Packer Players 'On The Bubble'.

[Patler]

If Ferguson isn't in the top three wideouts in camp my guess is he is gone.

Why take the cap hit? Fergy has proven to be an excellent coverage guy on special teams, that is hard to replace.

What cap hit?
He counts 2.8 against the cap this year, 1.4 in salary and 1.4 in two different bonuses.
If he is cut, he will count 1.4 in bonuses against the cap this year, leaving 1.4 to pay a replacement with no effect on the 2006 cap. If you pay his replacement less than 1.4 this year, you actually save money.

If he is cut this year, there is 1.4 in remaining signing bonus to count next year, but you would have that anyway if he is cut pre-June1, 2007. If you cut him after June 1, 2007 that would be split between 2007 and 2008. He is scheduled to make 1.8 in salary next year, so you have a lot of money to pay a young replacemnt.

I've been saying since last year that 2006 could be Ferguson's "make it or leave" training camp. Cap-wise, it is very easy to let him go this year.

[Partial]

So by the logic of this, would your ideal punter be a guy who kicks it about thirty five yards (less ground to cover) with a hang time of five or six seconds?

And now, I"m not being a smart aleck. I'm curious as to whether this is the ideal possible combination.

god no, but if they get a head of steam and take it to the house its much worse than a 38 yard fair catch.

Whoever can get the most net yards is obviously going to win, and its very possible that could be Sander. If Ryan is really booming 'em and the guys put up HUGE returns against us, it won't be any better at all. In fact, its much worse.

[Deputy Nutz]

Re: Packer Players 'On The Bubble'.

Players face battles to keep jobs
It's boom or bust time for 'Boys on Bubble'

By: ROB REISCHEL


WR Robert Ferguson, right, is hoping a breakout, injury-free season with the Packers is finally within his reach. Ferguson, entering his sixth season out of Texas A&M, is one of nine veterans on the bubble who must work hard this season to keep their jobs with Green Bay.



1. Robert Ferguson, WR: Ferguson had the chance of his life last season and proceeded to drop the ball. After Javon Walker went down in the season-opener, Ferguson had every opportunity to prove he was the No. 1 wide receiver he'd claimed to be for years.

But Ferguson was arguably the Packers' most disappointing player and might be out of chances in Green Bay.

Ferguson missed five games, pushing his total to nine in three seasons. And even when Ferguson was healthy, he was either agitating quarterback Brett Favre because of his inconsistency, or he was vanishing at key moments.

Ferguson ranked just sixth on the Packers with 27 receptions and offered zero support for Donald Driver. Ferguson, a second-round draft choice in 2001, now has just 111 receptions in five years - an average of just 22.2 per year.

Ferguson's never been fast enough to win vertically. And he's not big enough to go up and get balls in a crowd.

Ferguson was a favorite of former coach Mike Sherman, largely for his work on special teams and his willingness to fight through injuries. But with Sherman out of the mix, Ferguson's days might be numbered as well.

The Bold is bullshit. Ferguson's knock is that he has always had the phyisical tools to compete, he just hasn't demonstrated the ability to go with those physical gifts of size and speed. The guy is able to bench press close to 400 pounds. Some of his only plays in 2005 were go routes where he was able to get past the defensive back. Ferguson needs to stay healthy and start using his strengths, namely his size and speed, and mostly he needs to go to the doctor and get his head removed from his ass.

[Patler]

Re: Packer Players 'On The Bubble'.

and mostly he needs to go to the doctor and get his head removed from his ass.

What's the recovery time on that? If he does it now, will he be ready for camp???

[Bretsky]

So by the logic of this, would your ideal punter be a guy who kicks it about thirty five yards (less ground to cover) with a hang time of five or six seconds?

And now, I"m not being a smart aleck. I'm curious as to whether this is the ideal possible combination.

In the winds of Lambeau I take the Rocket Leg; he can improve the hang time with more work. Sanders leg strength can not improve much.

[Packers4Ever]

[quote="Partial"]For what its worth, I think Klemm is a damn good backup tackle. No way does he get cut. I doubt Whitticker does either. He'll be the other backup tackle/guard. Moll will definitely be a practice squad player.

The OLine is going to be:
C: White, Wells
G: Coston, Colledge, Spitz
T: Clifton, Taush, Whitticker, Klemm

Has Grey Ruegamer left us? I'm drawing a blank.
Thought he was doing ok there?

[Partial]

He's no longer with the team. I'm drawing a blank, was he last year?

[Packers4Ever]

He's no longer with the team. I'm drawing a blank, was he last year?

Partial, I'm sure I remember seeing Ruegamer in the line
last year, often enough to remember. Either that
or I'm suffering a huge case of CRS again.

[Bretsky]

He's no longer with the team. I'm drawing a blank, was he last year?

Ruegy was with us all of last year; this year he signed with an enemy as an unrestricted free agent.

[packerpete]

Ruegie is with the NY runts.

How can you leave Lucier off the O-Line final tally?

How can you keep Whiff-aker and not Lucier?

Whats up with this White guy? He has shown nothing and he is lighter than I am. He will get eaten alive if he ever gets into a game. I say make him a fullback or cut him.

[Partial]

Chris White's gonna be a good player someday. Mark my words. OLine is all about experience, and he'll have a solid 4-7th years in league for somebody is my guess.

Why do you feel at 280 he isn't big enough? He's only going to get stronger and faster with age

[Polaris]

The OLine is going to be:
C: White, Wells
G: Coston, Colledge, Spitz
T: Clifton, Taush, Whitticker, Klemm

I think this is the way it's going to work out as well. IMO, this is not as good a group as last year, primarily because of the lack of experience and depth. They may have more talent....that'll be determined later. But last year our backup C was Scott Wells, this year he's the starter and we've got a guy who's never played backing him up. RG is going to be a guy who's never played backed up by another one. Our back up RT position isn't as good now that Barry is hurt. Reugamer was a pretty decent backup in the interior.

It may be possible to pick up a vet to replace Whitticker when teams trim their rosters. He's playing a position he hasn't played before in a scheme that's new to him and which doesn't really match his physical skills so I think it might be possible to upgrade there. We'll see.

I really expect this group to struggle this year, especially early and especially against the better defensive lines. I don't think it augers well for the people predicting 9-7 and the playoffs.


As regards the punting question, the NFL average NET field position change on a punt is about 34 yards. Since punts that are "pooch-kicked" near the goal line factor into this, I'm going to say that if you punt the ball from your own 35, with an average punter, no wind, no cold, etc....you might reasonably expect a field position change of about 37 yards and your opponent would then start at his own 28.

I understand the point that if the two punters have equal hang time, the one who covers less distance is less likely to be returned. Because a punt returned for a TD is such a big play in a game I'd be willing to sacrifice a yard or two on every punt if it would reduce the likelihood of a big return against me.

Factor in the wind and cold that any punter in Lambeau is going to have to deal with, and I'd say that if you get a guy who can consistently give you a 35 yard punt that has to be fair caught........that's probably the best we have a right to hope for.

[wist43]

Of those mentioned I think Sander is definitely gone, and Whitticker should be given the boot. Klemm has been a major disappointment but, as someone mentioned, depth at T is a major concern.

Gardner is a long strider and has never been known as a good route runner. His status will depend entirely on how the young guys progress.

------------------

The Packers are going absolutely nowhere this year, or for next few years for that matter, so developing the young guys should be the focus.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Gardner is a long strider

Sounds like we're handicapping the Kentucky Derby.

[Pack0514]

The OLine is going to be:
C: White, Wells
G: Coston, Colledge, Spitz
T: Clifton, Taush, Whitticker, Klemm

I agree with this also. I believe both Klemm and Whit will make the team because Klemm is a good backup tackle and Whit (I believe) is being groomed to be a tackle.

Next year, when Klemm is a UFA and we dont resign him, we will need Whitticker's experence to be an adequate backup. 2007 backup tackles should be Whitticker and Moll (If we can keep Moll around as a PS player). Hell you never know, Moll might be kept on the squad this year and just never activated.... ala White last year. I guess we'll see.