Building The 2016 Packer Roster - Wide Receivers

Wide Receivers?  What a year last year - 2015!

Jordy Nelson goes down!

We pick up James Jones!

Randall Cobb gets hurt - Shoulder!

Davonte Adams gets hurt - Anke!

Ty Montgomery gets hurt - Ankle!

And as we mentioned previously, Eddie Lacy - fat, Tight Ends - Quarless not helping, Rodgers can't stretch the middle, offensive line hurt - they all take turn!  And what was deceiving, we started the season with 6 straight wins, and BAM!

So, our present roster?
Jordy Nelson
Randall Cobb
Davonte Adams
Ty Montgomery
Jeff Janis
Jared Abbrederis
James Jones - a free agent
Ed Williams
James Johnson

That is 9 wide receivers for 5-6 spots on the roster, last year we had 5 on the 53 man roster.

Looks like no need to draft wide receiver, BUT if Montgomery does not come around, drafting a speed receiver is what I would do!  Examples:

Corey Coleman 5'11" - 194 - Baylor - 40 yd - 4.40
Josh Doctson 6'2" - 202 - TCU - 40 yd. - 4.43
Sterling Shepard 5'10" - 194 - Oklahoma - 4.43

If we learned anything last year, the Pack MUST stretch the field.  Jordy can do that!  Janis, showed in the last game he can do that!  We NEED to stretch the field for Cobb, Adams, Cook, Richard Rodgers, etc.!

Packers 2016 Regular Season Schedule

Well, my break is over, my son and his family are back in Hawaii (And 2 beautiful grand daughters), and it is time to get back to my Packer Blog!!

Here is the schedule!

First the BYE week!  Early!  How can we sell this?  

1 - Because the Pack is in the Hall of Fame Game for pre-season, their pre-season is long!  First, pre-season game against Colts is Aug 7 - so, practice will begin at the end of July!  That is 8-9 weeks to the bye week and 13 weeks after the bye week.  Plus, between week 7 & 8, the Pack will get a little break, because of the Thursday night game.

2 - After the BYE week, the Pack has 3 straight home games!  Home Cooking heals the body!

The Bye week is what it is!  So, these are professionals, "suck it up" and play each week one game at a time!  The military men serving duty overseas DO NOT get BYE weeks!

Season begins on the road for two weeks - Week 1 Jacksonville & week 2 our beloved Vikings!  Jacksonville will be improved!  And the game may be in heat!  But again, the NFL is not for babies!  Vikings, in their NEW Stadium! What a great present, BEATING the Vikings in their new pad! And, The Lions for our first home game in week 3!!  Without Calvin Johnson!  That is two division games!  We NEED to win the first two division games!  Week 4 - as discussed BYE Week!

Now, after the BYE week - Home - Home - Home - Away  Giants, Cowboys, Bears, & Falcons!  The Giants will be interesting, new coach (an ex-Packer coach!)  Giants spent a lot of money on new players & have those explosive receivers!!!  Should be a shoot out!!!  The Cowboys again, at home in week 6!  It seems like we have been playing the Cowboys every year at home!  The Cowboys, will be dangerous as usual, and ALWAYS bring DRAMA!  Week 7 - "Da Bears!"  WE OWE THEM A LOSS!  The Packer Buddies were there last year, Thursday Night, Thanksgiving, Brett Favre tribute and the Pack with the ball 1st & Goal to win it ..... and we LOST!  YIKES!  And then, week 8, finally back on the road against the Falcons!  Hope, by this time, the Falcons are in their mid-year slump!!!

Half way home!

Next four games - Home - Away - Away - Away!  On the road!!!  This, I think, is the key to the 2016 season!!!  Colts home, with a healthy Andrew Luck!   I think, another shoot out!  And then on the road - Week 10 - Titans - Week 11 - Redskins - Week 11 - Eagles!  As I said, this stretch we will see how good the Packers will be in 2016!   Titans, young and hungry!  Redskins want revenge for the playoff loss last year!  And Eagles, lot of changes, and probably another Drama game in Philly!  Always drama in Philly!

And the last 5 weeks of the season - Home - Home - Away - Home - Away.  Two home games, week 13 - Texans.  JJ Watt meets Aaron Rodgers.  We hope the only touch is a handshake after the game!  Week 14 - Seattle Seahawks role into town!  GET LOUD LAMBEAU!!!!  Week 15 Away - Bears.  It never gets old beating the Bears!!!  Week 16 - Home - versus the Vikings!  This may be for the division title again!!  Let's get that back in Green Bay!!!  And last, away game,  the Lions in week 17!!  

Other interesting facts:

Pack will play 3 late Sunday Night Games!

September 18, AWAY,  against the Vikings

October 9, HOME, against the Giants

November 20, AWAY, against the Redskins

The Pack will play 1 Monday Night Game

November 28, AWAY, against the Eagles

One Thursday Night Game

October 20, HOME, against the Bears!

My early prediction?

Pack goes 11 wins & 5 losses 

and 

wins the NFC North Division!!!

Prospects

OK, I've been on break!  Time to get back into it!  But before I tackle the roster, the Packer Website has been analyzing PROSPECTS.  Take you time & click on each one and see what you think!  Here is the list so far:

Prospects

4/1/16,  CoreyColeman,  WR,  Baylor

3/31/16,  BlakeMartinez,  ILB,  Stanford

3/31/16,  Jason Fanaika,  DE ,  Utah

3/30/16,  Kyle Murphy,  OT,  Stanford

3/30/16 ,  JaredGoff,  QB ,  California

3/29/16,  Joshua Garnett,  G ,  Stanford

3/28/16 ,  Javon Hargrave ,  DT,  SC State

3/26/16,  Beau Sandland,  TE,  Montana St

3/25/16,  James Cowser,  OLB,  Utah

3/24/16,  Noah Spence,  OLB/DE ,  EKU 

3/23/16,  Carson Wentz ,  QB,  N. Dakota

3/22/16,  Cole Turner ,  OT ,  Harvard 

3/21/16,  Miles Killebrew,   S ,  S. Utah

3/19/16 , Joe Haeg,  OT,  N. Dakota St.

3/18/16,  Ben Braunecker,  TE,  Harvard

3/17/16 ,  Joel Stave,  QB,  Wisconsin

3/16/16,  Jack Conklin,  OT ,  Michigan St 

                          

3/15/16 ,  Tyler Marz,  OT ,  Wisconsin

3/14/16,  Nick Vannett,  TE,  Ohio St.

3/12/16,  Connor Cook,  QB,  Michigan St.

3/11/16,  Jordan Howard,  RB,  Indiana

3/10/16 ,  Joe Schubert,  LB,  Wisconsin

First, I would eliminate the QB's.  All the others are open.  Out of the offensive lineman, Harvard's Cole Turner intrigues me!  First, smart - Harvard.  Second, versatile, all NFL teams need that.  The Tight Ends, with the signing of Jared Cook, not a big priority.  Beau Sandland would be interesting in rounds 5 or 6!  Not a lot of D-lineman, but the kid from SC State looks like a possible keeper - VERY athletic - basketball, and was a running back!!!  And Noah Spence, if he is beyond the drug problems, would be a steal!!!

So, who would you pick????

Building The 2016 Packer Roster - Offensive Line

Building The 2016 Packer Roster - Offensive Line

We have a good one!  Season 2014, almost all healthy & no missed games - Aaron Rodgers - MVP!

Season 2015, almost all the starters missed games, Aaron Rodgers at times running for his life!

Lacy, in shape 2014, nice season, offensive line, as I said healthy!

Lacy, fat in 2015, offensive line, as I said, a mess!

Conclusions!  Line needs to be healthy, we are good.  Another, observation, with the subs playing not so good.  Also, contracts coming up in 2017 & 2018!  So, draft may be important!

Present Roster - Offensive Line
Starters
LT - David Bakhtiari
LG - Josh Sitton
C - Corey Linsley
RG - TJ Lang
RT - Brian Bulaga

All signed, all good, no problems here for 2016, just stay healthy!!!

Offensive Line Backups
Don Barclay
Jeremy Vujnovich
Vince Kowalski
Lane Taylor
Josh Walker
Matt Rotherham
JC Tretter

JC Tretter - a keeper!  Can play any position!!  And, filled in for left tackle to help stabilize Aaron's blind side!  A very valuable back-up!  The others, questionable.  So, the Pack needs to draft one or find one as a free agent!  As Ted Thompson sees it, forget the free agent, but who is still out there?

Russell Okung, Seattle
Donald Penn, Oakland
Andre Smith, Tampa Bay

I think, this list is too much $$$$$$$$!

NFL Draft?
I say, forget rounds 1 & 2, so, look for the players ranked 60-100!
OG - Joshua Garnett, Stanford
OG - Christian Westerman, Arizona State
OG - Landon Turner, North Carolina
OG - Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas
OT - Shon Coleman - Auburn
OT - La'Raven Clark - Texas Tech
OT - Jerald Hawkins - LSU
OT - John Theus - Georgia
C - Nick Martin - Notre Dame

So, what does the Pack do?  I would draft somewhere in rounds 3-6.  Save rounds 1 & 2 for defense, and then look for offensive line depth!

Building The 2016 Packer Roster - Tight Ends

Help!  We need HELP at Tight End!

Current players:

Richard Rodgers
Kenner Blackman
Mitchell Henry
Justin Perillo
Andrew Quarless - free agent

First, let Andrew Quarless walk.  Second, Blackman, Henry, & Perillo must make team next year.  So, that leaves Richard Rodgers.  Not a bad, second tight end, but not a field stretching tight end.  And does not block that well.

Free Agents left as of today:
Zach Miller
Owen Daniels
Jared Cook
Kellen Davis
Vernon Davis

Not a lot there and most have a lot of mileage.  And all, cannot stretch the field, so, the only
one I would sign, maybe, Owen Daniels.  Maybe Richard Rodgers could learn something from him?

Word is, the 2016 Draft is VERY limited in the tight end position, some names to look at:

Name - College - 40 Time - Round Grade
Hunter Henry - Arkansas - 4.79 - 2nd
Austin Hooper - Stanford - 4.76 - 4th
Nick Vannett - Ohio State - 4.76 - 3rd
Jewell Adams - South Carolina - 4th
Tyler Higbee - Western Kentucky - 4.77 - 3rd
Bryce Williams - East Carolina - 4.84 - 5th
Ben Braunecker - Harvard - ??? - 7th

So, maybe, 4th or 5th round - Austin Hooper or Nick Vannet?  But, would not pick a tight end in rounds 1, 2, or 3!  And, would keep Kuhn and Ripkowski to block and catch passes over the middle!  I still thing we do not throw over the middle enough!

And, is there a 6'6"-6'8" power forward out there? Lebron James, give football a shot!

Building The 2016 Packer Roster - Running Back

Here we go.  The first big move!  Quarterback easy.  Fullback easy.  Running Back.......Interesting!

Packer Running Backs

Eddie Lacy

James Starks

John Crockett

Eddie Lacy - WOW!  Explain last year!  As Forrest Gump would say, "Stupid is, as Stupid does!" Exhibit A - Eddie Lacy, one of the top running backs in the NFL!  First two years,  each year over 1000 yards, earned the respect of the entire league!  A nice young man.  Always quick to smile.  Very positive is all his interviews!  Comes to camp overweight!  Missed a curfew before Detroit game!

The 2016 season will be a make or break.  The NFL is a league that always has someone ready to take your place!  Especially at running back.  The "new" NFL is not running back friendly!  Just look at the past 5-10 years!  2-3 years and bye bye!  Pass first league!  So, we all hope Eddie will be back looking a little slimmer!  And, running a little "pissed off"!  My guess - YES!

James Starks, at age 30, at a pivotal in career!  Because he was not over run, has a lot left in the tank!

As a free agent, is in a dangerous place!  Would love to have him, and would sign him, but, as free agency begins, ...........  There is another 30 year old out there.......... and the Bears will not sign.....

Mat Forte, as we said age 30.  Would I take Matt Forte, sorry James!  This weapon for Rodgers would add a new dimension to the offense!  Compare this:

Matt Forte - 8 years - 45 rushing TD's 19 passing - 8602 rushing yards, 4116 passing

James Starks - 6 years - 9 rushing TD's 4 passing - 2361 rushing yards, 883 passing

No comparison, only concern, more mileage on Forte tires!

Other interesting free agents:  Arian Foster, Doug Martin, Lamar Miller, and Ronnie Hillman. 

John Crockett? No idea!  Needs to get a good luck in summer camp!

As far as the NFL Draft in April, some interesting names:  Elliot-Ohio St, Henry-Alabama, Booker-Utah, Collins-Arkansas, & Dixon-Louis Tech.  Still think back needs a pass catching-break away threat at running back!  Dark horse for round 3-4 TCU's - Aaron Green?  Has the speed, only needs to play 10-12 downs, but the word is,"He has field-flipping ability and if you’re not careful, he’ll take it to the house in the blink of an eye!"

So, you see where I am looking - Lacy, Forte, & Crockett(or a surprise).

Building The 2016 Packer Roster - Fullback

Kuuuuuuuhn!

Will we hear that again?

The present Packer Roster?

Fullback
John Kuhn
Aaron Ripkowski

First, many NFL teams do not even have a fullback on the roster!  Today's offenses have changed!  Many one back sets!  Use the tight end to do what the fullback used to do!  So, where does that leave the Packers?

First, we have VERY average tight ends!  So, forget the tight ends!

Second, when the offensive line struggles, mostly with health issues, Aaron gets killed!  Enter a fullback!

So, last year, Kuhn still was effective!  Blocking on pass plays.  Short run & pass plays.  And, Ripkowski did not get much time, except for special teams!

Therefore, I'm going out on a limb, Kuhn will be back!  His salary is VERY reasonable.  Ripkowski has not earned Aaron's respect, and who know what the offensive line health will be like!

So, the Kuhn Insurance Policy will be used in 2016 & Ripkowski will benefit from another year
of tutoring!!!

Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhn!

Rippppppppppppppppp!