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Packers slowly sink while treading water at guard
Posted: Sept. 9, 2006
On the Packers
Bob McGinn
Green Bay - Asking a boy to do a man's job usually doesn't work, particularly in the National Football League. That's essentially what Ted Thompson is trying to get away once again in Green Bay.
A year ago, the general manager sent out rookie Will Whitticker to start at right guard and basically watched him get eaten alive.
Now Thompson's back at it again. Only this time, he's shuffled the cards and come out with not one but two rookie starters at guard.
This isn't a knock on either left guard Jason Spitz or right guard Tony Moll. You've got to like their spunk. In time, they might be good players.
But this is not their time nor is this is the moment. One rookie starting guard? Maybe. But not two, and certainly not with an immortal standing in the pocket just hoping to go out with a measure of success.
The NFC North is a mean, mean place to set up with a playpen in the middle of an offensive line. Thompson doesn't need anyone reminding him that Detroit's Shaun Rogers, the Williams' (Kevin and Pat) in Minnesota and the three Bears of Chicago - Tommie Harris, Ian Scott and Tank Johnson - make up the most feared collection of defensive tackles in any division.
Or maybe he does.
Thompson's decision not to keep Mike Wahle was catastrophic. He was worth his weight in gold. If Thompson didn't see it that way, and obviously he didn't, then it was incumbent upon him in the last 20 months to find a suitable replacement.
In 2005, Thompson selected Adrian Klemm and Matt O'Dwyer in free agency and Junius Coston and Whitticker in the draft. Thompson's veteran acquisitions were so horrible that he didn't even attempt to go that route in '06, placing the fate of the position and possibly the entire offense on draftees Daryn Colledge, Spitz and Moll.
Colledge, a left tackle, was an abject failure at guard and might not be able to succeed at tackle. Spitz and Moll, who had never played guard in his life until being moved there four weeks ago, have done the best they could.
One personnel man who has looked at the Packers in all four exhibition games sees trouble dead ahead.
"I don't think they're any better at guard right now than they were last year," the scout said. "Why is this team going to be any better?"
Because Ted Thompson says so? Because Jason Spitz and Tony Moll are good guys who promise to try hard? Because line coaches Joe Philbin and James Campen are capable teachers?
Judged by outward appearances, Thompson doesn't have a care in the world. Say this for the man. He is consistent.
The Packers' depth chart has a certain symmetry to it, with rookies backed up by rookies. Chris White, Tony Palmer, Colledge and Coston have a total of 92 years on planet Earth and their total of regular-season snaps is three (by Coston).
Of the 64 projected starting guards in the league, just 13 are new to their teams. Seven were free agents, including Steve Hutchinson in Minnesota, Bennie Anderson in Miami, Tutan Reyes in Buffalo, Kyle Kosier in Dallas, Ross Verba in Detroit, Milford Brown in Arizona and Larry Allen in San Francisco.
There are five rookies starting, including Tampa Bay's Davin Joseph (23rd overall pick), Oakland's Paul McQuistan (69), Spitz (75), New Orleans' Jahri Evans (108) and Moll (165). And Minnesota's Artis Hicks arrived via trade from Philadelphia.
Lack of moves hurts
The Packers have had tons of salary cap room for a year. Nothing was stopping them other than maybe Thompson's friendship with Mike Holmgren from putting together that unfriendly mega-offer to Hutchinson a la the Vikings. He's the only new starting guard that is a lead-pipe cinch. Of the others, probably half will do the job, at least on a stopgap basis.
Look at Miami. First, the Dolphins signed Anderson on June 15, six days after he was cut by Buffalo. Then, after losing starting interior lineman Seth McKinney to neck surgery last month, coach Nick Saban signed guard Kendyl Jacox on Sept. 3. Jacox, 31, has 85 starts for San Diego and New Orleans but was on the street rehabilitating from injury.
Some of the guards wouldn't suit the bulk of the Packers' new run game. But don't they all have to pass protect first? Fitting linemen to a system often is overrated.
Thompson waited until the cupboard was bare and camps had opened before deciding to add some veteran bodies. Once again, he struck out with Michael Moore, Tupe Peko and Todd Williams.
Despite facing a grim situation at guard since the day of his hiring, Thompson hasn't traded for a single offensive lineman.
Thompson's conservative nature remains startling given the fact he was at Ron Wolf's knee for all those years when his mentor never stopped making moves.
When Wolf took over as GM in late 1991, he inherited a starting offensive line with plenty of holes. From left to right, the starters were Ken Ruettgers, Rich Moran, Campen, Ron Hallstrom and Tony Mandarich. Over the next few years, Wolf used every means at his disposal to ensure that the unit remained competitive.
Wolf once said, "I'll never put stumblebums in front of Brett Favre."
Despite a litany of misfortune, the offensive line never ruined a season as much as overmatched guards contributed to the ruination of the Packers in 2005.
Wolf was a busy man
Wolf's first move, 10 days before trading for Favre, was to deal a sixth-round pick to Phoenix for aging right tackle Tootie Robbins. Only Ruettgers would outperform Robbins in 1992.
In mid-March, Wolf signed career long snapper Frank Winters to a Plan B free-agent deal. He also paid good money to re-sign the 33-year-old Hallstrom as a backup.
Mandarich, who was supposed to start at right guard in '92, suffered a concussion early in camp and never played another snap in Green Bay. Feeling a need for another lineman late in camp, he signed 31-year-old Harvey Salem off the street. He had to start in Week 2 at right tackle and held up fine.
Winters started three games for an injured Campen at center and the last eight at left guard when Moran suffered a season-ending knee injury.
In 1993, Wolf signed right guard Harry Galbreath, 28, to a lucrative deal in free agency and longtime Steeler Tunch Ilkin, 35, to back up Ruettgers. The plan was to re-sign Hallstrom as a backup.
But both Ruettgers and Hallstrom held out. Wolf wouldn't be held hostage. He reportedly made a blockbuster offer to the Vikings for all-pro tackle Gary Zimmerman, but the Vikings instead traded him to Denver. So Wolf traded a conditional seventh-rounder to Cleveland on Aug. 4 for eight-year veteran Dan Fike, who after two games at left tackle failed to pass muster and was sent home.
On Aug. 15, Wolf called Hallstrom and told him he was relinquishing his rights. The next day, he re-signed Robbins, who had been cut by New Orleans.
On Aug. 23, Wolf happened to be on the phone with Denver GM Bob Ferguson. Unbeknown to Wolf, the Broncos wanted to trade guard Doug Widell, 26, who had started 58 straight games.
"He wanted to know if we would have an interest (in Widell)," Wolf said the next day. "I said, 'Yes. Consider it done.' " The cost was a seventh-round pick.
Talk about adversity. Ruettgers' holdout lasted 45 days. Moran's knees went in August and he was able to start just three games. Campen suffered a career-ending hamstring injury in Week 4. Robbins blew out his triceps in Week 12 and had to retire.
Winters replaced Moran at left guard during the first month. When Campen was lost, Winters moved to center and started for the next 7 1/2 years. When Moran's career ended in Week 8, Widell did OK as the starting left guard through the playoffs. Youngster Joe Sims started seven games for Robbins and was decent.
Wolf went for the long-term fix in 1994 by taking guard Aaron Taylor in the first round. In June, Taylor blew out his knee.
No, Wolf didn't go with some stumblebum in front of Favre. On the eve of camp he signed 33-year-old Guy McIntyre, whom the 49ers had given up on. McIntyre was good for 12 solid starts, and when he was injured Wolf had 30-year-old Jamie Dukes at center so Winters could move to guard.
And, of course, the Packers never would have won the Super Bowl if Wolf hadn't signed 31-year-old tackle Bruce Wilkerson on April 19, 1996. When top pick John Michels flopped and Ruettgers decided to retire at midseason, Wilkinson was there to protect Favre's blindside in the playoffs.
Quantity, not quality
This is the Packers' youngest team in 20 years, but Forrest Gregg's 4-12 in 1986 was so much more futile than Mike Sherman's 4-12 last season. Gregg's youth movement knew no boundaries.
Thompson's urge to change is reflected by the fact an astonishing 33 of the 53 players were acquired during his relatively brief watch. However, the club's five most important players were acquired by Wolf, who has been retired for 5 1/2 years, and three of the next five were brought in by Sherman.
Unlike Wolf, Thompson appears wedded to the draft. It takes an abundance of talent, nerve and energy to operate as did Wolf. Thompson watched it all unfold.
Nobody in the NFL ever has cornered the market on how to build a team or come up with starting guards. All that counts is getting it done.
Posted: Sept. 9, 2006
On the Packers
Bob McGinn
Green Bay - Asking a boy to do a man's job usually doesn't work, particularly in the National Football League. That's essentially what Ted Thompson is trying to get away once again in Green Bay.
A year ago, the general manager sent out rookie Will Whitticker to start at right guard and basically watched him get eaten alive.
Now Thompson's back at it again. Only this time, he's shuffled the cards and come out with not one but two rookie starters at guard.
This isn't a knock on either left guard Jason Spitz or right guard Tony Moll. You've got to like their spunk. In time, they might be good players.
But this is not their time nor is this is the moment. One rookie starting guard? Maybe. But not two, and certainly not with an immortal standing in the pocket just hoping to go out with a measure of success.
The NFC North is a mean, mean place to set up with a playpen in the middle of an offensive line. Thompson doesn't need anyone reminding him that Detroit's Shaun Rogers, the Williams' (Kevin and Pat) in Minnesota and the three Bears of Chicago - Tommie Harris, Ian Scott and Tank Johnson - make up the most feared collection of defensive tackles in any division.
Or maybe he does.
Thompson's decision not to keep Mike Wahle was catastrophic. He was worth his weight in gold. If Thompson didn't see it that way, and obviously he didn't, then it was incumbent upon him in the last 20 months to find a suitable replacement.
In 2005, Thompson selected Adrian Klemm and Matt O'Dwyer in free agency and Junius Coston and Whitticker in the draft. Thompson's veteran acquisitions were so horrible that he didn't even attempt to go that route in '06, placing the fate of the position and possibly the entire offense on draftees Daryn Colledge, Spitz and Moll.
Colledge, a left tackle, was an abject failure at guard and might not be able to succeed at tackle. Spitz and Moll, who had never played guard in his life until being moved there four weeks ago, have done the best they could.
One personnel man who has looked at the Packers in all four exhibition games sees trouble dead ahead.
"I don't think they're any better at guard right now than they were last year," the scout said. "Why is this team going to be any better?"
Because Ted Thompson says so? Because Jason Spitz and Tony Moll are good guys who promise to try hard? Because line coaches Joe Philbin and James Campen are capable teachers?
Judged by outward appearances, Thompson doesn't have a care in the world. Say this for the man. He is consistent.
The Packers' depth chart has a certain symmetry to it, with rookies backed up by rookies. Chris White, Tony Palmer, Colledge and Coston have a total of 92 years on planet Earth and their total of regular-season snaps is three (by Coston).
Of the 64 projected starting guards in the league, just 13 are new to their teams. Seven were free agents, including Steve Hutchinson in Minnesota, Bennie Anderson in Miami, Tutan Reyes in Buffalo, Kyle Kosier in Dallas, Ross Verba in Detroit, Milford Brown in Arizona and Larry Allen in San Francisco.
There are five rookies starting, including Tampa Bay's Davin Joseph (23rd overall pick), Oakland's Paul McQuistan (69), Spitz (75), New Orleans' Jahri Evans (108) and Moll (165). And Minnesota's Artis Hicks arrived via trade from Philadelphia.
Lack of moves hurts
The Packers have had tons of salary cap room for a year. Nothing was stopping them other than maybe Thompson's friendship with Mike Holmgren from putting together that unfriendly mega-offer to Hutchinson a la the Vikings. He's the only new starting guard that is a lead-pipe cinch. Of the others, probably half will do the job, at least on a stopgap basis.
Look at Miami. First, the Dolphins signed Anderson on June 15, six days after he was cut by Buffalo. Then, after losing starting interior lineman Seth McKinney to neck surgery last month, coach Nick Saban signed guard Kendyl Jacox on Sept. 3. Jacox, 31, has 85 starts for San Diego and New Orleans but was on the street rehabilitating from injury.
Some of the guards wouldn't suit the bulk of the Packers' new run game. But don't they all have to pass protect first? Fitting linemen to a system often is overrated.
Thompson waited until the cupboard was bare and camps had opened before deciding to add some veteran bodies. Once again, he struck out with Michael Moore, Tupe Peko and Todd Williams.
Despite facing a grim situation at guard since the day of his hiring, Thompson hasn't traded for a single offensive lineman.
Thompson's conservative nature remains startling given the fact he was at Ron Wolf's knee for all those years when his mentor never stopped making moves.
When Wolf took over as GM in late 1991, he inherited a starting offensive line with plenty of holes. From left to right, the starters were Ken Ruettgers, Rich Moran, Campen, Ron Hallstrom and Tony Mandarich. Over the next few years, Wolf used every means at his disposal to ensure that the unit remained competitive.
Wolf once said, "I'll never put stumblebums in front of Brett Favre."
Despite a litany of misfortune, the offensive line never ruined a season as much as overmatched guards contributed to the ruination of the Packers in 2005.
Wolf was a busy man
Wolf's first move, 10 days before trading for Favre, was to deal a sixth-round pick to Phoenix for aging right tackle Tootie Robbins. Only Ruettgers would outperform Robbins in 1992.
In mid-March, Wolf signed career long snapper Frank Winters to a Plan B free-agent deal. He also paid good money to re-sign the 33-year-old Hallstrom as a backup.
Mandarich, who was supposed to start at right guard in '92, suffered a concussion early in camp and never played another snap in Green Bay. Feeling a need for another lineman late in camp, he signed 31-year-old Harvey Salem off the street. He had to start in Week 2 at right tackle and held up fine.
Winters started three games for an injured Campen at center and the last eight at left guard when Moran suffered a season-ending knee injury.
In 1993, Wolf signed right guard Harry Galbreath, 28, to a lucrative deal in free agency and longtime Steeler Tunch Ilkin, 35, to back up Ruettgers. The plan was to re-sign Hallstrom as a backup.
But both Ruettgers and Hallstrom held out. Wolf wouldn't be held hostage. He reportedly made a blockbuster offer to the Vikings for all-pro tackle Gary Zimmerman, but the Vikings instead traded him to Denver. So Wolf traded a conditional seventh-rounder to Cleveland on Aug. 4 for eight-year veteran Dan Fike, who after two games at left tackle failed to pass muster and was sent home.
On Aug. 15, Wolf called Hallstrom and told him he was relinquishing his rights. The next day, he re-signed Robbins, who had been cut by New Orleans.
On Aug. 23, Wolf happened to be on the phone with Denver GM Bob Ferguson. Unbeknown to Wolf, the Broncos wanted to trade guard Doug Widell, 26, who had started 58 straight games.
"He wanted to know if we would have an interest (in Widell)," Wolf said the next day. "I said, 'Yes. Consider it done.' " The cost was a seventh-round pick.
Talk about adversity. Ruettgers' holdout lasted 45 days. Moran's knees went in August and he was able to start just three games. Campen suffered a career-ending hamstring injury in Week 4. Robbins blew out his triceps in Week 12 and had to retire.
Winters replaced Moran at left guard during the first month. When Campen was lost, Winters moved to center and started for the next 7 1/2 years. When Moran's career ended in Week 8, Widell did OK as the starting left guard through the playoffs. Youngster Joe Sims started seven games for Robbins and was decent.
Wolf went for the long-term fix in 1994 by taking guard Aaron Taylor in the first round. In June, Taylor blew out his knee.
No, Wolf didn't go with some stumblebum in front of Favre. On the eve of camp he signed 33-year-old Guy McIntyre, whom the 49ers had given up on. McIntyre was good for 12 solid starts, and when he was injured Wolf had 30-year-old Jamie Dukes at center so Winters could move to guard.
And, of course, the Packers never would have won the Super Bowl if Wolf hadn't signed 31-year-old tackle Bruce Wilkerson on April 19, 1996. When top pick John Michels flopped and Ruettgers decided to retire at midseason, Wilkinson was there to protect Favre's blindside in the playoffs.
Quantity, not quality
This is the Packers' youngest team in 20 years, but Forrest Gregg's 4-12 in 1986 was so much more futile than Mike Sherman's 4-12 last season. Gregg's youth movement knew no boundaries.
Thompson's urge to change is reflected by the fact an astonishing 33 of the 53 players were acquired during his relatively brief watch. However, the club's five most important players were acquired by Wolf, who has been retired for 5 1/2 years, and three of the next five were brought in by Sherman.
Unlike Wolf, Thompson appears wedded to the draft. It takes an abundance of talent, nerve and energy to operate as did Wolf. Thompson watched it all unfold.
Nobody in the NFL ever has cornered the market on how to build a team or come up with starting guards. All that counts is getting it done.
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