Bretsky
09-02-2006, 01:09 AM
Packers might scour other teams' trash for treasures
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 2, 2006
Green Bay - Mining the discard pile isn't the preferred way of roster-building in the National Football League but it looks as if the Green Bay Packers won't have much choice.
The Packers' Carlton Brewster can't handle a punt and turns the ball over to the Titans in the third quarter.
Titans receiver Bobby Wade beats Packers cornerback Jason Horton for a TD in the first quarter.
Exceedingly light at a whole host of positions, the Packers might make more news with whom they add rather than whom they subtract today and in the week leading up to the Chicago opener on Sept. 10.
Last year, general manager Ted Thompson traded for a linebacker, Robert Thomas, on cut-down day and, a few days later, signed free-agent tight end Donald Lee and promoted injured fullback Vonta Leach from the practice squad.
On Friday, Thompson was asked if he would consider it distasteful to enter the regular season with as many as five players on the 53-man roster who weren't with the team during training camp.
"If they were better players, no," Thompson replied. "It's not like those guys have been off sun-bathing."
When you were 4-12 and picked for oblivion, maintaining continuity and rewarding players with months if not years in the Packers' system isn't all that important. The Packers need better players, and it would appear that Thompson might be in the market for help at just about every position with the possible exception of tight end, defensive tackle, middle linebacker and long snapper.
The Packers can only hope that players their scouts have become enamored of this summer become available via trade or are released by 5 p.m. today, when all teams must reach the mandatory 53-man limit.
Thompson said he would review tapes of the Tennessee game Friday night and make tentative decisions on how to pare the 73-man roster. After sleeping on it, he and coach Mike McCarthy will begin delivering the sad news to 20 players by midday.
Here's a look at the final considerations at each position, with the number of players currently on the roster in parentheses followed by the number expected to make it.
Wide receiver (8, 5): Robert Ferguson lost his starting job but should be solid as the No. 3. If nothing else, he would add immeasurably to the sickly special teams.
It's a crapshoot after that. Rod Gardner doesn't run real well anymore and hasn't produced. Cory Rodgers, a fourth-round pick, has been an unadulterated bust. And Ruvell Martin, despite his awareness and size, can't run.
Tight end (5, 3 or 4): The Packers kept four tight ends in 2004 and might do it again if they decide to go with just one fullback.
Lee blocked well against Cincinnati on Monday night. Tory Humphrey showed surprising punch as a lead blocker as a fullback Friday against the Titans.
Offensive line (11, 9 or 10): Besides the five starters and rookie Daryn Colledge, it's a mess. Even Chris White would be expendable if a stronger and more aggressive backup center popped free.
The Packers definitely need a veteran guard. Former Colt Tupe Peko can't move his feet and isn't the answer. And, after the way Colledge appeared to regress Friday, they can't be feeling too secure at backup tackle, either.
Left tackle Josh Bourke, a rookie free agent, showed OK potential but remains out with a calf injury. Junius Coston played well at right tackle in Cincinnati and still has untapped potential, but his capacity to contribute seems minimal.
Quarterbacks: (3, 3): The Packers keep saying rookie Ingle Martin is good enough to keep. But don't kid yourself. If a better long-range alternative is cut, they'd swallow his signing bonus and start over with another No. 3.
Running backs (8, 5 or 6): Ahman Green is a lock. William Henderson looks like a lock. It's clear as mud after that.
If four tight ends make it, Leach looks like a goner even though he did block much better in Cincinnati.
At running back, it's a wasteland after Green. Samkon Gado (2.4-yard average) and Najeh Davenport (2.7) had disappointing summers. Gado has more tools and is a better receiver than Davenport, plus he probably is more durable. Neither seems to fit the zone run game, but in time Gado might have the intellect and resolve to figure it out.
Granted, it came against scrubs, but Noah Herron's big fourth quarter Friday might be enough to earn a roster berth.
Nevertheless, Herron is even slower than Davenport and not even in Gado's ballpark as an athlete.
Rookie free agent Arliss Beach was coach Mike Stock's pick to return kickoffs. Then he damaged an ankle against the Bengals and sat out Friday. Still, he's very much in the picture.
Defensive line (12, 9 or 10): Kenny Peterson might have cut himself by suffering an ankle injury Friday. Assuming Peterson goes, there's a tight three-way fight among Mike Montgomery and rookies Jason Hunter and Dave Tollefson for probably two backup jobs at end.
Montgomery always gives it his all but is limited in every category. Hunter can fly off the edge and has been OK against the run. Tollefson, a try-hard type, showed more Friday than he had all summer.
The Packers don't figure to keep six tackles. After Ryan Pickett, the safe bets are Cullen Jenkins, Corey Williams and Colin Cole. That leaves Kenderick Allen and rookie Johnny Jolly probably jousting for one berth.
Two scouts said Allen had no trade value. Jolly isn't much of a pass-rusher but has a knack for the ball.
Linebacker (8, 6): Rookie free agent Tim Goodwell is a tough guy but has no chance because the club already is two-deep in the middle. Tracy White has the edge on Roy Manning for the final job outside based on better speed, athletic ability, toughness and special-teams performance.
Secondary (14, 9 or 10): As poorly as Marquand Manuel played in Cincinnati, the Packers can't keep two rookies at safety. Tyrone Culver deserves to stick but free agent Tra Boger doesn't. He has had a million reps and makes too many mistakes each week. Free agent Atari Bigby isn't bad but the Packers need someone who won't have a cast on his broken hand for five or six weeks.
The situation at cornerback behind Al Harris, Charles Woodson and Ahmad Carroll is murky. Jason Horton gave up two touchdown passes Friday. Mike Hawkins turned down two tackles in Cincinnati and there are whispers that he won't play hurt. And Will Blackmon won't be ready until mid-season.
Rookie Antonio Malone, a mid-August addition, has played rather well and is a practice-squad possibility.
Special teams (4, 3): Dave Rayner wrapped up the kicking job with hang times on kickoffs Friday of 3.85, 4.10, 4.16 and 3.93 seconds. Free agent E.J. Cochrane looked impressive in pregame warm-ups but never got on the field.
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 2, 2006
Green Bay - Mining the discard pile isn't the preferred way of roster-building in the National Football League but it looks as if the Green Bay Packers won't have much choice.
The Packers' Carlton Brewster can't handle a punt and turns the ball over to the Titans in the third quarter.
Titans receiver Bobby Wade beats Packers cornerback Jason Horton for a TD in the first quarter.
Exceedingly light at a whole host of positions, the Packers might make more news with whom they add rather than whom they subtract today and in the week leading up to the Chicago opener on Sept. 10.
Last year, general manager Ted Thompson traded for a linebacker, Robert Thomas, on cut-down day and, a few days later, signed free-agent tight end Donald Lee and promoted injured fullback Vonta Leach from the practice squad.
On Friday, Thompson was asked if he would consider it distasteful to enter the regular season with as many as five players on the 53-man roster who weren't with the team during training camp.
"If they were better players, no," Thompson replied. "It's not like those guys have been off sun-bathing."
When you were 4-12 and picked for oblivion, maintaining continuity and rewarding players with months if not years in the Packers' system isn't all that important. The Packers need better players, and it would appear that Thompson might be in the market for help at just about every position with the possible exception of tight end, defensive tackle, middle linebacker and long snapper.
The Packers can only hope that players their scouts have become enamored of this summer become available via trade or are released by 5 p.m. today, when all teams must reach the mandatory 53-man limit.
Thompson said he would review tapes of the Tennessee game Friday night and make tentative decisions on how to pare the 73-man roster. After sleeping on it, he and coach Mike McCarthy will begin delivering the sad news to 20 players by midday.
Here's a look at the final considerations at each position, with the number of players currently on the roster in parentheses followed by the number expected to make it.
Wide receiver (8, 5): Robert Ferguson lost his starting job but should be solid as the No. 3. If nothing else, he would add immeasurably to the sickly special teams.
It's a crapshoot after that. Rod Gardner doesn't run real well anymore and hasn't produced. Cory Rodgers, a fourth-round pick, has been an unadulterated bust. And Ruvell Martin, despite his awareness and size, can't run.
Tight end (5, 3 or 4): The Packers kept four tight ends in 2004 and might do it again if they decide to go with just one fullback.
Lee blocked well against Cincinnati on Monday night. Tory Humphrey showed surprising punch as a lead blocker as a fullback Friday against the Titans.
Offensive line (11, 9 or 10): Besides the five starters and rookie Daryn Colledge, it's a mess. Even Chris White would be expendable if a stronger and more aggressive backup center popped free.
The Packers definitely need a veteran guard. Former Colt Tupe Peko can't move his feet and isn't the answer. And, after the way Colledge appeared to regress Friday, they can't be feeling too secure at backup tackle, either.
Left tackle Josh Bourke, a rookie free agent, showed OK potential but remains out with a calf injury. Junius Coston played well at right tackle in Cincinnati and still has untapped potential, but his capacity to contribute seems minimal.
Quarterbacks: (3, 3): The Packers keep saying rookie Ingle Martin is good enough to keep. But don't kid yourself. If a better long-range alternative is cut, they'd swallow his signing bonus and start over with another No. 3.
Running backs (8, 5 or 6): Ahman Green is a lock. William Henderson looks like a lock. It's clear as mud after that.
If four tight ends make it, Leach looks like a goner even though he did block much better in Cincinnati.
At running back, it's a wasteland after Green. Samkon Gado (2.4-yard average) and Najeh Davenport (2.7) had disappointing summers. Gado has more tools and is a better receiver than Davenport, plus he probably is more durable. Neither seems to fit the zone run game, but in time Gado might have the intellect and resolve to figure it out.
Granted, it came against scrubs, but Noah Herron's big fourth quarter Friday might be enough to earn a roster berth.
Nevertheless, Herron is even slower than Davenport and not even in Gado's ballpark as an athlete.
Rookie free agent Arliss Beach was coach Mike Stock's pick to return kickoffs. Then he damaged an ankle against the Bengals and sat out Friday. Still, he's very much in the picture.
Defensive line (12, 9 or 10): Kenny Peterson might have cut himself by suffering an ankle injury Friday. Assuming Peterson goes, there's a tight three-way fight among Mike Montgomery and rookies Jason Hunter and Dave Tollefson for probably two backup jobs at end.
Montgomery always gives it his all but is limited in every category. Hunter can fly off the edge and has been OK against the run. Tollefson, a try-hard type, showed more Friday than he had all summer.
The Packers don't figure to keep six tackles. After Ryan Pickett, the safe bets are Cullen Jenkins, Corey Williams and Colin Cole. That leaves Kenderick Allen and rookie Johnny Jolly probably jousting for one berth.
Two scouts said Allen had no trade value. Jolly isn't much of a pass-rusher but has a knack for the ball.
Linebacker (8, 6): Rookie free agent Tim Goodwell is a tough guy but has no chance because the club already is two-deep in the middle. Tracy White has the edge on Roy Manning for the final job outside based on better speed, athletic ability, toughness and special-teams performance.
Secondary (14, 9 or 10): As poorly as Marquand Manuel played in Cincinnati, the Packers can't keep two rookies at safety. Tyrone Culver deserves to stick but free agent Tra Boger doesn't. He has had a million reps and makes too many mistakes each week. Free agent Atari Bigby isn't bad but the Packers need someone who won't have a cast on his broken hand for five or six weeks.
The situation at cornerback behind Al Harris, Charles Woodson and Ahmad Carroll is murky. Jason Horton gave up two touchdown passes Friday. Mike Hawkins turned down two tackles in Cincinnati and there are whispers that he won't play hurt. And Will Blackmon won't be ready until mid-season.
Rookie Antonio Malone, a mid-August addition, has played rather well and is a practice-squad possibility.
Special teams (4, 3): Dave Rayner wrapped up the kicking job with hang times on kickoffs Friday of 3.85, 4.10, 4.16 and 3.93 seconds. Free agent E.J. Cochrane looked impressive in pregame warm-ups but never got on the field.