Early Stab At The Roster

[CaliforniaCheez]

With the roster flexibility that their OL provide, I'm thinking they keep 8. I'm not sure there's another worthy of a roster spot.

Banking on sliding a guy to PS is a crapshoot. By midway through the season, the practice squad usually only has a few guys that were actually on the team in training camp. A team with no depth at WR that can wait on Clowney's maturation would probably take a chance on him.

1) I think your OL thinking may be the thoughts Ted is thinking. I would guess one is picked up on the final cuts. The Packer backups are not good.

2) The PS at this time is just mental exercise. Again I think there is always some wheeling and dealing with final cuts and opening roster.

[KYPack]

Thompson?

Orrin Thompson. A big tackle out of Duke.

I didn't know he was on the roster, either.

He looks like a prospect, but still real green.

[SkinBasket]

I'm taking the same position as last season. If Noah Herron and Patrick Dendy make this roster, I consider Ted Thompson a failure as GM (I know, real hard line position - but I do supported him to this day). There is no excuse for any NFL team carrying such absolute non-talent in this day and age.

The "problem" with those guys is that, while certainly unspectacular, both have proven themselves to be fairly reliable - an important and valuable quality to have at the bottom of the roster depth chart.

One could make the argument that Herron has "proven" himself to be reliably subpar - which, for what he is, is I guess as much as anyone could ask. The only thing Dendy has proven, however, is that he lacks any skills and has shown no inclination toward improving those non-existent skills. Saying Dendy has been reliable in any sense of the word is a bit of a titanic stretch of the word.

[Brohm]

How about Dendy was titanically more reliable than Carroll, but is still unreliable :P

[HarveyWallbangers]

However, you can still mark my words from that post Harv. :P

Not sure what your words are. If Jennings gets injured, Jones will move up. Don't count on KoRo. Jennings is a star in the making. I don't see Jones passing him by any time soon.

[Merlin]

I'm taking the same position as last season. If Noah Herron and Patrick Dendy make this roster, I consider Ted Thompson a failure as GM (I know, real hard line position - but I do supported him to this day). There is no excuse for any NFL team carrying such absolute non-talent in this day and age.

You now have zero creditability as far as I am concerned with this idiotic statement. Dendy has proven to be a very serviceable asset. Herron, give me a break. All the guy has done is produced when called upon to do so. Your judge of talent is now to be ignored as is your complete lack of knowledge of the Packers. You may want to try and watch a game these guys played in before you go throwing out such nonsense.

[Merlin]

I think Crosby beats Rayner. As I've maintained all along, Rayner is the guy who needs to beat Crosby.

Rayner faltered in the second half last year when the weather turned south. He missed 6 kicks in the last 7 games, and if I recall correctly, none of them were long distance attempts. Regardless of what Rayner looks like in camp, the downturn late in the year last season will still play heavily on the minds of the Packer braintrust.

I don't think it is merely a coincidence that TT took a big leg kicker from another cold climate locale in the draft. Rayner should have the advantage on the kid...he's been in the NFL for a couple years, received coaching on how to function at this level, and generally should feel more comfortable with the routine and process of camp. If Rayner doesn't CLEARLY BEAT the kid, then I think the Packers keep Crosby...who would have to be viewed as having more upside potential as he gains experience.

For all intents and purposes, they are both rookies. Rayner kicked off in Indy so he wasn't kicking field goals. He kicked for us for one year. I totally disagree that Crosby has more upside potential. Lambeau is one of the worst fields to kick in. Rayner was in his first real season as a real kicker. Dumping the strides he has made for a rookie who hasn't kicked in the NFL was a waste of time. The only things that are clear here is that both kickers have the same potential upside and they are both performing the same in camp. Rayner has the edge because he has one season under his belt. Crosby wasn't brought in because of 3T's lack of faith in Rayner. Crosby was brought in for two reasons: 1) To give Rayner serious competition. 2) To give the kid a shot to make the team because he does have an upside as a kicker. No way Crosby beats out Rayner if they both perform the same.

[Merlin]

As it sits right now, Ferguson will make the team. I hate to say that but he will. He has experience and unfortunately aside from Driver, he has more experience then the rest of the WR's combined. IF Robinson was in camp then Ferguson is out. Ferguson may be out if Robinson can come back. Driver & Jennings 1 & 2 and either Ferguson or Holiday as #3. Martin will be #4 and Jones #5. Bodiford & Francis have an outside shot if we keep 6.

Justin Harrell making the team is a forgone conclusion because of his draft status. If he doesn't make a marked improvement by the time the season is over then that is an unfortunate move and a wasted roster spot and a wasted draft pick. I am not for keeping someone on the team because of their draft status. You field the best team possible and if Harrell isn't in the top N of defensive linemen come cut day, you let him go.

Clowney will either be a KR/PR or on the practice squad. He can't catch and can't run routes.

Jackson will be the starter at RB day one because Morency is out right now. Herron will take over from Jackson if Morency does not come back as the RB who get's the most carries a game. Wynn has been disappointing and it's time to let Pope go.

Rob Davis will win that job because the guy is good at it. I don't look for him to be around much longer though because he is getting up there. He will however retire a Packer.

Frank Walker won't make the roster. He has not shown much and there are better young prospects then him.

Rayner will be the kicker unless Crosby can do something to prove he is better. So far they look to be the same kicker and in that race, you go with experience.

Ryan will be our punter for many many years. His hang time is coming around. Once he stops out kicking the coverage, the rest is gravy. He has the ability to put the ball anywhere at anytime.

Abdul Hodge may not make the roster unless he does something spectacular. So far he hasn't shown much.

The offensive line starters will remain barring injury.

We will sign a veteran FB sometime this season yet to compete with Miree.

Thompson will be kept around as either the #3 QB or Practice squad. He looks better then I thought he would be. Martin needs to step it up to keep his spot. Rodgers is the anointed default #2 unless by some miracle the coaching staff actually let someone compete for #2.

So far that's what I am thinking although of course it's really early to make predictions so I am sure I will miss on most of them.

[swede]

Merlin I agree with most of that other than the bit about Ferguson.

I'll defend the Skinbasket angle to some extent. TT will look like a GM that tolerates mediocrity if Ferguson or Marquand Manuel make the team. Walker needs to earn his way onto this team as well.

I'm not a big fan of Herron but he seems assignment sure and I think he earns brownie points from the coaches by being the first in line for every drill and keeping the area in front of his locker real clean. He makes the team.

[Scott Campbell]

You field the best team possible and if Harrell isn't in the top N of defensive linemen come cut day, you let him go.

So how many teams in the last 10 years have cut their 1st round pick after just the rookie season?


Were barely 2 weeks into camp. I know you hate Ted, but this stuff is ridiculous.

[The Shadow]

You field the best team possible and if Harrell isn't in the top N of defensive linemen come cut day, you let him go.

So how many teams in the last 10 years have cut their 1st round pick after just the rookie season?


Were barely 2 weeks into camp. I know you hate Ted, but this stuff is ridiculous.

It's just more of the SOS from the tragically-frustrated cadre.

[The Leaper]

No way Crosby beats out Rayner if they both perform the same.

We'll see. Both are not rookies, unless you somehow just conveniently ignore last season. One year of experience in the NFL is very meaningful for a kicker...and Rayner now has more than one year of experience in terms of practicing and getting confortable with the K ball.

Missing 6 kicks under 45 yards in the last 7 weeks is hardly reliable. Rayner looked pretty poor in the second half of last season when the weather got less than comfortable. I don't see it as just coincidence that the kicker we drafted played in a cold weather climate in college.

If you want to challenge Rayner, you can bring in a free agent kicker rather than drafting one. It isn't like 20 kickers get drafted. You can still get a top 5 kicker as a free agent. Any kicker who is drafted is viewed as having pretty good potential.

When you draft a kicker, it is because you believe he can be better than what you have. Otherwise, why the hell would you waste a pick on someone merely to "challenge" Rayner...as you suggest?

[The Leaper]

You field the best team possible and if Harrell isn't in the top N of defensive linemen come cut day, you let him go.

Quite possibly the dumbest comment of the day. Eat a couple million in cap space because a guy coming off an injury last season didn't light up training camp. Few rookies are consistently reliable their first year...that is why the roster is 53 deep, not 25.

Anyone who thinks you dump Harrell based on a poor training camp is an idiot. From just the few snaps I saw him take in the scrimmage, he has the talent to make an impact in the NFL. You have to give the kid some time to get his feet under him.

[GBRulz]

Merlin, I've always wanted to ask....why you you refer to TT as T3? Is his middle name also T or something? Just curious

[SkinBasket]

I'm taking the same position as last season. If Noah Herron and Patrick Dendy make this roster, I consider Ted Thompson a failure as GM (I know, real hard line position - but I do supported him to this day). There is no excuse for any NFL team carrying such absolute non-talent in this day and age.

You now have zero creditability as far as I am concerned with this idiotic statement. Dendy has proven to be a very serviceable asset. Herron, give me a break. All the guy has done is produced when called upon to do so. Your judge of talent is now to be ignored as is your complete lack of knowledge of the Packers. You may want to try and watch a game these guys played in before you go throwing out such nonsense.

Jesus, got some pent up aggression there big fella?

If you think Dendy was "very serviceable," you may want to check your own credentials on judging talent. He was shit. Plain and simple. He has no coverage skills, was confused in space, had no athletic ability to recover when he was consistently being tarred, feathered, and burned by 3rd and 4th WRs, and showed zero capability to improve with the more than generous playing time he got as a result of our bone-headed personnel moves last year.

Herron is a sub par RB who, along with Dendy, contributed very little to nothing on ST, further devaluing their already minimal value.

Instead of telling me to "try and watch a game," why don't you give some examples of why these guys give you such a boner? Give me all the big numbers they posted. Link me some youtube clips that show all their awesome plays. Recall one game either played a role in a victory.

Or maybe you could counter my argument that having players on our team, and getting significant playing time last year at that, that wouldn't make any other 53 man roster in the NFL means our GM has failed to fill our roster with the necessary talent to win now and develop for the future.

Or just go fist yourself if your gonna act like an asshat.