First cutdown time

[Spaulding]

I think the talk of Shields getting cut is too premature. Remember he's a converted wide receiver and didn't play CB until his senior year at Miami. Also, he's really only had two offseasons to continue to build on those raw skills which seems like a lot but given he's only going into his 4th year playing the position I think he still has upside. As the saying goes, you can't coach speed and I'd wager that if he were cut he'd immediately be picked up on another team's regular season roster. I'll put money down that he gets at least another year to prove himself.

[rbaloha1]

I don't think they are ready to give up on Shields yet, but he is really going to have to earn his playing time. There is room on the roster to keep him.

Starks is in a different situation. Tyler has surprised me. He could become the third down back they are looking for. Reportedly, the coaches love Saine's reliability. He just doesn't make mistakes. Although, if he doesn't get on the field, too, he could be in trouble. Benson and Green seem to be locks.

When you look at that group, Starks no longer looks so appealing. He has been hurt constantly since college, he makes too many mistakes, and his running has been inconsistent.

Benson can take all the snaps that would have gone to Starks. Saine and/or Tyler can work into the third down role. Green can be Benson's sub. I don't see a need for Starks, especially in view of his injury history.

In terms of SS I thought the spirit of the thread was the board's opinion not TT's opinion.

There may not be room for SS if Williams, House, Bush, Heyward and Ross are on the active roster. Some people like Merrill which I have no opinion.

Safeties are Woodson who is also a corner in nickel, Burnett, McMillian, Levine and Jennings with Richardson on the cusp.

SS is a victim of poor performance and numbers. Its not easy but I would not keep SS.

[Guiness]

A lot of piling on SS!

I also think SS will get at least one more season to come around. I agree that based on this camp, he'd be gone, but he's showed enough in past seasons to be given a pass - but I bet he'll be on a short leash. He has been able to stay on the field. As long as he's listening the coaches should have confidence they can teach him the position. Chris Johnson got cut not so much because he couldn't play but because he also spent more time on the trainer's table than the field.

No one has mentioned House - it seems to me like his availability is very bad, he was out again for last night's game. No one thinks he's on the bubble?

[ThunderDan]

A lot of piling on SS!

I also think SS will get at least one more season to come around. I agree that based on this camp, he'd be gone, but he's showed enough in past seasons to be given a pass - but I bet he'll be on a short leash. He has been able to stay on the field. As long as he's listening the coaches should have confidence they can teach him the position. Chris Johnson got cut not so much because he couldn't play but because he also spent more time on the trainer's table than the field.

No one has mentioned House - it seems to me like his availability is very bad, he was out again for last night's game. No one thinks he's on the bubble?

House is injuried. He hurt his shoulder and they are waiting 3 weeks before they decide if he needs surgery to fix the problem. I am guessing he probably goes to IR for the season but you never know.

[rbaloha1]

House is injuried. He hurt his shoulder and they are waiting 3 weeks before they decide if he needs surgery to fix the problem. I am guessing he probably goes to IR for the season but you never know.

Thought House was getting ready to play in the season opener. Should House be placed IR SS makes the roster with Bush starting and Heyward as the backup.

[Zool]

Thought House was getting ready to play in the season opener. Should House be placed IR SS makes the roster with Bush starting and Heyward as the backup.

Just threw up in my mouth a little.

[Patler]

In terms of SS I thought the spirit of the thread was the board's opinion not TT's opinion.

There may not be room for SS if Williams, House, Bush, Heyward and Ross are on the active roster. Some people like Merrill which I have no opinion.

Safeties are Woodson who is also a corner in nickel, Burnett, McMillian, Levine and Jennings with Richardson on the cusp.

SS is a victim of poor performance and numbers. Its not easy but I would not keep SS.

TT's opinion?

Anyway, I think Shields has fallen behind House and Heyward, I don't think he has fallen behind Ross or Merrill, one or both of which could end up on the practice squad. Bush will be on the roster whether or not he is ahead of Shields in any of the defensive alignments.

Williams, House, Heyward, Bush, Shields

Woodson

Burnett, and 2 or 3 of Jennings, McMillan, Levine and Richardson; with at least one of McMillan and Richardson going to the PS.

Between the 53 man roster and PS, the Packers will have 11 or 12 of their leading DBs.

[Guiness]

House is injuried. He hurt his shoulder and they are waiting 3 weeks before they decide if he needs surgery to fix the problem. I am guessing he probably goes to IR for the season but you never know.

Didn't he end up on the IR last year? His stat line only shows 2 games, was he just not dressed for the others?

I don't think they'll cut him, but if he's not available he's on the IR in a hurry and they give him one more chance to get healthy. His physical style may continue to keep him off the field.

[rbaloha1]

Just threw up in my mouth a little.

I know its tough to swallow but Bush is playing well. Probably the best secondary tackler. Aggressive and confident.

[Patler]

House is injuried. He hurt his shoulder and they are waiting 3 weeks before they decide if he needs surgery to fix the problem. I am guessing he probably goes to IR for the season but you never know.

Ya, right now he is the great unknown. The one encouraging thing was that 2 days after the injury, he was not wearing a sling when seen by reporters. It was somewhat of an odd injury, so, maybe it was minor, or maybe he has an underlying structural issue needing repair. Maybe the injury itself needs repair. The Packers are being their usual uninformative selves about his injury, not that I blame them.

[rbaloha1]

A lot of piling on SS!

I also think SS will get at least one more season to come around. I agree that based on this camp, he'd be gone, but he's showed enough in past seasons to be given a pass - but I bet he'll be on a short leash. He has been able to stay on the field. As long as he's listening the coaches should have confidence they can teach him the position. Chris Johnson got cut not so much because he couldn't play but because he also spent more time on the trainer's table than the field.

No one has mentioned House - it seems to me like his availability is very bad, he was out again for last night's game. No one thinks he's on the bubble?

Piling on SS is simple if you objectively watch the games -- which means forgetting about past performance and the great speed. After all, the league is not about Usain Bolts -- if it were, scouting would be easy.

[pbmax]

Benson can take all the snaps that would have gone to Starks. Saine and/or Tyler can work into the third down role. Green can be Benson's sub. I don't see a need for Starks, especially in view of his injury history.

The current hot rumor was started by Rob Reischel of Packers Plus who opined that Starks was a goner if Benson proved viable. I have not seen the original post, so can't say if it is opinion or reported from a source.

[rbaloha1]

The current hot rumor was started by Rob Reischel of Packers Plus who opined that Starks was a goner if Benson proved viable. I have not seen the original post, so can't say if it is opinion or reported from a source.

Easy call. Benson is the best back since Ahman Green. Cutting and vision is amazing. Closer late in games.

[Patler]

The current hot rumor was started by Rob Reischel of Packers Plus who opined that Starks was a goner if Benson proved viable. I have not seen the original post, so can't say if it is opinion or reported from a source.

I think you will find that opinion predating Reischel on this and/or other Packer fan sites.

Some have noted through out camp that the Packers tend to give players a grace period for injuries, but by about the third year they state that availability is part of their evaluation. Zombo is in the same boat as Starks. Starks faces an added problem because of the position he plays. The RBs that are kept tend to be needed. It is not a position that teams tend to waste a roster spot, like they will for OL, DB, or even LB.

Then, too, turf-toe injuries tend to be lingering types of injuries that players often struggle with and re-injure until the off-season and lengthy rest.

[rbaloha1]

I think you will find that opinion predating Reischel on this and/or other Packer fan sites.

Some have noted through out camp that the Packers tend to give players a grace period for injuries, but by about the third year they state that availability is part of their evaluation. Zombo is in the same boat as Starks. Starks faces an added problem because of the position he plays. The RBs that are kept tend to be needed. It is not a position that teams tend to waste a roster spot, like they will for OL, DB, or even LB.

Then, too, turf-toe injuries tend to be lingering types of injuries that players often struggle with and re-injure until the off-season and lengthy rest.

Mark Tauscher stated on the pre game show for game 2 that coaches stress reliability since they want to be able to sleep at night.

Shields and Starks are unreliable and would cause me sleepless nights if on the active roster.