SB Nation User Blog: Green and Bold

Henderson was also valuable as pass catcher out of the backfield. As of 2008, he stands tenth...

Green and Bold — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:10:15 -0000

Henderson was also valuable as pass catcher out of the backfield. As of 2008, he stands tenth all-time on the Packers' career receptions list with 320 (for 2,409 yards), and first among running backs.

"Having been around him for so many big games, he always, always, always rises to the...

Green and Bold — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:35:00 -0000

"Having been around him for so many big games, he always, always, always rises to the occasion."

-Ryan Longwell

Ryan must be forgetting the '08 conference championship...or the '04 divisional playoff game...or the innumerable other instances when BLF didn't "rise to the challenege" and, in fact, lost us the game. Hope he does the same for you, Longwell.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/10/30/gameplan/index.html?eref=sircrc

Woodson to be named NFC defensive player of the month

Green and Bold — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:04:20 -0000

Woodson to be named NFC defensive player of the month

Perhaps a precursor to my preseason prediction that Woodson will be the NFL's defensive player of the year?

We're Good...But This Good?

Green and Bold — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:41:17 -0000

We're Good...But This Good?

I shared last week just how much NFL analysts appear to love Green Bay this season. Well the love-fest continues. Sports Illustrated had nine experts offer their predictions on a wide range of topics. When asked who would play in the Super Bowl, four out of nine said the Packers. That's right- almost half of their experts have us playing in the big game. What's more, all nine say we'll make the play-offs, and seven of nine say the division is ours. Not to mention that SI has us ranked third in their power rankings. Well, we better have a dandy of a year, because the expectations have never been higher.

Packers Put Together Potential-Laden Practice Squad, But Lose Sutton

Green and Bold — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:21:17 -0000

The Packers secured several promising young players for their practice squad, but lost Tyrell Sutton in the process.

Sutton, an undrafted free-agent from Northwester, looked poised to crack the 53-man roster after an impressive preseason,. But on cut day, the Packers opted to keep only three running backs, sending Sutton to the waiver wire. Sutton's strong performance in the preseason made it highly unlikely that the back would go unclaimed off waivers, and sure enough, he was claimed by the Carolina Panthers this morning.

Although the Packers didn't land Sutton, they did manage to keep several promising young players as part of the organization. I'll give my thoughts on each one of them after the jump.

Green Bay's 2009 Practice Squad

Brian Brohm (QB)- Placing Brohm, a second round pick of two years ago, on the practice squad was an ideal move for the Packers. For one, it sends a wake-up call to the young man, telling him that he needs to elevate his game to make it in this league. Additionally, it doesn't waste a roster spot on a player that probably had no shot of seeing the field this year (although there may be special rules for #3 QBs and 53 man limit, I can't remember). That being said, if a serious injury should befell Aaron Rodgers or Matt Flynn, the Pack can activate Brohm from the practice squad and have a young quarterback with two years experience in their system at their disposal. The bottom line is this: Brohm is a talented passer who has struggled to adapt to the NFL. Giving him some more time on the practice squad is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Kregg Lumpkin (RB)- Last year, Kregg Lumpkin shined in the preseason to beat out veterans Vernard Morency and Noah Herron, landing a spot on the Packers 53 man roster as an undrafted free-agent. However, this preseason saw Lumpkin falter, including a fumbling problem in games and practice. Clearly, Lumpkin has some NFL potential. He's a powerful, north-south runner, the type Mike McCarthy loves. Landing him on the practice squad was another success story for the Packers' management. Should Brandon Jackson fail to recover from his ankle injury in a timely fashion, the Pack can turn to Lumpkin.
Jake Allen (WR)- In July, Jake Allen was the talk of training camp. The 6'4 receiver had drawn some attention to himself after making a series of spectacular catches, demonstrating some impressive athleticism. But Allen's play in practice did not translate to the playing field, as he failed to make a mark in any of the preseason games. Meanwhile, Brett Swain impressed coaches with his steady improvement and contributions on special teams. With Swain's ascension, Allen's odds of making the team were long. However, his play-making potential certainly warranted another look, and thus, the Packers made the right decision and brought him back for another year on the practice squad.
Jamon Meredith (OT)- Meredith is the only member of the Packers' 2009 draft class not to make the 53 man roster. However, this certainly isn't for a lack of talent. Coming out of South Carolina, the athletic lineman was projected as high as the second round. Character issues apparently pushed him all the way back to the fifth, where he was selected by Green Bay. In camp and in preseason games, Meredith had impressive moments, but he remained very raw. Like Breno Giacomin a year before him, Ted Thompson decided a year on the practice squad would serve Meredith well. The kid has a ton of potential and, with some work on his technique, could serve as a candidate for Chad Clifton's replacement.
Ronald Talley (DE)- Talley, an undrafted free agent out of Deleware, has ideal size for a 3-4 end. His work in off-season try-outs and training camp practices clearly led the staff to believe he would be a good fit for the Packers new defense. However, the 3-4 is certainly a double-edged sword in this regard: while Talley fit the scheme, fewer linemen are kept. As a result, Talley's chances at making the roster were not good. Stowing him on the practice squad was a great move by the Pack, as he'll get another opportunity to compete for a spot next summer, while also waiting in the wings should an injury strike.
Anthony Toribio (NT)- Toribio has been fairly impressive this preseason. His 304 pound, 6'1 frame makes him a solid nose tackle. However, much like in Talley's case, there just weren't enough spots on the roster for him. His performance thus far has given him another year on the practice squad, and allow him another opportunity to make the team next year.
Cyril Obiozor (OLB)- "Obe," as he is known around Green Bay, is an ideal 3-4 outside linebacker, in the mold of a Demarcus Ware. He has excellent size, strength, explosion, and a ton of potential. These traits were clearly recognized by coach Kevin Greene, who made Obiozor his "special project" throughout training camp. However, when it came time to set the 53 man roster, Obiozor remained too raw and the Packers too deep at linebacker. There were concerns about him not making it through waivers to the practice squad, but fortunately they went unrealized. Obiozor is a great addition to this squad and certainly has the ability to be a force as a pass-rusher. It may just take some more time and development, which is exactly what he'll get on the practice squad.
Trevor Ford (CB)- Ford appeared to have a very poor preseason, especially after an embarrassing performance against the Titans in the finale. However, he is just a rookie, and the Packers are willing to give him a second chance, albeit on the practice squad.

All in all, I am extremely pleased with our practice squad. While it was unfortunate that we couldn't hang on to Sutton, we managed to keep some very promising rookies, including Meredith and Obiozor. Additionally, we'll be able to give Brohm and Lumpkin one last chance to prove themselves, while also keeping them around in case they need to be activated. Excellent work by Thompson and the rest of the gang.

Poll

Which player are you the most excited about landing on the practice squad?

Brian Brohm

161 votes

Kregg Lumpkin

121 votes

Jamon Meredith

197 votes

Cyril Obiozor

230 votes

Practice Squad? YAWN

195 votes

904 votes | Poll has closed

'Twas The Night Before Cuts

Green and Bold — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:32:00 -0000

It's upon us. The climax of preseason. One of the primary reasons teams play four meaningless games and engage in grueling training camps. It's time to make those final decisions, and get the roster down to 53.

I'll smugly admit, I'm pretty happy with my predictions made last week. But developments in the past few days have forced me to reconsider a few of my previous decisions. So here's my final predicition for the Packers' 2009 roster.

OFFENSE (26)

QBs

Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, Brian Brohm

HBs

Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, DeShawn Wynn, Tyrell Sutton

FBs

Korey Hall, Quinn Johnson

WRs

Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Ruvell Martin

TEs

Donald Lee, Jermichael Finely, Spencer Havner

Chad Clifton, Allen Barbre, Breno Giacomini, Jamon Meredith

Daryn Colledge, Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang

Jason Spitz, Scott Wells

DEFENSE (24)

DEs

Cullen Jenkins, Johnny Jolly, Jarius Wynn, Michael Montgomery

NTs

Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji

OLBs

Aaron Kampman, Brady Poppinga, Clay Matthews, Jeremy Thompson, Brad Jones

ILBs

Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Brandon Chillar, Desmond Bishop

CBs

Charles Woodson, Al Harris, Tramon Williams, Will Blackmon, Brandon Underwood

Nick Collins, Atari Bigby, Anthony Smith, Jarrett Bush

SPECIALTIES (3)

Mason Crosby

Jeremy Kapinos

Brett Goode

OTHER

Justin Harrell, Aaron Rouse, Pat Lee

Practice Squad

Brett Swain, Jake Allen, Evan Moore, Dane Randolph, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Ronald Talley, Anthony Toribio, Cyril Obiozor

Notes

- Wow. The only change I really made is placing Pat Lee on IR and Michael Montgomery on the roster.

- With Jackson out for an extended period of time, keeping four HBs looks like it's a done deal.

- I'm still pretty confident Tony Moll is gone. Meredith beats him out on potential.

- Quinn Johnson is a lock for the same reason. Hall beats out Kuhn by a hair.

- Brett Swain still can't crack the 53 man roster, but will bide his time on the practice squad for another year.

- The Packers may look to the waiver wire for some help in the secondary. After Tramon Williams, their CB situation is looking awful.

- I think the Packers have gotta be shopping Poppinga. He's a solid player, but he really doesn't seem ideally suited for ROLB in a 3-4 scheme. We could maybe get a 6th or 7th rounder for him or possibly swap him for a CB somewhere.

- If you ever want to see a list of underachievers, look at the IR. Three players picked in the first three rounds, two of whom have made no noteworthy contributions, while the other's been wildly inconsistent.

Love for Green Bay Abounds

Green and Bold — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:27:31 -0000

Take a look around the major sports websites, and you'll uncover a common theme: Everyone is in love with the Packers.

It is a bit ironic, given the fact that a few months ago, most analysts had us finishing 3rd in the NFC, failing to transition into the 3-4 smoothly, and not improving much on our 6-10 record. But after three dominating preseason performances, the Packers' bandwagon is quickly filling up.

As a wise man once said, "Back then they didn't want [the Packers], now [we're] hot, they all on [the Packers]."

I guess it just goes to show you that actions remain louder than words-- and when those actions include 12 takeaways by your starting defense, a 151 passer rating by your QB, and no punts by your first-team unit on a dozen drives, they're louder than a fog horn.

Take "The Jump" to see what everyone's saying.

Don Banks, of Sports Illustrated fame, declares the Packers his top pre-season performer, and says they've been "the closest thing in the league to a juggernaut" thus far. He also expects their success to continue into the regular season, especially considering their cupcake schedule early on. In fact, Banks guarantees that the Pack "will be no worse than 5-1 when November arrives."

Peter King, the Monday Morning Quarterback himself, also seems to see the Packers as the favorite to win the NFC North, and claims that the division, at least one through three, may be the best in the league. He points to the Packers' incredible off-season attendance, at 97%, as a prime factor for their present resurgence.

Speaking of SI's Packer love, Aaron Rodgers will grace the cover of the magazine's September 7th edition, accompanied by the title, "The Toughest Job in the NFL."

On to Sporting News, where Clifton Brown contends that Aaron Rodgers' stock has risen the most out of just about any other player in the NFL this preseason. Also, you know this writer is legit when he starts off his segment on Rodgers with a phrase I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot of this year- "Brett who?"

Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post says the Packers are the youngest team in the league, and also have 70 blue points. Apparently, this is good, because Mike goes on to say, "The future looks very bright on the frozen tundra." I don't know what blue points are, but I'll take it.

Now on to NFL.com. Although it's a fantasy related article, it's worth noting that Michael Fabiano thinks "there hasn't been more a more impressive quarterback this preseason than Aaron Rodgers," and that #12 i is "the real deal."

And possibly the biggest "hoo-rah" for the Pack can be found on NFL.com's preview of the Packers' upcoming season. Five NFL experts analyzed 09-10 for Green Bay and offered their predictions. The results? Four out of five experts say the Packers will win the division, all of them say they'll avoid another losing season, and one of them (Bucky Brooks, bless his soul), says the Packers will finish with the league's best record. High praise indeed. Although you gotta wonder about good ol' Pat Kirwan, who says Rodgers is just now "on the verge of being a top 10 quarterback." Huh? We're not in 2008 anymore Patty.

Anyway, it feels good to see all this positive talk about the Packers. But one thing to remember. It is all still just speculation. These guys now saying we'll go 11-5 are the same ones who said two months ago we'd finish 7-9. At the end of the day, they don't know much more than you or I, because predicting something like the outcome of an NFL season is dang near impossible.

But oh well, I can't help myself. I think the Pack will go 11-5, beating the Vikings for the division crown on the basis of two head-to-head victories.

Feel free to leave your predictions and thoughts in the comments.

Individual Battles to Keep Tabs On Tonight

Green and Bold — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:12:12 -0000

These are the individual competitions I'm watching tonight (well, actually when it re-airs on NFL Network at like 1 AM). Each one has serious roster implications, whether it's two guys fighting for a roster spot or a battle for a start on opening day.

Sutton v. Wynn: If you really believe the Pack are only keeping one of the two, their performances this evening could make or break their respective chances. I bet both of them will see significant action with the starters in the first half.

Raji v. Jolly: Jolly has performed exceptionally well in the absence of Harrell (injuries) and, until recently, Raji (contract issues). But can he really hold off Raji and start on opening day? BJ's slated for 15-20 snaps tonight and will probably have his best chance yet to prove he deserves to start.

More after the jump!

Hall v. Kuhn: I'm under the impression that Quinn Johnson already has a roster spot. Hall and Kuhn are in an intensely close battle for the other FB spot. If they get the chance to demonstrate their receiving abilities, how well they each respond could be a huge factor in determining which of the two is on the team in a couple of weeks.

Underwood v. Porter v. Ford: Brandon already touched on it, but the Pack are likely to pull Woodson and Harris early to give these three a chance to duke it out for that final CB spot. With concerns about Pat Lee's health, and the lack of quality depth after Williams, the spot is definitely there for the taking.

Barnett/Hawk v. Chillar/Bishop: Barnett is unlikely to play tonight, but nonetheless, what goes on out on the field is going to affect his playing time in the regular season. I'm not saying Chillar or Bishop have a shot at leap frogging Hawk and Barnett, but if they continue to look like the real starters out there, they can expect to get even more snaps when the regular season begins.

Lee v. Finley: Lee has played well this preseason, but with all the buzz about Finley thus far you almost forget he's on the team. Even so, he's still the starter, and a solid performance tonight could solidify that status.

Bigby v. Smith: Bigby has hardly looked like Troy Polomalu so far this preseason, but that's exactly what his position in the new 3-4 is based off of. He hasn't completely proven that he's 100% after ankle surgery, and if he fails to impress again tonight, Smith could have a shot at usurping him with a huge performance.

Martin v. Swain v. Allen: Less than a month ago, the most talked about player on the offensive side of the ball wasn't Sutton or Finley, but Jake Allen, often mentioned for his athletic catches and big play ability. Since then he's fallen off the map, as has Swain. Martin has reemerged to take a clear edge in the battle for WR spot #5. However, a big performance tonight by Allen or Swain, especially if they get action against the starters, could convince the staff to keep one of them over Martin or possibly even make roster room for a sixth WR spot.

Poll

Which individual roster battle intrigues you the most?

Sutton v. Wynn

8 votes

Raji v. Jolly

2 votes

Hall v. Kuhn

4 votes

Underwood v. Porter v. Ford

3 votes

Barnett/Hawk v. Chillar/Bishop

7 votes

Lee v. Finley

2 votes

Bigby v. Smith

4 votes

Martin v. Swain v. Allen

1 votes

31 votes | Poll has closed

Taking a Crack at the Fifty-Three Man Roster

Green and Bold — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:03:11 -0000

Move over Mock Draft enthusiasts- it's time for something far more significant to the impending season and far more Packer pertinent. I am, of course, talking about predicting the final 53-man roster the Green and Gold will go into the regular season with.

While Mock Drafts are usually based on a lot of speculation and guessing, predicting the 53 man roster is based on-- well, a little less speculation and guessing. There is still a certain degree of guess work, to be sure, but I find it's much easier for you and I, the fan, to come to reasonable conclusions based on performances thus far in camp, preseason games, and coaches' comments, as opposed to relying on how long a prospect's wingspan is or how fast they can run around a cone 6 times. Additionally, this is a far more meaningful exercise, as it is entirely Packers-orientated and also highly relevant- these are the guys that will be playing for Green Bay this year- not raw talents that probably won't even make much of an impact on the upcoming season, or any season for that matter.

My predictions after the jump.

Quarterbacks

Who they'll keep: Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, Brian Brohm

Who they'll cut: no one

The shakedown: Flynn has been one of the more impressive players this preseason. He has showed solid command of the offense when given his reps, and is beginning to expand his play-making ability down the field. While I can't say I'd be completely comfortable with him at the helm if Rodgers went down, he's on his way to being a respectable #2.

Despite his horrible performances thus far, and the fact that a 7th round pick is making him look like a JUCO back up, former 2nd round selection Brohm will certainly be on the team, barring some absolutely disastrous displays in the last two games. Thompson invested heavily in the former Louisville slinger, and although he hasn't been impressive to this point, it'd be hard to imagine TT abandoning such a high pick so early, a de facto acknowledgment that he screwed up.

And no, I don't think Rodgers will be cut.

Running Backs

Who they'll keep: Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, DeShawn Wynn, Tyrell Sutton

Who they'll cut: Kregg Lumpkin

The shakedown: Grant, Jackson, and Wynn are locks. Grant is looking like he did in 2007, Jackson is a reliable second man, and Wynn has improved in so many ways since last off-season.The real question is what do the Packers do with Sutton and Lumpkin?

Sutton, the undrafted rookie from Northwestern, has clearly looked better than Lumpkin, himself a guy who caught on with Pack after being passed in the draft. Sutton has torn up the field in the two exhibition games so far, albeit against reserves. All Lumpkin has managed to do is draw attention to an apparent fumbling problem. But even after establishing Sutton as the favorite over Lumpkin, questions still remain. Do they need four backs? Can Sutton possibly make it through waivers to the practice squad? Can Lumpkin?

In the end, I think Sutton has drawn enough attention to him that it's hard to imagine some desperate team out there not snatching him up as a #3 or 4 back if the Packers choose to take the chance of holding him for the practice squad. I think Ted Thompson and Co. like him enough that they'll make room for him on the final roster, but if not, they're really hoping he makes it through waivers. If Sutton does end up getting nabbed by someone else, perhaps Lumpkin could end up on the eight man squad.

Fullbacks

Who they'll keep: Korey Hall, Quinn Johnson

Who they'll cut: John Kuhn

The shakedown: The selection of Johnson in the 5th round this year was a little surprising to those of us who weren't familiar with the kid. Didn't we already have two quality FB's and didn't we take efforts to ensure Kuhn didn't depart for Arizona? Then when you take a look at Johnson, you realize why he was drafted, even with two other starting caliber guys on the team.

Johnson is an absolute beast. If he was wearing a jersey number in the 60's, 70's or 90's, you'd think he was some type of lineman. Although Hall and Kuhn have been decent lead blockers, neither of them hold a candle to Johnson's potential. He is a true bruiser who simply likes to demolish backers and DB's. The tell-tale signs thus far indicate that he is a sure thing for the 53 man roster.

That leaves us with Hall and Kuhn, two solid guys who do a variety things for the Packers, whether in the backfield or on special teams. The difficult thing about this decision is that both are so darn similar in nearly every way, it's hard to pick one over the other. In the end, I think Hall wins out, based on his slight edge in the athleticism department.

Wide Receivers

Who they'll keep: Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Ruvell Martin

Who they'll cut: Brett Swain, Jake Allen, JaRon Harris, Kole Heckendorf

The shakedown: If you would have asked me this a week ago, I probably would've had Martin on the cut list. Swain and Allen had made serious progress in training camp, and their big play ability was the talk around camp, especially in the case of 6'4 Allen. A very vanilla guy like Martin was all but forgotten in the mix. However, since then, neither of the young challengers has made any impact in the preseason games, which included a very poor outing by Allen against the Browns. In the end, I think McCarthy and TT will favor Martin's consistency and run-blocking ability over the more dynamic, but unproven younger guys, hoping to land them another year on the practice squad. But this will be extremely close to call, and is probably one of the more interesting story-lines as the cuts near. A lot could change in the next two weeks.

Outside of the battle for that #5 spot, things aren't too exciting. The top four make-up one of the best wide out corps in the league. Jennings has emerged as the go-to-guy but Driver certainly isn't fading away into the sunset. Meanwhile, Jones appears to be back in '07 form, when he broke onto the scene as a big play producer during his rookie year. Nelson sure ain't a bad option at #4.

Heckendorf and Harris aren't much to speak of. Heckendorf, Wisconsin's own, has proven to be a very technical route runner and has sure hands to boot. He just might lack the athleticism needed to make the squad. However, if neither Swain nor Allen land on the practice squad, Heckendorf could be the guy.

Tight End

Who they'll keep: Donald Lee, Jermichael Finley, Spencer Havner

Who they'll cut: Evan Moore

The shakedown: With the emergence of Finley and the season ending injury to Frischknecht, the TE situation isn't too complicated. Lee and Finley are clear keepers, and Havner has proven to be a suitable TE, while also being the team's best special teamer and an emergency line-backer as well. Evan Moore has come along nicely, but there just isn't room on the 53 man roster for him. He's got one more year left of eligibility for the practice squad, so if he makes it through waivers, expect him to end up there.

Offensive Linemen

Who they'll keep: Chad Clifton, Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz, Josh Sitton, Allen Barbre, Scott Wells, Breno Giacomini, T.J. Lang, Jamon Meredith

Who they'll cut: Tony Moll, Dane Randolph, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Andrew Hartline

The shakedown: This decision was made a little easier by the release of Duke Preston, a bit of a shocker. Preston, although he hadn't really made any push to crack the starting 5, appeared to be a reliable and versatile back-up. Apparently not.

With Preston out of the picture, I think a spot opens up for Jamon Meredith, an athletic freak who fell to the fifth round in the draft for "character issues." Don't get on Steve Spurrier's bad-side, or he'll make you go 3 rounds lower than your talent merits.

Of course, the most notable player to be on my "cut list" is Moll, who has started 18 games with the Packers. However, Moll has regressed dramatically in my eyes, and has been surpassed in value by rookie Lang and second year man Giacomini. I think the Packers would rather keep Meredith and cut Moll than run the risk of losing Meredith to waivers before they could sign him to the practice squad.

With regards to other guys I'm predicting to get cut, they're all potential practice squaders, given their youth.

And, as Brandon said yesterday, releasing Preston is almost a surefire signal that Wells is not going to be shopped around.

Defensive Line

Who they'll keep: Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji, Cullen Jenkins, Johnny Jolly, Jarius Wynn (Justin Harrell on IR)

Who they'll cut: Michael Montgomery, Ronald Talley, Alfred Malone, Dean Muhtadi, Anthony Toribio

The shakedown: Although Montgomery has appeared to transition to the 3-4 end position acceptably, I don't think Green Bay sees him as any kind of long term option there. Enter Wynn, who although a bit undersized for the position himself, has been a better than expected performer in training camp.

Only keeping 5 defensive linemen may seem like far too few, but do remember we're playing the 3-4. Additionally, when we do go the nickel package with a four man front, Kampman and Thompson can be considered as d-linemen, as they'll be playing with a hand on the ground as ends. So think of it as 5 +.5 +.5.

Of the rookies cut, at least one of them is bound to practice squad-ed, although the Packers may look for discards from other teams. Really, the only one of them I've heard positive things about has been Talley, a nicely sized DE out of Delaware.

Linebackers

Who they'll keep: Aaron Kampman, Nick Barnett, AJ Hawk, Brady Poppinga, Brandon Chillar, Clay Matthews, Desmond Bishop, Jeremy Thompson, Brandon Jones

Who they'll cut: Cyril Obiozor, Stryker Sulak, Danny Lansanah

The shakedown: Easily the Packers deepest position, they have some solid starters and some really talented guys backing them up. The competition within this position group is going to be intense, as they have probably 8 guys with starting ability. Bishop and Chillar have stolen the headlines at camp and are seriously threatening to take reps away from Barnett and Hawk. Poppinga, who I thought would not survive the transition to the new defense, appears poised to start. Although that could simply be posturing if the Pack decide to deal him, which I think remains a possibility.

Thompson started training camp as the odds on favorite to be the starter at ROLB, but injuries have held him back. Speaking of, Jones has rebounded quite nicely from his and is making a push to make the 53 man roster. His ability on special teams will probably be the deciding factor.

Obiozor has been an intriguing player thus far and a bit of LB coach Kevin Green's project. I think he's got great athleticism and some real potential, but he's too raw at this point to make the 53 man cut. However, the undrafted rookie is probably a practice squad lock if he makes it through waiver frenzy.

Sulak was a 6th round pick, but got cut by the Raiders even before camp started, a very rare occurrence indeed. If Obiozor isn't an option to place on the 8-man practice squad, the Pack may consider keeping Sulak on to take a longer look at him.

Secondary:

Who they'll keep: Charles Woodson, Al Harris, Nick Collins, Atari Bigby, Tramon Williams, Anthony Smith, Jarret Bush, Will Blackmon, Pat Lee, Brandon Underwood (Aaron Rouse on IR)

Who they'll cut: Charlie Peprah, Joe Porter, Trevor Ford

The shakedown: Woodson, Harris, Collins, Bigby, and Williams are clear keepers. The solid play of free-agent acquisition Smith will land him a spot, while also placing Rouse on the IR after he suffered what may be a partially torn hamstring. Blackmon will make the team on return abilities alone, while Bush will (unfortunately) be back due to his solid special teams play. And Underwood will make the cut due to the uncertain health of dime back Lee.

Specialists:

Who they'll keep: Mason Crosby, Brett Goode, Jeremy Kapinos

Who they'll cut: Durant Brooks

The shakedown: Easiest one yet: Brooks is out with a hip flexor and Kapinos has punted well in his absence. A sure way to lose a punting competition is to miss several days with an injury while your opponent makes his case.

Well there it is, my predicted Packer's 53 man roster after all cuts are made. Let me hear some feedback.

Poll

OK. Be both brutally honest, yet sensitive to my feelings. How were my picks?

Glorious. I didn't disagree with anything you said.

261 votes

Pretty spot on. I only disagreed with a few of your picks.

830 votes

Hit or miss. Some good calls, but I was scratching my head on others.

51 votes

Horrible. Can't say I really agree with any of that garbage you just spent 3 hours typing.

12 votes

1154 votes | Poll has closed

I Am Fantasy and so Can You!

Green and Bold — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:47:35 -0000

Hey ya'll. I'm looking to get involved in some serious fantasy football this season. I'm not talking about your namby-pamby Yahoo one season stuff. I'm talking the big time: a dynasty league.

I've really only played in seasonal leagues before, but I believe I am prepared for the requsitie commitment that comes with a dynasty league. Here's the problem: I don't really know of any good dynasty sites and I don't really know anyone who particpates in them.

Anyone out there interested in something like this, or can you at least point me in the right direction?