Packers think Barbre has tools to improve guard position

With the ongoing Brett Favre situation in Green Bay, it is easy to forget that he is only one person who may or may not be on this year's squad.

In this area of southwest Missouri, the attention is on second-year offensive lineman Allen Barbre, who will make his bid for Green Bay's starting lineup. According to an article in Tuesday's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Packer coaches are expecting big things from the East Newton High School and Missouri Southern State University grad:

Nevertheless, it appears that the team’s best hope for a major upgrade at left guard lies with Allen Barbre.

Barbre, a fourth-round choice in ’07, is a much better athlete than (last year's starter Daryn) Colledge, a more physical run-blocker and probably stronger. Although the plan is to give them equal repetitions in training camp and pick a winner later on, it’s reasonable to think it’s Barbre’s job to lose.

“I wouldn’t say that,” offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. “(Barbre) has got some explosiveness and quickness, which at his position we think is rare, and he’s a good fit schematically for what we do in the running game. But Colledge has played some good football for us. We’ve got a competitive situation.”