Packers Depth Chart

[pittstang5]

Hey Harv, what about Lawrence Guy, DE, who was injured last year. I think he could beat out Wilson if he shows anything. He's at least got good size (6' 4" - 305 lbs.) for DE position. Darkhorse candidate to make the roster over Wilson?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Sure. Put all of the guys not named Raji, Pickett, Worthy, and probably Hargrove in a hat, pull out 2-3 names and you'll have as a good of a chance at picking the last DL as what I posted.

[Brandon494]

I still don't understand why everyone is so quick to cut Driver. It's obviously he's not going to be making 5M next season and if cut he's not going to get anything but the vet minimum anywhere else so I don't see him having a problem with reworking his deal. I guarntee he'll be on the team next season and I'll believe we'll keep 6 WRs this year with Gurley taking Quarless's spot on the roster.

[Scott Campbell]

QB

1) Does Harrell show enough to be the backup or will the Packers have to go outside of the organization for a backup? The brass has shown no inclination to do so. Yet.
2) Coleman would seem to have the upper hand if the Packers keep three QBs--provided Harrell wins the backup spot.
3) If neither Coleman nor Hill show anything, they could keep just two QBs again.

My gut right now says

QB Aaron Rodgers, Graham Harrell, B.J. Coleman

Coleman was drafted as a "developmental backup prospect". He's going to have to really show something to make the team. I think he's most likely a practice squad guy.

[Scott Campbell]

I still don't understand why everyone is so quick to cut Driver.

Yes you do. You just don't agree with the logic. And I can respect that.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I still don't understand why everyone is so quick to cut Driver. It's obviously he's not going to be making 5M next season and if cut he's not going to get anything but the vet minimum anywhere else so I don't see him having a problem with reworking his deal. I guarntee he'll be on the team next season and I'll believe we'll keep 6 WRs this year with Gurley taking Quarless's spot on the roster.

With the depth at other positions, it will be hard to keep 6 WRs. I think Ron Wolf always said it's better to cut a guy a year early than a year late. Mainly, there was a buzz about Gurley on the practice squad. I believe the hype because when we hear this kind of buzz, it's usually not hyperbole. I think back to Tramon Williams and some other no names that came out of nowhere. I believe the guy really showed a lot in practice, and that is why they decided to pay him so much when the Vikings wanted to sign him. Also, I don't think the comments by McCarthy and Thompson bode well for Driver. When asked about Clifton, McCarthy said they plan to have him on the roster and it will depend on his rehab. When asked about Driver, McCarthy and Thompson gave some nonsense about not speculating on it. Also, we have a guy on the roster (Randall Cobb) who will likely be better than Driver this year that is ready for more playing time.

[sharpe1027]

I can't see Coleman drawing much attention; he's just not that likely to get poached. Unless he's lights-out in preseason, he's probably as safe on the PS as anyone. If he is lights-out, he probably deserves a roster spot anyway.

[Smeefers]

I can't see Coleman drawing much attention; he's just not that likely to get poached. Unless he's lights-out in preseason, he's probably as safe on the PS as anyone. If he is lights-out, he probably deserves a roster spot anyway.

The nice thing about the practice squad is a team is that if a team wants to poach someone, they have to put them on the 53 man roster. It's hard to do that for a back up QB. Hell, even when the Bills nabbed Brohm, they started him right off the bat because they absolutely needed a guy.

I'm still up in the air, but the closer we get to the start of the season, the more I'm with Brandon on this one and say Driver is going to stay. It's real easy to get rid of someone who doesn't appear to produce much, but I think one of our problems last year was the lack of a back ups in or LB core. No one today talks about loosing Nick Barnett and Brandon Chiller, but it hurt us more than we probably know. Everyone knew why we let Barnett go (right or wrong, it's an argument for that other thread), but loosing chiller was just another one of those nails in the coffin on our D last year. Who knows how good our pass D would have been last year if Chiller had been in on 3rd downs instead of Hawk. Hell, just having Chiller to spell Hawk could have upped his play.

That's why I think we keep driver. Even though he may fall to the #4 or #5 spot on the WR crew, he's someone who MM and AR will trust when the rubber hits the road. No one on our team is better on 3rd and 7, especially when it's a 5 yard route. He's unselfish, solid, and a contributer. Bottom line, we have a better chance of getting a ring this year with him than we do without him.

[Brandon494]

With the depth at other positions, it will be hard to keep 6 WRs. I think Ron Wolf always said it's better to cut a guy a year early than a year late. Mainly, there was a buzz about Gurley on the practice squad. I believe the hype because when we hear this kind of buzz, it's usually not hyperbole. I think back to Tramon Williams and some other no names that came out of nowhere. I believe the guy really showed a lot in practice, and that is why they decided to pay him so much when the Vikings wanted to sign him. Also, I don't think the comments by McCarthy and Thompson bode well for Driver. When asked about Clifton, McCarthy said they plan to have him on the roster and it will depend on his rehab. When asked about Driver, McCarthy and Thompson gave some nonsense about not speculating on it. Also, we have a guy on the roster (Randall Cobb) who will likely be better than Driver this year that is ready for more playing time.

How is it going to be hard to keep Driver? We only drafted two offensive players who were both 7th round picks. With Quarless injury late in the season he's not going to be ready to go. What's so hard to understand about keeping 6 WRs and 4 TEs? You cut veterans like Driver when you are rebuilding, NOT when you are SB favorites and the team is clearly better with him then without.

[Brandon494]

Yes you do. You just don't agree with the logic. And I can respect that.

It's not logic in cutting a veteran like Driver for a player like Gurley who's just another Ruvell Martin. Now if he refused to rework his contract then it's a no brainer but I doubt that's going to happen.

[sharpe1027]

If Driver can play at the same level he did last year, I think he has a decent chance to make the roster. The problem is that he is yet another year older. How can we expect him not to be even slower and less explosive this year? I just don't see him maintaining it another year. Love the guy and if he proves me wrong, the team will be that much better. Still, my best guess is that he's not going to have quite enough to make it this year.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I respect the reasoning that went into Harvey's depth charts. IT would be hard to guess what the depth chart will be like even without the untested rookies. We have Mike Neal who could be anything, two running backs who are mysteries, Driver at the end, Sherrod unknown. It won't get interesting until mid August when we at least have some tweets from practice observors as clues. Right now is like predicting a chicken race by examining the shape of some eggs. No, I take that back, it's not like that.

[Guiness]

I don't buy us keeping 6 WR's, unless the 6th guy is a special teams monster. Have we done it in recent history? You don't generally get enough production out of those guys outside of their roles in regular offensive set to justify carrying an extra one.

In another thread I mentioned I'm surprised no one thinks Jones may be the odd guy out. Not saying I think it will happen, just that it's as likely as anything else if one of the rookies really impresses. Also, with Finley lining up wide, I think we're more likely to carry 4 WR's than 6!

[Fosco33]

I love DD - but it's time for him to make room for younger talent. I'm sure he'll make a run at another team and maybe has 2-3 years left...

[mraynrand]

How is it going to be hard to keep Driver? We only drafted two offensive players who were both 7th round picks. With Quarless injury late in the season he's not going to be ready to go. What's so hard to understand about keeping 6 WRs and 4 TEs? You cut veterans like Driver when you are rebuilding, NOT when you are SB favorites and the team is clearly better with him then without.

That's the only point that matters. Are they better with him? If he's lost a dance step or two, then they might not be better with him, even with his experience. Packers want to dominate on matchups, and if he's slipped enough where he can't get open easily against the nickel and dime corner of the opposition, he's not worth keeping. This is a moot argument; you'll know right away in camp if Driver is ready to go. If he's not, he'll be released early on and go sign with Cleveland.