Against a dangerous Vikings front four, Barclay held his own. Both Rodgers and McCarthy said that the offense didn't need to do anything differently in the second half with the undrafted rookie in the game. McCarthy said he didn't need to dull down his playcalling.

"There’s no surprise for me to see him play, especially as physical," McCarthy said. "He’s a physical guy, he’s a tough guy. He’s what you’re looking for as far as your right tackle, as far as your attitude and he gave us a chance to just keep playing today, and that’s all you ever ask for out of a young rookie when he comes in."

Barclay did get some occasional help from a back or tight end and managed to keep Brian Robison (two tackles, no sacks) at bay. In the run game, Barclay swung wide and cut off outside linebacker Erin Henderson on James Starks' 22-yard touchdown run.

I concur. Barclay had a decent game but he did have help on frequent plays. The holding penalty was half on AR. Barclay had to do something when Rodgers ran past both of them.
And a whiff is a whiff. It doesn't matter that it worked out well and Starks got the TD. It was no thanks to Barclay. It is similar to a db who is out of position and makes gets a pick because the pass in off target and the receiver tips it.

Originally Posted by: wpr 

Don Barclay, an undrafted rookie free agent who had played one snap on offense, replaced Lang and more than held his own after a rocky start. Packers coach Mike McCarthy gave Barclay some blocking help early, then decided he didn’t need it. Barclay must have been doing something right because the Packers rushed for 152 yards, their second-highest total this season.

I wasn’t encouraged by Burnett’s play against the run. Aikman pointed it out on the telecast, but I think Adrian Peterson flat out overwhelmed him.

Originally Posted by: porky88 

Barclay definitely received help from John Kuhn and Jermichael Finley, despite what they‘re suggesting. I don't care what players or coaches say in public. It's like politicians. They're just trying to get through the question. In this case, Rodgers is boosting morale.

With the said, I do believe the best solution is keeping Barclay at right tackle and moving T.J. Lang (if he's healthy) back to guard. EDS gets no push and Lang is more physical inside than outside. I think the lack of physicality is the problem. I want the most physical players out there, whether they're experienced or not. Barclay > EDS in that regard.

Regarding Burnett, he‘s a benefactor from Christian Ponder‘s incompetence. I wouldn’t reward him a game ball either. I’d give them to Ponder actually. He was the difference in the game. A quality quarterback doesn’t throw the first one and completes the second one. I wasn’t encouraged by Burnett’s play against the run. Aikman pointed it out on the telecast, but I think Adrian Peterson flat out overwhelmed him.

Originally Posted by: porky88 

I disagree on the whiff. Had Barclay not been there, there's not way the defender shoots inside like that. Yes, it probably didn't matter if it had been Barclay or anyone else, but the fact of the matter is that the presence of Barclay made the defender make a decision, and it was one that benefited the Packers. The end kind of justifies the means here. If the defender made the right cut and blew up the play, it'd be a different story, but he didn't. Barclay didn't actually block him, but that guy didn't make the play, so the end result is the same. That one play doesn't concern me at all. It's easy to miss quicker defenders in space. Sometimes it's best to just get in the way or be in the right place and the right time, and in this case, Barclay was.

The main concern should still be his pass protection, as it wasn't great. His run blocking was pretty good. I thought his pass blocking was no worse than Lang's at RT, and perhaps a little better. That's a good thing. Perhaps Lang can move back inside, and then we can give the right side help most of the time, and as a result, perhaps the entire line would be better. Time will tell. I thought Lang was pretty bad at RT, honestly.

Originally Posted by: doddpower 

That makes no sense. Being the RT he has to be SOMEWHERE. Just being there doesn't count for anything. He has to do something. Just because the defender had a 50-50 chance and chose wrong is not a credit to Barclay.

I am happy with the end result but there is no attaboy for Barclay for simply standing there then trying to engage the defender but missing him completely as the play unfolded.

Originally Posted by: wpr