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O-line pushed around
Unit fails to protect Favre, open up run
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 9, 2007
Green Bay - It was surprising, perhaps even startling, to watch how ineffectively the offensive line of the Green Bay Packers pass-blocked Sunday in a 16-13 victory over Philadelphia at Lambeau Field.
Tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, left guard Daryn Colledge, job-sharing right guards Jason Spitz and Junius Coston and center Scott Wells were responsible for three of the Eagles' four sacks and the majority of five or six knockdowns.
It was unfamiliar territory for the unit, which was charged with merely 12½ sacks and 27½ knockdowns in 16 games last season.
"I'm sure they're disappointed," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "There were a couple times where we thought going in we'd do a better job of protecting, let's put it that way."
Jim Johnson, the Eagles' defensive coordinator, started off blitzing but the Packers didn't blow any protections. Later, Johnson stopped blitzing when it became apparent that his four-man rushes were generating ample heat.
Not only that but the Eagles, highly suspect against the run, slammed down the 17 rushes that the Packers threw at them to the tune of 47 yards.
"We came in throwing the ball, that was our mind-set, and then running it to win," coach Mike McCarthy said. "We didn't get that part done. It's always great to push harder after a win. We're going to push real hard on offense this week."
Late in the second quarter, Clifton and Tauscher made weak attempts at cutting Trent Cole and Jevon Kearse and Brett Favre was sandwiched by the ends for a sack.
"We shouldn't have cut," Tauscher said. "There was some different verbiage and we weren't on the page we needed to be on. He (Favre) held the ball a little bit because it was a double move."
A series later, Colledge took a bad set, thought he had help inside from Wells when he didn't and was beaten by Montae Reagor for another sack. In 14 games at guard as a rookie, he didn't allow a sack.
"It was disappointing because I pride myself on my pass 'pro,' " Colledge said. "I know what I did last year and what I can do this year. He made a great play and I got punished for it."
In the third quarter, Tauscher was unable to influence defensive end Juqua Thomas on a bootleg and defensive tackle Mike Patterson closed for the sack.
Then, with 4½ minutes left in the fourth quarter, Clifton got beat around the corner by Cole for a fumble-causing sack.
"He feints a move inside, then he shortens the corner and goes around," Clifton said. "That's one of his special moves."
Only twice last season were offensive linemen involved in three sacks in a single game.
"Their pressure, as good as it was, wasn't really what gave us a lot of the protection problems," Philbin said. "The protection problems usually were just a man on a man."
In the running game, the Packers were so impotent that the Eagles played most of the way with both safeties deep and blunted the run with seven men.
"We've just got to fundamentally get ourselves back our basics," said Colledge, who also had two false-start penalties. "This was our first chance to play four quarters. We just have to sustain more."
Thomas, a seven-year veteran, played more than Kearse at left end and was impressive.
"For a guy who nobody outside the football annals would know, I think he's a really good football player," Tauscher said. "I couldn't tell you where he's from or what year he's in, but last year he caused fits, too."
Defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, the 14th pick in 2006, played over Colledge much of the game.
"Strong player," Colledge said. "I'm glad I got him this week instead of three or four weeks down the road. He's developing a better game every week."
Now Green Bay's unit needs to get on the same track.
Unit fails to protect Favre, open up run
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 9, 2007
Green Bay - It was surprising, perhaps even startling, to watch how ineffectively the offensive line of the Green Bay Packers pass-blocked Sunday in a 16-13 victory over Philadelphia at Lambeau Field.
Tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, left guard Daryn Colledge, job-sharing right guards Jason Spitz and Junius Coston and center Scott Wells were responsible for three of the Eagles' four sacks and the majority of five or six knockdowns.
It was unfamiliar territory for the unit, which was charged with merely 12½ sacks and 27½ knockdowns in 16 games last season.
"I'm sure they're disappointed," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "There were a couple times where we thought going in we'd do a better job of protecting, let's put it that way."
Jim Johnson, the Eagles' defensive coordinator, started off blitzing but the Packers didn't blow any protections. Later, Johnson stopped blitzing when it became apparent that his four-man rushes were generating ample heat.
Not only that but the Eagles, highly suspect against the run, slammed down the 17 rushes that the Packers threw at them to the tune of 47 yards.
"We came in throwing the ball, that was our mind-set, and then running it to win," coach Mike McCarthy said. "We didn't get that part done. It's always great to push harder after a win. We're going to push real hard on offense this week."
Late in the second quarter, Clifton and Tauscher made weak attempts at cutting Trent Cole and Jevon Kearse and Brett Favre was sandwiched by the ends for a sack.
"We shouldn't have cut," Tauscher said. "There was some different verbiage and we weren't on the page we needed to be on. He (Favre) held the ball a little bit because it was a double move."
A series later, Colledge took a bad set, thought he had help inside from Wells when he didn't and was beaten by Montae Reagor for another sack. In 14 games at guard as a rookie, he didn't allow a sack.
"It was disappointing because I pride myself on my pass 'pro,' " Colledge said. "I know what I did last year and what I can do this year. He made a great play and I got punished for it."
In the third quarter, Tauscher was unable to influence defensive end Juqua Thomas on a bootleg and defensive tackle Mike Patterson closed for the sack.
Then, with 4½ minutes left in the fourth quarter, Clifton got beat around the corner by Cole for a fumble-causing sack.
"He feints a move inside, then he shortens the corner and goes around," Clifton said. "That's one of his special moves."
Only twice last season were offensive linemen involved in three sacks in a single game.
"Their pressure, as good as it was, wasn't really what gave us a lot of the protection problems," Philbin said. "The protection problems usually were just a man on a man."
In the running game, the Packers were so impotent that the Eagles played most of the way with both safeties deep and blunted the run with seven men.
"We've just got to fundamentally get ourselves back our basics," said Colledge, who also had two false-start penalties. "This was our first chance to play four quarters. We just have to sustain more."
Thomas, a seven-year veteran, played more than Kearse at left end and was impressive.
"For a guy who nobody outside the football annals would know, I think he's a really good football player," Tauscher said. "I couldn't tell you where he's from or what year he's in, but last year he caused fits, too."
Defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, the 14th pick in 2006, played over Colledge much of the game.
"Strong player," Colledge said. "I'm glad I got him this week instead of three or four weeks down the road. He's developing a better game every week."
Now Green Bay's unit needs to get on the same track.
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