Pack line putting the “O” in “woes”

By Os Davis  |   Thursday, August 17, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Green Bay Packers
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!
Those who call preseason games irrelevant have clearly never been handed a reality check like that cashed by the Green Bay Packers last weekend.

Green Bay was weak throughout in its 17-3 loss at San Diego, from a defense that succeeded in little more than making new Charger QB Philip Rivers look very good to a low-wattage offense nearly impotent on third down. Above all, however, was the poor play exhibited by the offensive line.

Packer quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers were sacked a total of five times. Almost constantly facing pressure on the blitz, the Pack was 3-of-13 on third-down opportunities. Scrambling early and often, Rodgers ended up leading the team in rushing with 21 yards. How exactly the backup managed an admirable nine completions on 11 attempts is both mystery and the sole bright spot displayed Saturday.

The first move on Monday morning, then, was a reconstruction of the line. Second-round draft pick Daryn Colledge has been dropped from the starting squad in favor of Jason Spitz. Third-rounder Spitz shifts to Colledge's left guard spot from the right. Taking over at right guard will be fifth-round pick Tony Moll, formerly listed on the Packers' depth chart at right tackle and at TE for the University of Nevada.

On the second string, it's Colledge at left guard, undrafted free agent signee Josh Bourke at left tackle, and 2005 draftee Junius Coston at right tackle. Any underperformance at any spot on the line is certainly to be to the versatile Coston's benefit, as the North Carolina A&T alum played every position on the o-line in college and has been tested in Green Bay camps at left guard, left tackle and center. Packer backers may yet see quite a bit more of Coston in 2006.

"We're just looking for a comfort level of five guys playing together," ran head coach Mike McCarthy's oft-quoted remark in the media this week, but "comfort" should be considered in short supply for these guys already.

Bourke, OG Michael Moore and OT Todd Williams were all reported as engaging in scuffles with their defensive counterparts in Monday drills. A little reading between the lines and the inference could be made that some Packers are seeking to eliminate (or at least toughen up) weaker elements on the offensive line.

To be fair, McCarthy is demanding quite a lot from a Green Bay squad, with implementation of his new West Coast Offense and blocking scheme. And perhaps not even Favre, he of the "best team in terms of talent" praise, can project the Pack's season to last far into 2007 anymore. Certain realities, however, may be grimmer than many wish to admit. On the extreme side of cynicism, one wonders for whom the season will be longest: Favre, McCarthy, the beleaguered line or the cheesehead legion. (And what's the over/under on sacks given up by the Packers for the season?)

Without major improvement on the line, the "green" in Green Bay may come to mean the green staring Favre in the face as he hits the turf once again, wondering why he came back...

Realfootball365: Keeping an eye on the Green Bay Packers ' long, long season ahead.
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's ...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report