Official Packers Final Cuts Thread

[HarveyWallbangers]

I don't know why the hell we need 5 TE's...West should have made the team at least as a return guy. TE is where the cuts need to come to add an O-line. We saw once Finley, who is a difference maker, went down that TE was fairly irrelevant and ho-hum. Def wasn't a critical position where we need 5.

They carried 3 FBs and 4 TEs last year. This year 1 FB and 5 TEs. Taylor or Crabtree can play FB in a pinch. Not much different really. Crabtree and Taylor were kept as much for special teams as anything. I think everybody is overrating Gurley and West. I think both could have been solid backups, but there upsides are limited by their athletic limitations. Gurley is slow and he's not a skilled route runner. West has just ordinary athletic ability.

[Lurker64]

Please board -- explain why Crabtree and Brad Jones are worthy of roster spots?

Crabtree is one of our best special teams players, and is our best blocking Tight End. He's the sort of guy that does the dirty work and doesn't complain. Teams need that kind of guy. I suspect he's actually the #3 TE and his roster spot was never the least bit in doubt; DJ Williams is likely the #5 TE at this point, and he was kept because he's a 5th round draft pick and he's probably worth a redshirt year. Don't expect him to be active in any games (before December at least), however.

Brad Jones? I suspect he's #53 of 53 and may not last the week.. He's better in coverage than any of his counterparts at OLB, but he's not really good at the rest of the job these days.

[denverYooper]

West was a surprising cut given special teams capabilties.

Five tes is fine since they can function as defacto fbs and h-backs.

Please board -- explain why Crabtree and Brad Jones are worthy of roster spots?

I think Crabtree is better than many are giving him credit for. He's the best blocking TE on the Packers and it looks like he's worked on his hands over the offseason.

[Lurker64]

Packers.com says that the Practice Squad consists of:

WR Diondre Borel, T/G Ray Dominguez, C Sampson Genus, WR Tori Gurley, QB Graham Harrell, CB Brandian Ross, RB Brandon Saine and WR Chastin West.

http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Packers-sign-eight-players-to-practice-squad/4ab7dd20-7c56-462c-98aa-a51bb389ac9a

Pretty much everybody you would want to keep. Not keeping Jon Hoese is kind of surprising, but I suspect there wasn't room for him since all three of those WRs went unclaimed.

[Fritz]

No claims on any of those guys?

So did I overestimate the abilities of several of them, in the best training camp tradition?

[Bretsky]

You would think teams would be all over West and Gurley, at least.

Any word yet on waiver claims? Either or the cut Packers, or on players Thompson might have bid on?

We always overvalue our guys more
There were better WR's cut yesterday
Could not believe Brandon Tae was cut by NE
Returned two Kickoffs for TD's and thought he was an up and coming player with NE

If nobody claims those two, they may look at the Packers WR's and decide to go to somebody else's practice squad. Barring injuries not a ton of opportuniies here at WR

[Bretsky]

West was a surprising cut given special teams capabilties.

Five tes is fine since they can function as defacto fbs and h-backs.

Please board -- explain why Crabtree and Brad Jones are worthy of roster spots?

Crabtree is our best blocker as a TE, and very reliable
Jones.....not a fan of that guy

[Bretsky]

No claims on any of those guys?

So did I overestimate the abilities of several of them, in the best training camp tradition?

yes

[imscott72]

[QUOTE=Fritz;610816]No claims on any of those guys?

So did I overestimate the abilities of several of them, in the best training camp tradition?[/QUOTEid I

So did I. I'm pleasantly surprised..

[wootah]

Please board -- explain why Crabtree and Brad Jones are worthy of roster spots?

Crabtree might play a bigger role behind the scenes for this team that we as outsiders know of.

Check the last 20 seconds of this clip:

http://www.packers.com/media-center/videos/McCarthys-Post-Game-Victory-Speech-at-Jets/6c4ed6b6-7b56-435a-96ed-3fbf618726f4

Other guys that McCarthy invited to break down the huddle last year (at least with existing movies on packers.com): Charles Woodson, AJ Hawk, Ryan Pickett, Scott Wells. All well-respected team leaders.

[Packers4Glory]

Crabtree is our best blocker and seems to make some plays near the goal line. He's solid. I think we'd be fine w/ 3 TE's. 5 is a bit much.

[Joemailman]

Crabtree is our best blocker as a TE, and very reliable
Jones.....not a fan of that guy

Crabtree is also considered to be their best blocker on returns. Jones could be gone when Zombo returns.

[Lurker64]

No claims on any of those guys?

So did I overestimate the abilities of several of them, in the best training camp tradition?

Overestimating is part of it, but you probably just didn't consider that every other team in the league just cut 27 guys, some of which they would have liked to keep as well.

Also, none of our WRs were the best WRs that hit waivers. Teams will put a claim in on the best or second best player at a position but they won't necessarily claim the fifth or sixth best.

[Lurker64]

Crabtree is also considered to be their best blocker on returns. Jones could be gone when Zombo returns.

I would not be the least bit surprised to see the Packers cut Jones, and sign a vet interior OL or sign the best interior OL on somebody's PS when Zombo comes back.

[Joemailman]

Saw this on another site:

Panthers released OG Bryant Browning. Only significant because TT put in a claim for the former Ohio State offensive lineman four weeks ago.

Anyone know anything about him?