Packers target O-line
GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers say they’re still open to the possibility of bringing back longtime right tackle Mark Tauscher. But their actions on the second day of the NFL draft might suggest that they’re planning for life without him.
The Packers took offensive linemen with two of their first three picks on Sunday, moves that could help the team address its unsettled right tackle situation. Tauscher, a veteran who has played all nine of his NFL seasons in Green Bay, is recovering from a knee injury and remains an unrestricted free agent.
Packers general manager Ted Thompson didn’t rule out bringing Tauscher back—but didn’t make it sound like a sure thing, either.
“I don’t think it’s a question of ‘want,”‘ Thompson said. “It’s a question of timing, and the medical thing.”
Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin conceded that he doesn’t have a clear picture of what his starting line will look like next season, but he’s happy to have some more options.
“Are we set in stone, are we locked and loaded today? Not necessarily,” Philbin said. “But we anticipate with what we’ve added today—with what we have coming back with the work that these guys are doing in the offseason in the last month, and what they’ve done over the course of their careers—that we’re going to have a darn good offensive line when we open the season.”
After trading out of Sunday’s third round, the Packers picked Eastern Michigan offensive lineman T.J. Lang in the fourth. Lang, a 6-foot-4, 312-pounder who played left tackle in his final two college seasons, should provide depth and versatility.
With a pair of fifth-round picks, Green Bay then took LSU fullback Quinn Marcus Johnson and another offensive linemen with experience at tackle, South Carolina’s Jamon Meredith.
The Packers then picked up Georgia defensive end Jarius Wynn and Cincinnati cornerback Brandon Underwood in the sixth round, and added Colorado outside linebacker Brad Jones in the seventh.
Green Bay was left without a third-round pick after pulling a surprise trade up to acquire another first-round pick and use it on Southern California outside linebacker Clay Matthews III on Saturday.
So their first pick Sunday was Lang, who came to Eastern Michigan as a defensive lineman and made the transition to the offensive line, alternating at both tackle spots before permanently taking over on the left side.
Packers offensive line coach James Campen said the team would likely count on Lang as a backup at multiple positions, at least right away.
“He’s a converted defensive lineman,” Campen said. “He plays with a defensive lineman’s mentality—very physical.”
Lang played in a spread offense that used zone blocking principles in its running plays, experience that will serve him well in the Packers’ zone-based scheme. Given the level of competition Lang faced in a mid-major conference, he expects the transition to the NFL to be a significant adjustment.
Lang did play against elite talent in Northern Illinois defensive end Larry English, a first-round pick of the San Diego Chargers—and takes pride in the fact that he never gave up a sack to English.
“We definitely had our battles,” Lang said. “He was a tough player, and I think we had a mutual respect for each other. Every time we came out to play each other, we knew it was going to be a battle.”
Johnson, meanwhile, will provide depth at fullback—and as a former linebacker at LSU, could be expected to contribute to special teams. Meredith will enter the offensive line mix along with Lang and several other returning players.
Underwood was an intriguing pick in the sixth. He began his career as a highly regarded player at Ohio State but left school because of academic reasons.
He played at Cincinnati last season, and believes learning from his mistakes will help him succeed at the next level.
“I have a great chance,” Underwood said.
“I’m a hard worker, I’m a smart player, I want it—I’m hungry.”
Apr 28, 2009 at 5:25 p.m.
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jvldss: Only if he doesn't want too much money. The Packers operate so far below the salary cap it is borderline sickening. But, TT won't play the free agent song and dance. I despise Randy Moss as much as the next guy. But, let's face it, had he been on the roster opposite Driver and Jennings...with Favre under center...there'd be another Lombardi Trophy in the atrium on Lambeau. But, TT wouldn't do it. Arse.
Apr 28, 2009 at 4:11 p.m.
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Steelers cut LB Larry Foote today. Played all 16 games the past six years for the Superbowl champs. He's only 28 with a lot of 3-4 experience. Could help mentor Matthews while bringing more depth to the Pack.
Apr 28, 2009 at 10:34 a.m.
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Momo: Third and two, fourth and one, second and goal from the one...he could still bust a couple of those I'm sure.
Apr 28, 2009 at 10:05 a.m.
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Jvldss: we may not agree on ol' #4, but I agree with everything you just wrote about TT!
Sure would be nice to see a #33 on the Packers roster!
Apr 28, 2009 at 9:59 a.m.
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By the way, let's go get PJ Hill. Raji needs a party bud.
Apr 28, 2009 at 9:54 a.m.
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Thompson's drafts have been mediocre at best...closer to poor IMO! Where he has really fallen down is trying to draft offensive linemen which is why the o-line is in such a terrible state. Will Whitaker, Josh Sitton, Junious Costen. Tony Moll, Jason Spitz, Daryn Colledge, Allen Barbre and Beano Giacomini are terrible linemen with only a couple having any shot at developing into emergency starters. The Justin Harrell wasted first round pick alone makes his d-line drafts terrible. He had the 5th overall pick and took AJ Hawk who has become only a serviceable starter and a liability in pass coverage. You need an all-pro with the 5th overall pick. Jennings was his only "great" pick, but all of the other receivers he's taken in the top three rounds have not done squat (Tereence Murphy, James Jones and Jordy Nelson).Rodgers looks to be a good pick, too.
In the last two drafts with 8 picks in the top three rounds he did not land one starter. Aaron Rouse, Jordy Nelson, Brian Brohm, Patrick Lee, Jermicheal Finley, Justin Harrell, Brandon Jackson, and James Jones, all 3rd round picks or higher, have done little or nothing to help the team. Time will tell if anything ever comes of those picks.
Thompson, who eschews free agency to build through the draft, has not done a good job in drafting talent. He has assembled the youngest team in the league who is capable of going 6-10 year in and year out. That is not good enough IMO.
Apr 27, 2009 at 8:32 p.m.
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Hey, I love Greg Jennings. He is a stand up MAN before he is an athlete. It upsets me that he is paid 4.25 MILLION less than that cry baby Ryan Grant. But, that is ok for Greg. It isn't about the $$ for him. He gives back so much and "pays it forward" in so many ways. So, for that, athletism aside, TT did make a good-scratch that-AWESOME pick that is only magnified by his presence on the field!
Jordy Nelson? A-Rodg? Really? Let's see how these guys do years 2 and 3 before we start signing their or Thompson's praises!
Just like Ryan Grant. He had 6 good games, he paraded around like a primadonna after 2 and then held out for more money because he had it coming?? Whatev! How was this year Ryan?
There's not many who can do much worse in any regard than Mike Sherman. Amen to that!
Packers remain competitive year in and year out? Since when? 1992? Until when? 2008? I think it has more to do with who was under center than who TT drafted. And, I'm not entirely criticizing the players he picks. I'm mostly not a fan of the positions he picks.
I still say though....make a call to Waunakee, Ted! You want to put butts back in those seats? You want a tank of a RB to get you some depth on your roster? Call this big "dog"!!!! Anyone know who I'm talking about??
Apr 27, 2009 at 7 p.m.
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Sherman used a magic 8 ball to pick. Can't wait to see Kampman as a stand up rusher.
Apr 27, 2009 at 4:29 p.m.
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Are you all serious????
>
Ted Thompson has long been regarded as a great evaluator of talent when it comes to drafting. In fact he has done such a good job at sticking to the draft instead of the free agent route that GB continues to have one of the youngest teams in the league and yet competes year in and year out.
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If you are going to remind us of some mistakes (which Harrel might end up being pretty good), look at some of the other teams and the draft in general. People thought Mike Williams, Charles Rodgers, Tim Couch, Alex Smith and many others were going to be franchise changers and they were for the bad. I trust TT when it comes to the draft. He has made many good moves (Javon Walker for Greg Jennings to name 1).
Apr 27, 2009 at 4:07 p.m.
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The NFL cleared him, and if he is anything like Gilbert Brown, the Packers will love him. I didn`t like the trade to get Mathews, they paid too much and probably could have got him anyway.
Apr 27, 2009 at 3:47 p.m.
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I would tell him that to his face...I just wouldn't want to stand between him and the chow line when he has the munchies!
Any chance we can get Cutler and Peterson to dress like twinkies?
Apr 27, 2009 at 3 p.m.
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I think the Packers are as apt to bring Tauscher back as they are to line #4 up under center come August/September. What they really could use is a good strong powerhouse RB. I hear there is a tank in Waunakee (the only Waunakee in the world, mind you!) who is hoping to get picked up.... GB would be VERY wise to call this long time Wisconsin hero up and meet for lunch!
Apr 27, 2009 at 2:58 p.m.
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pharm: true (about his "parents" and Crabtree)
chad: I almost forgot about Justin. There are just so many TT drafting debacles. Abdul Hodge?
Apr 27, 2009 at 2:47 p.m.
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momof5, if he did have those parents wouldn`t some of the posters on here have a field day! I`m not sure if Raji is going to be good or not, but I am glad they didn`t get sucked into taking Crabtree.
Apr 27, 2009 at 2:46 p.m.
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Raji will be WAY better than the Harrel debacle.
Apr 27, 2009 at 2:43 p.m.
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I don't care if Raji has 2 Catholic Priests for parents or if he eats his brownies with a little extra greenage in them... what matters is that he has a PROVEN medical/reliability issue. Why does TT continue to draft players who were hurt oodles and oodles of times in college. Like it is going to get any better in the NFL--in the black and blue division to boot??
Too bad they didn't draft a GM this weekend is all I can say!
Apr 27, 2009 at 2:29 p.m.
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Tell that to him face to face.....!
Apr 27, 2009 at 1:25 p.m.
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Where there's smoke.....
Apr 27, 2009 at 12:34 p.m.
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Raji is the son of two Pentecostal ministers. The marijuana accusation was proven false.
Apr 27, 2009 at 10:34 a.m.
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A pothead in the first round.
Then giveaway two very good third round picks to move up thirteen spots to take the third best linebacker ON HIS COLLEGE TEAM and who only started one year.
The take a small college tackle.
The only saving grace is that, for once, TT drafted for need and didn't take the whack job Crabtree.
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