Grades – Oline/Dline

Mike McCarthy says that the game begins and ends at the offensive and defensive lines. I couldn’t agree more. This week I grade our offensive and defensive lines.

Our defensive line was our strength last year. It was awesome. This year we had one of the least productive defensive lines.

 

 

Most people think we have a horrible offensive line. It’s always a popular thought process. People expect Aaron to be able to stand back there forever or Grant to not have to actually work for yards, forgetting they’re playing quality defensive players. This is the NFL after all.

Let’s get this started. Offensive line time!

Chad Clifton

*6.5 sacks allowed

Chad sucks. I’ve been grumbling about Chad for a couple seasons now. He is NOT the all pro veteran hall of fame godlike offensive lineman some people think he is (for some reason). He’s average at best.

The aging lineman who has had injury issues seems to be getting worse, and I don’t know if we can go on with him as our starting left tackle. His play in 2008 was bad. He was arguably the worst lineman on the field and there are statistics out there to back that argument.

Fun Facts
- Chad led all offensive linemen in “pressures” allowed with 25.

GRADE: D

Daryn Colledge

*4.5 sacks allowed

Daryn Colledge sucks. Wait, no he doesn’t. He’s actually one of our better offensive lineman. Yes. I’m serious.

Colledge had a bad rookie year and that upset a lot of people. Face it, some players take a couple seasons to come into their own. This was Colledge’s best year. He wasn’t playing at a pro bowl level but he got the job done, unlike most others on the line.

If you think I’m making this up, just read these to get yourself edumacated: Read this one! Read this one too!

Fun Facts
- Daryn comes from Alaska.
- He can see Russia from his house.

GRADE: B

Scott Wells

*Played in 13 games

Wells is one of my favorite lineman. I don’t know why. He had a bad year though. It started in preseason with that “trunk injury” that went into the regular season, missing the first couple games. Then he came back and obviously wasn’t the same player he was in 2007. Wells is one of 2837289362 players on the Packers whose play was effected by the injury bug. At least he had NO penalties this year. NONE! I know lounge lizard Ironman likes that.

McCarthy says he will be competing with Spitz next year for the starting center position. That should be fun and I have confidence the better player will do great things for the Packers – if they can stay healthy.

Fun Facts
- Wells has reduced his penalties in each of his four seasons as a starter.

GRADE: C

Jason Spitz

I kind of feel bad for Spitz. He never gets to play one position for a long period of time. He’s played both guard spots and center this year. He’s versatile and that’s awesome.

As far as his play in 2008 goes, he wasn’t anything special at all. He was a warm body. He needs to step up if he wants to be on the line at all next year. Spitz vs. Wells will be a huge camp battle.

Fun Facts
- Spitz allowed 19 bad runs, a team high.

GRADE: C-

Tony Moll

*3.5 sacks allowed

Moll is the penalty king. He led the team with 8 penalties and he didn’t even start five games. Moll got time at right guard and right tackle, and didn’t do very well at either.

Moll has to be on thin ice and he will have to improve a lot to see the field.

Fun Facts
- Tony Moll does not have any moles.

GRADE: D

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Breno Giacomini

This kid had one of the best camps out of the lineman and what happened? He got hurt of course. This kid is a starter next year. Count on it.

GRADE: INCOMPLETE

Josh Sitton

Another kid who was having a great camp, was getting starting opportunities in the preseason, was looking like a great draft pick, then…injured. Of course. Sitton will be in the mix next year as well. Our old linemen are going to have to work hard for their jobs. Should be fun.

GRADE: INCOMPLETE

Allen Babre

Same thing for this guy. DAMN INJURIES! I HATE THEM!

GRADE: INCOMPLETE

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Aaron Kampman

*62 tackles

Finally, the defensive line. I have to start with Kampman, who is awesome. He had a bad year. Yeah, he did. All of his numbers were down and yes, not having much help probably was ONE of the reasons for this.

Otherwise, he was Kampman. He gave it his all but only got 9.5 sacks. He had 12 the year before and 15.5 the year before that. I don’t like this trend.

Fun Facts
- Kampman averaged a tackle every 11.5 snaps.

GRADE: B-

Mike Montgomery

*59 tackles

At the other defensive end spot most of the year was Mike Montgomery. Who? Exactly. Injuries killed the defensive line, especially the defensive end spot. Jenkins got hurt, which a lot of people shrug off but that was huge. KGB was hurt, then when he played, he sucked and got cut. Enter: Mike Montgomery.

I was excited for Mike. These are the types of situations where nobodies become somebodies. Not so much for Mike. He struggled all year. He’s a good backup but not a starter, and his play showed it.

GRADE: C

Ryan Pickett

*1.5 sacks

Big Ryan Pickett didn’t have the best year either. He had an average year. Everyone seemed to have an average(or worse) year. Nobody stepped up and I was hoping it would be Pickett or Jolly who did it. Pickett didn’t seem to fill up the middle as much this year and disappointed me personally.

Fun Facts
- DeShawn Wynn and Ryan Pickett have hot dog eating competitions.

GRADE: C

Johnny Jolly

*49 tackles

Jolly was a bigger disappointment than Ryan. His legal troubles were a sign of things to come for the regular season. This was his third year and that’s when players should be coming into their own. While he got a career high in tackles, he managed 0 sacks. How do you get 0 sacks? I know what you’re thinking, he’s a RUN stopper, not a PASS rusher. Well our rush defense sucked too. Jolly needs to step it up if he’s not in prison next season.

Fun Facts
- On July 8, 2008, Houston police arrested Jolly for possession of at least 200 grams of codeine.

GRADE: C+

Cullen Jenkins

*2.5 sacks

Jenkins had 2.5 sacks and he missed most of the season. He only played in four games and was looking to have a great year, but of course he got hurt.

GRADE: INCOMPLETE

Justin Harrell

*Played in 6 games

What is there to say about Justin Harrell that hasn’t already been said? Finding a picture of him on the field was hard so here he is practicing.

Fun Facts
- Justin is a bust!

GRADE: F

Colin Cole

*4 pass deflections(dline team high)

Colin Cole is a contender for a starting spot next year. He averaged a tackle every 9.2 snaps. He’s a big man with athleticism.

GRADE: C+

Jason Hunter

*2 sacks

Another defensive end whose year got cut short by injuries. Some people thought Hunter would be the guy to step up after Jenkins went down, but he was very lackluster. He lacked lust.

Fun Facts
- He had nine tackles. NINE
- Jason likes to feel on men’s butts (look at the photo again).

GRADE: D

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Jeremy Thompson
*Played in 9 games

Defensive end. Injured.

GRADE: INCOMPLETE

UP NEXT: LINEBACKERS AND SECONDARY