Unit had subpar showing against Dallas
[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20080922&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=80922196&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=318&Border=0[/img_r]A running game that did not produce a single explosive gain and a pass-protection unit that allowed five sacks in Sundays loss to the Dallas Cowboys could get a boost this week by the return of Scott Wells.
The veteran center, who hasnt played since the Aug. 16 preseason game at San Francisco due to recurring lower-back pain, appears set to return to the starting lineup. Wells practiced last week and was activated for the game but did not play. Instead, Jason Spitz made his third straight start at center to open the regular season, while Tony Moll played Spitzs regular spot at right guard.
Wells return would mean that Spitz would move back to right guard, relegating the inconsistent Moll to a backup role again.
Thats something well talk about tonight and tomorrow, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said on Monday. We had an opportunity to grade the film (and) look at everything as far as the grades. Tony did some good things but struggled in some things, so thats something that well start tonight when we get to the game planning.
Moll struggled with Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who had one of the five sacks plus a tackle for a loss. Ratliff beat Moll for a sack of Aaron Rodgers in the third quarter. That came after Ratliff beat him with a power move and had Rodgers in his grasp in the first quarter, but Rodgers managed to slip away. Ratliff got away from Moll twice more in the fourth quarter once when he got a free shot on Rodgers, whose feet were being held by another defensive player, and again on the second-to-last play of the game when Ratliff got his hands on Rodgers, who managed to escape.
But there was much more to the Packers inability to break off an explosive gain (defined as 12 yards or more) and adequately protect Rodgers, who was hit a total of seven times.
Its a whole protection unit, and were all accountable to one another, offensive line coach James Campen said. Well make those corrections. We havent had five sacks here in a long time. Its not acceptable. We obviously didnt do our job the way we wanted to.
The Packers averaged a respectable 4.0 yards per carry on 21 attempts, but the longest gains by starting running back Ryan Grant and backup Brandon Jackson were 9 yards each.
We didnt have any negative runs and coming out of a game you feel pretty good about that, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. On the flip side, we didnt crack em any. We just got done telling the guys that the defense is going to have a guy in the gap. Sometimes its a matter of execution, and somebodys got to step up and break a tackle. I think it was a function of finishing a little better in the blocking unit, and then weve got to make a guy or two miss so you can get away from those.
The return of Wells also could help end the center-quarterback exchange problems that have popped up early in the season. In each of the first three games this season, Rodgers has fumbled a snap. Campen would not say whether Rodgers or Spitz was at fault on those plays.
Wells appeared ready to return for Sundays game against the Cowboys after practicing all last week, but the Packers decided to wait another week.
I felt ready, but personally I always feel ready, Wells said on Monday. The decision was made that there wasnt enough time to have a fair evaluation, but Im ready and well see what happens this week.