It is official -- Bulaga and Sitton are on the left side

[RashanGary]

MM isn't just thinking outside the box, he's destroyed the box and is playing with the packing material, like a kid at Christmas.

LMFAO. I've been watching the show, "vikings", a TV show on the History Channel. The English talk about them as fighting as if they don't fear death, like men possessed. I'll admit, there is something about a charismatic, fearless leader that makes you just say, "fuck it, let's run out there and swing our axes." That's sort of the feeling I get here. It's like we're heading west with a new navigation tool that nobody has used and then see if we can't win a battle when we get there.

Fer'fucks'sake, if nothing else, this will be a wild adventure ending in a few fatalities.

[3irty1]

Bold strategy going with the Vikings analogy for the Packers. Even if they are the axe swinging kind.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think you are being rather severe towards Bulaga. He played like crap against the seahens but he's played well most of the time during his career. I'd rather have him there than another season watching Newhouse get beat like a drum at Aaron's blindside.

Agreed. Bulaga has been a solid starter at RT. Somebody you put there and don't worry about. The occasional bad game that all players have. (Injuries notwithstanding.) Will he be a solid starter at LT? That I'm not sure about.

[RashanGary]

Woof. Didn't see Sitton and Lang switching sides. Sitton on occasion misses a pass block like Colledge used to (less frequently though); lunges and the guy isn't there. Not sure that is better on the left side. Lang probably can make the switch. I can't see a team making a decision to be a left handed running running team so this has to be about:

This is true. The only thing that keeps Sitton from being the perfect player is that one in ever 3 or 4 game pure whiff. Like fuck it, I text-book blocked my guy 199 times in a row, but this time I'm just going to dive at air and let him run free.

The only thing worse than not knowing what you're going to get is knowing exactly what you're going to get and then not getting it. He rarely misses, but when he does, he really makes it count.

Mother fucker, this is scary.

[pbmax]

Most teams put their two slugger types at RG & RT. Sitton is our resident tough guy mauler type, he might even be a pretty good RT. Bulaga? He's a clumsy bugger that was playing like shit at RT before his injury. Bulaga move to LT? That's a big I dunno. Now you are gonna play your shaky T at LT? he's gonna face each team's premier pass rusher every game. Bulaga vs Peppers, fer instance, could get very ugly very early.

MM isn't just thinking outside the box, he's destroyed the box and is playing with the packing material, like a kid at Christmas.

I like it, but it's scary as shit.

Yep. In the article McCarthy sort of agrees, in a historical sense, with Spoon about bigger, more powerful guy/angry bear at RG rather than LG, but Lang is bigger like a Tackle, he's not a mauling Rivera compared to Sitton's fleet footed Wahle. Plus M3 gives the lie to that kind of thinking by confirming the Packers don't scheme to run strong side right like traditional teams liked to do.

This is all about making the blindside as consistently protected as possible. Bulaga and Sitton might not be the best match or even have the most desirable talent for the Left side, but they are playing the best (and are arguably the best players) among those currently healthy enough to man the positions.

No more hoping. This is a new decree for the left side. Thou shalt not be shaky, learning or unavailable.

[rbaloha1]

The move is not bizarre imo. Two best linemen protecting AR backside is wise.

BB played lt in college. Unsure if shorter arms are a liability but have faith BB is a significant upgrade over Newhouse.

EDS is a mauler and holds his ground -- unspectacular but creates running lanes.

Generally right handed teams run to the right side -- expect Lacy to run more to the left than traditional right handed teams.

[denverYooper]

If Bak or Barclay win the RT job at least the Packers should have a nice group of run blockers.

I actually wonder if this is part of the run game re-tool. New stable of backs, M3 talking about power guys on the right, etc, etc.

[run pMc]

Most teams put their two slugger types at RG & RT. Sitton is our resident tough guy mauler type, he might even be a pretty good RT. Bulaga? He's a clumsy bugger that was playing like shit at RT before his injury. Bulaga move to LT? That's a big I dunno. Now you are gonna play your shaky T at LT? he's gonna face each team's premier pass rusher every game. Bulaga vs Peppers, fer instance, could get very ugly very early.

MM isn't just thinking outside the box, he's destroyed the box and is playing with the packing material, like a kid at Christmas.

I like it, but it's scary as shit.

Do not like this move for exactly these reasons.
Maybe it will pan out, maybe they're just doing this as an experiment -- and OTAs are a good time for that.

Going back to his Iowa days (per the scouting reports) Bulaga struggles with speed rushers, I think he'll have trouble with NFL-level rushers on that side.

If they're trying to say that Bulaga > Newhouse, that's no surprise, but I'm not sure one of the other guys won't step up. So they have Bulaga, Newhouse, Barclay, Bahktiari, Datko, Sherrod pushing for OT.
Clearly they don't want Lang back out there...I think he could be ok at RG, but I'm not sure why they want to move Sitton...he's Pro Bowl caliber at RG.

If this more than just tinkering around during OTAs, I will have lots of reservations about this. Whatever they decide, they need improvement in their run-blocking and they need to cut down on the hits/sacks/pressures on Rodgers. 51 sacks is way too high and Graham Harrell can't even make it to the RB without tripping and fumbling.

[Mazzin]

This makes me so happy to see, I think Bulaga will be fine on the left, that's where I thought he would eventually end up once we drafted him. I don't think Newhouse gets the boot this year, it just wouldn't be prudent, year after year we are decimated by injuries I LOOOOVE the idea of having battle tested back ups, and I'd assume he could play guard in a pinch. I think JC will compete for the center job, I'm not to big on EDS but the staff love him, and they get paid to evaluate so I'm sure they know better than me. I'm in the majority here hoping that Barclay wins the RT job, with Sherrod, Newhouse, Bak, and JC as our back ups. Was Datko on our practice squad last year, and if so can we hide him again?

[Mazzin]

Also Zool, I have to say your avatar has always been one of my favorites. Bubbles is the best character on easily one of the greatest shows ever. REP

[Fritz]

Seems one's opinion of the move hinges upon one's opinion of Bulaga.

Though there seems to be agreement that this is not a vote of confidence for Newhouse and/or Sherrod, but may be for Barclay.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Most teams put their two slugger types at RG & RT. Sitton is our resident tough guy mauler type, he might even be a pretty good RT. Bulaga? He's a clumsy bugger that was playing like shit at RT before his injury. Bulaga move to LT? That's a big I dunno. Now you are gonna play your shaky T at LT? he's gonna face each team's premier pass rusher every game. Bulaga vs Peppers, fer instance, could get very ugly very early.

MM isn't just thinking outside the box, he's destroyed the box and is playing with the packing material, like a kid at Christmas.

I like it, but it's scary as shit.

The move of Bulaga doesn't worry me too much. He's a solid pass protector, and he's not a slugger type that you speak of. Maybe Barclay gives them more of that. It comes down to whether they like Newhouse or Barclay more long-term. Plus, most of the young guys they have are more RT types than LT types, so it gives them more options if Barclay fails. The strange thing to me is moving Sitton to LG. He is more of the slugger type than Lang, and you'd think they'd want to balance out there line a little bit. Perhaps they want their best pass protectors on the blindside + they plan to run at other team's best pass rushers, so those guys can't just tee off on Rodgers. Perhaps moving Sitton gives them a better chance at that.

[HarveyWallbangers]

And I'm not sure this says anything about Sherrod. Good or bad. He's worked at RT before. Really, I think the shift of Bulaga comes down to Newhouse or Sherrod at LT vs. Barclay, Newhouse, Sherrod, Bakhtiari, Datko at RT. They probably feel like Newhouse and Sherrod were their only other options at LT--whereas shifting Bulaga to LT allows a bunch of competition at RT.

[wist43]

The line has been a sieve no matter how you slice it - this is a desperation move. I don't think I've ever heard of a team doing something like this... it isn't unheard of to flop a couple of guys, but to reorder the entire line - wow!! I'm still shocked.

They flip-flop the entire line b/c of a lack of production; they draft more offensive linemen out of the same cookie cutter mold they've been using for years, and then say they have no idea where they will play - why does anyone wonder why we have problems on the OL??

Why didn't they just try a new formula for evaluating OL in the draft... like some drive blocking ability and toughness?? Wonder where the circus midget will end up??

[Patler]

The strange thing to me is moving Sitton to LG. He is more of the slugger type than Lang, ...

Do you really think so? I thought it was more the opposite, Lang more of a brute than Sitton, although maybe not a lot of difference between them.

I wonder if moving Sitton was somewhat due to how much Sitton and Bulaga enjoy playing next to each other. At the end of 2011 and at the start of 2012, in several articles each mentioned how much they both are into the thinking of the other. Both mentioned that their work together was as good as either had experienced with others. they just instinctively knew what the other would do. Perhaps MM sees the two together as better than each with someone else.