Packers Bryan Bulaga: 2012 Player Evaluation and Report Card

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Bryan Bulaga
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1) Introduction: If Bryan Bulaga looked into a crystal ball, what would he see? Would he see a season where he finally stays healthy and is solid at right tackle? Would he see a move to left tackle? Would he see himself handing over half of his annual salary to me? It’d be nice if he saw the third scenario, but the first two are more likely.

2) Profile:

Bryan Bulaga

  • Age: 23
  • Born: 03/21/1989 in Barrington, IL
  • Height: 6’5″
  • Weight: 314
  • College: Iowa
  • Rookie Year: 2009
  • NFL Experience: 3 years

Career Stats and more:

3) Expectations coming into the season: Lots of talk in training camp about this being Bulaga’s time to rise to pro-bowl status. Bulaga and Sitton were finally going to give the Packers some muscle in the running game and act like a brick wall for Aaron Rodgers. Unfortunately, Bulaga hobbled around and struggled early, then went down with a hip injury for good in week 9.

4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: The hip injury is the obvious lowlight. Bulaga says it’s not a Bo Jackson type of injury, but we’ll see. Rams defensive end Chris Long was held in check by Bulaga in week 7. Bulaga also stepped up big-time when the Packers needed him against Houston. An obvious lowlight was Bulaga’s terrible game against Seattle, where he looked like he was playing in quicksand.

5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Bulaga gave up 5 1/2 sacks in the first three games, then started to turn things around. When healthy, he’s a good pass protector and physical run-blocking. When healthy is the key phrase. He’s missed time the past two seasons. Bulaga is only 23, so hopefully the injuries stop and we can see if that pro-bowl talk is legit.

6) Player’s contributions in the playoffs: Bulaga looked good watching from the sidelines.

Season Report Card:

(C-) Level of expectations met during the season

(C) Contributions to team’s overall success.

(Inc.) Contributions to team during the playoffs

Overall Grade: C

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Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .

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7 thoughts on “Packers Bryan Bulaga: 2012 Player Evaluation and Report Card

  1. I’m really hoping Bulaga gets back to 100% health next year and returns to form. I truly think he’s the Packers’ long-term RT.

  2. I was really disappointed w/ Bulaga’s play. He flat sucked the first 3 or 4 games and then started to play better in the last 4 games before getting injured. I didn’t necessarily expect him to be a Pro bowl OT either. But thought he would provide better than average play at least. Just grading him on the 8 full games played I would give him a D+.

    I still think he is going to be a good RT, but I wasn’t happy w/ his play this year at all. He needs to step up and start playing like a quality OT this coming year. Right now, I can’t see moving him to LT, since I can’t say he was much better than Newhouse! If he proves he is more than just a capable RT, then might consider him at LT. But right now he is not more than a capable RT, which basically translates to below average LT. Time to step up your play Bulaga!

  3. Bulaga has short dynosaur arms. Not long enough for LT.

    I too hope he comes back and re-claims the RT job (bigger, stronger, faster and healthy)

    I also look forward to Sherrod and the kid from Florida that was on the practice squad all year.

  4. Let’s all hope Buylaga is not going to be bothered by the hip when camp starts this year. The Packers need him to perofrm at 2011 levels. I hope he can heal better than Sherrod.

  5. 5 and 1/2 sacks in the first three games. The 49ers, Bears and I can’t remember the 3rd, but was a good team I think. My point is that it doesn’t matter if he plays well against bad teams. He played good teams and wasn’t very good. Then the schedule got softer, and he got better. And having a broken hip is the worst injury you can have, next to a spinal injury. He was not good his rookie year, and then he had a good year, then last year he wasn’t very good, then he got hurt. I believe the jury is sill out.

    1. Seattle was the 3rd game and Bulaga was horrid and got schooled by Irvin and Clemons. Didn’t he give up 3 sacks in the 1st half or something?

      A dislocated hip is the worst, but a fracture isn’t nearly as bad since it doesn’t affect the structural integrity of the joint. Just like a broken bone anywhere else, just needs to heal. Once its healed and w/ no integrity to the joint lost he’ll be fine. I don’t have any concerns about his being able to come back and play. He does need to pick up his level of play, no doubt about it.

      1. When you break your hip, it’s a lot worse than breaking an arm or a leg. The bone is MUCH bigger. And it takes much longer to completely heal, because of the weight on it. This isn’t wait 6 weeks and you’ll be ready to go.

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