Pro Football Focus On The Packers Guards and Center

by Brandon on Feb 22, 2012 10:00 AM CST in Green Bay Packers Analysis

2011 Pass Blocking Efficiency: Guards and Centers | ProFootballFocus.com. It was a very good 2011 for the three interior offensive lineman on the Green Bay Packers.

RG Josh Sitton. Injuries took some of the shine off his season, but he was still ranked as the 5th best pass blocking guard of 2011. They extended his contract last September, and it should be less than the free agent money that will soon be handed out to Carl Nicks. They're getting a very good player and not paying top dollar.

LG T.J. Lang. He comes in right behind Sitton at No. 7 overall. He had a bad playoff game, he allowed a hit on Aaron Rodgers that turned a certain touchdown into a lost fumble, but that shouldn't take away from what was an otherwise solid year. He's also the only Packer to have played every snap last season. Unfortunately he's going to be a free agent (maybe an expensive one) after 2012, and it might force the Packers to look for some depth on the offensive line in the draft.

C Scott Wells. The more I look at his free agent situation, the more I think he's going to leave. If they re-sign Wells and extend Lang, the interior of the offensive line has all of a sudden become very expensive. Maybe too expensive. And Wells deserves to get paid, he was the 3rd best pass blocking center last season according to Pro Football Focus. But he's also the oldest of these three players, and if one of them has to go, I can understand why it would be him.

As for who might sign him, take a look at the teams with some of the worst centers last season. Teams near the bottom like the Broncos, 49ers, and Patriots all have salary cap room and could use an upgrade at the position.

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My big question on the inside is whether either Ray Dominguez (G) or Sampson Genus © make strides forward given a full season and off-season on the practice squad and/or active roster in which to grow physically and technically as players.

Dominguez is very much like TJ Lang in being a college tackle converted to guard, and has the sort of size that a lot of teams love in their guards at 6’4" 330lbs. If he reshapes and tones into a weight-room stud and takes to the technique work the Packers preach… well, with those dimensions he could be a Man inside. I don’t remember the last time the Packers had a mauling guard with those dimensions.

With Genus’ history as a high-school weightlifter, I imagine they have the same hopes for him moving up into a reliable backup and potential starter, but probably primarily as a center.

Camp will tell whether players like these have taken to the coaching and the desire to be players and competitors for the Packers. I look forward to seeing what they have to offer.

by Ebongreen on Feb 22, 2012 11:10 AM CST reply actions

On Scott Wells..I read an article ...

that said he signed a contract 5? years ago that is paying over 2 Mil a year…He said it was time to secure his financial future by leaving for big money elsewhere…IF I had made just $2.5 Mil in one year; I would say that is financial security..He has turned out to be like the rest of the all-of-a-sudden Pro-Bowlers and let money ruin his career. I have always been a Scott Wells Fan…but sad to say … let him walk..The Packers Organization and the Fan’s that love him..don’t mean a thing to him…DRIVER is the only Class-Guy in the Packers Org. and they will let him walk as well. It is a shame MONEY is the motivator these Days, when guys like Nitchke..who built the NFL..played for the LOVE of the game.

by Buddyruff on Feb 22, 2012 11:43 AM CST reply actions

Really?

Why should any player show loyalty and accept less money to stay with one team when said team cut him after they drafted him, benched him numerous times, and tried to trade him? As far as wanting to maximize his earnings, everyone wants to make the most money. Football players on average have a shorter life span and have more serious medical problems as they age; so I don’t blame Wells for wanting to earn top dollar. You have to make it when you can.

Its one thing for a young player like Cruz to ask for a large contract, but it’s different for a veteran like Wells who has performed at a high level for a few years, and hasn’t gotten paid like it. Wells earned his stripes, now he wants to cash in.

by Shoes31 on Feb 22, 2012 1:32 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Money Makes the World go Round

Sentimentality has a place, i.e. when watching “Sleepless in Seattle”. To whine about money being the root of all evil, or “where is loyalty” these day, accomplishes little. Every fan has to realize that there’s only so much money to go around. Players are a commodity with a limited shelf life. If the team ignores those realities, it goes down the tube.

by marcopo on Feb 23, 2012 9:14 AM CST up reply actions

Wells and others

I expect Lang will get resigned, if not during the next season during that off-season. Depth may be an issue at OG, but I like Dominquez as a solid backup G. And I don’t think Lang will be too expensive to resign.

But the Center position is different. I don’t think EDS will be a reliable starting center for us, and Genus is more of the same. No real replacement for Wells. The problem is that he wants to get paid top dollar, as his right. But I think he and his agent have him overvalued. As a smaller and not as strong center, he is limited on where he can go, mostly to zone blocking scheme teams. A team like the 49ers aren’t a good fit, because Wells isn’t a center for a power team.

by Shoes31 on Feb 22, 2012 1:33 PM CST reply actions

I remember that article on Sitton's re-signing

I was hoping JS was wrong about the relative value of the contract in relation to Logan Mankins & Jahri Evans. Turns out they were:
Sitton [$5.825 mil avg]: 6-yr/$34.95 mil ($8.9 mil guaranteed)
Evans [$8.1 mil avg]: 7-yr/$56.7 mil ($12 million signing bonus; possibly more guaranteed $)
Mankins [$8.5 mil avg]: 6-yr/$51 mil ($30 mil guaranteed)

13.

"Skip, once again, stop it; Be an analyst; don't be a douchebag."

by Wiedmann on Feb 22, 2012 2:22 PM CST reply actions

It's funny (and sad)..

That the OL is going to be expensive after seasons of sub par play. Doesn’t quite seem logical does it??

by Chief Oshkosh on Feb 22, 2012 2:24 PM CST reply actions 2 recs

Wells deserves the money...no argument but

TT IMO, keeps a needy eye on cost,so he fills his trunk (drive-in-movie days) and sneaks in others for almost free…popcorn and soda still costs.

by Tarynfor12 on Feb 22, 2012 5:02 PM CST reply actions

Everyone talks about Konz, who is the highest ranked center in the draft – but also because he is from Wisconsin. Wells could also be replace by a center drafted in rounds 2-4. There are some other good centers in the draft.

by MikeDB on Feb 23, 2012 12:16 PM CST reply actions