Derek Sherrod » Packer Update

How Will O-Line Look Next Season?

Posted by Michael Rodney at 1:00 am 12 Responses »

Jan 152013

Right guard Josh Sitton is the only sure thing on the offensive line

Right guard Josh Sitton is one of the few sure things on the offensive line

There are a lot of questions that need to be answered between now and the start of training camp. One of them deals with the offensive line. There could be a number of changes in the group that is charged with protecting Aaron Rodgers and opening holes for whichever pedestrian back wins the starting job.

Here’s a look at how things stand with the offensive line as of now and how things could play out in the months ahead:

LEFT TACKLE: Marshall Newhouse showed improvement this season, but he’s still a middle of the pack left tackle. Can he get significantly better? That’s a question only the coaching staff can answer. If the answer is no, then Derrick Sherrod will be given every chance to win the job – provided that his broken leg is finally healed. After all, GM Ted Thompson didn’t draft Sherrod in the first round to sit on the bench. And don’t completely discount Andrew Datko, who spent the entire season on the practice squad. The former Florida State star was a more productive college player than Sherrod, and he has a chance to be a solid NFL offensive lineman if he gets stronger and his chronically injured shoulder can hold up.

LEFT GUARD: T.J. Lang began the season very well, but he was never the same after injuring his elbow in October. An ill-fated move to right tackle didn’t help either. He’ll be the starter at left guard unless the coaching staff decides to move him to center – something that was contemplated last offseason. As I wrote in March, I think Lang has the physical skills and smarts to be effective at the position. If he does slide a few feet to his right, Don Barclay could be his logical replacement. The undrafted rookie from West Virginia played surprisingly well at right tackle down the stretch. If he can hold up at that spot, it’s safe to assume he’d do just fine at guard. Barclay is big and surprisingly light on his feet. He needs to get stronger, and he should do just that after spending the next six months in the weight room.

CENTER: This is the position that hurt the O-line the most this season. Jeff Saturday had nothing left and Evan Dietrich-Smith proved in the playoffs that he’s a great backup but just an OK starter. The Packers need to add a bigger body in the middle of the line. That would make a significant difference in the running game. Assuming Lang stays at left guard, Thompson will probably have to use the draft or free agency to fill this spot. Another alternative would be Greg Van Roten, who was promoted from the practice squad in November and finished the season as the No. 7 lineman. A graduate of Penn, GVR has the intelligence needed to play the position. He also has the athleticism. But at 304 pounds, does he have the size and strength to compete with NFL defensive tackles? He doesn’t now, but August is still six months away.

RIGHT GUARD: This is the only position that is 100% set going into next season. Josh Sitton stayed healthy and played more like the stud who earned a big contract in 2010 than like the game but gimpy journeyman who got beat way too often in 2011. At 318 pounds, the former Central Florida star isn’t the biggest or the most athletic guard, but he’s as strong as an ox and as tough as nails. That, along with solid technique, usually allows him to get the best of his opponents. Sitton is only 26, so he should still be ascending. That’s great news for the Packers, but not such great news for the defensive tackles in the NFC North.

RIGHT TACKLE: Bryan Bulaga is expected back after injuring his hip in week 8 and spending the last two months of the season on IR. The former Iowa star struggled early, but he was playing much better prior to getting hurt. There’s always a chance he could move to left tackle and Barclay could remain at this spot, but I don’t see that happening. Bulaga needs to be more aggressive as a run blocker, but gives max effort on every snap and he usually provides steady pass protection. If this group is to be significantly better next season, Bulaga has to be as good as he was in 2011, when he played like a Pro Bowler.

Packers Have Room For Sherrod

Posted by Michael Rodney at 1:34 pm 1 Response »

Aug 282012

Second-year offensive tackle Derek Sherrod is still on the active roster

The Packers have yet to place Derek Sherrod on the physically unable on perform list, and while it could still happen by the end of the week, it’s beginning to look as if the second-year tackle will start the season on the 53-man roster. And he should. Having the former Mississippi State star available to play – even if not until late September – is more beneficial than carrying an extra body at another position.

There are two reasons why. The first is that there’s no depth behind starters Marshall Newhouse and Bryan Bulaga. Newly signed Reggie Wells is currently the No. 3, but he has about as much chance of lining up at tackle in the regular season as I have of winning America’s Got Talent (I’ve got none). The second is that the Packers aren’t quite as deep as we all thought. I don’t see the necessity to carry a third quarterback, a sixth receiver, a ninth offensive lineman, a seventh defensive lineman, a fourth safety, etc.

The possibility of getting Sherrod back before the seventh game is more important than hanging on to someone like B.J. Coleman or Tori Gurley or Andrew Datko or Phillip Merling or Sean Richardson, etc. After watching the Packers all summer, final cuts aren’t going to be all that difficult. That bodes well for Sherrod’s chances of making the final 53, if of course, he’s going to be healthy enough to play before October.

Sherrod Had ‘A Setback’ In The Spring

Posted by Michael Rodney at 7:46 pm 3 Responses »

Jul 252012

The biggest piece of news that came out of Mike McCarthy’s press conference on Monday morning had to do with second-year offensive lineman Derek Sherrod.

“Rehab and football is really two different things,” said the head coach. “So I can’t tell you exactly how far he is away. But he’s been here every day, he’s making progress. I’d say the last couple weeks he’s been really coming on strong. He had a setback back in the spring, but he’s getting better. The trainers are confident in the progress that he’s making.”

McCarthy announced that Sherrod will begin camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. That wasn’t a surprise. The surprise was finding out about the setback. It remains to be seen how long the former Mississippi State star will be sidelined, but considering the severity of the leg injury suffered last December, he was never expected to be cleared for the start of camp – even under the best of circumstances.

After this morning, it’s fair to wonder whether Sherrod will be ready for the start of the season. If he’s not, the Packers will be very thin at tackle. Journeyman Herb Taylor and seventh-round pick Andrew Datko are currently third and fourth on the depth chart. The former hasn’t started a game since the George W. Bush administration and the latter hasn’t played a snap since undergoing shoulder surgery last fall.

Even Packers Have Some Concerns

Posted by Michael Rodney at 7:44 am 10 Responses »

May 222012

Unproven Graham Harrell figures to be the backup QB

The Packers have won 29 games, including a Super Bowl, in the past two seasons. They are also one of the youngest and deepest teams in the league. But that doesn’t mean the defending NFC North champs are without flaws. Here are five areas of concern heading into 2012:

Backup quarterback - While it’s true that most teams would be in big trouble if their starting quarterback got seriously injured, it’s also true that most teams have a more proven backup than Graham Harrell. Maybe the former Texas Tech star will develop into the next Matt Flynn, but I could see him just as easily performing like Caleb Hanie. In fact, I think that’s a more likely scenario. Harrell is a smart player, but his arm strength is extremely limited. Could the Packers win with him at quarterback? Well, Houston did OK with T.J. Yates at the end of last season. Then again, the Texans also had one of the NFL’s best rushing attacks and a very stout defense that gave up just over 17 points per game.

Pass rush - Outside linebacker Clay Matthews was the defense’s only consistent pass rusher last season, and even the three-time Pro Bowler had stretches of ineffectiveness. GM Ted Thompson drafted Nick Perry, Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels in an effort to rectify the problem. And while those three young players should help, it remains to be seen just how much. It’s not like Green Bay added Mario Williams or even Kamerion Wimbley in the offseason. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers needs at least one of the rookies to step up and become an impact pass rusher. A wild card to keep an eye on is fifth-round pick Terrell Manning. The former North Carolina State star has natural blitz ability.

Safeties - After Nick Collins’ neck injury in week 2, Morgan Burnett and Charlie Peprah spent the next 15 games trading off missed tackles and blown assignments. I’ll cut Burnett some slack. He was coming off ACL surgery and he played with a broken hand for months. The former Georgia Tech star should be much improved in ’12, but that’s only wishful thinking at this point. Peprah regressed last season after holding his own in 2010. He really struggled without Collins opposite him and without a consistent pass rush in front of him. He also struggled because offensive coordinators did a better job of taking advantage of his physical limitations. Capers desperately needs Burnett to blossom in his third season and for a young player like Jerron McMillian or Anthony Levine to step in and replace Peprah. Both things could happen, but if they don’t, the last line of defense will be a major problem once again.

Defensive coordinator - The defense had no business being as bad as it was last season – even with the personnel issues. Capers was painfully slow to adjust on a weekly basis. To be honest, he looked like a guy who spent too much time basking in the glow of the Super Bowl win and not enough time figuring out ways to combat offensive coordinators who spent the entire offseason studying how to beat his schemes. This will be a very pivotal season for Capers. His defenses in Carolina, Houston and Miami peaked early and then regressed. We’ll soon find out whether this is a coincidence or a trend. If it’s the latter, Green Bay may be looking for a new DC a lot sooner than expected.

Left tackle - The Packers will have a new player protecting the quarterback’s blind side for the first time since 2000. Chad Clifton is out and either Marshall Newhouse, Derek Sherrod or Andrew Datko is in. All three young players have potential, but none is a proven commodity. Newhouse survived in 13 starts last season, but he wasn’t very good. The former TCU star gave up 10.5 sacks. Sherrod struggled mightily in training camp, but showed improvement later in the regular season. Unfortunately, his progress was halted by a severely broken leg. Datko is a natural pass protector, but he’s also a rookie with a shaky shoulder. The Packers don’t need a stud left tackle since Rodgers has such a quick release and such terrific mobility, but they can’t have a human turnstile at the position either.

Green And Sherrod Ahead Of Schedule

Posted by Michael Rodney at 3:00 pm 4 Responses »

May 132012

Second-year left tackle should be ready for training camp

Mike McCarthy spoke to the media following the final rookie orientation practice of the weekend. His most significant comments dealt with the status of three players coming off major injuries. According to the coach, tight end Andrew Quarless will be “challenged” to be ready for training camp. The former Penn State star suffered torn ligaments in his right knee against the Giants last December. On a more positive note, running back Alex Green (knee) and offensive lineman Derek Sherrod (leg) should be good to go when the doors to St. Norbert’s College open in late July.

Even though McCarthy said Quarless is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation, it’s still likely that the 24-year-old will begin the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. He suffered a gruesome injury only five months ago and it makes no sense to rush him back. Plus, the Packers are fairly deep at tight end. Ryan Taylor and D.J. Williams should be much improved in their second seasons and Tom Crabtree is a reliable veteran.

That Green will be ready for camp comes as no surprise. Reports on his progress have been consistently positive throughout the offseason. The former Hawaii star will probably begin the regular season behind James Starks on the depth chart, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him take over as the starter at some point. And even if he doesn’t, Green should still see plenty of action. McCarthy prefers not to have one back carry the ball 20 times in a game – a philosophy that makes even more sense when the back in question is as injury-prone as Starks. Green could also see the field on third downs if he shows the ability to pass protect. His elusiveness in the open field will make him a threat on screens.

McCarthy said Sherrod is really progressing, but I have my doubts about his availability for the start of camp. The former Mississippi State standout, who broke the fibula and tibia in his right leg last December, will be 7 months removed from surgery in late July. The average recovery time for this type of injury is 6 to 8 months. If – and it’s a big if – Sherrod is good to go in late July, he’ll almost certainly be given a chance to compete for the starting job at left tackle. Marshall Newhouse figures to be atop the depth chart going into the summer, but he struggled at times last season and is vulnerable to competition – especially if the competition is a very talented former first-round pick.

Packers Aren’t Sold On Newhouse

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:00 am 10 Responses »

Apr 212012

Young left tackle had his ups and downs last season

Young offensive lineman had his ups and downs last season

Marshall Newhouse started 11 games at left tackle last season, and all things considered, he did an admirable job. While the second-year player from TCU gave up too many pressures and sacks, he generally held his own. And while generally holding his own may not sound all that impressive, for last year’s Packers, it was good enough. By not resembling a human turnstile at arguably the second-most important position on the team, Newhouse allowed the offense to put up record numbers and allowed quarterback Aaron Rodgers to capture the league’s MVP award.

It would be fair to say that the soft-spoken 23-year-old saved the season after Chad Clifton predictably broke down in week 5. It would also be fair to say, based on what’s happened – or hasn’t happened – over the past few months, that GM Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy aren’t totally comfortable with the idea of Newhouse protecting Rodgers’ blind side for another 16 games. How else can you explain Clifton and his $5.6 million salary still being on the roster?

Yes, I’m aware that the Packers don’t owe Clifton any real money until the start of training camp in late July, but he still counts against the cap – a cap that is already tight and will only get tighter in the coming weeks. And yes, I’m aware that a team can never have too much depth on the offensive line, but the injury-prone 36-year-old isn’t being kept around to be a backup. Even at a reduced salary, that would make little sense for a couple of reasons. One is that Clifton has never once come off the bench in 12 seasons – something that is much easier said than done. The other is that he rarely practices during the week, so playing in games is the only way he can keep his skills intact.

If Thompson and McCarthy truly believed in Newhouse, they would’ve dumped Clifton weeks ago. Not only is he making a lot of money, but the truth is, he wasn’t playing very well prior to suffering a serious hamstring injury last October. The former Tennessee star didn’t look like the same player who seemed to find the fountain of youth late in the 2010 season. His run blocking was even worse than usual and he was getting beat in pass protection by ordinary rushers – something that almost never happened in his previous 154 starts. It looked like Father Time had finally caught up with Clifton, and as we all know, once Father Time catches up to you, there’s simply no getting away.

And yet, Clifton is still a member of the Packers. And as long as he’s healthy following minor back surgery, he’ll probably still be a member of the Packers 18 weeks from now when Aldon Smith and the rest of the 49ers come to town. “There’s definitely a possibility,” said McCarthy. “We haven’t taken him off [the roster], so he’s someone we’ll continue to talk about and get the reports. He’s down in Tennessee now, so we’ll see how he recovers. It’s a medical decision. That’s what it will come down to.” It wouldn’t come down to a medical decision if Thompson and McCarthy had more faith in Newhouse. If they truly believed he was the answer, Clifton would be a memory by now.

To be fair, a lack of faith in Newhouse isn’t the only thing keeping Clifton around. The broken leg suffered by Derek Sherrod is also helping his cause. There’s not a doubt in my mind that last year’s first-round draft choice would’ve been the starting left tackle heading into training camp had he not gotten hurt against the Chiefs in week 15. He was really coming on after a slow start, and unlike Newhouse, he’s the prototype for the position. Blessed with long arms, good balance, quick feet and the ability to get out in space, the former Mississippi State star only needed a full offseason of intense work to win the job. He won’t get that now and therefore he remains a question mark.

Bulaga To Left Tackle Is Right Move

Posted by Michael Rodney at 7:46 am 7 Responses »

Feb 282012

Bulaga is the team's best offensive tackle

Assuming Chad Clifton is released in the next few weeks, the Green Bay Packers will begin next season with a new starter at left tackle for the first time in a dozen years. That player will be either Marshall Newhouse, Derek Sherrod or Bryan Bulaga.

Newhouse started 11 games at the position last season after Clifton suffered a severe hamstring injury in week 5, and while the final numbers weren’t very pretty (10.5 sacks, 41.5 pressures and 14.5 bad runs), the second-year player from TCU never backed down and rarely got dominated while lining up opposite a murderer’s row of pass rushers. Newhouse has ideal feet for the position, but he was inconsistent with his technique. His biggest problems were sloppy hand placement and a tendency to shuffle to cut off the rush instead of kick-sliding. These flaws will be addressed and hopefully corrected during the offseason. Whether that’ll be enough to turn him into an above-average left tackle remains to be seen.

Sherrod was really starting to come on prior to suffering a serious leg injury in December. Last year’s first-round pick may or may not be ready for the start of training camp, but he obviously won’t be able to take part in any minicamps and OTAs for a second consecutive offseason. That will put him at a distinct disadvantage if and when he reports to St. Norbert. Had Sherrod not suffered the leg injury, I think he would’ve been the odds-on favorite to replace Clifton. The former Mississippi State star has great size, long arms and above-average feet. All he needed was extensive work in the weight room and a ton of reps – two things that won’t happen now until the spring of 2013.

That leaves Bulaga, who started 12 games last season and proved to be one of the NFC’s best right tackles. And while nobody ever likes to move a Pro Bowl caliber offensive lineman, I think it’s a gamble worth taking. The former Iowa star may not have the ideal arm length to play on the left side, but everything else about him suggests he can more than adequately protect Aaron Rodgers’ blind side. Bulaga is a solid technician who can recover when he gets out of position and run pass rushers wide of the pocket. More importantly, he’s one of those players who just refuses to lose. You get the sense that Bulaga would hold his own if asked to play corner (that’s hyperbole, but you get the point).

So those are the three contenders for the soon-to-be vacant (I assume) left tackle position. The Packers could begin next season the way they ended last season, with the hope that Newhouse makes as big a jump from year two to three as he did from year one to two. But why roll the dice when you have a player as talented and dependable as Bulaga on the roster? Let your best tackle play on the left side and let Newhouse continue to develop while facing lesser competition. Assuming Sherrod is healthy, he can back up both spots in ’12 and then compete for a starting job in ’13.

Review: Packers At Colts

Posted by Michael Rodney at 9:03 am 2 Responses »

Aug 282011

McDonald needs to get stronger in the upper body

People say you only have to watch the last two minutes of an NBA game. Well, that saying proved true for the NFL on Friday night in Indianapolis. The Packers, who couldn’t do a thing on offense for the first 28 minutes of the second half, scored 11 points in the final 35 seconds to beat the Colts 24-21. After re-watching the entire game (hey, what else is there to do with a hurricane bearing down on the Northeast?), here are three thoughts:

1] The depth on the offensive line could be a problem. Backup tackles Derek Sherrod and Marshall Newhouse have bright futures, but I’m not sure either is ready to take on some of the NFL’s best defensive ends. While Sherrod looks a lot more comfortable at tackle, he still had trouble keeping rushers away from the quarterback on Friday. And it wasn’t just one type of player that gave him problems. He was beaten by power and by speed. It looks like this year’s No. 1 pick could be spending his game days as one of the inactives – at least early on. Newhouse is the better player now, but he’s had his share of problems in protection as well. He needs to be more consistent with his footwork. He has a tendency to shuffle to cut off the rush instead of kick-sliding. The former TCU star might be OK if pressed into service, but can Green Bay take that chance?

The situation on the interior isn’t a whole lot better. While Nick McDonald played his finest game of the preseason on Friday, he hasn’t shown the strength in practice (or last week against the Cardinals) to consistently hold his own against powerful defensive tackles. The former Grand Valley State star relies more on technique than on natural ability, and that’s a tough way to make a living for a young player. Ray Dominguez often looks awful in those one-on-one drills in practice, but he does OK in the games. I think he’s a better long-term prospect than either McDonald or rookie Caleb Schlauderaff, but he’s not ready to step in and play either. Evan Dietrich-Smith is the team’s best current option to replace any of the interior starters. He doesn’t have much talent or upside (that’s why he was cut a year ago), but he usually finds a way to get the job done. The best option, however, might be to acquire a veteran after final cuts.

2] I know outside linebackers Jamari Lattimore and especially Vic So’oto played well against the Colts, but I wouldn’t be so quick to get rid of Brad Jones – especially with Frank Zombo expected to miss at least a few regular season games. While the former Colorado star hasn’t made very many plays this summer, there’s something to be said for experience. He’s started 12 games since joining Green Bay in 2009 and the team has won 9 of them. Jones doesn’t have the speed of Lattimore or the size of So’oto, but he knows the scheme and he’s seldom caught out of position. The same can’t be said for So’oto, who has struggled to diagnose running plays in practices and games. He also doesn’t move in space nearly as well as Jones. As for Lattimore, he simply can’t play outside linebacker at 230 pounds. He might be able to contribute on special teams and as a pass rush specialist this season, but that’s about it.

If Zombo were healthy, I’d consider releasing Jones to make room for one or maybe even both of the undrafted free agents. But as things stand now, the Packers need to have at least one experienced outside linebacker behind Clay Matthews and Erik Walden. I still think Lattimore has a higher ceiling than So’oto, but it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if the former BYU star grabs the roster spot. He’s more equipped to play right away. Besides, the odds of another team claiming Lattimore on waivers are low. There’s not a huge need for 230-pounders who are still learning how to play with their hand off the ground.

3] If it comes down to it, I’d keep a fifth tight end over a fourth running back, a second fullback, a 10th offensive lineman or a sixth cornerback. That’s because either Andrew Quarless, D.J. Williams or Tom Crabtree would have more value to the team this season than Dimitri Nance, Quinn Johnson, Dietrich-Smith, Schlauderaff, Pat Lee or Josh Gordy. Besides, which tight end would you get rid of? Quarless is the best option should something happen to Finley. Williams has cooled down after a hot start, but he’s too talented to give up on after only five weeks. And Crabtree is the best special teams player and the strongest blocker.

If the numbers don’t add up and the Packers absolutely positively have to get rid of a tight end, I’d very reluctantly dump Williams. As much as I like the former Arkansas star, the emergence of fellow rookie Ryan Taylor has made him less important to the team’s present and to its future. Speaking of Taylor, the more I see of him, the more he reminds me of Mark Chmura. Both players were drafted in the late rounds out of a current Atlantic Coast Conference school and they are similar in size. The Packers can only hope Taylor develops into a Chewy clone on the football field – and a much better human being off of it.

SLOCUM HAS NO MORE EXCUSES

Posted by Michael Rodney at 3:40 pm 3 Responses »

Aug 162011

Special teams coordinator needs to get the job done

The 2010 Packers won the Super Bowl despite their special teams. While kicker Mason Crosby and punter Tim Masthay were fine, the returners had very little room to manuever and the kick coverage was consistently inconsistent. But things are looking up. The addition of receiver Randall Cobb provides Green Bay with all the ingredients needed to be extremely successful on special teams this season. The former Kentucky star should be just what the doctor ordered on returns, and the outstanding depth at tight end, outside linebacker and in the secondary should be a boon to the coverage units. Truth be told, there’s only one thing that can keep the special teams from rising to the top – the coaching of coordinator Shawn Slocum.

Slocum seems like a hard-working guy, but his return and coverage units have been way too undisciplined since the day he was tabbed to take over for the “retired” Mike Stock (don’t get me started on the decision to replace one of the worst coaches in the league with his assistant). Watch the way other teams play special teams and then watch the Packers. You don’t have to be an expert to see how many guys are missing blocks on returns and how many guys are failing to stay in their lanes in coverage. That’s all about discipline. And if things don’t improve in this particular area, no amount of new talent will make an appreciable difference.

BATTLE OF ATTRITION

Assuming the Packers keep four tight ends, and assuming impressive rookies D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor are two of them, the final roster spot will likely come down to either Andrew Quarless or Tom Crabtree. The former is the better receiver and the latter is the better blocker. My hunch is that GM Ted Thompson would prefer to keep Quarless, a fifth-round pick with the requisite size and athleticism to create mismatches down the field. But head coach Mike McCarthy always stresses the importance of accountability, and the former Penn State star has been sidelined for much of camp with assorted injuries. That should’ve opened the door for Crabtree, but he’s also missed some time with injuries of his own. So in what figures to be a heated battle, the last man standing could literally wind up being the last man standing.

GUARDS FOUGHT TO A DRAW

After re-watching every snap played by Derek Sherrod and T.J. Lang on Saturday, I still can’t decide which offensive lineman performed better at left guard. Both did some good things and some not so good things. Sherrod definitely played better than he’s been practicing, but the same problems I wrote about a few weeks ago were noticeable against the Browns. As for Lang, he looks more comfortable inside than Sherrod. That’s because his body is better suited for the position and he’s stronger below the waist. What he’ll never do particularly well, however, is adjust on the second level. It’s obvious Thompson and McCarthy would like to see their first-round pick win the job, but I still think Lang is the better choice.

LINEBACKERS WERE IN NO RUSH

None of the three players competing for the starting job at right outside linebacker got anywhere near the quarterback in the preseason opener. That wasn’t a huge surprise considering Frank Zombo, Erik Walden and Brad Jones haven’t shown much as pass rushers in camp. In fact, the most effective pass rusher this summer has probably been undrafted free agent Vic So’oto. The former defensive end from BYU is a physical player with above-average athleticism, but he’s still learning the position. That showed on Saturday night when he got caught out of position on numerous occasions. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers would love for one of his outside linebackers to pick up the slack for Cullen Jenkins, but the more you see, the more you have to wonder whether any of them will be up to the task.

JONES BACK ON THE MARKET?

This following isn’t a rumor, it’s just a thought. With Cobb looking so impressive at wide receiver, is it possible that James Jones could still wind up playing for another team this season? I know he just signed a three-year contract with the Packers, but that doesn’t necessarily preclude a trade from happening. In fact, Jones might be more appealing to other GMs now that his future earnings are set through 2013. And while an offense can never have too many weapons, if Thompson can turn his No. 4 receiver into a decent draft pick or perhaps a proven offensive or defensive lineman, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him make a move with Jones. Just something else to ponder as training camp trudges along.

SHERROD FACES TOUGH TRANSITION

Posted by Michael Rodney at 1:00 am 13 Responses »

Aug 022011

Rookie is first in line to replace Daryn Colledge at left guard

I understand why Derek Sherrod opened camp as the starting left guard. This year’s first-round draft choice is far and away the most talented of the contenders for the job – not to mention far and away the highest-paid. But I also understand how difficult the transition will be. Not only does Sherrod have to learn a new position – he played tackle at Mississippi State – but he has to do it with a body that simply isn’t built to play inside.

There’s a reason most offensive linemen over 6’4 play tackle in the NFL. While great height and long arms are an advantage when playing on an island, those same traits tend to be a problem when working in tight quarters. That means technique will be very important for Sherrod. He must avoid playing too upright and allowing defenders to get inside his frame and control him. But even if he keeps his pad-level low (there’s your first McCarthyism of the season), it remains to be seen whether he has the lower-body strength needed to keep from getting rocked backwards by powerful defensive linemen. Even while playing tackle in college, Sherrod wasn’t overly aggressive and tended to do too much catching.

There aren’t many quality guards as tall as Sherrod in the NFL – he measured just under 6’6 at his pro day – but there are a few. Steve Hutchison (Vikings), Carl Nicks (Saints), Leonard Davis (ex-Cowboys) and Alan Faneca (retired) have all gone to a Pro Bowl within the past two years and each stands at least 6’5. Nevertheless, they are the exceptions rather than the rule. The average height of the 64 starting guards who finished last season was 6’3 3/4. That includes Green Bay’s Daryn Colledge (6’4) and Josh Sitton (6’3).

Veteran T.J. Lang is currently the No. 2 left guard. He’s also taller than the average guard (6’4 1/4), but he’s a more natural fit inside than Sherrod. That’s because the former Eastern Michigan star has a solid build and a wide, square frame. He also has enough lower-body strength to anchor effectively against power. But Lang has a few issues of his own. For one, he’s not a particularly good athlete – something that’s apparent when he has to respond to quick counters or get to the second level. He also needs to improve his overall awareness. He tended to be a bit slow reacting to blitzes last summer.

Based purely on body type and athletic ability, it would probably make the most sense to move Bryan Bulaga to left guard and put Sherrod at right tackle. But under these unique circumstances, it’s understandable why the Packers chose not to go in this direction. Such a move would create question marks at two positions, and no team wants that when the regular season is scheduled to open in 37 days.

The last time the Packers lost a starting left guard to free agency was 2005. Mike Wahle’s exit to Carolina left a hole in the line that wasn’t adequately filled until Daryn Colledge was drafted a year later. General manager Ted Thompson thought he had an able replacement in Adrian Klemm, but he was wrong. He’s probably not wrong this time. Chances are, either Sherrod or Lang will be able to get the job done. The former is too talented and the latter too hard-working to fail the way Klemm did. But on a team which has very few question marks heading into the season, this is definitely one that’s yet to be answered.