• Packers Training Camp Preview-Offensive Line

  Filed under Packers Training Camp Preview
  Jul 27

  Today I am going to address the big bruisers, the Offensive Line. The offensive line has been a weakness ever since Mike Wahle, and Marco Rivera left. So far Thompson hasn’t been able to successfully replace either of them. Last year we started to see some improvement though. Our offensive line started to improve down the stretch and I see that trend continuing this season. I believe four of our starter will stay the same from last season but I can see a new starter this year. After several years of struggles on the offensive line, I think we will finally see the light at the end of the tunnel this season. While I don’t think our offensive line will be great, I do think we will see and improvement from last season.

  I will admit that of all positions, offensive line has always been the hardest for me to judge. I don’t know why, but I have always had a hard time judging good offensive line play. This is going to make it hard for me to analyze the Packers offensive line for this season, but I am going to take a crack at it. Since I don’t know as much about the offensive line, this article is going to be shorter than most of the other articles in the series.

  I’ll begin the analysis by analyzing the starters. I don’t really see that many changes coming in the offensive line as far as starters are concerned. The tackles will stay the same obviously. Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton are two of the most underrated tackles in the entire league. Hopefully they will finally get the respect they deserve. As they both get older we are going to have to face some potential problems. Clifton has had knee problems the last couple of seasons. In my opinion he probably only has two or three seasons left. With his knee problems his knees could go at any time so his play could either drop significantly or he could get hurt easier. As far as Tauscher goes, I don’t think we have to worry about injuries as much but we do need to start looking for a replacement since Tauscher is starting to get up there in age. At center I don’t see any changes since Scott Wells will be the center once again. Wells isn’t the best center in the league but he is consistent and that is what the team really needs at this time.

  The guards are a different story though. I think Jason Spitz will keep his spot since he is finally starting to solidify that position. The other guard spot is up for grabs though. I think it will come down to three players. I think the other guard spot could go to: Darryn Colledge, Junius Coston, and Allen Barbre. At this point I think the two that have the best chance to get the spot is Colledge or Barbre since in mini camp they switched off at the guard position. I personally wish Barbre would get the spot so Colledge can finally exclusively work on being a tackle since I think he could take over for Clifton or Tauscher. Coston also has a chance at the spot but he needs to stay healthy. Last season he finally became the starter but then he got hurt. If Coston can’t remain healthy he will have no chance at getting the starting spot and has a good chance of being cut.

  As far as the rest of the offensive lineman go, there isn’t much to say. We have a couple rookies, a couple returning veterans, and a couple undrafted free agents. Of all the backups I think Tony Moll is in the best situation mostly because he has been here the longest so he knows the system the best. I don’t think he has much of a lead on the others though. Moll was hurt for essentially the whole season with a neck injury. If he can’t get over the injury and the psychological impact that goes along with it, Moll probably won’t make the roster. If he can put the injury behind him, I think he has a good chance to make the team. After Moll I would have to say the two rookies have the best chance to make the team. I don’t know much about Breno Giocomini or Josh Sitton so I really can’t analyze either’s chances of making the team. The other player at this time that has a chance to make the roster is Orrin Thompson. Orrin Thompson impressed some people last training camp before he sustained an injury. One of the many undrafted rookies also have a chance to make the team but I believe they are going to have to show something that makes them standout.

  So who do I think will make the roster? Obviously Clifton, Tauscher, Spitz, Wells, Barbre (hopefully as the guard starter), and Colledge (hopefully as the tackle backup). Junius Coston will also most likely make the team as long as he doesn’t get hurt again. If he does get hurt he will probably spend the season on IR or be cut. After these seven your guess is as good as mine. The Packers will probably keep between 9-10 offensive linemen. I believe one of the rookies will make the roster along with Moll. If there is another open spot it will have to come down to Thompson, the other rookie, or one of the many other undrafted free agents.

  So what do you think about the offensive line going into the season? Do you think that the offensive line will finally be able to turn things around or do you think we are in for a long year once again as far as offensive line play is concerned? Who do you see making the roster?

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  Tagged as: Allen Barbre, Chad Clifton, Darryn Colledge, Jason Spitz, Junius Coston, Mark Tauscher, Packers, Packers Offensive Line, Scott Wells
  

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