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Re: The Packers Running game
Clifton, Tauscher, and Wells are relics before McCarthy's time. Clifton and Tauscer have excellent size, good pass blocking technique, but are poor athletes by today's standards. Especially Tauscher. As far as scheme fit, both are more suited to a power running game style where lineman need not be as athletic. McCarthy bases his offense on a zone blocking system although in the NFL every team runs every kind of blocking scheme there is. So they are only starting due to their pass blocking technique which is fading quickly. As for Wells, he's undersized for a center but does an exceptional job anchoring against bull rushers and is athletic enough to do well with zone blocking assignments. He is equally suited for any scheme.
College, Spitz, Sitton, Lang, Bulaga, and everyone else ever Drafted by TT after 2005 have some common threads that TT seems to look for in a lineman. TT cares about footwork, speed, pass blocking technique, size, attitude, versatility, and strength all in that order. I'd argue that TJ Lang is the ultimate TT lineman, he has all of those qualities. College was a tackle in college and was always believed to hold that upside but I doubt he's seen by the staff as more than a guard at this point. As a guard he is a passable pass blocker and excels at hitting the moving target down the field as a run blocker. He's certainly stronger now than when he came out but is still not a mauler in the run game. He's probably best suited for zone blocking. Spitz has a pretty well rounded skill set who could do well in any kind of scheme but was a good fit for us at C where his extra size would give him an advantage over opposing nose tackles. Sitton has a wide frame and while not the most fluid athlete can get down the field and maul. His style is well suited to either scheme but his ability to tie up a defender is what makes him special. He's not a dominate force at guard but he'll be reliable and will seal of a lot of lanes for MM's zbs. Bulaga is a good athlete and polished technician but is no doubt best suited for zone blocking. He has all the skills necessary and comes from Iowa, the zone blocking capitol of college football. Lang and Newhouse both fit the ZBS perfectly and are completely versatile as well.
To answer where our running game has gone, I'd point to our RBs. To run in the ZBS you should be quick and decisive. Jackson is neither. Kuhn at least has some vision and the ability to fall forward but isn't the home run threat that will keep the defense honest without a serious commitment to the running game. Starks or Nance could be the solution but we won't know until either of them gets a few carries.
Originally posted by CaptainKickass
College, Spitz, Sitton, Lang, Bulaga, and everyone else ever Drafted by TT after 2005 have some common threads that TT seems to look for in a lineman. TT cares about footwork, speed, pass blocking technique, size, attitude, versatility, and strength all in that order. I'd argue that TJ Lang is the ultimate TT lineman, he has all of those qualities. College was a tackle in college and was always believed to hold that upside but I doubt he's seen by the staff as more than a guard at this point. As a guard he is a passable pass blocker and excels at hitting the moving target down the field as a run blocker. He's certainly stronger now than when he came out but is still not a mauler in the run game. He's probably best suited for zone blocking. Spitz has a pretty well rounded skill set who could do well in any kind of scheme but was a good fit for us at C where his extra size would give him an advantage over opposing nose tackles. Sitton has a wide frame and while not the most fluid athlete can get down the field and maul. His style is well suited to either scheme but his ability to tie up a defender is what makes him special. He's not a dominate force at guard but he'll be reliable and will seal of a lot of lanes for MM's zbs. Bulaga is a good athlete and polished technician but is no doubt best suited for zone blocking. He has all the skills necessary and comes from Iowa, the zone blocking capitol of college football. Lang and Newhouse both fit the ZBS perfectly and are completely versatile as well.
To answer where our running game has gone, I'd point to our RBs. To run in the ZBS you should be quick and decisive. Jackson is neither. Kuhn at least has some vision and the ability to fall forward but isn't the home run threat that will keep the defense honest without a serious commitment to the running game. Starks or Nance could be the solution but we won't know until either of them gets a few carries.
We proved it first against Detroit that when we run block half way decently we can run the damn ball when we have to with the personnel we now have. MM is gonna get Rodgers killed...
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