Packer Notes: Shields Surprises, Tryouts, and Bulaga Struggles

by Brandon on Nov 12, 2010 7:01 AM CST in Green Bay Packers News

Over at Pocket Doppler, I was asked a few questions about the Green Bay Packers. I said the biggest surprise this season was CB Sam Shields. The Press-Gazette has a little bit more about his rapid rise. Shields was beaten last week on the Cowboys lone TD pass (though he had pretty good position) and made up for it with an earlier INT. The roster decision on CB Al Harris would have been different if it weren't for Shields. While he's not perfect, I would have laughed at anyone who suggested a few months ago that he would earn the nickel job by merit. He was an undrafted rookie free agent, he only played defense for one year in college, and he was viewed as a returner only when signed. To rise so rapidly, especially as a rookie, and earn the nickel CB job is amazing.

The Packers took advantage of the bye week to tryout eight players, according to the National Football Post. I haven't heard of any of them, but I'll take a closer look if someone is signed. I'm not sure about this rumor of a tryout for TE/LB Spencer Havner.

Another great article from Pro Football Focus, which takes a closer look at the blowout last Sunday. I've been worried about the play of 1st round rookie RT Bryan Bulaga, but I don't have access to game charting or stats against offensive lineman. This article confirmed what I've been worried about: Bulaga had a lousy game. Against the Cowboys, he allowed five QB pressures and one sack. While he's no RT Allen Barbre, he's little improved since his first disappointing start against the Redskins. It hasn't helped that he's been asked to play right tackle over the past five weeks, and he didn't play on the right side at all during the preseason. Still it might be best if they let RT Mark Tauscher take over for the rest of the season, if the veteran is ready to return after the bye week.

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Bulaga > Tauscher

Tauscher was a BIG reason why Rodgers was under frequent pressure earlier this year. Tauscher is practically done. I hate to say it, but it’s true. I’m not ready to put Tauscher in. Bulaga hasn’t been great, but he hasn’t been bad either. Overall, as a RT he’s between Average and Good. Tauscher is below average at this point in his career. Sorry, but it’s true.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Nov 12, 2010 7:52 AM CST reply actions

I agree

Also as a rookie, whom as you said didn’t get any RT preseason snaps, he should only get better. Tauscher will only break down

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Nov 12, 2010 8:18 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

I was nervous about shields going into the year but we really may have found lightning in a bottle with this kid!! I hope he can keep improving and our CB situation may not be as dire going forward as I feared!

by TrevorR on Nov 12, 2010 8:56 AM CST reply actions

Arg!

I don’t know. What’s happening is exactly the opposite of what I thought would happen, and so it’s hard for me to process. Clifton has been declining for years so I thought he’d do horrible this season, get hurt (again) and Bulaga would start in his place and this would be his last year. I figured Tauscher would conintue to play as well as he did last year, after he came back from that injury and he’d stay solid for a couple more years.

Now everything is topsy turvy crazy land. Clifton is back to awesomeness form and Tauscher is the big question mark.

In the end, I gotta go with Mark. He’s the vet. I think when he comes back, it’s his job to loose, I don’t think he’ll have to fight Bulaga for it. I have nothing to back this up but my gut.

by Smeefers on Nov 12, 2010 9:00 AM CST reply actions

Job to lose!

Tauscher already lost the job!!! He wasn’t playing up to the standards of the coaches or himself for that matter. Bulaga has played better than Tauscher was earlier in the year! So he’s already lost the job…

Clifton was actually healthy for the first time in the offseason. He wasn’t in rehab for any injuries and could actually prepare himself for the season in terms of conditioning and technique work! So I am not surprised he’s doing so well this season. Amazing what not having surgeries on both knees and shoulders (which was the case the offseason prior) will do for you!!!

You've been Stroh'd!!!

by Strohman on Nov 12, 2010 10:34 AM CST up reply actions

I agree with you

At the very least, it’s silly to say that Tauscher won’t have to “fight Bulaga for it.” Why not? Bulaga has been holding his own at RT this season. If he’d been failing miserably I’d say go ahead an plug Tausch back in, but that isn’t the case. You don’t get to jump back into a starting spot after recovering from injury just because. Brett Favre got a starting position because someone got injured and he performed. Tramon Williams got a starting position because someone got injured and he performed. Countless others have done this too. I’m not in the camp that you can’t lose your starting spot due to injury. If your backup is playing better, why do you deserve to go back out there?

And what good does putting Bulaga on the bench for Tauscher do? There’s not going to be any sort of upgrade at the position, and how is BB going to get better if he’s not out on the field?

Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"

by GoGregGo on Nov 12, 2010 11:06 AM CST up reply actions

Ted must have known

Ted must have known Clifton had something left in the tank judging by the money paid.

by the yooper on Nov 12, 2010 4:54 PM CST up reply actions

WTF

Offensive linemen aren’t born. They’re made. Bulaga’s progress has been more then acceptable, it’s been good. He rarely makes the same mistake twice, which is all you can ask. In that regard, the article is just not realistic.

by marcopo on Nov 12, 2010 9:22 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

+1

These are my exact feelings too. It really doesn’t seem like he’s done that poorly. He’s struggled against the blitz but that’s expected. He struggled a bit against Wake too but that was a while ago.

by packallday555 on Nov 12, 2010 9:58 AM CST up reply actions

I know

Bulaga has been a little inconsistent so far, but he is still playing pretty good imo and should only get better.
Shields has been playing pretty good for an undrafted rookie, but i am also impressed with Zombo.

by Katsuya89 on Nov 12, 2010 10:40 AM CST up reply actions

Rec'd

He rarely makes the same mistake twice

TT bashers - turning my stomach since 2005!
The glass is way more than half-full!

by NorthStarr on Nov 13, 2010 1:22 AM CST up reply actions

Shields

I was extremely excited when I found out the Packers picked up Shields after seeing what he did to the Badgers in the Champs bowl last year and his extremely fast uprising was not too surprising for me.

by Matt Capelle on Nov 12, 2010 10:58 AM CST reply actions

Bulaga

I doubt this happens since our line isn’t ‘Chicago Bears bad’… but any chance Bulaga moves to LG and Tauscher starts at RT? I know the coaching staff won’t want to pull Bulaga just because they want to give him more reps…

I guess I don’t see Tauscher as bad as everyone else does, just come end of the season/play-off time, I would feel a little bit better with an experienced tackle. Just a thought…

by Chief Oshkosh on Nov 12, 2010 1:21 PM CST reply actions

No chance, IMO...

Don’t see the coaching staff benching Colledge! He’s playing pretty well, better than either Tausch or Bulaga.

Seems like Tausch is really declining this year, so I don’t see him getting his starting job, but I want him as a backup RT for sure.

You've been Stroh'd!!!

by Strohman on Nov 12, 2010 2:43 PM CST up reply actions

Tauscher

We haven’t seen him play in 5 weeks so we don’t know if he is the Tauscher of early this season or the one of late last season. If he plays like he ended last season he is better than Bulaga.

by Wisfan on Nov 12, 2010 1:43 PM CST reply actions

not sure why we’d assume he’d magically get better.

by TrevorR on Nov 12, 2010 3:51 PM CST up reply actions

How about a healed shoulder?

Just cause he’s old doesn’t mean he can’t heal at all.

by Mr. Saturn on Nov 12, 2010 7:15 PM CST up reply actions

I stand corrected

dammit

by Mr. Saturn on Nov 12, 2010 7:16 PM CST up reply actions

The sack last week

was on Rodgers (can’t recall where i read it – possibly packer plus).

To me, the question is not Tauscher or Bulaga, but Bulaga or Lang? I don’t recall any statistics, but I recall TJ playing pretty well last year.

I believe Bulaga has been sufficient, but not overwhelmingly great.

by gern blanston on Nov 12, 2010 3:45 PM CST reply actions

Rumors were true

The Packers have signed TE Spencer Havner and placed T Mark Tauscher on injured reserve

by Eman6880 on Nov 12, 2010 4:35 PM CST reply actions

Shields

Shields is playing some awesome football not just for a undrafted rookie but I’d be excited if he was a 1st round pick playing this well. Our secondary should be sound for several years to come.
As far as Bulaga goes he’ll be fine. ‘Not many tackles walk in year one without some growing pains he’ll get better each week. Someone said he doesn’t make the same mistake twice, hopefully pretty soon there won’t be many mistakes left to be made.

by the yooper on Nov 12, 2010 5:02 PM CST reply actions