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Big disappointment. I bet Bretsky never thought he'd see the day when Juice Coston is sorely missed. I'm really hoping Coston gets back healthy, and then they can put some pressure on Colledge to play better. You hope that out of Colledge, Spitz, Moll, and perhaps Barbre they could find a LG. I still think Colledge has a chance to make it, but it might have to be at LT eventually. Too early to write them off, but they can't have too many more of these pathetic efforts that they had against KC. Colledge responded last year after getting benched. Maybe he needs a kick in the pants.
On a side note: I hate they old coach-speak "we'll get it fixed." Well, sometimes you don't. What then?
On a side note: I hate they old coach-speak "we'll get it fixed." Well, sometimes you don't. What then?
Youth movement stalling out
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers drafted offensive linemen Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz and Tony Moll last year with the intention of solidifying an almost-bare cupboard at guard, but with performances like the one the three had Sunday against Kansas City, the Packers don't seem much better off.
With guard Junius Coston (ankle) and center Scott Wells (pneumonia) on the sideline, the three second-year linemen started together for the second consecutive game and ninth time overall, with Colledge at left guard, Spitz at center and Moll at right guard. Later, after Wells was inserted into the lineup, Spitz replaced Moll at right guard.
Through it all, the three played poorly and were the main reason quarterback Brett Favre was hit five times.
"That's not up to our standards," offensive line coach James Campen said. "We expect a lot more. They're young, but they've played almost 20 games now. I'm really telling you our guards have to play better. We need to get that shored up."
The Packers overcame their misdeeds on the offensive line to muster a 33-22 victory over Kansas City, raising their record to 7-1, which is tied for the second best mark in the NFL. Favre was only sacked once and threw for 360 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
But things could have been much different if, say, the Chiefs had recovered Favre's fumble after Moll blew an assignment and allowed him to be sacked. Or if Favre hadn't gotten rid of the ball just before Alfonso Boone, who was in his face because Colledge misread his assignment, got his hand up on the 60-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings. Or if Spitz's whiff at the end of the second quarter, which allowed Jared Allen a free shot at Favre's ribs, had injured the Packers quarterback.
"You can say we threw for 360 yards and we completed 70% of our passes and all of that, but we let our quarterback get hit five times," Campen said. "That's unacceptable. We say that we expect that he never should get hit. That's not always going to happen, but just because we only gave up one sack doesn't mean we did a good job."
On the surface, Colledge appeared to be the worst offender. He was responsible for three quarterback hits, including a Boone hit on Favre's arm as he threw an interception at the end of the first half. He also didn't run block very well, missing some backside blocks, and committed holding and false start penalties.
The highest pick of the three, Colledge, a second-rounder, has started 23 games, all but one at left guard. He's playing between two reliable veterans, left tackle Chad Clifton and Wells, and should be performing more consistently.
Asked at his Monday news conference if he had concerns about Colledge, coach Mike McCarthy said, "Yes, I do. He didn't play very well yesterday, and he needs to perform better."
Were any of the other two playing better, McCarthy would have the option of replacing Colledge in the starting lineup. But neither Spitz nor Moll did much better against the Chiefs.
Moll was responsible for the only sack of the game, when he allowed penetration and opened the door for Allen to loop around and sack Favre, with the assistance of end Tamba Hali. Spitz did not make a smooth transition from center to guard after Wells was inserted into the lineup, allowing Allen's solid hit on Favre and being party to some ineffective blocks in the run game.
There is a chance that Coston, who took over the starting position at right guard from Spitz after Week 1, could be back this week from an ankle sprain. But Coston was inactive Sunday and looked gimpy in practice as late as last week.
Campen said he didn't know if Coston, who was mostly solid as a starter, would be back this week. Regardless of his status, Campen said the focus of practice this week will be the play of the guards.
"It's not just Daryn, it's what happened to our guard position?" Campen said. "We have to play better. It always goes back to fundamentals and finishing. We certainly have our work cut out for us this week going against two Minnesota big-time defensive tackles. We'll get that fixed this week."
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers drafted offensive linemen Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz and Tony Moll last year with the intention of solidifying an almost-bare cupboard at guard, but with performances like the one the three had Sunday against Kansas City, the Packers don't seem much better off.
With guard Junius Coston (ankle) and center Scott Wells (pneumonia) on the sideline, the three second-year linemen started together for the second consecutive game and ninth time overall, with Colledge at left guard, Spitz at center and Moll at right guard. Later, after Wells was inserted into the lineup, Spitz replaced Moll at right guard.
Through it all, the three played poorly and were the main reason quarterback Brett Favre was hit five times.
"That's not up to our standards," offensive line coach James Campen said. "We expect a lot more. They're young, but they've played almost 20 games now. I'm really telling you our guards have to play better. We need to get that shored up."
The Packers overcame their misdeeds on the offensive line to muster a 33-22 victory over Kansas City, raising their record to 7-1, which is tied for the second best mark in the NFL. Favre was only sacked once and threw for 360 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
But things could have been much different if, say, the Chiefs had recovered Favre's fumble after Moll blew an assignment and allowed him to be sacked. Or if Favre hadn't gotten rid of the ball just before Alfonso Boone, who was in his face because Colledge misread his assignment, got his hand up on the 60-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings. Or if Spitz's whiff at the end of the second quarter, which allowed Jared Allen a free shot at Favre's ribs, had injured the Packers quarterback.
"You can say we threw for 360 yards and we completed 70% of our passes and all of that, but we let our quarterback get hit five times," Campen said. "That's unacceptable. We say that we expect that he never should get hit. That's not always going to happen, but just because we only gave up one sack doesn't mean we did a good job."
On the surface, Colledge appeared to be the worst offender. He was responsible for three quarterback hits, including a Boone hit on Favre's arm as he threw an interception at the end of the first half. He also didn't run block very well, missing some backside blocks, and committed holding and false start penalties.
The highest pick of the three, Colledge, a second-rounder, has started 23 games, all but one at left guard. He's playing between two reliable veterans, left tackle Chad Clifton and Wells, and should be performing more consistently.
Asked at his Monday news conference if he had concerns about Colledge, coach Mike McCarthy said, "Yes, I do. He didn't play very well yesterday, and he needs to perform better."
Were any of the other two playing better, McCarthy would have the option of replacing Colledge in the starting lineup. But neither Spitz nor Moll did much better against the Chiefs.
Moll was responsible for the only sack of the game, when he allowed penetration and opened the door for Allen to loop around and sack Favre, with the assistance of end Tamba Hali. Spitz did not make a smooth transition from center to guard after Wells was inserted into the lineup, allowing Allen's solid hit on Favre and being party to some ineffective blocks in the run game.
There is a chance that Coston, who took over the starting position at right guard from Spitz after Week 1, could be back this week from an ankle sprain. But Coston was inactive Sunday and looked gimpy in practice as late as last week.
Campen said he didn't know if Coston, who was mostly solid as a starter, would be back this week. Regardless of his status, Campen said the focus of practice this week will be the play of the guards.
"It's not just Daryn, it's what happened to our guard position?" Campen said. "We have to play better. It always goes back to fundamentals and finishing. We certainly have our work cut out for us this week going against two Minnesota big-time defensive tackles. We'll get that fixed this week."
Funny...but true.
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