Thanks to those who knocked down the idea that the Packers OL is size-challenged. HyponGrey, Sitton is too short? Really? An OG doesn't have to see over his opponent, just knock the crap out of him. Ask the big (and unfortunately talented) stomping goof on Detroit's DL who is his toughest opponent is and he'll answer "Sitton" without mentioning his height. If every Packers OL had Sitton's attitude it would be a much better OL. For example, one of Newhouse's biggest problems IMO is he isn't nasty enough on the field. Scott Wells may be undersized but he is extremely smart and he knows how to use leverage. If it were up to me (I know, I know we're lucky it isn't!) every Packers O linemen would train as a wrestler in the off season - there's no better way to learn leverage IMO. BTW at OT IMO arm length is as important as height - to a point of course and having quick feet is supremely important. (We'll see tonight how much progress Newhouse has made with regard to his feet vs. a great pass rusher.)
As close as I come to hating anything in football it's the zone blocking scheme (ZBS). I agree with HardRightEdge's post on the subject and believe the Packers went "full in" on the system because of 1) Denver's success with it, and 2) the availability of OL who should be able to succeed in the system later in the draft and cheaper to keep, so more money would be available to "skill" positions. The reason I "hated" it is because the version Denver practiced it (and may still) per Alex Gibbs, is dirty IMO. I have no problem with the front side of a ZBS play but on the backside the idea is to cut DL instead of "reach block". That accomplishes two things: It gets the pursuit on the ground and it makes DL worry about injuries to their legs, particularly their knees. At its most effective, DL use their hands to protect their legs rather than to attack OL. I thought it was disgusting when the Broncos used it against the Packers and I didn't like my team using the same technique. More generally, I don't like any technique that can't be practiced against one's own team for fear of injury.
Jags was taught the technique by Gibbs (its most noted "current" advocate) and he in turn taught the assistant coaches in Green Bay. When Jags left for Boston College (?) after just one year I was hoping that would be the end of the ZBS - what better time to scrap it? Failing that if they were going to continue using it I thought they should have hired Gibbs himself as a consultant or hire someone better versed in it. No such luck but I do want to mention it was never Campen's idea to go to ZBS - that's not the system he learned and used in the NFL. I don't think he's a great OL coach but the ZBS isn't his fault. Anyway, to their credit I don't think the Packers OL ever bought into the dirty aspect of the ZBS but that makes it less effective. The good news is over time they have moved away from it although it's still part of their playbook, it's not featured dominantly as it once was.
Regarding Benson: It's true he's new to the 'make a decision, cut and go' style but I thought he did it well in preseason vs. the Bengals. Believe it or not, I thought he did it well against the 9ers too but no RB can do it by himself. I'll bet: 1) the 9ers' D finishes the year first against the run, and 2) last Sunday will be the worst Packers output in the running game.
If we had all those things in an offensive lineman we would have 5 Anthony Munoz' playing.
