Top Hat I was wondering if there is any real news on Alan Barbre-he seemed to be doing OK early in training camp but there's been little mention of him of late?
I'll hook ya up on this one.
packers news:
Barbre is a rock in blocking test
By Rob Demovsky
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Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz combined to start 28 games as rookie offensive linemen last season, but neither one dominated a certain practice drill like rookie guard Allen Barbre has this summer.
By unofficial count, the Green Bay Packers' fourth-round draft pick has lined up 22 times in the one-on-one pass blocking/pass rushing drill. He has won 18 of them, including a clean sweep of three reps during Tuesday's practice.
"Sometimes, he puts on a show down there," Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "He has everything you're looking for in a pass protector. There's really nothing he's lacking."
Barbre has rare athleticism for a guy who is 6-foot-4 and 302 pounds. In college, he was a gunner on the punt return team. At the NFL scouting combine, he ran a 4.84 40-yard dash.
"He's got good bend for a big guy," Philbin said. "He's got a good base, and he can punch you."
All of those qualities come in handy when trying to protect the quarterback.
Of his four losses in the one-on-one drill, two have come against Cullen Jenkins, who arguably has been the best defensive lineman in camp this year.
During Tuesday's full-pads practice, Barbre won each of his three reps in a different manner. He used a quick, left-handed punch to turn back rookie defensive tackle Daniel Muir. He overpowered a power rusher in rookie first-round draft pick Justin Harrell and used his quickness on the outside to win a rep at left tackle against rookie defensive end Larry Birdine.
Barbre hasn't feasted on just rookies, either. He has won reps against the likes of Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Johnny Jolly.
Though Barbre is a soft-spoken 23-year-old from the small town of Granby, Mo., his coaches say he plays with a quiet confidence. When asked if he ever loses a one-on-one rep, Barbre sheepishly replied: "I guess you could say I get my share."
"That's always been kind of a gift, I'd say," Barbre said. "I've always been able to pass block. I've always worked at it and watched my technique closely."
When training camp opened, second-year pro Tony Moll (who started 10 games last season as a fill in at right guard and right tackle) was widely considered the team's top backup linemen. Now, that probably would best describe Barbre, however Moll's slip is at least partially tied to his shoulder stinger that has kept him out for the last two weeks.
Another difference between Moll and Barbre is Barbre, at this point, probably is limited to one position. A tackle during all four of his college seasons at Division II Missouri Southern State, Barbre has played exclusively at left guard during all team drills and in the first two preseason games.
When starting left tackle Chad Clifton missed a couple of practices early in camp, Colledge moved over from left guard to left tackle and Barbre filled in for Colledge. Barbre's only work at left tackle has come in the form of a handful of one-on-one reps.
Still, Barbre might be the Packers' best left-tackle prospect in the long run.
"It may be Barbre," Philbin said. "Long-term, he might be our guy out there."
As solid as Barbre has been in pass protection, he's still struggling to execute the zone-blocking scheme in part because he's too tentative.
"He just needs to unleash it and go," offensive line coach James Campen said. "Get to his aiming point, don't be hesitant and just go. Once he gets into that mode, he's going to be just fine. He's very athletic. He has a mean streak in him. Once he realizes he can just turn it loose and go, we expect him to be the same player that we saw in college."
Barbre and the No. 2 offensive line should get a fair amount of playing time in the final two preseason games (at home against Jacksonville on Thursday and at Tennessee on Aug. 30).
Even if Barbre doesn't play a down this season, it appears Thompson's decision to use the 119th overall pick in the draft – the pick that probably would have pried Randy Moss from the Oakland Raiders had General Manager Ted Thompson offered it up – on Barbre could pay dividends down the road.
"If you asked him if he was totally comfortable at this stage of the game, he'd probably say no," Philbin said. "But I think these next two weeks, getting him some more work, will help in his development for sure."