Roster

[HarveyWallbangers]

As someone said, better at DT; worse at RB; the same everywhere else.

TT really didn't do much to improve the team this year... despite the fact that he drafted a couple of decent players.

I generally agree, but I will say that the teams that take a step up are usually ones that have a lot of 2nd and 3rd year players that do well--not because of their draft picks or their FAs.

[BallHawk]

As someone said, better at DT; worse at RB; the same everywhere else.

TT really didn't do much to improve the team this year... despite the fact that he drafted a couple of decent players.

I generally agree, but I will say that the teams that take a step up are usually ones that have a lot of 2nd and 3rd year players that do well--not because of their draft picks or their FAs.

Good point. The Colts didn't draft any superstars in last year's draft, nor in FA. They got a solid RB in Addai and their previous guys stepped up. Of course, though, the Colts are superior in talent comapred to us.

[MadtownPacker]

I think if Underwood or Culver take Manuels spot they'd probably cut their losses with him and cut him from the team. No sense in keeping him over a younger player with an upside.

Good to see you jump in Brad!

As a total Fresno St homer I say Culver. He is a very smart player and basically ran the Fresno St defense. Him and Collins would make an excellent safety duo.

[wist43]

As someone said, better at DT; worse at RB; the same everywhere else.

TT really didn't do much to improve the team this year... despite the fact that he drafted a couple of decent players.

I generally agree, but I will say that the teams that take a step up are usually ones that have a lot of 2nd and 3rd year players that do well--not because of their draft picks or their FAs.

I agree, but unless Jackson proves to be an every down back, what TT has actually accomplished is a backfield full of 3rd down backs.

They're terrible at TE; they're below average at WR; and they're weak at CB. TT did nothing to address any of these weaknesses.

2nd and 3rd year guys I'm hoping to step up are Blackmon, Underwood, and hopefully some improvement from Jennings.

Don't see any other 2nd or 3rd year guys that have a chance to unseat anyone - so we're probably status quo everywhere else. I definitely don't see the Packers as being one of the teams that is going to "step up".

[Lurker64]

What are the requirements for being eligible for the practice squad? Is it just the players who were drafted this year, or is it anybody below a certain number of years of experience, or is it just guys who haven't been part of an active roster? I knew this last offseason, but I seem to have forgotten.

Also:

I agree, but unless Jackson proves to be an every down back, what TT has actually accomplished is a backfield full of 3rd down backs.

Well, "Running Back by committee" is the trend in the NFL these days, we're not the only team in the NFL that doesn't have a clear superstar back. Heck, going into last year the Vikings didn't have a proven NFL every-down back and they ran the living hell out of Chester Taylor, and he was pretty good until they ran him into the ground. I think "not having a #1 back" is less of an issue in the modern NFL than it once was.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I agree, but unless Jackson proves to be an every down back, what TT has actually accomplished is a backfield full of 3rd down backs.

They're terrible at TE; they're below average at WR; and they're weak at CB. TT did nothing to address any of these weaknesses.

That's your opinion. I don't see Morency as a 3rd down back. I see him as an all down RB that probably can't take a full load. Thus, if Jackson is able to split with him as part of a rotation, I think they will be fine. Morency isn't as good as Ahman, but he showed talent (that I wasn't expecting) last year.

They are terrible at TE.

I don't think they are below average at WR. A lot of teams would love to have Driver and Jennings as their starters. I think they have enough athletes competing for #3 and #4 that they may end up being pretty good at WR.

Woodson and Harris are a good CB tandem. They don't have a lot of depth at CB, but neither of us definitively know if Blackmon will be a player. I think Walker could be better than Dendy and may end up as a decent subpackage corner, but we don't know. If Blackmon turns it on, a Harris-Woodson-Blackmon-Walker combination might be solid. We could have used help at corner though. I agree that Thompson should have done more at the TE position in FA. I also think he tried to bring in corners (Walker, Tory James, etc.), but they need another decent guy to compete. I'm thinking that's one position where he'll look at improving before game one.

[Patler]

Most agreed that runningback, wide receiver, TE and safety were positions of weakness going into 2007. TT picked a back in the 2nd, a WR and safety in the 3rd, a WR in the 5th, another RB and a TE in the 7th. You might disagree with WHO he picked, but he certainly picked in the areas of need.

As I wrote in another thread, Clowney could be a "homerun" threat in the passing game because of his speed. The Packers didn't have one in 2006. Jones and Harris could improve the red zone passing game. The possibility of runningback by committee won't clearly be any worse than the 2006 version of Ahman Green, in my opinion; afterall, other than one long run Green was not "special" last year. He was simply "OK". There are several options that can improve various special teams aspects from what we saw in 2006.

Other than the possibility of age catching up to one of the corners or to Favre, I don't see a position or aspect of the team that clearly will be worse than what the team had in 2006, and there may be improvements in some of the weaker areas from 2006, but probably not dramatic improvements.

[MadtownPacker]

If not for TE I wouldnt be worried at all about the O. The RB situation will play out and there will be 3 guys that get the job done. Which one will be the main one? I dont think its gonna be Morency.

[MadtownPacker]

As I wrote in another thread, Clowney could be a "homerun" threat in the passing game because of his speed.

Yeah!!! I wrote that!!

But yeah dude has some speed. The highlight video that MMMDK posted shows him burning the DBs and having to slow down and come back to the ball.

Lets see if he can outrun Favre's arm!

[wist43]

If not for TE I wouldnt be worried at all about the O. The RB situation will play out and there will be 3 guys that get the job done. Which one will be the main one? I dont think its gonna be Morency.

You know the old saying, "if you have 3 QB's, you have none"... looking like the same thing here.

3 3rd down back, no actual starter.

[MadtownPacker]

You know the old saying, "if you have 3 QB's, you have none"... looking like the same thing here.

3 3rd down back, no actual starter.

Well the Pack has 3 QBs and I think they have plenty!

One RB will rise out of the ashes to become the next 1000yd rusher. The ZBS makes it possible for it to be a rookie.

[chain_gang]

To me the lack of depth at corner is disturbing. Injuries happen and you would like to have at least one capable replacement, and we might not have any. Anyways though, the defense if it stays healthy better be at the very least a top ten defense, with all of the money we've forked out to it the last couple years. I expect to see it from start to finish. Not a slow start and good finish again like last year. We need consistency and I expect a consistently good defense all year long, not just part of the year.

[Patler]

CB has to be a concern for the fans. But, I take some comfort in the fact that TT did not draft one. It leads me to believe they have confidence in Blackmon. I hope it isn't misplaced!

[wist43]

CB has to be a concern for the fans. But, I take some comfort in the fact that TT did not draft one. It leads me to believe they have confidence in Blackmon. I hope it isn't misplaced!

I like Blackmon well enough... he's got a shot to be a #2 corner some time down the line - more likely a career nickel back though; but, they desperately needed to land a bonafide corner.

It's really amazing how TT did nothing to address needs. It's one thing to make a mistake drafting for need; it's quite another to deliberately avoid drafting players at positions of need - seemingly just to make a point.

[MJZiggy]

CB has to be a concern for the fans. But, I take some comfort in the fact that TT did not draft one. It leads me to believe they have confidence in Blackmon. I hope it isn't misplaced!

I like Blackmon well enough... he's got a shot to be a #2 corner some time down the line - more likely a career nickel back though; but, they desperately needed to land a bonafide corner.

It's really amazing how TT did nothing to address needs. It's one thing to make a mistake drafting for need; it's quite another to deliberately avoid drafting players at positions of need - seemingly just to make a point.

How did we not need RB's WR's a TE and a Safety???? And, please explain to me the point he was trying to make?