What Will The Packer 53 Look Like?

Pre-season is over - FINALLY!  Is it me or was Packer Pre-season BRUTAL!  Will discuss this at a later time,for now let's focus on who makes this team!

First, the easiest - Special Teams - 3
Kicker - Mason Crosby
Punter - Tim Masthay
Long Snapper - Brett Goode

50 Players to go

Defense - 26
Corners - Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Devon House, Jarret Bush, Micah Hyde
Safeties - Morgan Burnett, MD Jennings, Jerron McMillian, Chris Banjo
Outside LB - Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Jamari Lattimore, Terrel Manning, Nate Palmer
Inside LB - AJ Hawk, Brad Jones, Robert Francois, Dezmon Moses
DT - BJ Raji, Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly
DE - Dante Jones, Mike Neal, CJ Wilson, Mike Daniels

Offense - 23
QB - Aaron Rogers, Vince Young
RB - Eddie Lacy, Jonathan Franklin, James Starks, Alex Green
FB - John Kuhn
WR - Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones, Jarett Boykin, Jeremy Ross
TE - Jermichael Finley, Andrew Quarless, Matthew Mulligam, Brandon Bostick
OT - David Bakhitari, Marshal Newhouse, Don Barclay
OG - Josh Sitton, TJ Lang, Greg Van Roten
C - Evan Dietrich-Smith

Practice Squad - 8
QB - BJ Coleman
WR - Charles Johnson
TE - Ryan Taylor
CB - Loyce Means
LB - Sam Barrington
DT - Jordan Miller
OL - Kevin Hughes, Garth Gerhart

OK, now we wait till Saturday 6PM!  Let's see how close we got!!

The best thing about Pre-season Football, maybe this.............

Crosby Takes Pay Cut

The good news for Mason Crosby - HE MADE THE TEAM!

The bad news for Mason Crosby - A PAY CUT!!

From $2.4 million to $800,000!  With incentives!

Here are the details:
(Check out the entire article at ESPN)

According to an NFL source, the contract lowered Crosby's base salary for this season from $2.4 million to $800,000. However, Crosby can make up the difference based on roster bonuses and incentives. If Crosby is on the Packers' roster in Weeks 5 and 10, he will receive $400,000 bonuses each time. He could earn an additional $800,000 in incentives -- $200,000 if he makes 75 percent of his field goals, $400,000 if he makes 80 percent and the entire $800,000 if he makes 85 percent.

Do the math!
$ 800,000 Base Salary
$ 400,000 Week 5 Bonus
$ 400,000 Week 10 Bolus
$ $200,000 if makes 75% - $ 400,000 if makes 80% - $800,000 if make 85% of field goals

That is:
$800,000 or $1.2 million or $1.6 million or $1.8 million or $2 million or $2.4 million!

So, if Mason comes through, he makes the same he would have made before the re-negotiation!

Interesting - most contract should be something like this!

Latest Packer Roster Moves To Get to 75 Players

OK, the Packers trim the roster to 75.  Amazingly, almost have the moves were injury related!!!  Did you read one of my earlier blogs posts about Packer injuries the past few years?  Guess what, it is still happening!  Here is how the Packers got to 75.

PUP List (Physically Unable to Perform)  These players are not allowed back for 6 weeks:
1 - Safety - Sean Richardson
2 - Offensive Tackle - Derek Sherrod
3 - Offensive Tackle - JC Tretter
4 - Defensive End - Jerel Worthy

Injured Reserved - These players are finished for the year!
5 - Offensive Tackle - Bryan Bulaga
6 - Wide Receiver - Kevin Dorsey
7 - Running Back - DuJuan Harris
8 - Linebacker - Jarvis Reed

Cut from Roster
9 - Kicker - Zach Ramirez
10 - Kicker - Giorgia Tavecchio
11 - Wide Receiver - Alex Gillet
12 - Quarterback - Graham Harrell
13 - Wide Receiver - Omarius Hines
14 - Running Back - Angelo Pease
15 - Defensive Tackle - Gilbert Pena
16 - Wide Receiver - Justin Wilson

The one position I'm concerned about is Offensive Tackle!  We lose 3 - One starter, one of our top draft choices last year Derrick Sherrod.  We need to protect Rogers & run the football!!

Looks like we made our kicker choice, Mason Crosby is the last man standing!

The next few days we will look at the team & the final 75 players!

So, in one week we go from 75 to 53!! That is the big one!  August 31st - 6PM.

Packers Make a Few First Cuts!

It is starting to happen!

Here are the latest cuts:
WR - Alex Gillet - liked the kid.  Seemed to have the guts to make plays over the middle & good hands, but too many receivers!  Needed to trim from 12 down to 5-6!

WR - Omarius Hines & WR - Justin Wilson - could not even make a call from the 3 preseason games!  Too many in front of them to keep till the next cut!

RB - Angelo Pease - Again, during the first three games did not see a lot!  Still have 5 to look at Lacy, Green, Franklin, Starks, Harris.  I think they will keep 4 & Starks may be in trouble!

DT - Gilbert Pena - just like the other positions, did not stand out & the number crunching was obvious.  Some of the second year guys made some strides - Worthy & Daniels.  And Jolly has looked good, so he had to go.

And they signed another kicker!  (Why not Jan Stenerud?  He still looks good at age 70!) This makes me nervous!  It is a sign of desperation!  Did see Masthay kick off and he looked good - I think he can handle punting & kickoffs!  Now, we need a solid 50 yard and under guy!  Too me, Crosby has had his chance - cut him!

Tuesday is looming, need to release 10 more!

What Does Aaron Rogers Play One Series?

What Does Aaron Rogers Play One Series?

Here I am watching the Eagles & Jaguars and Steelers and Chiefs.  The starting quarterback are playing an entire half of pre-season football.

Here are some stats from week 3 so far of pre-season:

Tom Brady, Patriots  24 Attempts - 16 Completions, for 185 yards - 0 TD's & 1 Interception
Matt Stafford, Lions  25 Attempts - 12 Completions, for 166 yards - 1 TD's & 0 Interception
Joe Flacco, Ravens  24 Attempts - 18 Completions, for 169 yards - 1 TD's & 2 Interception
Cam Newton, Panthers  19 Attempts - 10 Completions, for 99 yards - 0 TD's & 0 Interception
Jake Cutler, Bear  21 Attempts - 12 Completions, for 142 yards - 1 TD's & 0 Interception
Matt McGloin, Raiders  14 Attempts - 7 Completions, for 128 yards - 1 TD's & 2 Interception

And the Packer Game
Russel Wilson  7 Attempts - 4 Completions, for 126 yards - 0 TD's & 2 Interception
And the BEST QB in the league!!!

Aaron Rogers  24 Attempts - 16 Completions, for 41 yards - 0 TD's & 0 Interception

That one series!  Why is every other team different?

Rogers has played ONE series in each of the 3 games!!

I hope the Packers know what they are doing!!!!

What Did We Learn After The Packer Third Pre-Season Game?

What Did We Learn After The Packer Third Pre-Season Game?

Let's break this game down to 4 categories, 1 - Offense, 2 - Defense, 3 - Special Teams, & 4 - Players That Should Make The First Cut

1 - Offense
One series for Aaron Rogers?  I know we live in a different time, but ONE SERIES?  I do not like it!  It seems the Packers are so worried about injuries, they have injuries!  Next week Aaron will not play, so the question is, will he be ready?  With Cobb & Nelson still banged up, will the timing be there?  What did I learn?  Vince Young is the #1 Back-up.  The running game is not for sure.  Finley will have a good year.  And, the offensive line is average.

2 - Defense
Again, where is the defense?  I think we are more aggressive.  I think the defensive line looks more athletic.  I think we have defensive backs that will hit.  But, until I see different, I'm worried about big plays.  And missed tackles, we hit, but do not always wrap!  I see some more play makers, Perry, Jones, Hayward, Hyde, ......   But we need a healthy Tramon Williams.  Mike Neal to stay healthy ONE season.  And Brad Jones to cover for AJ Hawk.  I think we will be better, but still scary!

3 - Special Teams
Crosby needs to kick, the lefty does not have enough leg. (I will close my eyes on every field goal this year)  We have athletes to play special teams, now the need to deliver!

4 - Players That Should Make The First Cut
Hyde with the defensive backs.  Young is the backup QB.  Gillet at wide receiver(the kid is tough).  Banjo at Safety(nose for the ball).  Johnny Jolly at defensive line(welcome back Johnny!)

3 games down and 1 to go!  Thank Goodness!  I hate preseason football!!!!

I'd rather watch Duck Dynasty than NFL 

Pre-Season Football!!!!!

Packers Go From 90 to 75 Players on August 27!!!

OK!  The first cut is coming!  Preseason game #3 - Seattle!  A tough opponent, and that is what we need to see who can play football!

15 players cut!!!

Some of the 90 players had not had the chance to show very much!  For example, the two wide receivers drafted in round 7, Johnson & Dorsey have not played!  They have been hurt! Hope they can play Friday night!

I think these draft choices are safe - Jones(DE), Lacy(RB), Bakhtari(OL), Franklin(RB), and Hyde(CB).

Here are the numbers at each position & some possible cuts:

QB - 4    Coleman
RB - 6     Pease
WR - 12  (WOW!)  Gillet & Hines
TE - 7     Stoneburner
OL - 15   Taylor & Lewis
FB - 2     Nobody
Saf - 7     Fulton, Banjo
CB - 9     Means & Smith
OLB - 7  Savage
ILB - 6    Reed
DE - 6    Boyd
DT - 5    Miller
K - 2      Not Yet!
LS - 1    Nobody
P - 1      Nobody

There you go!  Let's see what happens!!!  90 to 75!  It happens Tuesday, August 27!

NFL web page has a Packer feature!!  Take a look!

Mind-blowing Stats for the Green Bay Packers!

The stats are great to point out!  But, it would still be nice to add another Super Bowl to that list!!

Of course, they ask the question - "Is Brett Favre or Aaron Rogers the better quarterback?"  That question will only be answered after Rogers retires!!  And I bet Rogers only retires one time!  I do know one thing already - Favre is the BIGGER DIVA!

Let's look at stats:
Brett Favre

Aaron Rogers

The easy numbers to look at:

First, in the first 8 years Brett started in year 2 & Aaron in year 4 - so the numbers are skewed!

TD's  Brett - 213 & Aaron -171 The average per game?  Brett - 1.88 & Aaron -2.01  Aaron Wins

Interceptions- Brett -118 & Aaron -46 The average per game?  Brett - 1.04 & Aaron - 0.55 Aaron Wins

QB Rating for year - Brett - 88.1 & Aaron -104.9 Aaron Wins

Super Bowl wins Brett - 1 & Aaron -1  Tie

We will see what happens in about 10 years!!

Second Packer Pre Season Game, What is Expected?

What is expected out of pre-season football?  As a retired high school coach, the goal was simple, get the kids ready for the first game.  What does that include?

1 - Who are the starters?

2 - Special Team Players?

3 - Depth - next man up?

4 - Offense and Defense Installations

5 - Developing a Game Plan

6 - Team

At the NFL level, all the players should come in in great physical shape!  Let's assume that is true.  Now who are the starters?  It looks like some of the positions are set.  Who are my starters?

Offense
WR - Nelson
WR - Jones
WR- Cobb
TE - Finley
T - Bakhtiari
T - Barclay
G - Lang
G - Sitton
C - Dietrich-Smith
FB - Kuhn
RB - Lacy
QB - Rogers

The competition at tackle will be interesting & VERY important.  The starting running back is critical, for the Packers to make the next step, we need a 1000 yard rusher.  I think Kuhn has one more year before he becomes to expensive for a fullback!  At tight end Finley MUST take the next step!

Depth is getting there - Running back - Franklin, Harris, & Starks!  Offensive Line - Newhouse, Van Roten, & others?   Quarterback - scary!

Next Defense!

First Week In & The Injuries Begin

Left Tackle Brian Bulaga out for the season!  Probably our best linemen!

Over the past 5-6 years as a fan I have been concerned about injuries.  Is it the weight training program?  The conditioning program?  The personal we draft?  The warm up & warm down procedures(do football players warm down?)  Something is going on in Packerland!

Sixteen out of the 89 people on the present roster sat out the Family Night Scrimmage!  In some cases the teams are being VERY protective and in other cases the guys are hurt!  The new CBA is VERY protective!  So what are the answers?

Time will tell!  How many players will make it to the open day game against the 49er's!

Dave Robinson - Hall of Fame!!!!!

Finally, one of the greatest linebackers is in the Hall of Fame!

There are times when great teams actually are not good for team members!  Getting into the Hall of Fame is one of those times!  I think one of the issues with Dave Robinson was so many Packers went in before him!  But now, it is his time!  

Check out the tribute by his son:

Dave Robinson's son presents him at the Hall of Fame Ceremony!

And what he did at Penn State was amazing, at a time when racial tensions were very high!  

So, Dave Robinson, you are in!!!

First Week of 2013 Pre-Season for the Packers

First week is pre-season is here & what do we think?

1 - Potential - I feel it is there, but how will the team fit together?  Talent?  We know we have Rogers & Mathews two of the best at their position!  Up & coming stars?  Cobb at wide receiver, Finley at tight end (when will it happen?), new running backs Lacy & Franklin (could be a new Czonka & Kiick?), and offensive line, will anyone step forward.  On defense, will Perry show up, is Datone Jones the athlete we need on the d-line?, and d-backs, will Hayward become a stopper?

2 - Leadership - Driver & Woodson gone?  Will Rogers & Mathews fill the void?

3 - Health - will we stay injury free?

4 - Defend home field!!  8-0  NEED IT!!

5 - Defense - Intimidate People!!

6 - Offense - run the football!!  1000 yard rusher & several runs over 40 yards!!

Break through?

Cobb at wide receiver!!
Sheilds at corner!
Jones at defensive end!
Bulaga at tackle!
Flynn at backup QB!
And, Tavecchio at kicker!!! A lefty!!