Green Bay — The wheel is spinning again for the Green Bay Packers' offensive line, and there's a chance it might stop at rookie T.J. Lang.

Only his assignment wouldn't be at left tackle.

Coach Mike McCarthy admitted Monday that there was discussion among the coaches of working Lang into the starting lineup so that both he and veteran ChadClifton would be on the field at the same time. Previously, Lang filled in for Clifton at left tackle, starting against Cleveland and Minnesota.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/69627827.html

Green Bay Packers plan to play offensive lineman T.J. Lang but won't say where

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/articl...9201/1954/PKR03

Left guard I would think.

That's the speculation Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, whoever gets benched will be telling. I would tend to agree with LG as they have Taucher until the end of the year.

I'm not sure Collledge has been "Getting it Done"

I have not read anything about this, but what would be the chance they work him in at right tackle, with Taucher hurting his knee and all. Wasn't that his native position in college?

I would be ok with him at left guard as well.

It just looks to me that we need 4 replacement starters on the OL, which might put us years away from a good OL. Colledge has lost me this year, and if they resign him, I would hope the deal wouldn't be too costly. For Lang to step up and claim a spot with good play would be huge.

Sitton is about the only one that I'm ok with at this time. Cliffy and Tauch are on their last legs, colledge, spitz and wells are showing that they have hit their plateau at marginal.

I would agree with LG as well. On that note, I've never understood why Colledge is playing guard. He is a cerebral player imo and would be better suited at RT. He's not a mauler type usually typical of guards in the league. We've seen he's not good at all at LT where most of the dominant pass rushers are. Tausch is a stop gap and clearly Barbre hasn't gotten it and I don't think he ever will. If I remember correctly he played 2 games last year at RT and graded out well (one game was vs. Lions and other can't remember).
The staff says he's better suited as a guard and graded out as it's best lineman last year(which isn't sayin' much) but I'm not seeing it. His longer arms and his more cerebral demeanor is much better suited to RT than inside. Really makes me wonder if the coaching staff is putting guys in the best possible position for them to succeed.

Assuming Tauscher is healthy, I'm curious if people think this could actually be an effective line:

Clifton - Lang - Wells - Sitton - Tauscher

Sure it only gets us through the end of this season but that's all I'm concerned with at the moment.

I think this situation is correct: Clifton, Lang, Wells, Sitton, Colledge

Tauscher tweaked his knee and may/probably won't be ready to go on Sunday, leaving either Barbre, Colledge or Giacomini (who?) as the RT. Assuming Lang's "tryout" at LG went/goes OK I would think the LG spot is his for the remainder of the season. Colledge is due to be a FA (RFA if no CBA) so I could see the staff searching for answers both at LG (suitable replacement) and if Colledge could play RT.

The Packers already know his (in)abilities at LT and LG, and now they'll check him out at RT? Barbre is stronger and would get more push in the running game than Colledge, but maybe Colledge's mobility and playing in space will help keep AR upright, more.

Bob McGinn commented early in the season that it was shocking that Colledge didn't even get a look at RT, where he looked pretty natural for one or two games at the end of last season. It wouldn't have meant he'd win the job there, but that they basically just handed the job to Barbre out of the gate without taking a look at anyone else. I'd like to see Colledge there again.

I agree with pkrjones: Clifton - Lang - Wells - Sitton - Colledge. Besides being maybe their best group of linemen, if it works out then it makes the off-season easier - re-sign Colledge and focus the rest of your energy on finding a top tier LT. The others will still be there.

Probably the best move they've made all season. Lang's a natural LG IMO.

Unfortunately the same goes for Barbre. I don't see what it woud hurt to put Lang in at LG and move Colledge to RT. Could it get any worse? That is a rhetorical question.

It seems that our linemen are regressing, not improving. That has to be coaching. The inability to implement zone blocking in the 4th year is inexcusable. You either get it down to the point that it is effective or try something else. Part of the problem with the line is that we have no identity. What is the Packers bread and butter play? No power running and no short passing means that teams can pin their ears back and rush like crazy. Our linemen can't get into a rhythym if there is no consistency in play calling.

My how things change huh? Here we were all worried about what type of money Spitz and Colledge were going to cost us. Now neither of them have any bargaining power, do we even want these guys back. Its scary to think that we will have to start all over again with our offensive line. I see Lang and Sitton as the only two that I would keep. Is it feasable to say that we pick up a veteran left tackle, draft a right tackle, and throw whoever we have on the roster at center next year. I just don't see some of these guys getting any better, (Colledge and Babre) and its the end of the road for Clifton and Tauscher.

Spitz only played 2 or 3 games at center before the musical chairs started, so I wouldn't throw-him-away. Odds are there won't be a new CBA, which will make Spitz and Colledge RFA's, and based on this year's performance not highly in demand on the market... so both could be brought back at a reasonable price.

As I can't foresee lightning striking twice, and the Packers starting 2 rookie OT's as in 2000, either Colledge pans-out at RT or there's a FA tackle or two brought in to man the position(s) until a 2010 draft pick is ready.

Dietrich-Smith must have shown something at center to still be around and Meredith (LT in training)allowed to walk.

GBPG says the Barbre has a concussion and that Lang is taking the snaps at RT and Breno is at the second team LT.This line is getting way out of whack and if another guy goes down it will be rather unfortunate.I wouldnt have a problem with Smith playing a interior spot but if Lang is at RT and Clifton goes down it will bottom out for sure.

Also Poopinga has a issue and may not play , Kampman has a concussion and may not play so Brad Jones is getting a crash course at Kampmans position. Jones may give a boost to the pass rush but I was hoping that they would use him behind Kampman at a down DE in passing situations so both would be coming hard and fast.Pickett has been playing well this year but where did Jolly go as he was disruptive earlier this year. Hopefully Raji gets a sack or two this week against DallASS it is time for raji to make a impact.

With the amount of times the back of his head has hit the ground I'm not surprised

I have a hard time envisioning Colledge being any solution at RT. RT isn't "that" much easier than LT, and he has looked badly overmatched by guys who are fast and/or quick. He just doesn't have the speed/quickness to react, I don't think. I don't see why his problems wouldn't be limitations at RT as they are at LT.

My thought-train on this was that the Packers KNOW what they have in Colledge at LG - above average at times, turnstile-ish at other times... inconsistent and not very stout against huge NT's. They LIKE what they've seen of Lang, and many think LG is his long-term home. Why NOT play Lang at LG for the remainder of '09, and put Colledge over at RT? Colledge won't be ANY worse than Barbre, and may give the Packer brass a reason to re-sign him for 2010.

Classic. That was funny!

Sigh!...MM makes the comment 'no more musical chairs on the OL this year' and here we go. I know injuries have played a part but I still can't get over not having a backup LT on the team. I just don't get TT and MM at all. They've lost me. I think Heatseeker's sig says it all.

WHAT A MESS.

That makes sense to me, assuming that the coaches see him as having the requisite ability to play there. I guess the coaches feel Colledge has the ability to play better at LG as he demonstrated last year. The fact that he has regressed so badly of late is appalling. I think it's more of a feeble attempt at continuity on the left side, and changing up only one part (RT) rather than two spots.

But it really, really begs the question why the coaches have such a hard time projecting these OL into their proper spots. Why practice Lang in OTA's at RT and not give him the chance to compete there in TC? Because they had too many guys there (Giacomini and Barbre) already vying for it? That's a short-sighted approach since you assume the two are adequate. Obviously people like to blame TT for failings on the OL, but this shuffling business (and admittedly, injuries) is killing the development and success of our OL. Colledge, Spitz, Barbre, and now Lang.