What's the roster makeover going to look like, who stays/goes??

[wthigoot]

This. Kickers are getting better all the time. I don't have a big problem with Bing having one bad year, but he is paid as a top kicker and is no longer a top kicker.

The 6th rounder from Seattle will go to draft a kicker. If he is OK then Crosby can be cut to save a few bucks.

[wist43]

This roster isn't so bad. We are hurting at OL and WR because of defensive heavy drafts. If we had re-signed Hyde and Hayward this whole thing might have gone a dramatically different way. Same goes for if Shields hadn't suffered so many concussions. It didn't help that the last handful of drafts didn't have many OL prospects overall.

The problem is they've missed on so many high picks. Spriggs was a second rounder, he's a bust; Randall a bust; they let Hyde and Heyward walk, et al... Perry was a bad signing, they've had contempt for years toward the ILB position, and have likely missed again with Burks.

Way too many poor personnel decisions.

[texaspackerbacker]

I say again, I have as low an opinion of Ted Thompson as anybody, but most of what has been cited can be chalked up to bad luck, the Shields situation for sure - throw in Nick Collins too. How many of us can honestly say we disapproved of those "poor personnel decisions" and others at the time they were made?

[Bretsky]

I was surprised not to see statistically Crosby is not in at least the top half of the kickers in the NLF. I guess I've just got used to relying on the guy.

[mraynrand]

D. Randall: "They traded away all their good players, and expect Aaron Rodgers to be magical, and the magic hasn't been so magical lately."

[HarveyWallbangers]

Crosby (2018) ranks 25th with kicks inside 39 yards (92%)

Crosby (2018) ranks 28th with kicks up to 49 yards (78%)

Crosby (2018) ranks 27th with kicks over 50 yards (33%)

Pretty consistently among the worst in the League. He has a new holder, so it's impossible to tell where the hangup is exactly, but unlike other work we've done, Crosby no longer looks excellent from all but McCarthy's favorite FG distance.

Crosby has been pretty reliable--outside of one year and one game this year. I know he hasn't been clutch this year, but he's been reliable on clutch kicks in the past. Also, the game winners this year haven't been gimmes--which speaks to the other point. He kicks in Green Bay (which has to be one of the three most difficult places to kick), always seems to have a disproportionate amount of long kicks, and constantly has to deal with changing holders and snappers (recently). Now, I don't think he's worth the money he's being paid, but I'm pretty sure he'd be agreeable to a renegotiation (since he has been in the past). I'd bring him back at a reduced salary.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Dream Offseason For Me

Sign WR Golden Tate.
Sign OLB Anthony Barr.
Sign S Earl Thomas or Landon Collins.
Draft OLB in 1st round.
Draft OG in 2nd-4th round.
Draft TE in 2nd-4th round.
Best player available with other 1st round pick. I'd use it at a premium position (OT, CB, OLB, DL, maybe WR).

[call_me_ishmael]

Dream Offseason For Me

Sign WR Golden Tate.
Sign OLB Anthony Barr.
Sign S Earl Thomas or Landon Collins.
Draft OLB in 1st round.
Draft OG in 2nd-4th round.
Draft TE in 2nd-4th round.
Best player available with other 1st round pick. I'd use it at a premium position (OT, CB, OLB, DL, maybe WR).

I agree that would be a fantastic off-season. I'm on board. I bet Tate costs less than one might think and could be a great value. He's consistently a good weapon.

Is Minnesota not expected to franchise/re-sign Barr?

[mraynrand]

Dream Offseason For Me

Sign WR Golden Tate.
Sign OLB Anthony Barr.
Sign S Earl Thomas or Landon Collins.
Draft OLB in 1st round.
Draft OG in 2nd-4th round.
Draft TE in 2nd-4th round.
Best player available with other 1st round pick. I'd use it at a premium position (OT, CB, OLB, DL, maybe WR).

Good post. Barr is perfectly suited to be the hostile OLB we haven't had in forever. I think you have to spend a first on an OT, unless of course the value isn't there and you can get the guy later. Can't afford to miss this time - desperately need a starting RT. Also need another tackle as backup for both tackle positions (preferable the same guy).

[wist43]

Dream Offseason For Me

Sign WR Golden Tate.
Sign OLB Anthony Barr.
Sign S Earl Thomas or Landon Collins.
Draft OLB in 1st round.
Draft OG in 2nd-4th round.
Draft TE in 2nd-4th round.
Best player available with other 1st round pick. I'd use it at a premium position (OT, CB, OLB, DL, maybe WR).

In general I like that offseason, but I want to make sure we hit on all those guys... if the best TE available in rd3 can't be a difference maker, I'd rather draft a second Guard that I knew was going to be a solid 10 year starter.

How many times did we hear TT go on about "he's a good football player" (Ryan comes to mind), and then the guy doesn't make any plays?? We need difference makers.

Those first 3 picks all need to be starters right out of the gate.

[pbmax]

Let's be realistic. Half the draftees will not be starter quality. Its the way it always works. Its a great draft if you get half as starters.

The problem the team has got itself into isn't just D related. A lot of those D heavy drafts just drained the depth out of the offense too. If you went back to the player decisions and adjusted with hindsight, especially 2nd contracts, you could fix some holes on the D but you'd still be short on offense.

Best player available draft and sign free agents when its reasonable OR the player simply cannot be duplicated with youth (Peppers versus end of first round pass rushers).

[pbmax]

Crosby has been pretty reliable--outside of one year and one game this year. I know he hasn't been clutch this year, but he's been reliable on clutch kicks in the past. Also, the game winners this year haven't been gimmes--which speaks to the other point. He kicks in Green Bay (which has to be one of the three most difficult places to kick), always seems to have a disproportionate amount of long kicks, and constantly has to deal with changing holders and snappers (recently). Now, I don't think he's worth the money he's being paid, but I'm pretty sure he'd be agreeable to a renegotiation (since he has been in the past). I'd bring him back at a reduced salary.

If you take away Mason Crosby's worst game, then you need to do that for each kicker.

But let's suppose Mason goes 3/5. It puts his year average at roughly 86%, good for dead middle of League.

His worst game was indoors and we haven't really gotten to bad weather yet.

Time to plan for a change.

[mraynrand]

If you take away Mason Crosby's worst game, then you need to do that for each kicker.

I don't think any kicker had that kind of game and kept his job. I can think of two who were cut after a game like that. Crosby is having a poor year. But, like many years, he's in the upper percentile of kickers asked to kick longer FGs. Maybe they can get a salary reduction out of him and challenge him with a camp leg. If he starts out next year rough, you can just let him go. But he'll definitely pop up somewhere else.

[wist43]

Let's be realistic. Half the draftees will not be starter quality. Its the way it always works. Its a great draft if you get half as starters.

The problem the team has got itself into isn't just D related. A lot of those D heavy drafts just drained the depth out of the offense too. If you went back to the player decisions and adjusted with hindsight, especially 2nd contracts, you could fix some holes on the D but you'd still be short on offense.

Best player available draft and sign free agents when its reasonable OR the player simply cannot be duplicated with youth (Peppers versus end of first round pass rushers).

Don't think anyone is saying half the draftees need to be starters... what I'm saying is those first 3 picks need to be starting - if not right away, then by seasons end for sure.

That's 3 picks in the top 45... it is not unreasonable to expect that those 3 guys will all be starters - especially on a team with as many holes as the Packers.

[pbmax]

Don't think anyone is saying half the draftees need to be starters... what I'm saying is those first 3 picks need to be starting - if not right away, then by seasons end for sure.

That's 3 picks in the top 45... it is not unreasonable to expect that those 3 guys will all be starters - especially on a team with as many holes as the Packers.

2018: Alexander/Jackson/Burks
2017: King/Jones/Adams
2016: Clark/Spriggs/Fackrell
2015: Randall/Rollins/Monty
2014: Dix/Adams/Thorton
2013: Jones/Lacy/Bach
2012: Perry/Worthy/Hayward
2011: Sherrod/Cobb/Green
2010: Bulaga/Neal/Burnett
2009: Raji/Matthews/Lang

Counting on a once a decade development is not a smart way to proceed. 2010 and 2013 came close, but Neal and Jones never really started. They were regular contributors at most.