Run Game Analysis: Its the Guys Upfront

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Not sure if this was Harlan's point, but a player at any age who has played for 3 seasons is less likely to get better than player who has not yet made the starting lineup. Now the most likely reason the second player isn't in the lineup is that he stinks, but in Sherrod's case that is still, possibly, untrue.

What we do know is that we have a lot of tape about how Newhouse plays and while he might still be improving, its not going to be by leaps and bounds. I think much of the latter career resurgence of lineman is getting themselves into advantageous situations of scheme, coaching and personnel (ie. free agency or waivers).

Also, two distinct injuries are not better. Maybe less complicated, but not encouraging.

Actually that was MY point. I guess you didn't read all my posts, but decided you would try to explain someones point of view.

I was making the point that its not all about age. For instance, I think Newhouse is as good as he will get. He has started almost two full seasons and hasn't progressed significantly. HH seems to think that all b/c he is young (24) he still may turn out. I then said EDS is also just a good backup (like Newhouse) and he said I was probably right since he is 27.

I wasn't making a point about age, HH was. I actually said since both players, Newhouse & EDS, have played significantly and are still struggling that they are what they are - decent backups.

I want Bakhtiari and Barclay to start. And if Van Rotten has shown something play him too. Its about time we find some decent linemen. Newhouse and EDS are not going to get much better. period.

[wist43]

I really haven't been following the OL drama that is an annual event in Green Bay - I assume MM will make a mess of it like he does every year, with hope being that by week 12 things start to mesh.

That said, I did read that JSO article about Barclay - said MM wanted to use him as a 5 position backup, lol... the man is consistent, I'll give him that.

[mraynrand]

Bulaga on the other hand has been hurt on a regular basis, each time something different. A true china doll.

Injury Prone!

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I really haven't been following the OL drama that is an annual event in Green Bay - I assume MM will make a mess of it like he does every year, with hope being that by week 12 things start to mesh.

That said, I did read that JSO article about Barclay - said MM wanted to use him as a 5 position backup, lol... the man is consistent, I'll give him that.

I agree with you on this Wist. Why is Barclay being played all over the place, yet Newhouse is handed the starting job. Newhouse is good depth nothing more. Same goes for EDS.

[bobblehead]

Harrell being given four years doesn't mean that Sherrod will too. Sherrod is strictly a tackle and you only carry at most 4 tackles. If Bulaga had stayed healthy the depth would have caught up with him. With Harrell the depth didn't catch up with him until year four. Also, what helped Harrell last that long was b/c they had limited depth during a time we were switching from a 43 defense to a 34 defense. We needed linemen.

Ok, going out on a second limb. CJ Wilson absolutely makes the team.

And:

Derrick Sherrod will still be a packer next TC. He may be PUP or IR this year, he may finish the season on the roster, but he absolutely gets another shot. Its not like Harrell where it was something different every time. One horrific break. Thats it.

[mraynrand]

Newhouse is depth nothing more.

FIFY

[pbmax]

Actually that was MY point. I guess you didn't read all my posts, but decided you would try to explain someones point of view.

I was making the point that its not all about age. For instance, I think Newhouse is as good as he will get. He has started almost two full seasons and hasn't progressed significantly. HH seems to think that all b/c he is young (24) he still may turn out. I then said EDS is also just a good backup (like Newhouse) and he said I was probably right since he is 27.

I wasn't making a point about age, HH was. I actually said since both players, Newhouse & EDS, have played significantly and are still struggling that they are what they are - decent backups.

I want Bakhtiari and Barclay to start. And if Van Rotten has shown something play him too. Its about time we find some decent linemen. Newhouse and EDS are not going to get much better. period.

I apologize for the confusion. I thought you were arguing 3 years, regardless of what age, was enough to know whether a player should be kept or not.

I do, however, hold to the opinion that Bulaga's two injuries are worse from a player availability standpoint than Sherrod's one; unless it ends his career of course

[pbmax]

Derrick Sherrod will still be a packer next TC. He may be PUP or IR this year, he may finish the season on the roster, but he absolutely gets another shot. Its not like Harrell where it was something different every time. One horrific break. Thats it.

That is my fear. The lack of info on the rest of the PUP guys is tantamount to stashing them on PUP and then IR for the year.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I apologize for the confusion. I thought you were arguing 3 years, regardless of what age, was enough to know whether a player should be kept or not.

I do, however, hold to the opinion that Bulaga's two injuries are worse from a player availability standpoint than Sherrod's one; unless it ends his career of course

You may very well be right about Bulaga, but at least we know that when he is healthy he can play. Sherrod on the other hand hasn't shown he can play or stay on the field. Hopefully MM lets Barclay and Bakhtiari start. I can at least hope the oline will be good in that scenario.

[pbmax]

That said, I did read that JSO article about Barclay - said MM wanted to use him as a 5 position backup, lol... the man is consistent, I'll give him that.

At this point I think Bob is being a smart ass. Haven't read about Barclay playing LT. And he has had just a smattering of snaps at LG. They were trying to find a replacement for Tretter.

McCarthy said they were reducing the shifting now that Bulaga was gone. I believe that is why so much was seen of the 2nd and 3rd team Guards versus the Cardinals. He had his snaps at center and guard were curtailed in practice too.

[Patler]

I do remember this, but barely and with no details of when or where.

I have twice searched for mentions of it at the GBPG site and at JSO. Turned up nothing for 2011 on this. Can anyone else come up with something (maybe even a PR thread?).

I think I posted a link a month or so ago, to an article following a game in which Newhouse and Sherrod rotated at LT by series, following a week in which they were said to have shared practice time with the first line. The next week Newhouse was the starter alone. (Maybe I posted it somewhere else? )

[Patler]

Her is one:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/...-line-rotation

[pbmax]

I cannot imagine why this article doesn't turn up in an advanced Google search for Newhouse+Sherrod and greenbaypressgazette.com

OK. So they split reps in practice (Newhouse said the week prior to Oakland was not different than previous practices and Sherrod kind of backs him up saying he was not aware anything had changed) and he got snaps in one game. Given the way the team preps for game weeks, that's very limited contact and often nothing but shells. It would also seem to be during the time Clifton was out but Bulaga was healthy.

Its still an evaluation during a poor time to evaluate.

Newhouse's one advantage (and its a big one) is availability. Its makes him predictable and I think safe to coaches. But at some point its got to be Sherrod getting those live reps or they continue to fall into this trap. It might have happened to Barclay this year up until he outperformed Newhouse in a preseason game.

Now, all my hope depends upon Sherrod actually practicing, but should he become available, he needs more than Game Week practice snaps to overcome a starter.

[Guiness]

I do remember this, but barely and with no details of when or where.

I have twice searched for mentions of it at the GBPG site and at JSO. Turned up nothing for 2011 on this. Can anyone else come up with something (maybe even a PR thread?).

I looked this up a bit, using gamebooks from NFL and put what I found in another thread...too lazy to find it now though. Essentially, he got on the field a couple of times when Clifton then Bulaga got hurt but it did seem like Newhouse was ahead of him in the depth chart.

I don't see how Newhouse can be cut this year. Does the Pack have another LT after Bakhtiari? Who got minutes after he came out of the preseason game? If Newhouse were to be cut, I bet Lang would be the 2nd string LT because Datko is not getting significant reps there.

[Guiness]

I think I posted a link a month or so ago, to an article following a game in which Newhouse and Sherrod rotated at LT by series, following a week in which they were said to have shared practice time with the first line. The next week Newhouse was the starter alone. (Maybe I posted it somewhere else? )

No, it was here because that was the same thread that I dug through the gamebooks looking for info.

All this talk about Sherrod...I'd love to know how close he is to seeing the field in any way, shape or form. I assume the Packers are being careful with him because they want to be sure he can play, otherwise by stepping on the field he loses his PUP eligibility.