The Offseason

[RashanGary]

Welcome to the board.

There is so much that could happen, I've given up guessing what will happen next year. Hopefully we win the SB now and the talk is about how to turn it into a dynasty.

[TennesseePackerBacker]

I'll return to this thread after the Superbowl.

Welcome!

[Deputy Nutz]

The Packers can get along without the often injured Jenkins, they have plenty of depth along the defensive line, I would like them to resign Howard Green for a veterans min, so you have three large bodies in Raji, Pickett, and Green. Along youngsters at Defensive End in Wynn, Wilson, and Neal. Drafting a defensive end in the the early rounds of the 2011 draft wouldn't be a bad statedgy either.

The Packers have a lot of linebackers under contract in 2010 but not many have a future cemented with the Packers. Hawk is due a large roster bonus in 2011, something that he probably can rework with team for an extended contract. Hawk isn't worth a huge contract, a contract of 5 years 25 million would seem realistic, but with the emergence of Bishop and having both Chillar and Barnett under contract the Packers probably won't offer Hawk a contract. I personally would like to see the Packers sign Hawk, and keep him and Bishop in the middle, and move Barnett to the outside opposite of Mathews. Barnett can use his speed in space and stay out of the wash in the middle. Barnett might give up 20 pounds to the other outside linebackers on the team, but it is hard to overlook his ability to make big plays when on the field. The rest of the outside linebackers on the roster outside Mathews are replaceable. It will be strong competition in training camp for the outside position between Walden, Zombo, and Jones. Most likely Poppinga will be kept for special teams, or cut because of his contract, and the rest of them are just fodder.

Running back, the Packers can easily go into training camp with Grant as their number one back, Jackson is a free agent and probably won't be back, he is very good at blitz pickup, and decent at catching the ball out of the backfield, but he is replacable with a younger player. Starks could make it or break it in training camp next season, he hasn't earned a spot on the roster yet for next season although he is curren't going to be 2nd on the depth chart at the open of camp. Packers are probably going to invest in a running back during the 2011 draft, value will be the key to where Thompson takes a running back.

Offensive line will need a bit of an overhall. The Packers would be foolish to go another season with Clifton as the starting left tackle without a premium replacement on the roster. Bulaga looks the part at right tackle, TJ Lang is a misfit right now, if Bulaga moves over to left tackle then Lang could be the answer at right tackle but he has not progressed since last season, and he also might be in line for a starting spot at left guard if the Packers don't resign Colledge which in all likelyhood will be the case. The Packers are going to have to spend another early draft pick on an offensive lineman, most likely at left tackle where this draft class has quality top tier depth. .

Wide receiver will be more of the same in 2011. The Packers have the best corps in the NFL, but neither Jones or Nelson have made the leaps needed to unseat Driver. Donald Driver will be back. Swain could be replaced, but he is one of the very few steady bright spots on special teams.

The Packers simply has too many fullbacks and Corey Hall looks to be out of job in 2011. John Kuhn is to valuable to the offense and to special teams, and Quinn Johnson is a road grader.

The defensive backfield is mix of old and new, with Tramon Williams turning into a shut down corner which allows Charles Woodson to roam the field. The emergence of Sam Shields is a pleasant suprise considering he was a man without a position when he was signed as a free agent. Nick Collins is an All-Pro and Peprah has done a fine job, but he might lose his job to Charles Woodson if Woodson makes the move to safety and the Packers hit the jackpot and sign Nnamdi Asomugha who has said to be interested in playing next to Charles Woodson. What was a weakness in 2009, has now become a strong hold for the Packers. Lee and Underwood could be replaced by younger players with more potential.

Kickers, Masthay has been a welcomed addition considering the Packers have struggled for ten years to find a quality punter. Mason Crosby job is at a crossroads, and the Packers would be fools to just hand him the job in 2011.

[steve823]

Hopefully TT will continue to draft like he's done recently. Since we have our core players and talent throughout the roster, I wouldn't be surprised to see him trade up again.

I'm still not sold on letting Jackson go because he is a good 3rd down back.This article really shows how the Packers backs have been excelling at pass-blocking, especially Jackson.

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/01/21/undercover-mvps-the-packers-pass-protecting-backs/

[Freak Out]

I just down voted this cursed thread.

[red]

this is at nutz post

i think if the coaches though lang is the future at LG then he would have been inserted there already. colledge is clearly the weak spot on the o-line. so i could see baluga moving to LT and lang as RT. i also wouldn't mind them going after a guy like carmini if he's ther

i've been looking at a lot of mocks and almost all of them say we need help on the d-line. which i don't agree with at all. we're stacked there and don't forget we get Jolly back next year. this might be one of our strongest positions

other mocks say we need a RB. again i think we'll be fine there. grant will be back, him and starks will be a nice 1-2 punch. plus nance has a lot of potential and might be able to turn into something nice

i also agree that barnett might make a nice OLB, he's a real good blitzed and is decent in coverage. i think hawks deal gets reworked and him and bishop will man the middle

i'd like to see us add another QB in the draft maybe so we can trade flynn is the price is right. unless MM thinks graham harrell can be a good backup

i just don't see a lot of weaknesses on our team heading into next year

[Joemailman]

I think the most likely scenario is that TT drafts another OT in the 1st round. That gives him the option of moving Bulaga to LG if they don't sign Colledge. I thought Bulaga was beating out Colledge before he got hurt in the preseason. I don't see DL as much of a need unless neither Jenkins or Jolly are coming back. CB is a position could use some upgrading. As good as they've been this year, they're one injury away from having Jarrett Bush as the nickel back.

[MJZiggy]

Welcome to the forum Grace. I think first they're going to need to look at the multitudes on IR and walking wounded and assess their condition. People like to assume that when you get a guy back, he's pretty much like he was before injury. That's not always the case. It will give them a better indication of who will stick around and who might be expendable (much as I hate thinking of any of our guys as expendable). Then comes the tough part of comparing the play of the replacements to the guys they replaced. This is one of those really good problems to have, deciding which of the two really good players is the better option. I don't know who's left that is doing so horridly that they stand out as guys who could really improve the team by not being on it. I'm really impressed with the team at this point except maybe Colledge who drives me nuts sometimes.

[Brando19]

Welcome to this disfunctional family we call packerrats...lol. Great first post. I too would LOVE to see DeAngelo Williams in Green and Gold. But if the Packers draft Ingram...that would be awesome. I'm just not that big a fan of Grant. DeAngelo Williams/Starks/Jackson= SUCCESS!

[mission]

Would have told [someone] that I have no interest in reading anything about the offseason right now, but since you're new I'll just say welcome and invite you to post here freely and without inhibition.

[Lurker64]

The Packers are going to have to spend another early draft pick on an offensive lineman, most likely at left tackle where this draft class has quality top tier depth.

I don't personally agree. I think that your second tier LT prospects from last year's draft, guys like Bulaga and Saffold are far and away better LT prospects than anybody in this upcoming draft (Solder is intriguing as a prospect, but he's really... really raw, shouldn't start as a rookie). There's a reasonable supply of right tackles though, looking at guys like Gabe Carimi and Marcus Cannon.

Their best bet is probably moving Bulaga to the left side and trying to fill a hole at RT. Though I wouldn't sleep on Newhouse, even though he collected a paycheck all year while being inactive. He has good feet and technique, he just needs to get stronger.

[vince]

Newhouse's back problems at this early stage of his career are troublesome. I still think Lang is part of the answer, probably at RT. Maybe McDonald and/or EDS can fill in at LG, but they need depth from there even if that's the case.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I want to be celebrating a Superbowl win all offseason! Seriously though? An offseason thread? We spend all offseason discussing the team for the hopes of having a chance to play in the Superbowl.....thats all I can think about right now is beating the Bears this weekend. I hate that team so much.......This game means so much.......who cares about next season right now, there night not even be a season. Hoping for a great game Sunday, God willing!

[Lurker64]

I want to be celebrating a Superbowl win all offseason! Seriously though? An offseason thread? We spend all offseason discussing the team for the hopes of having a chance to play in the Superbowl.....thats all I can think about right now is beating the Bears this weekend. I hate that team so much.......This game means so much.......who cares about next season right now, there night not even be a season. Hoping for a great game Sunday, God willing!

Just because you're still in it, doesn't mean you can't be thinking about the draft. I've been thinking about the draft since June.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Just because you're still in it, doesn't mean you can't be thinking about the draft. I've been thinking about the draft since June.

I find that odd.