Patler
04-28-2008, 10:42 AM
As the roster has improved in overall quality the last few years, looking at the training camp battles becomes less of a "Who will they keep?" and more of a "Who will they cut?" situation. Deciding who to let go from among several you like somewhat, rather than who to keep from among a group none of which you really want.
Assuming 3 specialist and 25 offense and 25 defense, the battles to be fought for roster spots are:
QB (3)- No roster battles, unless they also bring in a vet. It is likely to be Rodgers, Brohm and Flynn. BUT - the interesting thing is there are very likely to be 3, not 2 as at the start of 2007, which means one less roster spot somewhere else.
RB/FB (5) - some interesting battles here. Grant and Jackson are likely givens. But then...do they keep only one pure fullback, Hall or Kuhn, or just one and a more combination type who can play either position, like Herron or Cory White as the second full back? Where does Ryan Powdrell fit in, if at all? Regardless of the issues at fullback, Morrency and Wynn are likely fighting for one spot. Hall, Kuhn, Powdrell, Herron and White are fighting for 2 spots.
TE/WR (8) - can likely keep only eight in total this season, with having 3 QBs on the roster This will make for some very interesting considerations. Finley seems athletic enough that with Lee they will have good receiving TEs, maybe justifying also keeping Humphrey and just 5 WRs. On the other hand, Jordy Nelson gives them a big body, justifying perhaps just 2 TEs. Regardless of the TE/WR makeup, Driver, Jennings, Jones, Nelson, Lee and Finley will be on the roster taking 6 spots. Do they keep Swain? Humphrey, Robinson, Martin, and Bodiford could be fighting it out for one roster spot, or possibly two with Swain also in the competition. Bodiford depends strictly on ST makeup, and probably has no real chance to be one of the 8, only if they keep 9.
O-line (9) - Someone's time is up. Can probably keep 9 at most. Clifton, Tauscher, Wells and Spitz are givens. Colledge, Sitton, Barbre, Coston and Stephenson are fighting for 3 guard spots, and Giacomini, Moll, Thompson and Toledo for 2 tackle spots. Coston, Moll and Thompson are on their last legs. They have to show real capability, or they will be replaced by others with "potential".
LBs-6 at most. Barnett, Hawk, Chillar and Poppinga take 4 spots, Tracy White possibly the 6th for special teams. Hodge, Bishop and Havner (OK maybe just Hodge and Bishop!) are fighting for one spot.
DL - 8? 9?, 10? 11? This is a tough one. Kampman, Pickett, Jenkins and Harrell for sure, Jolly depending on his recuperation status. If healthy, he makes it too. Thompson makes it unless he absolutely bombs out in camp. Muir, Cole, and Bolston are fighting for one or two spots. KGB, Montgomery and Hunter may be in a battle for two spots, and special teams play could be a deciding factor.
DBs - 9 or 10 depending on the # of DL. Woodson, Harris, Lee, Collins, Bigby, Rouse use 6 spots. Blackmon if healthy probably makes it, too. Culver, Peprah, Bush and Williams, are likely battling for just two spots.
There is a 3 way battle for punter.
There is a two way battle for long snapper. Not that he expected it to be given to him I'm sure, but Gafford may have felt the spot was his to lose. If he were the only one in camp, all he had to do was not screw up. Now, little things will be important, like down field coverage after a punt, the time on his snaps as well as accuracy. A healthy situation for the Packers.
I expect quite a few players released by the Packers will find their way on to other rosters. A number of players will be cut who you would not mind having on your roster.
Assuming 3 specialist and 25 offense and 25 defense, the battles to be fought for roster spots are:
QB (3)- No roster battles, unless they also bring in a vet. It is likely to be Rodgers, Brohm and Flynn. BUT - the interesting thing is there are very likely to be 3, not 2 as at the start of 2007, which means one less roster spot somewhere else.
RB/FB (5) - some interesting battles here. Grant and Jackson are likely givens. But then...do they keep only one pure fullback, Hall or Kuhn, or just one and a more combination type who can play either position, like Herron or Cory White as the second full back? Where does Ryan Powdrell fit in, if at all? Regardless of the issues at fullback, Morrency and Wynn are likely fighting for one spot. Hall, Kuhn, Powdrell, Herron and White are fighting for 2 spots.
TE/WR (8) - can likely keep only eight in total this season, with having 3 QBs on the roster This will make for some very interesting considerations. Finley seems athletic enough that with Lee they will have good receiving TEs, maybe justifying also keeping Humphrey and just 5 WRs. On the other hand, Jordy Nelson gives them a big body, justifying perhaps just 2 TEs. Regardless of the TE/WR makeup, Driver, Jennings, Jones, Nelson, Lee and Finley will be on the roster taking 6 spots. Do they keep Swain? Humphrey, Robinson, Martin, and Bodiford could be fighting it out for one roster spot, or possibly two with Swain also in the competition. Bodiford depends strictly on ST makeup, and probably has no real chance to be one of the 8, only if they keep 9.
O-line (9) - Someone's time is up. Can probably keep 9 at most. Clifton, Tauscher, Wells and Spitz are givens. Colledge, Sitton, Barbre, Coston and Stephenson are fighting for 3 guard spots, and Giacomini, Moll, Thompson and Toledo for 2 tackle spots. Coston, Moll and Thompson are on their last legs. They have to show real capability, or they will be replaced by others with "potential".
LBs-6 at most. Barnett, Hawk, Chillar and Poppinga take 4 spots, Tracy White possibly the 6th for special teams. Hodge, Bishop and Havner (OK maybe just Hodge and Bishop!) are fighting for one spot.
DL - 8? 9?, 10? 11? This is a tough one. Kampman, Pickett, Jenkins and Harrell for sure, Jolly depending on his recuperation status. If healthy, he makes it too. Thompson makes it unless he absolutely bombs out in camp. Muir, Cole, and Bolston are fighting for one or two spots. KGB, Montgomery and Hunter may be in a battle for two spots, and special teams play could be a deciding factor.
DBs - 9 or 10 depending on the # of DL. Woodson, Harris, Lee, Collins, Bigby, Rouse use 6 spots. Blackmon if healthy probably makes it, too. Culver, Peprah, Bush and Williams, are likely battling for just two spots.
There is a 3 way battle for punter.
There is a two way battle for long snapper. Not that he expected it to be given to him I'm sure, but Gafford may have felt the spot was his to lose. If he were the only one in camp, all he had to do was not screw up. Now, little things will be important, like down field coverage after a punt, the time on his snaps as well as accuracy. A healthy situation for the Packers.
I expect quite a few players released by the Packers will find their way on to other rosters. A number of players will be cut who you would not mind having on your roster.