What is the most interesting roster battle?

[Scott Campbell]

What would really be interesting is if the Packers decided to trade from the top of the group rather than the bottom of the group.

I wouldn't be surprised at this. I'd only be mildly surprised at cuts from the top of the list. Players have to justify those big money contracts by being a lot better than the guys behind them.

[Bossman641]

Re: What is the most interesting roster battle?

But, LINEBACKER! That's where it gets interesting. Kampman, Chillar, Hawk, Bishop, Barnett, Matthews, Thompson, Poppinga, Jones, Obiozor, Lansanah. At least one and probably two of the last four will be gone. Jones is said to be showing a real knack after finally getting on the field, and he seems to have the potential that you like to see in a low round draft choice. Poppinga is who he is, a valuable special-teams player and a very good team oriented guy. Obiozor is starting to get good press and apparently Kevin Greene has taken a liking to him and his potential. Lansanah had been sort of quiet through training camp but was credited for a lot of Bishop's blitzing success in the first game. This will be an interesting battle and may result in a surprise or two before the start of the regular season.

I think Poppinga has to stick around due to the Matthews and Thompson injuries. It would have been nice to let him go and see what some of the younger guys can do, but I just don't see it happening as he has been filling in for the #1 defense if I remember right.

Has Obiozor improved? It seemed for the first 1.5 week of TC Greene was laying into him all the time.

My predicition - Lansanah as the odd man out.

[LP]

Maybe they can trade Lansanah to Miami since Parcells was so hot for him last year.

[sharpe1027]

That seems to be true at linebacker this year. Guys good enough to be in the NFL, and too many to be kept on one roster. I hope they can trade a linebacker or two rather than just releasing them. Unfortunately, some of it comes from an abundance of averageness, rather than good players falling in behind standouts as starters. Even so, those who will not be kept seem to offer enough that trades might be possible. They're not going to bring anything great, but even a 7th round pick is better than nothing when the alternative is just releasing the player.

What would really be interesting is if the Packers decided to trade from the top of the group rather than the bottom of the group. Committing to Bishop/Chiller/Lansanah and trading a Hawk or Barnett, for example. I don't expect that to happen at cutdown, but it would sure add drama. Those things happen in off-season.

Interesting thought. IMO, the ideal situation is to trade guys that other teams believe is "the top" when you know better. So, which LBers have perceived value higher than actualy value? Barnett...maybe, but ? due to his injury would severly limit his value. Hawk..maybe, but a common perception is that he is consistent, but not outstanding.

So, the next issue is how much difference/drop-off you see be letting one of those guys go weighed against how much difference you would receive in compensation.

Barnett vs. Chillar: Trade value of Chillar might be nearly as high as Barnett. Barnett has a proven history (++) and shows great range especially against the run (+), but he is coming off a significant injury (-). Chillar showed significant improvement at the end of last year and so far this year (+), has shown great coverage skills (+), but still needs to show he can be an every down guy (-). Depending on the team/scheme, Chillar could be highly valued or not wanted, Barnett probably has a wider appeal.

I like what Chillar has shown, but am still very leery of him being an every-down guy.

[mraynrand]

Re: What is the most interesting roster battle?

But, LINEBACKER! That's where it gets interesting. Kampman, Chillar, Hawk, Bishop, Barnett, Matthews, Thompson, Poppinga, Jones, Obiozor, Lansanah. At least one and probably two of the last four will be gone. Jones is said to be showing a real knack after finally getting on the field, and he seems to have the potential that you like to see in a low round draft choice. Poppinga is who he is, a valuable special-teams player and a very good team oriented guy. Obiozor is starting to get good press and apparently Kevin Greene has taken a liking to him and his potential. Lansanah had been sort of quiet through training camp but was credited for a lot of Bishop's blitzing success in the first game. This will be an interesting battle and may result in a surprise or two before the start of the regular season.

Interesting post to be sure. Complicating it is the injury situation, where Matthews, Thompson, and Barnett may not play much at all in the preseason. So you may have to keep Thompson just because you have no clue if he fits in, but his measurables say he should thrive in your system, and you have no idea whether Matthews will give you any productivity and may not know if Barnett is sufficiently recovered and whether he understands the new system. That's up to three positions you have to 'cover for' in you final roster. Are you going to keep extras LBs just to cover for the three injured guys, and risk letting a good player getting away elsewhere???

[Partial]

Patler, good thread. The most interesting thing to me about this team is all the competition and depth. Some good players that will land on NFL rosters are going to be let go. That's a good problem to have!

I think the fullback battle is going to have the biggest impact. I'm pulling for Quinn as I think he has the skill set that best fits where our team wants to go.

[Patler]

Re: What is the most interesting roster battle?

Interesting post to be sure. Complicating it is the injury situation, where Matthews, Thompson, and Barnett may not play much at all in the preseason. So you may have to keep Thompson just because you have no clue if he fits in, but his measurables say he should thrive in your system, and you have no idea whether Matthews will give you any productivity and may not know if Barnett is sufficiently recovered and whether he understands the new system. That's up to three positions you have to 'cover for' in you final roster. Are you going to keep extras LBs just to cover for the three injured guys, and risk letting a good player getting away elsewhere???

It's things like that which could cause them to go with just 2 TEs and 5 WRs to start the season, or just 2 QBs. Some may depend on who they think they can get through to the practice squad. If they think Obiozor or Jones won't be claimed on waivers, etc. Sometimes it works as planned, sometimes not.

[Patler]

Patler, good thread. The most interesting thing to me about this team is all the competition and depth. Some good players that will land on NFL rosters are going to be let go. That's a good problem to have!

I think the fullback battle is going to have the biggest impact. I'm pulling for Quinn as I think he has the skill set that best fits where our team wants to go.

Quinn got some pretty good press after the first game. Not so much in early TC when several said he looked confused, but that's what TC is for.

[sharpe1027]

Re: What is the most interesting roster battle?

It's things like that which could cause them to go with just 2 TEs and 5 WRs to start the season, or just 2 QBs. Some may depend on who they think they can get through to the practice squad. If they think Obiozor or Jones won't be claimed on waivers, etc. Sometimes it works as planned, sometimes not.

Yeah, although it might be 2.5 TEs with Havner. If he is servicable at all at both positions and also good on special teams, he becomes very attractive for all those reasons and more. I wonder if Hall could still play both ways too...

[Patler]

Re: What is the most interesting roster battle?

It's things like that which could cause them to go with just 2 TEs and 5 WRs to start the season, or just 2 QBs. Some may depend on who they think they can get through to the practice squad. If they think Obiozor or Jones won't be claimed on waivers, etc. Sometimes it works as planned, sometimes not.

Yeah, although it might be 2.5 TEs with Havner. If he is servicable at all at both positions and also good on special teams, he becomes very attractive for all those reasons and more. I wonder if Hall could still play both ways too...

The problem for Havner is that his second position is LB, hardly a spot where they need another backup. If he gets through to the final 53, it makes him very attractive for the game day 45, however, because of the versatility and STs. Same for Bush.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I wonder if Brohm's roster spot is secure. If he shows nothing in preseason, its hard to see a future value.

Damn, and Mike Vick was just sitting there for the taking. I really do wish the Packers would have signed him.

[sharpe1027]

Re: What is the most interesting roster battle?

The problem for Havner is that his second position is LB, hardly a spot where they need another backup. If he gets through to the final 53, it makes him very attractive for the game day 45, however, because of the versatility and STs. Same for Bush.

I was thinking more along the lines that it might make them more willing to trade a LBer or two knowing they have additional depth w/o another roster spot taken.

[Patler]

Re: What is the most interesting roster battle?

The problem for Havner is that his second position is LB, hardly a spot where they need another backup. If he gets through to the final 53, it makes him very attractive for the game day 45, however, because of the versatility and STs. Same for Bush.

I was thinking more along the lines that it might make them more willing to trade a LBer or two knowing they have additional depth w/o another roster spot taken.

Hard to say what direction their thinking might go. If Barnett, Thompson and Mathews can't be full relied on, they might feel the need to keep more "real" linebackers instead of the 13thLB/4th best TE. I always find it interesting to see how they divide up the last 3 or 4 roster spots.

[Patler]

I wonder if Brohm's roster spot is secure. If he shows nothing in preseason, its hard to see a future value.

At the start of camp I figured it was pretty secure. Recently a few writers who have at least some access to the thinking of the club have implied that it may not be so secure. Could mean that the staff isn't seeing progress at all, and might feel they are wasting their time. If that is how they feel, he could be on his way out.

This "do I wear a glove" or "don't I wear a glove" thing from Brohm is kind of pathetic. I want a QB who isn't concerned with sweat, rain, mud, blood, cold, etc. One that just wants the ball in his hand. Brohm seems to be thinking too much instead of just playing. It kind of smacks of looking for a quick fix, an easy answer.

[Lurker64]

I think the fullback battle is going to have the biggest impact. I'm pulling for Quinn as I think he has the skill set that best fits where our team wants to go.

I think Quinn's roster spot is secure, and the real roster battle is about who is going to be the second FB: Hall or Kuhn. I'd give that one to Hall, since the things that Kuhn does better than Hall are pretty much the things that Quinn is best at. Keep Hall as he's an accomplished special teamer, is good in blitz pickup, and is our best receiving FB.