TOUGH ROSTER DECISIONS AHEAD

[smuggler]

Neal and Hargrove are going to be gone for the first 4 weeks, so he's facing reduced competition. Plus, Jarius Wynn...

[RashanGary]

I still think AJ Hawk is going to be cut. He's the opposite of a play-maker. He's steady eddie. They say Robert Francois is steady eddie too. One is making under a million, the other 6.

[mission]

What's with all the Phillip Merling love? I thought I'd read he was having a very lukewarm preseason.

I've read in a couple spots that he's really come on the last couple of weeks. He's more of a run-stuffing base end in the 3-4 and guys like that have a little harder time standing out during pass rush drills and patty-cake walkthrough practices.

Now Manning, on the other hand, he hasn't done anything afaik. Moses will be on the active roster... he looks very good on special teams.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I disagree on a couple of counts. First of all, I think Merling's going to be gone and the Pack will keep six defensive linemen. I'm hoping Lawrence "Justa" Guy will land on the practive squad. Then when Neal and Hargrove come back, it's decision time.

I also think that Saine has a better chance of making the team at this point than Starks. Saine is available and consistent in his assignments and can pass block and catch. Starks seems to have lost some focus, and now he's hurt - again. I don't think he's so talented that MM will keep waiting on him.

I also don't think, based on what little I've read, that Genus makes it. He seems not to be standing out. I think instead, a guy like Levine has a chance to stick just because of his ST play (if it's good enough).

Nor do I think Zombo makes it. He hasn't been available to play since 1987.

I do think the Pack will try to figure out how to keep Coleman on the roster. OR maybe when they PS him, if someone tries to make a grab they'll promote him immediately. I just think he seems to have shown enough to keep, since QB is such a crucial position.

Finally, I think it'll be Borel over Gurley. Gurley seems to be kind of a one-trick pony.

Fair points. Regarding 7 d lineman though, TT has showed that he is willing to keep a pretty unbalanced roster if a lot of players in a position group have played well. With that said it wouldn't be surprised if he only kept Raji, Pickett, Worthy, Daniels, and Wilson and cut everyone else. Having Neal and Hargrove coming mid season allows him to do that.

[Lurker64]

I really think that Datko and Coleman aren't guys you can hide on the PS. When you're talking "a rocket-armed QB with swagger and the drive to be great" and "a mammoth human being with left tackle movement skills who just needs to get healthy, and get in the weight room" those aren't necessarily guys who will clear waivers when you're talking about a team that leads the NFL in "guys claimed off of waivers/PS" over the past few years.

So my 53:

Specialists(3): Crosby/Goode/Masthay

Offense(24)
QBs(3): Rodgers, Harrell, Coleman
WRs(5): Jennings, Nelson, Cobb, Jones, Driver
TEs(4): Finley, Crabtree, Williams, Taylor.
RBs(4): Green, Starks, Saine, Kuhn
OL (8): Bulaga, Newhouse, Sitton, Lang, Saturday, EDS, Wells, Datko

Defense (26)
DL(6): Raji, Worthy, Pickett, Wilson, Daniels, Merling
OLBs(5):Matthews, Perry, Moses, So'oto, Jones
ILBs(5): Hawk, Smith, Francois, Lattimore, Manning
DBs(10): Woodson, Tramon, House, Bush, Shields, Hayward, Burnett, Doc Jennings, McMillan, Levine.

Suspended(3): Walden, Neal, Hargrove
PUP(2): Quarless, Sherrod
IR(1): Bishop.

Week 2, cut Terrell Manning, add Erik Walden. Manning to PS. Week 4, 6, 8 cuts more complicated.

Coleman and Datko can share the "Breno Giacomini Memorial Redshirt year"

[rbaloha1]

As long as TT is involved with drafting, trading and acquiring Packer talent, final roster decisions shall be a continual problem.

Some of the interesting position battles are:

wr - imo Driver is cut. Cobb can fulfill DD's role. Borel and Gurley are too good not to be part of the final roster.

te - imo Crabtree is cut. Still never understood why Crabtree remains on the roster.

dl - imo Muir and Merling make the roster. Both are active and hungry. Wynn and Neal are cut.

lb - imo Hawk sticks due to Bishop's injury. Manning makes the roster.

secondary - imo shields and bush are on the bubble. The House injury probably saved shields.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I really think that Datko and Coleman aren't guys you can hide on the PS. When you're talking "a rocket-armed QB with swagger and the drive to be great" and "a mammoth human being with left tackle movement skills who just needs to get healthy, and get in the weight room" those aren't necessarily guys who will clear waivers when you're talking about a team that leads the NFL in "guys claimed off of waivers" over the past few years.

So my 53:

Specialists(3): Crosby/Goode/Masthay

Offense(24)
QBs(3): Rodgers, Harrell, Coleman
WRs(5): Jennings, Nelson, Cobb, Jones, Driver
TEs(4): Finley, Crabtree, Williams, Taylor.
RBs(4): Green, Starks, Saine, Kuhn
OL (8): Bulaga, Newhouse, Sitton, Lang, Saturday, EDS, Wells, Datko

Defense (26)
DL(6): Raji, Worthy, Pickett, Wilson, Daniels, Merling
OLBs(5):Matthews, Perry, Moses, So'oto, Jones
ILBs(5): Hawk, Smith, Francois, Lattimore, Manning
DBs(10): Woodson, Tramon, House, Bush, Shields, Hayward, Burnett, Doc Jennings, McMillan, Levine.

Suspended(3): Walden, Neal, Hargrove
PUP(2): Quarless, Sherrod
IR(1): Bishop.

Week 2, cut Terrell Manning, add Erik Walden. Manning to PS. Week 4, 6, 8 cuts more complicated.

Coleman and Datko can share the "Breno Giacomini Memorial Redshirt year"

Not too far off my projections right now, but I think Benson makes it over the extra LB (So'oto or Manning). Not sure about Coleman and Datko. TT has a better feel for who would get through or not than me.

[RashanGary]

Rodgers, Harrell

Benson, Green, Saine

Kuhn

Finley, Williams, Crabtree, Taylor

Newhouse, Lang, Saturday, Sitton, Bulaga, Dietrich Smith, Wells, Datko, Dominguez, Van Rotten

Nelson, Jennings, Jones, Cobb, Driver


Raji, Worthy, Daniels, Pickett, Wilson, Muir

Matthews, Perry, Moses, B Jones, Smith, Hawk (unfortunately), Francois, Lattimore, Manning

Tramon, House, Shields, Hayward, Bush

Woodson, Burnett, Jennings, McMillan, Levine


Crosby, Masthay, Goode

[Joemailman]

QB (3) Rogers, Harrell, Coleman
RB (5) Benson, Green, Starks, Saine, Kuhn
WR (5) Cobb, Driver, Jennings, Jones, Nelson
TE (4) Crabtree, Finley, Taylor, Williams
OL (8) Saturday, EDS, Lang, Sitton, Wells, Bulaga, Datko, Newhouse
DL (6) Wilson, Worthy, Daniels, Muir, Pickett, Raji
LB (9) Francois, Lattimore, Hawk, Manning, Matthews, Moses, Perry, Smith, So'oto,
DB (10) Shields, Williams, Bush, Hayward, House, Woodson, Jennings, McMillian Burnett, Devine
ST (3) Crosby, Masthay, Goode

IR Bishop
PUP Sherrod, Quarless

Suspension: Neal, Hargrove, Walden

Possible surprise: Starks could be cut if Saine is healthy.

[HarveyWallbangers]

QB (3) Rogers, Harrell, Coleman
RB (5) Benson, Green, Starks, Saine, Kuhn
WR (5) Cobb, Driver, Jennings, Jones, Nelson
TE (4) Crabtree, Finley, Taylor, Williams
OL (8) Saturday, EDS, Lang, Sitton, Wells, Bulaga, Datko, Newhouse
DL (6) Wilson, Worthy, Daniels, Muir, Pickett, Raji
LB (9) Francois, Lattimore, Hawk, Manning, Matthews, Moses, Perry, Smith, So'oto,
DB (10) Shields, Williams, Bush, Hayward, House, Woodson, Jennings, McMillian Burnett, Devine
ST (3) Crosby, Masthay, Goode

IR Bishop
PUP Sherrod, Quarless

Suspension: Neal, Hargrove, Walden

Possible surprise: Starks could be cut if Saine is healthy.

This is how I see it--except I think there will be one less LB and perhaps one more WR. Walden is only out one week, so they could roll with 8 LBs in week 1. The last safety spot could go to Sean Richardson. If House needs surgery, then add him to IR (putting Ross on the team).

[Patler]

I see Jones making it ahead of So'oto, based on versatility and special teams play. It has been written recently that Jones is becoming one of the real leaders on ST's, and that So'oto still struggles with even contributing on STs. If Jones is at least reliable to do things right at all LB positions, and is a leader/contributer on special teams, he becomes very valuable on game day active rosters. The biggest drawback on Jones has been injuries.

[mraynrand]

The biggest drawback on Jones has been injuries.

and lack of talent

[rbaloha1]

I see Jones making it ahead of So'oto, based on versatility and special teams play. It has been written recently that Jones is becoming one of the real leaders on ST's, and that So'oto still struggles with even contributing on STs. If Jones is at least reliable to do things right at all LB positions, and is a leader/contributer on special teams, he becomes very valuable on game day active rosters. The biggest drawback on Jones has been injuries.

Agreed. Jones versatility wins the spot over So'oto pass rushing skills.