Offensive Line Looks Fantastic In Win Over Saints
Each player on the Packers offensive line deserves major credit for hanging 42 points on the New Orleans Saints defense last night.
There's little purpose to this post other than to give credit where credit is due.
While Randall Cobb will grab all the headlines for his highlight-reel plays, it's quite possible Scott Wells had as good a game as a center can possibly have, all in relative obscurity.
I have yet to watch a replay of the game and can offer few specifics, but I certainly don't need a replay to tell me they played well.
Chad Clifton did what you've come to expect out of Chad Clifton. But perhaps best of all for the left tackle, he proved healthy and effective.
T.J. Lang, when not committing false start penalties, did well both run and pass blocking. It kind of reminded me of Bryan Bulaga's performance against the Bears in the regular season finale against the Bears last year. He'll get reamed for the penalties, but actually was effective when taking penalties out of the equation.
Josh Sitton can blow defensive linemen off the ball and got great push in the run game. He's a star in the making.
Bryan Bulaga, when teamed up with Sitton, can really create some holes on the right side of the offensive line in the run game. Ditto the star in the making for Bulaga too.
For Week 1's performance, James Campen deserves major kudos.
Comments (21)
September 09, 2011 at 11:43 am
Bulaga has left tackle athleticism at the right tackle position. He and Sitton have some nastiness to their finish, Lang appears to be cut from the same cloth.
Bulaga has pro-bowl tools if he plays consistent from the neck-up.
September 09, 2011 at 11:55 am
this makes me happy
September 09, 2011 at 12:08 pm
+1
September 09, 2011 at 11:56 am
Aside from the false starts, did anyone else notice Lange fidgeting a lot pre-snap?
September 09, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Yes, I noticed the fidgeting as well -- if he wasn't rubbing his forearm on his thigh, he was jacking his butt up in the air...
But that's okay, because on one play I saw something I haven't seen for years from a GB LG: he was driven back a couple of steps, and then he anchored and neutralized the defender.
Should we get a sizable lead against a lesser opponent, I won't be surprised to see Newhouse spell Clifton for a few series.
September 09, 2011 at 01:35 pm
It's okay, except that I thought he kept false starting. He was rubbing his arms, shifting his weight. He just didn't look comfortable. It was strange.
September 09, 2011 at 12:06 pm
A couple rough spots here and there but overall I was very pleased at how the line performed. Just need to stay healthy and I think they'll be fine. Real tests will come against the Lions later this year.
September 09, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Clifton got beat on every play in one series. The Packers went three and out and punted. Other then that he was adequate but not great. The other four looked really good. Loved the run blocking improvement. Sitton's dive block into the second level on Stark's TD run was amazing. I also thought Finley blocked well when asked to do it.
September 09, 2011 at 12:09 pm
I noticed Clifton shaking his hands before each snap, I don't know if that's new or not. Collinsworth said it was like Clifton was tellin the DE to bring it! But doubt that
September 09, 2011 at 12:28 pm
When was the last time our OL dominated? I honestly can't remember.
They dominated last night. Nothing short of it.
PackerAaron
September 09, 2011 at 12:35 pm
Best performance since the Vikings game in Lambeau last year, at least to my mind.
September 09, 2011 at 12:34 pm
The way Scott Wells blocks guys that outweigh him by 50 lbs. is remarkable. What a solid center.
September 10, 2011 at 09:30 am
Great to see him at the second level all the time cause he didn't have to help lang all the time!!!
September 09, 2011 at 01:27 pm
Honestly didnt think we would be able to knock off the Saints. Offense looked better last night than at any point last year. Excited to see what So'oto will do on D. O-line looked outstanding!
September 09, 2011 at 02:02 pm
I too was pleasantly surprised with the OL. I guess it didn't hurt that Will Smith was suspended. And as suggested above, they need to stay healthy because it seems like they have serious depth issues. And I concur, I'm not looking forward to the Lions. Last year's game was one very unpleasant memory.
September 09, 2011 at 02:05 pm
Bulaga has become an absolute wall. I hope Sherrod can be anything like that in the next couple of years.
Sitton Land and Wells were solid on short yardage. its been years since i've seen us gain 3 or 4 yards on goal line or 3rd and short. was Kuhn even touched on his TD run?
And also, for the most part, great blitz pickup all night.
September 09, 2011 at 02:12 pm
SPend the $'s on the beef
September 09, 2011 at 03:52 pm
Credit to NBC for recognizing Wells by giving him a post-game interview nod. Collinsworth also did a great job pointing it during the game, which might have had something to do with it.
September 09, 2011 at 06:08 pm
Collinsworth is the best analyst there is, which is why he has the best job there is.
September 09, 2011 at 04:38 pm
Add the silent unsung green chip inbetween green & red chip on color wheel, and we got Scott Wells! Watch the tapes and marvel over what a talentent center we got snapping the ball to our QB. ;-)
September 10, 2011 at 08:20 am
Next skill for our running backs ..picking up two blitzers..once the momentum is stopped slide over and pick up the next one. Happened twice thursday could be done.