We plan to record the Packers/Vikings II program on Wednesday evening, so you shouldn't expect to see it before that evening or Thursday morning. Sorry for the wait, but Dave and I are in the midst of a heavy travel period and that has made it tough for us to get together in a timely manner.

We hope to get the next one (v. CHI) up on the Monday following the game. If we can't for some reason, we will let you know.

Ugh. Help. This one hurts...

At least that will give you both time to reflect on a painful loss before your chat. I was so disappointed with the o line this week, they were quite dreadful.

I've already posted about how useless Tauscher is in the run game this year, ranking dead last in the NFL for yardage gained on runs to RT. He has also deteriorated in pass-pro too, where in the past he was virtually automatic in the quality of his protection. Well, he might have been the best lineman against the Vikes, because everyone on that line was just poor.

It is now past time that Campen is released as O line coach. He has had a bucketload of guys brought in, and cannot make much of any of them. I know he was a player here, before he was a coach, but the NFL allows very little sentiment. He is in a "What have you done for me lately" world, and has shown nothing for his time here, nothing at all.

Next you have to look at existing players and decide who stays and who goes. Tauscher and Clifton have dropped off the face of the cliff in 2008. Both need replacing for next year, which is damned awkward, because rookie linemen can have a very tough time of it. At this moment in time, I'd guess at a 2009 line of Colledge at LT, Barbre at LG, either Wells or Spitz at OC, Sitton at RG and a rookie at RT. However, I also believe we should make a serious play early on, for Giants guard Chris Snee, who is a free agent next year. If we get him, he displaces Sitton at RG, who now moves over to compete with Barbre at LG.

We should spend high pick on a RT in the 2009 draft (Giacomini is a longer-term project, who may push Moll out). I'd also draft an OC to push the winner of the Wells/Spitz contest for the Center position, and I'd draft someone in the 310-320 range with a view to a moving toward a more physical style. I want someone who can deal heads up with the gigantic DTs we see all too often these days and not be shoved back in the pocket leaving Rodgers no room to step up when DEs come charging at him. The other thing we need to do in 2009 is sort out the best guys QUICKLY in camp and stick with them. They must have time together to gel. That roundabout we had on the O line in 2008 must not be repeated.

If we don't get the offensive, Offensive Line in order quickly, we will quickly ruin Aaron Rodgers as a QB.

Finally, one piece of advice to QB coach Tom Clements. Get your QBs to practice a more deceptive handoff to the RB, telegraphing your intentions early is helping no-one, except the other side.

Works for me. I can listen to it on the flight to GB.

GO PACK!

1. I recall reading someplace that the reason they run left as often they do is not because Clifton is such a good blocker to run behind but it is because he is terrible at cutting off the backside on runs to the right. So their lack of success running right might not be on Tauscher, but because Cliffy is not doing a good job on the backside.

2. I don't know what to make of Campen, but based on what I see on TV I suspect the issue is not the coaching but errors on the personnel side. The guys they have on the interior just aren't that good. I don't lay that on Campen.

3. I hope that they aren't planning to keep the guys they have and deploy them as you suggest. I think they should keep Tauscher, let Clifton go, draft OLs and get a guard in free agency.

4. Agree on the danger to Rodgers is they don't bolster the line.

5. I suspect that the handoff looks far less obvious at field level than it does on TV. But that's just a guess...