Packers Roster Breakdown - Safety

 One of the best starting defensive position is the safety position - Amos & Savage!  Both of these players are solid.  Savage, in year two, started to become a play maker - his interceptions prove that!  Amos, is a sold leader on the back end & a good tackler.  Players helping this season?

Aaron Amos - year 6

Darnell Savage - year 2

Will Redmund - year 4 (free agent)

Henry Black - rookie

Veron Scott - rookie

Raven Greene - year 3 (free agent)

Innis Gaines - rookie

The backups, saw some action, Redmund, Greene & Scott.  Greene would be worth re-signing for the right money.  Did not see much of Black, Scott & Gaines to pass judgement.  

What is know, this position is not a BIG need.  And, Savage could develop into one of the best in the league!

Packers Roster Breakdown - Outside Linebackers

 A three man rotation most of the year, Smith, Smith & Gary. So, top 4 on the depth chart:

Za'Darius Smith - year 6 - 52 total tackles - 12.5 sacks

Preston Smith - year 6 - 42 tackles - 4 sacks

Rashan Gary - Year 2 - 35 tackles - 5 sacks

Randy Ramsey - Rookie - 11 tackles - 0 sacks

The top of the heat, Za'Darius Smith, another pro bowl season.  Sacks, QB pressures & continued leadership.  A keeper.  Not a keeper, Preston Smith, a down season, was invisible most of the year & will probably will be a cap space casualty.  Rashan Gary, made a nice leap in year 2 & looks to be a possible starter next season.  Randy Ramsey, rookie, saw most of his playing on special teams.  He needs to make progress to hang on the 53 man roster.

Other outside linebackers?

Jonathan Garvin - rookie

Tipa Galaei - rookie

Not enough information on these two, so, hope they work hard in the off season!

Packers Roster Breakdown - Inside Linebackers

 Packers Inside Linebackers, this should be a crime, what the Packers have done the past 10 years is VERY, VERY SAD!  Basically, NO HELP!  AJ Hawk was a player, BUT, lacked that athleticism of the great ones!  But, AJ was a "Football Player!"  A total lack of drafting a player, NO free agent pick ups, nothing to help the Packers make a defense that was a scary one!  So, what do we have on our roster?

Christian Kirksey is already gone - a one year experiment & cap space casualty.  Players remaining that had meaningful time on the field:

Krys Barnes - Rookie

Kamaal Martin - Rookie

Ty Summers - Year 2

Oren Burke - Year 3

Barnes & Martin were a pleasant surprise!  As rookies, played meaningful minutes and demonstrated some athleticism that the Packers so desperately need at inside linebacker!  Will they make the next step?  Time will tell, but, chances are, next year they will have an opportunity to show it!  Summers & Burke are special team players at their best!  Burke was a big experiment that has failed!  Summers, was a stab in the dark!  Chances are, both are gone next year!

Remaining on the roster, but no real game experience:

De'Jon Harris - Rookie

Ray Wilborn - Rookie

James Burgess - Year 4

Slim pickings & slim chance to make next years team!

So, will the Packers draft an inside linebacker with their first pick????? 

Packers Roster Breakdown - Defensive Line

 If there has been a complaint against the roster building effort - how about the defensive line!  In the last 10 years have the Packers drafted a true "Game Changer"??  Simple answer - A BIG FAT NO!!!  Kenny Clark is very good, but a dominant, scary, force up front No!  If I was Mike Pettine, or even go back to Dom Capers, what did the Packers give the defense up front?  Nothing!  So, come on guys in the GM office, take a good look at the college players and get us some help!!!!

Packers Defensive Line Roster:

Kenny Clark - Year 5

Dean Lowry - Year 5

Montravious Adams - Year 4

Tyler Lancaster - Year 3

Kingsley Keke - Year 2

These are the players that were on the field the majority of the time during the 2020 season.  Adams missed the last part of the season due to injury.  So, look closely at the names, to this Packer fan, it is amazing we made it to the NFC Championship game!  Good average players that give 100% effort, but as far as talent?  VERY AVERAGE!

The players on the roster?

Damon Harrison - Year 9

Willington Previlon - Rookie

Anthony Rush - Year 2

Delontae Scott - Rookie

Billy Winn - Year 7

Our backup players, did not see a lot of game time.  A mix of old & new depth that really is just depth without a lot of game film to judge effectiveness.  This lack of talent & ability to control the line of scrimmage is a huge concern!  

PLEASE 

GET KENNY CLARK SOME HELP!!!!

Packers Begin to Clear Cap Space

 The NFL is in a strange place.  Let's face it, the country is in a strange place!  The Cap Space, is forcing all teams to make difficult decisions.  just like American families are making decisions!  Many fans, like my Packer Buddies were not able to attend Packer Games!  Sometimes we forget, how many GREAT opportunities we have in this country & focus on the NEGATIVE!  And, the NFL football players are part of the fabric of this country!  So, who will NOT be a Packer next year???

Christian Kirksey, inside linebacker & Rick Wagner, offensive tackle tackle were let go.  Remember, Kirksey was brought in to replace Blake Martinez & Wagner was brought in to replace Brian Bulaga.  Good news, our young inside linebackers Martin & Barnes, had good seasons.  And, the versatility of our offensive line was on display all season.  So, the loss of Kirksey & Wagner is not devastating!

Cap Space?  Remember, on of my favorite websites: Spotrac

According to this website we still need to cut players, the latest numbers:

Top 51 players - $5,250,000 & All players $11,000,000. The Packers are now 24th as far as Cap Space.  There are still 11 teams in a NEGATIVE cap space situation.  There will be a lot of player movement this year and the Packers are not finished!  Look for more players to be released.  Some will come later because of contract situations.  But, one this for sure, more cuts on the way!!!

The current Packer roster has 85 players on it.

So, stay tuned....................

Packer Roster Breakdown - Offensive Line

 Aaron Rodgers should share his NFL MVP honors with his offensive line!  This bunch was not only good, but versatility PLUS!  The usual starters:

LT - David Bakhtiari - year 8

RT - Billy Turner - year 7

LG - Elgton Jenkins - year 2

RG - Lucas Patrick - year 4

C - Corey Linsley (free agent)

This is a GREAT group.  They rarely played together this year!  First, all-pros!!!!  Bakhtiar, Linsley & Jenkins!  WOW!  Not many teams have this!!!  Linsley missed many games early in the season.  Bakhtiari, missed the last part of the season and the playoffs!  The best moving part, Elgton Jenkins, only in year 2, was NOT only versatile, but GOOD!!!!!  Free agents - Linsley

Others:

Braden, Ben - Guard - year 2

Nijman, Yosh - Tackle - year 1

Runyan, Jon - Guard - rookie

Wagner, Rick - Tackle - year 8

Hansen, Jake - Center - rookie

Johnson, Zach - Guard - rookie

Stepaniak, Simon  Guard - rookie

Taylor, Lane- Guard - year 8

Veldheer, Jared - Tackle - year 10

Previous starter Lane Taylor missed the entire year.  One of those great stories of a hard worker who worked his way into a starter!  Is a free agent.  Rick Wagner played a lot at right tackle with all the injuries on the offensive line.  Other players, Jon Runyan & Yosh Nijman provided backup depth.  This will still be a Packer strength, even if we do not sign our free agents!

Packers Roster Breakdown - Wide Receivers

 Remember, the beginning of the year & the draft - NO wide receivers drafted.  PANIC!!  As things turned out, the group we had was fine!  Adams had an awesome year - some stats:

Davante Adams - 3rd in yards - 1374, 1st in TD's - 18, & 3rd in receptions - 115

Our list, first the roster regulars:

Adams, Davante - year 7

Austin, Tavon - year 8

Lazard, Allen - year 2

St. Brown, Equanimeous - year 3

Taylor,Malik - Year 1

Valdes-Scantling, Marquez - year 3

Practice Squad & Others

Begelton, Reggie - year 1

Blair, Chris - Rookie

Winfree, Juwann - year 2

Funchess, Devon - year 6 (was on the COVID list)

The play of Lazard & Valdez-Scantling was rewarding.  Lazard(33 receptions - 451 yards - 3 TD's) has always shown toughness & grit.  He has demonstrated great hands & dependability!  He also blocks very well for the run game.  He looks to be a steady, but not flashy receiver for the next few years.  Valdes-Scantling(33 receptions - 690 yards - 6 TD's) made the biggest jump!  He hands still were shaky at times, but made some big plays this year!  If he improves again, he should also stick to the roster a few more years!!!

Devon Funchess decided to sit out the year.  That was probably the best thing for Lazard & Valdes-Scantling.  He is really the same, tall & possession receiver type that Lazard & St. Brown give the Packers.  

The need still seems to a speed & shifty guy!  A breakaway threat!  A receiver that is a threat from anywhere on the field.  But, we have enough on the team to be OK in the wide receiver position.

Next up, offensive line.