Every year the media becomes enamored with a young Green Bay Packers player who has impressed in OTAs and minicamp, both of which are conducted without pads. This year, that guy is undrafted rookie guard Lane Taylor.
As you might expect in judging football players before they put pads on, sometimes these love affairs are justified and other times they’re not. For example, last season everyone was hot on another undrafted rookie — outside linebacker Dezman Moses.
Moses flashed a lot of quickness in padless drills and continued to show a knack to get to the quarterback when training camp started. He eventually won a roster spot.
Then there are guys like cornerback Brandon Underwood, who was said to be making the mythical second-year jump back in 2010. Then the pads came on and he pretty much disappeared. He eventually got released in 2011.
So what about Taylor?
Well, unlike most undrafted rookies, Taylor has a pretty decent pedigree. He’s 6-3, 324 and was a four-year starter at Oklahoma State.
He’s been working with the No. 2 offensive line unit at right guard thus far.
“Rolling with the twos right now, I think I’m getting better every day,” Taylor said during last week’s minicamp. “I think I’ll get better and better the more naturally the plays come to me. But it’s definitely encouraging and makes me want to just hold down that spot and do better.”
Considering the Packers aren’t terribly strong or deep on the offensive line, Taylor may have a real shot to stick around. Of course, that all depends on whether he can keep improving when the pads come on.
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