New Starters: RT T.J. Lang and OLB Brad Jones

by Brandon on Nov 13, 2009 7:00 AM CST in Green Bay Packers News

It looks like the Green Bay Packers will have two players starting different positions for the first time. According to Tom Silverstein, it's a "lock" that T.J. Lang will start at right tackle. Mike McCarthy acknowledged that Brad Jones is getting more work at OLB than Jeremy Thompson.

As far as Lang goes, I'm not sure about this move. Though I like his potential more than RT Allen Barbre, he has struggled this season when he's played at left tackle. Back at Eastern Michigan, he started 10 games at right tackle as a sophomore, but played exclusively at left tackle as a junior and senior. So this week was the first time he's played on the right side since 2006, although he might have gotten some reps on the right side during training camp. He doesn't have a lot of experience on the right side. RT Mark Tauscher is out this week, but he could be back for the 49ers game on the 15th. Barbre suffered a concussion near the end of the game in Tampa, but he's back at practice. The only other option would be T Breno Giacomini, but as far as I can tell, he hasn't been seriously considered for playing time this season. Moving Lang to an unfamiliar position is just the best they can do this week.

I'd been hoping Jones could get some more playing time. He showed some good speed pass rushing moves in the preseason. He's been playing left OLB since his first preseason game, so it's not an unfamiliar position for him. That's probably why he's practiced more than Jeremy Thompson, who has played almost exclusively at right OLB. With LB Brandon Chillar, LB Brady Poppinga, and, of course, LB Aaron Kampman all likely to be out this Sunday, Jones and Thompson are the only options left. Or do you think Thompson deserves to start ahead of Jones at this point?

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Dissapointing news

TJ Lang needs to start at LG, we need to get Colledge out of there. I’m not favoring Brad Jones until he gets a couple more years of experience in. What was he, our 5th Round Draft pick? I didn’t like him in Preseason as he didn’t apply any pressure on the QB. I hope I’m wrong aobut this, but I prefer Jeremy Thompson at LOLB.

by Jabooty on Nov 13, 2009 10:10 AM CST reply actions

Lang

He was set to start at LG this week, but we needed him at RT because of the injuries to Tauscher and Barbre. I think as soon as Tauscher is back, which is likely going to be next week, we’ll see Lang at LG.

by packallday555 on Nov 13, 2009 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

Our o-line situation just makes me upset. The fact that we aren’t going to start our backup RT at RT says a lot too me. Obviously the coaches have no confidence in Giancomini, so why is he even on the team? I think Lang will be fine at RT. He has been serviceable at LT, and I would say he and Sitton have been our best run blockers so maybe Grant will be able to get something going to the right side.

I guess I’m ok with Jones at OLB over Thompson. Though I also think it’s telling that Thompson isn’t going to start. In the offseason McCarthy was absolutely RAVING about Thompson and how good he looked. Come regular season time I think he has seen like all of 10 snaps. This is another thing I just don’t get. I know we have Kampman and Matthews on the outsides but if Thompson really is as good as McCarthy seems to think he could be why is he seeing no playing time?

by packallday555 on Nov 13, 2009 10:15 AM CST reply actions

Reasons

I am a little surprised that Thompson isn’t starting too… But I think the reason has ALOT to do w/ the fact that Thompson was at ROLB during the entire offseason. Whereas Jones is more of a natural LOLB, having played that position during his college career and thoughout the offseason! THe positions may seem interchangable to casual fans, but that is not the case at all… FIrst pass rushers are very hand dominant, in that they are usually much better rushing from a particular side, but struggle to rush from the opposite side. Second, Jones showed very good coverage abitity from his position. His quickness and athletic ability should serve him well at LOLB. Finally, and I think Thompson has a chance to be a very good player, he simply hasn’t ever played w/ the type of aggressiveness that is necessary in the NFL. Until he learns to do that he will remain on the bench.

by Strohman on Nov 13, 2009 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

agree

Jones is lighter then AK, that is the only negative I see. So his run stopping ability may be less than AK’s.

However, Jones may be a better fit for this team. AK is awesome, but he isn’t a fluid athlete like Ware. He is a DE and should be traded this off season because he is a very average LOLB.

I think Jones will do well.

by Acme on Nov 13, 2009 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

I heard good things bout Jones when we drafted him. He is projected to be a 3 down type of player which is rare that late in the draft. I think Thompson is more of a blitzer and they might want someone that might shape up to be more well rounded. Maybe they start bringing Thompson out there to bring a blitz here and there.

by TrevorR on Nov 13, 2009 2:33 PM CST up reply actions

Jones

I like Jones, right now he is too light to hold up though. He may do OK for a short time, but unless he gains some wt he won’t hold up! I love Kampman for everything he brings to the team, but he simply is NOT the type of athlete necessary to play 34 OLB! The best 34 OLB are top athletes, but what is just as important and possibly MORE important is that they are explosive and aggressive! Kampman, even as a DE, has always been a guy that gets sacks by hustle… He simply never stops working to get there, but you dont see him explode into a pass rush and flat beat the OT physically, either as an athlete or from an aggression point of view. We need another guy like Matthews, or better yet like Woodley in Pittsburgh!

by Strohman on Nov 13, 2009 2:42 PM CST up reply actions

ROLB in a 4-3 defense like Colorado has is a lot different from ROLB in a 3-4 defense. We need someone that can rush the passer. Clay Mathews has made plays, but until he beefs up more and adds a good bull rush to his list of moves, we cannot rely on his to apply pressure on the QB. Sure, Jones may be a good coverage LB, but what we really need right now is an OLB that can rush the QB and apply pressure. When scouting Jones in Preseason, he could not get ot the QB at all. I think Thompson would do a better job in applying more pressure than what Jones could. Our pass rush is already bad enough, we can’t make it worse.

by Jabooty on Nov 13, 2009 2:34 PM CST up reply actions

Jones

I agree that Jones is more of a coverage LB. THe problem w/ Thompson is that he just doesn’t play w/ any physicality or aggressiveness! If Thompson can learn to play w/ that, he will be a really good OLB in a 34 D. I think Greene has to find a way to get that out of Thompson! Don’t know if thats entirely possible though, as aggressiveness and physicality don’t seem to be learned traits, but are more of a personality trait!

Neither one really appeals to me a whole lot from that point of view!

by Strohman on Nov 13, 2009 2:51 PM CST up reply actions