What would you do with OL

[eagle13]

I feels its vital we protect Rodgers who plays the most important position and looks to be a very good one. But he still has growing to do and I don't want his progress/confidence slowed by always running for his life or getting drilled. Plus the run game HAS to get more consistent. This is all on the OL.

Abandon ZBS. Clifton will be better and power blocking FAs are easier to find.
Let Tauscher (sadly) go.
Use the big money Tauscher had to sign Giants Chris Snee who is only 26 for LG.
Move LG Colledge to RT to compete with Beno.
Use 1st pick for LT if possible. 2nd if not.
Ease rookie LT into lineup platooning with Clifton for Chad's last year.
Move Spitz to C.
Wells backs up Spitz and Spitz can back either G.
Sitton at RG.
Can Barbre or Moll play? Don't plan on it.

LT - Clifton / 1st / Colledge / Barbre
LG - Snee / Spitz / Colledge / Barbre
C - Spitz / Wells
RG - Sitton / Spitz / Moll
RT - Colledge / Beno / Moll

[ReasonablySober]

I'm assuming the Jets don't make the Super Bowl (if we did I'd draft a tackle with their pick in round one).

I'd do what New Orleans did. They drafted Brown #13 overall and played him on the right side in his rookie year. In year two they moved him to the left and he made the Pro-Bowl.

Tauscher is good as gone. I also wouldn't want to draft a LT and then platoon him. I don't agree with McGinn on most of what he writes, but he did address this subject. Platooning at the tackle position just isn't done, for a number of reasons. Let a guy get comfortable and keep him there.

I really feel strongly that if we want to pick up an elite, difference making pass rusher we absolutely have to do it in round one. Everette Brown, Aaron Maybin, Brian Orakpo, Michael Johnson, Greg Hardy or Gerald McCoy...I wouldn't trust any one of them to be around at the top of the second round. I do think it's possible, probably even likely, we can get an impact lineman at the top of round one. Either one in the second wave of tackles (Loadholt, Britton, Okung, Black, Boone) or an elite interior lineman (Robinson, Mack, Johnson, Urbick, Lungis, Unger or Caldwell) or both!

I'd take a DE or DT in round one, and the two best linemen we can in round two.

I think my ideal draft at the moment would be

1 - Brian Orakpo - DE
2 - Phil Loadholt - OT
3 - Antoine Caldwell - C/OG

[El Duderino]

Move Spitz to C.

I have a feeling Spitz will be the center next year if the guard spots can be filled to the liking of McCarthy.

Move LG Colledge to RT to compete with Beno.

Many here have suggested moving Colledge to LT, but i really question if he has the size and ability to survive there beyond filling in for a game or two. I do think though RT could be a decent fit, even though he'd be undersized. I thought he improved this year at guard, but to often he made terrible mistakes at crucial times.

I also wouldn't want to draft a LT and then platoon him. I don't agree with McGinn on most of what he writes, but he did address this subject. Platooning at the tackle position just isn't done, for a number of reasons. Let a guy get comfortable and keep him there.

That i agree with about not platooning a tackle. That said, why do you find yourself disagreeing with McGinn on most occasions and if so, like on what? I think he's an outstanding beat writer and also very knowledgeable. While i obviously haven't agreed with him on everything over the years, generally i think his analysis of what's going on with the Packers is pretty spot on.

I really feel strongly that if we want to pick up an elite, difference making pass rusher we absolutely have to do it in round one. Everette Brown, Aaron Maybin, Brian Orakpo, Michael Johnson, Greg Hardy or Gerald McCoy...I wouldn't trust any one of them to be around at the top of the second round

I'm with you there, especially if we stay a 4-3 defense. The lack of pass rush was by far the biggest weakness on the team IMO and pass rushers tend to come off the board quickly in every draft. We simply will struggle again defensively next year if the miserable pass rush isn't addressed, regardless if we are in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense.

I do think it's possible, probably even likely, we can get an impact lineman at the top of round one. Either one in the second wave of tackles (Loadholt, Britton, Okung, Black, Boone) or an elite interior lineman (Robinson, Mack, Johnson, Urbick, Lungis, Unger or Caldwell) or both!

While i agree that ideally, the DL can get addressed first and there are a number of quality offensive tackles in this draft, i remember what happened in last years draft. There were five offensive tackles taken in the first round and the need was so strong, Atlanta traded up to take Baker at 21 and many draft sites had him going second round. Tackles are so valued that ones teams feel can likely play right away, they generally go in round one. If we can get a pass rusher with our first rounder, i wouldn't mind seeing Ted trade back into the 20's if needed to grab a quality offensive tackle.

[eagle13]

I also wouldn't want to draft a LT and then platoon him. I don't agree with McGinn on most of what he writes, but he did address this subject. Platooning at the tackle position just isn't done, for a number of reasons. Let a guy get comfortable and keep him there.

Maybe platoon was wrong term. Not rotate each play at all. Guess I just meant give rookie chance to ease in during Chad's last year. Clifton often gets hurt. Some rookie OL get it right away (re CliftonTauscher, ) others take a couple years to develop (per Rivera, Wahle). LT is so important I would not want to HAVE to play a rookie. Just like rodgers is a better QB for having a couple years to learn I think giving our future LT ONE year to learn behind Chad would be good. But that's just one possible strategy.

I really feel strongly that if we want to pick up an elite, difference making pass rusher we absolutely have to do it in round one.
I'd take a DE or DT in round one, and the two best linemen we can in round two.

I hear you. Pass rush is our most glaring need and would be our ideal #1 pick. I'm just skeptical of Pack getting one that will do it unlike Reynolds or Harrell.

So basically I am for taking bpa at our pick of pass rushing DE, LT, DT.

But even if we use our 2nd rounder for OL I'd make him an LT and play him behind Chad for a year.

[Ill-yasova]

I do think that the best pass blocking I have seen Colledge do has been at the tackle position. I think his run blocking would also improve at tackle because he wouldn't have to deal with the likes of the Williams' sisters, or Tommie Harris on a regular basis.

The confusing thing is that they have young players still with raw talent like Giacomini and Sitton, but who knows how good they will get in the near future. I had felt the same way about Moll, but he never developed like I thought he could.

[zmanishere11]

Well Tausch is done. I would imagine he's going to retire. I think Clifton sticks around for one more year as well.

Chris Snee has re-upped with the Giants and is not available.

I think the one player in free agency that could help this team and might ACTUALLY be available is Jordan Gross. The Panthers are going to have to pay Julius Peppers, and likely use the franchise tag on him. I'd love to sign Gross, and I think CAR would listen if we offered up the Favre pick (assuming it's in the 2nd) similar to what the Falcons did with John Abraham a few years ago.

If we can get Gross, I make an open competition at the RG/C positions, and let two of Spitz/Wells/Sitton take the job. Moll is cut.

Gross/Giacomoni
Sitton/Wells
Spitz/Wells
Colledge/Barbre
Clifton/Barbre

Now I doubt that happens, so here's what I think actually happens:

We go in to next year with the same core, minus Tausch, plus a 1st/2nd round pick. Those Scenarios are:

1. If Oher, Andre Smith, or Eugene Monroe is available when we pick, we have to consider taking them. I would prefer to get a playmaker on the defensive side with our 1st, but any one of these 3 starts at RT for us next year, and likely moves to LT when Clifton is done.

Ideally we go defense first, and take the best O-lineman there with our 1st pick in the 2nd. I like www.walterfootball.com for mock drafts, and right now we'd be looking at Sam Young, OT ND, Herman Johnson, G, LSU, Phil Loadholt, OT, OKL, Russell Okung.

I'm warming up to the idea of Herman Johnson. He's the 2nd best guard in the draft by a long shot, 6'7 350 lbs., awesome around the goal line and could play RT. I also like the Wisconsin boys later in the draft, so, my fix for the O-Line:

Herman Johnson/Breno Giacomoni
Josh Sitton/Kraig Urbrik
Jason Spitz/Scott Wells
Daryn Colledge/Allen Barbre
Chad Clifton/Daryn Colledge

FIXED!

[xTitan]

As far as the O-line goes, I think Clifton is sliding but is also still effective, he has one more year left at least. I disagree with everyone, I believe Taush will be back, unfortunately for him, GB will probably sign him for a song and knowing Taush he won't miss a beat, this injury is nowhere near as bad as his initial injury. I also think Spitz will be moved to center because i think Sitton is going to be an excellent guard, much bigger and more physical than we are used to....this may be an area to utilyze free agency to pick-up a vet in case GB needs a starting tackle. It will be difficult to draft an offensive tackle high in this draft when you need to acquire at least a stud pass rusher and bare minimum 2 defensive tackles, if you stick with the 4-3.

[El Duderino]

As far as the O-line goes, I think Clifton is sliding but is also still effective, he has one more year left at least. I disagree with everyone, I believe Taush will be back, unfortunately for him, GB will probably sign him for a song and knowing Taush he won't miss a beat, this injury is nowhere near as bad as his initial injury..

Two things you need to factor in with Tauscher

1. The first time he tore his ACL, it was in week two, this year it was week 14. That will make it much tougher for him to be ready by the start of the season.

2. He was 6 years younger the last time he tore his ACL. Young bodies recover from injuries quicker and better for the most part. Mix in all the extra wear and tear on his body and legs since his last knee injury, Tauscher is going to have a tougher time just rehabbing and being his old self right away

He's a class act and wish him only the best, but i see the odds being against Tauscher being our starting RT next, especially early in the season if he i brought back.

[MajorDad]

abandon the ZBS !

we never had the players experienced in it or equipped physically to fully implement it. and we won't find any players in the draft or in free agency who will be ready to immediately step in and change their blocking styles from what they learned in college.

it was a stupid idea to begi n with. Denver succeeded because they implemented a lot of chop blocks as part of the system. we've seen this year what happened to Denver's ZBS when the chop block is eliminated from their ZBS. they reverted to a passing only offense, and all of their running backs were injured.

The ZBS system was a unique blocking scheme which worked for a specific group of talented offensive lineman. Unlike the west coast offense , it was not meant to be adopted elsewhere.