Rank the FA Screwup

[Patler]

Not necessarily, but it does when taken with all the facts. He had the strength to play C and the size and athleticism to play LT, so I am very confident he could play guard sort of in the mold of Mike Wahle.

It has been my understanding that strength has been an issue for Tretter. His success is based on quickness and smarts, with marginal strength. If they wanted to keep both, I always wondered if Linsley, who is renowned for his upper body strength, would have been the better option at guard; although neither would have had ideal size.

Frustrating thing with Tretter: he was constantly injured in GB, missing 33 of 64 games due to injury during his four seasons in GB. In two years at Cleveland, he hasn't missed a single game. I wonder how much his injury history influenced the Packers.

[bobblehead]

It has been my understanding that strength has been an issue for Tretter. His success is based on quickness and smarts, with marginal strength. If they wanted to keep both, I always wondered if Linsley, who is renowned for his upper body strength, would have been the better option at guard; although neither would have had ideal size.

Frustrating thing with Tretter: he was constantly injured in GB, missing 33 of 64 games due to injury during his four seasons in GB. In two years at Cleveland, he hasn't missed a single game. I wonder how much his injury history influenced the Packers.

Funny you say that as I have long blamed MM's practice habits for the injury bug(s). Rams were relatively healthy and M4 was a McVay guy so hopefully we gain something there. It may be a stretch, but simply not being MM might help.

Tretter was the bigger guy, so strength was probably equal when factoring in size. You are also taking original impressions, and I would bet after a few years in an NFL weight room the difference was negligible. I believe either could have played G, but since Linsley won the C competition fair and square it would have been up to Tretter to switch positions...plus Linsley was a C all thru college while Tretter was a converted TE to T. He would have been our best G last year if he had been retained.

And while I understand availability being an issue, you can't just cut everyone with talent who gets hurt. Injuries are fluky, as well as something having to do with training, and sometimes a guy is just unlucky on that front as Tretter and Hayward have proven.

[pbmax]

I think people discounting either at Guard are simply rotating qualifications for the position in order to say no to each.

Linsley is too unathletic and slow. Tretter is too weak and finesse based.

If both can play center effectively against pro competition, each would be able to at least get by at Guard. Their ultimate performance level would be dictated as much by reps, practice, scheme and technique as well as their innate abilities.

Linsley was a wrestler and that always seems to benefit interior lineman on each side of the ball. Tretter having tackle like agility would align him with Wahle and Colledge.

[run pMc]

Most OT's are 6'-5+ these days. Bahktiari was seen as undersized and needing strength at 6-4 301 as a rookie. Good footwork and high motor got him through (plus being next to Sitton).
Traditionally, C is where (in the words of Dr. Z) you hide the "weak sister" of your OL. Generally they are shortest, least athletic, and not your bench press winner...they get help from the G's on combo blocks etc. and were one of several reasons for A gap pressures, and either plugging in monster DT's who bull rush/collapse or explosive DTs who penetrate. C's have gotten bigger/more athletic/stronger as a result, but many teams still have 6'4" 330lb. road graders at G. Tretter was no road-grader.

As others have mentioned, he was hurt a lot as well. Availability is an ability. IIRC he's been healthy since his last year as a Packer, but the roster as it was made him expendable. Also, few teams can afford to pay their 6th OL $5-6M a year, that would have meant you paid Tretter like a starter while he sat on the bench watching Linsley play on a rookie contract. That would raise eyebrows inside and outside the locker room. You have enough expensive contracts for backups and you can't sign starters/emerging stars like Davante when their contracts end.

[bobblehead]

Most OT's are 6'-5+ these days. Bahktiari was seen as undersized and needing strength at 6-4 301 as a rookie. Good footwork and high motor got him through (plus being next to Sitton).
Traditionally, C is where (in the words of Dr. Z) you hide the "weak sister" of your OL. Generally they are shortest, least athletic, and not your bench press winner...they get help from the G's on combo blocks etc. and were one of several reasons for A gap pressures, and either plugging in monster DT's who bull rush/collapse or explosive DTs who penetrate. C's have gotten bigger/more athletic/stronger as a result, but many teams still have 6'4" 330lb. road graders at G. Tretter was no road-grader.

As others have mentioned, he was hurt a lot as well. Availability is an ability. IIRC he's been healthy since his last year as a Packer, but the roster as it was made him expendable. Also, few teams can afford to pay their 6th OL $5-6M a year, that would have meant you paid Tretter like a starter while he sat on the bench watching Linsley play on a rookie contract. That would raise eyebrows inside and outside the locker room. You have enough expensive contracts for backups and you can't sign starters/emerging stars like Davante when their contracts end.

You don't understand OL. You don't need to be 330lbs to be a road grader. You need weight and size to pass block. That is why the C are smaller (not weak sisters, just physically smaller). As Fat mike would say, its all about pad level.

[texaspackerbacker]

You don't understand OL. You don't need to be 330lbs to be a road grader. You need weight and size to pass block. That is why the C are smaller (not weak sisters, just physically smaller). As Fat mike would say, its all about pad level.

If you're saying what I think you're saying, you kinda got it backwards. The 330 pound road graders are what you need if you want a run first situation (think Badgers), and they generally do all right in pass blocking too. Your smaller mobile types are helpful for countering speedy edge rushers. Back in the day, OTs were generally bigger than Guards; Now it is the opposite for that reason. Whether you can get by with a smaller Center depends on the quality of your Guards and more so, on the size of the splits in the O Line. McVay's Rams seemed to have a tight O Line - smaller splits. I wonder if we will see that with LaFleur's Packers.

[bobblehead]

If you're saying what I think you're saying, you kinda got it backwards. The 330 pound road graders are what you need if you want a run first situation (think Badgers), and they generally do all right in pass blocking too. Your smaller mobile types are helpful for countering speedy edge rushers. Back in the day, OTs were generally bigger than Guards; Now it is the opposite for that reason. Whether you can get by with a smaller Center depends on the quality of your Guards and more so, on the size of the splits in the O Line. McVay's Rams seemed to have a tight O Line - smaller splits. I wonder if we will see that with LaFleur's Packers.

I have it right. You also do not understand OL play.

[run pMc]

I have it right. You also do not understand OL play.

LOL OK