UPDATED: Pack Signs O-Linemen Preston

aaprigs311 · Post #1 » by **aaprigs311** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:08 pm

-Silverstein (JS)

Dana Point, Calif. - Offensive lineman Duke Preston visited the Green Bay Packers last week and the unrestricted free agent is definitely on their radar.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy confirmed a report on ESPN.com that Green Bay was interested in Preston, adding that the 6-foot-5, 326-pound guard/center had a good visit with the club and was an intriguing prospect for his offensive line.

"I had a chance to meet him," McCarthy said at the National Football League owners meetings at the St. Regis Hotel. "I was very impressed with Duke . . . very bright. I like the way he presented himself. I found it to be a very positive visit. As far as where we're at with the negotiation, I don't have anything for you.

"But I liked him. I didn't know much about him until he came in. He can play both positions."

Preston, 26, started 11 games for the Buffalo Bills last season and eight in 2006. Both the Bills and the Oakland Raiders have shown interest in signing him but so far he has not settled on an acceptable offer.

Preston took over for Bills starter Melvin Fowler at center after Fowler injured his elbow and started the last 11 games. Fowler also is an unrestricted free agent but the Bills haven’t tried hard to sign him.

A fourth-round draft choice from the University of Illinois, Preston has appeared in 59 games with 20 starts, all with the Bills. In addition to playing guard and center, he has played some right tackle.

One of the things he would add to the Packers' offensive line is size. Interior linemen Jason Spitz, Scott Wells, Daryn Colledge and Tony Moll all weigh around 300 pounds. Preston would add more of a physical presence.

"You watch him on film, then you meet him, and he's a big guy," McCarthy said. "He's young and I think he's got a lot of good football ahead of him."

Post #2 » by **Wade-A-Holic** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:51 pm

On Waltersfootball's free agent rankings, the little blurb on Duke Preston:

In addition to sucking royally, Duke Preston ruined Buffalo's chances of kicking a field goal in the last seconds of the first half of the season finale because he started a fight with some of the Patriots defenders.

dedned · Post #3 » by **dedned** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:59 pm

Packer People?

Post #4 » by **Wade-A-Holic** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:02 pm

Oh, and this guy kind of sounds like a hack, but here's a review of Preston's performance last season...

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2009/3/ ... eview-duke

bigkurty · Post #5 » by **bigkurty** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:20 pm

OMG, those reviews are so bad. Lets hope he is not seriously being considered. There has to be better guys out there than that.

Post #6 » by **ReasonablySober** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:30 pm

ESPN's take.

Preston has seen more time as a starter in 2008 as a center and offensive guard. He has excellent size, strength and athleticism for an interior offensive lineman. He has natural power to anchor in the middle of the line as well as enough strength to get movement on double teams and power zone-blocking schemes in the running game. Preston is limited in space to connect with targets on the second level, but he's a solid technician who understands angles and combination-blocking schemes. He uses his hands well to gain leverage and does a nice job to lock on and stay connected, once engaged. Preston doesn't have the initial quickness that C Melvin Fowler has, but can be effective as a second-level blocker, when he keeps his pads down. He appears to have a good feel for the game and reacts well to stunts and twists. He was more aggressive in 2008 and is a versatile player who has value giving depth along the offensive line, but he's shown he can also be an effective starter.

Whatever.

Post #7 » by **MickeyDavis** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:35 pm

Considering a lot of teams would love to improve their lines the fact that only Buffalo and Oakland have talked to him says a lot.

Post #8 » by **ReasonablySober** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:55 pm

Chris Canty spoke to two teams. He was loved by everyone here.

aaprigs311 · Post #9 » by **aaprigs311** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:00 pm

If he's cheap I'll take him. Always nice to have versatile guys in your trenches.

eagle13 · Post #10 » by **eagle13** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:23 pm

well he's gotta be a better G than Tony Moll?

IF we take a OL with one of our 4 1st-3rd rd picks as expected he'd have to beat out Barbre for a spot or maybe we trade Wells or Tausch goes elsewhere. Plus we might only keep 8 OL.

I figured College at RT but it seems coaches want him starting at G and as backup LT. Guess it depends on draft.

LT- Clifton / College / Barbre
LG- College / Barbre
C- Spitz / Wells
RG- Sitton / Spitz
RT- Beno

+
Pick & Tauscher?

Post #11 » by **ReasonablySober** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:57 am

Tausch won't be back unless he wants to play for little. As of right now it's probably Clifton, Barbre, Wells, Spitz, Colledge.

aaprigs311 · Post #12 » by **aaprigs311** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:13 am

eagle13 wrote:well he's gotta be a better G than Tony Moll?

IF we take a OL with one of our 4 1st-3rd rd picks as expected he'd have to beat out Barbre for a spot or maybe we trade Wells or Tausch goes elsewhere. Plus we might only keep 8 OL.

I figured College at RT but it seems coaches want him starting at G and as backup LT. Guess it depends on draft.

LT- Clifton / College / Barbre
LG- College / Barbre
C- Spitz / Wells
RG- Sitton / Spitz
RT- Beno

+
Pick & Tauscher?

Tony Moll is trash.

El Duderino · Post #13 » by **El Duderino** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:35 am

DrugBust wrote:Tausch won't be back unless he wants to play for little. As of right now it's probably Clifton, Barbre, Wells, Spitz, Colledge.

I'd bet on Sitton moreso than Babre winning a guard spot if Colledge ends up at RT

I thought Spitz showed zero improvement from the year prior and if anything regressed a bit. I hope one of Babre/Sitton puts a serious challenge to Spitz at guard and wins the job and then the center job is a competition between Spitz/Wells, but that likely is to much change for McCarthy to stomach if Colledge ends up at RT.

As for Preston, blah

Post #14 » by **Wade-A-Holic** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:49 am

Yeah I still have hope for Barbre but I'm MUCH more optimistic about Sitton. I'm fine with Spitz as a starter. I'd be happy with Colledge at right tackle, but the Packers NEED to at least add some potential starters on the offensive line. We have Clifton for a year at most, and it's not like we have an all pro anywhere on the line.

Post #15 » by **MickeyDavis** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:50 pm

DrugBust wrote:Chris Canty spoke to two teams. He was loved by everyone here.

Canty was snapped up immediately when free agency started with $17 million guaranteed. We're now a month into free agency and only two teams have shown any interest in Preston. His old team maybe would take him back. And the Oakland Raiders. Hardly the same thing.

crkone · Post #16 » by **crkone** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:21 pm

He's a tall guy. I wouldn't want to play behind him if I'm Rodgers (if he's at center). You would have a hard time seeing the field unless he has sumo wrestler style knee bend.

Rockmaninoff · Post #17 » by **Rockmaninoff** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:53 pm

I'd rather see the Packers draft a center. Someone whom the Packers believe could compete and win the starting job. Let Wells, Spitz, Barbre, and Sitton battle it out for the guard spots and the backup center/guard. The odd man out is released or traded.

Any opinions on Eric Wood and Jonathan Luigs? From what I've read, both are projected to be 2nd or 3rd round picks. They are bigger guys (6'4"), who both posted nice numbers at the combine, and the scouting reports say that they are good character guys. Hard workers, leaders, etcetera.

Jon Cooper seems like he could be quintessential Thompson 6th or 7th round pick. The scouting reports state that he could excel in a Zone Blocking Scheme. The Packers still do that, don't they?

As for the tackle positions, I like William Beatty, Jamon Meredith, and Troy Kropog in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, and Joel Bell, Lydon Murtha, and Alex Boone in the late rounds or as free agents. I'd hope that one of Beatty, Meredith, or Kropog could be the eventual starting left tackle, and one of Bell, Murtha, or Boone the starting right.

I can live with Colledge as a temporary starter, but I think he is average at best. Moll and Giacomoni seem like career backups.

Ultimately, post Clifton, I'd like to see the Packers with above average or better players at the starting tackles and at center, and average or better players at the guards and backups.

aaprigs311 · Post #18 » by **aaprigs311** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:01 pm

Giacomoni hasn't gotten a chance yet. Gotta give him some p.t. before you can write him off as a career backup. I think he gets his shot this summer to prove himself. I hope so anyway. Moll is hardly even an adequate back up. TT needs to flush that turd. I think Sitton wins a job at guard. I like him a lot.

crkone · Post #19 » by **crkone** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:36 pm

I don't know what happened with Moll. He was the most consistent lineman two years ago to being garbage last year. Maybe his head wasn't into it as he was shifted around a bit, but he was shifted in '07 also.

Ill-yasova · Post #20 » by **Ill-yasova** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:56 am

Preston signed. Whoopee.