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 Sunday, July 23
Nothing offensive about this line
 
 Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Mark Tauscher still gets a little chill every time he puts on the green-and-gold helmet.

The Green Bay Packers' seventh-round draft pick grew up a Packers fan and starred collegiately at Wisconsin. Now, right tackle Earl Dotson's nagging back problems have made Tauscher an integral part of one of Green Bay's deepest, most talented offensive lines in years.

"It's kind of overwhelming, but it's all happening so fast that I don't have time to think about it," Tauscher said. "I realize this is (Dotson's) job, but I'm enjoying my chance to play."

Even with Dotson out of uniform and second-round pick Chad Clifton back home in Tennessee without a contract, the Packers are feeling good about their line. One of the team's biggest weaknesses last season has been transformed into a source of strength this year.

This offensive line is as good as I've been around. We have some special people at important positions all across this offense and that line.
Running backs coach Kippy Brown

"We've got a great bunch of guys right now, a good mixture of young guys and veterans," said center Frank Winters, who re-signed with the Packers during the offseason and returns for his 14th year in the NFL. "We're all still learning about playing together, but we've got potential."

Offensive line coach Larry Beightol, a holdover from Ray Rhodes' staff last season, expects the front five to be his best in 17 years as a line coach. All 11 linemen on the roster at the end of last season returned this year, and they're complemented by draft picks Clifton and Tauscher.

"This offensive line is as good as I've been around," running backs coach Kippy Brown said. "We have some special people at important positions all across this offense and that line."

Winters, coming off a career year, will again anchor the Packers' efforts. Ross Verba's move from left tackle to left guard already is looking like a success, while Mike Wahle, who moved into the starting lineup last season, has been tabbed to take over at left tackle despite having played just six games at the position.

The right side features incumbent guard Marco Rivera, but he's being pushed by both Craig Heimburger and Joe Andruzzi, two promising NFL Europe veterans who nearly captured regular playing spots last year.

The Packers still haven't signed Clifton, the massive second-round draft pick who Beightol says is capable of playing all five line positions. Clifton stood out at Green Bay's spring minicamps, but every day of camp he misses will hurt him in the fall.

"The politics of agents and the pecking order are things I can't control," Packers coach Mike Sherman said. "It's very frustrating that he's not here, but hopefully this will be resolved very quickly."

If Clifton were in camp, he might be seeing time at right tackle in place of Dotson. Generally considered the Packers' most capable lineman, Dotson battled back injuries throughout last season and then re-injured himself lifting weights in Texas during the offseason.

Dotson is watching the Packers' practices in shorts, and it's too soon to tell when he'll be able to return to action. He says he won't be out long, but the Packers are using Tauscher in his spot during drills.

"Of course I'm nervous, but it's not a bad nervous," Tauscher said. "I watched these guys win a Super Bowl on TV, and the next thing you know, I'm out there lining up next to Brett Favre and Frank Winters. It's wild."


 



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