Coach Critical of T.J. Lang

Head coach Mike McCarthy points out a displeasure with Lang's six false start penalties this season.

Head coach Mike McCarthy was asked by a member of the media during his Thursday press conference to assess the progress of offensive lineman T.J. Lang, who is in his first season as a full-time starter.

McCarthy threw plenty of praise the left guard's way but was also wasn't afraid to find fault in Lang's play either.

"T.J. has played very well," said McCarthy, "and he's had a little bit too much up and down if I was going to be critical."

Lang has started every game this season for the Packers since taking over for the departed Daryn Colledge, who left in free agency to join the Arizona Cardinals after winning a Super Bowl with the Packers last season.

The Packers offense has been humming right along this season ranking first in the NFL in scoring (34.4 points per game), third in passing (312.0 per game) and fourth in yards (416.4 per game).

And while Lang has made major contributions to the lofty heights the offense has reached so far this season, he has not been immune to inconsistent play and mental errors.

"T.J.'s mistakes are all things that he can learn from," said McCarthy. "He has too many pre-snap penalties, but he's a good young football player that's going to really improve."

Lang has a team-leading six penalties this season, all of them false starts.

That's three times as many false start penalties as anyone else on the team and twice as many total penalties as any other offensive player.

The silver lining for Lang, as McCarthy pointed out, is that they're pre-snap penalties, the five-yard variety.

He hasn't been flagged for holding all season long, a more costly 10-yard penalty, whereas several of his teammates on the offensive line have.

But there's no doubt Lang has his good qualities as well. He's given up the occasional sack to quarterback Aaron Rodgers from time to time, but they've been few and far enough between not to get alarmed.

Even better, he has a stoutness that just wasn't displayed by his predecessor, which has helped the Packers grind out the tough yards in the running department.

"I really like T.J.'s style of play," said McCarthy. "There's a real physicalness, a toughness to the left guard position. And he's only going to get better."

And so there's an optimism that he's only going to improve.

"He just needs to stay healthy and continue to play, because he's definitely the type of player, his demeanor, his approach, his style of play is exactly what we're looking for," said McCarthy. "I'm very happy with the progress he's making."

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Comments (14)

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PackersRS's picture

November 10, 2011 at 05:30 pm

The entire OL is playing well, moreso the right side, Bulaga is playing spetacular, only 1 qb pressure all year, but great part of it is Rodgers. What an improvement, from holding the ball too long (still does it at times) to making his OL look better. His release is just too fast and his play recognition is second to none.

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Jake's picture

November 10, 2011 at 05:37 pm

This is very true, but I do think there's been a few times when he really doesn't need to be holding the ball, checkdowns available and such. The OL is playing quite well, but Rodgers is still taking more hits/sacks than I'd like....

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Oppy's picture

November 10, 2011 at 07:17 pm

Oddly, Josh Sitton has been playing poorly this year.

Well, by poorly, I guess I mean poorly by the standards we've become accustomed to set by Sitton's play last season.

He's allowed more pressures than we're used to seeing and has shockingly had a number of "bad" runs his way. I really do think after the season we're going to hear that he fought through some very difficult injuries throughout.

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aussiepacker's picture

November 10, 2011 at 07:29 pm

I really hope it is a injury and not that he has already got his new contract? But i don't think he seems to be that type of guy to get complacent. I really hope not becouse he is such a big part of the packers oline future.

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PackersRS's picture

November 10, 2011 at 08:40 pm

Sitton had a big impact on the improvement of TJ Lang. Lang said in a GBPG a while ago that this offseason Sitton went to Lang's house to "have a talk" with him, that it was time for him to mature, because he was partying too much and not eating well.

That doesn't sound like a selfish, only for the money kind of guy.

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aussiepacker's picture

November 10, 2011 at 11:31 pm

Didn't know that RS, that is pretty cool and i really don't think he is a selfish guy. Like i said he is the future of this interior oline.

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PackersRS's picture

November 10, 2011 at 08:36 pm

He's still a top 5 guard in almost all rankings, including PFF, IMHO a great site when it comes to evaluate OL.

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Oppy's picture

November 10, 2011 at 07:19 pm

I think every time TJ Lang commits a pre-snap error, Aaron Rodgers should yell "Hey TJ!", and when Lang turns to face him, A-Rod should hit him in the face with a rocket-armed delivery of a head of cabbage
:)

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aussiepacker's picture

November 10, 2011 at 07:39 pm

Dude that was the funniest thing ever. What was that for again cause i can't find it anywhere?

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Oppy's picture

November 10, 2011 at 08:15 pm

I think it was just a random NFL Network or ESPN advert.

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PackersRS's picture

November 10, 2011 at 08:43 pm

Mayne event

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PackersRS's picture

November 10, 2011 at 08:43 pm

win

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FITZCORE1252's picture

November 10, 2011 at 11:53 pm

"he's a good young football player that's going to really improve."

+1

Not worried about TJ at all. If a half dozen false starts are the bulk of his growing pains we're doing alright for a kid just starting in this offense.

GBP 4 LIFE

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lars's picture

November 10, 2011 at 11:54 pm

The "yellow" header reads "Coach critical of TJ Lang", but in reality MM was very positive re: lang, with just a bit of gentle critique to show where he needs to improve. Don't usually get this type of loss-leader misdirection from CHTV.

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