TOUGH ROSTER DECISIONS AHEAD

[Bretsky]

Nice article by the best beat writer in the NFL

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/packers14-co6fkt7-166068776.html

[pittstang5]

Nice article by the best beat writer in the NFL

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/packers14-co6fkt7-166068776.html

If some of these injured guys don't come back soon, the decisions will be easier.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

My 53 man roster:

QB: Rodgers, Harrell (Coleman to ps)
FB: Kuhn
RB: Benson, Starks, Green
WR: Jennings, Nelson, Jones, Cobb, Driver, Gurley
TE: Finley, Williams, Crabtree, Taylor (Quarless on pup to start the season. Taylor cut when he comes back)
C: Saturday, Genius
G: Sitton, Lang, EDS, Wells
T: Bulaga, Newhouse, Sherrod (*Wells, Dalko to ps)

NT: Raji, Pickett
DE: Worthy, Daniels, Wilson, Merling, Muir (Neal and Hargrove suspended to start the year. Neal eventually takes Merling's spot and Hargrove takes Muir's spot)
ILB: Hawk, Smith, Lattimore, Jones (Manning on week 1 roster, then moved to the PS once Walden comes back. Bishop to IR. Dezman Moses to ps)
OLB: Matthews, Perry, Walden, Zombo, Soto
CB: Woodson, Williams, House, Hayward, Shields, Bush
FS: Burnett
SS: Jennings, McMillian (*Woodson)

K: Crosby
P: Masthay
LS: Goode

Some notable cuts: Saine, Wynn, Borel, and Francois. The one is was on the fence about the most was Francois. Good chance he beats out Lattimore or Jones for a roster spot.
Other ps considerations: Guy, Tyler, Ross, Turner, Cooper, and Van Roten.

[Kiwon]

So will the Packers go with 2 or 3 QBs?

[Fritz]

My 53 man roster:

QB: Rodgers, Harrell (Coleman to ps)
FB: Kuhn
RB: Benson, Starks, Green
WR: Jennings, Nelson, Jones, Cobb, Driver, Gurley
TE: Finley, Williams, Crabtree, Taylor (Quarless on pup to start the season. Taylor cut when he comes back)
C: Saturday, Genius
G: Sitton, Lang, EDS, Wells
T: Bulaga, Newhouse, Sherrod (*Wells, Dalko to ps)

NT: Raji, Pickett
DE: Worthy, Daniels, Wilson, Merling, Muir (Neal and Hargrove suspended to start the year. Neal eventually takes Merling's spot and Hargrove takes Muir's spot)
ILB: Hawk, Smith, Lattimore, Jones (Manning on week 1 roster, then moved to the PS once Walden comes back. Bishop to IR. Dezman Moses to ps)
OLB: Matthews, Perry, Walden, Zombo, Soto
CB: Woodson, Williams, House, Hayward, Shields, Bush
FS: Burnett
SS: Jennings, McMillian (*Woodson)

K: Crosby
P: Masthay
LS: Goode

Some notable cuts: Saine, Wynn, Borel, and Francois. The one is was on the fence about the most was Francois. Good chance he beats out Lattimore or Jones for a roster spot.
Other ps considerations: Guy, Tyler, Ross, Turner, Cooper, and Van Roten.

I disagree on a couple of counts. First of all, I think Merling's going to be gone and the Pack will keep six defensive linemen. I'm hoping Lawrence "Justa" Guy will land on the practive squad. Then when Neal and Hargrove come back, it's decision time.

I also think that Saine has a better chance of making the team at this point than Starks. Saine is available and consistent in his assignments and can pass block and catch. Starks seems to have lost some focus, and now he's hurt - again. I don't think he's so talented that MM will keep waiting on him.

I also don't think, based on what little I've read, that Genus makes it. He seems not to be standing out. I think instead, a guy like Levine has a chance to stick just because of his ST play (if it's good enough).

Nor do I think Zombo makes it. He hasn't been available to play since 1987.

I do think the Pack will try to figure out how to keep Coleman on the roster. OR maybe when they PS him, if someone tries to make a grab they'll promote him immediately. I just think he seems to have shown enough to keep, since QB is such a crucial position.

Finally, I think it'll be Borel over Gurley. Gurley seems to be kind of a one-trick pony.

[Pugger]

So will the Packers go with 2 or 3 QBs?


It will depend upon how Coleman performs in these preseason games. If he shows promise MM and TT may fear they might not be able to sneak him onto the PS.

[smuggler]

I sort of thing Moses (an OLB, by the way) would be tough to stash on the PS. It depends, as Pugger suggests, on performance in the rest of the preseason. Also, Brad Jones does everything, he just does it terribly. I'm hoping for him to get the fuck out.

[Fritz]

Anybody know how good So'oto is on special teams? He doesn't appear to be standing out so far as a linebacker. Wonder what happened? He was our wonder boy last preseason.

[smuggler]

From my understanding, he can play on the units but isn't that good on ST.

Here's my stab at the 53.

Passers 2
12 - Rodgers
6 - Harrell

Running Backs 5
32 - Benson
44 - Starks
20 - Green
33 - Saine
30 - Kuhn

Wide Receivers 6
85 - Jennings
87 - Nelson
18 - Cobb
89 - Jones
80 - Driver
19 - Borel

Tight Ends 3
88 - Finley
84 - Williams
83 - Crabtree

O-Linemen 8
74 - Newhouse
70 - Lang
63 - Saturday
71 - Sitton
75 - Bulaga
68 - Wells
62 - Dietrich-Smith
60 - Draheim

D-Linemen 7
90 - Raji
79 - Pickett
99 - Worthy
76 - Daniels
98 - Wilson
77 - Muir
69 - Merling

Outside Backers 4
52 - Matthews
53 - Perry
54 - Moses
97 - So'oto

Inside Backers 5
51 - Smith
50 - Hawk
49 - Francois
56 - Manning
57 - Lattimore

D-Backs 10
21 - Woodson
42 - Burnett
43 - Jennings
22 - McMillian
38 - Williams
31 - House
37 - Shields
29 - Hayward
24 - Bush

Specialists 3
61 - Goode
2 - Crosby
8 - Masthay

Injured Reserve
55 - Bishop

PUP List
78 - Sherrod could replace Wells when he returns
81 - Quarless could replace Driver/Borel or Benson/Starks/Saine if he isn't placed on IR
58 - Zombo could be cut or placed on IR, or might replace So'oto or Moses

Suspended List
93 - Walden [1] could replace So'oto or Moses when he returns in wk 2
95 - Hargrove [8] could be cut or could replace Merling, Muir, Neal, or Wilson when he returns in wk 9
96 - Neal [4] could be cut or could replace Merling, Muir, or Wilson when he returns in wk 5

[Smidgeon]

I disagree on a couple of counts. First of all, I think Merling's going to be gone and the Pack will keep six defensive linemen. I'm hoping Lawrence "Justa" Guy will land on the practive squad. Then when Neal and Hargrove come back, it's decision time.

I also think that Saine has a better chance of making the team at this point than Starks. Saine is available and consistent in his assignments and can pass block and catch. Starks seems to have lost some focus, and now he's hurt - again. I don't think he's so talented that MM will keep waiting on him.

I also don't think, based on what little I've read, that Genus makes it. He seems not to be standing out. I think instead, a guy like Levine has a chance to stick just because of his ST play (if it's good enough).

Nor do I think Zombo makes it. He hasn't been available to play since 1987.

I do think the Pack will try to figure out how to keep Coleman on the roster. OR maybe when they PS him, if someone tries to make a grab they'll promote him immediately. I just think he seems to have shown enough to keep, since QB is such a crucial position.

Finally, I think it'll be Borel over Gurley. Gurley seems to be kind of a one-trick pony.

That's if he gets through waivers the first day.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Manning wouldn't last on PS

[smuggler]

Let's be real. With Bishop getting hurt, Manning is going to make the team.

[BobDobbs]

Moses is definitely not going to the practice squad. They've got him running as Clay's backup and he looked really good to me on special teams last game. That will be enough to get him onto the 45 during the season. That's the same reason that Taylor will not be cut. They really like him on special teams. They basically drafted him to play teams.

If McGinn is right about where Manning was scouted (and he usually is) then we have to cut him or keep him. I wouldn't keep Francois over Manning.

I would be surprised if we kept 7 DL. We run a 3-4, we've got a couple guys in the bullpen, and we didn't even have 6 active DL every week last year. It's going to be a t help tough choice, but we just have to make it and live with it I think. Those DL don't help us contain Ginn Jr., Hester, and Sproles on returns enough to justify carrying them.

I also don't think that Borel or Gurley have done enough to make the team. They may play themselves onto the team this preseason, but if cuts happened today you have to get rid of them.

[smuggler]

I concede the point about Taylor.

Cutting from 7 to six DL means you can only keep one of Neal/Hargove/Muir/Merling. Since you're certain we'll be cutting Hargrove or Neal, care to wager a guess which it will be? I suppose, if there's an injury and a player goes on IR, it might be neither.

I guess we would keep Brad Jones on special teams if we cut down to 5WR. All it takes to keep the 6th WR is for that player to be as good in teams play as Jones.

[Fritz]

What's with all the Phillip Merling love? I thought I'd read he was having a very lukewarm preseason.

[smuggler]

Neal and Hargrove are going to be gone for the first 4 weeks, so he's facing reduced competition. Plus, Jarius Wynn...

[RashanGary]

I still think AJ Hawk is going to be cut. He's the opposite of a play-maker. He's steady eddie. They say Robert Francois is steady eddie too. One is making under a million, the other 6.

[mission]

What's with all the Phillip Merling love? I thought I'd read he was having a very lukewarm preseason.

I've read in a couple spots that he's really come on the last couple of weeks. He's more of a run-stuffing base end in the 3-4 and guys like that have a little harder time standing out during pass rush drills and patty-cake walkthrough practices.

Now Manning, on the other hand, he hasn't done anything afaik. Moses will be on the active roster... he looks very good on special teams.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I disagree on a couple of counts. First of all, I think Merling's going to be gone and the Pack will keep six defensive linemen. I'm hoping Lawrence "Justa" Guy will land on the practive squad. Then when Neal and Hargrove come back, it's decision time.

I also think that Saine has a better chance of making the team at this point than Starks. Saine is available and consistent in his assignments and can pass block and catch. Starks seems to have lost some focus, and now he's hurt - again. I don't think he's so talented that MM will keep waiting on him.

I also don't think, based on what little I've read, that Genus makes it. He seems not to be standing out. I think instead, a guy like Levine has a chance to stick just because of his ST play (if it's good enough).

Nor do I think Zombo makes it. He hasn't been available to play since 1987.

I do think the Pack will try to figure out how to keep Coleman on the roster. OR maybe when they PS him, if someone tries to make a grab they'll promote him immediately. I just think he seems to have shown enough to keep, since QB is such a crucial position.

Finally, I think it'll be Borel over Gurley. Gurley seems to be kind of a one-trick pony.

Fair points. Regarding 7 d lineman though, TT has showed that he is willing to keep a pretty unbalanced roster if a lot of players in a position group have played well. With that said it wouldn't be surprised if he only kept Raji, Pickett, Worthy, Daniels, and Wilson and cut everyone else. Having Neal and Hargrove coming mid season allows him to do that.

[Lurker64]

I really think that Datko and Coleman aren't guys you can hide on the PS. When you're talking "a rocket-armed QB with swagger and the drive to be great" and "a mammoth human being with left tackle movement skills who just needs to get healthy, and get in the weight room" those aren't necessarily guys who will clear waivers when you're talking about a team that leads the NFL in "guys claimed off of waivers/PS" over the past few years.

So my 53:

Specialists(3): Crosby/Goode/Masthay

Offense(24)
QBs(3): Rodgers, Harrell, Coleman
WRs(5): Jennings, Nelson, Cobb, Jones, Driver
TEs(4): Finley, Crabtree, Williams, Taylor.
RBs(4): Green, Starks, Saine, Kuhn
OL (8): Bulaga, Newhouse, Sitton, Lang, Saturday, EDS, Wells, Datko

Defense (26)
DL(6): Raji, Worthy, Pickett, Wilson, Daniels, Merling
OLBs(5):Matthews, Perry, Moses, So'oto, Jones
ILBs(5): Hawk, Smith, Francois, Lattimore, Manning
DBs(10): Woodson, Tramon, House, Bush, Shields, Hayward, Burnett, Doc Jennings, McMillan, Levine.

Suspended(3): Walden, Neal, Hargrove
PUP(2): Quarless, Sherrod
IR(1): Bishop.

Week 2, cut Terrell Manning, add Erik Walden. Manning to PS. Week 4, 6, 8 cuts more complicated.

Coleman and Datko can share the "Breno Giacomini Memorial Redshirt year"

[rbaloha1]

As long as TT is involved with drafting, trading and acquiring Packer talent, final roster decisions shall be a continual problem.

Some of the interesting position battles are:

wr - imo Driver is cut. Cobb can fulfill DD's role. Borel and Gurley are too good not to be part of the final roster.

te - imo Crabtree is cut. Still never understood why Crabtree remains on the roster.

dl - imo Muir and Merling make the roster. Both are active and hungry. Wynn and Neal are cut.

lb - imo Hawk sticks due to Bishop's injury. Manning makes the roster.

secondary - imo shields and bush are on the bubble. The House injury probably saved shields.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I really think that Datko and Coleman aren't guys you can hide on the PS. When you're talking "a rocket-armed QB with swagger and the drive to be great" and "a mammoth human being with left tackle movement skills who just needs to get healthy, and get in the weight room" those aren't necessarily guys who will clear waivers when you're talking about a team that leads the NFL in "guys claimed off of waivers" over the past few years.

So my 53:

Specialists(3): Crosby/Goode/Masthay

Offense(24)
QBs(3): Rodgers, Harrell, Coleman
WRs(5): Jennings, Nelson, Cobb, Jones, Driver
TEs(4): Finley, Crabtree, Williams, Taylor.
RBs(4): Green, Starks, Saine, Kuhn
OL (8): Bulaga, Newhouse, Sitton, Lang, Saturday, EDS, Wells, Datko

Defense (26)
DL(6): Raji, Worthy, Pickett, Wilson, Daniels, Merling
OLBs(5):Matthews, Perry, Moses, So'oto, Jones
ILBs(5): Hawk, Smith, Francois, Lattimore, Manning
DBs(10): Woodson, Tramon, House, Bush, Shields, Hayward, Burnett, Doc Jennings, McMillan, Levine.

Suspended(3): Walden, Neal, Hargrove
PUP(2): Quarless, Sherrod
IR(1): Bishop.

Week 2, cut Terrell Manning, add Erik Walden. Manning to PS. Week 4, 6, 8 cuts more complicated.

Coleman and Datko can share the "Breno Giacomini Memorial Redshirt year"

Not too far off my projections right now, but I think Benson makes it over the extra LB (So'oto or Manning). Not sure about Coleman and Datko. TT has a better feel for who would get through or not than me.
:)

[RashanGary]

Rodgers, Harrell

Benson, Green, Saine

Kuhn

Finley, Williams, Crabtree, Taylor

Newhouse, Lang, Saturday, Sitton, Bulaga, Dietrich Smith, Wells, Datko, Dominguez, Van Rotten

Nelson, Jennings, Jones, Cobb, Driver


Raji, Worthy, Daniels, Pickett, Wilson, Muir

Matthews, Perry, Moses, B Jones, Smith, Hawk (unfortunately), Francois, Lattimore, Manning

Tramon, House, Shields, Hayward, Bush

Woodson, Burnett, Jennings, McMillan, Levine


Crosby, Masthay, Goode

[Joemailman]

QB (3) Rogers, Harrell, Coleman
RB (5) Benson, Green, Starks, Saine, Kuhn
WR (5) Cobb, Driver, Jennings, Jones, Nelson
TE (4) Crabtree, Finley, Taylor, Williams
OL (8) Saturday, EDS, Lang, Sitton, Wells, Bulaga, Datko, Newhouse
DL (6) Wilson, Worthy, Daniels, Muir, Pickett, Raji
LB (9) Francois, Lattimore, Hawk, Manning, Matthews, Moses, Perry, Smith, So'oto,
DB (10) Shields, Williams, Bush, Hayward, House, Woodson, Jennings, McMillian Burnett, Devine
ST (3) Crosby, Masthay, Goode

IR Bishop
PUP Sherrod, Quarless

Suspension: Neal, Hargrove, Walden

Possible surprise: Starks could be cut if Saine is healthy.

[HarveyWallbangers]

QB (3) Rogers, Harrell, Coleman
RB (5) Benson, Green, Starks, Saine, Kuhn
WR (5) Cobb, Driver, Jennings, Jones, Nelson
TE (4) Crabtree, Finley, Taylor, Williams
OL (8) Saturday, EDS, Lang, Sitton, Wells, Bulaga, Datko, Newhouse
DL (6) Wilson, Worthy, Daniels, Muir, Pickett, Raji
LB (9) Francois, Lattimore, Hawk, Manning, Matthews, Moses, Perry, Smith, So'oto,
DB (10) Shields, Williams, Bush, Hayward, House, Woodson, Jennings, McMillian Burnett, Devine
ST (3) Crosby, Masthay, Goode

IR Bishop
PUP Sherrod, Quarless

Suspension: Neal, Hargrove, Walden

Possible surprise: Starks could be cut if Saine is healthy.

This is how I see it--except I think there will be one less LB and perhaps one more WR. Walden is only out one week, so they could roll with 8 LBs in week 1. The last safety spot could go to Sean Richardson. If House needs surgery, then add him to IR (putting Ross on the team).

[Patler]

I see Jones making it ahead of So'oto, based on versatility and special teams play. It has been written recently that Jones is becoming one of the real leaders on ST's, and that So'oto still struggles with even contributing on STs. If Jones is at least reliable to do things right at all LB positions, and is a leader/contributer on special teams, he becomes very valuable on game day active rosters. The biggest drawback on Jones has been injuries.

[mraynrand]

The biggest drawback on Jones has been injuries.

and lack of talent

[rbaloha1]

I see Jones making it ahead of So'oto, based on versatility and special teams play. It has been written recently that Jones is becoming one of the real leaders on ST's, and that So'oto still struggles with even contributing on STs. If Jones is at least reliable to do things right at all LB positions, and is a leader/contributer on special teams, he becomes very valuable on game day active rosters. The biggest drawback on Jones has been injuries.

Agreed. Jones versatility wins the spot over So'oto pass rushing skills.