2019 NFL Combine

The time has come to begin to seriously look at our incoming college players!

The NFL website info, (Click Here!)

The workout schedule.

Tentative Combine workout schedule: 
» Friday, Mar 1: PK, ST, OL, RB 
» Saturday, Mar 2: QB, WO, TE 
» Sunday, Mar 3: DL, LB 
» Monday, Mar 4: DB 

Now, Packer needs?

1 - Any possible GREAT player!  For year I have been saying (along with other experts!), the Packers need a draft choice that is a difference maker!  A sure All-Pro!  Ted Thompson had VERY poor draft choices in his last few years!  The new GM, Brian Gutekunst, has one year under his belt!  So, what will the packers do with their 10 draft picks!!!!!

2 - Positions of Interest - Edge Rusher - Safety - Tight End - Offensive Line

3 - BEST player available?  This is why players are ranked on the Big Boards!  The Combine allows interviews, comparing strength & speed, how does a player move on drills.  Comparing what teams have on college game tape, with on the field drills is always interesting!

So, how about some names:

Let's do our ABC's!  26 players, by their last name to watch!!!!

A(15 players) - Allen, Josh - Edge Rusher - Kentucky
B(38 players)  - Bosa, Nick - Defensive Line - Ohio State
C(17 players) -  Calhoun, Shaq - Offensive Line - Mississippi St.
D(18players) -  Delter, Michael - Offensive Line - Wisconsin
E(6 players) -   Edwards, TJ - Linebacker - Wisconsin
F(11 players) -  Fant, Noah - Tight End - Iowa
G(20 players) - Gary, Rashan - Defensive Line - Michigan
H(31 players) - Abram, Jonathan - Safety - Mississippi
I(3 players) - Isabella, Andy - Wide Receiver - Massachusetts
J(27 players) - Joseph, Vosean - Linebacker - Florida
K(3 players) - Kingsley, Keke - Defensive Line - Texas A&M -
L(13 players) - Lawrence, Dexter - Defensive Line - Clemson
M(25 players) - Mullen, Trayvon - Cornerback - Clemson
N(3 players) - Nauta, Issac - Tight End - Georgia
O(7 players) - Oliver, Ed - Offensive Line - Houston
P(11 players) - Polite, Jachai - Edge Rusher - Florida
Q(0 players) - NONE
R(10 players) - Renfrow, Hunter - Wide Receiver - Clemcon
S(30 players) - Smith, Irv - Tight End - Alabama
T(14 players) - Thornhill, Juan - Safety - Virginia
U(1 player) - Udoh, Oli - Offensive Line - Elon
V(1 players) - Van Ginkel, Andrew - Linebacker - Wisconsin
W(31 players) - Wilson, Mack - Linebacker - Alabama
X(1 player) - Ximines, Oshane - Edge Rusher - Old Dominion
Y(1 player) - Ya-Sin, Rock - Cornerback - Temple
Z(0 players) - NONE

All right! Let the homework assignment begin!!!

Packers.................Pick wisely!!!!

After The Packer Roster, Next Is the Packer Offense, Defense, And Special Teams!

OK, all the free agents are signed, draft choices are in, and the 53 man roster is ready to roll! What will the offense, defense & special teams look like???

What has the average fan been saying the Packers MUST do?  As, we scream at the TV!!!!!

Special Teams
Wow!  Crosby has been above average.  Punting has been VERY average, if not below!  Return game has been BELOW average!  And, cover teams have been average.  NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!


Defense

If, there has been on obvious issue since the Packer Super Bowl win, NOT GAME CHANGERS!!!  The talent has been BELOW average.  We stayed with Dom for a long time & I think he tried!  Last year, the new guy Pettine, did the same thing last year!!  WE NEED 2-3 difference makers!!  One on the defensive line, one linebacker, one safety!  I think Alexander at corner may be the real deal!  Clark, on the defensive line is developing into a good one!  We still NEED a safety!

Offense

The last 2 years Aaron is starting to take some crap!  Was it McCathy's crappy play calling?  Lack of players playing?  Cobb, always injured!  Eddie Lacy, starting great, then eating himself out of the NFL!  An offensive line that is ALWAYS banged up!  Never having a Tight End to give Aaron security blanket!  After losing Driver, Jones, Nelson at wide receiver, no replacement!!! 

And back to McCarthy!  NO, NONE, NADA, creativity!!!!!!  Not even the old screen pass or draw play!!!!!  Wide receivers over the middle of the field!!!!  A real running game, with a REAL running back!!!

Wow!  My Packer Buddy Dream!!!

1 - A creative Offense!
2 - An Attacking Defense, creating turnovers!
3 - And, a special team, that is SPECIAL!!!!  Scoring TD's, creating fumbles!

Packer Plan of Attack for Building For 2019 Season?

OK, let's dream.  This Packer Buddy is NOW the GM.  What is my game plan?  My plan involves 4 strategies for building the roster:

1 - Packer Players presently Under Contract

2 - Packer Free Agents

3 - League Free Agents

4 - Possible Draft Picks

Here we go:

#1 - Packer Players presently Under Contract

I will keep it simple, last name & positions: (59 active players)
(3)QB's - Rodgers, Kizer, Boyle
(5)RB -  Jones, Williams, Bibbs, Carson, Coleman
(2)FB - Vitale, Johnson
(7)WR - Adams, Davis, Moore, Valdes-Scantling, St. Brown, Lazard, Redding
(2)TE - Graham, Baylis
(10)OL - Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Linsley, Taylor, Spriggs, Madison, Light, Siragusa, Coyle, de Beer
(6)CB - Williams. Alexander, King, Jackson, Brown, Redmond
(5)S - Jones, Greene, Jamerson, Matthews, Thompson
(3)ILB - Martinez, Morrison, Crawford
(5)OLB - Perry, Fackrell, Burks, Donnerson, Shelson
(8)DL - Daniels, Clark, Lowry, Adams, Simon, Lancaster, Looney, Cotton
(3)ST - Crosby(K), Bradley(LS), Scott(P)

To me, this a weak roster & many of these players are expendable!  So, much of this discussion will center around a salary cap hit!  For example, Perry at outside linebacker would be VERY difficult to cut, that would be a very large salary cut hit for someone not playing!

#2 - Packer Free Agents (20 free agents)

(0)QB's -
(0)RB - 
(0)FB -
(3)WR -Cobb, Allison, Kumerow
(3)TE -Lewis, Kendricks, Tonyan
(4)OL -Bell, Patrick, McCray, Pankey
(2)CB -House, Breeland
(3)S -Pleasant, Campbell, Brice
(1)ILB -Ryan
(1)OLB -  Matthews
(3)DL - Wilkerson, Gilbert, Brown
(0)ST -

The reality is, no one on this list is REALLY NEEDED!  Sure, we have some tears to shed with Matthews & Cobb.  BUT, they are making too much MONEY for the production we are getting!

 #3 - League Free Agents - My Choices! (Name/Age/Team)

QB's -(Fitzpatrick/36/Bucs), (Shaub/38/Falcons)
RB - (Coleman/26/Falcons), (Yeldon/25/Jags)
FB -
WR - (Humphries/26/Bucs), (Patterson/28/Patriots)
TE -(Eifert/28/Bengals), (Cook/32/Raiders)
OL -(Safford/30/Rams), (Williams/27/Panthers), (Miller/26/Bills)
CB -(Darby/25/Eagles), (Nelson/26/Chiefs)
S - (Thomas/30/Seahawks), (Amos,25/Bears), (Collins/25/Giants)
ILB -(Hicks/26/Eagles), Mosley/26/Ravens), (Perryman/25/Chargers)
OLB - (Ford/28/Chiefs), (Smith/26/Redskins), (Wright/30/Seahawks)
DL - (Lawrence/27/Cowboys), (Richardson/28/Vikings), (Flowers/25/Patriots)
ST -

First, we NEED game changers on defense!  Will will EVER have a dominate pass rusher???  And, we NEED help at safety!  Last year, 2018 was crazy.  First we let Morgan Burnett walk & then we get rid of Ha Ha Clinton Dixx early in the season!  On offense, a good & healthy offensive lineman would be good!  And, last, but not least, a veteran back-up quarterback!  Difficult to watch Rodgers go down & the QB is terrible!!!!!

#4 - Possible Draft Picks

QB's -(Lock, Missouri), (Jones/Duke)
RB - (Montgomery/ Iowa St), (Snell/Kentucky)
FB -
WR - (Harman/NC State), (Ridley/Georgia)
TE -(Hockenson/Iowa), (Lawrence/Clemson), (Smith/Stanford)
OL -(Ford/Okla), (McCoy/Texas&A&M)
CB -(Mullen/Clemson), (Johnson/Kentucky)
S -(Thornhill/Virginia), (Bell/Fresno St)
ILB -(Wilson/Alabama), (Pratt/ NC St), (Edwards/Wisconsin)
OLB - (Sweat/Miss St), (Ferguson/Lou Tech), (Jackson/Miami)
DL -(Gary/Mich), (Tillery/Notre Dame), (Granderson/Wyoming)
ST -

This list needs work!  Watching the upcoming combine will probably change my list!!!

So, General Manager Albright is READY!!!!

It Is February 18, 2019 - What Does The Packer Program Look Like?

Here we are, February 18, 2019 - What Does THAT Mean To Packer Fans??

Important Dates:

February 19—First day for clubs to designate franchise or transition players.

February 26-March 4—NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Indiana. Top draft prospects work out for scouts and coaches, and interview with teams’ top decision makers in another important part of the pre-draft process.

March 5, 1 p.m. PT—Deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players.

March 11-13—Teams are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents when the new league year begins on March 13.

March 13, 1 p.m. PT—New league year begins. This marks the deadline for submitting qualifying offers to restricted free agents with expiring contracts. It is also the start of free agency when 2018 contracts expire and free agents can officially sign with new teams. Teams must also be under the 2019 salary cap by this time.

March 24-27—Annual League Meetings, Phoenix, Arizona.

April 15—Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workouts programs (teams that changed head coaches in the offseason can start on April 1).

April 19—Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 25-27—2019 NFL Draft, Nashville, Tennessee. Currently the Seahawks hold four picks in the 2019 draft having earlier traded three picks to acquire players, sending their second-round pick to Houston as part of the trade for Duane Brown, their sixth-rounder to Green Bay for Brett Hundley and their seventh to Oakland for Shalom Luani.

May 3-6 or May 10-13—Teams can hold post-draft rookie minicamps on one of these weekends.

July 15, 1 p.m. PT—Deadline for a team that designated a franchise player to sign that player to a multi-year contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract prior to the 2019 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club’s last regular season game.

Late July—Training camp begins.

August 31, 1 p.m. PT—Teams must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players.

September 1—Teams may establish a 10-player practice squad.

September 5, 8-9—Regular season Week 1.

Next, Packer Roster:
63 Players

3 Quarterbacks
8 Wide Receivers
12 Offensive Linemen
4 Running Backs
5 Tight Ends
1 Fullback
33 Offensive Players

7 Defensive Linemen
9 Linebackers
6 Cornerbacks
5 Safeties
27 Defensive Players

1 Punter
1 Long Snapper
1 Kicker
3 Specialists

Free Agents: 21 Players
Salary Cap Space: $34,166,842

Packers 2019 Draft Picks:

Round 1 (No. 12 overall)

Round 1 (trade from Saints)

Round 2 (No. 44)

Round 3 (No. 76) 

Round 4 (No. 108)

Round 4 (No. 112 from Redskins)

Round 5 (No. 140)

Round 6 (No. 172)

Round 6 (No. 182 from Seahawks)

Round 7 (No. 204)


Now, what I think is exciting, that is 5 TOP college players in first 108 picks!

More Packer Analysis to come!!!

Back From Vacation & Back To Packer Football!

Wife & I were cruising!  A drive from good old Pennsylvania to Florida!  A visit with my brother & his wife!  And, a cruise out of Miami!  And, the Packers are even in Honduras, Belize & Mexico!

 

 Whenever you travel, no matter where you go, American sports travel too!  As we all know, current NFL management is looking out side the box - London, Mexico?  Time will tell if that is a smart move, right now, Green Bay is good enough for me!  Although, the Packer Buddies do like to hit the road for Packer road games!

So, as of February 2019, where are the Packers?

Coaching Staff taking shape:

Head Coach: Matt LaFleur

Offensive Coordinator: Nathaniel Hackett

Defensive Coordinator:Mike Pettine

Quarterback Coach: Luke Getsy

Tight Ends Coach: Justin Outten

Running Backs Coach: Ben Sirmans

Offensive Line Coach: Adam Stenavich

Wide Receivers Coach: Alvis Whitted

Asst. Offensive Line Coach: Luke Butkus

Defensive Line Coach: Jerry Montgomery

Inside Linebacker Coach: Kirk Olvadotti

Outside Linebacker Coach: Mike Smith

Defensive Back Coach: Jason Simmons

Asst. Defensive Back Coach: Ryan Downard

Defensive Quality Control Coach: Wendel Davis

Defensive Quality Control Coach: Christian Parker

Special Teams Coach: Shawn Mennenga

Asst. Special Teams Coach: Maurice Drayton

Special Teams Quality Control Coach:Rayna Stewart

Lot of new names!  But, some old blood!

How about, Luke Butkus, nephew of Dick Butkus!

Nathaniel Hacket, another son of a coach (NOT A SWEAR WORD!).

A lot of unknowns, but change is in the air!

Oh yes, my wife enjoyed our cruise!  I think she still ranks a cruise a little higher
than a Packer Game!