Interesting comment on TJ Lang from Mike McCarthy

[RashanGary]

dp

[wootah]

McCarthy high on rookie offensive lineman McDonald

"That kid's going to be a good player," coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think Nick McDonald will be on my team for a long time. I think that kid's coming fast."

High praise from MM for a guy that didn't play a snap this year (IIRC). Maybe our OL will simply be improved by subtraction next year. Does anyone know why there hasn't been a 'Colledge experience' this year?

Edit: I just saw you mentioned the same article, JH, but in the "JT is back" thread.

[RashanGary]

I was wondering where that went. Basically, it sounds like MM is in love with both McDonald and Lang. Last year it was Breno and Barbre. . . .

I was excited to hear about Lang and disappointed to hear McDonald thrown in. It makes it seem like MM glows about everyone and you can't trust it. After all, he did glow about Barbre and Breno.

[3irty1]

Lang certainly has the skill set to thrive at either LG or at RT and I think the decision to choose a position for him will largely come down to the development of guys like Newhouse. Newhouse has the better body of a tackle with his long limbs and athleticism. If Newhouse were to reach his potential he would make a great RT and leave Lang to man the LG spot. One of the reasons I like Lang at LG is that he has already shown he is the backup LT and will be in position to slide over in case of an injury. Newhouse has the upside to better serve as a LT but will likely never get a chance to prove it as Lang already has.

[Patler]

I was excited to hear about Lang and disappointed to hear McDonald thrown in. It makes it seem like MM glows about everyone and you can't trust it. After all, he did glow about Barbre and Breno.

Not like he has about Lang and McDonald. He spoke positively about their potential, but with Lang and McDonald he seems more positive that they will succeed. Saying they have to find a place for Lang, and that McDonald will play a lot of years for him are far more positive statements than he ever said about either Barbre or Giacomini, to my recollection.

Now someone needs to ask him about Newhouse!

[Fritz]

There is also an article in this morning's JSO in which McCarthy praises Lang again - but praises McDonald extensively as well.

The article says McDonald has been playing mostly center, but can play guard as well. To me, that suggests that Colledge's days in GB might be numbered, because you have too many options to replace him - options MM seems to really like. And that's without Newhouse in the picture.

I would guess - yes, just a wild guess - that the Pack will draft a tackle in next year's draft. No more guards, as they seem to have enough of those. But a tackle who projects as a tackle.

[Fritz]

I was wondering where that went. Basically, it sounds like MM is in love with both McDonald and Lang. Last year it was Breno and Barbre. . . .

I was excited to hear about Lang and disappointed to hear McDonald thrown in. It makes it seem like MM glows about everyone and you can't trust it. After all, he did glow about Barbre and Breno.

I don't think he really glowed much about their performances - just their potential. He often seemed to stress that Breno had potential. But with Lang and McDonald he's saying they are gonna be players, they are practicing very well. He seems much more confident in these two.

[Patler]

Interesting that MM praises both Lang and McDonald, while Whitt rips on Underwood again, just like last year at about this time.
Underwood seemingly has made no progress in year #2, now playing safety in practices.

[RashanGary]

True Fritz, I think the McDonald praise is the most genuine. Lang seems genuine too. I just start to wonder. . . . Is he blowing sunshine up our asses or do we really have a hell of a young stable of lineman (Bulaga, Sitton, McDonald, Lang). . . . Taking it for what it is, yeah, it seems like MM is impressed with these guys. . . The odds just seem stacked against it.

If we have this many good young lineman we could live with another year or two of Colledge if we had to. It's not like he's getting worse. He's getting better, it's just not not good enough to have us stop looking for his replacement.

[RashanGary]

Bulaga/Clifton/(draft or newhouse)
Colledge/Promising draft pick
Wells/McDonald
Sitton/McDonald
Lang/Clifton/(draft or newhouse)

I could see something like this next year. Ideal would be a promising draft pick starting at RT or LG and Colledge being gone. I don't think it's quite as easy to replace Colledge as we all think. He's had a solid year. I still want him replaced, I just think he's good enough that a rookie outside of the first round will have a hard time doing it in year 1.

[3irty1]

There is also an article in this morning's JSO in which McCarthy praises Lang again - but praises McDonald extensively as well.

The article says McDonald has been playing mostly center, but can play guard as well. To me, that suggests that Colledge's days in GB might be numbered, because you have too many options to replace him - options MM seems to really like. And that's without Newhouse in the picture.

I would guess - yes, just a wild guess - that the Pack will draft a tackle in next year's draft. No more guards, as they seem to have enough of those. But a tackle who projects as a tackle.

I wouldn't be so sure about either colledge or a tackle. McDonald playing mostly center is no surprise as the team will most likely be without a backup center once Spitz packs his bags this offseason to find a starting gig. If Colledge leaves that would leave the cupboards pretty bare along the interior. Take into account that Tauscher likely won't be back and you're talking about 2-3 vacated roster spots for o-linemen. If college is sent packing then Lang will likely start and Nick McDonald and Newhouse become the backups all along the O-line. That's a pretty lousy depth compared to previous years of having at least one starter-quality guy to step in somewhere. I think Colledge is retained but put into competition with Lang. I think a guard/tackle and a tackle are both drafted.

[3irty1]

Bulaga/Clifton/(draft or newhouse)
Colledge/Promising draft pick
Wells/McDonald
Sitton/McDonald
Lang/Clifton/(draft or newhouse)

I could see something like this next year. Ideal would be a promising draft pick starting at RT or LG and Colledge being gone. I don't think it's quite as easy to replace Colledge as we all think. He's had a solid year. I still want him replaced, I just think he's good enough that a rookie outside of the first round will have a hard time doing it in year 1.

Clifton is not going anywhere with his play this year. If Lang is going to play next year he's going to have to beat out Bulaga or Colledge assuming Colledge is retained. I see it more like this:

Clifton/Bulaga/Lang
Lang/College/Newhouse
Wells/McDonald
Sitton/McDonald
Bulaga/Lang/Newhouse

I wouldn't be surprised either if a guy with lots of upside at LT like Joe Barksdale was a high pick by the Packers this year to sit behind Clifton and eventually take over, leaving Bulaga at RT permanently. I also wouldn't be surprised if McDonald won the center spot. At 6-4 316 lb he is pretty much everything that Wells isn't and with the growing number of 3-4's in the league, big centers are becoming more and more desirable it seems. McCarthy already expressed this once by demoting Wells in favor of Spitz who was another big center.

[Fritz]

I don't agree, 3irty1. I think that young depth may well develop very nicely and provide the Packers with quality depth next year. MM loves McDonald, for one, and Newhouse showed some possibility as a rookie. Another year in the system and some weight lifting, and it's possible the offensive line could have some nice interior depth next year.

[MJZiggy]

I wouldn't be so sure about either colledge or a tackle. McDonald playing mostly center is no surprise as the team will most likely be without a backup center once Spitz packs his bags this offseason to find a starting gig. If Colledge leaves that would leave the cupboards pretty bare along the interior. Take into account that Tauscher likely won't be back and you're talking about 2-3 vacated roster spots for o-linemen. If college is sent packing then Lang will likely start and Nick McDonald and Newhouse become the backups all along the O-line. That's a pretty lousy depth compared to previous years of having at least one starter-quality guy to step in somewhere. I think Colledge is retained but put into competition with Lang. I think a guard/tackle and a tackle are both drafted.

I thought Spitz's back was slowing him down. If that's the case, don't look for him to be going anywhere until he gets his horsepower back.

[Fritz]

True Fritz, I think the McDonald praise is the most genuine. Lang seems genuine too. I just start to wonder. . . . Is he blowing sunshine up our asses or do we really have a hell of a young stable of lineman (Bulaga, Sitton, McDonald, Lang). . . . Taking it for what it is, yeah, it seems like MM is impressed with these guys. . . The odds just seem stacked against it.

If we have this many good young lineman we could live with another year or two of Colledge if we had to. It's not like he's getting worse. He's getting better, it's just not not good enough to have us stop looking for his replacement.

What's wrong with that if he is? Do not forget the lyrics of the late, venerable John Denver: "Sunshine, up my asshole, makes me happy....Sunshine in my ass, it makes me smile..."