What is the most import part of ANY NFL offense? First. sorry, it is the QB! BUT, a VERY close second is the teams offensive line. The Packer Offensive Line has lost two great guards - Sitton & Lang the past two years - are the new players up to the job?
Here are the 15 offensive line hopefuls:
David Bakhtiari - 6'4" - 310 lbs. - Colorado - Year 5
Brian Bulaga - 6'5" - 314 lbs. - Iowa - Year 8
Kyle Murphy - 6'6" - 305 lbs. - Stanford - Year 2
Jason Spriggs - 6'6" - 301 lbs. - Indiana - Year 2
Adam Pankey - 6'5" - 313 lbs. - West Virginia - Rookie
Robert Leff - 6'5" - 302 lbs. - Auburn - Rookie
Lane Taylor - 6'3" - 324 lbs. - Oklahoma State - Year 5
Don Barclay - 6'4" - 305 - West Virginia - Year 6
Jahri Evans - 6'4" - 318 lbs. - Bloomsburg - Year 12
Justin McGray - 6'3" - 317 lbs. - Central Florida - Year 1
Lucas Patrick - 6'3" - 313 lbs. - Duke - Year 1
Geoff Gray - 6'5" - 315 lbs. - Manitoba - Rookie
Thomas Evans - 6'3" - 305 lbs. - Richmond - Rookie
Kofi Amichia - 6'3" - 304 lbs. - South Florida - Rookie
Corey Linsley - 6'3" - 301 lbs. - Ohio State - Year 4
That is 15 players (BIG PLAYERS!), we need at least 7-8 on the final 53 & a couple on the practice squad. I like what I see and we may see a few surprises as we work our way the the final 53!!!
As mentioned earlier we have 4 of the 5 last years starters returning
Center - Corey Linsley - 6'3" - 301 lbs. - Ohio State - Year 4
Linsley, was a starter since year one and as it seems has that trust with Rodgers that makes the play calling & snap counts work! That is VERY important! The 4th year player out of Ohio State looks like a leader that will keep the offensive line in check! Of course, I look at other background & here is a few things I love:
Lettered all four years in track, where he was the regional and league champion and a state medalist in the shot put (top throw of 63’-1½” as a senior)…Also threw the discus, with a top throw of 191’-2” as a senior…Community involvement: Participated in an NFL Play 60 event in Appleton, Wis., in November 2014…While he was at Ohio State, was active with The 2nd and 7 Foundation, which promotes reading by providing free books and positive role models to kids in need…Residence: Boardman, Ohio.
Guard - Lane Taylor - 6'3" - 324 lbs. - Oklahoma State - Year 5
Last year we lost a starting guard, a GOOD starting guard, BUT Lane Taylor seemed to jump in there and keep the Packer Offense rolling! That is always a offensive line concern! Playing together with the other linemen, and keeping AR in an upright position! Lane, a job well done. My gut says that he will have an even better year in 2017! A few tidbits about Taylor:
Given name Lane Dominick Taylor...Born in Arlington, Texas…He and his wife, Kasey, have two children…High school: Lettered two years in football and four years in track at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas…Earned Texas 5A honorable mention all-state honors from AP as a senior…Community involvement: Was part of the United Way’s annual Hometown Huddle project in 2014, helping to build a new playground in Clintonville, Wis. …Participated in the Green Bay Packers Golf Invitational in Kohler, Wis. …Visited hospitals in the Stillwater area while he was in college…Residence: Stillwater, Okla.
Tackle - Brian Bulaga - 6'5" - 314 lbs. - Iowa - Year 8
Brian has been a mainstay for 8 years! At right tackle, has the second most important job protecting the right edge for Aaron & has proven himself the past 8 seasons. Not flashy, not many big guys are, but is solid! A few Bulaga Bits:
Also played DE, LB and TE…As a TE, posted 35 career receptions for 665 yards (19.0 avg.) and 10 TDs, plus three two-point conversions…Also lettered one year each in baseball and basketball…Community involvement: Participated in the Green Bay Packers Golf Invitational in Kohler, Wis. …Helped coach kids at the annual Junior Power Pack football clinic…Also supported the Jerry Parins Cruise for Cancer with an autograph signing and attended the local Families of Children With Cancer holiday party…Participated in the Edgar Bennett Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon…In college, participated in an effort to help flood victims in Cedar Rapids, Iowa…Residence: Bradenton, Fla.
Tackle - David Bakhtiari - 6'4" - 310 lbs. - Colorado - Year 5
Left Tackles. Every great offense needs a great left tackle & we have one. Protecting the quarterbacks blind side! You get the stud pass rushers, you must be BIG and ATHLETIC! And, it helps to be good looking with great hair! This is for my Packer Buddy Phil!
OK, David has great hair, and is our offensive answer to Clay Matthews! But, better yet, he has started since his rookie year and has been a SOLID left tackle!! A few more notes:
Oldest brother, Eric, played linebacker for the Tennessee Titans (2009) and San Francisco 49ers (2012)…Another older brother, Andrew, played defensive end at the University of San Diego…Appeared in the movie Pitch Perfect 2 last offseason with four of his teammates…High school: Earned All-Western Catholic Athletic League, All-San Mateo County and all-metro honors as a senior at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, Calif. …His senior season marked his first year as a starter in football at any level…Helped his team win the WCAL championship and advance to the state semifinals…Was honored by the Bay Area News Group as a member of the 2008 Cream of the Crop team among seniors, ranking No. 8 out of the 25 players from northern California selected on college potential from a survey of college coaches…Also lettered in lacrosse as a sophomore and as a junior, winning the Lock Down Award as the team’s top hitter…Community involvement: Created the Fund A Dream scholarship at his high school…Attended a pizza party for the PALS program…Signed autographs at the Jerry Parins Cruise for Cancer in exchange for donations…Visited homeless shelters and nursing homes while he was in college…Residence: Burlingame, Calif.
OK, David, keep the hair and keep Aaron safe!!!!
Now, who will step in this year at the other guard spot? Here we go:
Jahri Evans - 6'4" - 318 lbs. - Bloomsburg - Year 12
This guy gets my vote! One of the quiet pick ups over the summer. And, even though he has 12 years under his belt, I think he has a few years left in the tank! And, the Packer Buddies had a chance to meet Jahri at a Philadelphia Soul game on Bloomsburg night!
Left to right-Jim, Bill, Jahri, Terry(our Bloomsburg Hall of Famer!)
Expect good things from Jahri Evans!
Don Barclay - 6'4" - 305 - West Virginia - Year 6
Barclay has been the major back up lineman for years and I'm sure will be given a chance at guard. He has taken a lot of heat for his play, but it is very difficult to jump in and play any of the linemen positions when injuries pop up. I do think this year will be very difficult for Barclay, because of all the young talent!! My prediction is............ thank you for your time, but Bye Bye.
The next group of possible 53 man roster players:
Kyle Murphy - 6'6" - 305 lbs. - Stanford - Year 2
Has the size, has the smarts, and is fairly athletic. The key, do we have a player to back up Bakhtiari at left tackle? Right tackle should not be an issue! I think the battle between Murphy & Spriggs is one to watch!!! Some Murphy background:
Participated in the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl and received the Glenn Davis Award, given annually to a player on the West team at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl who best epitomizes the U.S. Army’s high standards of excellence in community service, education and athletic excellence...Was a Sea View League shot put champion in his only year in track and field…Played volleyball for two years.
His brother, Kevin, played at Harvard from 2008-11 and with the Minnesota Vikings in 2012-13…Was involved with Read Across America in college and also visited a children’s hospital in Long Beach…Worked two internships in college, the first with the San Jose Earthquakes in sales and marketing after his freshman year and then as a financial analyst with Bank of America/Merrill Lynch following his junior year…Residence: San Clemente, Calif.
So, Kyle definitley has the smarts & some interesting athletic background! Now compete!
Jason Spriggs - 6'6" - 301 lbs. - Indiana - Year 2
As mentioned above, the battle of Murphy & Spriggs is worth watching! Maybe a wrestling match of the 50 yard line would be good? Spriggs was drafter higher, round 2 versus round 6 for Murphy. So maybe that is the answer? More background:
Played offensive tackle, tight end, defensive end and long snapper during his time at Concord High School (Elkhart, Ind.)…Named Indiana Class 5A all-state (defensive line) by The Associated Press and Indiana Football Coaches Association (IFCA) Top 50 (offensive line) in 2011…Was a first-team Elkhart Truth selection as an offensive lineman in 2011 and as a defensive lineman in 2010…Served as a team captain and was named Concord’s most valuable offensive lineman (2011) and defensive lineman (2010 and 2011)…Earned IFCA Junior all-state honors…Selected all-conference as an offensive and defensive lineman in both 2010 and 2011…Started for three years and recorded 58 tackles, seven sacks, 19 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, three passes broken up and three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown…Also lettered four years in both basketball and lacrosse and two years in track and field.
Kofi Amichia - 6'3" - 304 lbs. - South Florida - Rookie
Again the Packers usually keep draft choices, so Amichia has the inside track. Some rookie stats:
2016: American Athletic Conference First-Team selection… started all 13 games at left tackle… has started 26 consecutive games…helped the Gulf Coast Offense set school records with 77 touchdowns, 47 rushing touchdowns (second in the FBS), 3,714 rushing yards and 6,650 yards of total offense, while ranking in the top 20 in the nation in sacks allowed (1.15)…helped the Bulls extend their nation-leading streak of 30-plus point games to 17… paved the way for USF to finish the regular season ranked fifth nationally in rushing offense (291.8 ypg), eighth in scoring offense (43.6 ppg) and ninth in total offense (515.1 jpg).
Earned a spot in the all-state all-star game as a senior playing at right tackle ... a first-team all-county selection ... posted 46 pancake blocks ... also spent time on defense and recorded a sack ... helped McEachern to a 10-2 record and the second round of the state playoffs ... tabbed a preseason all-state selection ... named one of the top players in Georgia by ESPN High School ... posted 42 pancake blocks as a junior ... allowed only one sack, while starting all 12 games ... helped the Indians to a 10-2 record, the second round of the state playoffs and the region 4AAAAA championship ... invited to Nike's The Opening ... also lettered in track and field and basketball.
Would have loved to have seen Kofi on the basketball court!!! And, he still must have some moves according to the Wes Hodkiewicz article:
After playing left tackle the past two years, Amichia put himself on the map with an impressive pro day in March, running a 4.99-second time in the 40-yard dash with 32 reps on the bench press and a 33½-inch vertical.
He believes that athleticism translates to his play on the offensive line, enabling him to stand toe-to-toe with defensive lineman and get a hat on linebackers downfield.
“You have to be able to recover when guys do spin moves, juke moves,” Amichia said. “Because defensive linemen, people think just because they’re big they can’t move (but) you still have to be able to recover with everything they do and match their intensity with everything.
This is were it gets difficult! These are the long shots below & maybe one Practice Squad spots? You have 4 rookies & 2 that served on the practice squad. Some good size, but is there skill here to crack the 53? Remember, 7-9 possible, make the 53 man roster.
Let the BBBB --------------------- Big Boy Battles Begin!
Justin McGray - 6'3" - 317 lbs. - Central Florida - Year 1
Lucas Patrick - 6'3" - 313 lbs. - Duke - Year 1
Geoff Gray - 6'5" - 315 lbs. - Manitoba - Rookie
Thomas Evans - 6'3" - 305 lbs. - Richmond - Rookie
Adam Pankey - 6'5" - 313 lbs. - West Virginia - Rookie
Robert Leff - 6'5" - 302 lbs. - Auburn - Rookie
