ROSTER ANALYSIS

[Patler]

Is now the time you start to consider letting go of Pickett? He's clearly got another year in the tank. He's making a lot of money and there is a ton of depth on the DL. . . .

It wouldn't shock me. I'm never able to pick the roster exactly how TT does, so I try to keep most things open to possibility.

I think Ryan Pickett is the Chad Clifton of the D-line. The will keep him around until he simply can no longer play.

[Bossman641]

As usual, I think Patler has this right. Harris would have had to been carried onto the 53 man roster and then placed on IR and designated for return.

Last year was a little different. The NFL and NFLPA came to the agreement in late August, just before the regular season was to begin. Teams were allowed to move one player who had already been placed on IR during preseason to the 53 man roster and then designate that player for return and IR him.

[bobblehead]

Pickett is the only guy who can 2-gap. I think if they get rid of him, Wist will infarct.

Awesome....I had to look it up.

[Fritz]

I think Boyd will be the one to head to the PS. Miller...interesting case. Several of you rats said that man can play a little. I'd like to see them carry an extra D-lineman and rotate more. And maybe...maybe....throw in a couple of 4-down-lineman sets once in a while, just to confuse defenses and lift Wist's weary soul.

[RashanGary]

Miller is better than Boyd.

Since you've been back, honestly, man, I find your opinions on players to be as valuable as anyone's. You're going to be wrong from time to time. TT is. MM is. Everyone is. But you have independent analysis on players based on the games and I think it's rock solid.

[RashanGary]

I only watched the last game. The first two I missed. I was impressed with Banjo. Made at least one awesome open field tackle. He's very athletic and tackles with confidence. People know I'm a big fan of Nick Collins. He was a special player. Not just his int's and disruption, but his ability to make tackles he wasn't supposed to be able to make. That cleans up a lot of big plays. Banjo is the first Packer since Collins that I see tackle in the open field with the confidence and assertiveness of Collins. He flashed to me. I don't really mind a shorter free safety. FS don't match up with TE's anyway. They cover the middle of the field. It's more about covering ground, being assignment sure, having a nose for the ball and being able to make open field tackles. I don't know if Banjo can do much of that, but I'm pretty sure he's a hell of a tackler. I hope he shows more this week.

[Harlan Huckleby]

You're going to be wrong from time to time.

You are very generous.

This preseason I've had buy recommendations for Marshmallow Newhouse, Jordan Miller, Alex Green and Vince Young. All underrated value picks with upside.
Am selling short Tyrone Walker (limited athlete), Johnnathan Franklin (unneeded and modest skills) and Skinbasket (persistent douche-baggery.)

I'm not down on Barclay, but never caught Barclay Fever.

So far my calls look pretty good, but maybe Walker will make me look bad, or Skinbasket will find Jesus.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Harlan, I've had exactly the opposite experience. All my calls have been bad. I predicted that Alex Gillett would be our backup QB.

My latest call? I'd convert Josh Boyd into an OT.

[Harlan Huckleby]

My latest call? I'd convert Josh Boyd into an OT.

Or, he does have the size you are looking for in a 2nd RB.

[Brandon494]

Is now the time you start to consider letting go of Pickett? He's clearly got another year in the tank. He's making a lot of money and there is a ton of depth on the DL. . . .

It wouldn't shock me. I'm never able to pick the roster exactly how TT does, so I try to keep most things open to possibility.

Guarantee that won't happen. TT doesn't let guys go because of salary, he lets them go because they can't stay healthy. BTW Pickett was our best D-lineman last season.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Or, he does have the size you are looking for in a 2nd RB.

He'd sure be a change of pace.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I didn't see the game. Based on info I've read so far, my final projections are:

QB (2) - Aaron Rodgers, Vince Young
RB (4) - Eddie Lacy, Alex Green, James Starks, Jonathan Franklin
FB (1) - John Kuhn
WR (5) - Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Jarrett Boykin, Jeremy Ross
TE (4) - Jermichael Finley, Matthew Mulligan, Ryan Taylor, Brandon Bostick
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, Mike Neal, Johnny Jolly
OLB (4) - Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Andy Mulumba, Nate Palmer
LB (5) - Brad Jones, A.J. Hawk, Robert Francois, Sam Barrington, Jamari Lattimore
CB (6) - Sam Shields, Tramon Williams, Casey Hayward, Micah Hyde, Davon House, Jarrett Bush
S (4) - Morgan Burnett, M.D. Jennings, Jerron McMilliam, Chris Banjo
ST (3) - Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode

IR - Bulaga, Harris
PUP - Sherrod, Tretter, Worthy

But for those that saw the game, how did Bostick looked compared to Quarless and Williams? How did Josh Boyd and Chris Banjo look? I've read that Barrington and Lattimore outplayed Manning. Is that the way others saw it?

A few switches from last week based on info I've read from the game: 1) Bostick shows more potential than Quarless at this point, 2) Palmer, Lattimore, and Barrington looked good (better than Manning and Moses).

[RashanGary]

i like banjo and barrington. i like that new wr, walker over ross. Jordan miller is prolly going to make this team.

[pbmax]

Bostick just looks the part, he's an obvious mismatch you can see from the TV screen. He played a ton split wide. But he caught one ball I remember for good yardage. But not much blocking and he did hid damage to second team.

DJ Williams caught a WR screen and it went for a yard because he couldn't shake the CB.

Banjo was everywhere and on special teams covers. But all against second units when he was on D. Despite size he seems to be a LOS safety.

Brandon Smith is as raw as an egg in your grocer's freezer.

Saw nothing of Quarless but I was on radio only for most of 1st QTR. Taylor had real nice over the shoulder catch for 20+.

Boyd did nothing and Miller once again outplayed him but like Banjo, all his best plays were against the 2s and were largely in pursuit. Not sure he is ready to 2 gap. Miller might give some pass rush.

The backup linebackers had some trouble. Palmer and Savage were getting torched on off tackle runs versus the 2 and 3 KC O line.

Read than Francois had a couple nice plays early subbing for Jones. But he and Lattimore had some trouble filling in correct gaps in run defense.

Starks and Franklin run a little bit alike. Give then some space and they will burn you. Starks with acceleration, Franklin with a cut or shake. Green looks like a pounder right now but always gets positive yards.

Datko had a bad game as did Young. Coleman wasn't any better. Van Roten snapped well and played a lot more at Center than Lewis but Lewis got a lot of time at Guard.

Barrington has a nose for the ball and would be a tackling machine but like Jones last year, did not react fast and was mostly catching players to stop them. To his credit, they usually stayed stopped. Barrington was noticeably bad on punt coverage as he kept getting pinned around the numbers by two blockers and the return went wide for big gains. KC found a problem with the Packers coverage by 2nd half.

[OS PA]

i like banjo and barrington. i like that new wr, walker over ross. Jordan miller is prolly going to make this team.

I think Jordan Miller is going to make the team over Jolly, which is sad. Unless they don't keep Banjo.
Any word on Banjo's injury? If it's going to keep him out some time, I could see them IR'ing him so he can develop for next year.
I'd like to see us play Micah Hyde at safety.
We keep Quarless over Bostick. I think the competition is actually between Bostick and Ryan Taylor.
I think only 2 of the 3 make it out of Sam Barrington, Nate Palmer, and Andy Mulamba.
I don't think they give up on Manning this early.
I think it's 50/50 on Walker and Ross. Ross had a hell of a reception today, and offers a lot more on special teams than Walker, which is what you're looking for in your 5th receiver.