McDonald's light fading?

[Patler]

For the past year, MM took every opportunity to praise and build expectations for Nick McDonald at both center and guard. I expected him to be in the competition for the vacant LG spot. But, he has had a very quiet camp so far. Very little has been said about him. Now this:

In detailing his offensive line, McCarthy reiterated that the competition at left guard is between Derek Sherrod and T.J. Lang. Meanwhile, Nick McDonald "has a chance" he said, but the coach feels he'll play him "more exclusively" at center.

Where are the, "Nick McDonald will have a real good NFL career" and "Nick McDonald will be among the most improved players" type comments that we have heard for the past year? He has been almost an after-thought so far this training camp.

[vince]

Good question. I think it's conceivable that they feel he's going to be the back-up center and that he needs more work there in case Wells goes down. It seems to me that they always have their eye on the future as well as the present, and there's a center that needs to be groomed for the future.

[pbmax]

It would be a bit of if your backup center didn't also play some guard, or its going to be hard to have him active on game day.

[Old School]

What was said about McDonald last year may still be true. The mitigating facts this year might be the re-emergence of T J Lang after last year's surgery, and the performance of #1 pick Sherrod in camp. It's no fault of Nick that we have talent that may eclipse his potential.

If Nick can give us a solid backup to Scott Wells and backup at guard, it's a win, win situation for the Pack.

[rbaloha1]

Wells is getting older. McDonald needs to focus on center. Plenty of other back-up guard prospects.

[Patler]

I have no problem with McDonald being groomed for center almost exclusively, but in the past MM always took every opportunity to say something praising McDonald. I would have expected him to say something like, "We think Nick has a very good future as a center, and we intend to play him there." His commentary this time lacked any praise for McDonald. That's a change for MM. That's why I wonder if there might be a bit of disappointment in his play so far.

[Patler]

It would be a bit of if your backup center didn't also play some guard, or its going to be hard to have him active on game day.

Dietrich-Smith plays both. It will be interesting to see if a competition develops in preseason between EDS and McDonald for the backup center spot.

[3irty1]

This dates back to last season, he played G and C in TC last year but was pretty much a center only for the whole regular season last year. I wouldn't take it as a sign that he's falling out of favor with MM.

The LG battle is just out of his league, it's between a first-round pick and Lang, who MM is also in love with. MM has even hinted that Lang could have been favored to win the LG spot outright last year from Colledge if not for his injury.

[Patler]

This dates back to last season, he played G and C in TC last year but was pretty much a center only for the whole regular season last year. I wouldn't take it as a sign that he's falling out of favor with MM.

The LG battle is just out of his league, it's between a first-round pick and Lang, who MM is also in love with. MM has even hinted that Lang could have been favored to win the LG spot outright last year from Colledge if not for his injury.

How can I make myself clear? Its not because he is being used only as a center, I can understand that, and I know they talked about center as his eventual position. That's not new. However, for the first time in a long time, MM has not jumped on an opportunity to praise the heck out of McDonald. THAT makes me wonder about how he is performing. The two factors combined make me think he has not progressed as much as expected.

[Patler]

MM talking about McDonald generally this off season, and as the starting LG in a JSO article:

"Everybody talks about Sam and Frank," coach Mike McCarthy said just before the lockout began. "But, I mean, this guy here. . . . I think he could be one of those guys when you say, 'Who made the biggest jump from year one to year two?' I think he has a very bright future."

...

"I think he has that kind of makeup and that kind of raw ability," McCarthy said. "As the year went on you just got excited. We really like his body type. I hope he's ready. He'd be the perfect guy."

[Harlan Huckleby]

Where are the, "Nick McDonald will have a real good NFL career" and "Nick McDonald will be among the most improved players" type comments that we have heard for the past year? He has been almost an after-thought so far this training camp.

Some especially perceptive observers did pick Nick McDonald to win the LG job.

[3irty1]

How can I make myself clear? Its not because he is being used only as a center, I can understand that, and I know they talked about center as his eventual position. That's not new. However, for the first time in a long time, MM has not jumped on an opportunity to praise the heck out of McDonald. THAT makes me wonder about how he is performing. The two factors combined make me think he has not progressed as much as expected.

I do understand you but taken in the context of MM's talk which was about the LG position, I'm not concern that he didn't recite a love letter to McDonald. Its been clear for a year now that McDonald is a more serious prospect at C than G in MM's eyes. Plus you think his crush is so deep that in a convo about Sherrod and Lang he's going to start popping boners at the mention of McDonald? If it eases your concern at all McDonald is listed as the backup RG and C on the new depth chart.

[bobblehead]

Some especially perceptive observers did pick Nick McDonald to win the LG job.

And some picked Lang. As a matter of fact I was on the Lang bandwagon pretty big last year when he broke his wrist and suffered a setback.

[Harlan Huckleby]

pbmax picked McDonald. Harlan Huckleby picked McDonald. Surely you aren't equating a bunch of fools for Lang to those two luminaries.

[Lurker64]

Some of this may be due to the lack of people who can snap on the TC roster. By my count only Wells, EDS, and McDonald are options at Center and there are three offensive units, so I'm not sure that McDonald is available for snaps elsewhere.