Offensive line jumble must be resolved

(After taking an ever-so-brief post-Super Bowl sabbatical, I’m back, baby! Also, was anyone else seriously bumming for a minute there that the season was over? Tell me it was not just me!)

This week, Green Bay Press Gazette assistant sports editor Tom Pelissero kicked off his 10-part daily series of chats on “The State of the Packers.”  Every day, Pelissero has touched on a different position on the team. Thursday, it was a doozy as Pelissero and the chatters talked about Green Bay’s offensive line.

Just over an hour was alotted for the chat. In all honesty, that might not be enough time to cover such a quagmire.

Obviously, everyone has their own opinions on what should happen regarding the Packers’ o-line heading into next season, but no one can argue with the fact that it’s a situation that must be addressed and cleared up, not just for next season but for the immediate future.

Another fact that’s hard to debate is this: For all the good general manager Ted Thompson has done, he has failed at properly setting up an offensive line for the future. It’s true that he’s only really used one high draft pick on a lineman (Daryn Colledge in the second round in 2006) and has never seriously targeted the position in free agency. But given the coaching staff’s inability to develop any of the mid-to-late round linemen taken – outside of right guard Josh Sitton – Thompson should have put further resources into the position, either through trades, free agency or higher draft picks.

It must be the position of focus for the Packers this offseason; they can afford to wait no longer. As Cheesehead TV’s Aaron Nagler said, while asking Pelissero a question: “You’re close – very close to contending for a Super Bowl.”

Well, a powerhouse offensive line can go a long way to making that a reality.

So, what should the Packers do? Also, what are some of the options they already have? That’s what we’ll be looking at here as we go position-by-position on the o-line, left-to-right:

Left tackle

I’ve said before on this blog that Chad Clifton should not be brought back and I’m sticking to that. Clifton has been a very solid blindside protector for nearly a decade. But he’s also old (about to turn 34) and is breaking down, physically. You could try to bring him back on a one-year deal (the absolute most I’d offer, in terms of years) but I don’t think he’d take it. Pelissero is right when he says someone could very well overpay Clifton, especially if there’s no cap (all but a lock at this point). And Clifton’s mindset will likely be to get as much as he can, since this is probably his last contract. I don’t fault him for that at all, but that means it’s time to find someone new.

If you stay in-house, you only have one option: T.J. Lang. It’s not a bad option, either, as Lang showed some flashes in his brief time at the position last season. Given a full offseason at the position, Lang could grow even more.

The first round of the draft is always good for finding a left tackle (plus, as Adam likes to say, first-round linemen almost never bust). At pick No. 23, Green Bay won’t be able to get a player like Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung or Iowa’s Bryan Bulaga. But it could land someone like USC’s Charles Brown (Charlie Brown!), Maryland’s Bruce Campbell (think of the “Evil Dead” jokes!) or Rutgers’ Anthony Davis (no jokes come to mind here). All are looked at as projects of sorts, but all could play right away, as well.

Some players, like San Diego’s Marcus McNeill or Tampa Bay’s Donald Penn, might become restricted free agents. To land one of them, you’d have to surrender a first and third round pick, plus a massive new deal (think six or seven years for $65-plus million). For a position as valuable as left tackle, though, that might not be too much to give up.

If it were me (which it’s not), I’d get the best lineman available at 23 and sign a cheap veteran backup who could provide a decent amount of stability if the rookie struggles (someone like Tra Thomas, recently released by Jacksonville).

Left guard

Colledge was, in a word, terrible last season. Some think his disastrous time at left tackle, in place of an injured Clifton, wrecked his confidence and he never got it back. The problem with that theory is that Colledge had an up-and-down history even before that. I’ve said before I wouldn’t even place a tender on him and I’ll stick to that.

If you stay in-house, you’ve got a few options. Jason Spitz could be the guy, provided his back is healed up. It’s a position Spitz knows well as most of his starts have come there. Plus, as a restricted free agent, he’ll likely come back cheap as no team will give up a third-round pick for a guy coming off what some said was a fairly serious back injury.

Evan Dietrich-Smith is a guy that the team appears to be high on. He provides added value in that he can play center, as well.

Then there’s that Lang guy again. To me, this is the spot he should be playing. He’s got the physical build and nasty streak that are perfect for the position. Plus, his short arms won’t hurt him here as much as they might at a tackle spot.

Yes, yes, I know I said before that I think the Packers should make a serious run at New England’s Logan Mankins, provided he hits restricted free agency. I still think they should. A first and third round pick (plus a new deal in the range of six years, $40 million) is a lot, but again, he could be to Green Bay what Steve Hutchinson was to Minnesota. That said, Thompson will never do it and I know it.

The Packers could draft a guard high, but rookie guards can take a year or two to develop (as opposed to first round tackles who tend to be ready to go right away). Plus, in my plan, you’re already going with one rookie. You can’t go with two.

If it were me (which it’s not), I’d sign Mankins (wait – nevermind). I’d give Lang the job and keep Spitz and Dietrich-Smith as valuable backups.

Center

This one’s a bit easier. After starting the year frustrated because he lost the job to Spitz – he was right to be mad, as he was never given a fair shot to actually win the gig - all Scott Wells did was wait. Then, when Spitz got hurt, Wells took his job back and was fantastic. He’s still fairly young (just turned 29) and should be the guy there for the immediate future.

If it were me (which it’s not), I’d give Wells the job again, continue to apologize to him for screwing him over in the training camp “competition” and keep Spitz and Dietrich-Smith as valuable backups.

Right guard

This one’s really easy. Sitton is the guy. He was great last season and will only get better.

If it were me (which it’s not), I’d make sure Sitton was enjoying his time in Green Bay. Depth-wise, again, there’s Spitz and Dietrich-Smith.

Right tackle

Okay, this one isn’t as easy. It’s not unfair to say Mark Tauscher was one of the saviors of the offense last season. As soon as he fully returned from his knee injury, the offense took off. He’s an unrestricted free agent, though, and if someone will overpay Clifton, you have to think someone would overpay Tauscher. A one-year deal might not be enough; if that’s the case, offer him a two-year deal. He’s worth it.

If you stay in-house, you have Breno Giacomini, whom the Packers are high on. Taken in the fifth round of the 2008 draft out of Louisville, Giacomini is a massive 6-feet, 7-inches. But he’s still somewhat small at just 311 pounds (pro football is ridiculous, isn’t it?). Plus, he didn’t start playing o-line until his junior year of college (formerly a tight end) so he’s still learning. When he was taken, it was said he’d be a two-to-three year project. Well, this year is year three. The clock is ticking as the team needs to find out if he’s more Jon Runyan or Allen Barbre (i.e., a project who the team developed, only to find out he sucked).

Speaking of Barbre, I’m not as down on him as some (who want him run out of town on a rail). But, I’m also not high on him, either. He’s got some tools and was solid in his run-blocking. He’s just a terrible pass protector, though. That said, he only got about a half season’s worth of a shot at right tackle and could still improve (yes, Barbre haters, it is possible).

Again, I don’t think you can draft a right tackle high (say, in the second round) if you’re already using one high pick on a left tackle. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations – which Green Bay should absolutely have next season – you can’t start over with rookies at both tackle spots.

Sort of the same thing with regards to free agency. It seems silly to spend a bunch of money on a free agent if you’ve already got two guys – Tauscher and Giacomini – who could potentially play the position.

If it were me (which it’s not), I’d make sure Tauscher was back as a Packer. But I’d also give Giacomini a legitimate shot to win the job. Barbre sticks around for one more year for depth.

Conclusion

So, to recap, my offensive line would look something like this:

• Left tackle: First round pick (starter), veteran backup (depth)
• Left guard: Lang (starter), Spitz and Dietrich-Smith (depth)
• Center: Wells (starter), Spitz and Dietrich-Smith (depth)
• Right guard: Sitton (starter), Spitz and Dietrich-Smith (depth)
• Right tackle: Tauscher (starter), Giacomini (depth, but a legit contender to win the job) and Barbre (depth)

By going with this line, I’ve gotten younger while still maintaining a good degree of stability and keeping things financially responsible. The group would still be talented and I’d also have better depth than last year.

Whew – that was a long post.

What say you, Packers fans? What do you think the line should look like? Comment, baby, comment!

-Chris Lempesis