Will Sherrod be ready to contribute this year?

[King Friday]

I've never been a big fan of Thompson's approach to drafting OL talent. Thompson is a hell of a talent evaluator, but his weak spot is certainly the OL. Colt McCoy looks like Tom Brady this preseason, and it is because the Browns have a hell of an OL. Aaron Rodgers behind that kind of OL will always be dominant even if I'm out there at WR. However, a weak OL can make even the best QBs look very mediocre.

Sherrod was hurt by the lockout, but that is no reason to show regression halfway into preseason. I was never keen on the LG scenario for him. The kid is obviously a tackle. He doesn't have the skills or disposition IMO to play inside. He may be more ready to contribute in the second half of the season, but he looks to be virtually useless at this point. Pencil him in as backup LT and keep it as simple as possible for the kid at this point.

Fingers crossed that Clifton can hold up one more year.

[vince]

Thompson has whiffed on a few guys on the OL, but I think he's changed the approach a bit and recovered nicely. With the implementation of the ZBS, it was pretty clear they were drafting guys they thought could move well - at the expense of girth. Colledge, Spitz, Barbre, Giacomini, Moll... All those guys were supposed to move well and all were right around 300. All were tackles and some were converted tight ends in college. All either never developed or got pushed around too much.

Lately, he's been drafting and signing guys who are over or closer to 320 than 300 and his success rate has improved. Sitton, Lang, Newhouse, Bulaga, Sherrod, McDonald... Many of those guys are as yet unproven, but looking at Sitton, Lang and Bulaga and the development of Newhouse and McDonald thus far gives evidence he's getting on the right track.

[Deputy Nutz]

Thompson's picks that have panned out are all high round picks, his lower round picks haven't work out all that well so I can't say he is any better or worse than any other GM in drafting linemen.

[vince]

Sitton was a 4th, Lang a 5th, Newhouse a 5th or 6th, McDonald undrafted - Sitton's an obvious success, the others are still open books but look like they have potential...

I guess you can say Colledge worked out, but I'd argue that. Spitz was a 3rd I think. Bulaga looks like he's going to be a stalwart.

[Harlan Huckleby]

but looking at Sitton, Lang and Bulaga

How can you call Lang a success story like Sitton & Bulaga? Lang has been nothing special when he has gotten on the field. Lets see how he does.

[vince]

How can you call Lang a success story like Sitton & Bulaga? Lang has been nothing special when he has gotten on the field. Lets see how he does.

Lang held up OK as a rookie when pressed into action. I'm not calling him a success but he looks like he'll be more stout than what we've seen at the positon before. It is consistent with a slightly tweaked approach to selecting guys on the o-line.

[bobblehead]

I just deleted it mesself. Now I wanna watch Zombo, Can't believe he played with a broken scapula.

Watch Genus, Bobble, he's interesting. He was a center in college and supposedly is great at shotgun snaps. He's ugly, but a real scrapper type.

We can put him in at center when Harrel is in. I heard he is great from the shotgun. But I will watch Genus next game.

[bobblehead]

How can you call Lang a success story like Sitton & Bulaga? Lang has been nothing special when he has gotten on the field. Lets see how he does.

Lang is going to be good. I was so disappointed when he came in last season still hurting from the list. I would have bet money he was going to take the LG spot from college. This season we will see the difference. This team can run the ball.

[KYPack]

Lang is going to be good. I was so disappointed when he came in last season still hurting from the list. I would have bet money he was going to take the LG spot from college. This season we will see the difference. This team can run the ball.

Lang had a spectacular rookie year. He started games at both tackle spots. He is the first Packer rook to start two games at LT since Cliffy did it. Lang also played guard his rookie year and did it well. Last year was Lang's wrist year and it was a lost season.

Play lang at LG and let him get in the swing. Find a different back-up for the LT spot. Lang tried to play that last week and it screwed him all up. I, too, think we'll have a better OLine this season.

[mraynrand]

Find a different back-up for the LT spot. Lang tried to play that last week and it screwed him all up. I, too, think we'll have a better OLine this season.

On at least a couple of plays, Lang had LG footwork out there at LT. It looked bad.

[rbaloha1]

Lang held up OK as a rookie when pressed into action. I'm not calling him a success but he looks like he'll be more stout than what we've seen at the positon before. It is consistent with a slightly tweaked approach to selecting guys on the o-line.

Agreed. IMO TT has done an excellent job of drafting o-linemen. TT does not determine which position they play (TT is not a coach.)

How many veteran free agent o-linemen has TT pursued recently?

[Harlan Huckleby]

Lang is going to be good. I was so disappointed when he came in last season still hurting from the list. I would have bet money he was going to take the LG spot from college.

Odds were in Lang's favor to beat-out Sherrod, even if the team wanted Sherrod to succeed.

I'm dissappointed in Sherrod, but its very early yada yada yada

I don't have a strong sense about Lang, lots of mixed signals. But he's at that career point where a lot of players emerge.

[mraynrand]

I don't have a strong sense about Lang, lots of mixed signals. But he's at that career point where a lot of players emerge.

Lang cheered the team on successfully during the Superbowl.

[vince]

Odds were in Lang's favor to beat-out Sherrod, even if the team wanted Sherrod to succeed.

I'm dissappointed in Sherrod, but its very early yada yada yada

I don't have a strong sense about Lang, lots of mixed signals. But he's at that career point where a lot of players emerge.

I think its just as likely that the team pretty much knew that Lang would probably win the job, but didn't think it was a good idea to just hand him the starting gig uncontested. That and challenging Sherrod immediately by forcing him to learn the o-line inside and out were the best ways to develop him for the NFL. They'd like to dress only 7 linemen if they could get away with it. In order to do that, you can't have non-starters playing only one spot.

[Harlan Huckleby]

The Packers still don't have a decent option to backup LG. they need Sherrod to get it together and play acceptably at both LT and LG.

I don't think the depth at OL is looking so rosy. Hopefully Newhouse, Sherrod & McDonald progress.