Tretter Proves Why Packers Seek Versatility

Earlier this week Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy declared that J.C. Tretter will assume the team's starting center position.  Rarely does McCarthy make declarations such as that one but given the situation with incumbent Corey Linsley and Tretter's tenure with the team, it's no surprise.  Linsley finally spoke with the media and shared that he has a torn hamstring that has kept him out throughout all of training camp and now in the preseason.  The injury won't require surgery but with Linsley not having practiced at all, he seems likely to be headed towards starting the season on the physically unable to perform list.  Such a move would keep him out for several more weeks and into the regular season.  

Tretter was a fourth round pick back in 2013 and was taken right after left tackle David Bakhtiari.  At the time, Tretter was coming out of Cornell as a left tackle and so the pick caught some off guard.  But true to form and as the Packers often do, they had other ideas for Tretter.  It became apparent right away during the 2013 offseason that Green Bay wanted to utilize Tretter more on the interior of the line.  That plan took longer than the Packers had hoped to come to fruition.  Tretter was unfortunately injured in his first practice and didn't see the field at all that year.  He came back strong and was penciled in as the starting center in 2014 as they slowly worked then-rookie Corey Linsley in slowly.  Tretter suffered a knee injury that left him out until early November and lost him his starting job.  Linsley held onto that job in all of 2014 and most of 2015, save for three games that he missed where Tretter filled in.

Now Tretter is once again the starting center and gained the the same way he lost it, because of injury.  The Packers are no strangers to trying to work tackles into roles on the interior of the line.  Tretter has proven that, so far, he's a more successful example.  Past attempts with the likes of Derek Sherrod (who was ironically released to make room for Tretter's return in 2014) and Marshall Newhouse haven't proven as successful.  On the flip side, the Packers have also tried to work interior linemen in at tackle and had mixed results.  Last season Josh Sitton tried to fill in at left tackle and looked as lost as a three year old without his parents at the mall.  Guard T.J. Lang has slid out to tackle in the past, where he spent his college career, and hasn't fared as well on the end.  These successes and failures aren't derailing the Packers from continuing to seek players with versatile skill sets.

By carrying players who can step in and guard or center, the Packers can afford to keep one or two fewer guys on the roster than the average team would and plug guys in multiple spots if needed.  Tretter and Don Barclay have both spent time in regular season games at multiple positions, including center.  Without that option, the Packers would have to look for a new guy to snap the ball to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and possibly cut another player to sign a new center.  The alternative would be moving Lang to center or working with one of the young linemen to learn center at this late stage of the preseason.  Neither are ideal.  

Tretter makes the fifth center since Rodgers became the starter in 2008.  While he's no stranger to learning a new snapper, Rodgers would certainly face a learning curve and additional challenges, even if only temporarily.  Fortunately Rodgers and Tretter have spent time working together and this transition should be a bit more seamless.  If Linsley is able to recover and return, the Packers would gain some additional depth and options on the line, which would be an OK problem to have, provided that they don't have to let go of a player they really like.  What seemed like a question mark three years ago when Tretter was drafted is now paying a big dividend for a Packers team that has high expectations in 2016.

 

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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts.  You can follow him on Twitter here

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Comments (5)

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NickPerry's picture

August 26, 2016 at 06:03 am

This is good AND bad for the Packers. Tretters price in Free Agency just went up if he as successful as I think he'll be as the starting Center this season, or at least 8 games until Lindsey was to come back. I've always like what I've saw from Tretter. He's athletic, moves really well, and is smart as hell.
Lindsey is probably stronger, Tretter gets to the next level run in his blocking better. So far in the Preseason the Packers have been running the ball pretty well, especially when the #1's are in.
Glad we have Tretter, personally I think Ted gets Tretter locked up before the end of the season providing he stays healthy and he'll be one of the Packers starting Guards for the next 4 or 5 years. I think he'll be an outstanding interior Lineman whether it's at Center or Guard. The great news right now is the Packers have a player who's proved he could play anywhere if necessary

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Doug_In_Sandpoint's picture

August 26, 2016 at 06:27 am

In Tretter and Linsley we have two respectable interior linemen. With both of our excellent guards free agents next year, many (like my friend Nick above) have said Tetter may be best sliding over with Linsley's return. I'm no expert on the skill sets and body types preferred in each position, but wouldn't Linsley make a good looking guard too? Wouldn't I t could be great to have him cross-trained too?

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 26, 2016 at 07:13 am

Evan originally brought up the idea of moving Linsley to Guard and having Tretter play Center. (move for next year).

Its a really good thought. With both Sitton and Lang set to be free agents and are getting up in age, it makes sense that they would want to retain Tretter and try Linsley at Guard. Linsley is a better prospect at Guard then Tretter. But the question is how would LInsley be as a guard prospect?

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croatpackfan's picture

August 26, 2016 at 06:27 am

That is very good example of how D&D works in favor for the teams which apply that strategy!

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 26, 2016 at 10:48 am

This homage to versatility is all well and good. Of course it is nice to have a player who can play multiple spots well.

I would just like to remind folks that GB has been criticized for trying to make their rookies play additional spots rather than concentrating on the one they were drafted to fill. I know I hailed the decision to finally draft a true center, and IIRC this sites comments section had others expressing the same thought. Also, there were plenty of stories and comments from Campen in Linsley's rookie year that he might beat out Tretter at OC before Tretter got hurt, though GB's coaches, as is their wont, had anointed Tretter as the starter.

Seems to me I just read some author write that the packers should let Spriggs concentrate on LT and not RT of any guards spots.

Finally, I don't think it is a given that Tretter and/or Linsley can play OG at an above average level for GB. I think Linsley is a true center who can probably play OG, (better suited for a power scheme), half way decently or a little better. Tretter is about the same, though not so much in a power scheme.

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