"The Offensive Line Shuffle"; 2009 Re-Shuffle

Back in August of 2006, I wrote some new lyrics to a well-known (and annoying) song that bemoaned the uncertainty of the offensive line under new coach Mike McCarthy. At the time, we still had players by the name of Whitaker and Klemm, and were trying to work in a bunch of rookies to see who would stick.

Fast-forward three years later, and I will be the first to admit that our line has improved over the Whitaker days. But, after looking at the reports from the OTA's, it is still clear that few spots are firmly decided along the offensive line, something that many observers like myself would love to see (finally) set in stone.

So, without any further ado, I present to you "The Offensive Line Shuffle", 2009 version.

The Offensive Line Shuffle

(sung to the tune of "The Super Bowl Shuffle")

Chorus
We are the Packers’ Shufflin’ Crew
Shufflin' around, doin' it for you.
Pressure on A-Rodge while we stood
Blowin' our blocks like you knew we would.
You know we're not just shufflin’ for fun
Just finding a turn for everyone
Our offensive punch will remain subtle
‘Cause we keep doing the Offensive Line Shuffle.

Mark Tauscher
Well, they call me Tauch,
And I like to leap
That right tackle spot’s been mine to keep
Until last year I tore an A-C-L
Now there’s one more spot that needs to gel
It doesn’t look much
Like I’ll be able to play
Bad news for me as I’m an U-F-A
I’m out my payday, but it’s no trouble,
I’m gonna sit back and watch
The Offensive Line Shuffle

Chad Clifton
This is Big Chad, over on the left
In pass protection I’m still quite deft
I’ve tried my best to fight the fight
But still can’t get the Z-B-S right
Now I'm penciled in
To start this season
But it’s my contract year and there’s the reason
After this year Ted’ll set me free
An Offensive Line Shuffle starts at L-T

Scott Wells
I'm Scotty Wells, and you’ve been told
I’m the man in the middle, big and bold,
But after five years of stuffing the blitz
I have to compete with ol’ J. Spitz
Trade talks brewin’ during the draft
Looks like I’m the one getting the shaft
Because of an injury to my back muscle
I’m a part of the Offensive Line Shuffle

(Repeat Chorus)

Jason Spitz
I'm the plucky grunt known as J-Spit
Guard’s okay but center seems to fit
Got a Sherman holdover in my way
But he’s on the sideline of the O-T-A
Me and Scott will “fight it out”
But we all know who will win that bout
I may have Wellsie’s feathers ruffled
It’s all a part of the Offensive Line Shuffle.

Daryn Colledge
This is Daryn from the North Pole
Finding a regular spot
Is my ongoing goal
Started nearly every spot across the line
Guard, some tackle, even rode the pine
They say this is the year I need to show my stuff
Lot of guys drafted going to make it tough
I could be the guy sitting on the bubble
I’d sure like out of the Offensive Line Shuffle.

Josh Sitton
They say Colledge is the man
If Daryn can't do it, I sure can.
This is Josh, a rookie wonder
Preseason starter til my knee went asunder.
So bring on Meredith, bring on Lang
They’ll all be with the second-team gang
Hope my knee gives me no trouble
Or I’ll be back in the Offensive Line Shuffle.

Tony Moll
I’m Tony Moll, who earned some doubt
With the new kids here I’m the odd man out
I started at tackle during the O-T-A
Only because Chad Clifton can’t play
I play tackle, I play guard
In the Z-B-S
But as we phase it out, I play less
Barring injury, my starts are scuttled
I’m odd man out in the Offensive Line Shuffle.

(Repeat Chorus)

Breno Giacomini
The tackles comin’, I’m your man Breno
They drafted me because I’m tough and mean-o
Try to block the run, block the rush,
But my first season’s one that I’d like to flush
Coach told me tackle was my position to lose
(And yeah, I was even more surprised that you’se)
You may pronounce my name without no trouble
Good luck figuring out the Offensive Line Shuffle.

T.J Lang
It's T.J. here, and I play special teams.
But starting on the line is my biggest dreams
I used to play D-Line in college, you know
But now I’m on O-Line, ready to go
Played a little bit of tackle, a little bit of guard
But breaking the starting lineup looks to be hard.
I’m another versatile zone guy in the mix,
We're goin' to do the Shuffle,
And see who sticks

James Meredith
You're lookin' at Meredith , I'm the rookie.
I may be big, but I'm no dumb cookie.
Went to the draft, fell like a rock
Packers used a fifth to have me block.
I’m not a jerk, you will see
I won’t be “locker room lawyer”-y
Groomed to be Chad Clifton’s double
‘Til then I’m part of the Offensive Line Shuffle.

(Repeat Chorus)

Harrell Waiting for Next Segment of His Career?

I apologize in advance for this, because I hate taking quotes out of context. However, this one just stood out to me as a great moment of McCarthy-ese during his OTA press conference (hattip to Bruce) today.

Really my expectations for Justin are to stay healthy. I think all of the individual goals that he has and that we have for him, he'll be successful and reach. He's a player that is kind of going through an injury segment of his career, and it happens.

This has been a "segment" of his career? I didn't major in mathematics, but in geometry, isn't a "segment" a part of line that has a set beginning and an end? This "kind of injury segment" started before he was even drafted by the Packers.

I do love McCarthy and some of his ways he likes to explain things off...and you do have to respect how he does his best to talk highly of his players, especially when the media is fishing for some ink. But, he did hit on the truth in the first sentence of that quote: the goal is just to get him healthy. Period.

Otherwise, this isn't going to be an injury segment, but an injury ray.

No Panic on Kampman, But Wise To Be Concerned

Greg Bedard over at the JSOnline Blog noted some issues with DE/LB Aaron Kampman. Now with OTA's in full swing, the Packers apparently wanted Kampman to break his silence about his move from his preferred 4-3 DE spot to the 3-4 OLB spot as the Packers change the scheme. Problem is, Kampman reportedly declined again to discuss the situation. Bedard moved Packer Nation to DEFCON 3.

Now there can be no doubt Kampman is uneasy about his transition to a new position after seven standout seasons.

Coach Mike McCarthy admitted as much after practice.

"I think there's always hesitancy when you're asked to do something different," McCarthy said. "Aaron was very comfortable in the old scheme."

During the first public practice since the scheme switch, Kampman stood up in a two-point stance most of the time and was asked primarily to rush up the field.

The few drops into coverage Kampman was asked to do, he looked very awkward and stiff.

Just like at the rookie camp, McCarthy again tried to publicly sell Kampman on the switch.

"I don't want to be redundant but I think this defense is going to help Aaron Kampman," McCarthy said. "I think this is going to create more opportunity for him, the diversity of the scheme. First and second downs are clearly different for him. The sub packages, there's some multiplicity there that I think will also help him. I think he moves well in space. He's spent a lot of time with (outside linebackers coach) Kevin Greene. I know Dom and Kevin feel very good about where Aaron is today and he's only going to get better."

Now, some have already tried to reassure the crowd that this is all way overblown and Bedard is overreacting just a bit. And, certainly, there is some truth to that. Face it...we don't know what is being said behind closed doors, and the silence makes us often assume the worst before we assume the best. And this is just the very beginning of the OTA's, a far cry from even the beginning of training camp, much less the preseason.

But I wrote not too long ago about some of the misgivings a 30 year-old defensive lineman might have in facing such a monumental change late in his career (and in a contract year, no less). Kampman has reached the age where he is no longer worrying about bling and wheels (not that I think he ever did), but is likely realizing the mortality of his football career. This is the time to finish strong and secure himself and his family financially.

The thought of Kampman moving awkwardly and stiffly in his new position gives me pause. Kampman is a great player, an even better person, and one of the hardest workers in the game. But if you look at his career, it took him time to grow into his position. He started out as a fill-in along the line for his first two seasons, before earning a starting spot. He gradually improved from being a serviceable starter to a solid playmaker, but it has been a process. There was no huge splash or "the light coming on" for Aaron Kampman. He worked for everything he has accomplished.

Which is what makes such a move difficult for a player like Kampman, who might be the kind of guy who needs to work to make himself better, instead of simply being a great natural athlete that can adjust quickly.

Do I think that this is a DEFCON 1 situation? No. Even DEFCON 3? I don't think so, but I think we are securely in DEFCON 4. This is concerning because you don't want one of your veteran team leaders setting a tone of silence in what should be a very positive atmosphere of change and improvement.

I've said it myself: the goal is to take the scheme and make it work with the talent that you have, not to try and stick square pegs in round holes. Dom Capers is likely going to try and make that defense work around Kampman as much as he can...but that is the key. How much can you work with a guy who is too small to play the DE position in the 3-4 and too stiff and slow to play the OLB position? Sure, we can incorporate hybrid schemes, allowing Kampman to come in and play on a four-man front, but that's not going to be every down.

If Kampman does struggle to fit, is he going to be happy in a part-time role? In a contract year? At this point in his career?

The key in this whole she-bang (and what we aren't going to end up seeing from the outside) is communication. We don't know if Kampman has aired concerns to MM and TT, and we don't know if they are entertaining the idea of keeping him or moving him. But as Capers and McCarthy divine more observations and evaluations of how Kampman is going to fit, it's going to be imperative that those lines of communication are open.

If all ends up going fine, I have no concerns that communication will be fantastic between all parties. It is when there are issues and doubts that communication could break down. Ted Thompson has never been a fast mover, particularly when it comes to potentially distracting personality conflicts (Sherman in 2005, Favre last summer). It's one thing to take your time negotiating a contract...it's another thing to be passive when your subordinate feels they aren't being respected or are upset and hurt.

Feelings like that don't extinct easily. And the more they are ignored, the more the intensify.

So, while I don't think we are anywhere near panic mode yet, this is a situation that I think should be handled prudently, professionally, and respectfully by all parties. And, with appropriate haste.