bigby and Blackmon probably all make the roster ahead of him. Then they have Peprah, too.

I hope you are right about Newhouse. I have no opinion about the comparison, but I know last year there were some pre-draft polls that suggested Meredith could go quite high in the draft, based on his potential. Can't say I even heard much about Newhouse before the draft.

[Fritz]

I was bummed when the team did not keep Meredith on the 53 last year. he seemed a more worthy project than Giacomini. He was, after all, a rookie.

But the article suggests that he's starting because the usual starter is out, right? And that he's the backup right tackle, too. Important job, backup, but it didn't sound like he was necessarily the LT of the future.

And Moll, I think he had plenty of time to deveop here. The article seems to suggest he's just stepped in once and done a good job as a backup. But I don't know that it says he's the next big thing - just a guy.

Still, I do think Campen may not be the best developer of young talent. I wonder if Colledge may have been a better player had he had a different line coach.

[gbpackfan]

Moll is the third string RT and now HAS to play because of injuries. Fluff piece. Dont be fooled.

Meredith would have been a better player to keep than Giacomini. But that's alot easier to tell now. Oh well.

[rbaloha1]

Derrick Martin is a good player. IMO Newhouse is a better prospect than Meredith.

But Martin may not even make the roster past Bigby's availability. Collins, Burnett, Bigby and Blackmon probably all make the roster ahead of him. Then they have Peprah, too.

I hope you are right about Newhouse. I have no opinion about the comparison, but I know last year there were some pre-draft polls that suggested Meredith could go quite high in the draft, based on his potential. Can't say I even heard much about Newhouse before the draft.

Based on preseason play Newhouse is playing well -- never gets beat and assignment sure.

[mraynrand]

Derrick Martin is a good player. IMO Newhouse is a better prospect than Meredith.

But Martin may not even make the roster past Bigby's availability. Collins, Burnett, Bigby and Blackmon probably all make the roster ahead of him. Then they have Peprah, too.

I hope you are right about Newhouse. I have no opinion about the comparison, but I know last year there were some pre-draft polls that suggested Meredith could go quite high in the draft, based on his potential. Can't say I even heard much about Newhouse before the draft.

Based on preseason play Newhouse is playing well -- never gets beat and assignment sure.

another take:

http://www.totalpackers.com/2010/05/09/newhouse-could-spell-the-end-for-colledge-or-spitz/

[bobblehead]

Derrick Martin is a good player. IMO Newhouse is a better prospect than Meredith.

But Martin may not even make the roster past Bigby's availability. Collins, Burnett, Bigby and Blackmon probably all make the roster ahead of him. Then they have Peprah, too.

I hope you are right about Newhouse. I have no opinion about the comparison, but I know last year there were some pre-draft polls that suggested Meredith could go quite high in the draft, based on his potential. Can't say I even heard much about Newhouse before the draft.

Based on preseason play Newhouse is playing well -- never gets beat and assignment sure.

another take:

http://www.totalpackers.com/2010/05/...edge-or-spitz/

The date on the comments suggests that article was written in early may.

I am with Patler and have no opinion on Newhouse having read nothing and not noticed him playing.

I do have an opinion on Babre. After I thought he would be suited to play LG better than tackle since the edge speed wouldn't be a factor AB has proven me a fool. I'll keep the jury out on Giacominni, but I think we can say for fact that keeping either of those 2 guys above over Babre would have been the better play....hindsight is 20/20 though.

[Patler]

No need to point out they are just backups, I acknowledged that in the thread title. The question is, are they better backups than Giocomini and Barbre. I think the answer is yes.

Moll is what he is, not great, but not a constantly spinning revolving door to the QB as Barbre was last year and continues to be this year, and as Giocomini has been in his two games so far.

Meredith has some potential. The Bills seem satisfied with him so far. He played well for them last year when rushed into the starting lineup after just a week or so.

By all accounts, Giocomini is a right tackle only, not a guard, not a left tackle. Barbre has shown he can line up and play equally poorly at a lot of positions.

Moll plays guard and tackle, and Meredith plays both tackle positions.

I think both Barbre and Giocomini are busts and will not make the final 53. I suspect Meredith would have this year, and Moll may have as a last man standing sort of backup. I think both have more value right now than either Barbre and Giocomini.

[vince]

Moll could have helped last year probably, but it's hard to be overly critical of the decision to trade him. Moll is what he is and always will be - below average. He wouldn't be a Packer this year regardless.

Our backups this year are looking like Bulaga/Colledge, Lang, Spitz, and EDS/Newhouse. I'll take any/all of them over the four in question - and I'll especially take Lang and Bulaga as heir apparents to the tackle spots over them.

Giaco just hasn't developed and Barbre just can't figure it out apparently. Sure they whiffed on these two, but both are physically more gifted than Meredith and Moll. Sometimes it makes sense to take a chance on the physically superior guys at the bottom of the roster. And it's not like Meredit or Moll are going to end up in Canton.

Meredith was not good in camp last year - at all. He was regularly beaten in the preseason. Ted gambled on him sticking on the practice squad, and he lost that bet because of the Bills' desperate situation on the line, but it's not like the guy's destined for Canton here.

Moving/cutting guys that aren't ready to make this team but have potential and might be claimed and stick elsewhere (Muir is another) where anothe team is thinner is going to happen annually as this team continues to mature.

I bet Quinn Johnson, if cut this year, goes on to have a decent career in the league too. One of the TE's cut probably will too. Both punters will probably be punting in the league for someone. Watch Wynn or Wilson (if cut) get claimed.

Next year will probably be even tougher yet to crack the 53. Some that don't will probably stick elsewhere on inferior rosters and end up looking OK in the rear-view mirror.

[HarveyWallbangers]

No need to point out they are just backups, I acknowledged that in the thread title. The question is, are they better backups than Giocomini and Barbre. I think the answer is yes.

I think the question should be: would they make the roster this year? If so, then it might have been a mistake. I can't get too worked up about trading Moll for Martin. Would Meredith make this year's team? If he's better than Lang, Newhouse, or whomever we keep as backup OT, then perhaps it was a mistake. Then again, Giacomini could get cut and become a serviceable backup for some other team by this time next year. Would it be a mistake to cut him then--knowing that he sucks now?

[Patler]

No need to point out they are just backups, I acknowledged that in the thread title. The question is, are they better backups than Giocomini and Barbre. I think the answer is yes.

I think the question should be: would they make the roster this year? If so, then it might have been a mistake. I can't get too worked up about trading Moll for Martin. Would Meredith make this year's team? If he's better than Lang, Newhouse, or whomever we keep as backup OT, then perhaps it was a mistake. Then again, Giacomini could get cut and become a serviceable backup for some other team by this time next year. Would it be a mistake to cut him then--knowing that he sucks now?

If the question was directed at me, I said what I thought their chances would have been this year:

I think both Barbre and Giocomini are busts and will not make the final 53. I suspect Meredith would have this year, and Moll may have as a last man standing sort of backup. I think both have more value right now than either Barbre and Giocomini.

I don't mind having traded Moll, toying with the bottom of the depth chart never really bothers me. The one that sort of confused me was exposing Meredith while protecting Giocomini. I know Meredith had a poor camp, but no worse the Giocomini as a rookie, and maybe no worse than Giocomini last year.

Somehow, the staff apparently didn't get through to Meredith. After going to Buffalo, he talked about being confused in GB, but quickly having a better understanding about schemes in Buffalo. That article raised a lot of questions in my mind.