The Packers out-gained the Patriots 406 total yards to 211 (133 yards rushing vs. 94) and finished with 23 first downs compared to just 14 for the cheaters from the northeast. As anyone who knows football the offensive line is where every play begins and the Packers played three versions during its first exhibition game.
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| The First Stringers ready to go |
The starting unit of (left to right) David Bakhtiari, Josh Sitton, Corey Linsley, T.J. Lang and Brian Bulaga played for three drives. The first drive started on the Packers 20 with Bakhtiari giving up a sack on the first play. Aaron Rodgers shook that off and drove all the way down to the Patriots 2 before giving up the ball on fourth down.
The 15-play drive consisted of nine passes (8 from the shotgun) and six runs. Eddie Lacy behind Lang for 15, James Starks behind Sitton for no gain, Starks behind Bakhtiar for 3, Lacy behind Sitton for 15, Lacy behind Linsley for 5 and Lacy behind Sitton for 3.
The second drive started on the Patriots 43 after the defense made a 4th-and-1 stop. That drive was Eddie Lacy over Lang for three yards, Rodgers to Quarless on a shorts pass to the right side incomplete, Rodgers to Quarless to the right for six yards and James Starks up the middle for no gain on 4th-and-1.
The third drive started on the Packers 14 and drove to the Patriots 7 resulting in a field goal. The 14-play drive was 12 passes and only two official runs, Starks behind Bulaga for 5 and behind Lang for 4. Rodgers scrambled for 8 yards around the right end and Bakhtiari gave up another sack on a 2nd-and-3 from the Patriots 43.
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| New Version of the Lombardi Power Sweep |
On the whole the starting line was very productive in the running game with seven positive plays and one no gain for 50 yards. The passing game was two sacks and a scramble on 20 pass attempts (one was a no play after a penalty that gave the Packers a first down during the first drive) with 11 completions and 117 yards.
The right side of the line Lang and Bulaga along with Linsley are in mid-season form. The left side not so much. Sitton is ok still recovering from a toe injury, but Bakhtiari has stalled. He was a revelation his rookie season when Sitton and Bulaga were moved to the left side and Bulaga immediately went down the season with a knee injury in camp. He was the worst rated lineman last year and is the same this year. Because of his play there is even talk of moving Bulaga to left tackle again.
I think that would be a mistake. One of the hallmarks of the Ted Thompson era is a patchwork offensive line with no designated backups. When one player goes down it automatically means two positions are affected.
During Hall of Famer Ron Wolf's tenure when left tackle Ken Ruettgers went down during the Super Bowl season he didn't move left guard Aaron Taylor or right tackle Earl Dotson he played the backup (John Michel and Gary Brown) before eventually settling on a veteran gray-beard (Bruce Wilkerson) and he did a great job.
A prime example during the Thompson time was the misuse of Daryn Colledge. He was moved from his best position left guard to left tackle when Chad Clifton went down twice. He was bashed for playing poorly out of position. I blame Thompson and not Colledge.
The big question mark on the starting offensive line is Bakhtiari and I think that could be a big problem if he doesn't rebound or a move has to be made. Complicating the issue is the play of Don Barclay coming off a very severe knee injury. He was as good as any one when he was played right tackle in 2012 when Bulaga was knocked out of the season. However, Lang was moved from left guard to right tackle at first, but that was a big fail and he moved back when Barclay took over.
This year Barclay has been shaky, but he might have to get better quick if they decide Bakhtiari has to be replaced with either Barclay or Bulaga. Bakhtiari suffered a knee injury against the Patriots game and has not practiced this week.
The second string line against the Patriots was (left to right) Jeremy Vujnovich, Lane Taylor, JC Tretter, Josh Walker, Don Barclay with Scott Tolzien at quarterback. On the first series, which ended in a punt, there was only one run over right tackle for four yards by Rajion Neal. The second series ended in a touchdown and it was four pass to three runs (Neal for 0 over left tackle, Neal for 9 over right end and Neal for 2 up the middle). The third series ended in a failed 4th down and was 8 passes and one run (Alonzo Harris for minus 1 over left guard).
The fourth series lasted just two plays with Harris going up the middle for 4 yards and then around left end for 25 yards and a touchdown.
Tretter, Walker and Barclay did a good job on the right side. Barclay has since been moved to left tackle in Bakhtiari's absence ahead of Vujnovich. During Wednesday's practice with Barclay moving to starting left tackle Walker replaced Barclay at right tackle and center Garth Gerhart replaced Walker at right guard.
The third-string line against the Patriots was (left to right) Fabbians Ebbele, Andy Phillips, Gerhart, Matt Rotheram, Walker. This unit with Brett Hundley at quarterback saw Harris gaining 10 yards behind Phillips and then 3 yards up the middle before a sack forced them to punt.
The next series was 3-and-out with only a John Crockett run for no gain behind Phillips. With Hundley still behind center the next series ended in a touchdown featured five runs (Kuhn for -4 up the middle; Crockett over right end for 2, Crockett off left tackle for 2, Crockett for no gain behind right guard and Crockett for 3 up the middle.
The last series with Matt Blanchard at quarterback was a run out the clock series featuring seven runs and three passes. Crockett gained 3 behind Rotheram, 2 behind Walker and 5 behind Ebbele. Harris then gained 6 up the middle, and 2 behind Ebbele before Crockett finished up with 6 behind Phillips and 3 up the middle.
Ebbele did a nice job on the left side and Gerhart was solid in the middle. Rotheram (coming off an injury) was shaky and Walker and Phillips were just ok.
To sum up the first string offensive line is living up to McCarthy's assessment of this being his best unit since he took over as coach with the except of Bakhtiari. That could be a major problem if Bulaga is forced to move or Barclay has to play either left or right tackle.
Walker is leading the rest of the suspects in the battle for the one other back up job. Ebbele and Phillips seem like a good candidates for the practice squad. I hate only two backups, but what can you do when Thompson thinks he is always right.
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