I didn’t think Evan Dietrich-Smith was a legitimate NFL player two summers ago. After re-watching his three starts from late last season, I’ve changed my mind. He’s definitely a legitimate NFL player; he’s just not a guard. While the 26-year-old managed to survive in 188 snaps against the Giants, Oakland and Chicago, he wasn’t very impressive. The feeling here is that the Packers need to find a better No. 3 guard and allow EDS to concentrate on backing up 37-year-old center Jeff Saturday.
Dietrich-Smith is a fundamentally sound lineman who plays with an aggressive and nasty temperament. He generally stays on his feet and he often packs a punch on contact. What he lacks is athleticism. He got exposed in space quite often – especially against the Giants – and he really struggled to hit moving targets. I counted at least five plays where Dietrich-Smith’s inability to adjust to movement almost got Aaron Rodgers sacked. In each instance, only the MVP quarterback’s quick release or uncanny escapability kept him from getting taken to the ground.
The Packers can obviously get through a game or two with Dietrich-Smith at guard, but I think he’d become a liability if forced to play for an extended period of time. Ideally, one of the young linemen will step up in training camp and seize the backup position. Unfortunately, the odds of that happening aren’t very good. Ray Dominguez finished last season on the active roster, but he still has a lot to learn after starting 33 games at tackle in college. The remainder of the potential backups are either undrafted free agents or veterans who are more comfortable outside.
I used to think Jaymes Brooks had a chance to replace Dietrich-Smith as the No. 3 guard, but that was before the talented rookie from Virginia Tech injured his hamstring and sat out the entire offseason. There’s no guarantee he’ll be ready for the start of camp, and even if he is, he’ll be way behind. There’s always a chance GM Ted Thompson will acquire a veteran during the summer, but don’t bet on it. That means Dietrich-Smith will likely enter his second season as the team’s top backup at all three interior offensive line positions. And while that’s not my biggest concern in July, it could be if something happens to one of the starting guards or tackles in October.
Ray Dominguez will fill the role. The current regime loves to convert college tackles to guards, and Dominguez looked like he could handle it in his limited snaps last year.
Yes. For some ungodly reason, they always want to take Ts and turn them into Gs.
I think it’s great to have versatility. But this musical chairs thing isn’t working, with the possible exception of Lang.
Some guys are interior, some guys are outside guys. Let them have that flexibility, but stop trying to put a square peg into a round hole.
I also remember that pre-draft some of the sites were saying/predicting that, with a healthy healthy shoulder, Datko could/would play inside as well with a little more time and work in the weight room.
That would surprise me. He’s built to play tackle. Plus, the pounding that goes on inside wouldn’t be good for his shoulder.
I’m also hoping, with an entire off-season, that Dominguez proves to be the guy. He’s massive, and comes from a big-time program.
Dominguez certainly has a chance to be that guy. I liked him last summer: http://packerupdate.net/?p=15039
Musical chairs are a fact of life in the NFL, teams in this case the Packers usually only dress 7 Olinemen on game day.
Those back ups HAVE to be flexible and be able to play multiple positions thats why the Packers like college tackles playing guard. Sitton was a RT and Lang a LT. DSmith was a LT also.
Im not a big fan of Domingeuz who was also a tackle in college but he could work out as a back up OG, if he has improved his hand and foot work inside.
Datko is a tackle but I would think he will get some work at OG just as Sherrod did last year.
DSmith where not great at either Center or Guard can do a serviceable job at either spot.
Herb Taylor Can play inside and outside also.
In training camp watch Don Barclay he was the starting LT for West Virginia for 3 years. He is a very much a Lang clone.
And Shea Allard could show something at OG also.
James Brooks if Healthy is another good prospect at OG for the Packers.
Not ever player can be a starting level player, and with only dressing 7 those back up do not just work at OG or OT and it is a problem with there development at either position.