Comings and Goings

[Joemailman]

I consider Shields as a CB loss this season, too. While he didn't play much last year, they expected to have him, he was in the prime of his career, and planning for replacing him is happening this year, just like the loss of a free agent.

The premise of the thread was comparing this year to last year. For all practical purposes, they did not have Shields last year.

[mraynrand]

The premise of the thread was comparing this year to last year. For all practical purposes, they did not have Shields last year.

Sure they did. He was one starting CB. His loss really couldn't be addressed the 'Packer way' until the offseason.

[Joemailman]

Sure they did. He was one starting CB. His loss really couldn't be addressed the 'Packer way' until the offseason.

I see your point. The CB roster with Shields last year did look pretty solid. My point though is that that was an illusion because Sam Shields was one hard collision away from the end of his career. We just didn't know it. Given what I see as the extreme unlikelihood that the Packers will suffer the injuries at CB this year that they did last year, I think the players they will likely put on the field is superior to what they put on the field last year.

[mraynrand]

I think the players they will likely put on the field is superior to what they put on the field last year.

I hope you're right. Lots of question marks right now, no? Two guys returning from injury, House is a question mark (will he play at the top level he showed in stretches here and first year in Jacksonville?). Will King come around and play a solid edge corner (I think that's all they will ask him to do)? Can Randall or Rollins fill the Hyde role?

[Patler]

The premise of the thread was comparing this year to last year. For all practical purposes, they did not have Shields last year.

So at what point was last year last year?
At what point am I allowed to refer to a player as being a loss from last year who is being replaced this year?

Does Lacy count as a loss from last year? He played in only four more games than Shields. There was minimal contribution from him. How about Tretter? He played only 6 more games than Shields. Can I comment on either of them and still comply with the premise of this thread?

From a roster building perspective, there isn't much difference between the losses of Tretter and Lacy on the one hand and Shields on the other, except for which game of the season was their last. The 2016 roster was built expecting each to be available. 2017 has been built knowing all are gone.

Then there is Montgomery. Is he a "loss" at WR who is replaced as a WR this year? He was a WR last year for more games than Lacy played.