Official Final Stab At 53 Man Roster Thread

[Joemailman]

QB (2) Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn
RB (2) Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson
FB (3) John Kuhn, Korey Hall, Quinn Johnson
WR (5) Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Brett Swain
TE (4) Jermichael Finley, Spencer Havner, Andrew Quarless Donald Lee
OL (9) Chad Clifton, Daryn Colledge, Scott Wells, Josh Sitton Mark Tauscher, Bryan Bulaga, T.J. Lang, EDS, Marshall Newhouse
DL (6) Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji, Cullen Jenkins, Mike Neal, Justin Harrell, Jarius Wynn
LB (8) Clay Matthews, A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett, Brad Jones, Brandon Chillar, Desmond Bishop, Brady Poppinga, Frank Zombo
CB (6) Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Pat Lee, Sam Shields, Jarrett Bush, Trade acquisition
S (5) Nick Collins, Morgan Burnett, Will Blackmon, Derrick Martin, Charlie Peprah
ST (3) Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode

Traded: Jason Spitz :( , Breno Giacomini

IR: Brandon Underwood

Practice Squad:

Graham Harrell, Pat Williams, Jason Chery, Tom Crabtree, Nick McDonald, C.J. Wilson, Cyril Obiozor, Anthony Levine

[vince]

That looks pretty good I'd say. It's really a crapshoot once you get to about 48-49. The last spot at just about every position group could go a couple different ways.

I don't think Newhouse is ready yet, but I said that about Lang last year after he had a somewhat shaky preseason.

I don't know if you can get a CB of the same caliber of Spitz as an OL in trade. CB's are in greater demand. Guys that can play CB aren't traded. You may be just about as well off claiming a guy for free. Having Bulaga, Lang and Spitz as the dressed backups/injury replacements on game day looks pretty good to me.

I wouldn't rule out adding an OLB after cut-down day, particularly given the fact that hamstrings can nag and reoccur (Matthews), and Jones is wearing a restrictive shoulder harness in order to play. After the 2 injured starters, you've got a guy with a decent bull-rush for a pass rush repertoire, a non-drafted rookie FA, and a first-year non-drafted FA that has never demonstrated the ability to get to the QB. Baltimore and Pittsburgh both may have to cut 1 that might be able to play.

[Ballboy]

Gotta agree with most:

1) Something is up with Blackmon, wouldn't be surprised if he is cut or IR/PUP.

2) We need a nickel back. Hopefully someone cuts an older, yet servicable DB that we can use for the first 6 weeks. If I'm going against this current defense, I'm going 3-4 wide every time, finding where the 3rd & 4th DB are.

3) I think Zombo outplayed Obi last night, not that Zombo did anything great, I just simply didn't see Obi in on any plays. You can't teach hustle, and Zombo seems to have it. Wouldn't be surprised if we add OLB off the scrap heap.

[bobblehead]

I think QJohnson goes and we may keep 5 TE's. Frankenfullbacker might line up in the backfield more often :P

I think Obiozor makes the team. At who's expense I have no clue.

We likely deal spitz as they seem to believe EDS is younger and equal. Bulaga backing up LG makes it possible.

Its also likely TT shocks us all and cuts about 2 other bubble players and picks up other teams cuts. Shields and Bush seem unlikely, but possible. Blackman and Peprah also seems unlikely but we really have no reliable return guy....is Jordy the man...I think not.

The problem is no one wants to trade for fringe guys at this point until they see the cuts. We probably don't want to cut anyone who can contribute as we think we have a shot at running it this year.

The only thing I am certain of is that we will all go WTF at a couple of moves.

Edit: After thinking it over I think Quarless is cut as well. My reasoning is in the "they will play elsewhere thread" although I'm not convinced Quarless plays elsewhere, I think we want him on the PS if possible.

[Joemailman]

I don't think Quarless would last 5 minutes on the PS before someone signed him.

What I can't figure out is who is going to return kickoffs. I think they will reserve Blackmon for just punt returns.

[Tarlam!]

Since the QB Harrell won't make it through waivers, I would not be surprised to see his name on the list.

[Patler]

I will be surprised if they expose Quarless to waivers. He might not be ready now, but neither was Finley a couple years ago.

Quarless has the potential to be a reasonable back-up plan if in a couple years Finley becomes too expensive to resign.

[Patler]

Since the QB Harrell won't make it through waivers, I would not be surprised to see his name on the list.

If I was a fringe QB talent like Harrell, I would have to think long and hard about accepting a #3 (no one will sign him as a #2 yet) for another team, versus spending a year with the Packers on PS. With the reputation the Packers have built for developing QBs, another year under MM/Clement might be the better long-term career investment.

Besides, if the Packers trade Flynn before next season, Harrell might be the one to move up to #2 if all goes well.

[Tarlam!]

Since the QB Harrell won't make it through waivers, I would not be surprised to see his name on the list.

If I was a fringe QB talent like Harrell, I would have to think long and hard about accepting a #3 (no one will sign him as a #2 yet) for another team, versus spending a year with the Packers on PS. With the reputation the Packers have built for developing QBs, another year under MM/Clement might be the better long-term career investment.

Besides, if the Packers trade Flynn before next season, Harrell might be the one to move up to #2 if all goes well.

Agree, but his agent will be saying "Money talks, bullshit walks" and he'd be gone.

I hope they do stash him on the PS and use a valuable spot for an OL or a DL. I just have a hunch.

[Brandon494]

Lee would be cut before Quarless

[Patler]

Since the QB Harrell won't make it through waivers, I would not be surprised to see his name on the list.

If I was a fringe QB talent like Harrell, I would have to think long and hard about accepting a #3 (no one will sign him as a #2 yet) for another team, versus spending a year with the Packers on PS. With the reputation the Packers have built for developing QBs, another year under MM/Clement might be the better long-term career investment.

Besides, if the Packers trade Flynn before next season, Harrell might be the one to move up to #2 if all goes well.

Agree, but his agent will be saying "Money talks, bullshit walks" and he'd be gone.

I hope they do stash him on the PS and use a valuable spot for an OL or a DL. I just have a hunch.

I don't think that's true. The money Harrell would get elsewhere right now would be peanuts for him and the agent compared to the potential of multi-year contract a year or two down the road.

A good agent will be looking for the best career development plan, not necessarily current salary.

[Tarlam!]

I wanna be wrong and maybe that's why I pontificate. I am mostly wrong.

[Joemailman]

Lee would be cut before Quarless

I don't think so. If Finley gets hurt (He missed 3 games last year), I don't think MM would feel Quarless is ready to start. Lee is.

[Patler]

Lee would be cut before Quarless

I don't think so. If Finley gets hurt (He missed 3 games last year), I don't think MM would feel Quarless is ready to start. Lee is.

That's what makes Crabtree the most likely odd-man out.

Lee - the only good alternative if Finley goes down.
Quarless - enough potential to be a reason not to pay Finley in a couple years.
Havner - solid ST, valuable game day player backing up two positions.

Crabtree - solid ST and blocker, but less likely to be active on game days than either Lee (2nd TE) or Havner (STs TE and LB). To have 4 TEs active on game day is unlikely.

Even if they kept all 5, Quarless & Crabtree would be game day inactives, if all are healthy. That negates the reason to keep Crabtree.

They will try to get him to PS, but if it doesn't work, no big deal.

[Tarlam!]

They will try to get him to PS, but if it doesn't work, no big deal.

Hey, I'm the only Rat around here with a license to drink heavy in the morning.

[Patler]

They will try to get him to PS, but if it doesn't work, no big deal.

Hey, I'm the only Rat around here with a license to drink heavy in the morning.

Crabtree is this years edition of Joey Haynos. I hated to see the Dolphins snatch Haynos from the Packers' PS, but after he left, Havner developed and now Crabtree shows up.

One-dimensional TEs are not hard to find, be it a blocker or a pass-catcher. Finding ones that are reasonably competent at both is more difficult. Finding someone who excels at one and is reasonably competent at the other is even more difficult, and finding one who excels at both, well.....

[Tarlam!]

You might be right.

[vince]

Thought I'd post what Demovsky thinks TT will do, primarily since he's the only guy I've seen recently that projects Bush to be cut...


Projecting the 53-man roster
Posted by Rob Demovsky September 3rd, 2010, 1:16 pm

NFL teams have to make their final roster cuts by tomorrow afternoon. Here’s a position-by-position look at the Green Bay Packers’ projected 53. This is not what I would do if I were the general manager of the Packers but rather this is a projection of what GM Ted Thompson will do. It is based on observations from practice and preseason games and interviews with coaches and scouts.

Quarterbacks (2)
Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn

Running backs (5)
Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, Korey Hall, John Kuhn, Quinn Johnson

Receivers (5)
Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Brett Swain

Tight ends (4)
Jermichael Finley, Donald Lee, Spencer Havner, Andrew Quarless

Offensive line (9)
Chad Clifton, Daryn Colledge, Scott Wells, Josh Sitton, Mark Tauscher, Bryan Bulaga, Jason Spitz, T.J. Lang, Marshall Newhouse

Defensive line (7)
Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji, Cullen Jenkins, Mike Neal, Justin Harrell, C.J. Wilson, Jarius Wynn

Linebackers (8)
Clay Matthews, Brad Jones, Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Brandon Chillar, Desmond Bishop, Brady Poppinga, Frank Zombo

Defensive backs (10)
Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Nick Collins, Morgan Burnett, Brandon Underwood, Sam Shields, Pat Lee, Derrick Martin, Charlie Peprah, Will Blackmon

Specialists (3)
Mason Crosby (K), Tim Masthay (P), Brett Goode (LS)

Notes
* Last four in: Quinn Johnson, Will Blackmon, Jarius Wynn, Marshall Newhouse

* First four out: TE Tom Crabtree, C Evan Dietrich-Smith, RB Kregg Lumpkin, CB/S Jarrett Bush

* In at least one way, this is a flawed exercise because it’s almost certain that Thompson will add a player or two either off the waiver wire or via a trade tomorrow before the deadline to reduce rosters to 53 players. Also, he could trade a backup player he was intending to keep if the offer is good enough.

* Blackmon’s recurring knee problems have thrown a wrench into the whole thing. If Blackmon can’t play – and for the sake of this exercise I’m assuming he’s healthy enough to keep on the roster – then the Packers probably have to find themselves a return man. Jason Chery didn’t get it done last night against Kansas City. Already, the Packers have ruled out Blackmon as a possible backup safety. The former cornerback just didn’t get enough practice time at his new position. By keeping him, it forces the Packers to keep 10 defensive backs.

* At the start of camp, it didn’t seem possible they would keep three fullbacks. Johnson does seem like a one-trick pony, but his ability to block in short-yardage situations is unmatched. His problem is he doesn’t play special teams, while Hall and Kuhn are core special teams players, so they can’t be cut. The Packers can get by with only two true halfbacks because Kuhn can be the emergency third halfback. It probably comes down to the fact the third fullback is better/more valuable than the third halfback.

* The Packers used so many number one special teams reps on Crabtree that it’s hard to imagine them cutting him. However, he’s the most expendable of the tight ends. He’s more NFL ready than Quarless, but they drafted Quarless on his potential and will want to see that through. They need to keep Lee because if there’s any injury to Finley, Lee would be the starter. Havner is too valuable as a three-way player – on offense, defense and special teams.

* In the last few days, there’s been talk that Zombo is on the bubble. I’m not buying it. He’s played well ahead of Cyril Obiozor the entire camp.

* Defensive line was tough because of Harrell. If they think he can stay healthy, then he’s a keeper for sure. But if they’re worried that his bad back will go out in a few weeks, then they’ll probably dump him.

* I could still see Thompson going with Bryan as his punter over Masthay largely because they love the fact that Bryan has been a pro athlete before from his days playing Australian Rules Football. But if they’re truly going off the entire body of work, then Masthay should be the guy.

– Rob Demovsky, rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think Rob's pretty close to my projections.

Those that I could see going either way:

Kregg Lumpkin vs. Quinn Johnson
Marshall Newhouse vs. Evan Dietrich-Smith
Jarrett Bush could get in with the injuries in the backfield. One of the DL could be out.

[MichiganPackerFan]

I think one of the players I'm most disappointed in is Quinn Johnson. Last year I was excited by how punishing he was and I just don't see that anymore.

[falco]

Any idea what time we will see the final roster?

[retailguy]

Any idea what time we will see the final roster?

That depends on how much Ted wants to keep the guys he's waiving. If he really wants to put them on the PS, he'll let the "market get flooded" first.

He'll also delay announcing his cuts if he's working on a trade.

[falco]

Any idea what time we will see the final roster?

That depends on how much Ted wants to keep the guys he's waiving. If he really wants to put them on the PS, he'll let the "market get flooded" first.

He'll also delay announcing his cuts if he's working on a trade.

This doesn't make sense to me... don't waivers last for a certain amount of time after cutdowns are due? I'm guessing most teams are going to wait until after all the cutdowns occur, analyze the talent there, and then make their claims.

[Patler]

If he is working on trades, there is no reason to announce the cuts until the bitter end, or until a trade or trades have been completed or talks ended. Once he makes the cuts, he loses the trade options for those players.

[Fritz]

Seeing what he can get for Patrick Williams?