First, a look at the Packer Roster as of today, January 22, 2016.
A look at the roster as of today - 71 players
53 on the regular roster
7 on Reserve/Injured
1 on Practice Squad
10 on Reserve Future
This will take a while, but we need to break down each position, here we go!!!!
QB's-4
Aaron Rodgers - 11
Scott Tolzien - 5
Brent Hundley - R
Ryan Williams - R
No need here! Just will need to decide to sign free agent Tolzien, the issue will be $$$. Hundley, looked good in pre-season. No idea what Ryan Williams has to offer.
My goal - Rodgers-Tolzien-Hundley
No Needs!
Running Backs-4
Eddie Lacy-3
James Starks-6
John Crockett-R
Scheuerman, Ross-R
Wow. This was a BIG disappointment this year! Or should I say Eddie Lacy!!!! Over-weight! Missed curfew. Com'on Man! Eddie - GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER! Here is what Coach Albright would have done in August - James Starks, you are the starter. Eddie Lacy, get down to last years weight, and you are off the bench! Some of the blame goes to McCarthy! I would keep, Lacy, Starks, & Crockett - BUT try to sign a running back with speed & agility! Another weapon for Rodgers!!!
My Goal - Lacy, Starks, & Crockett
Needs - A SPEED back, pass catching back - ANOTHER WEAPON FOR AARON!
Fullbacks-2
John Kuhn-10
Aaron Ripkowski-R
Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhn! Let's make this simple! Bring back John Kuhn! Yes! Another All Pro Year! A leader on this team! A "Aaron Rodgers Security Blanket"! A Packer Fan Favorite! And Ripkowski, we just do not know!
My Goal - Kuhn & Ripkowski
Needs - None!
Wide Receivers-9
Jordy Nelson-8
Randall Cobb-5
Davonte Adams-2
James Jones-9
Jared Abbrederis-2
Jeff Janis-2
Tyler Montgomery-R
Jamel Johnson-R
Ed Williams-R
Wow Again! What a year for the wide receivers! As all Packer fans know - WE MISSED JORDY! AARON MISSED JORDY! And, the receivers all contributed to the "injury parade!" We all have heard Aaron use this phrase, "Receivers need to earn my trust". Well, Aaron, that is good in a perfect world, but, sometimes the world is not perfect! Young receivers, inexperienced receivers, are a different world! At the end, last game against the Cards - it was James Jones, Jared Abbrederis, & Jeff Janis. AND, we almost pulled it off!!!!! My advice to Aaron, "Sometimes you just need to play football, and wing it with your receivers" And to Coach McCarthy, run different plays in the passing game - rub routes, bunch patterns, patterns across the middle of the field, plays that allow the receivers to GET open. Not, just run down the field and try to get open!
Did not mention Cobb & Adams. Remember, Cobb started season with a bad shoulder. Maybe they kept him away from crossing routes, and maybe, with Jordy our, he was doubled & best corner covered him. Whatever, he could not get open! Adams, started the season with a bad ankle(sound familiar!) and missed a bunch of early games! He had a bunch of drops. Maybe, with Jordy out he felt the pressure? Whatever, he did not have a good season! What did we find out? Cobb & Adams need a #1 receiver around them to be good!
Question? Can Nelson come back? What we found out - Cobb is not able to carry a team's receivers. James Jones was let go by teams for a reason. Abbrederis & Janis have promise!
My Goal - Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Abbrederis, & Janis. Jones id he is cheap & roster permits.
Needs - Receiver with speed & ability to take the top off the defense!!!
Tight Ends-5
Richard Rodgers-2
Andrew Quarless-6
Justin Perillo-2
Kennard Backman-R
Henry Mitchel-R
Another Wow! NOT SO GOOD! Richard Rodgers, had an average season, nice Hail Mary against the Lions! But, as far as depth? NONE! Quarless, terrible season! In trouble, injured, time to move on! Rookie Backman, we have NO idea! WE need help! Aaron NEEDS help! Ted Thompson - DO SOMETHING!!!!!
My Goal - Rodgers & Backman
Needs - YES!
Offensive Line-11
David Bakhtiari-
Brain Bulaga-
TJ Lang-
Josh Sitton-
Cory Lindsley-
JC Tretter-
Don Barclay-
Lane Taylor-
Josh Walker-
Jeremy Vujnovich-
Matt Rotherham-
Again, what a difference a year makes! Last year healthy! This year, NOT healthy! Each week, someone was out! The position that hurt most - left tackle-Bakhtiari!!! Prime example, two games against the Cardinals - Game One - 8 Sacks on our QB, Game Two - 1 Sack! Enough said! When healthy, I think one of the top offensive lines!
My Goals - STAY healthy - Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Lang, Sitton, Lindsley, Tretter.
Needs - an athletic, versatile offensive lineman.
Defensive Line-9
BJ Raji-7
Leary Guión-8
Mike Pennel-2
Chris Ringo-R
Josh Boyd-3
Will Campbell-2
Mike Daniels-4
Datone Jones-3
BJ McBryde-R
This is interesting! Does this line strike fear in the NFL? NO! So, my comment, A NEED!! This group shows signs, and I think, with a Stud, one Stud, could be very good! So, either go out and get a free agent, or draft one! That being said, is anybody out there? Mike Daniels is the clear leader and has some good moments and we just signed him! This is good! I would keep either Raji or Guion, but not both - probably Raji, because he has not made STUPID decisions! I would love to see Datone Jones make another jump! Other players, just do not know!
My Goal - Daniels, Jones, Raji, Boyd & Pennel.
Needs - A STUD!!!!
Inside Linebackers-6
Clay Matthews
Sam Barrington
Nate Palmer
Jake Ryan
Joe Thomas
Carl Bradford
First, one of Mike McCarthy's end of year comments, Matthews back to Outside! In his first full year, an above average year, but outside is where he should be! Sam Barrington, after missing an entire season MUST come back strong - he was a starter! The rest, must get better or not make team!
My Goal - Barrington, Ryan & Thomas.
Needs - draft or free agent - GET ONE!!!!
Outside Linebackers-5
Nick Perry
Mike Neal
Julius Peppers
Layronne Elliot
Andy Mulumba
With Clay Matthews coming back outside, will Julius Peppers play another year! He is under contract & I think still has a lot in the tank! They did limit plays & that was a good idea! BIG question, free agents Nick Perry & Mike Neal. I would think, the Pack must sign one! My choice - Nick Perry. Elliot & Mulumba, again I predict they keep one - Elliot.
My Goal - Matthews back here, Peppers, Perry, & Elliot.
Needs - high draft pick - say first 3 rounds!
Safeties & Corners-12
S-Ha Ha Clinton-Dixx -
S-Morgan Burnett -
S-Micah Hyde -
S-Chris Banjo -
S-Ladarius Gunter
S-Sean Richardson
CB-Sam Shields
CB-Casey Hayward
CB-Damarious Randall
CB-Quinton Rollins
CB-Demetri Goodson
CB-Robertson Daniel
The strength of Packer Defense! Ted Thompson takes a lot of crap. When it comes to his first two picks last year Randall & Rollins - nice job Teddy! I really think, this could be one of the NFL's best! One BIG issue - TACKLING! Must tackle!! Two free agents may be expendable - Chris Banjo & Casey Hayward. If they want too much - BYE - BYE!! Shields, Rollins, Randall can handle the corner position, Clinton-Dixx, Burnett, Richardson, & Hyde are deep!!!
My Goal Safety - Burnett, Clinton-Dixx, Hyde, & Richardson
My Goal Corner - Shields, Randall, & Rollins (Hayward, ONLY if $$$$ works out!)
Needs - NONE - SPEND $$$ elsewhere!
Special Teams-4
Mason Crosby - Kicker - Great season!
Tim Masthay - Punter - Start the tryouts now!
Long Snapper - Brett Goode gets hurt, incomes Goode!
There you have it - 71 players
Remember, 90 allowed for summer camp
And 7 or more draftees!
Not being an expert by any stretch, I'll still comment. You know, opinions are like .... everybody has one. So here is mine in order of Jim's presentation. I agree with the QB analysis, including his idea later about AR just throwing the ball to "untested" newbies for them to gain his trust. I also agree with RB. I've said it in the past, there is a need for a speedy, shifty RB/slot player. FB's, I agree. Must keep Kuhn for stability. But also must keep Ripkowski to learn. Kuhn is too close to his end to not keep someone to learn the position. Who better to learn from than Kuhn. WR's - from what I've read Nelson is going to be at least as good as, if not better than, he was in 2014. I agree with the ones to keep. Especially Jones. He may not be as speedy as he once was. But he can get open, even with the crapy pass routes the Packers have, and he can catch the ball in tight/strange situations. Janis and Abbrederis should have more chances. Adams must prove he can hold onto the ball. Who are Johnson and Williams? TE's - OK TT time to do some serious research. Find one somewhere, or convert a BIG receiver or fast guard with great hands....and of good character. O line. I agree with most. However, I think Tretter is a pretty versatile, athletic guy. He played every position, at one time or another, on the line. If each of them remains healthy, and/or can come back from injuries during this year, spend $$$ someplace else. D line - start seeking a big plug run stopper. Guion and Raji are getting a little long in the tooth. MLB - I pretty much agree with the assessment. Can an impact MLB be found? OLB - I agree with all. However, if possible, sign them all. Then try to draft a quick LB. However, I think Matthews is really valuable when other teams don't know where he's lining up. Can the Pack find another like him? That's the kind of versatility and quickness needed. Safety & Corners - I agree. ST's - keep Crosby! After his last contract debacle, then being "demoted" $$-wise and forced to perform to get big bucks, build that into his new contract. Masthay needs competition. His performance was erratic. Some games he averaged over 45 yds/punt. The AZ game he was pathetic. Long Snapper. Train someone else as a back-up. BG seemed to be consistent. Thanks, Jim, for the research and setting up this discussion. I'm sure MM and TT have some other views. Speaking of MM and his keeping the play calling duties. I hope he incorporates better pass routes. And teach receivers to make hard, sharp, fast cuts. I watched Jones run a route vs AZ. He was about 5-7 yds off his defender and tried a "move". Basically he wiggled his hips then tried to get by. He was so far off the defender that the defender didn't flinch. Jones just as well could have done nothing but try to run by and it would have had the same effect. If Jones had been only 2-3 yds away, planted and cut hard right for 2 steps then hard left down the field he would have have left the defender standing. Better pass routes. Some across the middle. Along with Jim's ideas of other ways/routes to get receivers open. And MM needs to be more imaginative in the running game.
ReplyDeleteGood Bill! Some of the names are practice squad people. The reason the Pack has 71 at this time, it includes 53 roster players, 10 practice squad(I think they signed 9), and the injured played that were out for the season.
ReplyDeleteI would reinforce the pass routes. It just seems the routes are bad & the receivers at times looked like me on the dance floor! Would be nice to have a couple receivers like the Steelers have, they get separation!
Whatever happens, the Aaron Rodgers window closes every year! I think it is time to take some gambles the next 5 years! Not crazy stuff, just try something different!