Bryan Bulaga Bulked Up in Rehab

[pbmax]

Sherrod filled in for Barclay at the end of a game last year. Several articles have said his off season has been as Bulaga's backup, while others have said at LT. I'm not sure what they are doing with Sherrod.

I think that report is in error because every camp report has Sherrod at LT in the second group and nothing has been remarked about the position switch. Honestly though, there hasn't been much reporting on the exact nature of the 1st and 2nd lines so far because everyone is fixated on Tretter and Lang's injury.

McCarthy did he as going to work at Left Tackle during the offseason. Usually if something goes against Hoyle, you see some mentions of it.

[Fritz]

I haven't seen anything about specific plans for Sherrod, but I can imagine either a scenario in which he competes with Bahk, probably backs up since he hasn't really done it with live bullets yet, and can challenge as the season goes on if Bahk doesn't play really well, or a scenario in which McC wants the "five best linemen" on the field, and is trying to see if Sherrod can handle right tackle so he can move Bulaga to left tackle. I think Sherrod struggled with moving to the right his rookie year, but he's grown up since then.

The reports on his one-on-one battles have been bright so far. There are four questions to be answered: can he stay healthy, can he be trusted in game action, can he run block, and can he play both tackle spots?

[bobblehead]

Sherrod is an LT. His slide step, his natural movement, his size. I think messing around with him anywhere else is foolish.

[run pMc]

I thought M3 or Campen said they were going to put him at LT and keep him there for now, with the idea that eventually he'd be able to win the LT outright or learn to play both tackle spots as the backup. The reasoning there was (1) he hasn't played a lot in the last few years and needs to get back into it and (2) they tried him at G and he stunk. They'll want to not mess up his footwork etc. at LT right away, and besides GB declined his option and they want to know what they have in him.

[Fritz]

run pMc, I'd like to see them keep Sherrod at LT for now. He hasn't seen live action much at all as a pro, period, and he needs to get reps and learn the system and calls while focusing on one spot. If he looks good, they can teach him the right hand stuff a little later. I agree that this is a huge year for him and the team. I think personally he could still pan out - if he can stay healthy.

We all love what Bahk did, but the guy was no Chad Clifton.

[run pMc]

I think Sherrod makes the team as the backup tackle, with Barclay the utility OL swinging inside to G. Linsley is a C but if he can play G at all he'll make the team. I think they'll start Bahk because he did just-ok as a rookie and likely got stronger/better for the experience and has the continuity with Sitton. Sherrod has a lot of rust to shake off.

I also think it will take an injury for Sherrod to see meaningful snaps this season, and they bring him back next year on a modest contract and he really pushes and maybe beats out Bahktiari. (Or they let Bulaga walk, put Bahk at RT and Sherrod at LT...either way, I think he's a year out from being a 16-game starter.)

[Fritz]

That seems like a reasonable post. I do think though, if Sherrod stays healthy this year and shows anything much at training camp, he'll go elsewhere next year if the Packers offer only a modest contract. Guys like him are hard to find. If he can get some preseason snaps and stay healthy, I wonder if he can gain the coaches' trust enough for them to start him.

[bobblehead]

That seems like a reasonable post. I do think though, if Sherrod stays healthy this year and shows anything much at training camp, he'll go elsewhere next year if the Packers offer only a modest contract. Guys like him are hard to find. If he can get some preseason snaps and stay healthy, I wonder if he can gain the coaches' trust enough for them to start him.

This is my fear. MM loves to stick with a known commodity. I could potentially see Sherrod outplaying Bahk, but making a couple mental mistakes so MM goes with the gal that brung him and in the process we lose our 1st round talent in the offseason. Bahk goes on to be unremarkable for many seasons.

[bobblehead]

Specifically Bahk reminds me of TJ Lang playing LT early on. TT said he was very comfortable with TJ at LT, but no one else was buying it.