In Play at the OTAs (2014)

[Just Jeff]

Take your pick. He's drafted about 25 Olinemen and we've had the most knocked down QB in the NFL over the last 3 years. Sorry, if he's had so many "hits" why are we on our 3rd center in as many years and have a revolving door at the other positions as well. This year AGAIN we will possibly have 4 of our 5 opening day starters different from last year and them, 4 out of 5 from the prior year.

[Patler]

I disagree, besides Sherrod who had a freak accident, which OL did TT whiff on?

For discussion purpose, these are the ones he drafted:

Name/round drafted


Coston/5
Whitticker/7
Colledge/2
Spitz/3
Moll/5
Barbre/4
Sitton/4
Giacomini/5
Lang/4
Meredith/5
Bulaga/1
Newhouse/5
Sherrod/1
Sclauderaff/6
Datko/7
Bakhtiari/4
Tretter/4

I think all were on a roster for at least a while in 2013, except Coston, Whitticker, Moll and Datko. Moll still had visits last year, including at GB, I think (or was that two years ago in the off season?) Even Spitz was in Seattle a couple weeks last year.

That's really a pretty decent drafting record.

[Just Jeff]

For discussion purpose, these are the ones he drafted:

Name/round drafted


Coston/5
Whitticker/7
Colledge/2
Spitz/3
Moll/5
Barbre/4
Sitton/4
Giacomini/5
Lang/4
Meredith/5
Bulaga/1
Newhouse/5
Sherrod/1
Sclauderaff/6
Datko/7
Bakhtiari/4
Tretter/4

I think all were on a roster for at least a while in 2013, except Coston, Whitticker, Moll and Datko. Moll still had visits last year, including at GB, I think (or was that two years ago in the off season?) Even Spitz was in Seattle a couple weeks last year.

That's really a pretty decent drafting record.

Are we looking at the same list? Other than Sitton, there isn't one player there that did anything special on the Packers. I love Bulaga, but if you're not on the field you can't be good. I like Bakhtiari, but he really wasn't special and was thrust into action, only because of an injury. You can make up whatever story you want about Sherrod, but see Bulaga. The others are just guys. The top 6 were all huge nothings.

[Brandon494]

Are we looking at the same list? Other than Sitton, there isn't one player there that did anything special on the Packers. I love Bulaga, but if you're not on the field you can't be good. I like Bakhtiari, but he really wasn't special and was thrust into action, only because of an injury. You can make up whatever story you want about Sherrod, but see Bulaga. The others are just guys. The top 6 were all huge nothings.

So which GM do you think is the best at drafting OL?

[Guiness]

For discussion purpose, these are the ones he drafted:

Name/round drafted


Coston/5
Whitticker/7
Colledge/2
Spitz/3
Moll/5
Barbre/4
Sitton/4
Giacomini/5
Lang/4
Meredith/5
Bulaga/1
Newhouse/5
Sherrod/1
Sclauderaff/6
Datko/7
Bakhtiari/4
Tretter/4

I think all were on a roster for at least a while in 2013, except Coston, Whitticker, Moll and Datko. Moll still had visits last year, including at GB, I think (or was that two years ago in the off season?) Even Spitz was in Seattle a couple weeks last year.

That's really a pretty decent drafting record.

That list is a little depressing. Four decent guards in Colledge, Sitton, Land and Meredith. Barbre finally found the field this past year.

[run pMc]

With a rejuvenated run game, Rodgers could adopt one of veteran Favre's skills and get the ball out early rather than waiting for a bigger play.

This has been mentioned in the JSO and elsewhere -- Rodgers will hold onto the ball and wait for coverage to breakdown. It's caused the numbers to look worse than the OL really is.
OTOH, a healthy Scott Wells is better than Saturday or EDS, so I agree they were better at C with him.

It would be a stretch to expect a rookie to step in at C and play as well as Wells did before he left. I do think they will be at least as good as EDS, with the chance to get a lot better and stick around for more than a year or two. I'd expect Tretter and Linsley to have higher floor and much higher ceiling than EDS. Rodgers' wanting stability at C isn't really big news; any QB would say that.

TT has had a few whiffs on the OL, but I don't think he's done badly. As a R1 pick Sherrod's injury impacts perspective. Sitton is a Pro Bowl G, Bulaga if healthy is good enough to sniff a few PB votes at RT, and Lang isn't bad either. Bahktiari held up remarkably well at LT as a somewhat undersized rookie. The starting C will be one of his draft picks, barring a TC surprise. It's not a Top 5 OL, but they could squeak into the Top 10 or 12.

IIRC a back injury derailed Spitz's career. Meredith has started games for teams, Giacomini just signed a fat contract, as did Colledge a few years back. I thought they spun Schlauderaff into another draft pick, I'm not sure what the story was there but at least they got something for him. It's not a murderer's row of OL, but most of these guys played elsewhere after their time in GB. That means someone else snatched up TT's draft picks. Implying TT drafted better than they did would be a stretch, but it speaks volumes about his reputation around the league.

[mraynrand]

This discussion is going to the Wells once too often

[cheesner]

This has been mentioned in the JSO and elsewhere -- Rodgers will hold onto the ball and wait for coverage to breakdown. It's caused the numbers to look worse than the OL really is.
OTOH, a healthy Scott Wells is better than Saturday or EDS, so I agree they were better at C with him.

It would be a stretch to expect a rookie to step in at C and play as well as Wells did before he left. I do think they will be at least as good as EDS, with the chance to get a lot better and stick around for more than a year or two. I'd expect Tretter and Linsley to have higher floor and much higher ceiling than EDS. Rodgers' wanting stability at C isn't really big news; any QB would say that.

TT has had a few whiffs on the OL, but I don't think he's done badly. As a R1 pick Sherrod's injury impacts perspective. Sitton is a Pro Bowl G, Bulaga if healthy is good enough to sniff a few PB votes at RT, and Lang isn't bad either. Bahktiari held up remarkably well at LT as a somewhat undersized rookie. The starting C will be one of his draft picks, barring a TC surprise. It's not a Top 5 OL, but they could squeak into the Top 10 or 12.

IIRC a back injury derailed Spitz's career. Meredith has started games for teams, Giacomini just signed a fat contract, as did Colledge a few years back. I thought they spun Schlauderaff into another draft pick, I'm not sure what the story was there but at least they got something for him. It's not a murderer's row of OL, but most of these guys played elsewhere after their time in GB. That means someone else snatched up TT's draft picks. Implying TT drafted better than they did would be a stretch, but it speaks volumes about his reputation around the league.

Its unfortunate that the two highest OL picks have been beset with injuries. But all and all, the line is looking fairly decent at the moment. The talent seems better and continuity is slowly building. Having some good RBs will also help these guys look a little better.

[woodbuck27]

So which GM do you think is the best at drafting OL?

That's easy and here's just one NFL Team current GM (Trent Baalke) that's very good at working as a team member acquiring talent for his 49ers Offensive Line.

Imagine Aaron Rodgers operating behind this OL!?

LT: Joe Staley
LG: Mike Iupati
C: Jonathan Goodwin
RG: Alex Boone
RT: Anthony Davis

Super Sub: G/T Adam Snyder

http://www.49ers.com/team/staff/trent-baalke/8551a07d-d52e-4bb6-8e3e-c5c1244cad74

Trent Baalke is entering his ninth year with the San Fran 49ers and his third as the team’s general manager.

His 2005–present history with the San Francisco 49ers:

** Western Region Scout 2005-07

**Director of Player Personnel 2008-09.

** VP of Player Personnel 2010

** General Manager 2011- Present and Extended (2012) through the 2016 season.

The 2011 NFL Executive of the Year, as selected by Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers of America.

The Green Bay Packers have the 18th ranked Offensive Line according to RotoWorld and this article (May 15, 2013):

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/43265/179/2013-offensive-line-rankings?pg=2

[Patler]

Are we looking at the same list? Other than Sitton, there isn't one player there that did anything special on the Packers. I love Bulaga, but if you're not on the field you can't be good. I like Bakhtiari, but he really wasn't special and was thrust into action, only because of an injury. You can make up whatever story you want about Sherrod, but see Bulaga. The others are just guys. The top 6 were all huge nothings.

The vast majority are 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th round draft picks. Do you expect them to be All-Pros? When they get 2nd contracts, its a good pick. When they still are bouncing around the nfl after 8 years, it was a good pick. I'm not a fan of Daryn Colledge, but he has started in the NFL for 8 years. That wasn't a bad pick.

Bulaga and Sherrod haven't worked out. Bulaga has shown signs of being a good player when not injured, but I agree, he isn't a success. Sherrod hasn't really shown anything. However, I'm not sure either shows a lack of ability to pick OL by TT. They also aren't evidence that he can pick them, unless they go on to decent careers.

[pbmax]

I can't hold the Bulaga or Sherrod picks against him, from a draft evaluation point of view. You add them onto the Guards, its not a terrible haul. And Spitz was more than serviceable before a back injury.

Bulaga was clearly worthy but seems to be breaking down before the end of his first contract. Sherrod not only missed the majority of a year with a broken leg, he missed another year from a botched surgery on that leg.

Now, from an overall personnel vantage point has he left too little at tackle? Yes. And that is partially the cost of doing business in BPA, but also on counting on Clifton and Tauscher to see them through too long. Bulaga was drafted when each was going to be a 10 year vet.

[bobblehead]

IMO this is AR's way of saying once we get the next starter let's keep him for awhile. I'm not lobbying for EDS here, what I am saying is it's another screw up that the TT ball sack crew love to overlook.

Is it a screw up to replace a below average and overpaid player because your QB wants continuity? And mind you, I consider not paying Wells as TT's biggest mistake.

[mraynrand]

I consider not paying Wells as TT's biggest mistake.

It's almost as horrible as Tamora eating Chiron and Demetrius pie.

[Just Jeff]

The vast majority are 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th round draft picks. Do you expect them to be All-Pros? When they get 2nd contracts, its a good pick. When they still are bouncing around the nfl after 8 years, it was a good pick. I'm not a fan of Daryn Colledge, but he has started in the NFL for 8 years. That wasn't a bad pick.

No I expect the line to protect the QB especially when the QBs we've had over the last 20+ years are who they are. When you are number 1 on getting your QB knocked on their ass, you've failed. Tony Mandarich played well in Indy, yet somehow he is considered by many to be the biggest bust in NFL drafting history.

[mraynrand]

No I expect the line to protect the QB especially when the QBs we've had over the last 20+ years are who they are. When you are number 1 on getting your QB knocked on their ass, you've failed. Tony Mandarich played well in Indy, yet somehow he is considered by many to be the biggest bust in NFL drafting history.

Colledge and Mandarich picks aren't even in the same universe. And though Manwich played fair in Indy, from my reading people generally think Colledge is a lot more solid than Manwich. Manwich in Indy = stop gap.