2005 vs 2008 WR's

[KYPack]

just don't see Martin as giving them all that much in a strictly passing situation.

You usually have a WR or two go down throughout the year. Martin has basically been the last WR on the team each of the last two years, and he's played enough to have 37 catches for 600 yards and 5 TDs. He's made big plays in several games to help the team win--yet people seem to remember a drop more. He's not a horrible receiver. It's not like he's Taco Wallace just using up a roster spot.

I do not disagree with any of that, and I think he can be a useful man on the roster for just those reasons. However, what I think Leaper and I were discussing, at least what my comment that you quoted was directed to, were situations in which they put 5 receivers on the field at one time. It was those situations that I do not thin Martin gives a lot in options as a 5th receiver. I think a TE like either Lee or Finley (hopefully) or a RB like Jackson lined up out of the backfield might be better than Martin.

I wasn't talking about the 5th spot on the roster for WRs. Martin might fill that OK, but I am also one who thinks it should go to a ST performer, just likje the last roster spots for LBs, DBs, etc.

It will definitely be a dogfight for the last WR spots.

WR

Donald Driver
Greg Jennings
James Jones
Jordy Nelson,
Ruvell Martin
Brett Swain
Shaun Bodiford
Chris Francies
Johnny Quinn
Jake Allen
Rod Harper
Taj Smith.

I'd think they would keep 6. Last season, they went with 5, mainly due to all the DL's they kept. That is needed depth, so maybe 5 WR's will be the direction this year. Bodiford would have an advantage with his ST work.

I like Martin, he seems like he could be the jumbo/possession guy and he has shown steady improvement. M3's offense takes awhile for a young guy to "get it". Martin has done a lot of that work and this is that pivotal 3rd year, where many young guys really take off.

It could be real interesting if Swain comes in here and blows everybody's socks off.

As has been pointed out, Finley could help us like crazy if our 5th player in a 5 wide is a TE.

It would seem like neither Bodiford or Martin are trade bait. We will probably cut one or two guys that play for other teams. We will have Denver and Philly watching our roster like hawks.

One way or the other, M3 gets more toys this season. TT (love him or hate him) has done a spectacular job of turning over the roster and adding depth and talent.


There's 5 or 6 spots and 12 guys. Let the games begin.

[Patler]

The decision to keep 5 or 6 WRs could depend on Tory Humphrey or some other TE. If they keep 3 TEs it is more likely they will keep only 5 WRs.

I am intrigued to hear more about 6'8" 264 lbs Joey Haynos as a tight end prospect.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Didn't they keep 6 for most of last year? Driver, Jennings, Jones, Robinson, Martin, and Bodiford.

[KYPack]

Didn't they keep 6 for most of last year? Driver, Jennings, Jones, Robinson, Martin, and Bodiford.

I thought it was 5, then 6 when the DL's went down and Robinson came back.

[The Leaper]

I took this to mean that you expect to see many formations, perhaps as many as 6-15 times per game in which Driver, Jennings, Jones, Nelson and Martin would be on the field at the same time. I simply don't see that happening. I can see alignments with 1 TE and 4WRs, 2 & 3, or various combinations of WRs and TEs along with a back shifting out of the backfield to alignments with 5 receivers going out. I just don't see 5 wide receivers on the field at the same time all that often.

I don't think 5 WRs will happen often either...probably on average 3-4 times a game in 2008, although the matchup/situation in some games will dictate more usage. When McCarthy first pulled it out against the Vikings, he came to the line in that set six times.

Personally, with a mobile QB, I think the potential for the empty backfield set goes up...because it is a mismatch that greatly favors our offense. McCarthy loves to attack mismatches. I would not be shocked to see McCarthy employ it 10 times in games he feels it presents an advantage and where it is working successfully. We have a ton of great receivers...McCarthy isn't going to leave them riding the pine. It also prevents the defense from being able to come after the QB as aggressively, which helps our OL.

I also expect the #5 receiver to see some time on the field in a 4 WR set from fatigue, if nothing else. If you run a bunch of 4 WR sets, the WRs are going to get gassed occasionally. There is going to need to be a rotation at some point to keep them fresh.

Martin is OK, but nothing special. He very well could be replaced by a stellar special teams performer, who would have more immediate value to the team than Martin as a 5th receiver waiting for someone to be hurt.

I doubt that Green Bay would only keep 5 WRs if one of them was viewed basically as simply a special teams ace. If that is the case, I think we keep 6 WRs.

[Patler]

I doubt that Green Bay would only keep 5 WRs if one of them was viewed basically as simply a special teams ace. If that is the case, I think we keep 6 WRs.

Could be, although Chatman was #5 a few years, and for several of those years he was only a return man. He developed some receiving skills the last year, but still wasn't much of a receiver. I think they could have found better receivers than he was.

To some extent, TT seems willing to have unusual numbers in position groups, if he thinks players' abilities dictate it. Thus, unusually large number of DL last year. Could bode well for WRs this year, because as a group they might be the deepest.