Packers Daily Links: Barclay Works with Starters at Right Tackle

For the first time during training camp on Monday, Barclay wasn't splitting snaps with Marshall Newhouse. That and more in today's Daily Links...

It appears as if Don Barclay has gotten a leg up in the competition for the starting right tackle position in Green Bay. "At practice Monday, two days after the Packers’ second preseason game, Barclay took all the snaps with the starting offensive line," writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "Newhouse, on the other hand, worked primarily as the left tackle with the No. 2 line." Head coach Mike McCarthy wasn't ready to declare Barclay as a player who won a job, but as long as Barclay doesn't blow his opportunity in the final two preseason games, it appears as if he'll be the starter.

More on Don Barclay comes from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, ESPNMilwaukee.com and Packer Report.

Tight end Andrew Quarless returned to the practice field on Monday for the first time in two-plus weeks following a quad injury. "We’ve got two weeks left,” Quarless is quoted as saying by Mike Vandermause of the Press-Gazette. “I missed quite a bit, so that doesn’t make me happy (or) excited. … none of this is guaranteed. I’ve still got to get out there and produce and show ‘em what I can do.” Quarless is running out of time to prove that he's fully recovered from a knee injury suffered two seasons ago. And not only does he need to prove he's healthy, he also needs to show he's worth keeping over the other tight ends on the roster.

More on Andrew Quarless comes from JSOnline.

First round draft choice Datone Jones practiced for the first time in a week on Monday as well. "Jones had a strong start to training camp, with the early signs being the top pick will make an immediate impact," writes Bill Huber of Packer Report. "He’s not sure if he’ll be allowed to play against Seattle on Friday night but he knows these preseason games are important." Like they do with so many other players, the Packers will make sure Jones is not about to suffer a setback before clearing him for game action.

More on Datone Jones comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com.

While the goal is for Jordy Nelson to return for the regular season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, the Packers wide receiver didn't appear willing to make any guarantees on Monday. "With the Packers 20 days away from playing in San Francisco for their regular-season opener, Nelson has some doubt that he'll be on the field with his teammates for that game," writes Paul Imig of FoxSportsWisconsin.com. Nelson said he would have been able to play through the injury if it happened during the regular season, but he decided to have surgery during a time of the year when the games don't count in the standings.

More on Jordy Nelson comes from JSOnline, Packer Report, Press-Gazette, ESPN.com and ESPNMilwaukee.com.

Purchase your Green Bay Packers tickets for this week's preseason game and every game at Titletown Tickets.

Daily practice reports are published at the Journal Sentinel, ESPNMilwaukee.com, FoxSportsWisconsin.com and ESPN.com.

Cornerback Casey Hayward came off the PUP list on Monday, as noted by the Press-Gazette and ESPNMilwaukee.com.

Micah Hyde is going to get more opportunities on punt return, according to the Journal Sentinel.

A feature on tight end Brandon Bostick appears at the Press-Gazette.

The improvement shown by quarterback B.J. Coleman is referenced at ESPNMilwaukee.com.

Defensive lineman Johnny Jolly is the topic of blog posts at JSOnline and ESPN.com.

Items on tackle Marshall Newhouse and kicker Mason Crosby are posted at ESPN.com.

The running back stable gets featured treatment by the Associated Press.

Video: The forecast for Tuesday's training camp practice comes courtesy of NBC 26 in Green Bay...

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor of Cheesehead TV's "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (4)

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The TKstinator's picture

August 20, 2013 at 09:20 am

The story seems to be that Barclay is a good run blocker and a "good enough" pass blocker. The thing I've heard about Newhouse is that he has "good feet", but he just doesn't seem to be....very good. If the team is intending to run the ball more often/more effectively, I'm glad to see Barclay ahead of Newhouse.

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Evan's picture

August 20, 2013 at 09:45 am

Also, while this isn't a primary factor I'm sure, Newhouse is much better suited as a backup due to his "ability" to play LT and RT. Barclay at LT would scare me.

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Mojo's picture

August 20, 2013 at 11:05 am

According to McGinn, after a great start, Barclay was beaten three times against the Rams in pass-pro. He was saved because the QB got the ball out quickly. His sample size is getting to the point where we can fairly say he's just not that good in pass protection. I think the best we can hope for Barclay as a pass-protector is average which pisses me off thinking, we could have had a pretty decent line with Buluga and Bakh at the tackles and Newhouse and Barclay as the main backups.

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The TKstinator's picture

August 20, 2013 at 03:07 pm

As much as I am in favor of an improved running game, protecting Rodgers still has to be the priority. Barclay has to be at least decent in that department. I am thinking he is a better overall player than Newhouse. Right tackle is the spot for the run blocker. At left tackle I would have no objection to an elite pass blocker even if he's a crappy run blocker. (Clifton, anyone?)

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