Postgame Observations (Well, Just 2)

[HarveyWallbangers]

Colledge has pass blocked well... up until this last game. It could be a one game thing or he could be losing confidence. I have a short leash with him though. If he has another bad pass blocking game this week, I'd look to replace him with Spitz--if Coston is back. Having Spitz and Coston in the starting lineup would give us more strength in the interior.

[MJZiggy]

I wonder if Colledge continues to struggle if they try him out at tackle to see if he has a future there or if the just replace him and be done with it.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I wonder if Colledge continues to struggle if they try him out at tackle to see if he has a future there or if the just replace him and be done with it.

I have hopes for him at OT. He's a good pass blocker out there, and you aren't facing big players out there. More speed rushers. If he's going to make it at OG, he needs to get stronger. It can still happen. Mike Wahle had similar struggles early in his career.

[The Leaper]

Once again, let me spell it out for you:

If you are going to hack on players that aren't performing then you need to hack on Thompson. You support everything about him when it works but then relegate all of the blame for things that don't work to something else. Sorry, that is being hypocritical.

That is ridiculous Merlin.

So Thompson should be responsible for all of Colledge's whiffs? At some point, the player is also accountable for his mistakes. Thompson is merely accountable for getting the talent on the field...he's not responsible for making them live up to their expectations.

In terms of the running game, it is obvious Thompson hasn't put enough talent on the field at RB...and should have considered some veteran help on the OL. However, his excellence elsewhere must also be noted.

I'm hardly someone who has always been positive of Thompson's moves. I was highly critical of how he handled the Moss situation, because I still feel Thompson was interested in Moss and didn't do enough to seal the deal. I wasn't thrilled with his selection of Harrell...I was willing to give it time, and thought Harrell had potential, but I would have preferred Reggie Nelson.

Besides, you calling someone out for being overly optimistic of Thompson is what is TRULY hypocritical. Your obtuse negativity toward Thompson is painfully obvious to everyone...you never give him credit for any Packer success.

[Partial]

I wonder if Colledge continues to struggle if they try him out at tackle to see if he has a future there or if the just replace him and be done with it.

I have hopes for him at OT. He's a good pass blocker out there, and you aren't facing big players out there. More speed rushers. If he's going to make it at OG, he needs to get stronger. It can still happen. Mike Wahle had similar struggles early in his career.

On the plus side, another year at guard could really help his development and well-roundedness as a player. If he can learn to pass-block the big boys while keeping his quickness, he'll be an even better tackle!

[MJZiggy]

I'm not questioning whether he could do it, I'm wondering if the coaches give him a shot at it if he fails at guard.

[cpk1994]

Hey Merlin, after watching the KC game, do you still think the Packers kept the wrong kicker? You fail again.

[Freak Out]

I'm not questioning whether he could do it, I'm wondering if the coaches give him a shot at it if he fails at guard.

Nice Avatar Zig...is that near your home?

[MJZiggy]

Thanks. It's a couple hours from here, closer to the shore, looking at the Chesapeake.

[4and12to12and4]

If it all comes tumbling down because the team can't pass block for #4 during what could be his last run and knowing that the running game was going to be a crap shoot we should get to have a big happy blanket party with TT....he can keep his job but we get to beat the hell out of him.

Who could step up right now and replace Colledge? If he sucks at both run blocking and pass protection why the hell is he still in there? Our backups are worse?

With Spitz, Wells, Moll and Coston all out with injuries at various times this season, leaving Colledge at LG has probably been a necessity. If the Packers get all their interior OL guys healthy, and Colledge is still playing poorly, you could see a change there.

One thing that hasn't been talked about regarding the poor running game is the fact that the Packers have had a revolving door this season at RB, C, and RG. If the injuries stop, and they can settle on a consistent lineup, I think improvement in the running game is still a real possibility.

I've talked about it and nobody ever responds. That is why I say Brandon Jackson can be a very good back, and give us a running game, but just as he was getting going after a few games, (against excellent defenses, by the way) our line started getting shifted around like the beggining of last year due to injury. We need Coston, Wells, Spitz, Moll, etc. healthy to give Brandon enough running plays to gel with these guys and then we will run a little. He's no Peterson, but I believe he, with the proper line, will give us enough of a threat to be able to use play action and everything else that comes with a running threat.

[Carolina_Packer]

Last off-season is long gone. Why even talk about it? TT is going to do what he thinks is best. ALL GM's have hits and misses when it comes to evaluating and signing talent. If you have more hits than misses, you are successful.

GM's do the best they can to evaluate the talent before they choose it for their respective teams. Sometimes it's a pick that looks good that just never works out. Sometimes it's boom/bust pick that never booms. Some players do take time to develop.

Like it or not, TT's approach is to go with youth and veterans at some key positions. They may bring energy and enthusiasm, but the downside is that they are being put in challenging situations more quickly than many players of similar experience on other teams. In essense, we need them to be good now. Obviously there have been cases where they have been, and also cases where they have shown inexperience or bad play. The good news is, we have overcome any "deficit" that this entails so far and are 7-1 to date. They are all works in progress, as is the team as a whole, but the results so far are encouraging. It's good to think about what needs to be improved, but as a fan it's also good to enjoy what is happening as it is happening; enjoying the moment is huge.

[Joemailman]

If it all comes tumbling down because the team can't pass block for #4 during what could be his last run and knowing that the running game was going to be a crap shoot we should get to have a big happy blanket party with TT....he can keep his job but we get to beat the hell out of him.

Who could step up right now and replace Colledge? If he sucks at both run blocking and pass protection why the hell is he still in there? Our backups are worse?

Changes afoot for offensive line?
Coach Mike McCarthy today acknowledged left guard Daryn Colledge played poorly in Sunday's win at Kansas City and left open the possibility of a change at the position.

"He didn't play very well (Sunday), and he needs to perform better," McCarthy said.

Asked whether he's considering a change, McCarthy said, "That's something you always talk about. ... It's an area that needs to improve."

Whenever Junius Coston fully recovered from his ankle injury, all three players who have started a game at right guard this season -- Coston, Tony Moll and Jason Spitz -- all will be available. That makes it possible one of those players could take over at left guard should Colledge continue to falter.

-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com

[privatepacker]

Speaking of Grant, apparently he sustained a concussion and is questionable for next week

That being said, damn there are some bitter m'fer's out there. 7-1. We have some holes, but I also think we are a bit ahead of schedule as far as being competitive

I think that w/o Grant we will some of our running game effectiveness but it won't be shut down. I will disagree that we are a little bit ahead of schedule....I think we are a whole lot ahead of any schedule for competitivness. I still think we will lose once to Lions, Vikings, and the Cowboys. Overall, unless the team tanks the rest of the season, very proud of this year's Packers.

[FritzDontBlitz]

I had to bump this, not because I wanted to gloat, but because some of these observations are just too damn funny....

I first asserted Grant was the real deal in this thread, and I'm kinda proud of myself for seeing it before the masses did. Colledge still pisses me off every game, but maybe I need to back off on calling him a bust and give him a little more time. The team is 10-1 now, and Colledge has played damn near every snap. He stepped on Brett's foot on the first play of the game, but if the Pack can survive with him I guess I can too.

4and12 was hyping Jackson as the better back then and he's still doing it now. A simple difference of opinion, no biggie.

Merlin still goes ballistic and yells "Ted Thompson sucks" no matter the subject. I am now convinced Merlin's real name is "Homer Thurm" (a dated reference if ever there was one). He never accepts the concept that a GM's hits will always outweigh his misses.

OK OK. I confess. I wanted to gloat. I actually fell in love with Grant after the screen pass against the Giants in week two, but I thought I'd pull this up because I actually started this thread....

[Carolina_Packer]

Yeah, I'm not sure what 4and12 is seeing that we are not. Hey, I hope Jackson does step up and show what he is capable of. I'd love for him to show up Ryan Grant, because that would mean the Packers have 2 weapons in the backfield and different looks. Jackson was injured. I don't know if he still is, but he doesn't look at dominant and confident as Grant, who looks like a guy who realized the opportunity he had and "ran with it".