Friday, August 31, 2012

2012 Green Bay Packers Initial 53-Man Roster

Green Bay Packer general manager Ted Thompson trimmed the active roster from 90 players to 75 players on Monday, August 27, 2012.  Just four days later, Thompson trimmed the active roster to 53 players by placing Derek Sherrod (T) on the PUP list, placing Vic So'oto on injured reserve, and releasing 18 players* by Friday, August 31, 2012 at 8 pm CST.  Much like I did last year, here is a look at the initial 53-man roster for the 2012 Green Bay Packers:

QBs (2): Graham Harrell and Aaron Rodgers

RBs (5): Cedric Benson, Alex Green, John Kuhn, Brandon Saine, and James Starks

WRs (6): Jarrett Boykin, Randall Cobb, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, and Jordy Nelso

TEs (4): Tom Crabtree, Jermichael Finley, Ryan Taylor, and D.J. Williams

OLs (7): Don Barclay, Bryan Bulaga, Evan Dietrich-Smith, T.J. Lang, Marshall Newhouse, Jeff Saturday, and Josh Sitton

DLs (6): Mike Daniels, Phillip Merling, B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, C.J. Wilson, and Jerel Worthy

LBs (9): Robert Francois, Brad Jones, A.J. Hawk, Jamari Lattimore, Terrell Manning, Clay Matthews, Dezman Moses, Nick Perry, and D.J. Smith

DBs (11): Morgan Burnett, Jarrett Bush, Casey Hayward, Davon House, M.D. Jennings, Jerron McMillian, Sean Richardson, Brandian Ross, Sam Shields, Tramon Williams, and Charles Woodson

STs (3)
: Mason Crosby, Brett Goode, and Tim Masthay

Besides the initial 53-man roster, the Packers have a number of other players still affiliated with the organization even before they sign eight players to their practice squad.  Here is a breakdown of those players:

Injured Reserve (6): Du'ane Bennett (RB), Desmond Bishop (MLB), Johnny Jones (DE), Eric Lair (TE), Mike McCabe (T), and Vic So'oto (OLB).  Look for Bishop and So'oto to stay with the team while the Packers attempt sign the rest to injury settlements.

PUP (4): Jaymes Brooks (G), Andrew Quarless (TE), Derek Sherrod (T), and Frank Zombo (OLB). After the Packers finish their 6th game of the season on Sunday Night Football on the road against the Houston Texans, they have three weeks to let Brooks, Quarless, Sherrod, and Zombo to start practicing.  From the first day one of those guys start practicing, the Packers have three weeks to add them to the active roster (in place of someone on the 53-man roster), cut them, or place them on injured reserve.

Reserve/Suspended (3): Erik Walden (1 game, OLB), Mike Neal (4 games, DE), and Johnny Jolly (indefinitely, DE).  Walden will be put on the active roster for Week 2 but the same cannot be said for Neal.  The Packer might actually cut Neal by mid-season, which is a mighty fall from grace since Neal was supposed to be Cullen Jenkins 2.0.

Here are a few things that stood out to me about the roster moves:

- The last three guys cut were probably: Tori Gurley (WR), Daniel Muir (DT), and Reggie Wells (G/T).

- The last three guys kept were probably: Jarrett Boykins (WR), Brandian Ross (CB), and Sean Richardson (S).

- For the second year in a row the Packers kept 24 offensive players, 26 defensive players, and 3 special teams players.

- Of the 53 players kept on the initial roster in 2011, only 37 of them are on the current 53-man roster: 18 offensive players, 16 defensive players, and 3 special teams players.  That means 18 of 24 offensive players returned while only 16 of 26 defensive players returned.  That makes sense that not as many defenders were retained since the defense struggled so much in 2011.

- Aaron Rodgers will have 10 weapons (6 WRs and 4 TEs) to throw the ball to but only 7 guys to potentially block for him. Look for the Packers to add another offensive lineman to the roster at the expense of Boykin or Richardson by Week 6 at the latest.

Once the Packers fill their initial 8-man practice squad, check back for my initial rankings of those eight guys.  Besides that, check back Wednesday for my thoughts on the Most Overpaid and Most Underpaid 2012 Green Bay Packers and next Sunday for my ranking of the initial 53-man roster for the 2012 Green Bay Packers.


FOOTNOTE:
* = Shea Allard (T), Diondre Borel (WR), Brandon Bostick (TE), B.J. Coleman (QB), Nic Cooper (FB), Andrew Datko (T), Tommie Draheim (C/G), Sampson Genus (C/G), Curenski Gilleylen (WR), Tori Gurley (WR), Lawrence Guy (DE), Anthony Levine (S), Otis Merril (CB), Dale Moss (WR), Daniel Muir (DT), Marc Tyler (RB), Greg Van Roten (G), and Reggie Wells (G/T).

Thursday, August 30, 2012

2012 Preseason Week 4 - Packers/Chiefs Review

For the second week in a row the Packers looked very impressive, here are my quick thoughts on the Week 4 Packers/Chiefs preseason game:

#1) Player that hurt his stock most
: Everyone played pretty well so it was hard to pick on anyone specifically thus I am going to say all the backup offensive lineman in general.  I could see the Packers claiming at least one and possibly two offensive lineman off waivers once everything shakes out, especially if they put Derek Sherrod on the PUP list.

#2) Player that helped his stock most
: There were a ton of backups that played very well: Jarrett Boykin, Alex Green, Tori Gurley, Graham Harrell, Terrell Manning, Dezman Moses, Sean Richardson, and Sam Shields.  Although all of them deserve more discussion, Harrell put together the most impressive performance going 13 for 15, throwing for 223 yards and 2 touchdowns for a perfect NFL passer rating of 158.3.  The impressive performance by Harrell solidified his spot as the backup quarterback to Aaron Rodgers. 

#3) Position to watch
: So far I've talked about linebackers, running backs, and secondary so let's go back to the offensive side of the ball and look at the wide receivers.  Yesterday I finally kept 6 wide receivers for the first time in my weekly advice for general manager Ted Thompson.  I honestly think the Packers have nine receivers on their current roster that look worthy of being on an active 53-man NFL roster in 2012.  The "Big Five" wide receivers are Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver, Randall Cobb, and James Jones.  The more interesting guys to keep an eye on are the next four receivers: Diondre Borel, Jarrett Boykin, Tori Gurley, and Dale Moss.  All four could end up on a 53-man NFL roster at some point this season.  Boykins (5 catches for 82 yards and 1 touchdown) and Gurley (2 catches for 69 yards) picked a good time to perform well, which makes choosing between those two a tough decision for Thompson.  I personally would keep Boykins but would be fine with the Packers keeping either receiver.

Final Note
: Things were feisty all night between both teams.  Mike Neal took it too far drawing a 15-yard personal foul, which is not what your want to do in your last live action ahead of a four-game suspension for using a banned substance.  In all fairness though, after almost every play there was shoving and jostling between both teams.  Since backups played almost the entire game, I can't blame them for trying to play with a little chip on their shoulder but players on the bubble can't afford to commit stupid penalties like Neal did.

Check back tomorrow for my quick thoughts on the initial 53-man roster for the 2012 Green Bay Packers.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

2012 Green Bay Packers Roster 4.0

The roster is rounding into form with three preseason game in the books on the road v. Chargers, at home v. Browns, and on the road v. Bengals.  Based on what I've seen so far, here are my final thoughts on what the 53-man roster and 8-man practice squad should look for the 2012 Green Bay Packers:

Quarterback (2): Aaron Rodgers and Graham Harrell
Analysis: I've been saying this all preseason but it couldn't be more true this week, Harrell is playing for his roster spot.  If Harrell doesn't perform well this week, the Packers will be forced to add another signal caller.

Running Back (3): Cedric Benson, James Starks, and Alex Green
Analysis: With the emergence of Benson as a legitimate every down back, I decided to cut Brandon Saine so the Packers can keep an extra wide receiver since they are a throwing team first that runs occasionally.

Fullback (1): John Kuhn
Analysis: Every time Kuhn touches the ball on the road you really get a feel for how well Packers fans travel because you can hear a very loud "Kuuuhhhhnnnn" on the television broadcast.

Tight End (4): Jermichael Finley, Tom Crabtree, D.J. Williams, and Ryan Taylor
PUP (1): Andrew Quarless
Analysis: With Quarless officially on the PUP list, every other tight end can breathe a sigh of relief because it has become a Ted Thompson rule to keep at least four tight ends the last few years.

Wide Receiver (6)
: Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver, Randall Cobb, James Jones, and Jarrett Boykin
Analysis: Last preseason there was a ton of talk about whether the Packers would keep five tight ends, this preseason the talk centered on whether the Packers would keep six wide receivers.  It was tough to choose between Diondre Borel, Jarrett Boykin, Tori Gurley, and Dale Moss because all four have been impressive in short stings this preseason.  Since I am going to visit my sister-in-law this weekend at Virgina Tech, I gave the final roster spot to Boykin, the career leader in receptions and receiving yards for Virgina Tech.

Tackle (3): Bryan Bulaga, Marshall Newhouse, and Derek Sherrod
Analysis: I am rolling the dice here that Sherrod is healthy enough to be active, which is why Andrew Datko didn't make the 53-man roster but it would not surprise me if Sherrod ended up on the PUP list thus opening a roster spot for Datko or a player cut from another team on the 53-man roster.

Guard (4): Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang, Reggie Wells, and Don Barclay
Analysis: Too bad that Ray Dominguez had to go on injured reserve but luckily Barclay has performed well to give the Packers a quality, young backup to go along with an old-fart like Wells.

Center (2): Jeff Saturday and Even Dietrich-Smith
Analysis: So far so good for Saturday but since this could be his last NFL season, I would be shocked if he could make it through the entire season healthy so EDS better be ready to play.

Defensive End (3)
: Jerel Worthy, C.J. Wilson, and Phillip Merling
Suspended (1): Mike Neal
Analysis: I could see Merling getting cut in favor of a waiver wire pick-up but for now, Merling sticks just because of his experience in the 3-4 defense.

Defensive Tackle (4): B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, Mike Daniels, and Daniel Muir
Analysis: Much like Merling, I could see Muir getting cut for a waiver wire pick-up as well.

Outside Linebacker (4)
: Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Brad Jones, and Dezman Moses
Suspended: Erik Walden
PUP (1): Frank Zombo
Analysis: Perry has done enough to lock down the starting outside linebacker spot opposite Claymaker.  The more interesting question is what guy will be first off the bench because Walden and Moses have played very well.  Since Walden is suspend Week 1, it gives the Packers the flexibility to hold another player on the 53-man roster or claim someone off waivers for a one week trial before activating Walden.

Middle Linebacker (5): D.J. Smith, A.J. Hawk, Robert Francois, Jamari Lattimore, and Terrell Manning
Analysis: For how well all the backup outside linebackers played in the preseason, the backup middle linebackers have been fairly quiet so I would not be surprised if Francois, Lattimore, or Manning get cut before Week 2 so the Packers can activate Walden.

Cornerback (5): Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Davon House, Casey Hayward, and Jarrett Bush
Analysis: Besides Williams, the Packers have four lottery tickets at cornerback.  If two lottery tickets payoff, the pass defense will improve drastically in 2012.  Anything less than two winning tickets and the secondary struggle much like they did in 2011.
 
Safety (4)
: Charles Woodson, Morgan Burnett, Jerron McMillian, and M.D. Jennings
Analysis: Based on draft position alone the Packers will keep McMillian, which makes it a three horse race for one spot between Anthony Levine, M.D. Jennings, and Sean Richardson. Based on his impressive combination of size (6'2") and speed (4.47 40-yard dash), I almost kept Richardson instead of Jennings but since Jennings has been in the system a year longer than Richardson, I gave Jennings the roster spot.

Specialists (3): Mason Crosby (K), Tim Masthay (P), and Brett Goode (LS)
Analysis: Nothing to add here, let's just hope all three specialist stay healthy in 2012.

Practice Squad (8): B.J. Coleman (QB), Andrew Datko (T), Tori Gurley (WR), Anthony Levine (S), Otis Merrill (CB), Sean Richardson (S), Brandon Saine (RB), and Greg Van Roten (G)
Analysis: A few weeks ago I said the Packers would not have as talented of a practice squad as they did the last few years.  After getting to see three preseason games, I take back that assertion.  Besides the eight guys mentioned above, the Packers could fill a talented second practice squad with Brandon Bostick (TE), Diondre Borel (WR), Nic Cooper (FB), Sampson Genus (C), Dale Moss (WR), Brandian Ross (CB), Vic So'oto (OLB), and Marc Tyler (RB).

Check back tomorrow for my quick thoughts on the Packers/Chiefs preseason game and Friday for my quick thoughts on the actual final roster cut-downs.

Monday, August 27, 2012

2012 Green Bay Packers Trim Roster From 90 to 75

The NFL increased the off-season roster size from 80 players to 90 players this season.  That allowed each team to carry 10 more practice players, which was very beneficial for the Green Bay Packers considering how many players were injured throughout training camp.

Ultimately each NFL team needs to winnow their roster down to no more than 53 players by 8 pm CST on Friday, August 31, 2012.  The incremental step was to reduce that number to 75 players by 3 pm CST on Monday, August 27, 2012.

The Packers got an early start last week when general manager Ted Thompson released five players: Andrew Brewer (WR), Anthony Hargrove (DE), Micah Pellerin (S), Herb Taylor (T), and Dion Turner (CB).

Today Thompson cleared 10 more roster spots when he placed 6 players on injured reserve (IR), 2 players on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, and cut 2 players.  Here is the breakdown of the moves by Thompson:
- Placed on IR: Du’ane Bennett (RB), Desmond Bishop (MLB), DeMarco Cosby (TE), Ray Dominguez (G), Johnny Jones (DE), and Shaky Smithson (WR)
- Placed on PUP: Andrew Quarless (TE) and LB Frank Zombo (OLB)
- Cut: Jon Hoese (FB) and Jarius Wynn (DE)

The biggest name involved is obviously Desmond Bishop.  Although all indications were that Bishop was done for the year a few weeks ago, confirmation came today that the Packers will be without their best middle linebacker for the 2012 season.

By placing Quarless and Zombo on the physically unable to perform list, both players will not be able to practice or play until Week 7 when the Packers have to add them to their active roster, place them on injured reserve, or cut them.

The biggest names cut were Anthony Hargrove and Jarius Wynn.  Hargrove is a big name solely because of his involvement in the Saints' Boutygate Scandal.  It makes no sense to me that the Packers kept Hargrove around this long only to cut him, especially because they could have kept Hargrove throughout his eight game suspension without having to reserve a roster spot for him.

Following Wynn's lackluster training camp, the Packers decided to push forward with some rookies (Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels) and free agents signed in the off-season (Daniel Muir and Philip Merling) along the defensive line instead of Wynn.

For at least 22 players (may be 23 or 24 if Thompson wants to leave some roster spots open to claim players cut by other teams) on the current roster, they can breathe a brief sigh of relief because they will still be around till rosters are trimmed from 75 players to 53 players at 8 pm CST on Friday, August 31, 2012.

Check back for my final recommendations on what Thompson should do with the roster on Wednesday, my quick thoughts on the Packers' final preseason game against the Chiefs on Thursday where I might second guess a few of my final roster decisions, and my quick thoughts on the roster cut-downs on Friday.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

2012 Preseason Week 3 - Packers/Bengals Review

After struggling two weeks ago against the Chargers on the road and last week at home against the Browns, the Packers finally put together a positive performance on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals. Here are a few of my quick thoughts on the Week 3 Packers/Bengals preseason game:

#1) Player that hurt his stock most
: Marshall Newhouse is the starter at left tackle unless the Packers move Bryan Bulaga from right tackle to left tackle since Derek Sherrod is still recovering from a broken leg at the end of last season.  In 2011 Newhouse played decent against inferior competition but struggled mightily against good competition.  In Newhouse's first action of the preseason he struggled, which is shaping up to be a big problem since the Packers expect to transition seamlessly from Chad Clifton (former starting left tackle for the last decade) to Newhouse.  I hope the Packers give Newhouse more reps next week to get him as much live action as possible even though the starters play only a few snaps in the preseason finale because Newhouse does not look ready to protect A-Rodg's blindside.

#2) Player that helped his stock most
: Last week I highlighted running back as the position to watch thanks to signing Cedric Benson.  In Benson's first appearance for the Packers, he ran very well against his former employer.  There is no question the Packers lacked a powerful running back like Benson since Ahman Green's first stint with the Packers.  Green's second stint with the Packers was forgettable because physically he was a shell of his former self.  Ball security and blocking are the only things that worry me about Benson because as long as Rodgers is healthy the Packers are going to be a pass first team so Benson will see more of his carries when the Packers have a lead that they are looking to protect.

#3) Position to watch
: So far I've talked about linebackers and running backs. This week I want to focus on the secondary.  Assuming that Charles Woodson and Morgan Burnett start at safety while Tramon Williams starts at one of the two cornerback positions in the base 3-4 defense, that leaves one starting cornerback position to fill.  Davon House looked like he was going to be the other starter until he predictably got hurt earlier this preseason.  House suffered a shoulder injury and I fear that will limit his effectiveness in bump-and-run coverage in 2012 much like it did for Williams in 2011.  That leaves Sam Shields, Jarrett Bush, and Casey Hayward as the other options at cornerback.  None of the three separated themselves so far, which means the Packers might as well start the rookie Hayward since Shields regressed in 2011 and Bush is a liability in coverage.

Final Note
: My father-in-law has been a lifetime Bengals fan since he grew up in Dayton, OH but lately he's become a Packer fan and is even a co-owner like Papa Cheese, me, and what feels like a million other people.  This week we emailed about which team my father-in-law should root for.  I settled on rooting for both teams being healthy since they've both suffered some fairly serious injuries to starters already.  Besides Ryan Pickett and Tom Crabtree, it looks like our wishes were answered on the Cheesehead side of the ball.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

2012 Green Bay Packers Roster 3.0

With two preseason game in the books on the road v. Chargers and at home v. Browns, there are still a handful of fringe roster spots up for grabs and almost every practice squad position is far from decided, especially when you factor in that a number of guys that the Packers cut at the end of the preseason will make other team's 53-man active rosters.  Based on what I've seen so far, here are my updated thoughts on what the 53-man roster and 8-man practice squad should look for the 2012 Green Bay Packers:

Quarterback (2): Aaron Rodgers and Graham Harrell
Analysis: In limited action, Rodgers looked sharp.  In extensive action, Harrell has looked anything but sharp.  Week 4 of the preseason will be a big week for Harrell because he will play almost the entire game, which will go a long way to determining whether the Packers add a veteran quarterback to back-up Rogers or stick with Harrell.

Running Back (4): Cedric Benson, James Starks, Alex Green, and Brandon Saine
Analysis: Anxiously anticipating the start of the Cedric Benson era, which will ironically start against his former employer tomorrow night on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Fullback (1): John Kuhn
Analysis: Depending on what Green and Saine show the next few weeks, the Packers might use Kuhn as their 3rd down back because Starks is still hurt and Benson does not have a reputation for being a good blocker.

Tight End (4): Jermichael Finley, Tom Crabtree, D.J. Williams, and Ryan Taylor
PUP (1): Andrew Quarless
Keep: Analysis: Despite all the injuries at some point it might come down to choosing between Williams and Taylor because the Packers have so many needs on defense that they might not be able to keep as many tight ends as they would like.

Wide Receiver (5)
: Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver, James Jones, and Randall Cobb
Analysis: Discussing injuries is becoming a recurring theme of this post but it bears mention because the Packers need to get Jennings and Finley on the field to see what their offense looks like with a full compliment of offensive weapons at their disposal.

Tackle (4)
: Bryan Bulaga, Marshall Newhouse, Derek Sherrod, and Andrew Datko
Analysis: Nice to see Newhouse back on the field and healthy because with Sherrod still hurt and Datko a rookie, the Packers really need Newhouse to not only stay healthy but improve in 2012 to help their offense continue to perform at a high level.

Guard (3): Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang, and Reggie Wells
Analysis: Absent injuries you can write in Lang as the starter at left guard and Sitton as the starter at right guard with a sharpie so it makes sense to choose between Wells and Ray Dominguez for the "swing" backup guard spot since both are below average.  I decided to keep Wells because he is a veteran that can play tackle while Dominguez can only play guard.

Center (2): Jeff Saturday and Even Dietrich-Smith
Analysis: Look for EDS to get snaps at all three interior offensive line positions because he will be the primary backup interior lineman.

Defensive End (3)
: Jerel Worthy, Phillip Merling, and C.J. Wilson
Suspended (2): Anthony Hargrove and Mike Neal
Analysis: I have been less than impressed with Merling, Wilson, and Jarius Wynn so far this preseason so I couldn't bring myself to keep all three guys.  I kept Merling because despite being a disappointment, at least it gives the Packers some new blood at defensive end.  That means it came down to Wilson and Wynn, which is pretty much a coin toss at this point with Wilson winning because he has been better in the bast defense.

Defensive Tackle (4): B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, Mike Daniels, and Daniel Muir
Analysis: The only guaranteed defensive line roster spots are Raji, Pickett, and Worthy.  After those guys, the name of the game is versatility.  That gives a guy like Daniels and Muir a leg up because they can play any spot along the defensive line.

Outside Linebacker (5)
: Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Erik Walden, Brad Jones, and Dezman Moses
PUP (1): Frank Zombo
Analysis: Keeping Moses on the active roster instead of the practice squad has less to do with production and more to do with the fact that trusted veterans like Charles Woodson said Moses has a chance to be special.

Middle Linebacker (4): D.J. Smith, A.J. Hawk, Robert Francois, and Jamari Lattimore
Analysis: No one besides Smith has stood out in a positive way at middle linebacker, which is part of the reason why I hope the Packers consider playing some 4-3 instead of 3-4.  The Packers finally have a ton of defensive lineman while they look a little thin, talent-wise, at linebacker.  If the Packers moved to the 4-3 for a few plays they could slide Hawk outside, let Matthew rush the passer and have Smith clog up the middle.

Cornerback (5): Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Davon House, Casey Hayward, and Jarrett Bush
Analysis: Bush and Hayward both looked a little better this week than they did last week.  Since Shields and House are hurt, if I had to choose a starter opposite Williams I would actually choose Hayward so Bush could continue to focus on special teams where he has thrived.
 
Safety (4)
: Charles Woodson, Morgan Burnett, Jerron McMillian, and M.D. Jennings
Analysis: Last week against the Browns it looked like McMillian took a step ahead of Jennings but look for that positional battle to remain undecided till right before the start of the regular season.

Specialists (3): Mason Crosby (K), Tim Masthay (P), and Brett Goode (LS)
Analysis: Too bad that Crosby missed a long distance kick against the Browns because despite all the platitudes showered on Crosby, I am still not convinced he is worth $3 million a year, especially if he can't hit from longer than 50 yards.

Practice Squad (8): B.J. Coleman (QB), Marc Tyler (RB), Tori Gurley (WR), Shaky Smithson (WR), Sampson Genus (C), Terrell Manning (MLB), Anthony Levine (S), Sean Richardson (S)
Analysis: The chances of Gurley actually making it through waivers instead of getting claimed by another NFL team for their 53-man roster are slim but I choose to take a glass half full approach.  In terms of the rest of the practice squad, Coleman might make some noise because he looks like he has a cannon for an arm.

The Packers hit the road to play the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday.  Hopefully the Packers get in a Skyline trip because I know every time I visit my in-laws in Dayton, I make sure to have some tasty fast-food chili that is almost as good as Real Chili. Check back tomorrow to read my quick thoughts on the Packers/Bengals preseason game and Monday for my quick thoughts on the roster cut-downs from 90 players to 75 players.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

20120 Preseason Week 2 - Packers/Browns Review

Well if the 2012 Green Bay Packers' wanted to lower expectations, they've done just that in their first two preseason games.  After struggling last week against the Chargers on the road, the Packers looked equally horrible this week against the Browns. Here are a few of my quick thoughts on the Week 2 Packers/Browns preseason game:

#1) Player that hurt his stock most
: Well we now officially know that Graham Harrell will not be Matt Flynn 2.0 in 2012.  I am not as worried about the two interceptions because one was a Hail Mary at the end of the half and the other one was a pick-six that happened because tight end Ryan Taylor slipped. I am more worried about the fact that Harrell looked off on almost all of his throws.  The Packers are going to say all the right things but it is crystal clear that if Rodgers is hurt for an extended period of time this season, the Packers might not even be a playoff team.  Cleveland Browns' backup quarterback Colt McCoy lead a nice scoring drive that was capped off with a Brandon Jackson (yes, another former Packers that got way overpaid thanks to Super Bowl XLV) touchdown run.  I am not sure what else McCoy has to do to prove he is a better option than Harrell, I hope the Packers trade a late round pick for McCoy just so that I can stop advocating for what feels like the no-brainer-trade of the year.

#2) Player that helped his stock most
: Rookie safety Jerron McMillian made some impressive plays close to the line of scrimmage.  The Packers haven't had a thumper at safety since Atari Bigby filled that role for a few seasons before becoming the walking wounded thanks, in part, to his physical play.  If McMillian can continue to play like he did against the Packers he will be on the third safety behind Charles Woodson and Morgan Burnett, which means he will will be on the field for almost all the defensive snaps in 2012 since Woodson will be playing hybrid cornerback/safety.

#3) Position to watch
: All of a sudden the running back position got very interesting after general manager Ted Thompson signed Cedric Benson.  Going into the preseason it looked like a foregone conclusion that James Starks would be the starting running back at the start of the regular season because the only other running backs with NFL experience were rookies in 2011 with significant question marks: Alex Green (coming off an ACL injury) and Brandon Saine (undrafted free agent that wasn't an every down back even in college at Ohio State).  Starks looks like he will be out the rest of the preseason so he will not be in game shape at the start of the regular season.  Thus unless Benson looks horrible in the next two preseason games he will be the starting running back at the start of the regular season.

Final Note
:  Papa Cheese and Mama Cheese took my godson (and cousin) Will and cousin Elly to their first Packer game at Lambeau Field.  Since this has been a fairly dour post so far, I thought I would include what Will texted after his first Lambeau Field experience: "Packers games are insane.  I had such a great time.  I cant wait to get to a regular season game."  Indeed Will, we will be attending one together sometime soon because even factoring in my Cheesehead bias, there is really no better place to watch an NFL game than Lambeau Field.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

2012 Green Bay Packers Roster 2.0

As I've said many times, I am never shy about giving my thoughts on what Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and company should do with the 53-man roster and the 8-man practice squad.  With one preseason game in the books since my 2012 Green Bay Packers Roster 1.0 post some things have actually changed.  The Packers signed two veterans (Reggie Wells and Cedric Benson) instead of relying on rookies.   Based on what I've seen so far, here are my updated thoughts on what the 53-man roster and 8-man practice squad should look for the 2012 Green Bay Packers:

Quarterback (2): Aaron Rodgers and Graham Harrell
Analysis: Harrell looked okay at best in the first preseason game against the Chargers.  This bolsters what I chatted with Bob McGinn about recently, I am not sure why the Packers don't offer the Cleveland Browns a conditional 6th round draft pick for Colt McCoy.  I get what McGinn is saying about head coach Mike McCarthy wanting to all QB's players in his "vaunted" quarterback camp but based on the way Harrell played versus the Chargers, it looks like he hasn't learned too much.  McCoy is not a long-term answer at the quarterback spot, nor are the Packers looking for anyone besides Rodgers to take snaps at QB in the regular season, but McCoy gives the Packers a better chance to win than Harrell if Rodgers (God forbid) got hurt.

Running Back (4): Cedric Benson, James Starks, Alex Green, and Brandon Saine
Analysis: I would much rather take a flyer on Benson than have to see Ryan Grant carry the ball even one more time for the Packers so yes, I support the decision to sign Benson instead of Grant.

Fullback (1): John Kuhn
Analysis: The Packers no longer lineup in a traditional I-Formation, which doesn't put Kuhn's roster spot in jeopardy but will dramatically curtail his snap count as a true fullback in 2012.

Tight End (4): Jermichael Finley, D.J. Williams, Ryan Taylor, and Tom Crabtree
PUP (1): Andrew Quarless
Keep: Analysis: If Quarless was healthy the Packers would probably keep five tight ends for the second year in a row.  Unfortunately Quarless suffered a gruesome injury at the end of 2011 so now his chances of playing in 2012 are in jeopardy.

Wide Receiver (5)
: Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver, James Jones, and Randall Cobb
Analysis: I floated a random theory recently to my buddy UP that Donald Driver winning Dancing With the Stars helped secure his roster spot with the Packers for 2012.  Don't get me wrong, general manager Ted Thompson is the last guy in the world to bow to public pressure.  Cutting Driver before winning Dancing With the Stars would have been a PR nightmare but after Drive won Dancing With the Stars it became virtually impossible.  Finally with all due respect to every wide receiver currently on the roster, Driver is still currently the third best receiver behind Jennings and Nelson.  Cobb may be better in 2013 or 2014 but Driver is still a better wide receiver in 2012.

Tackle (4)
: Bryan Bulaga, Marshall Newhouse, Reggie Wells, and Andrew Datko
Pup (1): Derek Sherrod
Analysis: It must have absolutely killed Thompson to sign Reggie Wells because he is a 10-year veteran at the ripe old age of 31, which is 10 years older than the free agents he normally signs.  With all the injuries the Packers have at tackle in Newhouse (concussion) and Sherrod (recovering from a broken leg), it gave Herb Taylor a chance to earn a roster spot.  Unfortunately Taylor struggled against the Chargers to prove that he is not the answer at left tackle so they might as well give Wells (Reggie not Scott) and Datko a shot.  If both Wells and Datko struggle, the Packers might be forced to move Bulaga to left tackle if Newhouse and Sherrod are still out with injuries.

Guard (3): Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang, and Ray Dominguez
Analysis: Since Lang recently signed to a long-term extension, the Packers have both of their guards locked up long-term to give them their most stable offensive guard combo since Marco Rivera and Mike Whale left town.

Center (2): Jeff Saturday and Even Dietrich-Smith
Analysis: ESPN put Jeff Saturday in a horrible spot asking whether he would rather snap the ball to Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers during the Packers/Chargers preseason game.  I am glad that Saturday dodged the questions because the obvious answer is Manning but that would have been selling out the guy that currently fondles his butt.

Defensive End (3)
: Jerel Worthy, C.J. Wilson, and Jarius Wynn
Suspended (2): Anthony Hargrove and Mike Neal
Analysis: When the Packers drafted Jerel Worthy I immediately started hoping Worthy would morph into Cullen Jenkins 2.0.  I understand that is a tall order but if Worthy can give 100% effort instead of 75% like he did in college, I expect him to be a big contributor in 2012.

Defensive Tackle (4): B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, Mike Daniels, and Daniel Muir
Analysis: The only guaranteed defensive line roster spots are Raji, Pickett, and Worthy.  After that the name of the game is versatility.  That gives a guy like Daniels and Muir a leg up because they look like they can play any spot along the defensive line.

Outside Linebacker (5)
: Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Erik Walden, Brad Jones, and Frank Zombo
Analysis: Much like Worthy, because of draft position alone, the Packers are going to give Perry every chance to win a starting spot on defense.  If the Packers go 1-for-2 on Perry and Worthy for 2012, I will be happy.  Assuming Rodgers is healthy all season, if the Packers go 2-for-2 on Perry and Worthy in 2012, you might as well stamp their ticket to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. 

Middle Linebacker (4): D.J. Smith, A.J. Hawk, Robert Francois, and Jamari Lattimore
Analysis: Despite being an all-around good guy, at the start of training camp, I would have totally supported the Packers cutting the Business H.J. (A.J. Hawk) and letting Smith, Manning, and Lattimore fight for the other starting linebacker spots opposite Desmond Bishop.  Unfortunately it looks like Bishop is out for the year, now the Packers are going to not only have to keep Hawk but hope he has a career year.

Cornerback (5): Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Davon House, Casey Hayward, and Jarrett Bush
Analysis: 2011 was not kind to Williams (injured shoulder), Shields (inconsistent play), and House (injured) so hopefully they can all turn over a new page in 2012.  If they do, with the addition of Hayward, the Packers actually look stacked at cornerback for the first tie in a long time.
 
Safety (4)
: Charles Woodson, Morgan Burnett, Jerron McMillian, and M.D. Jennings
Analysis: Thanks to absolutely no pass rush in 2011, the Packers were absolutely sieve-like in yielding the most passing yards in NFL history.  Not sure the combo of Woodson and Burnett will stymie that trend though unless Claymaker and Company can get after the quarterback better.

Specialists (3): Mason Crosby (K), Tim Masthay (P), and Brett Goode (LS)
Analysis: Absent injury the Packers are set at kicker, punter, and long snapper for the next five years.

Practice Squad (8): B.J. Coleman (QB), Marc Tyler (RB), Tori Gurley (WR), Shaky Smithson (WR), Sampson Genus (C), Dezman Moses (OLB), Terrell Manning (MLB), and Anthony Levine (S)
Analysis: Normally the Packers have a stacked practice squad but this year it feels a little down becausesome guys have yet to back-up their promise (Genus and Levine) while other rookies (Moses and Manning) don't look ready for the big time yet.

The Packers host the Cleveland Browns on Thursday in a game that will go a long way towards determining some of the position battles and roster spots mentioned above. Check back tomorrow to read my quick thoughts on the Packers/Browns preseason game and next Wednesday to see my updated predictions for who should make the 53-man roster and 8-man practice squad.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

2012 Preseason Week 1 - Packers/Chargers Review

Turnovers and penalties marred the start of the 2012 Green Bay Packers' march to Super Bowl XLVII.  We usually only get to see the starters for the first few series of the game in Week 1 of the preseason. As a result I expected to see sloppy play from the second and third stringers this week but the first-stringers were the ones that worried me the most.  Here are a few quick thoughts on the Week 1 Preseason game between the Packers and the Chargers:

#1) Player that hurt his stock most
: Let's relax on replacing Donald Driver with the likes of Diondre Borel and Shaky Smithson.  I understand that the shadows were tricky in the Whales Vagina but if Borel and Smithson can't field balls cleanly on special teams in the preseason that does not make me confident that they are ready to do it when the games count.  Obviously Driver is no longer a special teams player but he does everything the Packers ask of him on the field and more importantly, off the field he is a legitimate veteran presence in the locker room that the Packers desperately need.  You want an indictment on Borel and Smithson, the Packers had stud returner Randall Cobb essentially fair catching punts in the 4th quarter instead of giving them more reps.

#2) Player that helped his stock most
: With Charles Woodson not in uniform it gave the Packers a good chance to see what they have at cornerback and safety besides the mainstays (Woodson, Tramon Williams, and Morgan Burnett).  Davon House showed flashes of brilliance before getting hurt on special teams.  If House can stay healthy (huge if based on last season) and play that well in the regular season then we might be looking at Al Harris 2.0 not only aesthetically with the locks and the jersey number but with his play.  Casey Hayward was routinely victimized on defense while House played well so as long as House is healthy, look for him to push Sam Shields for playing time.

#3) Position to watch
: With middle linebacker Desmond Bishop leaving the game with what looked like a serious knee injury, only half of the guys that will start defensively for the 2012 Green Bay Packers are set: B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, Claymaker, Tramon Williams, Charles Woodson, and Morgan Burnett.  Let's focus on linebacker, which looks like the spot with the most uncertainty where the Packers will most likely keep 10 guys.  The only locks to make the roster are Claymaker, Bishop (assuming he isn't lost for the season), Perry, and D.J. Smith.  Odds are that the Packers keep A.J. Hawk despite his bloated salary so that leaves eight guys for five spots.  There is still a ton of preseason left but if I had to guess today I would bet Erik Walden, Jamari Lattimore, Terrell Manning, Frank Zombo, and Dezman Moses make the team while Brad Jones, Robert Francois, and Vic So'oto will be cut.

Final Note
: I don't know all the in's and out's of the labor negotiations between the NFL and the NFL referees but Roger Goodell needs to sort this out well before the start of the regular season.  It is downright crazy that NFL referees are not full-time NFL employees.  Obviously Goodell realizes that the referees are essentially the gatekeepers of a multi-billion industry right?  One way or another the real NFL referees better be presiding over the regular season games or the product on the field will suffer.