Bulaga

[mraynrand]

Quick scan watching only the LT revealed:

Clifton was OK is pass pro - maybe a pressure or two; on occasion Rodger's pocket was reduced, making him move a bit early. In the run game, Clifton had zero push. He didn't allow his guy to disrupt things, but he never opened a hole.

Bulaga was solid. No pressures whatsoever. He moved and turned his man in the run game about 50%. Missed a couple of blocks on runs. Two penalties. Looked like a veteran.

I'm not impressed with the DEs for the Bills. Peppers, Allen, and Ray Edwards all present far tougher challenges. Problem is with MN, you can't double team four DLs, and you can't chip on every down. Bulaga will have to be on an island from time to time. Still, I think he can do it.

[MichiganPackerFan]

Huge fan of Clifton's and I refuse to bet against him. I don't think he's injury prone like a lot of people have started to claim. A lot of people didn't think he'd recover from that cheap shot hip injury in Tampa he sustained either. Bulaga will have his day, but I'm going to enjoy Clifton and Tauscher until they hang 'em up.

[Guiness]

I don't think anyone is saying Clifton is injury prone MPF. He's got a lot of miles and has a lot of aches and pains that never go away anymore. I think he's at the point where those aches and pains now add up enough to affect his play, or even keep him out of games. In my other post I expressed doubts that they'll even go away enough for him to start much more. When a (relatively) healthy vet is pulled because he's ineffective, the end is near.

mraynrand's analysis is interesting, and I'd be curious to know if others agree. His description of Clifton's play was hardly damning. If accurate, I'd be curious to know why he was pulled.

[denverYooper]

I think Cliffy will start when healthy also. I feel comfortable with having Bulaga come in any time to relieve him, though. It could come down to the style of pass rush coming across from the LT. Cliffy's having a harder time against speed so I would not be surprised to see Bulaga more if that's what's coming.

We're in a better spot with LT than last year. That is for sure. Crafty vet + capable rook. It's a good problem to have.

[MichiganPackerFan]

I don't think anyone is saying Clifton is injury prone MPF. ...

Clarification: i don't think anyone HERE has said he is injury prone, but a lot of national (and some JSO ones too I believe) have called him exactly that.