2017-18 Green Bay Packer Roster Prediction

[OnTheBlack]

Yes, I think Spriggs will get better, but I'm disappointed that he isn't a bit closer now. I've watched all three games and he has been bad in all three. I thought it was better in Denver, but then he wiff on VM (understandable) and then another inside move by a backup (not understandable). I read somewhere that he plays games with the DL and tries to bait them into a trap. But if they don't take the bait, he tends to whiff.

 

I've read interesting things about Gray, but like you said... a year away.

 

No matter, there isn't any inside depth that I'm comfortable with right now. Stunts or not the backup middle OL have been extremely porous. Hundley has been running for his life back there. Sacks or not, the pressure has been huge.

 

 

I think I basically agree with you. I don't get the playing games nonsense and I haven't heard that(though I'll take your word for it). I think the thing with Spriggs is he's a LT. Exclusively. He's not likely to be a good RT, they screwed around and played him guard last year and he got snaps during the regular season there and he's just not one. He's still a bit undersized but extremely athletic. It's also hard to assign blame on SOME of the plays because we have no idea what the calls were. You say stunts or no they've been bad, but when you watch most pre-season games they look similar. There's no sport where chemistry is more important and no position than OL where it's more important. If you can't pass a guy off on a stunt, you're gonna end up looking awful. And when you bring in guys who haven't played a position before(like C for example this past week) or a guy who's used to playing a totally different style of football like Gray...it's gonna look ugly. Or even as I said when Hundley drops too far. The tackles are trying to ride their guys out of the pocket and if the QB is getting pushed back or as was the case with one of Spriggs sacks, if Hundley is just dropping too far the tackles are just pushing them right into him.

 

I'm definitely not saying Spriggs hasn't struggled this past year. I'm just saying I don't know if it's been as bad as it looks because in some cases we can't know, and I think he'll get there.

 

It is kinda an odd situation though. I already said I don't think he's a RT. I mean, he could be fine in pass pro over there, but he's not the type of guy you want over there long term and we have one of the best LT's in the league(which is kinda amazing since Bahktari started out as a guy who was good for a rookie and then good for where he was drafted but not a long term solution to behind maybe just Williams, Smith and Thomas among all LT's in the league). And Murphy definitely looks like he could be the future at RT(conversely there's no way I'd want him on the left side).

 

In the middle, you're right, the depth is awful. There's not much there. Unless they can get Gray up to speed this year(and I don't think even THEY think that since he's been running with the 3rd unit)....I don't know, they talked about how much better Barclay looks last year one year removed from that knee injury. I've watched and bought what they were selling on him for a while, taking their word for it, but he just hasn't been that good out there.

 

But we'll have to see how these guys play in the regular season together. It's hard to really judge any one individual guard or center during the pre-season. Maybe a guy like Adam Pankey who had been playing tackle, but was moved to guard this year(and is a prototypical size for a guard) will step up.

 

I just wish with this group of talent on offense, the Packers could have brought in a guy like Charles to get the ball 6-10 times a game and not low-balled Lang. They have cap-space and while I have liked that Thompson has kept the cap more than under control, we don't need to keep rolling over 9 figures in cap money each year. We need to make sure Rodgers has everything he needs.

 

At least we signed Brooks today, and I'm sure Rodgers will make this group look better, but it'd be nice if he didn't have to and we could pound the ball when need be. Heck, I think it was foolish to let Lacy go. He was signed for cheap on a one year deal and he's always been effective.

 

 

But we'll find out real quick if we have a good enough OL right out of the gate with Seattle and with ATL who now has Poe to go with Beasley and a 1st round pick thrown in there right out of the gate. We'll find out if we're overreacting or if this is gonna be this years problem position.

[OnTheBlack]

I found this apropos for the Spriggs discussion. In an article speaking to how badly the OLBs have been in practice (especially with Matthews and Perry out comes this blurb:

 

...the Packers had only four healthy outside linebackers: Kyler Fackrell, Reggie Gilbert,Johnathan Calvin and Josh Letuligasenoa. They had a long day. In one-on-one pass rushing, they went a combined 1-8 as outside rushers, with Gilbert getting the only win, against tackle Jason Spriggs.

 

 

Gilbert's looked pretty good. Not that this justify's their performance or Spriggs or anything(These also tend to tilt towards the OL). But just speaking to the OLB'er depth, he's flashed a few times.

[OnTheBlack]

Can't be worse than we had before, but we take a hit to the "Packer people" mentality. Hopefully those days are behind him.

forgive my ignorance, is his 2 biggest black marks on him 2 bad hits while with the niners? i had to google today what character flaws people were freaking out over.

 

Actually, it is sexual battery. I believe I heard there's an outside chance he could still face league discipline as well.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/49ers/2015/08/26/ahmad-brooks-ray-mcdonald-charge-indictment/32444959/

 

 

Hmm...the December 2014 incident that the NFL reviewed almost exactly 2 years ago? I would say that it's pretty unlikely that he's gonna face any discipline. From everything the 49'ers have said, they respected him, they liked him, but they're just not a 3-4 team any longer and there was no reason to keep him play when he wasn't a fit in their new defense.

 

Also, the whole "Packer people," thing is nonsense I think. We just don't sign many people and that's often used as an excuse as to why we don't. When there's little risk the "Packers people," thing seems to mean a whole lot less(see Lyerla, Colt).

 

The better you are, the worse person you can be(and I'm not in anyway saying he's a bad person, I don't know enough to say that).

 

But just from a roster standpoint, he gives us a very good 3rd option at OLB'er and hopefully Elliot will start showing SOME level of consistency as he's long shown flashes of brilliance but those have evaporated just as quickly. Fackrell...well, not a fan. He's an effort player and maybe I'll be wrong as he gets stronger, but you need to go 4-5 deep at OLB'er and I just don't see him providing much of an impact. Gilbert could be the surprise guy who makes the roster and ends up moving up the depth chart.

 

One thing that surprises me is that they let Pepp walk. I know he was 37 and I don't know if he wanted to go back to Carolina because he wanted to finish his career there or if he was frustrated by his lack of snaps early in the year last year(he commented on multiple occasions how he needs more snaps to get into a rhythm and to set the OL up)..and he was still making plays in a limited role last year and I believe he was only making 3 million.

 

But Brooks can play the run, can offer something of a pass rush and I think with the Packers OL and how Lowry has looked this year and even moreso how Clark has looked(he looks like a beast who totally transformed his body from year 1 to 2..which isn't that shocking for a guy who was 20 years old last year) to go with Daniels, the DL is gonna give us more of a pass rush than a normal 3-4. If by some miracle Matthews and Perry can stay on the field and start 26 games this year, I think we'll have a good pass rush. If we lose one for a long time, now we're not so desperate for a solution.

 

 

Either way, I bet the best guesses on here will still only get 43 or so picks right. There are just so many guys you have no idea about. Does Herb Walters make this team? Devonte Mays, how many WR'ers, which OL. Maybe Pankey pushes out a draft pick, do we keep Taysom Hill or a 3rd QB at all(I would guess not) but I thought the same last year. And are there any surprise trades? Wouldn't shock me to hear the Packers are shopping Cobb, but if they don't get a good offer for him, do they keep him and see how this year goes or move on now? Does Gunter make the team? Has Clark shown enough that another team like the Browns will stash him for a year? It's impossible to guess what this team is gonna do sometimes.

[CheezWizHed]

I'm definitely not saying Spriggs hasn't struggled this past year. I'm just saying I don't know if it's been as bad as it looks because in some cases we can't know, and I think he'll get there.

 

I understand what you are saying with the interior OL due to stunts and assignments. But at LT and RT, its pretty obvious who their assignment is and how badly they played. Not only that, but Spriggs and Murphy tend to swap in and out with similar cast around them and similar competition. Right now, its a no-brainer that the 6th round pick is besting Spriggs hands down.

 

I couldn't find the article about playing around or trapping people, but several other articles talk about his poor hand placement as a major problem. And that he often wiffs.

 

During the Denver game, I made a point to watch him specifically (or Murphy) at RT. Spriggs would have some great setups, but then look horrible. I can forgive the Von Miller wiff, but he was getting beat by 2nd and 3rd stringers on inside moves just like Von Miller did. He has the skills, I just hope he has the mentality to be able to change his technique and fix the issues.

[CheezWizHed]

Also, the whole "Packer people," thing is nonsense I think. We just don't sign many people and that's often used as an excuse as to why we don't. When there's little risk the "Packers people," thing seems to mean a whole lot less(see Lyerla, Colt).

 

Its not an absolute "rule", but its pretty well known that for years the Packers have completely ignored certain players in FA or taken certain players off the draft board because of off the field incidents.

 

Sure, they have given players second chances based depending on the circumstances, but those are rare. And they tend to be more of the drug abuse variety (Guion, Favre, Jolly) rather than physical/sexual violence type. And even the drug cases tend to be where they already have the player rather than adding one that already has the issue.

 

Even Colt Lyerla wasn't drafted, so it was a minimal investment to see if he cleaned up his act. But they cut ways with him pretty quick after he got injured. Didn't even give him a tryout the next year to see if he recovered. And for kicks, go Google him to see what trouble his is in now.

[OnTheBlack]

Also, the whole "Packer people," thing is nonsense I think. We just don't sign many people and that's often used as an excuse as to why we don't. When there's little risk the "Packers people," thing seems to mean a whole lot less(see Lyerla, Colt).

 

Its not an absolute "rule", but its pretty well known that for years the Packers have completely ignored certain players in FA or taken certain players off the draft board because of off the field incidents.

 

Sure, they have given players second chances based depending on the circumstances, but those are rare. And they tend to be more of the drug abuse variety (Guion, Favre, Jolly) rather than physical/sexual violence type. And even the drug cases tend to be where they already have the player rather than adding one that already has the issue.

 

Even Colt Lyerla wasn't drafted, so it was a minimal investment to see if he cleaned up his act. But they cut ways with him pretty quick after he got injured. Didn't even give him a tryout the next year to see if he recovered. And for kicks, go Google him to see what trouble his is in now.

 

 

Yeah, I know what's well documented, what I'm saying is that I don't believe it. They don't sign many free agents to begin with and like I said, it comes down to talent.

 

And you'd think Joe Mixon would be one of those people taken off their draft board, yet incredibly, arguably the most talented RB in the draft who was taken off several teams draft boards was not taken off the Packers and the Packers were interested if he fell to the bottom of the second round.

 

It was also interesting to me how Letroy Guion, even after off-season arrests wasn't released until we saw that Dean Lowry looked good and we stuck with him after how many arrests?

 

The "Packer people" thing is nice in a small town like GB, and then when they go completely against it, it's "well, they saw something in his character," but I just think they do what every other team does. They evaluate risk, ie, Colt-UDFA, low risk. High Reward. Joe Mixon-HUGE talent, great value...but how in the world are they any definition of this story we sell as "Packer people?"

 

There are teams like the Raiders of old(and new to a degree), the Cowboys, the Bengals who give everyone a chance and then there is everyone else who is risk adverse and that's all I think it is.

[OnTheBlack]

I'm definitely not saying Spriggs hasn't struggled this past year. I'm just saying I don't know if it's been as bad as it looks because in some cases we can't know, and I think he'll get there.

I understand what you are saying with the interior OL due to stunts and assignments. But at LT and RT, its pretty obvious who their assignment is and how badly they played. Not only that, but Spriggs and Murphy tend to swap in and out with similar cast around them and similar competition. Right now, its a no-brainer that the 6th round pick is besting Spriggs hands down.

 

I couldn't find the article about playing around or trapping people, but several other articles talk about his poor hand placement as a major problem. And that he often wiffs.

 

During the Denver game, I made a point to watch him specifically (or Murphy) at RT. Spriggs would have some great setups, but then look horrible. I can forgive the Von Miller wiff, but he was getting beat by 2nd and 3rd stringers on inside moves just like Von Miller did. He has the skills, I just hope he has the mentality to be able to change his technique and fix the issues.

 

 

It's really not. For instance on the Miller play he was supposed to force him inside. The RB was supposed to be helping and the RB completely whiffed. Or like I've pointed out a couple times, in the Eagles game, Barnett definitely just beat him badly for a sack. Went right through him. On another sack, Spriggs did exactly what he was supposed to do and rode him right outside the pocket. That's an accidental sack by the DE. He got taken out of the play but for Hundley dropping an extra 2-3 yards too deep.

 

So I am agreeing with you, Spriggs hasn't looked good...but he also hasn't been as bad as his sack totals look. And Murphy hasn't been put in the same situations. He's looked solid, but he hasn't been matched up against a 1st round pick by himself on the blindside like Spriggs.

[OnTheBlack]

It's early in the game, but Pankey looks like he might be another keep at guard(didn't see the hold, but he gets out and moves pretty well)....and Murphy's been solid as well.

[OnTheBlack]

Sitton wasn't cut because of salary or because they thought Lane Taylor was better. There were rumors of multiple locker room issues with him, and he was openly critical of MM to the press.

 

And Sitton was a pro-bowl player (popularity contest), not all-pro.

 

Wrong. Sitton is a several time all pro player. He was an AP All Pro at least 3 times in Green Bay and PFF named him an all pro last year. He went 37 games without giving up a sack, the longest streak since PFF started recording such a stat by far.

 

But even if you use the Pro Bowl, the coaches(1/3rd of the vote) and the players (1/3rd of the vote) voted Sitton in because of his popularity? Really? We can't even concede that he was an elite player? And this popularity thing doesn't hold water unless you're going to dismiss All Pro's as well(which again, he did make, but even if he hadn't). How exactly are players put on that team? By media voting. Why would that be more legit? But, doesn't matter, he's been a multiple time all pro and a multiple time pro-bowler.

 

He's also been a guy who gives up an absurdly low number of pressures, a very low number of sacks(if any in a given year) and who plays through injuries constantly. He's one of the best OL the Packers have had since the Lombardi era up there with Ruttgers, Wahle, Rivera and now Bahktari.

 

But fine, lets throw the ratings out of the window. What does work? Pro Football focus? He was rated as the 4th best LG last year(and 20th best OL overall) and has routinely rated among the elite guards in the game. Find me one rating or metric that doesn't show Josh Sitton being one of the premiere guards in the NFL over the last 6-7 years. Because they seem pretty unanimous.

 

 

As for Sitton the clubhouse cancer, it's funny how those things always pop up AFTER a guy is cut. And even in the article that first talks about it, it says something like, the Packers were willing to put up with it when he was playing at an elite level...except he's continued to play at an elite level.

 

So then he had been a clubhouse cancer but he'd just reached the point on the chart where his level of play no longer justified keeping him?

 

Seems to me like the Packers had a guy they thought was good enough to replace him and they could save a lot of cap room. So then taking a guy like Randall Cobb who I do really like(both as a player and he just seems like a laid back guy) who had one big year(which you roll into his 3 year totals), then signed a deal that pays him like a top ~15 WR'er in the NFL, then had had two seasons in which he dealt with injuries and hasn't come close to putting up the numbers he put up when he signed his contract, ADD in the fact that he's playing a position that's deeper than any other on the roster with 10 guys who could make an NFL team at some point.....and not sure how you can't see how Cobb getting cut is plausible.

 

Randall Cobb 2014 career year-91 catches 1287 yards 14.1 YPC 12 TD's

Randall Cobb last two years-139 catches 1439 Yards 10.4 YPC 10 TD's

 

So using what he's done the last 3 years is kinda disingenuous...but if you want to compare, Josh Sitton's performance at guard was far better than Cobb's performance has been at WR'er the last two years(and for Sitton the '15 and '16 seasons).

 

 

Bottom line, Cobb has NOT lived up to his contract(13th biggest among WR'ers) and the Packers have not only a lot of depth at that position, but a whole lot of other players who are gonna need to get paid in the near future, including Haha, Burnett, Rodgers(who should get at least a 5 year 150 type extension...particularly in lieu of Stafford's extension), Adams among them.

 

So I don't know if Cobb gets cut or not, but it's certainly not out of the question and it shouldn't come as nearly as big of a surprise if he does as when Sitton did.

[OnTheBlack]

Gotta be feeling a little bit better after tonights game. Pankey looked legit. He got some run at tackle, but played earlier at Guard and looked like he could be a contributor there down the road. Between he and Gray you could have your future guards(Gray's further away for sure though).

 

I don't know what they're seeing in their 6th rounder(I think he was a 6th) Amichia. Maybe something I don't see...he just doesn't look good. McCray at times looked alright(it's tough with the TV view to really see) in run blocking.

#60 Thomas Evans is just....awful. No way he would have survived the 1st round of cuts. He plays hard and goes until the whistle..unfortunately it's usually him running back toward the QB or RB to try and hit guys after he completely wiffed on them.

 

Murphy had one bad play that I saw...the one was on the Hundley TD run he got beat on an inside rush quick but Hundley did an awesome job, dipped outside. But he was moving the pile in the run game. Spriggs he a false start but other than that...I didn't really see him doing anything good or bad. Just didn't notice him. It looked like he was covered up most of the game with a TE on that side. Others may have seen more out of him.

 

The Tackles looked better at least. I wonder what they're thinking with Pankey. He's definitely an athlete and physically ideal for the position(and he can play tackle). That he started getting reps inside is probably telling. Both of the guard and what the team thinks about him.

 

The run game got going a little bit tonight and I thought we saw a little bit out of all 4 backs(including Phillips who's a real long shot to make the team). It looks to me like we're gonna struggle to run the ball. I suspect we'll have a couple big games sprinkled throughout the year by a couple different guys but I wouldn't be surprised to see our leading rusher with 500 yards. That Jones from UTEP is definitely intriguing. He seems to have another gear and a little bit of thump to him.

 

This would be a good year for them to have expanded the rosters for the Packers. A 60 man roster and a 10 man practice squad would allow us to develop some young talent.

[Brewer Fever]

That's a lot of words from someone who has no clue what was going on in that locker room with Sitton

[Point Beer Is Best]

I'm actually not too concerned about the running game once we hit the regular season. The lack of success there can be quickly attributable to the awful OL depth. It's really hard to evaluate the new RB's if they aren't running with the ones. Montgomery is bigger this year, Williams has had some moments, Jones looks like a potential home run hitter, and Mays has shown incredibly cutback ability.

 

I personally feel the running game will flourish, with one giant caveat - that the starting OL stays healthy...

[Point Beer Is Best]

"Packer People" is quickly moving into the territory of "The Cardinal Way" and I don't like that one bit.

 

After watching the preseason, I think an argument could be made that the player who will help the defense out the most this season is P Justin Vogel. He's shown an ability to flip field position and 5 second + hangtimes becoming the norm. I just hope his skills don't diminish once the temperatures drops. But he looks like a keeper.

[pacopete4]

"Packer People" is quickly moving into the territory of "The Cardinal Way" and I don't like that one bit.

 

After watching the preseason, I think an argument could be made that the player who will help the defense out the most this season is P Justin Vogel. He's shown an ability to flip field position and 5 second + hangtimes becoming the norm. I just hope his skills don't diminish once the temperatures drops. But he looks like a keeper.

 

Spot on. I hate the term "Packer people" and if what we've seen of Vogel is accurate come November/December, it will be a huge thing for this defense and offense. Schum was absolutely terrible.

[LouisEly]

Wrong. Sitton is a several time all pro player. He was an AP All Pro at least 3 times in Green Bay

If he was first-team All Pro he would have a plus by that year:

 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SittJo20.htm

 

Show me links to the press releases naming him All-Pro and I'll believe you.

[Point Beer Is Best]

Wrong. Sitton is a several time all pro player. He was an AP All Pro at least 3 times in Green Bay

If he was first-team All Pro he would have a plus by that year:

 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SittJo20.htm

 

Show me links to the press releases naming him All-Pro and I'll believe you.

 

 

I did the research. Josh Sitton has never been named 1st team AP All-Pro. He was named 2nd team three times (2013-2015).

 

For what it's worth, Jahri Evans has been named 1st team AP All-Pro four times (2009-2013) while TJ Lang has never been named 1st or 2nd team AP All-Pro.

[CheezWizHed]

And each of them would be cut if they were trying out for the WR position... *hint, hint*

 

I didn't think he would do it, but I'd guess that Janis is going to make the team. He has been his usual good ST player, but also showing his ability equal to or above his competition.

 

I don't see how Clark makes the team, but I'm very nervous to cut him. McCaffrey seems to be left out of competition last night. Probably trying to sneak one on the PS.

 

Once Allison is back (after game 1), I'd guess both Yancy and Dupre to be cut. And the roster to look like this:

 

Nelson, Adams, Cobb, Allison, Janis, Davis

[CheezWizHed]

Updated predictions

 

* Denotes a starter. Bold indicates on the 53 man roster.

QB(2):: Pretty easy here. Callahan sticks because Hundley is close to be traded.

- 53-man: Rodgers*, Hundley

- PS: Hill

 

RB(5):

- 53-man: Montgomery*, Ripkowski, Williams, Jones, Mays

- PS: Phillips

 

TE(3):

- 53-man: Bennett*, Rodgers, Kendricks

 

WR(6):

- 53-man: Nelson*, Adams*, Cobb*, Allison, Davis, Janis

- PS: Clark, McCaffrey, Yancey, Dupre - Not all 4 will make it to the PS. Someone will be claimed.

NOTE: Allison has a 1 week suspension, so I'd guess Yancey or McCaffrey makes the cut initially

 

OL(9):

- 53-man: Bulaga*, Linsley*, Taylor*, Bakhtiari*, Spriggs, Evans*, Murphy, Barclay, Waiver Claim

- PS: Gray or Amichia

 

DL(5):

- 53-man: Daniels*, Clark*, Lowry*, Francois, Ringo

- IR: Adams

 

OLB(6):Keep as many as possible for depth.

- 53-man: Perry*, Matthews*, Fackerell, Elliot, Brooks, Gilbert

- PUP: Biegel

 

ILB(3): Save an ILB and add a S instead. The new defense...

- 53-man: Ryan*, Martinez*, Thomas

 

S(5):

- 53-man: HHCD*, Burnett*, Jones, Evans, Brice

 

CB(6):

- 53-man: Randall*, House*, Rollins, King, Gunter, Hawkins,

- PS: Brown, Pipkins

 

ST (3):

- 53-man: Crosby, Vogel, Goode

[LouisEly]

The 5th/6th WRs have to be able to play special teams, and Janis excels at that. Not just as a gunner on punts but also on kick returns - career average of 26.3 yards/KR. And he's improved his route running substantially over the last two years. I am not at all surprised that he made the team.

 

Have a soft spot for Clark, you know, since I called him as a UDFA. But I don't know that he makes someone else's active roster. Just so many WRs coming out of college now with the spread/up-tempo offenses.

[CheezWizHed]

I agree about the running game. The backup O-line has been so bad, that I'm not worried about the production. But the top 4 seem very strong and I like Phillips. Any other year, he would be on the team, but on the PS this year.

 

And beyond running the ball, all of them seem good at catching the ball too. Which is pretty important on the Packers. Should be very interesting this year.

 

Amichia was a workout warrior with very high athletisicm, but turned out much farther behind on technic. He will be more interesting after a year on the PS.

[OnTheBlack]

I'm actually not too concerned about the running game once we hit the regular season. The lack of success there can be quickly attributable to the awful OL depth. It's really hard to evaluate the new RB's if they aren't running with the ones. Montgomery is bigger this year, Williams has had some moments, Jones looks like a potential home run hitter, and Mays has shown incredibly cutback ability.

 

I personally feel the running game will flourish, with one giant caveat - that the starting OL stays healthy...

 

 

There's that old cliche...if you have 2 QB's, you don't really had any. Though it's not the same with RB's anymore, but if you took the numbers off the 4 rookies(I'm including Phillips as he's looked good at times as well) you'd have a real tough time telling them apart. .

 

They all had some nice runs, but they also missed holes a LOT of times.

 

I agree that with what the OL was giving them, it's tough to really know what you have...it's hard enough to evaluate pass blocking with offensive linemen, it's virtually impossible to know who screwed up(unless a guy just gets blown back into the RB's lap) with the zone blocking scheme which is absolutely dependent upon cohesion on the OL. Even if you have good OL...if they're not playing together, you won't be able to run the ball. You saw it in the Badgers game tonight. They weren't working well...their guards weren't passing their guys off and getting to the next level, they weren't sealing off the backside.

 

So I'm not saying the Running Game can't or won't be good. I just haven't seen enough out of it and to rely on a WR'er turned RB(Who might have put on some weight, but is still a big question mark) and 3 rookies...it's at least a concern.

 

I would say Jones has been the most impressive followed by Mays and Williams in that order(I also think Phillips looked decent but he's probably not gonna make the team or practice squad). All of them offer something unique, but Jones was the most aggressive. Mays is the most powerful and Williams is the guy I've heard the most about the Packers being high on...so we'll see how that plays out.

[OnTheBlack]

I agree about the running game. The backup O-line has been so bad, that I'm not worried about the production. But the top 4 seem very strong and I like Phillips. Any other year, he would be on the team, but on the PS this year.

 

And beyond running the ball, all of them seem good at catching the ball too. Which is pretty important on the Packers. Should be very interesting this year.

 

Amichia was a workout warrior with very high athletisicm, but turned out much farther behind on technic. He will be more interesting after a year on the PS.

 

 

The OL didn't give them a shot. Not ONLY because they were bad but because the zone scheme just isn't one you can run with guys constantly rotating in and out. If we ran a different scheme, just blocked straight ahead, doubled at the point with a kickout block it'd be easier for these backs. And I think we went to that a bit more this past game just to see what we had.

 

But don't you have to be a little worried not having one proven NFL back? I think we're gonna find ourselves using Rip on 3rd downs more than we'd like to provide Rodgers with better pass pro. ESPECIALLY if a tackle goes down. And if one goes down, lets at least hope it's on the right side because we cannot afford to lose Bahk. He's really irreplaceable at this point. I'll admit to being way off on him. I thought he was always going to be a finesse type LT who was solid vs the pass, but the type of guy you should be trying to upgrade. And then each year he just got better and better and now he's right there with the top 4 LT's in the game.

 

But all 3 of the drafee's have talent. They have different styles which may serve us well..but I'd prefer to have a pecking order. To have a guy who jumped out. Maybe having 4 backs will mean we've always got fresh legs, but I think it's possible it'll mean we don't ever get anyone going.

 

Either way, I don't think we're gonna really know if it's Williams, Jones, Mays or in the off chance they go with Phillips as the best of the bunch(excluding Montgomery) until 4-5 games into the year.

 

And it might look ugly right out of the gate with that Seattle D that just picked up an elite defensive linemen.

[OnTheBlack]

Wrong. Sitton is a several time all pro player. He was an AP All Pro at least 3 times in Green Bay

If he was first-team All Pro he would have a plus by that year:

 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SittJo20.htm

 

Show me links to the press releases naming him All-Pro and I'll believe you.

 

 

http://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/insidersblog/2016/01/08/josh-sitton-named-second-team-all-pro/78511596/

 

He was named 2nd team All Pro 3 times at that point(now 4 times). Not to mention you dismissed pro-bowls as popularity contests. Well...coaches and players are 2/3rds of that vote. All Pro teams are all media. So why is one about popularity but not the other? Unless you're talking about the Pro-Football Focus AP teams which are based on performance, a team he also made the year before he was cut. The problem I would have with pro-bowl selections would be the number of players who opt out and are then selected after as replacements. That's when it begins to become a bit of sham.

 

But this isn't really the point. The point was you suggested it was ridiculous they would cut a player of his caliber for an un-drafted free agent when in fact they released a more celebrated, more durable and more consistent player just last year for an un-drafted free agent. I'd like to see them give Cobb one more year, but I'd also like to see them try and re-work his deal to reflect his recent production.

[OnTheBlack]

That's a lot of words from someone who has no clue what was going on in that locker room with Sitton

 

 

Oh...so we can only have an opinion if we're in the locker room? Then I guess this thread should be locked right now.

[OnTheBlack]

And each of them would be cut if they were trying out for the WR position... *hint, hint*

 

I didn't think he would do it, but I'd guess that Janis is going to make the team. He has been his usual good ST player, but also showing his ability equal to or above his competition.

 

I don't see how Clark makes the team, but I'm very nervous to cut him. McCaffrey seems to be left out of competition last night. Probably trying to sneak one on the PS.

 

Once Allison is back (after game 1), I'd guess both Yancy and Dupre to be cut. And the roster to look like this:

 

Nelson, Adams, Cobb, Allison, Janis, Davis

 

It's possible the fact that there is only one round of cuts makes it easier to get both Clark and McCaffery onto the practice squad. Clark really doesn't look that close to playing, but he does look like he could be an incredible and unique player down the road. I just hope he doesn't have a Janis like learning curve.

 

Janis' ability on special teams has at least given him time to develop at WR'er and it's pretty obvious his route running has improved. The question is if his hands are good enough to ever be a reliable receiver. The biggest blemish on his pre-season IMO was that drop on what would have been a TD in the 1st or 2nd pre-season game. Can't recall which it was.

 

But again, given where he's come from, a D2 school, he's come a long way and he has a knack for the big play.

 

I think they go with a 7th WR'er here and put Adams(DT) on IR and Biegel on the PUP to create two more roster spots and at least for now those will probably be Dupre and Yancey, but if McCaffery has really been as good as the coaches are saying he's been this off-season...maybe he bumps one of them out to start.

 

Allison by the way looks really good. His blocking is great, but that was a really impressive play he made early on in the final exhibition game to not only win the fight for the ball, but to then get into the endzone. Big physical WR'er.