Competition brought in for Packers' Allen Barbre

Several sources are noting that the Green Bay Packers are close to bringing back one of their former offensive linemen, Mark Tauscher, who likely will challenge first-year starter Allen Barbre, an East Newton High School and Missouri Southern State University standout, for his starting position. The Packers' offensive line and Barbre have been much criticized during the first few weeks of the season:

With a bye, Tauscher has two weeks to get ready for the Week 6 home game against Detroit. McCarthy, however, said Tauscher will not just be handed the starting job.

“He needs to come in and go through practice and so forth,” McCarthy. “At some point, he’ll have an opportunity to compete at right tackle, but Allen Barbre is still the starting right tackle.”

While Barbre allowed three sacks against Chicago and two sacks last week against St. Louis, he gave up just one tackle and one quarterback hit against the Vikings’ Ray Edwards on Monday.

“Absolutely. He sure has,” Campen said of Barbre’s play improving since allowing two first-quarter sacks against the Rams. “Just his overall awareness. The fact that he hasn’t had mental errors or anything of that nature. With each experience that he goes out and does it, he gets more familiar and gets better balance in his game.”