Packers move Blackmon to safety

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth

The position swap between Green Bay Packers defensive linemen B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett wasn't the only newsworthy change visible at Wednesday's organized team activity. As Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette notes, the Packers have also moved Will Blackmon from cornerback to safety.

Blackmon is rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament and above all else is considered a kickoff and punt returner. But the move is interesting in the sense that Blackmon had been thought to be among the group of players the Packers were counting on for cornerback depth after struggling with that in the second half of last season.

At this point, the Packers have Charles Woodson at one cornerback position. Fellow starter Al Harris is also working back from a knee injury, and Tramon Williams is not participating in OTAs. Depth behind Williams includes Jarrett Bush, Pat Lee and Brandon Underwood. Bush worked with the first team Wednesday, according to Demovsky.

[SkinBasket]

Bush worked with the first team Wednesday, according to Demovsky.

Is it too soon to declare myself a Vikings fan this season?

[rbaloha1]

Good move -- Blackman can not cover. Yikes with Bush -- when will the packers learn their lesson?

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Bush is trash. I packers need another corner. Hopefully Lee can stay on the field and play well.

[red]

how in the hell is bush even on the team right now?

and who is the clown that continues to think he can start?

its an absolute failure that this problem wasn't addressed this offseason. if bush is starting that means we do not have enough depth at CB

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

how in the hell is bush even on the team right now?

and who is the clown that continues to think he can start?

its an absolute failure that this problem wasn't addressed this offseason. if bush is starting that means we do not have enough depth at CB

If Bush even makes the team that means that we do not have enough depth at CB.

[retailguy]

Bush worked with the first team Wednesday, according to Demovsky.

Is it too soon to declare myself a Vikings fan this season?

did nutz steal your ID again?

[swede]

Bush worked with the first team Wednesday, according to Demovsky.

Counting on Bush to be anything other than 3rd string scout team could blow up in Ted's face.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z236/dsteenswede44/tedfroblownup.jpg

[Joemailman]

how in the hell is bush even on the team right now?

and who is the clown that continues to think he can start?

its an absolute failure that this problem wasn't addressed this offseason. if bush is starting that means we do not have enough depth at CB

Who said he can start? He is getting 1st team reps in the OTA's. There is no depth chart right now. It's May. Relax.

[Little Whiskey]

It's May. Relax.

thats what people are saying about the brewers. I didn't buy that one either

[wootah]

FYI: in the same period last year Thompson & Kamp were the starting OLB's.

[get louder at lambeau]

Ya know, I thought I would see some intelligent discussion about Blackmon's switch when I clicked on this topic. This place is usually pretty good for that.

This time? Nope. Just more panicky exaggerations about how bad Jarrett Bush sucks instead. Yay.

http://www.homepagedaily.com/uploads/20091216/6809d728-a912-4984-b248-58b70e5fba54/100274-56268-ralph-wiggum_large.jpg

[swede]

Ya know, I thought I would see some intelligent discussion about Blackmon's switch when I clicked on this topic. This place is usually pretty good for that.

This time? Nope. Just more panicky exaggerations about how bad Jarrett Bush sucks instead. Yay.

http://www.homepagedaily.com/uploads/20091216/6809d728-a912-4984-b248-58b70e5fba54/100274-56268-ralph-wiggum_large.jpg

He's the flavor of the month.

[falco]

I agree Bush is our weak link at corner and should have been upgraded a long time ago (shame on you TT).

But I'd still take him over Carroll, Thomas, or (ugh) Hawthorne.

[vince]

I think this is Bush's last chance, and I'd say he's on the outside looking in at Woodson, Harris, Williams, Lee and Underwood.

If Harris isn't ready, Bush or Bell will have to do for six weeks as the last CB.

Moving Blackmon to safety gives the team the greatest value for special teams and makes Blackmon instead of Bush the roving DB/Special Teams specialist. That's an upgrade in my book.

Keeping only five CB's (plus Blackmon in a pinch) will allow for 4 safeties (Collins, Burnett, Bigby and Martin), plus Blackmon in a pinch.

Stash Kahlil Jones, Sam Shields and find another corner for the practice squad for development and injury insurance and they're set.

[RashanGary]

I think Josh Bell is going to make it. Even though he screwed up that Steeler play, there is something about the way he plays, you kind of get the feeling he knows what he's doing. Unfortunately, that's not the case with a lot of our backup DB's.

[vince]

I see what you're saying JH. I think he's serviceable, and could stick especially if there are injury issues from the others that have to be dealt with at cut-down time.

I just don't think he'll be better than a healthy Lee or Underwoood this year. And if there's a tough choice to make there, perhaps he has his work cut out for him not being one of Ted's original chosen ones.

[Joemailman]

I think Josh Bell is going to make it. Even though he screwed up that Steeler play, there is something about the way he plays, you kind of get the feeling he knows what he's doing. Unfortunately, that's not the case with a lot of our backup DB's.

Josh Bell started 5 games for Denver in 2008. On the Steeler play, he was guilty of not knowing where his safety help was. That can at least partially be attributed to lack of familiarity with the defense. He had only been with the team for about 3 weeks at that time. I think he makes the team at CB along with Woodson, Harris, Williams, Underwood and Lee, with Collins, Bigby, Burnett and Blackmon at Safety. Jarrett Bush, Derrick Martin and Charlie Peprah battle it out for the final DB/ST position. Did I forget anyone?

[vince]

I'd say those are all of the viable candidates Joe, unless someone like Jones shocks the world in camp and preseason.

The camp bodies you didn't mention are D.J. Clark, Trevor Ford, Kahlil Jones, Anthony Levine, and Sam Shields.

Derrick Martin became a valuable special teamer before he got hurt late last year. He helped spearhead an improved squad in the second half of the season. I think that last spot in that scenario would be his to lose because of the dire need for improvement on special teams. I suspect that Peprah may be a better safety though.

[get louder at lambeau]

So last year there were 10 DBs on the 53 man roster for opening day- 5 CBs, 4 Safeties, and a CB/S, like vince's prediction above.

CBs-
Woodson (starter)
Harris (starter)
Williams (sub)
Blackmon (not active)
Underwood (not active)

Safeties-
Collins (starter)
Bigby (starter)
Martin (sub)
Rouse (sub)

CB/S-
Bush (sub)


Just for reference, Here's the DB roster as of right now, with 18 DBs- 9 CBs, 7 Safeties, and 2 CB/S-

CBs-
Woodson
Harris
Williams
Underwood
Bell
Lee
Sam Shields
Trevor Ford
D.J. Clark


Safeties-
Collins
Bigby
Martin
Burnett
Peprah
Kahlil Jones
Anthony Levine

CB/S-
Bush
Blackmon

[falco]

I know others are less high on our secondary, but I think we have a very good bunch. I think our depth will be better than last year (even just by improving from within) and hopefully we won't face the same injuries.

[falco]

FWIW, I just have a gut feeling Blackmon isn't on this team on opening day. Not sure why.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Blackmon, in my opinion, was never that competent at CB. I like him as a S.

Underwood will start at some point this year. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see Williams and Underwood as CB's and Woodson at S. :)

[get louder at lambeau]

My wild guess at this point is that the Packers keep 11 DBs. They can use the roster spot that was used on the 3rd FB last year to shore up depth in the defensive backfield.

Here's a list of 12. I figure one of them, at random, will be injured before the season starts, making the final 11-


CBs-
Woodson
Harris
Williams
Underwood
Bell
Lee

Safeties-
Collins
Bigby
Martin
Burnett


CB/S-
Bush
Blackmon