The Green Bay Packers seem pretty happy with the interior of their offensive line. They’re not so happy with the tackle position and the main reason for that uneasy feeling is left tackle Marshall Newhouse.
Newhouse is the only Packers offensive lineman to play all the team’s snaps in 2012. He improved during his second season as a starter, but the results were far from top notch. According to the Journal Sentinel, Newhouse gave up 42.5 pressures, including 11 sacks and 13.5 bad runs in 2012.
So when he was asked about improving the offensive line, coach Mike McCarthy put the focus squarely on Newhouse. The Packers will consider moving Bryan Bulaga to left tackle — the position he played in college — and staying with second-year man Don Barclay at right tackle.
When he returns from injury, McCarthy said former first-round pick Derek Sherrod will also be in the mix for a starting spot. If all four tackles are healthy — Bulaga is still recovering from a hip injury — it sounds like Newhouse is a backup.
Here’s the telling comment.
“He still needs to improve and take another jump,” McCarthy said. “He needs to improve as much next year as he did from ’11 to ’12.”
It’s not unrealistic to expect a player to show marked improvement from his rookie year to his second year. Nor is it unrealistic to expect a player to improve from his first year as a starter to his second.
To expect the same kind of jump in the third year… not realistic.
That’s not to say it hasn’t happened, but the writing is on the wall. Either get a hell of a lot better, Marshall, or you’re getting benched.
Gee, what have i been saying for the last 2 seasons…at best, Newhouse is a back up. Aaron Rodgers didnt bring up the subject of bring back Clifton, because he feels comfortable with Newhouse at LT. Barclay can run block, but he’s almost as bad as Newhouse pass blocking. Now we hear about Derrek Sherrod again….Who couldnt beat out Newhouse when he was healthy…..In other words, they can try and make an offensive line with the personel they have…But that isnt gonna work….a band aid is a band aid. We need some talent so Rodgers can not worry about having lineman shoved back in his face. Call me crazy……But we need a real left tackle…to protect our most valuable asset…Aaron Rodgers.
“Gee, what have i been saying for the last 2 seasons…at best, Newhouse is a back up>”
Yeah, real profound stuff, Earthworm Jim could have made that diagnosis.
As for Sherrod, he was a rookie who didn’t participate in OTAs, give the kid a break, my god; he’s still not going to be fantastic given that he is recovering from a broken femur and has yet to participate in OTAs, but give him a chance.
Well phatgzus..I havent seen you bring it up……Too bad the Packers couldnt diagnose that 2 years ago, or a year ago and brought someone competent in. Maybe people like you like seeing Rodgers get hit.
I haven’t mentioned it because I wanted to see what Newhouse could do, halfway through the season, it was quite evident he was not a starting caliber LT, and I have mentioned the Packers need to address the issue, with the addendum that they still have a young, promising first-round draft choice in Sherrod.
Maybe “people like you” need to do research and think before they speak. :)
A young and promising Derek Sherrod?…lol……really?..How’s life in fantasyland?….Maybe Justin Harrell will come back and be a “player”……..Great insight phathead…Maybe in another year or 2 his broken leg will heal…..Or are you one of those fans who trust everything the Packers say about injured players?….Sherrod has had the longest lasting broken leg in the history of the world.
“Too bad the Packers couldnt diagnose that 2 years ago…”
I’m pretty sure they attempted to do so by drafting a LT in the 1st ROUND.
Herp a DERRRP
So was i wrong?…Don’t be such a moron.
Why don’t you enlighten everyone with some actual football analysis on your on, instead of just being a punk?
Yes, you were wrong.
“Why don’t you enlighten everyone with some actual football analysis on your o[w]n…”
I often do when it is not necessary to rectify the scurrilous, aimless ramblings of an ignorant malcontent. In fact I already have, i.e., the implication above that you need to give young players a chance to develop.
And, yeah, maybe Justin Harrell will become a “player” someday, it’s highly unlikely, but one never knows. There is a major difference between Sherrod and Harrell, Harrell has suffered numerous injuries, Sherrod one, if he gets seriously injured again, esp. if it’s the same injury or one to the same leg, it may be time to cut bait; however, you do not simply quit on a first-round draft pick, particularly one who’s position is one of serious need.
Feel free to ask me a question, maybe you’ll listen and learn something, instead of disseminating statistics without a knowledge base for their real-world implications (i.e. Pickett, Raji stats).
Broken femur….gee, its been 15 months, is it healed yet?….lol
Gee, he came off the PUP near the end of the season, it’s not like it’s the injury that ended Joe Theismann’s career. Grow to 300+ lbs, break the strongest bone in your body, then come back and tell me how long it takes you to play professional football.
Or cut!!!
McCarthy seems to think that Newhouse made significant improvent from 2011-2012…The #’s dont bear that out whatsoever.
“He still needs to improve and take another jump,” McCarthy said. “He needs to improve as much next year as he did from ’11 to ’12.”
Newhouse allowed 42½ pressures, including 11 sacks, and 13½ “bad” runs in 2012 compared to 41½ pressures (10½ sacks) and 14½ “bad” runs in 2011.
Can somebody please tell me why we drafted Derrick Sherrod with the 32nd overall pick two years ago…???
Because he was light footed 300+ pound tackle who jumped out as a first rounder after the combine. He was a great pick, snapping your femur will put a damper on a players growth. Hope he makes it back and is able to participate in OTA’s
I know. It was a rhetorical question….
But i agree. I want Sherrod to come back as a strong, quick-footed left tackle in this league.
We can’t afford another 1st-round bust.
People seem to forget watching Sherrod play , when he was healthy…I havent…………I’d like to think that 1st round pick Sherrod could beat out 5th round pick Newhouse. Newhouse looks like his feet are in quicksand…..Gimmie a break.
mxz600, it is funny how you praise yourself for being wrong 2 years running.
Newhouse is the Packers’ starting LT, and I’ll believe otherwise when I see it.
The Packers have had the option of putting Bulaga at LT for years, and they have refused.
I see nothing in MM’s statement to make me feel otherwise. Sounds like he is just trying to motivate his LT a little.
Down the stretch and in the playoffs last season, the Packers helped Don Barclay on passing downs, NOT Newhouse. So, you are gonna make him your starter and bench Newhouse? That makes a lot of sense.
Iltarion……Did you read the stats i posted about Newhouse, for his last 2 years?…..You impressed with them?…..Let me explain something iltarion….There IS a difference, in being a starting LT for a team., because they have no better option…..Than being a starting CALIBER LT for a team in the NFL. You think they didnt give Newhouse help ever?…lol…really?……….The sad ugly truth is, they gave them both help. There is a reason for that, because they suck pass blocking…..footballoutsiders.com have the Packers O line ranked 25th in run blocking, and 31st in pass blocking. They have Newhouse ranked as the 30th worst LT in the league.
Sherrod didn’t break his femur — that’s the thigh bone, and by most measures the strongest in the body.
He broke not one, but both bones in his lower leg.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20111223/PKR07/111223149/Medical-advances-give-Green-Bay-Packers-Derek-Sherrod-s-broken-leg-better-chance-at-recovery
Look, i’m not an expert, but i know this much…The Packers O line sucks. Thats the bottom line. Rodgers was the most sacked QB in the league, and he’s arguably the best QB in the league, and without Rodgers at QB, the Packers have no chance at winning anything…You think Graham Harrell can carry that offense?…..Have to protect Rodgers. Something has to be done, besides sitting around and waiting and hoping to see IF Sherrod can be a LT in this league. The Packers may have a very good reason for not sliding Bulaga over to left tackle. I think if they wanted to, they would have done it by now after Clifton left.