Draft Thoughts #3: OL

[Terranimal]

Originally wrote on Dec. 20. 2012....

Look around mock draft sites, team needs on sites and local media, and common conversation on message boards and in sports bars, and one will find a common topic of discussion: The O-Line.

The difference come though over whether it's a Left tackle or Center or both needed.

Understandable seeing how Rodgers is the most sacked QB this season and everyone worries about protecting the Franchise QB. Even a blind person can see that how Rodgers goes, so does the Packers fortunes.

Adding fuel to the fire of these discussions is that Saturday is old and probably done after this season, Bulaga went on IR, Sherrod still hasn't recovered from having his leg broke in two positions, and Newhouse being anything but consistent. This O-Line has had to make shift and adjust many times this season with different groupings. So these concerns are legitimate by fans and the media. But the million dollar question is how does GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy view this?

Some answers since all of the start of talk on O-Line have come to the surface.

1.) We have learned from Tuesdays with Aaron on espnwisconsin that he thinks EDS will be a solid Center for the Packers. This shouldn't be taken likely given what Aaron has said about the QB/Center relationship on the field.

Last year Aaron spoke on former Center Wells on how the Center is the QB of the OL and that the two of them think as one and help out each other. The Center is also responsible for picking up the defense and making Line adjustments, just like Rodgers does. We have seen this hasn't always been the case this season with OL breakdowns in protection.

Before Lang got moved back to LG, McCarthy spoke about how EDS had graded out highly in his last game at LG.

2.) Greg Van Rotten has also played Center before and is the running for competition next year. This has come through different media sources, as well as the Miller lite football show on Sundays with Chumura and Wilde. Aaron has also made mention of him on his Tuesday show, but don't remember exactly what he said.

3.) Barclay has proven to be more than adequate at Right tackle. He is a better run blocker than pass blocker at this stage but improves every week and made enough of an impression that when Lang returned, Barclay stayed at RT and Lang resumed his LG position.

4.) Bulaga: He was originally drafted for Clifton's replacement at Left tackle. But he's played so well at Right tackle that he's considered by some in NFL circles as one of the best RTs in the game. But with Barclay playing well at Right tackle and Sherrod's future unknown at this time and some of the problems Newhouse has had, there is a lot of talk of Bulaga maybe moving Left Tackle next season.

Summary:

1.) Center- Though most seem to want Thompson to draft one, it seems unlikely he will in round one. very rarely do centers come right in and plug in and play. Also if using a first one a Center he better be very, very special and elite...a player that will be a perennial pro bowler. There are none in this draft fitting that criteria.

So at this stage it figures to be a battle between EDS and Van Rotten. Of course Thompson could always bring in one through free agency again, though that seems remote at this writing.

2.) Guard- Both Sitton and Lang have contracts to keep them intact for a few years. Behind them are EDS and Van Rotten.

3.) Tackles- this is one place was thinking we might grab in one of the first two rounds until what I went through above. As of now we have Sherrod as a question but might still be the future player for LT. Then there is the talk of Bulaga at LT to battle against Newhouse and we have Datko on the PS who should be stronger and healed by next camp that might be able to fill in at either Tackle. and Lang as our back-up swing tackle for both Left and Right tackle.

Overall: Don't think things are bad as they have appeared this year. Name any team playing with it's 4th Tackle on the field and doing as well as the Pack have done. So while most think or want an OL early, my guess is that Thompson won't go there in the first two rounds.

Also add to the fact the prior to the last draft most thought another pass rusher would be tops on the need/want list and Thompson didn't address that until this past draft. Thompson has some Wolf to him for fooling everyone on his first target of the draft.

[rbens06]

[GreenGold12]

I think of it this way..

first some thoughts:
Sherrod barely missed activation this year. They just couldn't swing it. Huge leg injury, takes a long time to heal from. That said, if the kid can play, and by all means I liked him as a prospect, he will be playing 1 2/3 years removed from the injury.

Datko as a pick is very very interesting. We took a late round waiver on a guy who had a bad injury and was not ready to play as a rookie. The Packers had lots of chances to activate him with injuries this year and chose to keep him on the PS. Means two things; he sure as hell is not ready to play right now, and TT was not scared of another team picking him up off the PS, likely due to this same injury. Datko was a real nice prospect though. I think in a couple of years we might be celebrating this pick. Who knows.

Ted Thompson will likely take at least one o-linemen in this draft, he just always does. I think that TT is pretty damn good at drafting oline and doesn't get enough praise there. He is absolutely aces at finding gems in rounds 3-6, and I would guess he takes one or two more swings in this range next year. Expect at least one more guy capable of competing either immediately or in coming years.


with that said, I love our tackles. Don't think we need to draft one high.

Bryan Bulaga - had an All-Pro-esque season the year before at RT. Very good player.

Marshall Newhouse - Capable starter, won't lose you a game with Rodgers feet. Struggles with speed rushers, will get abused at times. Ideally, a very high quality backup to have moving forward.

Derek Sherrod - Already talked about him. Think he's a really good pass protection prospect. Won't run block any better than Newhouse but he won't get abused around the edge. Very excited to see the impact he has on our pass game, every extra second is deadly with Rodgers. Wish people wouldn't give up on him so soon. His leg injury is a freak accident, really painful, difficult injury to recover from. Gotta let him get on the field again before we try to draft another tackle in the first round. Don't think we should lose faith in a TT 1st round LT so quickly.

Don Barclay - Tough as nails, young, a lot to like about the guy. Good run blocker. Not sure how much better he can get, but as a long term backup to Bulaga super cool asset to have.

Sherrod-Newouse
Bulaga-Barclay
is a real nice group for future years. All really young, none of them should break the bank on second contracts. I still think Datko is a potential gem, too.


Think about how much of our offensive struggles come from Rodgers not having enough time. How do you beat the Packers? Rush four and drop everyone else back, two high safeties. Why does it beat the Packers? Because rushing 4 will usually create pressure much faster than it should.

Newhouse-Lang-EDS-Sitton-Barclay
is a bottom-10 unit, I think it's safe to say. I actually think we were bottom-5 back when Lang was playing tackle, Saturday was in and and EDS was at guard.

Sherrod-Lang-EDS-Sitton-Bulaga
could really easily be top-5 unit. The things that could do for our offense are more valuable than any all star runningbacks, tight ends or wide-outs.

This is a very exciting team.
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[The Kuhn]

[duxrule]

Couldn't agree more. Guessing.....TT goes BPA/WR with first pick.
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Global Warming.....ya....right...

[British]

TT will certainly draft OL at some point, probably interior depth, but OT is not a desperate need for the reasons stated.

Right now if I was picking the 53 for 2013 these would be our lineman:

Sherrod, Lang, EDS, Sitton, Bulaga; Newhouse, Barclay, Datko/Van Roten

Assuming Sherrod and Bulaga come back healthy, and I've not read anything which suggests they won't, we could be drowning in young tackles with potential while being short inside.

The problem is Sherrod and Newhouse are probably tackle-only and I don't know how versatile Barclay and Datko are. Others may be able t shed light.

Datko is interesting. The big question mark with him was his shoulder. The fact he's been training with the squad all year and hasn't had a relapse suggests to me he might actually be ok. The assumption was he would break down and land on IR. If he's healthy then he could prove to be a steal.

As for him not being called up, I don't see why he would have been. Newhouse has been the starter all year and is still healthy. Barclay was on the team and was next man in when Bulaga went down. Why bring up Datko when he's on the PS anyway?

The real danger for him (and Coleman) being poached from our scout team comes now as teams start building rosters for the offseason.

With our depth at Tackle if I was Datko I might be open to an offer from another team where I'm higher than the 5th choice OT.

[justo]

[PossibleCabbage]

I agree with the OP's analysis. OL is more of a concern for this year, than it is for next year.

You still want to see TT taking an OL high on day 3 though, since Thompson has found some players that way (e.g. Newhouse R5 2010, Lang R4 2009, Sitton R4 2008.)

[{Family Ghost}]

The Packers depth here has wound up a bit better than I thought with EDS and Barclay stepping in and filling starting roles. With the hopefully healthy return of Bulaga and Sherrod the Packers are not in too bad of shape at all. If Datko can take another positive step next year that would also help give us some added cover at T.

As mentioned above I think the Packers should be looking for one more interior lineman .. perhaps a swingman at Guard and Center. It would be nice if the added player could challenge for a starting Center job, while also being able to provide some backup potential at Guard. I think between Bulaga, Newhouse, Sherrod, Barclay, and Datko we have the Tackle position covered.

[Terranimal]

[HyponGrey]

Read the "EDS named starting Center" thread. 5th page Palmy talks about Sherrod.
http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=15329399

[Terranimal]

[packattack86]

If the Packers go O-line in the late first rd Barret Jones of Alabama would be a great pick. He has decent size/athleticism, and he's very smart. He's played multiple positions on the line so his versatility adds extra value. The Packers could also look to add a big D-lineman that can play end and NT, because Pickett is getting old. A guy like John Jenkins or Jesse Williams could be in play.
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[Jleisher]

I agree with packattack86. Barrett Jones is a solid to stud players at all 5 OL positions, with picking in the late first rd, it makes sense to grab him.

[CWood21]