Guys That Need More Playing Time

[Maxie the Taxi]

Spencer Havner -- The guy is a playmaker. Call me crazy, but he impresses me as the type that could turn into a Dallas Clark/Jason Whitton-type of ball control tight end. He's got decent speed. He knows how to use his body. Can take a hit and has great hands. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

AJ Hawk -- He's fast, smart, tough, dependable...a true team player. He was all over the field yesterday. Barnett got credit yesterday for stuff AJ made possible.

TJ Lang -- The guy looks like a throwback OLineman. He plays pretty old school too. On the plays I focused on him he pass protected very capably. He deserves a shot to be the regular tackle.

Brad Jones -- The guy made 7 tackles in his first start, one for a loss. He's a sure tackler and has speed and enthusiasm. It's probably me, but a few times when I saw his number on the field Sunday making a play or a tackle I thought of another #59, John Anderson.

Stubby says Kampman will start next Sunday if healthy. Maybe so, but Jones deserves to get a ton of snaps. Some guys are just different. They have football sense. A knack for making plays.

To me Jones is a good complement to Clay Mathews, who is also an example of a "football" sense guy with a knack for making plays. I would include Mathews as a guy who needs more playing time, but I think he's going to get all he handle from this point on anyway.

Jordy Nelson -- He plays with heart, is fast, strong, has good hands and always seems to make a play. His play on the goal line yesterday was pure guts.

[Brandon494]

Spencer Havner -- The guy is a playmaker. Call me crazy, but he impresses me as the type that could turn into a Dallas Clark/Jason Whitton-type of ball control tight end. He's got decent speed. He knows how to use his body. Can take a hit and has great hands. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

I think its funny just because he is white you think he is the next Dallas Clark/Jason Witten when he is not even close to those guys. When Finley comes back you won't be seeing him unless its a special teams play.

I agree with the rest though, I think Jones will take Kampman starting role next season.

[Maxie the Taxi]

White? What does White have to do with anything?

[Brandon494]

White? What does White have to do with anything?

Why else would you compare him to those two when both Clark and Witten have completely different games which Havner does not even come close too.

[crosbiegrad]

Just going on the little we have seen of Havner, I'd rather see more of him out there with Finley rather than Donald Lee. Lee has been okay for a couple of years now but his last few games have hurt him. Let Spencer play!

[Maxie the Taxi]

White? What does White have to do with anything?

Why else would you compare him to those two when both Clark and Witten have completely different games which Havner does not even come close too.

Maybe I'm just ignorant. I thought of those two guys as not big play speedsters, but ball control receivers. I suppose if I spent more time researching I could come up with better comparisons.

Assuming motives is always dangerous. With all due respect, jumping to a conclusion of racism is just plain dumb.

[The Leaper]

Havner? The guy is a liability in pass blocking...he missed NUMEROUS assignments Sunday, which led to several big negative plays.

His only plus is as a receiver...but Finley is light years better than Havner in that regard.

[hoosier]

Spencer Havner -- The guy is a playmaker. Call me crazy, but he impresses me as the type that could turn into a Dallas Clark/Jason Whitton-type of ball control tight end. He's got decent speed. He knows how to use his body. Can take a hit and has great hands. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

I think its funny just because he is white you think he is the next Dallas Clark/Jason Witten when he is not even close to those guys. When Finley comes back you won't be seeing him unless its a special teams play.

White? What does White have to do with anything?

You guys are getting your backup linebackers/special teams specialists confused. Tracy White got cut last year (to make room for a rookie who never did squat, no less).

[Brandon494]

White? What does White have to do with anything?

Why else would you compare him to those two when both Clark and Witten have completely different games which Havner does not even come close too.

Maybe I'm just ignorant. I thought of those two guys as not big play speedsters, but ball control receivers. I suppose if I spent more time researching I could come up with better comparisons.

Assuming motives is always dangerous. With all due respect, jumping to a conclusion of racism is just plain dumb.

Just busting your balls man, wasn't trying to take a shot at you. Just saying Havner is nothing more than a poor man's Mike Vrabel, no where near the talent of 2 of the top 5 TE's in the league.

[CaliforniaCheez]

I like Havner. The kid went to High School in the gold fields near here.
He was a four year starter at UCLA!

Havner will be telling his grandkids about the Lambeau Leap during the win against the Cowboys.

However, Finley has improved too.

I think what Havner is showing is that there is a huge competition for roster spots and some of these young guys just need a chance to play and show what they can do.

You should not look down on substitute players because they were the best of college football players.

I like players that keep progressing and getting better. I dislike players like Ahmad Carroll that refuse to improve their game.

I feel sorry for good players when their career is coming to an end, like Clifton.

Back to the original thought, there is a lot of competition for playing time and touches.

[Brohm]

I think a full offseason prep/TC as a full-time TE to work on his blocking/routes/etc will help him tons. With his attitude and tenacity, I think he'll be just fine as a #2 down the road.

[gbgary]

AJ Hawk -- He's fast, smart, tough, dependable...a true team player. He was all over the field yesterday. Barnett got credit yesterday for stuff AJ made possible.

Jordy Nelson -- He plays with heart, is fast, strong, has good hands and always seems to make a play. His play on the goal line yesterday was pure guts.


hawk's really responded to his benching (or whatever it was) a few weeks ago.

as for jordy...his push toward the goal line was something for someone just coming off a knee injury. guts and heart on top of the talent and speed...good combo.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Havner was just awful blocking. It seemed like half the time Dallas got to ARod, Havner was trying to block the guy that got pressure. I'll give him a break on the one that he tried to block a DE, but he was very slow to react to LB blitzes.

Hawk has played the run well all year. They are blitzing him more, and he's doing a better job.

Nelson is a good player. It was important to get him back. Now, we need Finley back.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Clark has a ton of speed. Witten isn't super fast, but it's a bit laughable to compare Havner to Witten. Lee is a lot better all around than Havner is, but give the guy credit. He's played LB most of his college and pro career. He's doing better than expected.

BTW, there are a lot of white TEs, so brandon is reaching quite a bit. Now, if he said Jordy Nelson reminded him of Kevin Walter, than you'd have something to go on.
:D

[Lurker64]

Spencer Havner is a lot more Mike Vrabel than he is Dallas Clark. That being said, especially if he learns to block, special teams play and being a goal line receiving threat could get him a spot on the active roster for game days.

[Partial]

Jordy has been a pleasant surprise while my boy JJ has been a dissapointment.

[channtheman]

Havner? The guy is a liability in pass blocking...he missed NUMEROUS assignments Sunday, which led to several big negative plays.

His only plus is as a receiver...but Finley is light years better than Havner in that regard.

I was going to ask this because I thought I remembered quite a few of the sacks being Havner screw ups. As good as he has looked catching TD's, he doesn't need to be on the field much more.

[Bretsky]

Jordy has been a pleasant surprise while my boy JJ has been a dissapointment.


Plenty wanted TT to go get Sydney Rice and then some labled JJ for being just as good. Rice is the real deal now.

TT chose Nelson over some better WR's in round two. Sure would be nice to add D Jackson from the Eagles to our squad.

[Partial]

Jordy has been a pleasant surprise while my boy JJ has been a dissapointment.


Plenty wanted TT to go get Sydney Rice and then some labled JJ for being just as good. Rice is the real deal now.

TT chose Nelson over some better WR's in round two. Sure would be nice to add D Jackson from the Eagles to our squad.

Jackson would certainly fill the role of athlete/burner that we're desperately in need of. I'd have been for it.

[pbmax]

Jordy has been a pleasant surprise while my boy JJ has been a dissapointment.


Plenty wanted TT to go get Sydney Rice and then some labled JJ for being just as good. Rice is the real deal now.

TT chose Nelson over some better WR's in round two. Sure would be nice to add D Jackson from the Eagles to our squad.

Jackson would certainly fill the role of athlete/burner that we're desperately in need of. I'd have been for it.
Except for those semi-regular fumbles while celebrating around the goal line. :D

Agree with Lurker, Frankenbacker is closer to Vrabel than any other starting TE I have seen. He has skills to catch and sit in a zone, but blocks worse than Finley. We will still see him is specific matchups and situations. I'd be stunned if he isn't a regular in short yardage passing and inside the 10.

[Smidgeon]

Plenty wanted TT to go get Sydney Rice and then some labled JJ for being just as good. Rice is the real deal now.

Sans Favre, how good is Rice, or is this another example of Favre making a receiver?

[denverYooper]

Plenty wanted TT to go get Sydney Rice and then some labled JJ for being just as good. Rice is the real deal now.

Sans Favre, how good is Rice, or is this another example of Favre making a receiver?

Rice is having a great year. He makes Favre's throws better. Unless you mean that Favre is making him better by chucking it up to him and trusting him go after it, because that happens. I don't mean this to take anything away from Favre because he's recognizing that Rice can make those happen, but he frequently underthrows the deep routes to Rice now but Rice gobbles them up.

Our Fox affiliate usually plays the Vikings games this year.

[3irty1]

Just goes to show how a player can come out of nowhere in the NFL. Until this year Rice didn't really do anything with the opportunities he's had while he wasn't injured. Now he looks like the best WR in the division.

[Smidgeon]

Plenty wanted TT to go get Sydney Rice and then some labled JJ for being just as good. Rice is the real deal now.

Sans Favre, how good is Rice, or is this another example of Favre making a receiver?

Rice is having a great year. He makes Favre's throws better. Unless you mean that Favre is making him better by chucking it up to him and trusting him go after it, because that happens. I don't mean this to take anything away from Favre because he's recognizing that Rice can make those happen, but he frequently underthrows the deep routes to Rice now but Rice gobbles them up.

Our Fox affiliate usually plays the Vikings games this year.

Personally, I don't think Rice is anything special. Good? Maybe. Special? Nope. If he couldn't do it with Jackson throwing up the passes up for grabs and going up and getting them, why would he suddenly be able to do that now? Without watching each route, I speculate that Favre is leading him much, much better on routes, and that he's built up Rice's internal confidence that the ball will be there which has in turn elevated Rice's game. Favre has a gift of making receivers look great his entire career. Brady has Moss (future HOF), Manning had Harrison (future HOF?), Favre had Freeman (not HOF). I'm not saying Rice is bad. I'm just saying he's an athletic player that Favre is capitalizing on.

[Partial]

Just goes to show how a player can come out of nowhere in the NFL. Until this year Rice didn't really do anything with the opportunities he's had while he wasn't injured. Now he looks like the best WR in the division.

Calvin.

[Smidgeon]

Just goes to show how a player can come out of nowhere in the NFL. Until this year Rice didn't really do anything with the opportunities he's had while he wasn't injured. Now he looks like the best WR in the division.

Calvin.

And Megatron did it with a bad QB. Until Rice can do it without a future HOF QB, he's nothing special.

[3irty1]

I'd rather have Calvin on my team but he's having half the year that Rice is. I don't think its unfair to say Rice is the better player at this moment.

[Smidgeon]

I'd rather have Calvin on my team but he's having half the year that Rice is. I don't think its unfair to say Rice is the better player at this moment.

He's having half the year because of a knee injury and a rookie QB throwing 55% and twice as many INTs as TDs. I'd take him any day over Rice. Even this year. Without hesitation.

[MichiganPackerFan]

I'd rather have Calvin on my team but he's having half the year that Rice is. I don't think its unfair to say Rice is the better player at this moment.

He's having half the year because of a knee injury and a rookie QB throwing 55% and twice as many INTs as TDs. I'd take him any day over Rice. Even this year. Without hesitation.

... and twice on sundays.

[Maxie the Taxi]

White? What does White have to do with anything?

Why else would you compare him to those two when both Clark and Witten have completely different games which Havner does not even come close too.

Maybe I'm just ignorant. I thought of those two guys as not big play speedsters, but ball control receivers. I suppose if I spent more time researching I could come up with better comparisons.

Assuming motives is always dangerous. With all due respect, jumping to a conclusion of racism is just plain dumb.

Just busting your balls man, wasn't trying to take a shot at you. Just saying Havner is nothing more than a poor man's Mike Vrabel, no where near the talent of 2 of the top 5 TE's in the league.

That's cool. I probably overreacted. They tell me I'm getting grouchy in my old age. :) Plus, I was probably overreaching with Dallas Clark and Witton. Maybe he's more Todd Heapish?

[Maxie the Taxi]

Clark has a ton of speed. Witten isn't super fast, but it's a bit laughable to compare Havner to Witten. Lee is a lot better all around than Havner is, but give the guy credit. He's played LB most of his college and pro career. He's doing better than expected.

BTW, there are a lot of white TEs, so brandon is reaching quite a bit. Now, if he said Jordy Nelson reminded him of Kevin Walter, than you'd have something to go on.
:D

I wasn't really thinking of Havner's blocking. I never watch the tight end block. I was thinking of his tenacity catching the ball and his good hands. Maybe after he improves on his blocking he'll be in a position to play more. But he does add something in the red zone.

[get louder at lambeau]

White? What does White have to do with anything?

Why else would you compare him to those two when both Clark and Witten have completely different games which Havner does not even come close too.

Maybe I'm just ignorant. I thought of those two guys as not big play speedsters, but ball control receivers. I suppose if I spent more time researching I could come up with better comparisons.

Assuming motives is always dangerous. With all due respect, jumping to a conclusion of racism is just plain dumb.

Just busting your balls man, wasn't trying to take a shot at you. Just saying Havner is nothing more than a poor man's Mike Vrabel, no where near the talent of 2 of the top 5 TE's in the league.

Also racist, because Vrabel is white. It'slike a KKK rally in here.

[Fritz]

How about Jarius Wynn for more playing time on passing downs? He showed some pass rushability in the preseason.

[Maxie the Taxi]

How about Jarius Wynn for more playing time on passing downs? He showed some pass rushability in the preseason.

I'd go along with that, though I haven't seen much of Wynn. Geez, this is shaping up as a hell of a good draft for TT...Raji, Mathews, Lang, Jones.

[Bretsky]

Somebody posted (maybe HW) that a few scouts noted Rice was better this year than Jennings. That surprised me a bit. I don't think Favre is making Rice; I think they both make each other better. I'd be recruiting Favre to come back if I was S Rice. If Favre comes back next year he's going to help Rice get a big fat contract :!: [/b]