Bretsky
08-25-2006, 11:29 PM
Packers prepare to unleash young lions
A dozen rookies could make the team
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 25, 2006
As the Green Bay Packers approach the final week of the exhibition season and continue work on finalizing their 53-man roster, one thing is clear:
Linebacker A.J. Hawk is the only Packers rookie expected to start on defense.
They're going to be a young football team.
With the first cut scheduled for Tuesday, as many as 11 of the team's 12 draft choices plus at least four rookie free agents are still contending for roster spots. Considering the team carried 13 rookies and first-year players on its opening day roster last year, it's possible nearly half the team will be made up of players with no more than one year of National Football League experience.
When general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy make their final decisions a week from today, they'll be asking themselves how many rookies they can keep this year without compromising their chance of being a winning team.
"You try to make the best decision you can for the football team," Thompson said. "There's always a tradeoff with rookies. If they're the better players and better athletes, then that's a plus. They'll probably make more mistakes than a veteran, but we have to be honest: Veterans don't always play perfect games."
Though Thompson refuses to label the Packers a rebuilding team, there's no question that in the two years he has been general manager they have loaded up on draft picks (23 total) and tried to replace departed veterans with young talent rather than free agents.
With the 2006 class, seven of the 12 draft picks are locks to make the team and several others are making strong bids. Throw in undrafted free agents like running back Arliss Beach, end Jason Hunter, safety Tra Boger and tackle Josh Bourke, all of whom have legitimate shots, and the Packers could have a dozen rookies on the squad on opening day.
That doesn't even include first-year players (non-rookies with little or no NFL experience) such as receiver Ruvell Martin, punter Jon Ryan and tight end Tory Humphrey, who also have decent shots at making the team.
It all means that McCarthy could be coaching one of the youngest teams in the NFL this year.
"My outlook is, I think youth, I think injuries, I think all that is an excuse," McCarthy said. "It may be an unrealistic approach, but that's the approach I'm taking. I think in this business you're dealt a hand of cards. It's our job to get it done with that hand of cards."
It's certainly not ideal for a first-year coaching staff hoping to establish itself as a winner to go into a season with so many rookies. On offense, both guards and a starting wide receiver could be rookies and that could slow the pace for the entire unit.
On defense, the only rookie expected to start is first-round pick A.J. Hawk, who in the opinion of many experts was ready as any other draft choice to play in the NFL. The vulnerability will be with the backups, where rookies might be forced into action at key positions because of injury.
A dozen rookies could make the team
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 25, 2006
As the Green Bay Packers approach the final week of the exhibition season and continue work on finalizing their 53-man roster, one thing is clear:
Linebacker A.J. Hawk is the only Packers rookie expected to start on defense.
They're going to be a young football team.
With the first cut scheduled for Tuesday, as many as 11 of the team's 12 draft choices plus at least four rookie free agents are still contending for roster spots. Considering the team carried 13 rookies and first-year players on its opening day roster last year, it's possible nearly half the team will be made up of players with no more than one year of National Football League experience.
When general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy make their final decisions a week from today, they'll be asking themselves how many rookies they can keep this year without compromising their chance of being a winning team.
"You try to make the best decision you can for the football team," Thompson said. "There's always a tradeoff with rookies. If they're the better players and better athletes, then that's a plus. They'll probably make more mistakes than a veteran, but we have to be honest: Veterans don't always play perfect games."
Though Thompson refuses to label the Packers a rebuilding team, there's no question that in the two years he has been general manager they have loaded up on draft picks (23 total) and tried to replace departed veterans with young talent rather than free agents.
With the 2006 class, seven of the 12 draft picks are locks to make the team and several others are making strong bids. Throw in undrafted free agents like running back Arliss Beach, end Jason Hunter, safety Tra Boger and tackle Josh Bourke, all of whom have legitimate shots, and the Packers could have a dozen rookies on the squad on opening day.
That doesn't even include first-year players (non-rookies with little or no NFL experience) such as receiver Ruvell Martin, punter Jon Ryan and tight end Tory Humphrey, who also have decent shots at making the team.
It all means that McCarthy could be coaching one of the youngest teams in the NFL this year.
"My outlook is, I think youth, I think injuries, I think all that is an excuse," McCarthy said. "It may be an unrealistic approach, but that's the approach I'm taking. I think in this business you're dealt a hand of cards. It's our job to get it done with that hand of cards."
It's certainly not ideal for a first-year coaching staff hoping to establish itself as a winner to go into a season with so many rookies. On offense, both guards and a starting wide receiver could be rookies and that could slow the pace for the entire unit.
On defense, the only rookie expected to start is first-round pick A.J. Hawk, who in the opinion of many experts was ready as any other draft choice to play in the NFL. The vulnerability will be with the backups, where rookies might be forced into action at key positions because of injury.