Run Game Analysis: Its the Guys Upfront

[Patler]

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.

Newhouse went through the same evaluation as Sherrod in 2011. Newhouse wasn't a starter in 2011 TC, or when the season started. He was a forgotten man who had done nothing the year before (a healthy scratch for every game before ending the season on IR). No one was counting on Newhouse for anything when camp started. Clifton started the first 6 regular season games. Newhouse first played in place of Bulaga at RT, even started there. When Clifton went down, Newhouse was bounced over there as the starter, and Bulaga came back. The Packers were holding on by a string, yet Sherrod was unable to unseat Newhouse at either tackle position then or later in the year when given the chance. After getting extensive playing time against Okland, with Newhouse being moved to RT and even guard, the next week Sherrod was back on the bench and Newhouse was starting.

I suspect that at the time the Packers would have been thrilled for Sherrod to take over for Newhouse, and probably gave him every opportunity to do so.

Unlike the year before, when Bulaga came on to start at RT without ever even practicing there until the week before his start, after having spent most of the preseason at LG, Sherrod was not able to step up his game and pass Newhouse at any time. Newhouse was the next guy up on both the right and left sides.

[Harlan Huckleby]

So if Sherrod comes in the league at 21 and misses his first three years he still has hope because he's 24.

Sherrod has only been healthy for two months, much of that time trying to play guard. Talk of hitting or missing is silly, regardless of his age.

Allen Barbre played very well in spot duty his second reason (despite some incorrect reports to the contrary.) His second year on-the-field performance is why there was so much positive buzz going into year 3. It is easy to get fooled.

Yet, if he comes in at say 23 and misses his first three seasons he's done b/c he's almost 27? It's not all about age.

Age is important. It's worse to suck at 27 than at 24. That's all I'll say about it, the more extreme statements you are making are straw men.

And for every Frank Winters there are 100 players who get a chance to play, proceed to suck, and are kicked to the curb. Difference is those 100 is no one remembers them. Just like no one will remember Newhouse in 2-3 years.

A lot of offensive linemen cut by the Packers have gone on to have decent NFL careers. I can't think of names right now.
Odds are Newhouse will be out of the league, but at 24 he might still have an upside, he's not a slug like half the linemen that start out in camp.

Bulaga now will miss two seasons, but he is not damaged goods like Sherrod.

Bulaga is a proven talent. Physically, he has missed significant playing time in all three of his seasons, and will log about 1 season of playing time total. One of his injuries was particular significant. From an injury standpoint, he is similar to Sherrod.

[Harlan Huckleby]

IMO if he was remoted ready at LT he'd have been practicing there

I forget, didn't they still plan on having Clifton that year?

The team was trying to use Sherrod as a swing linemen to get some use out of him, which is not a bad idea for a 1st rounder. I thought it was a good idea at the time, but it didn't work.

[Harlan Huckleby]

But if BB is a China Doll Sherrod is nothing short of the second coming at Justin Harrell at this point

Sherrod is certainly on the Justin HArrell Express, career arc-wise.

I am very quick to judge a player harshly. I criticized Newhouse early and often , mostly because so many people kept saying he was gonna be fine.

On the other hand, I am very slow to say a player will never become a good starter. I'm still not there with Newhouse, although he is on double secret probation. Sherrod - I was not so disappointed in his brief work at tackle as others. I am far from giving up on him as a football player, I'm anxious for him to get his chance, but maybe the big injury will be a big dagger.

[pbmax]

Newhouse went through the same evaluation as Sherrod in 2011. Newhouse wasn't a starter in 2011 TC, or when the season started. He was a forgotten man who had done nothing the year before (a healthy scratch for every game before ending the season on IR). No one was counting on Newhouse for anything when camp started. Clifton started the first 6 regular season games. Newhouse first played in place of Bulaga at RT, even started there. When Clifton went down, Newhouse was bounced over there as the starter, and Bulaga came back. The Packers were holding on by a string, yet Sherrod was unable to unseat Newhouse at either tackle position then or later in the year when given the chance. After getting extensive playing time against Okland, with Newhouse being moved to RT and even guard, the next week Sherrod was back on the bench and Newhouse was starting.

I suspect that at the time the Packers would have been thrilled for Sherrod to take over for Newhouse, and probably gave him every opportunity to do so.

Unlike the year before, when Bulaga came on to start at RT without ever even practicing there until the week before his start, after having spent most of the preseason at LG, Sherrod was not able to step up his game and pass Newhouse at any time. Newhouse was the next guy up on both the right and left sides.

Thrilled yes, but unwilling with a more proven body. It seems safe (and obvious) to conclude that Newhouse was even or slightly ahead of Sherrod at this point. His experience might have been his edge or the tiebreaker, but it was on his side of the ledger in either case.

I just deleted a small novella recalling their first year experiences. Let me instead just sum up my theory on Sherrod's inability to unseat Newhouse in his rookie year.

Minus the rookie camp, OTAs and mini-camp, Sherrod needed enough work that time at Guard meant he was not going to surpass Newhouse easily in his first year. Newhouse had an experience edge even before his first snaps of the season, by virtue of working his second camp almost entirely at Left and Right Tackle. That experience made his more likely to be active than LT/LG Sherrod in Week 1 as well, even if they had been close at the end of camp.

So I don't hold that performance against him too much. More troubling is that now, instead of just Newhouse to overcome, he has to overcome the shadow of Bulaga.

Sherrod needs practice reps and playing time. Somewhere.

[pbmax]

I forget, didn't they still plan on having Clifton that year?

The team was trying to use Sherrod as a swing linemen to get some use out of him, which is not a bad idea for a 1st rounder. I thought it was a good idea at the time, but it didn't work.

Yes, Clifton was still there (assuming Bretsky is talking about 2011 and not this year). Sherrod was given the task of competing with Lang at LG.

[Patler]

Yes, Clifton was still there (assuming Bretsky is talking about 2011 and not this year). Sherrod was given the task of competing with Lang at LG.

Right. In 2011, Lang was not a sure thing at LG. He had had a very disappointing 2010, and the thinking was that Sherrod could maybe play a year as the starter at LG, before sliding outside to replace Clifton in another year or so.

[Joemailman]

It's amazing we're having this discussion. After Bulaga played pretty well as a rookie in 2010, and TT drafted Sherrod in the 2011 draft, I thought the Packers were set at OT for the next decade. 2 years later, it looks like the starting OT's will be a rookie 4th round pick, and an UDFA. Just goes to show what injuries can do even to the best laid plans.

[swede]

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?

Rodgers is comfortable with Newhouse at LT. They understand each other. When Newhouse has failed to take a speed rusher far enough to the outside, or if he has failed to anticipate an inside move, or if has not made the right read against a stunt he lets Aaron know quickly and efficiently that a D lineman is coming:

[mraynrand]

A lot of offensive linemen cut by the Packers have gone on to have decent NFL careers. I can't think of names right now.

Breno Giacomini will be the next big-name former-Packer success. But he had to get on Seattle's "Weight-lifting" program to make it happen...

[pbmax]

Breno Giacomini will be the next big-name former-Packer success. But he had to get on Seattle's "Weight-lifting" program to make it happen...

When does his four game suspension kick in?

[Harlan Huckleby]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/don-barclay-is-making-strong-push-to-start-at-right-tackle-b9972477z1-219147971.html

After reading McGinn's very fair analysis of the tackles, I come away thinking Newhouse and Barclay are going to have a heck of battle for the RT job. I think perhaps it is God's plan for Barclay to win because he was created as a RT and Newhouse came from the LT bin. But I will not be shocked if Newhouse gets his act together and starts, he's bigger and more athletic.

[Joemailman]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packe...219147971.html

After reading McGinn's very fair analysis of the tackles, I come away thinking Newhouse and Barclay are going to have a heck of battle for the RT job. I think perhaps it is God's plan for Barclay to win because he was created as a RT and Newhouse came from the LT bin. But I will not be shocked if Newhouse gets his act together and starts, he's bigger and more athletic.

You're right. Newhouse is bigger, and has quicker feet. But Barclay finishes plays better and doesn't whiff like Newhouse does on some plays. It's talent vs. consistency, and I hope they go with consistency.

[wist43]

Breno Giacomini will be the next big-name former-Packer success. But he had to get on Seattle's "Weight-lifting" program to make it happen...

Packers don't have a weight lifting program - it's all about pilates and yoga...

I'd bet we're the most flexible team in the NFL - probably the most serene too

[denverYooper]

Light dawns on Marblehead. Or not.