Pre-Season depth chart

[KYPack]

I’ve always liked the Sporting News. Even when they had Florio from PFT writing for them. I like SN a lot better now that I pretty much hate ESPN and SI. Tom Silverstein from JSO wrote this piece on the early, early OTA depth chart. It’s worth a discussion, even if it doesn’t mean much. The chart only goes two deep, but there are some additions and deletions worth kicking around on here

Offense

QB Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn
FB John Kuhn, Quinn Johnson
RB Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson
WR Donald Driver, James Jones
WR Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson
TE Jermichael Finley, Spencer Havner
LT Chad Clifton, Bryan Bulaga
LG Jason Spitz, Daryn Colledge
C Scott Wells, Jason Spitz
RG Josh Sitton, Evan Dietrich-Smith
RT Mark Tauscher, T.J.Lang

Defense

DE Ryan Pickett, Mike Neal
NT B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett
DE Cullen Jenkins, C.J.Wilson
OLB Brad Jones, Cyril Obiozor
ILB A.J. Hawk, Desmond Bishop
ILB Nick Barnett, Brandon Chillar
OLB Clay Matthews, Brady Poppinga
CB Charles Woodson, Pat Lee
CB Al Harris, Tramon Williams
SS Atari Bigby, Morgan Burnett
FS Nick Collins, Will Blackmon
Specialists
K Mason Crosby
P Tim Masthay, Chris Bryan
KR Will Blackmon
PR Will Blackmon
LS Brett Goode

On the DL, the kids are listed ahead of Johnny Jolly, who isn’t listed at all. Jolly will miss the initial days of official camp and the Pack seems to be roster planning for his absence(s)
At TE Spencer Havner listed as the No. 2 tight end, Finley the starter. Finley is seen as the baby superstar and they drafted Quarless in the 5th. Havner is still recovering from his scooter wreck and who knows if he catches a suspension for a DUI in that case. I guess they like Havner’s red zone production. He had 4 TD’s, while the erstwhile starter, Lee, had all of one last year. Back-up TE seems a bit of a high ranking, given Havner’s off-season.
On the DL, Johnny Jolly isn’t even in sight. The two draft picks, Neal and Wilson are listed as the back-ups. Jolly won’t even be there for the start of camp and his absence may get extended into “gone from the roster”.
On the OL, Jason Spitz is ranked ahead of Colledge at LG. Spitz was an OK RG, but has struggled at LG when placed there. Also, Lang is slotted to be Tausch’s back-up. That’s good, I was hoping they’d give that kid one spot to work at. I’ve seen Lang talked about at 4 OL positions in various forums. Switching young OL’s around hasn’t exactly been a great strategy in GB, let’s give the kid a job and let him learn it.
At DB, this depth chart is already off. Al Harris is now admitting he won’t be ready for camp. That makes Tramon Williams the defacto starter. Brandon Underwood is probably happy to see his name omitted from any story after his little “duck ride” down in the Dells, but it will be interesting to see who gets the back-up job at CB. Bell, Bush, or Underwood have to be considered.
In this very early going, Jolly, Donald Lee, and Korey Hall have got to be wondering if they will have a job this season

[Fritz]

Bush, Bell, or Underwood? I wish.

Havner's name as #2 was interesting to me, too.

I am mildly surprised that Justin Harrell's not listed. Is it because of his fragile health? I mean, when he did play he showed the goods. And isn't he healthy (so far)?

[vince]

Am I correct in assuming this is total speculation on the part of Silverstein?

[KYPack]

Am I correct in assuming this is total speculation on the part of Silverstein?

The depth chart is Silverstein's, but I would suspect he checked with some asst coach or something to make sure he didn't get in trouble with Mac. I don't think Tom is capable of creating something like this himself.

It's part of "camp breaksowns" series that SN runs.

The chart was written by Silverstein, those comments are mine.

Here's the link-a-dink so you can see the whole deal for yourself.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/article/2010-06-20/packers-camp-countdown-can-green-bay-turn-youth-championships

[vince]

Right, thanks KY. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. I counted 45 guys on that depth chart, so there are 8 more that would make the cut...

I'd say you could add a CB (my projection - Underwood), S (Martin), DL (2) (Jolly, Harrell), OL (Newhouse?), RB (Starks), WR (Swain), TE (Quarless) to the list. Add another CB (Bell or Bush) if Harris isn't ready.

I'd written off Barbre, but he may have a shot if you keep him inside at guard. He's a pretty good run blocker and seems to be taking to special teams if you believe what McCarthy's saying these days. It sounds as if Newhouse may need more development before being ready for primetime. He, McDonald and Campbell on the OL may all be destined for the PS. It sounds as if Giacomini isn't going to get cut without a fight at least, so that's good.

I know a lot of people think keeping 3 FB's is crazy, but Kuhn and Hall are key special teamers, so it's tough to cut them. It may be considered heresy to say, but unless Johnson improves on special teams, there's a chance he could be the guy that's gone at FB. I don't think he'll ever be a dynamic pass catcher out of the backfield, so unless he can show the speed and range to play special teams, he may ultimately be too one-dimensional...

[KYPack]

Yeah, this depth chart was not a 53 man projection.

Harris will probably be placed on Active PUP before camp.

That means he can rehab & go to team meetings, but not practice.

He must be on Active PUP to get Reserve PUP status at the final cut. Reserve PUP is no play for 6 weeks, then 3 weeks of evaluation. He must be cut or put on the active roster during that time frame.

The "we gotta keep Hall, Kuhn, & Bush 'cause of their vast talent on ST" is a real bugaboo of mine. Those 3 jabronies are just that. Bush alone should get his own wing in the HOF for his TWO penalties on the SAME punt. My first move as Packer HC wopuld be to shoot Hall, rather than cut him. I'm not quite at Skin basket vs, Bigby level just yet, but close. Yet, he is the only FB we got who can catch a pass, then do something with it.

Jocko has already shown he will fight, that's fer sure.

D Lee seems to be getting fitted for a gone jacket with their drafting of Quarless. too bad, I really thought he was gonna be a big thing.

Have you heard a word about Harrell? Seems like all quiet on the Harrell front to me.

If Siverstein is privvy to some "coach talk", it seems like Jolly is on some thin ice.

[vince]

Regarding Harrell, just that it's "so far so good." In Jolly's absence, he's been the backup LDE and has been taking reps with the 1's while Pickett sat out minicamp.

The test for Harrell comes in a month when they strap on the pads and starting banging. Until then, nothing's changed.