Colledge To Return; Behnke To Explode
By PackerAaron
My partner here at CHTV no doubt smashed his monitor upon reading the following:
As poorly as Daryn Colledge played last season, the Green Bay Packers intend to send him a restricted free-agent tender by the Thursday deadline and give him a chance to hold his position at left guard. But in an interview at the National Football League scouting combine, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Colledge would compete for his job against Jason Spitz , among others.
It's no secret that Colledge had a terrible year in 2009. (Although he apparently told Tom Pelissero that he 'doesn't see it' when he puts on the tape. To which I can only say...yikes.) But the guy was the BEST offensive lineman on the team in 2008. He has the ability to get it done. As I've written a few times, he just seems to have a horrible, game-changing meltdown once or twice a game. The latest and clearest example of course being the Wildcard game against the Cardinals where his terrible hold on the second to last play of the game wiped out a first down. (Yes, there should have been a helmet-to-helmet hit on Rodgers called. Get over it.)
Maybe being challenged in camp will force Colledge to elevate his game. Don't forget, he entered 2008 in competition with Allen Barbre for the left guard spot and responded with his best year. We can only hope competing against Spitz and whoever else Thompson might bring in via free agency or the draft will produce similar results.
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Comments (18)
March 02, 2010 at 01:01 pm
As long as he's not given the job. He has to earn it. Not just in training camp, but all year. I would think spitz could win that job if healthy.
March 02, 2010 at 01:34 pm
Was he horrible last year? Yes, although he may have been bothered by nagging injuries. Still, he's better than Barbre. If anyone needs to go, it's THAT abomination.
March 02, 2010 at 02:01 pm
Is there any position on the line that there won't be competition for? I know it gives incentive to work hard, but I would much prefer a longer amount of time for the line to gel and FOR GODS SAKE give someone time to practice at backup LT.
March 02, 2010 at 02:11 pm
AdamInEngland - Right guard is set. And it would seem Wells has the center job locked down.
March 02, 2010 at 02:17 pm
Revue - I would say Sitton is the only relatively safe guy, but C could still be open depending on who else is brought in/who performs in camp.
PackerAaron
March 02, 2010 at 02:58 pm
AdainInEngland - McCarthy indicated that Wells has the C job sewn up. As long as he's healthy, he's starting.
March 02, 2010 at 02:26 pm
I really don't care where Colledge ends up. We all know Lang can pretty much beat him for any spot on the O-line.
March 02, 2010 at 02:27 pm
What does this really mean? Can't we cut him at the end of training camp? I guess how high is the tender and what will it cost the Packers to cut him?
March 02, 2010 at 02:28 pm
C'mon, Corey! We all know Colledge should've made the pro-bowl. He's solid. He doesn't see any flaws in his game, when he puts on tape.
March 02, 2010 at 02:52 pm
What can you say, people? If we had anybody good enough to beat him out, he wouldn't be coming back. Who is better than him, but sitting on the bench while he plays? Nobody. This is a great illustration of the dreadful state of our O line.
March 02, 2010 at 06:33 pm
Corey I feel your pain.
March 02, 2010 at 11:17 pm
My string of apologies for him every time he screws up is apparently going to continue...sigh...
March 02, 2010 at 11:37 pm
They probably decided to keep him because of his stellar Packers.com program, The Colledge Experience. *gulp*
:(
March 03, 2010 at 09:36 am
Revue, Aaron - my bad, must have missed that one. My point still stands about LT, LG and RT though - I would rather a line is set early on than have competition throughout camp.
March 03, 2010 at 01:50 pm
AdamInEngland - Yeah, that would clearly be the ideal situation.
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Although, I fully expect the Pack to bring back Clifton and Tauscher (more so Clifton) and that'll fill out another spot or two. Really, I think the battle will be left guard and maybe right tackle (with whatever top draft pick waiting to take over for Clifton).
March 04, 2010 at 02:59 am
Leave Daryn alone!
PackerAaron
March 04, 2010 at 05:32 am
Really Megan? I thought I was pretty fair actually. I said he was their best offensive lineman in 2008. He didn't have a good 2009. He just needs to be more consistent. My guess is that he knows that and would say the same thing. Maybe I'm wrong. I certainly didn't write "He sucks, he should be cut" like some blogs do. I think he can be valuable, and like I said in the post, I hope some competition in camp brings out the best in him.
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ETA - and now, looking at your email addy, I know who you really are lol - nice one.
March 04, 2010 at 06:31 pm
I really think the Packers have treated Colledge fair, if he is truely worth more and deserving of a long term contract another team will give up a second round pick and pay him, getting a veteran player for their O-line. Had they put a higher tender on him his options would be far fewer this year.