Is Gutekunst betting the farm? Putting all his eggs in this year's basket?

[pbmax]

Basically this is the money they would have spent on their own players if Randall, Rollins, Montgomery and Ryan were good players that they wanted to keep. This is what Gute had to do in order to have a chance to field a competitive football team this year. If he hits, the Packers are in very good shape for the next 2-3 years. If he totally whiffs, next year and the year after will probably be a struggle.

Its good that Micah Hyde's money was spent on a Packer somewhere.

[red]

i don't have the numbers in front of me, but TT went into every offseason with lots of free cap, and never used it for help

he mostly used that money to re sign his own shitty players that he drafted

so i wouldn't say TT planned this all out to leave the team with a decent cap situation

it was just a byproduct of they way he worked

[HarveyWallbangers]

And Center. And DL. Linsley is Pro Bowl level Center. Daniels and Clark are both very good. Clark will be an All Pro on his trajectory.

You could almost say 1/2 Guard too IF, and its a big IF, Taylor regains form after some injuries and a bad year.

My prediction is that Lane Taylor doesn't start this year. I don't think he fits the system. Turner and a rookie OR a sleeper like Siragusa starts.

[pbmax]

My prediction is that Lane Taylor doesn't start this year. I don't think he fits the system. Turner and a rookie OR a sleeper like Siragusa starts.

More importantly, can Lucas Patrick make the transition? Because he was the only RG who could pass block last year. And that was after the concussion. He seems just the right amount of playing angry.

But seriously, sometimes ZBS teams need to adjust on the fly to less than ideal OL components for a year. I mean, how is Bulaga gonna look cutting off the backside?

Taylor was a force in pass blocking until he got banged up last year. Its possible he was exposed, but he looked pretty good for two years before the cracks showed. In that weird way, I hope he does get surpassed because the guy behind him is better. But I will believe it when I see it.

[Joemailman]

My prediction is that Lane Taylor doesn't start this year. I don't think he fits the system. Turner and a rookie OR a sleeper like Siragusa starts.

Isn't Siragusa more of a phone booth type of guy? I wouldn't think he's a great fit either.

[call_me_ishmael]

My prediction is that Lane Taylor doesn't start this year. I don't think he fits the system. Turner and a rookie OR a sleeper like Siragusa starts.

Are you thinking he's too slow?

[RashanGary]

Are you thinking he's too slow?

When MM first got here we had an outside zone system under Jeff jagozinski. It requires athletes who can flow in either direction and block on the move. Balance, coordination, agility more than speed, but usually guys who are athletic that way are also fast. Taylor isn’t an incredibly athletic lineman at a glance, but he might be able to do it.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Isn't Siragusa more of a phone booth type of guy? I wouldn't think he's a great fit either.

That appears to be the scouting report of him coming out of college, but I heard contrary reports after we signed him. Comparison:

Siragusa = 6'4" 319, 5.35 40, 32" vertical, 110" broad jump, 7.71 3 cone, 4.56 shuttle at Combine (4th round pick)
Taylor = 6'3" 324, 5.35 40, 24.5" vertical, 96" broad jump, 8.41 3 cone, 4.72 shuttle, 1.88 10, 3.07 20 at Pro Day (UDFA)

Outside of the 40 (I'd like to look at the 10 and 20 splits, but I didn't find them for Siragusa), Taylor was not in the same strastosphere as Siragusa as an athlete. And that's with Taylor's results from OSU Pro Day (which is less reliable).

Patrick tested similarly as Siragusa at his Pro Day

Patrick = 6'3" 313, 5.26 40, 29" vertical, 106" broad jump, 7.77 3 cone, 4.66 shuttle, 1.60 10, 2.74 20 at Pro Day (UDFA)

And here's how Billy Turner tested:

Turner = 6'5" 315, 5.16 40, 28" vertical, 108" broad jump, 7.92 3 cone, 4.71 shuttle at Combine (3rd round pick)

Taylor sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the guys.

[Fritz]

Hate on me all you want, but it seems to me that Jason Spriggs might fit this system perfectly. Dude could flourish in this kind of blocking scheme.

[Deputy Nutz]

Funny how these conversations always regurgitate after 5 or 6 years. We are back to what linemen fit the zone blocking scheme better. If you watch college football the majority of teams all run zbs. The Badgers have made their name on the ZBS and none of their offensive linemen are speed demons. Speed has nothing to do with it. It is all technique and every linemen needs to watch film and understand their opponents front seven. Most linemen understand the concepts more than one would think.

[pbmax]

Funny how these conversations always regurgitate after 5 or 6 years. We are back to what linemen fit the zone blocking scheme better. If you watch college football the majority of teams all run zbs. The Badgers have made their name on the ZBS and none of their offensive linemen are speed demons. Speed has nothing to do with it. It is all technique and every linemen needs to watch film and understand their opponents front seven. Most linemen understand the concepts more than one would think.

Its not speed but they do have to move, hit and then for one or two of them, move/disengage, locate and hit again.

But the 40 times probably aren't the measure we are looking for.

[pbmax]

Hate on me all you want, but it seems to me that Jason Spriggs might fit this system perfectly. Dude could flourish in this kind of blocking scheme.

He's got one last chance. Has to learn how to lock guys up and also anchor against power.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Hate on me all you want, but it seems to me that Jason Spriggs might fit this system perfectly. Dude could flourish in this kind of blocking scheme.

I hate you, but it has nothing to do with Spriggs.

[Cheesehead Craig]

When I first read the boldface type above, I thought maybe I was in some strange alternative universe in which the likes of Patler are crap-slinging shooters while Tank is some buttoned-down CPA who just spent the last ten hours going over the minutae of the cap situation using a variety of highly-respected sources.

That is one strange world, that place. I think I saw the Cowardly Lion there, then tesselated across two universes and ended up in another in which cricket was the world's most popular sport.

I don't even think the Beatles came with stuff like that during the Strawberry Fields days.

Some people will just hang on to whatever delusions help them sleep at night I guess.

[run pMc]

Hate on me all you want, but it seems to me that Jason Spriggs might fit this system perfectly. Dude could flourish in this kind of blocking scheme.

The same thought occurred to me about Spriggs. The hate is another story. :P
As for Badger or other OL, 40 time is not as important as the agility measurements (3c, ss), which in turn aren't as important as the film IMO. I don't think having Taylor as a starter is going to prevent them from seeing what he can do best, but the ability to hit on the move and keep balance will be important.
I think they'll draft 2 OL even with signing Turner to provide depth and competition. Turner feels like the penciled starter at RG and emergency RT, and they're probably going to look at upgrading LG & RT. Makes sense to keep Bulaga: he's cheaper than Turner, and even if you can only count on him for 12 games, that buys them time to coach up a rookie to replace him.

Knowing how these things go, Spriggs probably has a monster year and we all gnash teeth over contracts and whether to keep him.