It would be a shock if the Green Bay Packers don't open the 2011 season with a starting offensive line of LT Chad Clifton, C Scott Wells, RG Josh Sitton, and RT Bryan Bulaga. Maybe Bulaga could be moved back to left guard, or as a back up to Clifton, but neither move is likely. So what about left guard?
This is a subject that's been discussed recently. I posted a recent interview with Daryn Colledge, and he hopes to return to Green Bay. Kevin wrote about maintaining continuity, which is a point Mike McCarthy has tried to emphasis in recent years. The point of this post is to add a poll and see what the APC community thinks.
Daryn Colledge. He was tendered a contract back in March in case he remains a restricted free agent. He's probably their first choice. The budget probably won't allow them to keep the entire 2010 Super Bowl team intact, and they might decide that they can afford to live without him.
T.J. Lang. He was the top backup last season, and McCarthy thinks he might be a natural at guard. He hasn't played much at left guard, but there's no doubting he has talent and the team likes him. Whether he works out as a long-term starter is something yet to be seen.
Derek Sherrod. If he was good enough to be a first round draft choice, he might be so good that they can't keep him off the field. While I still think he's the left tackle of the future, his good footwork and ability to block downfield might make him an exceptional guard.
Marshall Newhouse and Nick McDonald. Newhouse was a 5th round draft choice in 2010 who played well at left tackle during the preseason, but I don't recall him playing at left guard. I was surprised McDonald made the team out of training camp. The coaches appear to like him, but I really need to see more of him next preseason.