Bears to cut Carimi?

[denverYooper]

I would say they're fighting for 2 spots, maybe 3. Last year the Packers opening day 53 man roster had 7 O-Linemen. They probably thought Sherrod would eventually become the 8th. I could see them going with 9 this year because they'll be carrying 2 rookies. I can'r see 10.

The backup C position will be interesting. There's been some talk of Tretter being able to play there, but I can't see the Packers going into the season with an Ivy League rookie as their backup. That would seem to give Van Roten a good chance. However, MM has mentioned in the past he thinks Lang could play C. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get some reps there.

I dunno. That screams Packers. I won't be surprised if they see him as an interior swing guy.

[Joemailman]

I dunno. That screams Packers. I won't be surprised if they see him as an interior swing guy.

The Center position is different though, because of all the calls at the line the Center has to make. I suspect they signed Saturday last year because they weren't sure if EDS was ready for that yet. I would think they'd be more confident with Lang or Van Roten there. Tretter did have a 33 on the Wonderlic though, so he may prove to be a quick study.

[3irty1]

The OL is sooooo hard to predict right now.

[Guiness]

I offer us all two words of hope:

Mike Flanagan.

Ya, I knew he'd get mentioned eventually. A different cap era though I think, I don't think viable players were getting cut then to save a few $$$ under the cap. Although if his contract is fully guaranteed as Patler pointed out, that doesn't matter at all.

So, about this Carimi guy...he skipped day 1 of OTAs. Not sure if these are the optional ones or not?

[woodbuck27]

The OL is sooooo hard to predict right now.

They 'only' have 13 potential roster spot winners in the off season camp so far. Hardly heating up.

[pbmax]

The best center in camp might be that kid from Texas A&M.

[run pMc]

The best center in camp might be that kid from Texas A&M.

Yeah, Patrick Lewis. Four year starter at TX A&M, so he's no slouch. I think they'll try to keep hush-hush on him and stash him on the practice squad. They've given the starting job to EDS but have done a lot to give him competition: Lewis, Tretter, Van Roten, even Lang supposedly could play C in a pinch. They'll find a C and a backup from that group. Tretter's an Ivy League guy so he's bright and he'll pick up the mental stuff. Unless they fall flat on their face Bahktiari and Tretter will make the team....Cory Rodgers was the last R4 they cut out of camp. Wouldn't be surprised if they trade somebody if they all stay healthy through camp (a la Caleb Schlauderlaff or whatever that guy's name was).

[Joemailman]

A couple scouting reports I read aren't high on his run blocking. He may need some developmental time due to poor technique. Probably a prime candidate for the practice squad.

http://thefootballexpert.com/nfl-dra...is-c-texas-am/

[Fritz]

Wow. Lewis sounds exactly like a prototypical Packer center: smart, good pass blocker, not very physical as a run blocker.

Like Scott Wells and Jeff Sabado and EDS.

And yes, I am baiting Wist.

[Joemailman]

Reading that scouting report, I'm not sure if his issue is strength or technique. Hard to be a physical in the run game if your pad level isn't right.

[RashanGary]

Did you see or hear a report on how Sherrod is now? I haven't heard a thing...

MM has said in the past, as have many other football people, that championships are won in the offseason. Sherrod had surgery in January. That's not a healthy offseason and will affect his preparation for the season. The last time Sherrod was able to play football he wasn't very good at it. Him not having a good offseason hurts him.

[RashanGary]

Which ever of Newhouse, Sherrod, Barclay, Van Roten and Datco is not starting and is the least versatile will probably be released.

Absent injuries, you have to assume Bulaga, Sitton. Lang, EDS, Bakhtiari and Tretter are virtual locks for spots in 2013.

Newhouse, Sherrod, Barclay, Datco and Van Roten are probably fighting for 3 spots, maybe 4. Somewhere in the mix you also have to have a back-up center. That could give Van Roten an advantage for one of the spots.

Props Patler,

If the goal was to give a short, sweet, accurate interpretation of the Packers training camp OL situation, this was pretty awesome. If you put one together for each position group, honestly, I think anyone going to TC or interested in TC (people who don't put the type of hours into the Packers we do) I think they'd be getting a rock solid, easy to read, easy to grasp idea of what's happening with the Packers.

I like yours better than the writers because I think you're as good as anyone at having an idea of what types of things a GM weighs *probably comes, in part, from being a good listener. You often bring up things TT, Wolf or others have said in the past.* Your reasoning makes sense, but more than that, the fact that the things you think could happen, do happen a lot.

[Patler]

Props Patler,
....

Thanks JH. Very kind of you to say those things. I don't think I have any great insight, I just try to remember that completing a roster isn't always about taking just the best players at each position. Consideration has to be given to side issues, such as

- covering yourself with the fewer players that are available on game day if multiple injuries strike. That means some of your reserves have to be able to play a couple positions in a pinch. Especially true on the O-line, where they like to have only 7 active for the games. You have to be able to finish the game if both guards get hurt, or both tackles. You have to have a plan if two centers go down. Same is true for the DBs. A guy like Bush that can finish a game for you at either CB or safety has added value as a reserve over one who is only a corner or only a safety.

- Your last LBs, DBs and sometimes WRs have to be able to contribute on STs or they won't be active on game days. These are guys who won't see the field on O or D unless numerous injuries occur at the same position, so their ability at their position is of less importance, but they can have impact every week on STs. Again, added value for a guy like Bush.

- If a bunch of injuries hit to the same position, the last line reserve might have to finish the game, but isn't necessarily the guy you will go with the next week as a starter or 1st line reserve. We've seen the Packers go to the street for a player to move in ahead of the guy who is there mostly for STs or because he was versatile enough to finish a game with at several positions.

- Having game day inactives allows you to keep a guy strictly for development. He won't move up if injuries hit. A street FA will be brought in instead. Giacomini was like that.

- The salary cap always matters, but isn't always controlling.

[bobblehead]

Had Datko not been injured, I wonder which was the better prospect? It seemed both were considered 1st/2nd round types at the end of their Junior years. Looking at the combine #s for Datko and Sherrod:

Advantage Datko
Height - 78/77
20 yard - 2.91/3.01
10 yard - 1.76/1.81
vertical - 29.5/28.0
broad - 100 in./97 in.
20 yard shuttle - 4.54/4.63


Advantage Sherrod
weight - 321/315
40 yard - 5.18/5.19
arm length - 35.38/33.88
3 cone drill - 7.43/7.71

For an LT, Sherrod wins the 2 most important though. Arms and 3 cone. The fact that Datko creams him in the 10 yard is a feather for him though. Which one is stronger would be my tie breaker.

[bobblehead]

The OL is sooooo hard to predict right now.

By seasons end:

Sherrod Sitton Lang Barclay Bulaga

ITs easy to predict....being right is MUCH harder.