Newhouse In the Mix At Left Guard
Most observers are expecting Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz to battle for the starting left guard spot, but fifth round pick Marshall Newhouse could be a surprise contender for the job.
By PackerAaron
Everyone is expecting Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz to battle it out for the starting left guard spot on the offensive line. Pro Football Weekly's Dan Arkush writes that fifth round pick Marshall Newhouse could be a surprise contestant in that competition:
Although Packers first-round draft pick Bryan Bulaga has a much higher profile at the moment, we hear it would hardly be a shock is Marshall Newhouse — the other offensive lineman selected this year by the Packers four rounds after Bulaga — ends up making more of an initial impact in his rookie season. The reason for this is the wide-open competition that is expected at left guard, where veteran Jason Spitz and restricted free agent Daryn Colledge , who has yet to sign his tender, are not considered very strong front-runners at all. Enter Newhouse, who we hear has enough size (6-4, 319 pounds), athleticism and intelligence (a whopping 32 on the Wonderlic test) to possibly mount a challenge for the starting OLG job right away.
There was talk that Bulaga, whose first-round stock plummeted because of his short arms, could enter the mix at left guard. But it appears the team would prefer to start their top 2010 pick off at left tackle as the primary backup behind Chad Clifton, whose durability is a concern.
When Tony Pauline joined us on Packer Transplants, he couldn't stop raving about this pick. (He listed it as one of his 'Steals of the Draft' for Sports Illustrated) And from all accounts it sounds like the kid can play. It will be very interesting to watch this unfold once the pads go on in late July/early August.
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Comments (56)
May 13, 2010 at 10:58 am
Loving the early makeup and potential of the offensive line this season.
May 13, 2010 at 11:01 am
I was expecting Meredith to contend for a starting spot...
If the coaches actually allow the players to battle it out, and not just reserve a spot for someone (RT for Barbre), then maybe.
But he's a rookie, that played LT much of the time... I hope he gets a chance, but I don't expect nothing...
May 13, 2010 at 06:40 pm
Yep, I don't trust anything said this time of year (especially coming from Arkush), regarding position battles. Best bet is to lay back and watch how things unfold in camp, everything this time of year is speculation.
GBP 4 LIFE
May 13, 2010 at 11:22 am
I agree with PackersRS, they said many of the same things about Merideth. Seems like he did not have much of a chance in camp, and the coaches handed over the tackle job to the almighty Barbre.
PackerAaron
May 13, 2010 at 11:59 am
Merideth was much more raw coming out than Newhouse supposedly is.
May 13, 2010 at 11:33 am
I'm sure Campen will develop him nicely (insert sarcasm here).
Jokes aside, I hope this kid turns out to be a solid player. Hopefully we'll be talking about him the same way we talked about Brad Jones at the end of last year.
May 13, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Meredith needed an offseason in the weight room. He also repeatedly took HIMSELF out of drills during training camp. That did not endear himself to coaches.
Newhouse is a player. He needs to shed some weight, or rather redefine his body. Then I think he could play LT. But they'll start him out at G.
And I am glad they are doing that. For one, I like Lang at RT. For another, he's not a "smaller, quicker" guy. (He's quicker, but not smaller. LOL)
May 13, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Did Campen develope Sitton and Lang last year or did they just fall out of the draft ready to be NFL starters? The echo chamber on Campen being a bad coach is deafening and I think inaccurate.
May 13, 2010 at 01:00 pm
And, Philbin was the o-line coach before Campen and during those years they had some pretty effective offensive line units. I'm not saying Campen is a great position coach (I have no idea really) but my guess it has more to do with talent then coaching.
May 13, 2010 at 01:05 pm
Talk about "inaccurate"....how about all the talk of Newhouse having to refine his body? He did well in 4 yrs at TCU with that body, didn't he? Tauscher has done well for the past 14 yrs (4 at UW.) with his body. No one questioned him once he got his chance. No one will question Newhouse either.
May 13, 2010 at 09:23 pm
And Sitton redefined his body how? GB's best lineman couldn't pose without his shirt. It's all quickness of movement and upper body strength. The package doesn't matter.
May 13, 2010 at 10:18 pm
"The package doesn’t matter."
Dude, could you tell my old lady that? I've been sayin'...
May 14, 2010 at 01:31 pm
At my age, I forgot that definition. Consider yourself lucky.
May 13, 2010 at 01:19 pm
Why not put Lang at LG and still make him Tausch's top backup? Let Wells/Spitz battle it out at center. If Tausch gets hurt, put Lang at RT and in Spitz at LG. I know this would be playing the "musical O-Line" song they're trying to avoid, but if Lang's a much better LG than Spitz, Colledge, or Newhouse - why not?
May 13, 2010 at 01:45 pm
I just hate that idea. Hate.
It was the same idea that had Colledge and Barbre as our tackles in tha MN game where we allowed 9 sacks...
You don't mess with the entire OL just because 1 player gets hurt. That can't happen.
May 13, 2010 at 02:19 pm
The difference is Colledge are Babre are awful Tackles. Lang looked much better. And he could be better at LG than the other guys.
May 13, 2010 at 06:45 pm
Let Lang devolop and get comtorable @ RT, unless a rash of injuries force the issue. Same goes for Bulaga. It's counter productive to shuffle these young guys around... it's been proven.
GBP 4 LIFE
May 13, 2010 at 07:20 pm
Besides College, proven with who? Where's the pattern? Are you contending Lang's growth was somehow stunted? Certainly not Barbre, he's show zero growth since he was drafted and dead from the neck up. Where's the pattern?
Every team shuffles, no team has a definitive option 1a behined every line position.
May 13, 2010 at 08:37 pm
Again, it proved to be a failure last year because College and Babre are awful. Shuffling the line this year won't be as much of a problem because those two turnstiles won't sniff the field at tackle.
What if Tauscher wins the starting job this year and next? Then Lang goes 3 years without starting at LG just so he can sit around and hope for a Tauscher injury? This makes no sense - especially if Lang is better than the other LGs.
"Shuffling" failed because College and Barbre suck - point blank.
May 13, 2010 at 08:43 pm
College.
Sure, that's not a 'pattern', but I've seen enough. I guess I'm just a guy that only needs to be shown something once.
Tell me who "on the Packers current roster with the current coaches" has ever 'benefited' from being shuffled around, show me a 'pattern'.Until you can, I'll take the College debacle as 'proof'.
Place them, train them, leave them... at one position, as long as injuries allow.
May 13, 2010 at 08:47 pm
"“Shuffling” failed because College and Barbre suck"
Funny, College was widely regarded as the best O-linemen on the team a couple years back... before he got "shuffled". And yeah, Alan is a disaster no matter how you spin it.
May 13, 2010 at 09:14 pm
Colledge did have a good 2008 - at LG. Stunk outloud at LT in 09.
May 13, 2010 at 09:30 pm
Amen RS. All this love for Spitz is blind optimism. Please, after 4 full years explain what he has accomplished. His best position was RG and GB now has a future all-pro there. He was a bust at center and I don't believe I ever saw him play tackle. He's very close to the chopping block.
May 13, 2010 at 09:51 pm
Very true Ron. Man, I'm dealing with a couple of blown out discs in my back back as we speak, some days it feels fine, others I can barely get outta bed. I find it hard to imagine a football player ever totally coming back from a lower back injury (especially when said player wasn't all that to begin with). That's also why in my eyes, Harrell is as good as done. I work hard on the job and am having trouble getting through it day-to-day, these guys are battling 300 pounders all day every day... just don't see them ever being 'right' again.
May 14, 2010 at 08:38 am
You can't use the 'shuffle' arguement with Barbre. Barbre was given extensive time at guard and tackle but he mentally cant' handle the professional game. Would you dare argue the opposite that keeping Barbre at one position would benefit him? Absolutely not. He has tantelizing physical skills but can't play the pro game from the neck up (can't adjust, maintain technique, nothing....) So no, you can't say shuffling hurt Barbre, Barbre never developed, period.
College is the only one you can make that accurate statement towards. The ONLY one, and he did get rattled.
May 14, 2010 at 10:41 pm
"College is the only one you can make that accurate statement towards"
And? That's exactly what I said. I only need to see something once...
May 13, 2010 at 01:55 pm
Am I the only person that believes once training camp shakes out that Tauscher is by far the MOST likely to be a backup and not a starter? He's making a living on technique alone. Functional strength is poor, can barely get in the way to run-block, let alone effectively run block and has no athleticism (no, it's not there but deceptive).
The guy battles and can make due in the passing game, but I just feel (operative word) that he's the most likely to be a back-up come game one of the regular season.
May 13, 2010 at 01:57 pm
Backup to WHO exactly? A hurt T.J. Lang? Or Breno Guacamole?
Fact is, he allowed less sacks the last 2 seasons than everyone on the line (except Sitton).
May 13, 2010 at 06:19 pm
Why are you bagging on Tauscher? He has a solid work ethic, doesn't get called for a lot of stupid penalties and does whatever he's asked to do.
May 13, 2010 at 07:16 pm
He can't start forever and will eventually be displaced in the role as a starter. How is speculating that he will not start 'bagging on Tauscher'? It's not. He can't go on forever, especially if there's a better option once camp is done.
May 13, 2010 at 06:49 pm
"and has no athleticism"
Nothing ground-breaking there, he's NEVER had athleticism. He gets it done on heart and technique, I doubt he's lost much of either... I wouldn't count him out just yet.
GBP 4 LIFE
May 13, 2010 at 02:07 pm
Well, I'm not buying the whole, 'we're starting Bulaga as a backup left tackle, understudy only' line. He's more powerful, athletic and excelent run blocking tackle. No different than Oher in Baltimore last year, if he's shows more in camp there's no way you keep him at LT only behined Clifton, he's your RT. I also don't buy into Lang at LG. He shows deceptive athleticism and there's now a log-jam with College, Spitz and Newhouse.
Bottome line, if either Lang or Bulaga show their capable in the passing game they're both superior athletes and powerful run blocking tackles. How CAN'T you have them on the field? Lot's of minicamp, camp and pre-season to go, but the 'backup' notion for those two is crap
May 13, 2010 at 02:13 pm
I agree 100%. Jobs will be won and lost in training camp. Bulaga and Lang will likely start out as second string in training camp, but whether they end up there is an entirely different matter. Clifton and Tauscher won't start if there are better alternatives.
May 13, 2010 at 03:25 pm
I don't want anymore shuffling.
We NEED to find Tausch and Cliffy's replacements THIS YEAR. We cannot afford to have the tackle spots up for grabs anymore.
You let Bulaga battle with Clifton, but keep him at LT. You let Lang battle with Tauscher, but you keep him at RT.
You keep EDS at C, and battle with Wells.
You let Sitton do his thing.
And you pick the best out of Colledge, Spitz and Newhouse at LG.
DONE! We're set for the next 10 years at the OL.
May 13, 2010 at 03:33 pm
I don't agree with shuffeling most, but there's NO WAY you keep Lang and Bulaga in back up roles if they're superior to whomever is starting at either left gaurd or right tackle. Many future LT's cut their teeth at RT. The top talent needs to be on the field and IF it's Lang and Bulaga they simply need to start, even if where they start isn't their future position in the NFL.
Best players need to be on the field, not watching from the sidleines waiting for an incumbent to turn an ankle.
May 13, 2010 at 04:13 pm
I disagree.
Clifton simply won't play all 16 games. It's a fact, a given. Do you honestly move Bulaga from RT to LT and put Tauscher/Lang at RT when it happens??? I don't think so.
If Lang beats Tausch, a very plausible occurrence, then he plays. If Bulaga beats Cliffy, then he plays. But I wouldn't move either, simply because our old Ts can't hold on for an entire season anymore.
As far as the LG spot, we drafted a guy to play there, and we have 2 veterans. Between the 3, a solid player will take the field. Lang may be slightly better than them, but I wouldn't sacrifice our needed T depth for it. Unless they think his future is at LG, then you play him there.
May 13, 2010 at 06:53 pm
Well said RS, couldn't agree more.
May 13, 2010 at 07:14 pm
Does that mean Michael Oher's future is purely at RT? Or, perhaps he's too talented to just be option 1b behined Jared Gaither his rookie year. You put the most talented player on the field. If Bulaga can start somewhere else and be an upgrade that's where he starts his career.
We can agree to disagree. It's not a line shuffle that stunts his growth. If he's that limited in his range along the line perhaps he didn't belong in round 1 at all.
May 13, 2010 at 08:54 pm
"Does that mean Michael Oher’s future is purely at RT"
Boy Chris, I don't have a crystal ball shoved up my ass so I can't answer that just yet, can you? That could quite possibly turn out to be the case, or he could be a dominant LT for the next decade.
Fact of the matter is, he's on the Ravens. Perhaps the team that groomed and molded Jonathan Ogden is better suited to help a young player at that position make the move. I don't feel confident the GBP have that guy on the coaching staff. You obviously do, WHY?
May 14, 2010 at 11:08 am
Really? You're based on opinion on ONE, VERSATILE guy in Oher?
How many other guys have you seen been moved around? Chris Williams from the Bears is still trying to find himself. Ditto for Branden Albert...
May 14, 2010 at 11:13 am
Not just Oher. Jason Smith, Brandon Albert, Andre Smith, etc. It happens yearly without exception. When the kid is talented enough to start (an upgrade at an existing position) you get him on the field and he cuts his teeth there. The 5 best lineman need to be on the field, even if their week 1 position isn't their final destination. Bulaga's played every position but center, not unlike Newhouse.
May 14, 2010 at 10:44 pm
"t just Oher. Jason Smith, Brandon Albert, Andre Smith, etc"
Is it just me, or are these guys just names/high draft picks? Have any of them been 'proven' @ LT yet?
May 13, 2010 at 09:55 pm
Tackles on the Roster Now:
1. Barbre 4 yrs.
2. Bulaga R
3. Campbell R
4. Clifton 11yrs.
5. Giacomini 3yrs.
6. Tauscher 11yrs.
7. Newhouse R (T/G)
8. Lang 2yrs. (T/G)
Keep 4? An interesting pre-season
May 13, 2010 at 10:24 pm
2,4,6,7,8... I count 5 that WILL make the roster.
May 13, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Who do you have that won't out of those 5?
May 14, 2010 at 08:43 am
You're completely missing my one and only point. You place the most talented players on the field. Brandon Albert kicked in at guard despite being drafted as a tackle, too talented to keep on the bench as just a back up. Jason Smith kicked to RT despite being a top pick expected to play LT, he was too talented to just 'be a backup'.
I understand the anti-incumbent attitude towards College, but I think it's just as likely that Tauscher gets displaced by either Bulaga or Lang after camp. If they show the metal then they should start there. I would be just as excited over the notion of a fresh Tauscher coming off the bench mid to late season under that scenario if there were injury at the position.
Best players need to be on the field.
May 14, 2010 at 01:42 pm
Thanks Fitz, that's a good list and one I would agree to. But, unfortunately, that requires flexilbity at tackle because both Clifton and Tauscher are potential injury issues before the end of the season.
In short, keeping Taauscher and Clifton forces GB into a need for backup(s) that play more than one psoition. Bummer until the age issue takes care of it self at T.
May 13, 2010 at 03:30 pm
My 2010 Packer Predictions
Record- 12-4
Division Title
We will again lead the league in takeaways and run defense.
Rodgers will pass/run for over 40 TD's and 4500+ yards
Jones or Nelson will beat out driver for the number 2 role.
Brad Jones will have more sacks than Matthews because teams will key on CMATT
Burnett will supplant bigby as the starter.
Sam Sheilds will make the team.
Starks will become a valuable weapon.
Cullen Jenkins and Raji will have great years.
The O-Line to start the playoffs will be:
Clifton/Colledge/Wells/Sitton/Lang
May 13, 2010 at 06:56 pm
I like it ('specially A-Rod's #'s).
How far do you have us going in the playoffs.
Does 12 get the MVP with those #'s?
And who are the 4 losses to?
May 13, 2010 at 07:27 pm
I think if we get to 12 wins and take the division then A-Rod will definitely get MVP, unless manning, brees, or even favre (god I hate favre but I could see it) have an undefeated season or something crazy like that.
With all the depth on the line now, I just can't see how A-Rod doesn't put up those numbers assuming he doesn't get hurt.
The playoffs are impossible to tell but I think our worst playoff matchup would be with the saints. I honestly think it's our year to win the superbowl with the firepower we have on offense and I think the D will be slightly better, enough to win shootouts this time around.
For the four losses I'm thinking: Minnesota, Chicago, 49ers (don't know why other than they shredded us in the 2nd half last season), and one let down game against maybe the lions, miami, or falcons, maybe washington or philly.
Of course this is all pure speculation ; )
May 13, 2010 at 08:56 pm
Nice. So you got us winning the SB. Funny, me too! What are the chances?
GBP 4 LIFE
May 13, 2010 at 11:33 pm
i had us the same numbers but the record was 14-2 two loss two patriots and saints.
Playoffs Vikings for division W
Championship 49ers W
Superbowl Jets W 35-30
close game to the jets because Revis is going to do a good job covering but not good enough
A-Rod- MVP
C.J. Wilson/ Mark Burnett wins DROY but closely
May 13, 2010 at 11:50 pm
PB58, I'll take 14-2 all-day, every-day, but, we don't play the Saints in the RS. Regardless, I like your take, and share your enthusiasm... get the checkbook ready for all the 'SB champion' shit we're gonna have to buy (hats, books, shirts, DVD's). Good problem to have!
WOOT
GBP 4 LIFE
May 14, 2010 at 02:44 pm
Just a question - Is anyone here going to LZ Lambeau next weekend?
May 16, 2010 at 12:30 am
Ron, I wish! If you do, have 7 or 8 for me.
May 14, 2010 at 04:19 pm
Some guys raved about Hambone Meredith this time last year too.