The Offseason

[SavedByGrace]

First of all, I am excited to be a part of the packerrats forum finally! I have been a regular watcher from afar, but haven't registered until now.

I know, I know...all the hype and focus should be on the big game on Sunday. Believe me, it is. But with the season so close to ending in less than a month, I can't help but wonder what the Packers are going to do in the upcoming offseason to make themselves better. Here are some thoughts...

Will the Packers do anything with Ryan Grant? 2011 is his contract year, and after coming off an injury year this year, will the Packers take the plunge on a back who is 28, who is not a big threat catching the ball out of the backfield? I don't forsee TT doing anything like this, but with all our cap room, it'd be cool to see the Pack make a move for free agent DeAngelo Williams, who is a quicker scat back, can catch the ball out of the backfield, and immediately upgrade our speed.

Will the Pack resign Barnett? Two out of the last 3 years he's had season ending injuries, and with both Barnett and Hawk due for contracts, I could see TT going with the much more dependable Hawk, especially with the type of season he's had and with the emergence of other young LBs.

Cullen Jenkins discussions have been quiet, or have they? He's a good, big end whom I think the Pack need to keep. Bigby needs to go, and, as much as I like the guy, Brandon Jackson just isn't cutting it.

The draft...what will the Pack address? TT never seems to draft who we think he will, but one would think we'd have to address our o-line and d-line. Clifton and Tauscher are probably pretty close to retiring, so we'll have some big gaps to fill there. All this talk of the Pack maybe snagging Asomugha would be nice, but let's face it, it probably won't happen. TT will go after youth and since we've got good players, add to the depth, which obviously was invaluable this year. Driver's career is coming to an end, and it wouldn't surprise me if TT went after some reciever in the mid rounds.

[mraynrand]

One thing is for certain (assuming there is a season next fall) Other teams will be salivating over Packer cut-downs. It is going to be a crowded, competitive camp like no other.

[Little Whiskey]

Nice first post SBG! thanks for taking the plunge and signing up!

[SavedByGrace]

mraynrand, you are absolutely right about that! With all our starters and key players on the IR, our "roster fillers" will be signing other places.

Little Whiskey, thanks a lot! Looking forward to being part of the team!

[swede]

Welcome, SBG. I am very pleased you have stepped out of darkness into light. But in the light of Packerrats you will find that people can see you better and will shoot at you no matter what you say.

But that's okay. It's more like going paintballing than going to Mosul. Shoot back.

First I'd like to see the Packers plan on having the 32nd pick in the 2011 draft.

You will get way more attention to a thread like this in March.

[vince]

Welcome Grace!

1. I think they'll go with Grant, Starks and Jackson at RB next year, along with Kuhn. I'd like to see more of Nance because Starks has the capability to be a better 3rd down back than Jackson and Nance brings a physical dimension taht I personally like. I'm thinking Jackson is just too reliable for McCarthy to let go.

2. Of all the existing guys, I think Barnett and Jenkins are the two guys whose spot is the most tenuous - Jenkins because of the combination of cost and depth. Barnett's time may be passing him, particularly if a ILB is drafte early.

3. I'd like to see OL, OLB, WR, ILB and CB in the draft. This team has great depth, but there are some spots to replenish due to aging vets.

[SkinBasket]

I think they should trade for Vince Young. Gamechanger.

[bobblehead]

I think they should trade for Vince Young. Gamechanger.

Do you have to trade for someone who is getting cut?

[Smidgeon]

Doesn't Barnett have a couple years left on his contract? I don't dispute that the Packers may choose between Hawk or Barnett (or, more accurately, starting Bishop or Barnett since Hawk and Barnett play two different positions), but it isn't because they're both in contract years. It's because they're either expensive (Hawk) or can be seen as too-injured and winding down (Barnett).

But who on the team would replace Hawk if he left? Chiller, Barnett, and Bishop all play the same position. Hawk has always had the other ILB spot. And there are other poster far more versed on why those two positions aren't interchangeable, so I'll let them do it.

[Patler]

Will the Packers do anything with Ryan Grant? 2011 is his contract year, and after coming off an injury year this year, will the Packers take the plunge on a back who is 28, who is not a big threat catching the ball out of the backfield? I don't forsee TT doing anything like this, but with all our cap room, it'd be cool to see the Pack make a move for free agent DeAngelo Williams, who is a quicker scat back, can catch the ball out of the backfield, and immediately upgrade our speed.

Will the Pack resign Barnett? Two out of the last 3 years he's had season ending injuries, and with both Barnett and Hawk due for contracts, I could see TT going with the much more dependable Hawk, especially with the type of season he's had and with the emergence of other young LBs.

Cullen Jenkins discussions have been quiet, or have they? He's a good, big end whom I think the Pack need to keep. Bigby needs to go, and, as much as I like the guy, Brandon Jackson just isn't cutting it.

The draft...what will the Pack address? TT never seems to draft who we think he will, but one would think we'd have to address our o-line and d-line. Clifton and Tauscher are probably pretty close to retiring, so we'll have some big gaps to fill there. All this talk of the Pack maybe snagging Asomugha would be nice, but let's face it, it probably won't happen. TT will go after youth and since we've got good players, add to the depth, which obviously was invaluable this year. Driver's career is coming to an end, and it wouldn't surprise me if TT went after some reciever in the mid rounds.

Grant is no longer overly expensive, since he will have missed out on his performance based increases for next year. I don't see any reason for TT to bring in anyone besides the RBs they have, but a draft pick is always possible.

Not sure what you mean by, "will the Pack resign Barnett?" He is under contract through 2012. They don't need to do anything with him. Hawk will be the bigger question due to how expensive he will be next year. But since the Pack will be poised to repeat as Super Bowl Champs next year, the one-year investment in Hawk might not look too bad.

There could be a bit of a logjam at DL next year if Jolly comes back. If the FA market doesn't go crazy, Jenkins could be back. But I have a feeling he will leave for a very big contract.

An important thing to consider is that a new CBA is likely to provide larger rosters, some saying 58 rather than 53. The seemingly crowded positions of RB, DL and LB that will have talented and experienced players returning from IR might easily resolve with rosters increasing. Ignoring the limitations of a salary cap, the roster may be large enough to keep anyone the Packers like as a player.

[SkinBasket]

Do you have to trade for someone who is getting cut?

Vince Young doesn't get cut. He simply moves through planes of awesomeness. The press doesn't understand this, and assigns worldly terms like "released," "let go," and "unceremoniously cut" so that unbelievers like you can understand that his game changerness no longer exists in the Tennessee reality.

I suggest we offer two 1sts, a 3rd and a conditional 5th to Vince Young himself to do with as he pleases.

[mraynrand]

Skinbasket, you talk a big game for someone who just got traded to Cincinnati!

[SkinBasket]

As a player to be named later to boot.

[Freak Out]

Vince Young should go back to school.

[red]

we just need to get healthy and stay healthy

that and a new special team coach and we are super bowl favorites for sure next year

one great thing we have going is we are an extremely young team, and those youngsters have already got a real nice taste of winning, and the two impressive playoff victories on the road give these guys the kind of experience you just can't buy

TT needs to just keep drafting like he's been drafting, and MM needs to keep making good players out of those picks, and dom needs to stick around. if those things happen we might be looking at a patriots type of run for this team in the years to come

but first things first, we need to kick the shit our of the fucking bears on sunday