Mucky Tundra
9 years ago

GREEN BAY — Bryan Bulaga was back where he belonged during offseason spring practices — back on the field. The one place he wasn't? In the locker room when reporters were.

The Green Bay Packers veteran offensive tackle was focused more on his comeback from back-to-back season-ending injuries than he was on talking about it with the media, but he did let two of his closest friends on the team, left guard Josh Sitton and backup right tackle Don Barclay, in on how he was feeling.

"The first week (of organized team activity practices), I know he told me he was a little bit shaky here and there, just [because] he hadn't done anything in a year," Sitton said. "But it seems like he's back to normal.

"He's the type of guy that's going to work his ass off to get healthy — and he's done that. I think he probably could have played at the end of last season at some point, from what he told me. But he'll be just fine."

Barclay, who filled in at right tackle after Builaga's 2012 season ended with a November hip injury, and who worked at right tackle last year after Bulaga's offseason move to left tackle, saw Bulaga struggling with his disappointment after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the annual Family Night Scrimmage last August. But as the season went on, Barclay watched Bulaga become a de facto coach and help both him and rookie left tackle David Bakhtiari.

"I think he was just so focused — it was tough for him. Two years in a row ... mentally, it kind of gets you upstairs," Barclay said. "He might have been down in the dumps for a little bit, but after, he started to come out of his shell and coming around and talking to everyone. After being mad about the situation, he definitely helped out us, helped out me, helped out Dave. He was good about it."

Now, though, Bulaga is in a good place — according to those who know him — as he enters a contract year and is back in the starting lineup at right tackle, where he started as a rookie first-round pick in 2010, when he became the youngest player ever to start a Super Bowl. While the experiment of moving him to left tackle was over before it started, the coaches liked what they saw from him in shorts and helmets, despite wearing a bulky brace on his knee.

"(Bulaga) looks pretty good. He's moving around and getting back into football," offensive line coach James Campen said. "With anyone coming off of not playing for a while, just getting their timing and punch down and hands coordinated and those types of things, those things will come. It's great to have him out there.

"He progressed every day. He's coming around fine."

Added head coach Mike McCarthy: "I think all of our players that are coming off injuries, and specifically Bryan Bulaga, you want to get back out there. [But] it's a progression again because he hasn't been on the field obviously since last training camp. Bryan's done a lot of good things and he's stronger, so I think this has been a very good work for him.

"Bryan's so consistent. He's a very good worker, very diligent, very anal in his approach. And, he's the ultimate pro. I thought he had a very good offseason."

If Bulaga returns to his pre-injury form — McCarthy insists he was on the verge of being a Pro Bowl right tackle at the time of his 2012 hip injury — Sitton believes the line has the makings of an outstanding group. While Barclay was a respectable replacement in his 21 starts (including playoffs), Bulaga is simply a better player — when he's healthy.

"Absolutely. He's a hell of a player," Sitton said. "He was a first-round draft pick for a reason. He's a stud. If we can stay healthy as an offensive line, I think this can be the best offensive line we've had in a while, probably ever since I've been here. So I think we've just got to stay healthy."

Jason Wilde  wrote:



People say it's make or break for Sherrod. I say it's make or break time for Bulaga to stay healthy and contribute as well. If he can't and Sherrod/whoever can't fill in, we'll have to divert more resources into the T spot yet again.
nerdmann
9 years ago

People say it's make or break for Sherrod. I say it's make or break time for Bulaga to stay healthy and contribute as well. If he can't and Sherrod/whoever can't fill in, we'll have to divert more resources into the T spot yet again.

Originally Posted by: Mucky Tundra 



I have no questions about Bulaga, except for the injury situation on the team generally. And I'm putting that on Mike.

Bulaga finished out Family Night with the blown-out ACL, and wanted to play the season with it like that, in a brace.
“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
Mucky Tundra
9 years ago

I have no questions about Bulaga, except for the injury situation on the team generally. And I'm putting that on Mike.

Bulaga finished out Family Night with the blown-out ACL, and wanted to play the season with it like that, in a brace.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 



With his contract up at the end of the season, there absolutely has to be a question concerning his health and availibility to this team. With Sherrod, we've essentially written him off from starting and anything he contributes is gravy. With Bulaga we're counting on him being a starter. We've down the same the past two years and lost him to injury. If he misses anytime this upcoming season, they're gonna have to make some tough choices on a guy whose availibility has been suspect.
“Nah. I like having the island. It’s pretty cool...not too many visitors”
UserPostedImage
"I’ve got it." -Aaron Rodgers
DarkaneRules
9 years ago
Him and Sherrod are real tough calls. There is just no way for any of us to know what to expect from them at this point. Until the third pre-season game, I reserve my judgements on either of them. Until further notice, I have more faith in Bakhtiari and Barclay because they have shown they can be reliable. Bulaga's performance against the Seahawks a few years back still gives me nightmares. It was Newhouseian to say the least.
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (11h) : Chase Young to sign $13M contract with Saints
Zero2Cool (11h) : Yosh to Panthers what noooo. Wait he didn't do crap
wpr (18-Mar) : I say that he is technically HER BIL as he married her sister. I checked it out, he's considered my BIL as well. Sad.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : wpr, I assume its your BIL via marriage to your wife? If so, I can figure out where the smarts in the family went ;)
wpr (18-Mar) : Mucky my B-I-L is Bare Stupid. I could write a book.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : As a teenager in Rockford IL I would get heckled by adults in public for wearing GB gear
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : if you think the online ones are bad, try *living amongst* them
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : Never doubt wprs loyalty. Poor guy is surrounded by Bears fans in Northern IL
wpr (17-Mar) : pass Martha. Thanks for the invite though.
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : blog * as the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Baer
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : WPR, perhaps you should be joining the Bears fans blog has the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Bears
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : Ah a fellow U of Illinois hater. I can respect that though I imagine it's for different reasons
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : BTW. I didn't catch the game. I just hate Illinois.
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : They're your Big Ten Chumps and you will like it!
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not for the record. Referee's handled that BS. Orange team was trash ass
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : *Your* Big Ten Chumps for the record
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not Big Ten Champs. IL is big ten CHUMPS
wpr (17-Mar) : Big Ten Champs
wpr (17-Mar) : !!!
wpr (17-Mar) : INI
wpr (17-Mar) : ILL
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : Wisconsin with an outstanding on in the men’s Big Ten basketball tournament. Let’s hope it continues in the NCAAs
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : Almost like taking QB in 2020 even if you don't need one is good move.
Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : 2021 QB Draft class looking like a real clunker
Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : A conditional 6th rounder? I remember Bears fans arguing they'd get a day 2 pick at worst lol
dfosterf (16-Mar) : So I got the no extension part right and the have to wait on the CW physical wrong
Zero2Cool (16-Mar) : Bears are trading Justin Fields for a 2025 6th-round pick that goes to a 4th-round pick based on playtime, per sources.
Zero2Cool (16-Mar) : Former Packer Jarrett Bush opens Wisconsin’s first blow dry bar in Green Bay
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are not doing a deal with Washington, they also cannot trade Fields until Williams physical with them. All hail Caleb Williams!
dfosterf (16-Mar) : The talent is undeniable, but the (advertised) haul is obscene.
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are cutting a deal with the Commanders, in either scenario, cannot happen until williams passes a Commanders physical
dfosterf (16-Mar) : My guess is no to the Fields extension, but yes to the trade back with the Commanders.
dhazer (15-Mar) : I think the Bears do a Love extension and they will trade out of the 1st pick and take the haul
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : that might make sense
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Justin Fields to Steelers?
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Kenny Pickett. Eagles. Done.
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : They can claim best two WR tandem.
Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : Aaron Donald retiring
dhazer (15-Mar) : Campbell signing with 49ers
dhazer (15-Mar) : I love how the Bear Fans are now claiming they have the best skill players in the NFC North lol
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Vikings made a move to get a 2nd first round pick
Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : That's a not a bad deal for the Bears
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Bears have traded for WR Keenan Allen sending Chargers a fourth rounder.
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : *signs
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : MLB Devon White science with the Eagles
Mucky Tundra (14-Mar) : But that was before FA started
Mucky Tundra (14-Mar) : Dhaze, I thought Kurls would be their #1 target when I read that he was an Amos comp (jack of all trades guy)
dhazer (14-Mar) : I would like to see the Packers target 2 more FA still available Kamren Curl Safety and Chase Young edge
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : wow...didn't see that coming
Zero2Cool (14-Mar) : AJ Dillon re-signing with Packers.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2023 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 10 @ 3:25 PM
Bears
Sunday, Sep 17 @ 12:00 PM
Falcons
Sunday, Sep 24 @ 12:00 PM
SAINTS
Thursday, Sep 28 @ 7:15 PM
LIONS
Monday, Oct 9 @ 7:15 PM
Raiders
Sunday, Oct 22 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Sunday, Oct 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Nov 5 @ 12:00 PM
RAMS
Sunday, Nov 12 @ 12:00 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 19 @ 12:00 PM
CHARGERS
Thursday, Nov 23 @ 11:30 AM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 3 @ 7:20 PM
CHIEFS
Monday, Dec 11 @ 7:15 PM
Giants
Sunday, Dec 17 @ 12:00 PM
BUCCANEERS
Sunday, Dec 24 @ 12:00 PM
Panthers
Sunday, Dec 31 @ 7:20 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 7 @ 3:25 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Jan 14 @ 3:30 PM
Cowboys
Saturday, Jan 20 @ 7:15 PM
49ers
Recent Topics
7h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

15h / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

17h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

18-Mar / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

16-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

16-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

15-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / dhazer

15-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

14-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

14-Mar / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

14-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

13-Mar / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

13-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

13-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

13-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2024 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.