Packers Daily Links: Lang Holds Edge Over Sherrod

Head coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged the edge held by T.J. Lang over Derek Sherrod. That and more in today's Daily Links...

Signs are pointing toward T.J. Lang winning the starting left guard job over rookie Derek Sherrod as training camp continues. "Lang has taken a solid lead over Sherrod in a competition that features the two rotating in practice from left guard to left tackle on almost a down-by-down basis," writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "After praising Lang for his performance in the preseason opener earlier in the week, coach Mike McCarthy stretched his praise even more after practice Wednesday." If Lang starts at guard, you have to imagine Sherrod will be the top backup at both left tackle and left guard.

The race to start at right outside linebacker is becoming a little more clear as well. "The Green Bay Packers finally broke their three-week, three-way rotation at right outside linebacker Wednesday, and Erik Walden was the player moving to the forefront," writes Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel. Walden practices with the first-string for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.

An in-depth look into how left tackle Chad Clifton continues to play a demanding position in a violent sport is guided by Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. A peek back to 2010 when he overcame early season health issues is mandatory. "The Packers took two steps to help him: They scaled back his already abridged practice schedule and had him undergo an injected treatment called Euflexxa to lubricate his arthritic right knee," writes Dougherty. "Starting after the Bills game, Clifton had one injection in his knee per week for three weeks with a form of hyaluronic acid that’s similar to the natural substances that lubricate a healthy knee." The Packers, as has been extensively documented, continue to limit his practice snaps this year as well.

Wide receiver Donald Driver spoke to reporters about his future with the Packers and when retirement may actually come. As one of the faces of the franchise, comparisons to Brett Favre were inevitable. "I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I'm so bitter and I'm so upset at those guys," Driver told Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. "I think I can walk away, give those guys a big hug and say, 'Hey, I appreciate it,' and retire and put the cleats on the shelf and have some fun."

More from Donald Driver appears at ESPNMilwaukee.com and the Journal Sentinel where running back Ryan Grant is included as well.

A feature on rookie tight end Ryan Taylor is written by Rob Demovsky of the Press-Gazette. "Taylor has a ways to go as a tight end, but he has the makings of a core special teams player, one that can have the kind of immediate impact not many have," writes Demovsky. "In fact, Taylor could become the biggest special teams contributor as a rookie since Korey Hall, a sixth-round pick in 2007, who was the team’s third-leading special teams tackler as a rookie and the team leader last season before departing this offseason in free agency." According to the reporter, Taylor hasn't dropped a pass all training camp long.

More on Ryan Taylor comes from Mike Spofford of the Packers official website.

A look into cornerback Josh Gordy's childhood and how it prepared him for professional football is written by Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel. "From the age of eight to high school graduation, Gordy worked in the pine straw fields with his grandfather," writes Dunne. "Pine straw which serves as mulch in landscaping, consumed Gordy every summer. At the time, it was brutal. But now, looking back, Gordy says that experience is serving him well at training camp here in Green Bay. After all, he's fighting for his football life."

Training camp practice reports come courtesy of Jason Wilde, Larry McCarren, Vic Ketchman, Rob Demovsky, Bill Huber and the Journal Sentinel.

Erik Walden has played a mentor role to fellow outside linebacker Jamari Lattimore.

Packer Report has a 53-man roster prediction plus an article on the Supplemental Draft (subscription required).

Mike Neal's injury status is covered by Pete Dougherty.

Charles Woodson's recent comments about not receiving the respect he deserves are covered by the Associated Press.

Sam Wyche of the NFL Network covers the Packers from a national perspective.

Rookie running back Alex Green has some catching up to do.

Video of Chastin West appears at JSOnline.

Wednesday evening was the last night players spend in the St. Norbert dorms during training camp.

Video: Donald Driver speaks, courtesy of the Press-Gazette...

Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Maple Street Press Packers Annual. To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (5)

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MarkinMadison's picture

August 18, 2011 at 10:04 am

The article on Clifton's knees was very educational. It does not make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I don't know how new of a development these injections are - medical tech seems to be changing all the time - but it feels like Clifton's going to be great as long as he doesn't take too many snaps or get unlucky. But how long can a strategy like that hold up? Is this uncharted territory, or have a lot of players rode this strategy for years? Alll I can say is I hope Sherrod gets some snaps with the 1st-team OL at LT in the pre-season.

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PkrNboro's picture

August 18, 2011 at 03:56 pm

I don't get a "warm/fuzzy" either.

The article said:
"Clifton’s knees had been chronically sore since his return from the devastating separated pelvis he sustained on a Warren Sapp blind-side block in 2002"

Coincidence?
or is the knee problem related to the hit?

I think it's obvious to most that Lang will be the LG.

Sherrod's stance -- where his feet are six feet apart after the snap -- won't work in the interior line. He'd likely be bull-rushed and knocked over, if he doesn't trip a teammate.

Let's hope that Sherrod gets all the reps he can handle at LT, while Clifton gets all the hyaluronic acid he can handle.

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PackerT's picture

August 18, 2011 at 03:50 pm

Sadly, Chad is the type of guy at 50 yrs old I see needing a cane or walker,

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bryce's picture

August 18, 2011 at 07:27 pm

Line of the future:
RT - Bulaga
RG - Sitton
C - Wells
LG - Lang
LT - Sherrod

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redlights's picture

August 19, 2011 at 08:36 am

Quite likely. Not sure that Wells will be cheap enough, though; or if Sitton doesn't ask for the moon. Two spots, there, that could change.

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