Packers Roster: The Offensive Line Only Keeps Eight Players

by Brandon on Sep 4, 2011 8:00 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers Training Camp

One of the moves that surprised me was that the Green Bay Packers only kept eight offensive lineman when I thought they would keep 9 or 10. GM Ted Thompson and the Packers front office are very good, but they haven't been good at keeping the offensive line deep with quality rookies or veterans. And it showed up in their last preseason game against the Chiefs.

The five starters: Chad Clifton, T.J. Lang, Scott Wells, Josh Sitton, and Bryan Bulaga. There are no problems with the starters, and all of them appear as healthy as they are going to be for the start of the season.

The three backups: Derek Sherrod, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Marshall Newhouse. As their first round pick, Sherrod was a lock to earn a roster spot, though he's struggled (and struggled against the Chiefs) as a backup left tackle. Newhouse too has struggled all preseason at right tackle. Dietrich-Smith has played well as a backup center and left guard, and he deserves a roster spot.

The recent released (and traded): Chris Campbell, Ray Dominguez, Sampson Genus, Nick McDonald, and Caleb Schlauderaff (traded to the Jets). Campbell has been hurt for most of training camp, but I thought they might keep him on I.R. Dominguez, Genus, and Schlauderaff were three in a collection of guards that didn't show any special skills as run or pass blockers, though all three had seemed to be improving.

On the other hand, McDonald was just getting worse. He played well last season and (ironically) beat out Dietrich-Smith for a roster spot. After a brief stint with the Seahawks, Dietrich-Smith returned to the Packers as an injury replacement. McDonald struggled against the Chiefs with a botched shotgun snap (while at center) that led to a safety, and at least one false start penalty at guard. I was expecting him to step forward as a solid backup this preseason, but instead he took a big step back, and even lost his roster spot.

I get the feeling the Packers will do something more here. They'll certainly pick up one offensive lineman for the practice squad, but it wouldn't be a surprised if they signed someone for the active roster too later in the season.

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Totally disagree on Sherrod vs. the Chiefs

I thought he played well considering that he was going against their first unit and im not worried about the depth cause one or two will end up on the practice roster and dont forget about the unofficial practice roster with Mark Tausher leading the way on that front. It is not only the Pack that has theses issues on the O line, its a league wide problem because of not only the expierience needed but also the whole line chemistry issue.

by tgifbipo on Sep 4, 2011 9:19 AM CDT reply actions

League-wide problem

Indeed! Part of the problem (league-wide) appears to be the decrease in padded practices. I have seen a number of columns covering a variety of teams that are concerned with pad levels. The higher pad levels we’re seeing in preseason are supposedly directly related to fewer padded workouts. We’ll see if things improve over the course o the season, but even then there are fewer padded practices allowed.

by GinSlinger on Sep 4, 2011 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Two bad plays stood out

Yes, he was going against Hali (who’s very good) but he’s very likely to start a game (Clifton usually misses a game or two) and they need him now. And he doesn’t look ready.

On the sack fumble of Flynn, Hali drove Sherrod across the pocket and cleared out that side for a blitzing cornerback that Flynn never saw. On another, he was flat footed as Hali blew past him on an outside move, and Flynn had to dump off a pass on 3rd down that went incomplete.

It’s a tough call for those guys, but two bad plays per game from your left tackle can overshadow everything else good he did during the game. Both those plays ended drives and turned the ball over to the Chiefs.

by Brandon on Sep 4, 2011 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions

You focus on the bad..........

………i focus on the good, that being the evaluation of his whole game and how he has progressed, having said that we are all entitled to our opinions.
On Hali driving Sherrod across the pocket, did you notice how well Sherrod stuck with him and i really dont think the blitzing cornerback was his responsibility, how many tackles can actually make that play on a corner, somehow i think that Flynn has to recognize that and throw it away.

by tgifbipo on Sep 4, 2011 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Drove Sherrod across the pocket.

Well thats not on Sherrod then probably. Clearly Sherrods responsibility was to block Hali and he did. The OL are supposed to play inside/out. Hali was furthest inside so that was Sherrods man, the freee blitzer was either someon elses responsibilty or unaccounted for in the blocking scheme. That is not on Sherrod…

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Sep 4, 2011 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Just look at how many fucks Brett Goode doesn't give

It’s basically all of them.

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Sep 4, 2011 11:53 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Oh boy

I can already see how next year’s draft is going to go:
1st rnd – CB
2nd rnd- Lineman
3rd rnd – Lineman
4th rnd – Lineman
5th rnd – Lineman
6th rnd – Lineman
7th rnd – Lineman

I put the team on my back!!!!!

by Packattack88 on Sep 4, 2011 1:04 PM CDT reply actions

I highly doubt it.

We’ve got 3 CB behind Woodson that we can count on. WIlliams, Shields and House. Really only need one, maybe 2 OL. ANd Thompson has drafted 2 OL every year but one. Just need a good backup interior OL. The way things look now Wells will definitely get another contract. We’re fine at OT.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Sep 4, 2011 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions