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This is the first time in three years that the coaches seem like they'd actually play Coston, and it's not all just potential. We'll see. Reading between the lines here, it would seem that Barbre, Moll, and Coston will be backup OL. Palmer and Walter are probably battling for the 9th OL spot--if there is one.
Line plans: Offensive lineman Junius Coston, a fifth-round draft choice in 2005 from North Carolina A&T, is having his best training camp.
"He's gotten better," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "The other night in Pittsburgh he was playing right guard and he took (nose tackle) Chris Hoke, who's a pretty solid player, and knocked him right flat over. And it wasn't a fluke block.
"So he's got some natural power. It's just his feet aren't always as nicely tied together as you'd like. His fundamentals still have a ways to go."
Coston has played about two-thirds of camp at both tackles and about one-third at right guard.
If right guard Jason Spitz were to suffer a major injury, Philbin said Coston might well be elevated to replace him.
Rookie Allen Barbre, a fourth-round pick from Missouri Southern State, has spent almost the entire camp at left guard and looks like the sixth-best lineman. The Packers decided not to give him any reps at right guard so he could find a comfort zone at one position.
"That would be an interesting discussion," Philbin said, referring to the decision to replace Spitz. "I don't know that it's a slam-dunk that we'd move Allen Barbre. We think Coston has had a good camp."
Former Ram Tony Palmer, a four-year starter at left guard for Missouri, has split time between right guard and center, a position that he had never played in a game before Saturday night. Reggie McKenzie, the team's top pro scout, called the 320-pound Palmer the best drive blocker on the team.
"You love that about him," Philbin said. "He's got some old power football. This guy will knock your (bleep) back. You just worry about him (at center) redirecting and the quick play inside. You worry about him a little on the second level."
The replacement for an injured Chad Clifton would be left guard Daryn Colledge over Coston, according to Philbin. If center Scott Wells went down, it would be either Spitz or veteran Tyson Walter. And if right tackle Mark Tauscher were hurt, it would be Tony Moll.
"He's gotten better," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "The other night in Pittsburgh he was playing right guard and he took (nose tackle) Chris Hoke, who's a pretty solid player, and knocked him right flat over. And it wasn't a fluke block.
"So he's got some natural power. It's just his feet aren't always as nicely tied together as you'd like. His fundamentals still have a ways to go."
Coston has played about two-thirds of camp at both tackles and about one-third at right guard.
If right guard Jason Spitz were to suffer a major injury, Philbin said Coston might well be elevated to replace him.
Rookie Allen Barbre, a fourth-round pick from Missouri Southern State, has spent almost the entire camp at left guard and looks like the sixth-best lineman. The Packers decided not to give him any reps at right guard so he could find a comfort zone at one position.
"That would be an interesting discussion," Philbin said, referring to the decision to replace Spitz. "I don't know that it's a slam-dunk that we'd move Allen Barbre. We think Coston has had a good camp."
Former Ram Tony Palmer, a four-year starter at left guard for Missouri, has split time between right guard and center, a position that he had never played in a game before Saturday night. Reggie McKenzie, the team's top pro scout, called the 320-pound Palmer the best drive blocker on the team.
"You love that about him," Philbin said. "He's got some old power football. This guy will knock your (bleep) back. You just worry about him (at center) redirecting and the quick play inside. You worry about him a little on the second level."
The replacement for an injured Chad Clifton would be left guard Daryn Colledge over Coston, according to Philbin. If center Scott Wells went down, it would be either Spitz or veteran Tyson Walter. And if right tackle Mark Tauscher were hurt, it would be Tony Moll.
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