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Bryan Bulaga

1) Introduction: In his rookie season, Bryan Bulaga was thrust into a starting role when Mark Tauscher was lost for the season. Only 21 years old, Bulaga started the last 12 games of 2010 and along with Chad Clifton was a big part of the Packers’ success in their playoff run and Super Bowl Championship.

2) Profile:

Bryan Joseph Bulaga

Position: OT
Height: 6-5
Weight: 314 lbs.
AGE: 22

Career Stats:

3) Expectations coming into the season: Expectations for Bulaga were simply for him to pick up where he had left off, avoid a sophomore slump and instead continue to show improvement in his second season.

4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: This seems to be a common theme among the offensive lineman, but Bulaga’s high point was game one against the Saints. (I’m going to have to go back and watch that game again, just for the OL play). Bulaga was near perfect that game, allowing only a single quarterback pressure while showing some strong blocking in the Packers 23 runs that game.  Bulaga’s low-light was the Detroit Thanksgiving game, where he gave up his only sack of the year, one of his only QB hits of the year and was called for two penalties.  Read more... (403 words + 1 image, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

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Josh Sitton

1) Introduction: A fourth round draft pick in 2008, Sitton was a right offensive tackle in College that the Packers moved to guard. Sitton signed a five year contract last September, as the Green Bay moved swiftly to lock up their best offensive lineman.

2) Profile:

Josh James Sitton

Position: G
Height: 6-3
Weight: 318 lbs.
AGE: 25

Career Stats: 

3) Expectations coming into the season: Coming off being named the Offensive Lineman of the year by the NFL Alumni Assn and a Pro Bowl Alternate, expectations for Sitton in 2011 were to continue his domination of defensive linemen.

4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: The season highlight for Sitton was the opening game against the Saints. He was his normal dominating self, earning his highest ratings from ProFootballFocus.com in both the running game and pass protection.  His lowlight was the game against St. Louis. Playing with a very sore knee, Sitton gave up a sack, 2 QB pressures, and was beaten off the ball all game.  Read more... (404 words + 1 image, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

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TJ Lang

1) Introduction: We really should call T.J. Lang by “T.V.”, because his middle name is versatility. Over his first two seasons, Lang played both tackle spots, left guard and even some defensive line in short yardage situations. Even after winning the starting left guard spot this season, Lang was moved around and filled in whenever injuries dictated. Unlike Daryn Colledge, who complained about being used in the same way, Lang seems to have handled it just fine and is no worse for wear.

2) Profile:

T.J. (Thomas John) Lang Jr.

Position: OG
Height: 6-4
Weight: 318 lbs.
AGE: 24

Career Stats:

3) Expectations coming into the season: Lang was being counted on as the primary candidate to start at left guard, taking the spot vacated by the departed free agent Daryn Colledge. Frankly, his job was only to be at least as good as Colledge was. He was also expected to continue his role as an emergency replacement at every OL position except center.  Read more... (468 words + 1 image, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

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Scott Wells

1) Introduction: 2010 was the season that Scott Wells found game to game consistency and soon after, recognition. The seventh round draft choice, who became a full-time starter at center in 2006 (his 3rd season), has steadily improved and become the second quarterback on the field, helping to set pass protection at the line of scrimmage.

2) Profile:

Scott Darvin Wells

Position: C
Height: 6-2
Weight: 300 lbs.
AGE: 31

Career Stats:

3) Expectations coming into the season: As Wells entered his eighth season as a Super Bowl champion in the final year of his contract,  one could expect Wells to have perhaps the best year of his career. Wells would be looked upon to solidify and guide the way for an increasingly young offensive line.

4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: Well’s highest rated performance of the season, according to ProFootballFocus.com, was week one against the Saints.  The overall highlight for him, though, had to be being named to the Pro Bowl for the first time. The lowlight of his season was easily the playoff game against the Giants. In one game, Wells committed as many penalties as he had all season (2) and allowed a third (3) of his season’s nine QB pressures.  Read more... (395 words + 1 image, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

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Marshall Newhouse

1) Introduction: Marshall Newhouse was selected with the last pick in the 5th round of the 2010 NFL draft. The Packers valued him enough to keep him on the 53-man roster all season, despite never being active on game day. In just his second season, Newhouse ended up starting 13 games, as injuries hit the Packers offensive line.

2) Profile:

Marshall Edward Newhouse

Position: OT
Height: 6-4
Weight: 319 lbs.
AGE: 23

Career Stats:

3) Expectations coming into the season: After collecting nothing but splinters his rookie season, Newhouse was expected to come in and compete for the primary backup role at either tackle spot.

4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: His high point of the season was probably the Thanksgiving Day game against the Lions, when Newhouse completely shut down Kyle Vanden Bosch. The low point was against the Giants in Metlife Stadium. He seemed a bit rattled and gave up one sack, three QB hits and five QB pressures.

5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: While Newhouse did what a backup is supposed to do, (step in and stop the bleeding), he didn’t to it particularly well. Newhouse gave up 12.5 sacks in 14 games played and according to ProFootBallFocus’ rankings, he was ranked 60th in the NFL among tackles that took at least 50% of the season’s snaps.  Read more... (352 words + 1 image, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

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Chad Clifton

1) Introduction: Over the last six games of last season, Chad Clifton had a run of play among the best he has given the Packers. The grizzled veteran came into 2011 in the second year of the three year contract he signed as a free agent in 2010 when the Packers had nowhere else to turn.

2) Profile:

(Jeffrey) Chad Clifton

Position: OT
Height: 6-5
Weight: 320 lbs.
AGE: 35

Career Stats:

3) Expectations coming into the season: Clifton entered this 12th season of his career as the incumbent starter, expected to hold on to his starting spot despite the trio of recent OT draft choices (Sherrod, Newhouse & Bulaga). Best expectations would be that Clifton’s knees would hold up and he would continue to be the steady protector of Aaron Rodgers’ blind side.

4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: Clifton’s highlight came very early in the Packer’s first game against the Saints. Clifton was in on all 67 offensive snaps and didn’t give up a sack. Unfortunately, it was pretty much all downhill from there. as Clifton’s season got derailed by injuries. The low point would have to be the playoff game against teh Giants. Clifton was benched after giving up a sack in the 3rd quarter. that may prove to be his last play a s a packer.  Read more... (403 words + 1 image, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

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Evan Dietrich-Smith

1) Introduction: Evan Dietrich-Smith has the good fortune of owning a Super Bowl ring. After being cut in the 2010 preseason, the Packers re-signed him in late December of that year to replace the IR’d Marshall Newhouse on the roster. Smith got the pleasure of watching his teammates win the Super Bowl. To the surprise of some, Smith made the roster in 2011 as the primary backup at center and guard.

2) Profile:

Evan Blake Dietrich-Smith

Position: OT
Height: 6-2
Weight: 308 lbs.
AGE: 25

Career Stats:

3) Expectations coming into the season: Frankly, after tagging along for the Super Bowl ride on the bench, Smith was expected to lose his battle with Nick McDonald as the Packers’ backup center. Why would the Packers have used a roster spot on McDonald the entire 2010 season, if they didn’t have future plans for him? Dietrich-Smith persevered, however, and McDonald was waived.

4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: His season high point had to be getting Ndamukong Suh so pissed that he stomped on Dietrich-Smith and got ejected from the game.  The lowlight had to be in Kansas City, entering the game when Derrick Sherrod broke his leg and promptly giving up a sack on third down two plays later.  Read more... (346 words + 1 image, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

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