[gute]

Could Daryn Colledge slide over to OT next year and be our future LT? I know he played LT in college, but he does not seem to get much attention as a possible LT - why? Curious, maybe someone out there who knows more about this can explain it to me - Colledge seems to be better suited for LT then LG. Thanks.

[FLORIDA PACKER]

Could Daryn Colledge slide over to OT next year and be our future LT? I know he played LT in college, but he does not seem to get much attention as a possible LT - why? Curious, maybe someone out there who knows more about this can explain it to me - Colledge seems to be better suited for LT then LG. Thanks.

He's been our back up LT for the past two seasons I believe, I think Orin Thomspon and Allen Barbre may give him some competition for that spot this season however. I think he's more of a finesse blocker myself which matches the skills of a LT more so than a gaurd. He's very light of foot and agile, and I think he'd hold up very well in Pass protection on the edge, I think thats were we'll see him after Clifton is finished. Till then I see him as our Left Gaurd with Spitz maintaining the Right spot.

[flipnout91]

Usually your guards are light on their feet.....they are used to pull more and the tackle doesnt have as much drop in pass protection when forming the pocket. A tackle is usually bigger than the guard and can hold up to the bull rush. Harder to knock a bigger man off his feet. Im not sure what his weight is. I would think if they want him to play tackle he will have to put some weight on.

[FLORIDA PACKER]

Usually your guards are light on their feet.....they are used to pull more and the tackle doesnt have as much drop in pass protection when forming the pocket. A tackle is usually bigger than the guard and can hold up to the bull rush. Harder to knock a bigger man off his feet. Im not sure what his weight is. I would think if they want him to play tackle he will have to put some weight on.

True true, didn't really take pulling into an account when I made my previous statement, good on ya mate . I've always seen the LT spot as more of an athletic finesse spot than a bigger bruiser spot though.

[JASIII]

True true, didn't really take pulling into an account when I made my previous statement, good on ya mate . I've always seen the LT spot as more of an athletic finesse spot than a bigger bruiser spot though.

That's generally true since the LT most often faces the top pass rushing end, because that's where a right handed QB's blind side is. And teams more often run to the right side of the line behind the RT, who is generally more of a bruiser.

[gute]

Thanks for the input. I agree with the LT having more lead in his ass, but I thought the Broncos had a lot of success running the ZBS with lighter left tackles. Any thoughts?

[OneTwoSixFive]

gute,
Colledge is listed on Packers.com at 6'4" and 305lbs. He thinks he has added more muscle this year so the weight figure may be as much as 310 (Clifton is listed at 6'5", 320).

In my mind he has never been a natural guard. Brute strength is just not his strong suit. His best asset is that he has rare athleticism for someone his size. That translates much better to playing LT, where you see less raw power and your mirror-skills are tested more, as your opponent is able to operate in more space, than someone inside.

Things are difficult for Colledge, as he gets plenty of poor press because he struggles at guard, and also many fans have a low opinion of him, to the point that some think he will not even make the team this year. I have always thought that you will not see the best of Colledge until he has played starting LT for a year. If he plays as well there as I hope, then he can begin to reduce the mountain of negativity, and start to generate positive press.

I do not mean to kick Clifton out the door before his time, he held up well last year, outplaying Tauscher in several statistical areas (Tauscher had some fitness struggles in 07 as well). Clifton does have chronic knee problems, but so do a lot of O linemen, and many keep on going. I recall the 'word' on Clifton when he was drafted was "Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane". I heard that quite a lot. Well Cliffy proved to be everything we could ask for in a LT, so on that basis, don't pay overly much attention to the "False tough" comments about Colledge when he was drafted (what on earth is 'False tough' anyway ?)

I expect Clifton and Tauscher to be the starting LT, RT, again this year. They are getting on, but still appear to be able to get the job done. I don't think Favre's ability masked big deficiencies here (and with Rodgers starting, we will find out if that statement is true).

I expect a tight competition a LG, with College starting at the start of the season, and Barbre later on.

I expect Wells to retain the starting OC spot. statistically he was the most consistent O lineman last year.

I expect Spitz to remain as starting LG. He had some struggles, but was not bad, and anyway I'm not sure we have anyone better to put there.

My guess is that Coston survives (again), as backup for all three interior spots. Colledge starts the season as LG and ends as backup LT/LG. Moll remains this year as backup RT/RG. Sitton and Giacomini are developmental guys who might eventually supplant Coston and Moll as backups, and eventually may be starters. That is 10 guys, which is probably one too many. Maybe Sitton will push Coston off the team this year, or perhaps an injury will decide the final roster.

[oletimer]

I find myself in agreement. I expect 10 ol will make the final roster and also injuries could alter somewhat the final cuts. Can't wait for camp to start. Go OL and Packers!

[foamboy1]

I never understand the "Colledge is a LT" argument. Despite the trumpeting of his athleticism, he has really poor adjustment of his feet at the point of attack. Once he's off-balance, it's over. It is hard for me to understand how this translates into being adequate, much less good, on the outside against the opponents best pash-rusher.

In his limited work at LT the last two seasons, he was horrible....horrible.

[FLORIDA PACKER]

In his limited work at LT the last two seasons, he was horrible....horrible.

Not especially, I remember when called onto to start against Miami he was beaten By taylor Twice, on our first two drives I believe, after that I don't recall Taylor getting a pressure. I was right there in miami front row so I saw pretty well. He looked very solid once he got into his groove, especially for not working as a tackle all week, and being put out there at game time.