I know I’m late to the party but I’ll give my take anyway. Signing the four players they did last week was something the Packers simply had to do. Letting four starters go was not the way to build on a playoff team from a year ago. Granted Pickett was franchised but that was just to keep him off the market, the plan was to sign a long term deal all along.
The Nick Collins situation was handled perfectly. While Collins wanted a new deal last year even though his contract gave him a huge raise the Packers were wise to wait do it this year. While the Packers did give Collins $14 mil guaranteed in 2010, I bet if somebody were willing to pay the Packers the first and third-round picks as compensation, the Packers would have thought twice about matching any monetary value. My guess is they would have took the picks and said so long.
Keeping Collins though is really big, the Packers defense would have taken a step in year two under Dom Capers without him. I used to be a hater, but back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons changed my mind. Now let’s hope the money doesn’t go to his head.
Ryan Pickett was another key cog that needed to be kept, for at least two years considering the money they gave him. I think he is good for two years for sure and maybe three but will he will never see four. By then B.J. Raji will be ready to move to the nose and the Packers shouldn’t miss a beat.
The biggest debate is over Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. Clifton had to stay because the Packers simply don’t have anybody else on the roster right now who can play left tackle. That is sad, but very true. Maybe T.J. Lang in pinch but my guess is Lang will now be fighting for a starting position at left guard and won’t see much practice time at tackle anymore. Daryn Colledge can’t play left tackle or left guard so I think Jason Spitz, who is coming off a back injury and Lang will battle it out for left guard now that Tauscher is back at right tackle.
My updated line would be from left to right Clifton, Lang, Wells, Sitton and Tausch. Spitz is injury prone but should be a good backup at either guard position and at center, where he actually started last year. I doubt Colledge makes the team, he is already talking about holding out which tells me he has a bad attitude and won’t accept being a backup, which he is. If the Packers can trade Tony Moll, they should be able to trade Colledge. We probably could use a few used gym bags or something, practice dummies always come in handy.
The way I look at Tauscher coming back is the Packers got him cheap. Tauschers is a year younger and arguably in better condition. I do agree with Mike McCarthy that Clifton should be more durable this year simply because he didn’t have surgery on just about every appendage like he did last year’s offseason. The same then, can also be said for Tauscher who won’t be coming off major knee surgery this year. I expect the two to be starting again this year on opening day and barring injury all season.
I think Ted Thompson got the message loud and clear last year that the offensive line had not developed. It is the one major area that Thompson has failed in. I promise you that signing Clifton and Tauscher were not the last moves to made there.
Finally, my apologies to Lynn Dickey, James Lofton, Sean Jones and Jan Stenerud. I was that half-pissed up dude gushing over you guys at Stadium View last Friday night right before you left. Thanks for coming out there though, you guys are great Packers.