Run Game Analysis: Its the Guys Upfront

[pbmax]

Contrary to some speculation, Packers ran some run formations on Friday night (first half!) and it almost worked. But in each case, one or two breakdowns upfront cost them bigger runs.

Newhouse is vulnerable to Barclay at this point.

Also, Cliff Christl has been sidelined and Baranczyk is on his own. http://www.packersnews.com/article/2...k-running-game

One was with 2:30 left in the first quarter. It was a double- tight end and I-formation backfield, a classic running formation for the Packers. Left tackle David Bakhtiari and the tight end get good push, everything looks great except that left guard, undrafted rookie Patrick Lewis, who gets pushed back. That knocks fullback John Kuhn off track as the lead blocker because has to go around Lewis. Franklin has the ball and has to go around Lewis, too, and what could have been a big play is only a 4-yard gain.

How much bearing this has on the regular season is debatable as Sitton would be there normally.

Three plays later, same formation. Tight end Matthew Mulligan blocks well, the guards and center (Lewis, Lane Taylor and Greg Van Roten) are blocking, and there’s a beautiful alley for Franklin. Except right tackle Marshall Newhouse can’t block his guy. Franklin has to bend the run back into the pursuit and is tackled for a 3-yard gain. If Newhouse at least stalemates his guy, that’s a 10- or 15-yard run, the lane is there.

This mistake could be costly in two ways, one is Franklin losing out on a big play. Two, its this kind of mistake that Barclay did not make on Friday.

[red]

It the type of mistake barclay didnt make all of last year either

Why DB wasn't penciled in as starter from day one is beyond me. He just shows the heart and fight that we just dont see in newhouse

[pbmax]

It the type of mistake barclay didnt make all of last year either

Why DB wasn't penciled in as starter from day one is beyond me. He just shows the heart and fight that we just dont see in newhouse

Baranczyk also dinged EDS and Lang because on the touchdown, one was on the ground and the other was standing in the endzone. Bach and Sitton each rode their guys away, though they weren't playside.

[Joemailman]

It the type of mistake barclay didnt make all of last year either

Why DB wasn't penciled in as starter from day one is beyond me. He just shows the heart and fight that we just dont see in newhouse

Barclay reminds me of Tauscher. Maybe doesn't look the part of on NFL OT, but understands how angles and leverage factor into how to play the position. Maybe someday Sherrod takes his place, but right now he's better than Newhouse.

[denverYooper]

Lang's got a back injury so he gets a pass but it's starting to look like the #1 line this year might be Bakh/Sitton/EDS/Lang/Barclay. I think those guys + Franklin will be fun to watch once they've jelled. I'm hoping to see a return of a deadly screen game and think Franklin might do a lot of damage there.

[bobblehead]

It the type of mistake barclay didnt make all of last year either

Why DB wasn't penciled in as starter from day one is beyond me. He just shows the heart and fight that we just dont see in newhouse

I still see Barclay as being a guard with us down the road with Sherrod and Bulaga at the tackles. Yea, I know, wishful thinking that sherrod ever plays another down.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Lang's got a back injury so he gets a pass but it's starting to look like the #1 line this year might be Bakh/Sitton/EDS/Lang/Barclay. I think those guys + Franklin will be fun to watch once they've jelled. I'm hoping to see a return of a deadly screen game and think Franklin might do a lot of damage there.

Its starting to look that way. As long as you get Newhouse out the line up. Newhouse is not horrible but he should strictly be a backup at this point. He has reached his max potential by now. With Bakh and Barclay, they carry the potential of progressing into solid bookends by years end.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I still see Barclay as being a guard with us down the road with Sherrod and Bulaga at the tackles. Yea, I know, wishful thinking that sherrod ever plays another down.

Sherrod......Bulaga going down might have saved his career with us. He wasn't making it over Bulaga, Bakhtiari, Barclay, and Newhouse. He was headed to IR or was getting cut. Maybe they place him on the pup now and hope he can provide depth by the end of the year. I feel the team will want to see something out of him at some point this year or they will move on ala Harrell.

If Tretter didn't go down we might actually of had three first or second year guys competing to start.

Bakhtiari/Sitton/Tretter/Lang/Barclay would have been interesting.

[denverYooper]

Sherrod......Bulaga going down might have saved his career with us. He wasn't making it over Bulaga, Bakhtiari, Barclay, and Newhouse. He was headed to IR or was getting cut. Maybe they place him on the pup now and hope he can provide depth by the end of the year. I feel the team will want to see something out of him at some point this year or they will move on ala Harrell.

Due to the severity of his injury, I suspect they'll PUP him and quite possibly IR him to give him 1 more year. If next year is similar, they'll probably move on.

[Joemailman]

Did you see Newhouse whiff on that guy? We got it made!!

[Harlan Huckleby]

Sherrod......Bulaga going down might have saved his career with us. He wasn't making it over Bulaga, Bakhtiari, Barclay, and Newhouse. He was headed to IR or was getting cut. Maybe they place him on the pup now and hope he can provide depth by the end of the year. I feel the team will want to see something out of him at some point this year or they will move on ala Harrell.

Justin Harrell was with the Packers for four seasons. Last year was Sherrod's rookie season. Sherrod will at least be given another training camp to see if he can win a roster spot.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Justin Harrell was with the Packers for four seasons. Last year was Sherrod's rookie season. Sherrod will at least be given another training camp to see if he can win a roster spot.

This is Sherrod's third year.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Its starting to look that way. As long as you get Newhouse out the line up. Newhouse is not horrible but he should strictly be a backup at this point. He has reached his max potential by now. With Bakh and Barclay, they carry the potential of progressing into solid bookends by years end.

A lineman doesn't peak at age 24, but it's certainly possible that Newhouse won't ever be more than a guy. I like Barclay better because he can run block, but I'm not sure he'll ever be more than a guy either. We'll see. Newhouse is a backup LT.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

A lineman doesn't peak at age 24, but it's certainly possible that Newhouse won't ever be more than a guy. I like Barclay better because he can run block, but I'm not sure he'll ever be more than a guy either. We'll see. Newhouse is a backup LT.

Its not about age, its about experience. Newhouse has started the better part of two years. This will be his third year starting and he is still playing like shit and its only preseason. Good backup nothing more.

[Harlan Huckleby]

This is Sherrod's third year.

I forgot that he missed an entire year, I was thinking of 2011 as 2012.

I still think he will get another training camp, but he is approaching JH territory.