ROSTER ANALYSIS

[wist43]

I can only assume you're being facetious.

Well, I have to admit... I got big LOL out of that

[SkinBasket]

the remarkable thing is that Packer coaches keep getting fooled year after year after year. It only took them a couple of years to realize Bigby's limitations. Somehow, with some kind of mystical chicanery, Bush manages to convince them he can play special teams.

That's actually an argument that resonates with me, since I trust this organization to know more about this than I do. However, they are still human and humans make mistakes. Mistakes like Hunter, Dendy, Bigby, that white linebacker with a great motor, and a couple of others I'm sure I'm forgetting. For some reason, these players far outstayed their welcome and their limited usefulness. Maybe they continued to offer some glimmer of brilliant promise in practice or maybe they're just great at giving a blow job and bring a real passion to the team, but sometimes a turd is just a turd.

Practical case in point: Harlan's still around. He's our own intellectual Jarrett Bush, Patrick Dendy, and Atari Bigby all rolled into one large white wrapper with a dash of Mark Roman for spice. But he continues to tease us with his effort, and sometimes it's just too hard to say goodbye.

[hoosier]

Seconded.....I think I just reached the end of the internet

Not unless you clicked on the Jermichael Finley version!

[Harlan Huckleby]

Practical case in point: Harlan's still around. He's our own intellectual Jarrett Bush, Patrick Dendy, and Atari Bigby all rolled into one large white wrapper with a dash of Mark Roman for spice. But he continues to tease us with his effort, and sometimes it's just too hard to say goodbye.

Us? Is that a possum in your pocket or are you just ... well, I know you are happy to see me.

[HarveyWallbangers]

My stab at the 53 after the Rams game:

QB (2) - Aaron Rodgers, Vince Young
RB (5) - Eddie Lacy, John Kuhn, DuJuan Harris, Alex Green, Jonathan Franklin
WR (5) - Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Jarrett Boykin, Jeremy Ross
TE (4) - Jermichael Finley, Matthew Mulligan, Ryan Taylor, Andrew Quarless
OL (8) - David Bakhtiari, Josh Sitton, Evan Dietrich-Smith, T.J. Lang, Don Barclay, Marshall Newhouse, Greg Van Roten, Lane Taylor
DL (7) - B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, Datone Jones, C.J. Wilson, Mike Daniels, Johnny Jolly, Josh Boyd
LB (10) - Clay Matthews, A.J. Hawk, Brad Jones, Nick Perry, Mike Neal, Robert Francois, Andy Mulumba, Sam Barrington, Jamari Lattimore, Terrell Manning
DB (9) - Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Micah Hyde, Davon House, Jarrett Bush, Morgan Burnett, M.D. Jennings, Jerron McMillian
ST (3) - Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode

PUP - Sherrod, Tretter, Worthy

I think these guys are in the most need of a solid finish to the preseason to solidify their spots, with the most likely replacement in parens:

QB - Vince Young (Graham Harrell)
RB - Alex Green (James Starks)
WR - Jeremy Ross (I think he needs to have a big return or will Hyde will take PR and one of the young WRs will take his receiver spot)
TE - Andrew Quarless (Brandon Bostick/D.J. Williams)
LB - Andy Mulumba/Jamari Lattimore/Terrell Manning (Dezman Moses)
K - Mason Crosby (Giorgio Tavecchio)

[Pugger]

Tretter is already on IR if I'm not mistaken. I suspect Sherrod and Worthy will end up on the PUP list.

[QBME]

Tretter is already on IR if I'm not mistaken. I suspect Sherrod and Worthy will end up on the PUP list.

I don't think anybody is on IR just yet. All teams have until August 31 to figure out who goes on IR, IR Designated to Return, also who will stay on PUP, etc.

[pittstang5]

Sherrod will probably stay on PUP. I think his window has closed for being on the roster for week 1. IMO, he would've had to come off early this week in order to get some practice and playing time to knock the rust off. Give him the six weeks and the additional three weeks of practice, then if he's still not ready, IR him...again.

Tretter may stay on PUP for the start of the season, but I'm really starting to think they IR him. He could probably be healthy after the six weeks, but he's a rookie - are they really going to release someone to make room for a rookie that has done nothing.

Worthy might be IRed if there's no chance of him coming back this year. I have no idea where he is with his rehab. His injury was pretty late in the season if IIRC, so he may need the entire season to heal.

[denverYooper]

Spoon runs down the TE sitch (Finley and who knows who else):

https://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/at-tight-end-packers-have-jermichael-finley--and-who-knows-who-else-b9979909z1-220450551.html

Ryan Taylor is a "good bet":

Finley is a lock to make the team and Ryan Taylor is a good bet, too, because he is such a good special teams player.

He makes it sound like DJ Williams is pretty close to getting a spot as an underwhelming #2 TE.

For instance, D.J. Williams, a fifth-round pick in 2011, has become a capable blocker, very good special teams player and can as easily line up in the backfield as a fullback, as he can in the slot as a receiver or on the line as a traditional tight end.

"As a blocker, he actually did quite well this past Saturday against St. Louis," Fontenot said. "Unfortunately, he had some opportunities in the pass game he didn't cash in on. D.J. has improved overall. The big focus with D.J. is making the transition from practice to the games. He's really good in practice. We need to get that in games."

I had a lot of hope for Williams but then felt he'd get cut this year because he's been so disappointing in the pass game. Reading about his all-around utility, though, makes me think he'll probably get at least one more year.

Also (paraphrasing FTA):
Quarless and Mulligan are unknowns due to injury.
Bostick and Stoneburner haven't shown much.

This should be an interesting battle down the stretch here.

[Fritz]

I will be curious to hear about how severe Mulligan's injury is.

I also wonder how quickly Quarless can get up to speed. He's running out of time.

[pbmax]

I will be curious to hear about how severe Mulligan's injury is.

I also wonder how quickly Quarless can get up to speed. He's running out of time.

One of Quarless or Mulligan is essential I think.

[Maxie the Taxi]

I was going to take a shot at picking the final roster but couldn't get by the OL. What a mess. Maybe we could convert one or two of the wide bodies on the DL to OL. Could CJ Wilson or Josh Boyd play OT? Seriously, MM IS into cross-training...

[HarveyWallbangers]

Nelson, Cobb, Mulligan, and Mulumba back at practice today. The last two needed to get healthy to fight their way onto the squad.

[packer4life]

I'm concerned about Tramon and Hayward. I get this awful feeling that we won't see either of these two until well after the 9ers game. Earlier, the WR injuries to the 9ers tipped the scales to us IMO. Now, without these two it looks we lost that distinct advantage.

[Joemailman]

I was going to take a shot at picking the final roster but couldn't get by the OL. What a mess. Maybe we could convert one or two of the wide bodies on the DL to OL. Could CJ Wilson or Josh Boyd play OT? Seriously, MM IS into cross-training...

Looks like the Packers are 6-deep on the OL before you really have a downgrade. Anyone Thursday night who shows he can execute a shotgun snap consistently probably wraps up a roster spot.