Decision Time: The Verdict On Bryan Bulaga at RT

by Brandon on Feb 11, 2011 2:00 PM CST in Green Bay Packers Draft

The right side of the Green Bay Packers offensive line was a tale of two seasons. RG Josh Sitton had his second consecutive great season, and was honored for it by the NFL Alumni Association. Meanwhile, rookie RT Bryan Bulaga was installed mid-season as the starter after RT Mark Tauscher was lost for the year. The right tackle position was clearly the weak link on the offensive line.

After spending the entire training camp and preseason on the left side at either tackle or guard, Bulaga was moved abruptly to the right side after Tauscher's injury. They could have gone with their true backup right tackle, T.J. Lang, but the move of Bulaga ahead of Lang confirmed that they think he's their next best lineman. While he's still expected to play well, maybe the combination of unfamiliar position and rookie NFL season can account for his inconsistency. He's a promising young player who will only get better in the future.

But in the recent past, it's been a brutal stretch for Bulaga. He was inconsistent during the regular season, and ended it with a brutal game against the Bears. He had played better during the playoffs, but it was a rough Super Bowl. LB LaMarr Woodley recorded 3 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 QB hits. And the sack was even Bulaga's fault, as a play near the goal line was blown up by the Steelers. But during most of the first half, and the start of the 3rd quarter, Woodley was having his way with Bulaga. He was consistently blowing up the pocket, and was only slowed down late in the third quarter when they occasionally sent TE Tom Crabtree in motion to get a chip block on Woodley at the line of scrimmage.

What should be done for Bulaga next season? Give him a full offseason to get ready to play right tackle? I don't see any reason why LT Chad Clifton should be let go after he had a Pro Bowl season, and shut down LB James Harrison in the Super Bowl. He could go back to the left side as a backup, and then draft a new right tackle at the end of the first round?

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Backup at LT is best

I agree, no sense in leaving Clifton behind. Bulaga IMO had a decent season, up and down like any rookie. When he was drafted it was expected that he would need time to develop. For him to start half the season and help the team, he exceeded expectations. The ideal place for him to play is the left side, either guard or tackle.

by emuench on Feb 11, 2011 2:09 PM CST reply actions

Disconnect

Maybe I’m missing something, but there seems to a disconnect from the title of your post, suggesting Bulaga should be a LT at best, and then the body which states he did pretty okay. Really the difference between okay, solid, and pretty good gets fuzzy for the most part with O-lineman because they do a thankless job and don’t draw attention unless something is wrong.

Let’s get something straight here about O-linemen, the less you hear about them the better. Bulaga had some penalty problems early in the year but generally improved and didn’t have any problems with that during the playoffs. Also during that time we were going against at least two of the best QB pressure units in the league last year and both Bulaga and Clifton held up relatively well.

As for Clifton, I don’t think anyone is saying that we should cut or trade him. Really he doesn’t have much value to any other team besides the Packers due to his age and injury history and contract. We also shouldn’t think that the Packers are going to give up on him either. That said, we also shouldn’t assume he’ll give us a full year next year. Chad Clifton is more machine than man and really is playing on borrowed time. I say let Bulaga compete with Cliffy next year after he has time to put on some more weight and work on his footwork a bit more. See what happens.

by PackApologist on Feb 11, 2011 5:55 PM CST up reply actions

What about RT if Bulaga beat out Clifton?

by the yooper on Feb 11, 2011 7:25 PM CST up reply actions

Lang would probably be the guy

Cliffy may make the move in that circumstance but not likely. Lang would be the obvious choice. Newhouse may be interesting there too if he can make a jump in the offseason.

by PackApologist on Feb 11, 2011 11:04 PM CST up reply actions

was a little disappointed with bulaga

i have to keep reminding myself that he was just a rookie, but he didn’t really impress me..im sure he will improve a lot for next season tho and at worst he will be a solid RT which is alright

by tmoneyttime1 on Feb 11, 2011 2:27 PM CST reply actions

It was a lot to ask

Asking a rookie to start at a position which isn’t his natural one is a big task. He did the job, but didn’t look great doing it. I’d prefer to keep him at a backup left tackle to develop and when Clifton leaves, we’ll have someone with experience and not making the transition from RT to LF.

by Ryanweiss13 on Feb 11, 2011 2:36 PM CST reply actions

Cut the guy a break

Consider this. Most offense lineman that come in start have at lest 4 years of college experience some have 5 with a redshirt. He began starting mid way through his freshamn year(He did not redshirt). Played well during his sophmore year and then had an odd thyroid issue which mad him miss 5 games and all fall practices his junior year.

Bulaga was disappointing to me as well but he is raw. He is a 21 year old who wasnt not nearly as bad as half of the lineman the bears have. He will get better and be a great offensive lineman in two or three years.

by o-lineu on Feb 11, 2011 3:13 PM CST reply actions

agreed

by Jeigh AK on Feb 12, 2011 7:17 PM CST up reply actions

I am more than happy to be wrong about Chad Clifton this year.

I am fine with Bulaga backing up LT (in the possible event that Clifton gets hurt next year) and put someone at RT that figures to stay there long term, because I think Bulaga can be the LT long term when Clifton leaves.

I hope Kotsay gets hit by a dump truck and slips into a coma where he is stuck forever in Baseball purgatory having to bat against a three-headed, six-armed Lefty Hydra consisting of Billy Wagner, Damaso Marte, and Randy Johnson. - Shoeless In SC

by blackoutsox on Feb 11, 2011 3:24 PM CST reply actions

Depends on who we draft and who breaks out/down during training camp.

There may or may not be good tackles remaining, and the Packers may or may not have the talent already on the roster to replace Daryn Colledge, who I expect to be gone in free agency.

If GB can grab a Gabe Carimi or a Derreck Sherrod, you then have four or five tackles with whom to play and develop: Clifton, Bulaga, Newhouse, Lang and (high draft choice). If they don’t think they have that third or fourth tackle who can compete for a starting job, Bulaga stays where he is. It’s easier to replace a mediocre guard than an average tackle. If they get a promising tackle candidate, then it becomes much more likely that BB has to fight for a starter’s job somewhere.

Frankly I don’t think either Spitz or Colledge will return, which means the entire line will need infusions of new blood – they’ll have Newhouse, Lang, McDonald and Dietrich-Smith to fill one starter and all backup positions. If both JS & DC leave, they’ll need to acquire at least two people for the opening day roster. They’ll grab additional folks to be camp fodder and flyers like Sam Shields (we can only hope), but having 9-10 OL on the 53 is a near-certainty.

After all, there’s no guarantee that Clifton can hold on for another year…

by Ebongreen on Feb 11, 2011 3:44 PM CST reply actions

Bringing up Woodley is kinda a hard comparison

Most experienced Tackles have been made to look a lot worse than Bulaga did against Woodley. He’s been dominent when it comes playoff time for the Steelers

by the yooper on Feb 11, 2011 3:45 PM CST reply actions

Do you have some sort of beef with Buluga or something? Usually I agree with pretty much everything you write but you seem to have something against Buluga.

Yes, he’s struggled, but most of those struggles have come against the league’s elite pass rushers (Peppers, Wake, Tuck). Almost every tackle in the league struggles with those guys.

As for the Super Bowl, he was just fine. That sack down by the goaline was hardly his fault. Rodgers held the ball for probably 5 or 6 seconds. You can’t really expect any lineman to hold his block that long, let alone against a guy like Woodley.

Buluga, imo, did a very good job this season for a rookie. Too me, most of the time he did give up a sack was due to failing to pick up a blitz. You don’t see him just get flat out beat too often, and when he did, it was against an elite guy, who beats pretty much OT they face.

He should be the starter at RT next season but should get some reps at LT in the offseason. The spot is definitely Clifton’s because of the year he had but eventually he just isn’t going to be able to cut it anymore.

As far as the rest of the OL goes, it just depends what they want to do with Buluga and Lang. If they think Buluga is the future LT, then they need to decide what Lang is going to be. I think Colledge will be gone (and deservedly so, he was imo easily the weakest link), and they’ll have to decide who to put there. If that’s Lang, then they should probably draft a RT. If it’s not, and they like Lang at RT for the future, then maybe they’ll try and draft a OG early in this draft who can start day 1.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Feb 11, 2011 3:53 PM CST reply actions 6 recs

This

I thought Bulaga looked really, really good this season. He gave up 2 hits in the SB? I thought I heard Rodgers got hit 16 times total in the SB! To me, it seems Bulaga held up well.

by Tedaldtada29 on Feb 11, 2011 4:58 PM CST up reply actions

I don't get your problem with Bulaga

First off I thought he had a great Super Bowl. If we are going to rag on tackles for giving up a sack the first one of the night was given up by Clifton against Harrison. Really, Bulaga was raw, struggled a bit with some speed rushers, but overall was pretty darn good and improved as the season went on. What more can you ask out of a rookie who just turned 21?

by PackApologist on Feb 11, 2011 5:48 PM CST up reply actions

He's earned it.

The starting RT job is his until he loses it. He was awesome for a rookie, and looks to improve. Lang will either back up both Tackle positions or start at LG next year.

by zero_accepted on Feb 11, 2011 4:46 PM CST reply actions

Here's what I'm hoping for.

Let Spitz and Colledge walk. Lang goes to LG. So next year your line is:

Clifton-Lang-Wells-Sitton-Bulaga

Decide whether Dietrich-Smith can eventually start at C and whether Newhouse can eventually start at RT. If not, either draft an OT in the first with the idea of having him either replace Clifton or having Bulaga shift to LT with the draft pick going to RT or if a first round worthy OT isn’t there, grab a C if there’s a guy that makes sense at that pick. Regardless, Dietrich-Smith should be good enough to back up all 3 interior spots and Newhouse both tackles. On game day, you really only have 7 or 8 o-lineman active.

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by keithprime on Feb 11, 2011 5:52 PM CST reply actions

Sounds like a good plan!

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Feb 11, 2011 7:12 PM CST up reply actions

Lang? really going to entrust the future of Aaron Rodgers in TJ Lang!?

2011 WhiteSox Baseball: we're all in

by OznCoop on Feb 11, 2011 10:11 PM CST up reply actions

How quickly we forget...

Lang jumping in for Clifton in his rookie year and having a very good game against Jared Allen, who was a beast that season. He also didn’t perform terribly when he played a bit in the Bears game filling in for Clifton for a couple of series. Lang can play.

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by keithprime on Feb 11, 2011 10:14 PM CST up reply actions

How quickly YOU forget!

As I remember it, Lang gave up 4 or 5 sacks before being pulled when he faced Allen. That was the game where we realized “okay, he’s not a LT” about Lang.

He did well at RT though. I say put Lang back at RT (or draft someone) and put Bulaga behind Clifton. He played okay, but I still don’t like that they wasted a whole year that could’ve been used to develop him at LT.

Clifton had a great year pass-blocking (and he’s always been great in that area), but he gets no push in the run. As long as we have Clifton starting, we’ll have no real running game. …which, maybe we’re okay with that. I don’t know.

But Bulaga is the future at LT. Leave him there! He shouldn’t be playing RT for the same reason that we didn’t put A-Rodg at safety when he-who-shall-not-be-named was still entrenched at QB. LET. DRAFT PICKS. LEARN.

by Curly Lambeau on Feb 12, 2011 12:41 PM CST up reply actions

Would we have gotten to & won the SB with Lang at RT?

Development is all well & good, but we shouldn’t spoil opportunities now for a potentially better future. Bulaga is young; he will have plenty of time to learn the intricacies of LT before Clifton hangs it up. QB & S are quite different positions; RT & LT share a lot of the same responsibilities, and it’s ridiculous to even point to Rodgers’ development as it being a congruous situation to Bulaga.

13.

by Wiedmann on Feb 12, 2011 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

My point about Rodgers is that he got to sit and learn, and I think that’s a big part of the reason he’s been so successful.

As for whether we would’ve won the Super Bowl with Lang, I have no idea, and neither do you. …“probably” would be my answer. As things turned out, Clifton was very durable this year, so we didn’t wind up having to shuffle people on the O-line after one injury (as has happened a bajillion times in the past). I mean, hey, it was a gamble that paid off, so I won’t complain too much, but, despite the fact that it worked out, I still don’t think it was a good plan. …and it’s certainly not something I’d do in the future.

by Curly Lambeau on Feb 12, 2011 7:51 PM CST up reply actions

QB is a lot more complicated of a position than T

How would sitting have helped Bulaga? He can’t learn blocking schemes if he’s out on the field for those three hours on Sundays? I agree that throwing a rookie QB out there is not the best thing for his development, but I would argue that the best way for a T to learn is through playing experience, and though it is a different position than what he is projected to be throughout most of his career (although, who knows, he may be a fixture on the right side for the next decade), a lot of the stuff he’s learning at RT transfers well to LT.

13.

by Wiedmann on Feb 12, 2011 9:22 PM CST up reply actions

I'm with you here

If anything, he gets to learn the speed of the game. What I mean is the NFL involves a lot of faster an stronger guys compared to College. Now Bulaga knows from experience just how fast they are. If Bulaga played LG all season (there was a chance before Preseason), I would be concerned. He was the best OT available after Tauscher went down. You play the best players on the roster if you want to win.

I would also like to add that when TJ Lang went in for Clifton against Chicago, Peppers was owning him. I’m not sure if Peppers got any sacks, but he sure was generating pressure….easily. I think Lang is a quality backup OT, but I don’t think he’ll ever amount to anything as a starter. Perhaps he can be a solid starter at LG though. Marshall Newhouse is a guy to keep our eyes on next year. He’s big and has a long wingspan. Judging by his potential, he could be a very good pass blocker in the future, but his run blocking may be average at best.

Superbowl Champs Baby!!!!!

13 World Championships, soon to be 14 after next season...GUARANTEED!!!!!

Nuff said....

by Jabooty on Feb 13, 2011 3:52 PM CST up reply actions

Lang looked good in his playing time last season. I think he would have been starting somewhere on the OL this season had he not had the wrist injury to deal with during training camp.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Feb 12, 2011 11:29 AM CST up reply actions

Is it just me or was Lang in the coaches doghouse?

I know he was a set back a little in OTA’s because of his wrist or whatever it was but he looked like a real player the previous season. It just seemed like I got a negative vibe about him the entire season

by the yooper on Feb 11, 2011 7:31 PM CST reply actions

For whatever reason, this blog has had

some sort of beef with Bulaga over the course of the season, even going so far after one game to label him as “the human penalty.” All the kid (and that’s really what he is) has done is solidify that position for the years to come. He went up against one of the premier pass rushers in the game (Lamar Woodley) on the biggest stage of them all, and stoned him. Absolutely stoned him.

If any of you have watched “Sound FX” on NFL Network, three of the clips they show from the game are Bulaga matched up against Woodley, and three times Bulagas stones him. On two of those occasions, Woodley goes to Anderson complaining about holding.

As a rookie, Bulaga has more the held his own, and has certainly proved worthy of a first round pick.

Another pressing question might be the identity of the blond who is about to hug him.

by TarHeelHawk on Feb 11, 2011 7:41 PM CST reply actions

good question about the blonde! hmmm...

2011 WhiteSox Baseball: we're all in

by OznCoop on Feb 11, 2011 10:12 PM CST up reply actions

TJ Lang is a beast when it comes to run blocking so he would be perfect for the LG spot. Many of Grants long run in 09 came when Lang and Sitton were bulldozing a guy back 5-10 yards. Colledge is too weak, and inconsistent to play G, they should just let him go this year.

by Katsuya89 on Feb 11, 2011 11:21 PM CST reply actions

+1 on Colledge

The guy is horrible against the run, bad against the pass, and usually good for a false start or holding penalty at the worst times.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Feb 12, 2011 11:30 AM CST up reply actions

One last thing about Bulaga

I’m sure you all knew, but I did know until after the game, that Bulaga was the youngest player to ever start a super bowl. He’s just 21 and is only going to get better. I think he’s going to be fine. I still think the o-line is the weakest unit on the team and Clifton is not getting any younger, but I think that Sitton and Bulaga are going to be solid building blocks.

by grant76 on Feb 12, 2011 10:07 AM CST reply actions

Draft Tackle in the first Round

The Packers need to take the best tackle available with there first round pick. Clifton will not be around too much longer and we need to start developing another tackle. Then we need a CB in the second round and a WR in the third round.

by Brian L on Feb 12, 2011 11:52 AM CST reply actions

We need the best available player in each draft spot

Drafting for need is a recipe for disaster. Anyway, I disagree with what you consider their needs. If Jones doesn’t leave, I don’t see a need for WR, and even if he does, I don’t consider it a real strong need. CB, same situation, not a real strong need, but it would be nice to get a solid contributor. Every other team is in a worse situation than the Packers in their secondary; teams are going to be reaching to get a CB, so I doubt there will be a 2nd or 3rd round-worthy CB at the end of the 2nd. I see an interior offensive lineman being a greater need than either CB or WR.

13.

by Wiedmann on Feb 12, 2011 2:50 PM CST up reply actions

BPA

TT generally associates his BPA to Needs. For instance, he passed on Micheal Crabtree in favor of BJ Raji, even though Crabtree was the BPA. Otherwise he would have drafted Brian Orakpo or Clay Matthews, but found Raji to be the BPA from that standpoint. What I mean by all this is if we are on the clock right now, do we draft the best OT on the board at #32 or the best player on our board? If the best OT isn’t projected to go until the middle of the 2nd Round, do we draft him or do we draft an OLB that was projected to go in the early 20s overall? TT will have a BPA List, and he will base it according to our needs. We don’t have many needs, so I’m sure TT will be factoring in expiring contracts after the 2011 Season too.

Superbowl Champs Baby!!!!!

13 World Championships, soon to be 14 after next season...GUARANTEED!!!!!

Nuff said....

by Jabooty on Feb 13, 2011 3:59 PM CST up reply actions

"Best Player available who will help our team the most"

We don’t have many needs, so I’m sure TT will be factoring in expiring contracts after the 2011 Season too.

Which, we have a lot more of next offseason than we do this one (though, some of these guys will get extensions during next season). In case you were wondering:
QB Flynn
RB Grant
WR Nelson
TE Finley
TE D Lee
C Wells
G Sitton
T Tasucher
DL Jolly
DL Green
CB P Lee
DB Bush
DB Martin

13.

by Wiedmann on Feb 13, 2011 6:10 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks for Providing the list. Don't be surprised to see TT draft a DT late in the draft.

We can already conclude that Finley and Sitton will likely get a good payday sometime during the season. At least that is what I hope for. Those are guaranteed signees. TT will not let them walk.

It’s a toss up with Grant, Nelson, and Wells. I doubt Grant will return. He is already overpaid, and with Starks waiting in the wings, I don’t see TT dishing out more money to keep Grant around. I’m sure Nelson will get a small deal to stick around. Who knows what will happen with Wells at this point

Flynn will surely walk for more pay and most likely an opportunity to start somewhere else. Hopefully Graham Harrell turns out to be a solid replacement in the end. I have a hunch Jolly will walk. I don’t think he’ll be staying around at a cheap price, so if Justin Harrell isn’t the answer, we could be looking at drafting someone late in the draft. Another one that concludes this is Howard Green. He’s over 30 years old. By this time, it’ll be unlikely that Green will be resigned. With Harrell not likely to return, Jolly walking, and Green walking, I can see TT spending a late draft pick on a LE. Someone with a lot of weight that is. Pickett is also aging, so that’s further evidence to my belief.

Superbowl Champs Baby!!!!!

13 World Championships, soon to be 14 after next season...GUARANTEED!!!!!

Nuff said....

by Jabooty on Feb 14, 2011 5:18 AM CST up reply actions

I'd like to see Wells in the same category as Finley & Sitton

Some of the guys on that list may not make it to this year’s team (Tauscher, Jolly, D Lee).

By the way, I love how we’re discussing next year’s offseason.

13.

by Wiedmann on Feb 15, 2011 1:01 AM CST up reply actions

Raji was BPA imo

and if not, it wasnt that far apart. and even if it was, we had oddles of receiving talent at the time

by blackoutsox on Feb 14, 2011 12:47 AM CST up reply actions

I think this is being a little harsh

Those lbs for the Steelers get paid too (and are considered by some to be the best pass rushing lbs in the league…not by me of course). The fact that he had 1 sack and not 3 or 4 I think speaks volumes to what Bulaga did. Give him a year or two. Let him develop and learn from Tausch/Cliffy. See what he can do. It’s not a EMERGENCY position right now.

by Alexan on Feb 12, 2011 10:25 PM CST reply actions