Bryan Bulaga: 2015 Packers Player Report Card

Bryan Bulaga

  • Age: 26
  • Ht./Wt: 6'5", 314lbs
  • College: Iowa
  • NFL Experience: 6 years

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Expectations coming into the season:  After signing a new 5-year, 34 million contract, Bulaga was being counted on to shake the injury bug that has dogged his career and start all 16 games (something he has never done) as a better-then-average NFL right tackle. So basically, show the Packers they were right to put their faith in him.

Player’s highlights/low-lights:  Bulaga once again had injury issues, showing up on the injury report almost every week and missing four games due to knee and ankle injuries. The standout highlight of Bulaga's season (and maybe his career) was holding Khalil Mack to one sack and no pressures  a week after Mack looked like Superman recording 5 sacks against the Broncos.

Level of Expectations met:  The injury bug bit Bulaga again and the long term effect of his various injuries appear to have cut into his mobility and quickness (as much as he had, anyway). Bulaga continued to be reliable in pass protection, but the 5.5 sacks he allowed in 12 games was the most since his rookie year.

Grade: C

Player’s contributions to team success:  When healthy, Bulaga is a "run him out there and forget about him" player. He's always assignment sure, rarely requires any help in pass protection and is an average to above-average run blocker.

Grade: C+

Player’s contributions in the playoffs:  Bulaga played a fine game against Washington's powerful pass rusher, Ryan Kerrigan, who was limited to 1 pressure and no sacks. Bulaga had a tougher time against the Cardinals. Although he did not allow a sack, his penalty negated the 51 yard pass completion to Randall Cobb and he had trouble all day dealing with the speed of the Cardinals defenders while pass and run blocking.

Grade: C-

Intangibles/misc:  There are few intangibles when it comes to Bulaga. As has been the theme this entire report card, it all comes down to injuries and availability for Bulaga.

Grade: C

 

Overall Grade:  C

 

 

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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of many hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also a recovering Mason Crosby truther.  Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP

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Comments (19)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
lou's picture

February 07, 2016 at 11:40 am

IF healthy he is as good a RT as there is in the NFL and is being paid accordingly. If he does not remain reasonably healthy at some point the contract could work against him, it could lead to a restructure of his deal or his outright release. He was a great #1 pick, like Ruettgers and Clifton he was a starter day one and based on the overall success of #1 picks in the league that says something.

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Packer_Pete's picture

February 07, 2016 at 02:18 pm

the if healthy is a big if, or better, he never was healthy for an entire season. One just cannot count on Bulaga to be there for an entire season. Nothing against him as a player, but I am sure not just fans but coaches hold their breath every single time when he is out there, either in practice or in a game. As there is a virtual guarantee that he will get injured at some point in the season, and not just injured but injured in a way that he won't be able to play the next game...

Therefore I think the Packers have to draft an OT, regardless of what else they do. Not just as a backup to either Bakh or Bulaga, but someone who could start at some point during the season. So the OT drafted probably needs to come in an early round...

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Rossonero's picture

February 07, 2016 at 02:31 pm

I agree with your points on Bulaga. By 'early round' do you mean rounds 1-3? Because Sitton, Lang, Linsley and Bakhtiari were all drafted in either the 4th or 5th round. I think TE, DT and ILB are more pressing needs. We still have Tretter too. I think an OT could wait until one of the (presumably) 4th round Compensatory picks.

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Packer_Pete's picture

February 07, 2016 at 02:32 pm

Yes rounds 1-3. I do think OT is a higher need than DT, personally.

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Bearmeat's picture

February 07, 2016 at 12:32 pm

It looks like TT had no choice but to pay Bulaga market value after his finest season as a pro. Just like he had to do with Shields. Unfortunately, unlike Shields, the question with Bulaga was never talent, but injuries.

It looks like Bulaga might just be an overpaid Tauscher with injury issues going forward.

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Bearmeat's picture

February 07, 2016 at 02:35 pm

Yes we did. But there was no way to know that Cobb would have the season he had this year without Jordy. He obviously does not do well when doubled. Other elite Slot WRs get close to (but not quite as much as) Cobb does per year. There's still plenty hope he will rebound and be the 90/1300/10 guy that he was in 2012 and 2014.

FYI - People were saying the same thing about Shields in 14 after he got paid and he just put in his best year. I'd bet that happens with Cobb too. I'm less hopeful about Bulaga because of his extensive injury history.

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Bearmeat's picture

February 07, 2016 at 07:50 pm

Sigh. I talk to you like a human being for a few seconds... you go full COW on me.

I will just leave it that I disagree with your analysis of the overall talent level on the roster, as well as your prescription to make this team better.

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Ima fubar's picture

February 08, 2016 at 07:32 pm

Mikey hates to lose these guys because he hates coaching up new guys. Watching the talent in the playoffs I shocked that the packers even made it with this crappy average group of guys. Datone Jones has done zilch for four yeras, ditto Perry. Cobb is average, r Rogers is sub par and Lacy is the pop and fresh dough boy. Not to mention Mike plays favorites and some guys on the bench shouldn't be and some top draft picks should be so he is playing to teds draft picks.

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Rossonero's picture

February 07, 2016 at 02:25 pm

While Bulaga's injuries bug me, can you imagine what would've happened if they him walk in free agency and said "let's stick Barclay there." Rodgers would've been torn to shreds by week 4.

That said, I like him for now, but they have to draft a swing tackle or pencil in Tretter as the future RT. Bulaga may not even finish his contract if his injuries worsen in 2016.

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mrtundra's picture

February 07, 2016 at 03:09 pm

Our OT positions have to be high on TT's priority list for the draft.

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Hematite's picture

February 07, 2016 at 04:20 pm

Offensive line doesn't seem to be a priority of Thompson.

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dobber's picture

February 07, 2016 at 07:37 pm

Remember that Bulaga and Sherrod were both first round picks. Yes, Sherrod was a failure. Other than that, TTs strategy has been to look for college OLTs (usually the best athletes on the OL) in the middle rounds and allow the coaching staff to find a spot for them. It's a bit of a gamble, yes, but if you find decent players that way--and for the most part, TT has--you're saving those higher picks for other priorities.

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Bearmeat's picture

February 07, 2016 at 07:59 pm

Yep.

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Ima fubar's picture

February 08, 2016 at 07:37 pm

Like who, Lacy over leveon bell? R Rogers over any other te drafted? Davante Adams over a slew of fast stretch the field stars he passed by. No tight ass Ted almost avoids the first rounders in that he doesn't want to pay the bucks.

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sheppercheeser's picture

February 08, 2016 at 07:31 am

Just one question- how do you give Bulaga a C and Bakhtiari an A?

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Bearmeat's picture

February 08, 2016 at 07:58 am

Look at their paychecks. Bulaga is paid to be a top-five right tackle and he has not been this past year. Bakh overachieve compared to his paycheck. Especially at left tackle.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 09, 2016 at 06:02 am

Bulaga is the 2nd highest paid RT, and he did not play like it, I think due to injury. We are rolling the dice on Bulaga's health. BTW, Bulaga is the 20th highest paid OT, since LTs are far more highly paid.

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ray nichkee's picture

February 08, 2016 at 10:09 am

Injurys have taken their toll on bulaga i think. He wasn't even in the mix to be LT when bahk was out. The acl was a huge injury for him.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 10, 2016 at 03:35 am

I agree with your grade. Hope that Bulaga's injuries haven't permanently reduced his lateral agility.

I tend to like stats. You listed Bulaga with 5.5 sacks allowed. McGinn attributed 3.5 sacks to Bulaga. IDK how many Bulaga had, myself. Are you using an 3rd party for that stat (if so, I am always looking for reasonably reliable sites), or is it based on your own review? Like I wrote, not criticizing here - I have no idea how many sacks Bulaga allowed - I am just curious.

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