Colledge To Start Regular Season Opener
Head coach Mike McCarthy anointed Daryn Colledge as the starting left guard against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 of the regular season.
GREEN BAY – Daryn Colledge will be the starting left guard in the Green Bay Packers season opening game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Sept. 12 at 3:15 p.m. Central time at Lincoln Financial Field.
According Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette at head coach Mike McCarthy's post-practice press conference, as reported on Twitter:
MM: Colledge will start at left guard in season opener.
First-round draft choice Bryan Bulaga had been battling Colledge for the starting nod ever since the second week of training camp.
Colledge has the edge in experience over Bulaga, but it also didn't help that the rookie has been battling a hip flexor issue that kept him out of practice for one day last week and this past Thursday's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts.
McCarthy has preached "accountability and availability" during his tenure in Green Bay, and Colledge has met the availability factor every day since training camp opened. Known for his durability, Colledge has not missed a regular season game in his entire professional career.
The veteran offensive lineman opened practice as the starting left guard when Bulaga dressed up only in shorts with the rest of the team in pads. Bulaga took part in the jog through portion of practice.
No serious competition from Jason Spitz materialized at left guard during training camp.
According to reports, McCarthy only committed to Colledge as the starting left guard for the season opener perhaps leaving the door open to Bulaga in the future.
Comments (21)
August 29, 2010 at 01:58 pm
Oh well... Guess we'll have to run to the right side everytime...
August 29, 2010 at 04:39 pm
He's good at guard in pass protection, and the Packers are a passing team.
PackerAaron
August 29, 2010 at 04:47 pm
Bingo.
August 29, 2010 at 05:33 pm
Didn't say he wasn't.
But he's also good at drawing holding penalties, in crucial moments!
Yeah. Not a fan. Will support him if he's starting, but would rather see Bulaga in there.
August 29, 2010 at 06:12 pm
Right, he's an OK pass blocker, but he's a terrible run blocker. He spends more time on the ground than any of the other starters, and rarely gets to the second level unless he's already missed his block. This preseason, against starters Bulaga was a much better run blocker than Colledge, and was almost as good in pass protection. Too bad he pulled a hip flexor. With Colledge we can expect them to be amongst the worst teams in the NFL running to the left this year, again.
August 29, 2010 at 06:36 pm
Grant with another 1,200 yard season? Yeah, a real bad thing.
Remember - availability and accountability. Colledge has never missed a game. Baluga has missed 1/3 pre-season games.
I'm not saying Baluga won't be a monster, but overall it's not a bad situation.
And BTW - the Packers only nead the run as a change-of-pace. The team is not a grind-it-out running team. It is a pass first team.
The main thing for the OL is pass protection. Running is, again, a change-of-pace (and we'll still get a 1,000 yard runner).
Colledge fits this bill. Bulaga might end up being better than Colledge, and maybe Clifton, but he has to stay on the field. Perhaps he will.
Clifton-Colledge-Wells-Sitton-Tauscher, with Lang, Baluga, Spitz, and Newhouse as a developmental player? How could this not be a good thing? Better than any year over the last 4-5 years.
August 29, 2010 at 07:39 pm
He wasn't talking about personal or team rushing totals.
He's talking about running to the left of the OL.
August 30, 2010 at 12:14 am
The pack run a zone running game were there is no set hole to run thou so right,left really dont matter at all.Its about lanes and cut backs. I wish you guys would get off his back he won a spot and played well when he was in his spot at LG last year. He did the team a favor by moving to tackle last year and now you want him off the team for it. Is that how you repay such a great team player I hope not
August 30, 2010 at 01:06 pm
"right,left really dont matter at all."
That's just nonsense.
"Is that how you repay such a great team player I hope not"
He was such a great team player last year that he whined about filling in at LT to anyone that would listen.
August 29, 2010 at 02:19 pm
You've got to hand it to Colledge he always improves his game when his jobs on the line. Hopefully we get the best out of him with Bulaga ever present.
In bigger news! Holy crap, this O-Line hasn't changed since day one of camp.... WOW!
August 29, 2010 at 05:35 pm
Oh, good. When THE TEAM needed him before, he flopped. But now that HE needs to play well, everything is alright!
PackerAaron
August 29, 2010 at 06:49 pm
He flopped when they went to the NFC Championship Game? You make no sense.
August 29, 2010 at 07:41 pm
So he didn't flop in the AZ playoff game?
August 29, 2010 at 08:09 pm
How many points did the Pack score?
August 29, 2010 at 02:51 pm
Saddle up kids for another season of "The Colledge Experience"on packers.com.
August 29, 2010 at 05:34 pm
He's not very good at that, but I don't mind it.
August 29, 2010 at 04:13 pm
He has been outstanding in the pre-season games. He earned a starting spot. Let's hope he carries it into the season.
August 29, 2010 at 04:18 pm
He's played well thus far. Perhaps he just needed to realize his job was on the line. Wonder what the plan is for Spitzy, good to have him around for a quality backup I suppose. O-line, from liability to quality with depth. What a difference a year makes.
GBP 4 LIFE
August 29, 2010 at 05:36 pm
Hopefully Colledge will play all season as if his job is on the line ....... I still think Bulaga should keep his helmet on while watching from the sidelines ...... One lapse from Colledge & AR goes down in a heap & Bulaga is in at LG.
August 29, 2010 at 09:59 pm
iiiii dont really have a problem with colledge.. he isnt a long term solution.. but he is the kind of guy you always wanna have on your roster quality player quality guy.. the kind of person u always wanna have on your roster to fill in a spot when someone gets hurt.. he worked hard this preseason.. he deserves the start....
August 30, 2010 at 02:11 pm
If all we have to worry and argue about is Colledge at guard..it's going to be one hell of a year. Man, some spoiled sob's out there.