The below
highlighted paragraph is yet another time that a shot has been sounded across Spitz and Colledge's bough...
I am expecting them to play lights out this week..
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/packers/256102
Packers: No changing of the guards
By JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
[email protected]
GREEN BAY — After a week of rotating their guards all week in practice, the Green Bay Packers' new starters for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field are ...
... the same guys who finished last Sunday's victory at Kansas City.
Yes, incumbents Daryn Colledge (left guard) and Jason Spitz (right guard) apparently have held serve and are set to start against the Vikings, in part because Junius Coston's sprained ankle isn't healed and rookie Allen Barbre isn't far enough into his development to have mounted a serious challenge for a starting spot.
While coach Mike McCarthy wouldn't rule out the possibility of Coston starting or playing on Sunday, the fact Coston wasn't able to finish practice Friday makes it highly unlikely — especially given that the Packers will be facing one of the NFL's top defensive tackle tandems in Pat Williams and Kevin Williams.
"'Juice' Coston's availability was not what we had hoped, so if we had played the game today, it would be Spitz and Colledge," McCarthy said after Friday's practice. "The medical part of it is something you can't control. Junius is not 100 percent right now. But it did factor into how we (practiced) them these last three days, and it will probably affect the way we decide to go on Sunday.
"I'm not trying to hold a guillotine over their head or anything like that. That's not the purpose. We need to play better, and we're looking for the right combination."
Against the Chiefs, neither Colledge nor Spitz, who shifted from center to right guard to replace Tony Moll during the second quarter, played well. Colledge committed two penalties and allowed quarterback Brett Favre to be pressured into an interception just before halftime.
After 23 consecutive starts, Colledge suddenly found his job in jeopardy — although it turned out to be not so sudden after all.
"Daryn is a man's man. He understands everything that we're concerned about. It's not just something that just popped up," McCarthy said. "This has been going on for a couple weeks, and we're just looking for some consistency from him and from the whole line — in particular in the run-blocking phase."
As a rookie second-round pick last season, Colledge was handed the starting left guard job but had it revoked after a poor showing in the exhibition opener. He regained it after the regular-season opener and admitted later that his benching had been a wake-up call.
"You're fighting for your job every single week. Especially when you're a young guy," Colledge said. "I'm not an established guy, I don't have seven or 10 years under my belt. So I know every single week, if they've got somebody behind me who's better suited for this team, who's going to help this team win better, then they're going to put him in.
"I know last week was a low, I had a bad game, but I haven't changed my mentality in practice at all. I can't be frustrated, because I'm the one who has to perform better, I'm the one who put myself in this position. But I'm the starter until they tell me otherwise. And if that's on Saturday or Sunday morning, that's what it is. But right now, I'm working as if I'm the starter and I'm getting myself ready to play against Kevin and Pat Williams."
Coston, who is listed as probable, said he's prepared to come off the bench if asked, as he did when Spitz aggravated an early-season calf injury.
"I'm definitely not 100 percent, but I feel like if I was called on, I can go out there and be effective," said Coston, who has started four games this season at right guard. "I'm waiting on a call. If they say, 'Juice, get in there,' I'm in there, and I'm playing.
Health watch
Of the 13 players on the team's injury report who haven't been ruled out for Sunday's game, only one — special teams linebacker Tracy White (ankle) — is listed as questionable. The remaining 12, including new starting safety Aaron Rouse (shoulder) and defensive tackles Corey Williams (knee) and Ryan Pickett (knee), are listed as probable and should play.
Meanwhile, four players have been ruled out: cornerback Will Blackmon (broken foot), tight end Bubba Franks (knee), defensive tackle Justin Harrell (ankle) and safety Nick Collins (knee). Collins injured his left knee against the Chiefs, forcing Rouse, a rookie third-round pick, into the starting lineup.
Asked how long he expects Collins to be out, McCarthy replied, "He's still on crutches. (Team physician) Pat (McKenzie) said he's making progress, but it's going to be in the 3-to-4 week range."
Extra points
As dominant as McCarthy's team has been on the road the last year and a half, winning nine of 12 games away from Lambeau Field, the Packers have struggled under McCarthy at home, going just 6-6. Asked about the .500 home record, McCarthy replied Friday, "We have an incredible environment to play in at Lambeau Field, second to none. We have no excuse with our record being better on the road than home. We just need to play better, start fast and just do the fundamental things it takes to win a football game." ... McCarthy said the halfback rotation will remain the same: "Ryan Grant will be the starter, Brandon (Jackson) will be the backup and play special teams, and Vernand (Morency) will be the situational player (on third down) and special teams." ... McCarthy said center Scott Wells, who returned to action last week following a fractured eye socket and pneumonia, is "back close to 100 percent."