Perry...Wothy...JS...McGinn....Needs Improvement

[Bretsky]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/rookie-chargers-defenders-outplayed-packers-perry-worthy-956ein2-165882096.html

[smuggler]

Yeah, Bob McGinn needs improvement. Ingram looked awesome, but he was playing against Herb Taylor. Perry looked pretty good against Jeromy Clary, SD's starting tackle.

[wist43]

I only skimmed thru the game, but what stood out to me most was the disaster we have at both OT spots. They were nothing short of awful.

I liked Taylor's feet, positioning, and technique in general, but he has exactly 0 horsepower. I think he would be a keeper for the practice squad and give him a year in an NFL strength program, but as of now?? if he's on the field, Rodgers is a dead man.

Datko was much worse - based on that performance, I don't see how he can even have a shot to make the team. He was slow footed, couldn't redirect, and was, like Taylor, severely underpowered.

Ted's going to have to do something to get some servicable T's in here, or Rodgers is going to end up on IR.

[pbmax]

Bob is better at this than the rest. He acknowledges the uneven quality of competition nominally (notice when Reyes came into the game) but the declares that if you had to choose based on one game, the Packers have busted.

As for Tackles wist, the Pack signed some guy named Wells to help EDS backup at Guard and Center, which is likely a sign that Lang would move to left tackle in another emergency. And Sherrod, if he can come back before camp ends, will the be swing tackle as well as behind Bulaga. The Packers don't need to make another move and the primary backups won't be Taylor and Datko. But two guys do need to get healthy.

[Patler]

I only skimmed thru the game, but what stood out to me most was the disaster we have at both OT spots. They were nothing short of awful.

I liked Taylor's feet, positioning, and technique in general, but he has exactly 0 horsepower. I think he would be a keeper for the practice squad and give him a year in an NFL strength program, but as of now?? if he's on the field, Rodgers is a dead man.

Datko was much worse - based on that performance, I don't see how he can even have a shot to make the team. He was slow footed, couldn't redirect, and was, like Taylor, severely underpowered.

Ted's going to have to do something to get some servicable T's in here, or Rodgers is going to end up on IR.

Herb Taylor was drafted in 2007, and has been bouncing around the league ever since. A little late for practice squad development with him.

[Joemailman]

Bob is better at this than the rest. He acknowledges the uneven quality of competition nominally (notice when Reyes came into the game) but the declares that if you had to choose based on one game, the Packers have busted.

McGinn's article may not have been wrong, but it was irrelevant. Who chooses between 2 guys based on their first preseason game? I like the fact that McGinn is not a homer, but sometimes his attempts to prove that point make me roll my eyes. This was one of those times.

As for Datko, he had some reps with the 1's last night at LT, and had some decent moments. Datko played LT in college, and a lot of his struggles in camp had been at RT. Looked to me like he was having a hard time making the adjustment with footwork, leaving him flat-footed. I'm hoping MM will let him concentrate for now on the position he knows. It may not be a good time for experiments since he might need to actually play this year.

[wist43]

Herb Taylor was drafted in 2007, and has been bouncing around the league ever since. A little late for practice squad development with him.

okay... I didnt know much about him. If that's the case, then he's a no-hoper too.

We're in serious trouble at T.

[wist43]

Bob is better at this than the rest. He acknowledges the uneven quality of competition nominally (notice when Reyes came into the game) but the declares that if you had to choose based on one game, the Packers have busted.

As for Tackles wist, the Pack signed some guy named Wells to help EDS backup at Guard and Center, which is likely a sign that Lang would move to left tackle in another emergency. And Sherrod, if he can come back before camp ends, will the be swing tackle as well as behind Bulaga. The Packers don't need to make another move and the primary backups won't be Taylor and Datko. But two guys do need to get healthy.

I don't expect we'll be getting any more help - TT may have invested some high picks in the OL, but he and McCarthy have always like to play musical chairs with the OL. As a result, I think it's fair to say the OL thru TT/M3's tenure has been dysfunctional. They've tighted it up the last couple of years, but a leopard doesn't change his spots - usually.

Sherrod being a bust really hurts... I have no hope he'll be a player.

[denverYooper]

Yeah, it's pretty terrible to have only 4 pro-bowl-caliber linemen.

[Patler]

okay... I didnt know much about him. If that's the case, then he's a no-hoper too.

We're in serious trouble at T.

I agree.

Newhouse - still not back at practice, making this already a more significant concussion situation than many are. While I am OK with Newhouse, a strong TC would have only helped. He is losing valuable reps, and the coaches have said time and time again that he is a player who learns greatly from actual experience.

Sherrod - I'm with you in your pessimism. I was hugely disappointed with his camp last year, and nothing more was asked of him than had been asked of Bulaga the year before. Whereas Bulaga seemed on the verge of beating out Colledge at LG before an injury took him out of the running, then later stepped in adequately at RT with no practice time there, Sherrod never performed at LG, then seemed lost even at both tackles when moved back there. He needed an off season of work to have a chance of being adequate as a stop-gap backup, and it looks like he will get nothing. I wonder if he will be ready even for week 1.

Taylor - I was hoping might show something, but instead Thursday night showed why he has never played anywhere in 5 years of NFL experience.

Datko - I'm not ready to give up on. He has a lot of rust to shake off, as well as adapting to the NFL and position changes. But they can't really expect to rely on him this season.

I sure hope the new guy, Wells, still has something left. He has lots of starting experience, mostly at guard, but some at tackle. He and EDS will give them options, but it is likely to be musical chairs if a starting tackle is injured, with Lang moving to one of the tackle spots.

[Joemailman]

Newhouse was on the field in uniform last night, but not in helmet or pads. Couldn't see if he took part in walk-throughs. At any rate, good chance he's getting close to being back.

[pittstang5]

Crazy as this might sound, but I'd actually like to see Datko at LT and see the new guy, Wells, or Taylor at RT for the second string O-line. What is it going to hurt? We already know how bad Taylor is at LT, Datko can't be much worse.

I really don't think Wells was brought in to play LT if some in here were thinking that.

[smuggler]

Newhouse will come back and Sherrod will get healthy. Then we'll be okay. Just leave a TE in to block on either side if a starter goes down.

[Patler]

Crazy as this might sound, but I'd actually like to see Datko at LT and see the new guy, Wells, or Taylor at RT for the second string O-line. What is it going to hurt? We already know how bad Taylor is at LT, Datko can't be much worse.

I really don't think Wells was brought in to play LT if some in here were thinking that.

No, probably not LT for Wells, but he has started at RT some, and a lot at guard. So they would have options to put either Lang or Bulaga at LT if they have to.


Apparently, Datko is starting to show up a little, too. They gave him reps at LT, splitting the No.1 offense snaps with Taylor, who had taken all of them after Newhouse went out. They said Datko had his best showing yet in the one-on-one drills, beating both Neal and Wynn. He started out 3-5 in the drill, but has gone 12-8 since then.

[pbmax]

I am not concerned about Sherrod based on Bulaga's prior performance. Forgetting for a moment that it can take even a high draft pick up to three years to be ready, Bulaga was, as a pro prospect, someone that scouts pegged as an All-Pro if a team would be willing to move him to guard. He was also viewed as an excellent candidate for RT. He has spent minimal time at what might be his weakest position of the three: LT.

Sherrod, from my memory, was not highly regarded at Guard (save for one scout who thought he would need to be at Guard because off defects he detected) and was regarded as a LT only, with RT being unlikely fit. Spending time in camp at Guard and RT was not the best way to showcase his talents. He also competed against Lang at guard, not Colledge. I can't come up with a metaphor to accurately describe the benefit of being compared, esp. in Green Bay, to Colledge instead of Lang.

Sherrod looked better in games versus Washington and KC. My only concern with him is health.

A week for a concussion is pretty standard, but there is no doubt he could use the reps. I agree Datko is going to feel more at home on the Left and reporters have noted his improvement has been pretty steady since started off like catastrophe.