Linsley was impressive in his battle with Brandon Mebane, a powerful and seasoned nose tackle. Mebane drew a holding penalty against Linsley on a botched play, and also wheeled by him for one-half of a pressure. Otherwise, Linsley maintained ideal position in pass protection. He is mastering the fine line between being too aggressive and not aggressive enough.
Along with Sitton, they almost never get knocked back. Jordan Hill, an explosive young inside rusher, didn't get a sniff against the interior. Other than the first run of the game and an illegal-hands penalty, Sitton was consistent.
Lang could have sustained a little better in the run game against 3-technique Ahtyba Rubin. He also delivered some punishing help blocks on DE Cliff Avril. The Packers slid the line toward Don Barclay thinking Linsley could handle himself one-on-one in protection.
Barclay's competition with the undersized but still bull-rushing Avril wasn't clean. His no-sack, two-pressure day would have been higher if somebody other than Rodgers had been playing quarterback. Barclay allowed two of the five "bad" runs, too. But considering it was his first start in 20 months and the caliber of opposition, Barclay successfully filled in for injured Bryan Bulaga. He kept at least half of his body in contact with either Avril or Michael Bennett all day long.
Barclay and David Bakhtiari were bull-rushed repeatedly. Bakhtiari seemed to be inviting Irvin or Bennett to get to his outside edge, and from there he tried to push them around the horn. At times it worked, and at other times (3½ pressures, including two sacks) it didn't.
Bakhtiari was steady and persistent in the run game. On the five carries when linemen pulled, the gain was 19. While his edges often collapsed, Rodgers' security blanket was knowing the middle of the pocket was secure.
