Down To 75, Packer Roster Taking Shape!

We are down to 75, next stop 53 roster & 10 practice squad players.

Next group to examine - Packer Cornerbacks!

Sam Shields
Damarious Randall
Quinton Rollins
LaDarius Gunter
Robertson Daniel
Demetria Goodson
Josh Hawkins
Warren Gatewood
Makinton Dorleant

I always believed a defense is built with defensive line first, then, cornerbacks.  Ted Thompson has stumbled drafting defensive line, but has a good history with corners!

I see three no brainers - Shields, Randall, & Rollins.  Remember, Randall & Rollins are only in year two, but, look like good ones!  Athletic, quick, ball hawks, should be interesting what year two will bring these players?  Shields, on the of NFL's best cover guys!

The next 2-3 will be interesting, Gunter & Goodson have some game time & special teams experience!  They seem to be safe.  the next 4, Daniel, Hawkins, Gatgewood & Dorleant need to be special team animals!

Cornerbacks(5) - Shields, Randall, Rollins, Gunter, Goodson.

Next up, safeties!

Outside Linebackers - Lot of Talent Here!

The Packers, with Matthews moving back to the outside, have a lot of talent out here!  Plus, in typical Dom Capers style, more players are looking to play that "Elephant" position!

Outside Linebackers
Clay Matthews - year 8 - USC - 6'3 - 255
Julius Peppers - year 15 - N. Carolina - 6'7 - 287
Nick Perry - year 5 - USC - 6'3 - 265
Datone Jones - year 4 - UCLA - 6'4 - 285
Jayrone Elliot - year 3 - Toledo - 6'3 - 255
Kyle Fackrell - year Rookie - Utah State - 6'5 - 245
Reggie Gilbert - year Rookie - Arizona - 6'3 - 261
Lerentee McCray - year 4 - Florida - 6'2 - 246

One thing about this group - ATHLETIC!

Second thing, some NEED to reach the potential - Perry & Jones

Third thing, some experimental work - McCray & Elliot

And, the young guys - rookies - Fackrell & Gilbert

Starters Matthews & Peppers.  Matthews, is in his prime & back home at outside linebacker.  I still think Capers with use Matthews as a wild card & he will line up all over!  Peppers, the young players still say he kicks their butts & is a physical freak.  Early in the year, the Packers will watch their time on the field.  BUT, these two players, SHOULD make some big plays & lead this defense!

Perry & Jones!  These two, #1 picks, NEED to show this year they are NFL TOP players!  So far, we have seen flashes!  When Matthews & Peppers are out of the game, Perry & Jones need to show the defense does not drop off, AND, they need to be playmakers!!!

Rookies Fackrell & Gilbert?  Gilbert, an un-drafted free agent, will have trouble making the team.  Fackrell, drafted, will make it!  And at 6'5 - 245 could be a new weapon.  Looks athletic, has speed, has range & could be helped by watching Matthews & Peppers!  Watch him closely!!

Elliot, was a long shot a couple years ago & has helped on special teams & on special defensive packages!  But, he MUST show something!

An interesting pick up was Lerentee McCray, formally with Denver.  Playing in that great Broncos defense as a back up, will that help the Packers?  We need to watch him closely!!

So, making the team?

OLB(7) - Matthews, Peppers, Jones, Perry, Elliot, McCray & Fackrell

We have:
My 53 man Packer roster:
OFFENSE(24)
QB(2) - Aaron Rodgers & Brett Hundley
FB(1) - Aaron Ripkowski
RB(3) - Eddie Lacy, James Starks & Josh Crockett
TE(3) - Jared Cook, Richard Rodgers, and Justin Perillo
WR(6) - Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davonte Adams, Jared Abbrederis, Ty Montgomery, Trevor Davis
OL(9) - David Bahktiari, Brian Bulaga, Josh Sitton, TJ Lang, Corey Lindsley, JC Tretter
Jason Spriggs, Kyle Murphy, & Lane Taylor

SPECIAL TEAMS(3)
Kicker(1) - Mason Crosby
Long Snapper(1) - Rick Lovato
Punter (1)- Tim Masthay

DEFENSE(13 - so far)
DL(6) - Mike Daniels, Leroy Guion, Kenny Clark, Mike Pennel(is suspended for 4 games), Datone Jones, Dean Lowry, & Chris Ringo (NOT counting Pennel, because suspended)
Inside Linebackers(4): Sam Barrington, Jake Ryan, Blake Martinez, and Carl Bradford
OLB(7) - Matthews, Peppers, Jones, Perry, Elliot, McCray & Mackrell

Next up corners & safeties!

The Packers 2016 AND The 53 Man Roster?

One of the exciting things about a new year is predicting who will make the team!  40-45 players EASY, the final 10 or so, NOT EASY!  I have been doing this the past few years & here is what I have noticed about the Thompson/McCarthy Era:

1 - Draft choices usually make the team
2 - previous starters usually make the team
3 - 2-3 un-drafted free agents usually make the team
4 - After summer camp, we always have 2-3 on the injured reserve or PUP list

So, where are my predictions at so far?

My 53 man Packer roster:
OFFENSE
QB(2) - Aaron Rodgers & Brett Hundley
FB(1) - Aaron Ripkowski
RB(3) - Eddie Lacy, James Starks & Josh Crockett
TE(3) - Jared Cook, Richard Rodgers, and Justin Perillo
WR(6) - Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davonte Adams, Jared Abbrederis, Ty Montgomery, Trevor Davis
OL(9) - David Bahktiari, Brian Bulaga, Josh Sitton, TJ Lang, Corey Lindsley, JC Tretter
Jason Spriggs, Kyle Murphy, & Lane Taylor

SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker(1) - Mason Crosby
Long Snapper(1) - Rick Lovato
Punter (1)- Tim Masthay

DEFENSE
DL(6) - Mike Daniels, Leroy Guion, Kenny Clark, Mike Pennel(is suspended for 4 games), Datone Jones, Dean Lowry, & Chris Ringo (NOT counting Pennel, because suspended)
Inside Linebackers(4): Sam Barrington, Jake Ryan, Blake Martinez, and Lerentee McCray.

So far, I am at 38 players - the defensive backs & outside linebackers to come!

Packer Inside Linebackers - A Key To Success In 2016

A Key To Success In 2016, on defense, Inside linebacker!

First, the NFL is changing, and just as the fullback position, inside linebacker is changing!  First, everything is "Down & Distance"   With mass substitutions, the passing games, and new NFL rules, Many defenses use 14-15 players!  Safeties come up in the box, especially in the "nickel & dime" packages.  Outside linebackers are everywhere, especially in the 3-4 defense.  And, of course, the old standard 4-3 defense, we only every had one inside linebacker!  With that said,

We NEED at least ONE good one!  Our choices?

Sam Barrington
Jake Ryan
Blake Martinez
Joe Thomas
Carl Bradford
Derek Matthews
Beniquez Brown

Sam Barrington?  Injuries have hurt!  BUT, has the same disposition as Mike Daniels, a nasty, throwback kind of player!  Tough against the run, NOT against the pass.

Jake Ryan, as a rookie, ended up starting at the end of the year.  He could be a player, but again, like Barrington, maybe not 3 downs.

Blake Martinez, our rookie draft pick from Stanford, COULD be the player that MAY be on the field for 3 downs!  Has the speed to cover!  Is a tough kid!  And a smart kid - Stanford!

Joe Thomas & Carl Bradford are good enough to get on the field & help with special teams!

Derek Matthews is a long shot!!!

My players for the 53 man roster:
Inside Linebackers(4): Sam Barrington, Jake Ryan, Blake Martinez, and Carl Bradford.

A Look At The Packer Roster As Of August 23

Here it is:

A look at the defense, beginning with the Defensive Line:

Mike Daniels

Leroy Guion

Mike Pennel

Kenny Clark

Chris Ringo

Datone Jones

Dean Lowry

Demetrius Anderson

Tyler Kuder

Brian Price

The leader, without question - Mike Daniels!  I love to hear him talk.  I love his disposition!  He brings that "nasty" attitude that the Packers need!    A "chip"!  Bad Dudes!  An edginess!

He is the starting point!!!

Veterans Letroy Guion & Mike Pennel also have an "edge" about them. (That may be part of the reason they both have missed games due to suspensions - Pennel starts the year missing the first 4 games!!  But, they both can play & they help in the VERY middle of the field!

Datone Jones, will be another experiment this year, playing down & in the linebacker position!  He looks the part, can he play well enough to contribute?

Rookie Kenny Clark is, I think, the key to start the season!  Will this #1 draft pick NEEDS to be a difference maker!  I LOVE the fact he was a high school wrestler!  I love the fact, he is a big, athletic guy!  Let's hope Ted Thompson, drafted a BIG guy that will stick!

Other draft picks Lowry looks like a typical guy Capers will like, a possible "elephant" position, playing from a two point to three point stance.  A moving puzzle piece to become a Matthews or Peppers type!

Another key, is Christian Ringo.  He has been around a few years and I think a make of break season is here!

The others, Price, Kuder, & Anderson will have trouble making the team!  Maybe, practice squad?

My prediction for the 53 man roster

DL(6) - Mike Daniels, Leroy Guion, Kenny Clark, Mike Pennel(is suspended for 4 games), Datone Jones, Dean Lowry, & Chris Ringo

Our leader!

Packer Special Teams For 2016

This area of football is constantly under the microscope! How long will the kick off & kick off return be part of the game?  Will the extra point gradually go away as more teams go for two points?

The Packers have only one competition in camp, punters Tim Masthay & Peter Mortell.  Mastery will be entering his 7th season.  He has been steady, but is not a weapon.  Punting is a team effort, but the punter does have a huge impact!  Here are some stats:

Packers - 13th of 32 teams in NET punt average - 41.7 yards (League leader - 44.9 yards
Blocked Punts - 0
Punts inside the 20 yard line - 18, this is 30th in the NFL!  Leader was 41!  This NEEDS to be better!

So, can the rookie, Mortell, beat out the veteran - Masthay!  And do not forget, the payroll - Masthay is at $1,540,000 this year and is a free agent in 2017.

Kicker, Mason Crosby in year 10!  And, Crosby, is the ALL-TIME Packer points leader, with 1145 career points!  He had a nice year last year.  24 of 28 field goals made with 1 blocked.  Comparing kickers is always difficult, kicking in Green Bay weather, compared to kickers in domed stadiums.  Crosby, over the past 10 years has earned the trust!

Long snapper - Rick Lovato.  First of all, I DO NOT know why NFL teams have a designated Long Snapper?  With the great athletes on each team, to waste a valuable roster spot on a guy that just snaps, puzzles me!  OK, enough said!

The long snapper, Lavato, replaced our regular player last year after injury & never looked back!  And with no other long snapper in camp, the Pack will go with Lovato!

My 53 man Packer roster:
QB - Aaron Rodgers & Brett Hundley
FB - Aaron Ripkowski
RB - Eddie Lacy, James Starks & Josh Crockett
TE - Jared Cook, Richard Rodgers, and Justin Perillo
WR - Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davonte Adams, Jared Abbrederis, Ty Montgomery, Trevor Davis
OL - David Bahktiari, Brian Bulaga, Josh Sitton, TJ Lang, Corey Lindsley, JC Tretter
Jason Spriggs, Kyle Murphy, Don Barclay & Lane Taylor

Kicker - Mason Crosby
Long Snapper - Rick Lovato
Punter - Tim Masthay

Packer Offensive Line For 2016, My Key To The Year!

On the offensive side of the football, my key for success in 2016 is the offensive line!  Two reasons for this:

1 - When the offensive line is healthy, and the 5 players are consistent, the offense ROLLS!  Aaron Rodgers is happy, the receivers have time to catch the football, and the running game keeps the defense honest!

2 - Because 4 of our top lineman are free agents next year, the 2016 season will be vital for the young big guys!  We will not be able to sign all four!

Our starters
LT - David Bakhtiai (free agent in 2017)
LG - Josh Sitton (free agent in 2017)
C - Corey Lindsley
RG - TJ Lang (free agent in 2017)
RT - Brian Bulaga

This group is good!  Are they great?  Probably not.  But, they are good enough to win a Super Bowl!

The guards - Lang & Sitton are two of the best in the league, but they enter years 8 & 9 respectively.  So, health is always a concern!  Bakhtiari & Bulaga are younger, years 4 & 7, my gut says Bulaga is in trouble from the young guns!  Lindsey, is consistent at center & young.

Rookies?
Jason Spriggs
Kyle Murphy
Josh James
Lucas Patrick
Jacob Flores

The draft picks, Spriggs & Murphy, should help the Pack. Reports on Spriggs have be great.  Usually the Packers keep their draft picks, this season will probably hold to that history.

The players with some experience:
Don Barcley - 5 years
Lane Taylor - 4 years
Josh Walker - 2 years
Matt Rotherham - 1 year
JC Tretter - 4 years (free agent in 2017)

This is an interesting list!  The only sure thing on this list is JC Tretter.  The other players, NEED to prove themselves!

How many do we keep?  Probably 9-10, depends on the practice squad.

Here is my list:
My 53 man Packer roster:
QB - Aaron Rodgers & Brett Hundley
FB - Aaron Ripkowski
RB - Eddie Lacy, James Starks & Josh Crockett
TE - Jared Cook, Richard Rodgers, and Justin Perillo
WR - Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davonte Adams, Jared Abbrederis, Ty Montgomery, Trevor Davis
OL - David Bahktiari, Brian Bulaga, Josh Sitton, TJ Lang, Corey Lindsley, JC Tretter
Jason Spriggs, Kyle Murphy, Don Barclay & Lane Taylor

Packer Roster As Of August 3, 2016

We are now at 90, here is my latest chart: