Last Monday night, the Green Bay Packers went from one turd to another at right tackle when right guard T.J. Lang got injured. That moved Turd 1, Don Barclay, to right guard and brought in Turd 2, Marshall Newhouse, at right tackle.
Both guys were predictably awful as pass blockers. They made Bears defensive end Shea McClellin look like an All Pro. Newhouse, for one, knows that and says he’s totally gonna redeem himself if Lang misses Sunday’s game with a concussion, which seems likely.
“I know it’s common perception that people just don’t want me here. I understand that,” Newhouse said at his locker Thursday. “Especially with you guys, it gets comical at times. I know I belong here. I know I can play. I’ve seen it, I’ve done it. So you move on and you get better.
“You don’t duck your head. It’s just part of this game. We’re humans, we’re imperfect. We’re asked to do some very difficult things and I’m aware of that. I’m totally up to the challenge to redeem myself — there’s no doubt about that.”
That first part is kind of funny. I wouldn’t necessarily say we don’t want Newhouse in Green Bay. He’s decent enough to be a valuable backup and has starting experience. That is, when he isn’t playing like an idiot.
Newhouse said he had lapses in his play on Monday “for whatever reason.” The thing is, when you’re in your fourth year in the league and have two years as a starter under your belt, you shouldn’t be having lapses like Newhouse did on Monday.
In our estimation, that means he was either unprepared or he’s just stupid. Let’s hope it’s the former because preparation can be improved.