The Jets didn't go all in this year. I totally disagree with that. Broncos sorta to get Wilson, but even then not really - they have money to spend just no draft picks.
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If they haven't gone all-in, they're pretty darn close. Redoing contracts, including Rodgers, to fit under the cap, signing a bunch of FA players (Lazard, Mecole Hardman, etc.), trading for Chuck Clark. They made a number of roster moves and are tight against the cap.
Also: bear in mind that 'tight against the cap' doesn't mean you spend every last dollar of cap space up front. Every team needs cap space to sign players mid-year, cover player incentives earned, settle with injured players, etc. So they often show as having at least $5-15M in cap space but in reality it's been allocated for such expenses.
FYI news stories did break that the Packers did kick the tires on OBJ, but he didn't like their offer, based on money/playing time -- apparently, they told him he would mostly be playing on 3rd downs in the slot. They didn't have the money he wanted, and I think they felt just fine about Lazard in the slot anyway.
With Tyler Davis out, who is their top blocking TE? Do they just go 6OL or hope the rookies can at least give sufficient effort?
Gute might have to swing a trade or work the cutdowns to find someone. Davis also played a LOT of ST snaps for Bisaccia.
Would you really want to give up any assets to speak of for a blocking TE who plays special teams? I dunno. Maybe you could give up, say, Toure, if you think either Melton or Heath is better or as good, and get someone else's seventh-round blocking TE. But that's a skill set you might be able to find on the street during cutdowns.
They better not give away Toure even though it seems we now have a wealth of WRs with Heath and Wicks also looking so good.
It was strange to keep four TEs as the Packers have done recently. We still have three if you count Deguara. Also, the 6'8" kid from Nebraska, Allen, might be a keeper. Kraft, of course, was supposed to be the blocking TE.
And special teams? It would seem more natural to stock them with defense guys anyway. And we likely will keep a 4th RB this year who should help in that area.
Bottom line: you can always find adequate bottom of the roster players if you need them - which we really don't.
Agree. With Big Dog in CHI there's nobody else I can think of, and trading for someone would be a panic move they won't make.
And no, OJ Howard is probably not coming in. Dude is a big name but has had more chances than production and isn't known for his great blocking.
Toure is locked in as WR4, he's not going anywhere. Same for Wicks, he is probably WR5. They have a lot of unproven talent, every team has WRs they love so if they cut Heath to get him on the PS I'm not that worried. If they had to do cutdowns today Heath is probably on the roster at WR6 and Melton/Dubose are cut and try to make the PS.
Austin Allen [I]might[I] be able to fill in on ST, he hasn't done it much but he showed a little vs CIN. Kraft's blocking was not where it needs to be yet; blocking in the pros is different vs. FBS and he often ran routes for SDSU. Allen is still pretty raw as a prospect and that TE room is now very very young. Deguara is basically a FB the way they have him designated and working separately from the other TEs in camp. I think they will play the waiting game with roster cutdowns and hope these young guys can get better each week. This isn't a Super Bowl or bust year, they seem to be willing to live with some growing pains.
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Ryan Wood
@ByRyanWood
Kenny Clark, one of #Packers few starters who didn’t play in preseason opener at Cincy, is not practicing today because of a back injury.
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Andy Herman
@AndyHermanNFL
Yosh - Jenkins - Myers - Runyan Tom OL to start team.
Van Ness and Valentine with ones as was Owens again.
Love fires very high for Reed on the first play off play action.
Short run by Jones followed by a big time run by Dillon up the middle.
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Ryan Wood
@ByRyanWood
Jordan Love completed a deep fade on the left side to Romeo Doubs against Rasul Douglas, who turned back at the ref and was sure Doubs didn’t get both feet inbounds. Play happened right in front of me. Douglas had a point — looked like Doubs’ right foot was out — but ruled catch.
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Andy Herman
@AndyHermanNFL
Love just hit Watson on a deep out for about 30 off play action. Great route and throw. He was wide open by NFL standards.
Taylor for a couple. McDuffie with the stop.
Timeout offense. #2 offense was disjointed.
Colby Wooden just exploded for a would be sack on Clifford. Wow.
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Ryan Wood
@ByRyanWood
Nice body control from #Packers rookie Tucker Kraft in 1v1. Ran an out route against Jonathan Owens. Pass was behind Kraft, but he spun in air and caught it over Owens. Athletic play for a big tight end.
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Andy Herman
@AndyHermanNFL
Love missed Doubs on a deep crosser. Had him open. Wants that one back.
Justin Hollins explodes in the backfield for a would be tfl. Quay also did a great job getting sideline to sideline on the play.
Nice cutback by Jones. Runyan just slammed his helmet in disgust. Not sure if he was hurt. He seems ok.
Clifford to Wicks on a slant. Slightly high but I’d count that as a drop for Wicks. Nice read by 8.
And ANOTHER fumbled exchange. This time Hanson and McGough.
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Rob Demovsky
@RobDemovsky
Uh oh, Anders Carlson just missed another PAT wide right. Missed two of those Friday at Cincy.
But was good on FGs from 41 & 44.
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Andy Herman
@AndyHermanNFL
Back to team. Runayn is back in so he’s fine.
Wooden taking Kenny’s place on the line today.
Great read and throw from Love to Doubs, but dropped by Romeo.
Clifford to Dubose short.
Love screen to Dillon. Great hustle by Wyatt for the stop.
Clifford to Wilson on the screen with more success against the 2s.
Rasheed Walker practicing at LT with the ones. Something to watch. If Walker takes over as primary backup at LT, it makes it easier to put Tom at center.
What move did they make to go all-in other than trading for a QB? They have holes all over their roster that could be patched. Maybe they will patch them now that Rodgers took a paycut and they have some financial flexibility. Maybe next year they go all-in.
To answer your question, no, but I think going all-in is pretty clearly when you are saying "we're going for it all this year and then we're gonna blow it up" like the Rams did. Packers never signed vets like the Rams did. Jets didn't either.
Walker's an interesting guy. He was pegged as a possible 3rd round pick in 2022 who slid to the 7th round. Couple of reasons given were some meniscus issues and not being in great shape at the combine. He did not participate at the combine other than measurements and weigh in. I think he might be better suited to RT than LT, but either way he gives Packers some flexibility on where they play Tom.
Larry McCarren did a breakdown today on Walker's performance last Friday night. https://www.packers.com/video/rock-r...han-deep-x4008
It's Carrington Valentine's world, and we're just living in it.Quote:
Ryan Wood
@ByRyanWood
Seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine continues to turn heads. Just jumped in front of a Jordan Love pass to Romeo Doubs on the right sideline. Valentine intercepted it and went the other way roughly 80 yards for a pick-6.
LOL
Every team has holes. Rams went all-in like few ever do - mortgaging several seasons to barely win vs. CIN.
You can argue if the Jets have gone all-in or not, but they've certainly done a lot - trading multiple high picks for a QB, replacing their OC, signing Lazard to $44M deal, signing MeCole Hardman, Cobb, Amos, trading for Clark, redoing contracts, giving Quinnen Williams a 4/$96M deal, etc. They have less cap space than GB does.
Another way to look at it is amount of dead money -- GB's dead money accounts for just over 25% of their cap. LAR's is even worse at 32% TB's is almost 33% and they stunk last year. SF's dead money account for over 7% of their cap. Cap spending usually means you either suck at managing your cap or you're going all-in, but does not guarantee a win.
Anyway, enough about the Jets or other teams. This is the training camp thread. What do they do with Rasul and Valentine after Stokes comes of the PUP list?
At this point it's a fair chance that Stokes starts the season on the PUP list, so they can decide later, or let injuries dictate what to do.
For several seasons, the Packers turn up a training camp warrior. Usually an OLB that goes crazy in the pre-season, makes a splash, but disappears in the regular season. I went to the game Friday and spotted a guy who I've been interested in...Brenton Cox. He is an OLB and a college free agent. He splashed like crazy in the game. 3 QB hurries and a deflection that turned into a pick. He is 6-4 250 country strong with a nasty disposition.
Cox has a hell of a backstory. He's a GA boy and was rated in the top 20 nationally of high school prospects. He got a scholarship to GA and played on those stacked Dog defenses. He even started a game or two. He also got tossed out of school for fighting in the locker room, maybe fighting with a coach, and weed. Florida snapped him up and he played 3 years there. He had a 4 sack game vs Fla ST. He also got thrown out of school there. More fights in the locker room, a fight with a coach, but I guess he learned how to hide his weed better.
The kid is an asshole, but a tough player. Let's keep him. This D could use a few assholes on it.