Official Final Stab At 53 Man Roster Thread

[Patler]

They will try to get him to PS, but if it doesn't work, no big deal.

Hey, I'm the only Rat around here with a license to drink heavy in the morning.

Crabtree is this years edition of Joey Haynos. I hated to see the Dolphins snatch Haynos from the Packers' PS, but after he left, Havner developed and now Crabtree shows up.

One-dimensional TEs are not hard to find, be it a blocker or a pass-catcher. Finding ones that are reasonably competent at both is more difficult. Finding someone who excels at one and is reasonably competent at the other is even more difficult, and finding one who excels at both, well.....

[Tarlam!]

You might be right.

[vince]

Thought I'd post what Demovsky thinks TT will do, primarily since he's the only guy I've seen recently that projects Bush to be cut...

Projecting the 53-man roster
Posted by Rob Demovsky September 3rd, 2010, 1:16 pm

NFL teams have to make their final roster cuts by tomorrow afternoon. Here’s a position-by-position look at the Green Bay Packers’ projected 53. This is not what I would do if I were the general manager of the Packers but rather this is a projection of what GM Ted Thompson will do. It is based on observations from practice and preseason games and interviews with coaches and scouts.

Quarterbacks (2)
Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn

Running backs (5)
Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, Korey Hall, John Kuhn, Quinn Johnson

Receivers (5)
Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Brett Swain

Tight ends (4)
Jermichael Finley, Donald Lee, Spencer Havner, Andrew Quarless

Offensive line (9)
Chad Clifton, Daryn Colledge, Scott Wells, Josh Sitton, Mark Tauscher, Bryan Bulaga, Jason Spitz, T.J. Lang, Marshall Newhouse

Defensive line (7)
Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji, Cullen Jenkins, Mike Neal, Justin Harrell, C.J. Wilson, Jarius Wynn

Linebackers (8)
Clay Matthews, Brad Jones, Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Brandon Chillar, Desmond Bishop, Brady Poppinga, Frank Zombo

Defensive backs (10)
Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Nick Collins, Morgan Burnett, Brandon Underwood, Sam Shields, Pat Lee, Derrick Martin, Charlie Peprah, Will Blackmon

Specialists (3)
Mason Crosby (K), Tim Masthay (P), Brett Goode (LS)

Notes
* Last four in: Quinn Johnson, Will Blackmon, Jarius Wynn, Marshall Newhouse

* First four out: TE Tom Crabtree, C Evan Dietrich-Smith, RB Kregg Lumpkin, CB/S Jarrett Bush

* In at least one way, this is a flawed exercise because it’s almost certain that Thompson will add a player or two either off the waiver wire or via a trade tomorrow before the deadline to reduce rosters to 53 players. Also, he could trade a backup player he was intending to keep if the offer is good enough.

* Blackmon’s recurring knee problems have thrown a wrench into the whole thing. If Blackmon can’t play – and for the sake of this exercise I’m assuming he’s healthy enough to keep on the roster – then the Packers probably have to find themselves a return man. Jason Chery didn’t get it done last night against Kansas City. Already, the Packers have ruled out Blackmon as a possible backup safety. The former cornerback just didn’t get enough practice time at his new position. By keeping him, it forces the Packers to keep 10 defensive backs.

* At the start of camp, it didn’t seem possible they would keep three fullbacks. Johnson does seem like a one-trick pony, but his ability to block in short-yardage situations is unmatched. His problem is he doesn’t play special teams, while Hall and Kuhn are core special teams players, so they can’t be cut. The Packers can get by with only two true halfbacks because Kuhn can be the emergency third halfback. It probably comes down to the fact the third fullback is better/more valuable than the third halfback.

* The Packers used so many number one special teams reps on Crabtree that it’s hard to imagine them cutting him. However, he’s the most expendable of the tight ends. He’s more NFL ready than Quarless, but they drafted Quarless on his potential and will want to see that through. They need to keep Lee because if there’s any injury to Finley, Lee would be the starter. Havner is too valuable as a three-way player – on offense, defense and special teams.

* In the last few days, there’s been talk that Zombo is on the bubble. I’m not buying it. He’s played well ahead of Cyril Obiozor the entire camp.

* Defensive line was tough because of Harrell. If they think he can stay healthy, then he’s a keeper for sure. But if they’re worried that his bad back will go out in a few weeks, then they’ll probably dump him.

* I could still see Thompson going with Bryan as his punter over Masthay largely because they love the fact that Bryan has been a pro athlete before from his days playing Australian Rules Football. But if they’re truly going off the entire body of work, then Masthay should be the guy.

– Rob Demovsky, rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think Rob's pretty close to my projections.

Those that I could see going either way:

Kregg Lumpkin vs. Quinn Johnson
Marshall Newhouse vs. Evan Dietrich-Smith
Jarrett Bush could get in with the injuries in the backfield. One of the DL could be out.

[MichiganPackerFan]

I think one of the players I'm most disappointed in is Quinn Johnson. Last year I was excited by how punishing he was and I just don't see that anymore.

[falco]

Any idea what time we will see the final roster?

[retailguy]

Any idea what time we will see the final roster?

That depends on how much Ted wants to keep the guys he's waiving. If he really wants to put them on the PS, he'll let the "market get flooded" first.

He'll also delay announcing his cuts if he's working on a trade.

[falco]

Any idea what time we will see the final roster?

That depends on how much Ted wants to keep the guys he's waiving. If he really wants to put them on the PS, he'll let the "market get flooded" first.

He'll also delay announcing his cuts if he's working on a trade.

This doesn't make sense to me... don't waivers last for a certain amount of time after cutdowns are due? I'm guessing most teams are going to wait until after all the cutdowns occur, analyze the talent there, and then make their claims.

[Patler]

If he is working on trades, there is no reason to announce the cuts until the bitter end, or until a trade or trades have been completed or talks ended. Once he makes the cuts, he loses the trade options for those players.

[Fritz]

Seeing what he can get for Patrick Williams?