Ridiculously Early 53 Man Roster

[run pMc]

I don't think Perry will ever provide coverage, but he can set the edge aginst the run and bull rush. I think after this year he plays DE for a 4-3 team elsewhere.
Would love to see Jones make a jump to 'consistent'.
Which would you rather keep - Perry or Jones?

[mraynrand]

Datone Jones? I think if you want it bad enough he can break out this year. The man quietly had some jaw dropping plays last year. Look at this one 2nd Q of our first Lions game: https://vine.co/v/O7vxIi3FjIJ

That's Larry Warford our boy has on skates. Collapses him into the center and takes them both out. Incredible play.

The pass was completed. He didn't disengage soon enough!

[HarveyWallbangers]

I don't think Perry will ever provide coverage, but he can set the edge aginst the run and bull rush. I think after this year he plays DE for a 4-3 team elsewhere.
Would love to see Jones make a jump to 'consistent'.
Which would you rather keep - Perry or Jones?

I'd take Perry.

[smuggler]

My money is on Jones. Tape those ankles, dude!

[vince]

I think Vaughters wins the final LB spot over Joe Thomas, Mulumba, Palmer, Hubbard, and Danzier for his ability to play inside or outside and his performance on special teams.

I'd like to read what you see in this guy 3irty1 (and others). Vaughters looks like an overachiever to me. The anti-Hubbard. Strong and good football instincts but stiff.

It'll be interesting to see how his game translates in the NFL. Could be a good special teamer but I don't think his upside is very high.

He can bust a wedge on kickoff coverage (yeah I know they've been more or less outlawed but they still have two-man leads) but I'm not sure he's quick enough to play inside regularly and I don't see him getting to the QB enough from the outside. Not long enough to be slow and stiff.

I think Bulaga will eat him for breakfast in camp.

[Smidgeon]

Offense (24):

Quarterbacks (3):
Aaron Rodgers
Scott Tolzien
Brett Hundley

Running backs (3):
Eddie Lacy
James Starks
John Crockett

Fullbacks (2):
John Kuhn
Aaron Ripkowski

Wide receivers (6):
Jordy Nelson
Randall Cobb
Davante Adams
Jeff Janis
Ty Montgomery
Adrian Coxson

Tight ends (3):
Andrew Quarless
Richard Rodgers
Kennard Backman

Tackles (2):
David Bakhtiari
Bryan Bulaga

Guards (3):
Josh Sitton
TJ Lang
Matt Rotheram

Centers (2):
Corey Linsley
JC Tretter

Defense (26):

Defensive linemen (7):
Mike Daniels
Letroy Guion
Datone Jones
BJ Raji
Josh Boyd
Mike Pennel
Khyri Thornton

Inside linebackers (4):
Sam Barrington
Carl Bradford
Jake Ryan
Tavarus Dantzler

Outside linebackers (5):
Matthews
Peppers
Nick Perry
Mike Neal
Jayrone Elliott

Cornerbacks (6):
Sam Shields
Casey Hayward
Micah Hyde
Demetri Goodson
Damarious Randall
Quinten Rollins

Safeties (4):
Morgan Burnett
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Sean Richardson
Chris Banjo

Specialists (3):
Mason Crosby
Tim Masthay
Brett Goode

-----

Not a depth chart, but an early stab nonetheless. Gone are Abby, Barclay, and Mulumba.

I have four UDFAs making the roster: RB Crockett, WR Coxson, G Rotheram, and ILB Dantzler. Except for ILB, there seems to be more opportunity for fresh faces on offense than defense, which I found surprising.

At this point, I have all but one draft picks making the roster, including a second FB and a third TE (actually one of the most difficult guesses choosing Backman over Perillo). I have Ringo not making the roster, but he could also be swapped for Thornton who I'm guessing makes enough of a leap in year two just like Bradford at ILB.

I am heavy on Dline and light on OLB, but to be fair, there's always a curveball.

On offense, there are 7 new faces, one each of QB, RB, FB, TE, and G, and two WRs.
On defense, there are 4 new faces, two each of ILB and CB.

Like I said, there seemed to be more opportunity on offense, but the two weakest positions--ILB and CB (along with WR)--got the most new faces. And you could argue that the WRs added actually fit two positions: KR and WR at one each. But it all depends on how they're used.

[3irty1]

I'd like to read what you see in this guy 3irty1 (and others). Vaughters looks like an overachiever to me. The anti-Hubbard. Strong and good football instincts but stiff.

It'll be interesting to see how his game translates in the NFL. Could be a good special teamer but I don't think his upside is very high.

He can bust a wedge on kickoff coverage (yeah I know they've been more or less outlawed but they still have two-man leads) but I'm not sure he's quick enough to play inside regularly and I don't see him getting to the QB enough from the outside. Not long enough to be slow and stiff.

I think Bulaga will eat him for breakfast in camp.

I don't think he's got much upside but considering he was the #4 linebacker recruit in the country at one point I wouldn't call him an overachiever. Its more about if his game will translate or not. If it doesn't he'll fail fast which is a plus. The versatility is the big thing with him.

As an OLB he reminds me a little of Erik Walden. Not quite as long or as uber physical as Walden but not as stupid either. Same strengths though in that he can set an edge really well and he's abnormally stout for his size. As a pass rusher he's more like Mike Neal than anyone else we've got. Brute strong and high motor. Not the kind of skillset you'd bet on to become a star, Tamba Hali's are super rare, but if he could be the next Mike Neal that's a hell of a deal for a UDFA.

As an ILB I think he has the most upside specifically as a "buck" linebacker in a Capers 30 front. A FB of the defense type. His 7.09 3-cone suggests some upside in coverage. If he can develop there, he's a great find. It's rare to find a guy who can mix with lineman and also drop back into a hook zone with regularity.

That stuff is pie in the sky. I think he'll make the team because while starting 30+ games for Stanford he was also on kick and punt coverage. Physical 250 lb guys with hot motors and special teams experience are tough cuts.

[pbmax]

Looking at Smidge's roster, it might be possible that Tretter is the backup OT on each side after camp. But he will need to really step up his game. Barclay has the injury to overcome, so its no lock, but right now I would bet on DB being on the roster when camp ends.

[Smidgeon]

Looking at Smidge's roster, it might be possible that Tretter is the backup OT on each side after camp. But he will need to really step up his game. Barclay has the injury to overcome, so its no lock, but right now I would bet on DB being on the roster when camp ends.

Subconsciously, I was thinking musical chairs if a tackle goes down. TJ Lang. Backup tackle.

[pbmax]

Subconsciously, I was thinking musical chairs if a tackle goes down. TJ Lang. Backup tackle.

Yeah its a hard call. Barclay was light years better than anyone had a right to hope in his rookie year. But he still was a hole in the pass protection (nice run blocker though). Injury just makes it harder to say. And Tretter hasn't proven ready either. Didn't Lang play his way out of Tackle in 2013, which is what brought Barclay in, or am i thinking of another year?

[vince]

I don't think he's got much upside but considering he was the #4 linebacker recruit in the country at one point I wouldn't call him an overachiever. Its more about if his game will translate or not. If it doesn't he'll fail fast which is a plus. The versatility is the big thing with him.

As an OLB he reminds me a little of Erik Walden. Not quite as long or as uber physical as Walden but not as stupid either. Same strengths though in that he can set an edge really well and he's abnormally stout for his size. As a pass rusher he's more like Mike Neal than anyone else we've got. Brute strong and high motor. Not the kind of skillset you'd bet on to become a star, Tamba Hali's are super rare, but if he could be the next Mike Neal that's a hell of a deal for a UDFA.

As an ILB I think he has the most upside specifically as a "buck" linebacker in a Capers 30 front. A FB of the defense type. His 7.09 3-cone suggests some upside in coverage. If he can develop there, he's a great find. It's rare to find a guy who can mix with lineman and also drop back into a hook zone with regularity.

That stuff is pie in the sky. I think he'll make the team because while starting 30+ games for Stanford he was also on kick and punt coverage. Physical 250 lb guys with hot motors and special teams experience are tough cuts.

Good stuff thanks.

[smuggler]

I would definitely think Barclay is the backup on the right side. If Bakhtiari goes down, then swing Bulaga from the right and install Barclay. Tretter seemingly is the backup on the inside. Worst case scenario, if both tackles are out, Tretter on the left and Barclay on the right. And pray for a good day running from Lacy, because Rodgers is not going to have much time...

[HarveyWallbangers]

My roster is offensive heavy, so I suspect injuries or a surprise cut (perhaps Quarless or even Kuhn if Ripkowski, Perillo, and Backman show potential) will even things out when it comes down to final cuts.

QB AARON RODGERS
QB Scott Tolzien
QB Brett Hundley

RB EDDIE LACY
RB James Starks
RB Rajion Neal (I hope it's Crockett, but I liked what Neal showed last year in the little we saw him)

FB JOHN KUHN
FB Aaron Ripkowski

WR JORDY NELSON
WR RANDALL COBB
WR Davante Adams
WR Ty Montgomery
WR Jared Abbrederis
WR Jeff Janis

TE RICHARD RODGERS
TE Andrew Quarless
TE Justin Perillo
TE Kennard Backman

OT BRYAN BULAGA
OT DAVID BAKHTIARI
OT Don Barclay

OG JOSH SITTON
OG T.J. LANG
OG Matt Rotheram

OC COREY LINSLEY
OC J.C. Tretter

DE MIKE DANIELS
DE JOSH BOYD
DE Datone Jones

NT B.J. RAJI
NT Letroy Guion
NT Mike Pennel

OLB JULIUS PEPPERS
OLB CLAY MATTHEWS
OLB Nick Perry (alternates with Neal when Matthews is inside)
OLB Mike Neal (alternates with Perry when Matthews is inside)
OLB Jayrone Elliott (I think he's the exception to the UDFA OLB making the team and then falling flat the next year)

ILB SAM BARRINGTON
ILB JAKE RYAN (plays when Matthews is outside)
ILB Carl Bradford
ILB Joe Thomas

CB SAM SHIELDS
CB CASEY HAYWARD
CB Damarious Randall
CB Quentin Rollins
CB Demetri Goodson

SS MORGAN BURNETT
SS Sean Richardson
FS HA HA CLINTON-DIX
FS Micah Hyde (slot CB)

K Mason Crosby
P Tim Masthay
LS Brett Goode
KR Ty Montgomery
PR Micah Hyde

[Brandon494]

Funny how some think we will keep 6 WRS because they want Abby to make the roster...not happening.

[Pugger]

Abbrederis was a better route runner..and football player. Hope he makes it but he'll be the popular guy to leave off the list....white wr coming off an injury vs. the raw guy who is faster but can't run routes nearly as well

I'm eager to see if Abby has filled out some and his injury is healed. I don't think that injury is as career threatening as it once was. I hope we can keep Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Monty, Abby and Janis.