Game 3 is over. Time for roster projections.

[GreenBlood]

QB:
Rodgers
Harrell
Coleman

RB:
Benson
Green
Saine/Cooper (depend on whether we want 2 FB or not)
Tyler

FB:
Kuhn

WR:
Jennings
Nelson
Jones
Cobb
Boykins
Driver/Gurley

TE:
Finley
Crabtree
Williams

C:
Saturday
Genus

G:
Lang
Sitton
Barclay

T:
Bulaga
Newhouse
Sherrod
Datko

DL:
Pickett
Daniels
Worthy
Wilson
Merling
Raji
Hargrove

LB:
Matthews
Perry
Hawk
Smith
Walden
So'oto
Francois
Moses
Lattimore

CB:
Williams
Bush
Hayward
House
Shields

S:
Woodson
Burnett
McMillian
Jennings

K:
Crosby

P:
Masthay

LS:
Goode

 

[TeamTundra]

Looks good but I think EDS and Reggie Wells makes the squad instead of Genus and Barclay.

 

[GreenBlood]

Looks good but I think EDS and Reggie Wells makes the squad instead of Genus and Barclay.

Perhaps. I've just never been impressed with EDS. You may be right about Wells.

 

[Shawnsta3]

That's a lot of D Linemen for a 3-4.

Marc Tyler getting kept over Ryan Taylor?
I also see you have Starks gone, ever think about taking Harrell with him?

Good prediction I think overall though!

 

[GreenBlood]

That's a lot of D Linemen for a 3-4.

Marc Tyler getting kept over Ryan Taylor?
I also see you have Starks gone, ever think about taking Harrell with him?

Good prediction I think overall though!

Actually, I left Taylor off to make room for Saine. I'd keep Tyler over Saine, but then I like RBs. But Taylor has higher special teams value, so you may be right about keeping him over Saine.

And you're right about the DL. I forgot to make a change. I had intended to take Muir off the list and include So'oto.

 

[HyponGrey]

Perhaps. I've just never been impressed with EDS. You may be right about Wells.

FINALLY!!! Somebody who agrees with me on EDS! He still makes it on my list though...

Now for the roster (Note: Initial 53. I expect everyone but Zombo, Brooks, and maybe Quarless to bump somebody off)

QB 3
Rodgers Harrell Coleman

RB/FB 4
Benson Green Starks Kuhn

TE 4
Finley Crabtree Williams Taylor

WR 6
Jennings Nelson Jones Cobb Driver Boykin

OL 8
Bulaga Sitton Saturday Lang Newhouse Datko Wells EDS

DL 7
Raji Worthy Pickett Daniels Merling Muir Wilson

LB 9
Matthews Smith Hawk Perry So'oto Moses Francois Lattimore Manning

DB 9
Woodson Williams Burnett Shields McMillian Hayward Jennings Bush House

ST 3
Crosby Masthay Goode

PS 8
Tyler Ross Moss Barclay Draheim VanRoten Allard Guy

PUP 4
Sherrod Quarless Zombo Brooks

IR 3
Bishop Lair McCabe

Suspensions 3
Walden 1
Neal 4
Hargrove 8

 

[lambeaulambo]

QB:
Rodgers
McCoy
Coleman

RB:
Benson
Starks
Tyler
Saine

FB:
Kuhn

WR:
Jennings
Nelson
Jones
Cobb
Boykins
Driver

TE:
Finley
Crabtree
Williams

C:
Saturday
Dietrich-Smith

G:
Lang
Sitton
Wells

T:
Bulaga
Newhouse
Sherrod
Datko

DL:
Pickett
Daniels
Worthy
Wilson
Merling
Raji
Hargrove

LB:
Matthews
Perry
Hawk
Smith
Walden
Francois
Moses
Lattimore

CB:
Williams
Bush
Hayward
House
Woodson

S:
Burnett
McMillian
Jennings
Richardson

K:
Crosby

P:
Masthay

LS:
Goode​

 

[HardRightEdge]

FINALLY!!! Somebody who agrees with me on EDS! He still makes it on my list though...

Now for the roster (Note: Initial 53. I expect everyone but Zombo, Brooks, and maybe Quarless to bump somebody off)

QB 3
Rodgers Harrell Coleman

RB/FB 4
Benson Green Starks Kuhn

TE 4
Finley Crabtree Williams Taylor

WR 6
Jennings Nelson Jones Cobb Driver Boykin

OL 8
Bulaga Sitton Saturday Lang Newhouse Datko Wells EDS

DL 7
Raji Worthy Pickett Daniels Merling Muir Wilson

LB 9
Matthews Smith Hawk Perry So'oto Moses Francois Lattimore Manning

DB 9
Woodson Williams Burnett Shields McMillian Hayward Jennings Bush House

ST 3
Crosby Masthay Goode

PS 8
Tyler Ross Moss Barclay Draheim VanRoten Allard Guy

PUP 4
Sherrod Quarless Zombo Brooks

IR 3
Bishop Lair McCabe

Suspensions 3
Walden 1
Neal 4
Hargrove 8

That's a darn good list, in my estimation, with just a couple of quibbles:

- I'm not so sure we'd want to put all our 3rd.-down-back eggs in just the Green basket; by all accounts that knee is not 100%. 4 RBs looks light anyway given injury histories. Tyler looks like a banger, not a catcher, and PS looks like the right spot for him, as you noted, so Saine would be the choice.

- I'm in the small minority who's skeptical of the 6 WR concept. The way we use Finley, that would make 6.5 WRs, and that's awfully heavy.

- If Sherrod's return is not imminent by final cutdowns, I'd say 8 OL looks light and 9 DB looks a little heavy. The best of the remaining G/T prospects might be the move at the expense of M.D. Jennings.

 

[ivo610]

Seems like everyone is ready to move on from Starks

 

[HyponGrey]

That's a darn good list, in my estimation, with just a couple of quibbles:

- I'm not so sure we'd want to put all our 3rd.-down-back eggs in just the Green basket; by all accounts that knee is not 100%. 4 RBs looks light anyway given injury histories. Tyler looks like a banger, not a catcher, and PS looks like the right spot for him, as you noted, so Saine would be the choice.

- I'm in the small minority who's skeptical of the 6 WR concept. The way we use Finley, that would make 6.5 WRs, and that's awfully heavy.

- If Sherrod's return is not imminent by final cutdowns, I'd say 8 OL looks light and 9 DB looks a little heavy. The best of the remaining G/T prospects might be the move at the expense of M.D. Jennings.

I originally had Saine, but releasing Starks means we absolutely must draft our feature back next year (not that we didn't have to before) I'm really high on Mr. Consistency (Saine) though and hated the thought of cutting him.

I agree with you on 6 WR, but I don't think Boykin would clear waivers. Retention of talent.

5 CB 3S and Woodson in between. We usually keep around that many and losing Jennings would rob the S position of depth. Granted, Levine might have wedged him out after last night. Once again, retention of talent. Also, I didn't think anybody would disagree with not keeping our back ups after their preseason showing. I did forget to stick Dominguez on the PUP though.

 

[HardRightEdge]

Seems like everyone is ready to move on from Starks

Not everybody. I've got Starks on my list as does HyponGrey. I'd be a little shocked and amazed if he were cut. My comment on Saine was as an addition...5 TB/FB total on the 53-man, with Tyler on PS. This is hardly a stretch being just one season removed from carrying 3 FBs, and the unlikely repeat of 5 TEs, at least to start the season.

If we end up going with 4 TB/FB, I think Saine, not Starks, is the odd man out. Starks needs to get healthy and stay that way, but I think he'll get another go-round to prove up in 2012, even if it's in rotation behind Benson.

I've got little confidence Saine will develop into an effective runner in a zone blocking scheme, but he's a pretty nifty receiver. If Green goes down, we need that threat out of the backfield, and I don't see that coming from any of the other guys.

 

[GreenBlood]

- I'm in the small minority who's skeptical of the 6 WR concept. The way we use Finley, that would make 6.5 WRs, and that's awfully heavy.

If they don't keep 6, then they need to let Driver go and keep either Boykins, Gurley or Borel. You only hit it on the head with young talent every so often. We MUST keep one of those guys. The other two will be starting for the Cowboys.

6 WRs isn't heavy. In an offense as pass-heavy as ours, it's the wise decision.

 

[MiamiBeachPacker]

Hargrove has been cut, so there is one spot to free up on your lists

 

[MiamiBeachPacker]

The Packers also released Andrew Brewer, Micah Pellerin, Herb Taylor and Dion Turner.

 

[TJV]

Here’s my guess:

QB (2): Rodgers, a Veteran pickup. Coleman to PS. I don’t feel comfortable with Harrell as the #2 and my guess is Thompson, McCarthy and staff don’t feel comfortable either.

RB (3): Benson, Green, Saine. Tyler to PS. The guess here is the Packers patience with Starks’ injuries ends.

FB (1): Kuhn. He’s versatile and can backup at RB in a pinch.

WR (6): Jennings, Nelson, Cobb, Jones, Driver, Gurley. Gurley is just a guess – could be one of the others like Borel or Boykin but none of them have grabbed that last spot. Another guess: Dale Moss to PS.

TE (4): Finley, Crabtree, Taylor, Williams. Quarless to PUP and then to IR

OL (9): Newhouse, Lang, Saturday, Sitton, Bulaga, Dietrich-Smith, Wells, Genus, a Veteran pickup. Sherrod to PUP list. Datko to the PS. This is tough because I really think only the first seven deserve a spot on the roster. I don’t think Herb Taylor has shown anything and I only included Genus because he’s been the least objectionable of the rest IMO. I really hope Thompson picks up another backup OL.

DL (6): Raji, Pickett, Worthy, Daniels, Merling, Muir. Retain Neal’s rights through his suspension on the Reserve/Suspended list.

LB (10): Matthews, Perry, Hawk, Smith, Walden, Moses, Francois, Lattimore, Manning, Jones. Walden on the Reserve/Suspended list and Bishop to IR.

CB (5): Williams, Bush, Hayward, House, Shields.

S (4): Woodson, Burnett, McMillian, Jennings. Levine has the best chance to stick of the rest. Richardson to PS.

Specialists (3) Crosby, Masthay, Goode

Edit: Thanks for the update, MiamiBeachPacker. I'm glad the Packers agreed about Herb Taylor. I didn't know if he'd be in the first cuts but IMO he was bad in preseason games. They may look at Hargrove just before his suspension ends if they have injuries on the DL.

 

[HardRightEdge]

If they don't keep 6, then they need to let Driver go and keep either Boykins, Gurley or Borel. You only hit it on the head with young talent every so often. We MUST keep one of those guys. The other two will be starting for the Cowboys.

6 WRs isn't heavy. In an offense as pass-heavy as ours, it's the wise decision.

6 WRs is certainly heavy. We had 5 last year without enough ball to go around. Driver (56) Jones (55) and Cobb (31) combined for only 142 targets. If we keep a 6th. he'll be inactive the entire season, even if there's an injury.

The question then turns to your first point...are any of those 3 guys worth a roster spot if they're not going to see the field this season. These guys show some promise, but they're not the second coming of Larry Fitzgerald (or Randall Cobb for that matter). We could probably slip a couple of the three back onto the practice squad.

If Driver is cut (highly unlikely) or Jones is cut or traded (nearly as unlikely), then a spot will be open, but I would not hold my breath.

Don't get me wrong...I think we should have parted ways with Driver. But it is what it is.

 

[wxman2003]

Get rid of So'to and Francois. Not impressed by them. They are your typical look good in preseason type of players who do nothing in the regular season. Go to a 2 qb roster, and go after a decent offensive backup tackle. Neither Coleman or Harrell are very good backups, so jettison them both and get a decent one via trade or waivers. Don't need 6 WR's now that they have Benson, so get rid of one and get another decent linebacker or cb.

 

[MiamiBeachPacker]

Get rid of So'to and Francois. Not impressed by them. They are your typical look good in preseason type of players who do nothing in the regular season. Go to a 2 qb roster, and go after a decent offensive backup tackle. Neither Coleman or Harrell are very good backups, so jettison them both and get a decent one via trade or waivers. Don't need 6 WR's now that they have Benson, so get rid of one and get another decent linebacker or cb.

I would say yes to moving on from So'oto, but not from Francois

 

[HardRightEdge]

Get rid of So'to and Francois. Not impressed by them. They are your typical look good in preseason type of players who do nothing in the regular season. Go to a 2 qb roster, and go after a decent offensive backup tackle. Neither Coleman or Harrell are very good backups, so jettison them both and get a decent one via trade or waivers. Don't need 6 WR's now that they have Benson, so get rid of one and get another decent linebacker or cb.

There's a good chance we'll cut one or the other. On second thought on the matter, we'll probably start the season with 52. There's no point in keeping a guy to fill Walden's roster spot for one game...that last LB would be inactive for game 1 anyway...no point is paying out $465k -$490k for nothing. Francois made some nice plays dropping into coverage last year...something we did not see much of from our starters. I'd say So'oto might be the odd man out.

 

[GreenBlood]

6 WRs is certainly heavy. We had 5 last year without enough ball to go around.

It's not uncommon to keep 6 WRs in the NFL. If you want to talk about heavy, I think keeping 5 TEs last year was crazy. I don't think we'll be keeping 5 TEs this year. That opens it up to keep one our talented young guys.

 

[GreenBlood]

Get rid of So'to and Francois. Not impressed by them. They are your typical look good in preseason type of players who do nothing in the regular season.

Disagree. Francois has made a lot of good plays for us over the last 2 seasons and has done well when called upon.

 

[TJV]

● A couple of players make the roster because of STs – Bush has been the most obvious example of that early in his career. I think Francois has that chance – and he’s a decent backup LB IMO – but he injured his hamstring against the Bengals so his chances just got worse.

● Wilson probably has a very good chance to make the roster – I was just so disappointed in him and Wynn last season I didn’t include him in my roster guess. But Wilson did start at DE last night. He probably stays and Merling goes.

● I don’t think Driver is going anywhere – he got too much guaranteed money to be waived.

● Good point about keeping 52 instead of 53 – I have Jones on the team and then getting waived for Walden’s return but it doesn’t make sense to plan to have a player on the team for one game.

● Under the new CBA 46 players are active on game day and 7 are inactive. The last two or three players kept on the roster are there because of their potential and because exposing them to waivers is likely to get them claimed by another team. Manning could be one of the players who make the final 53 but won’t see any action unless injuries hit his position. Same with the 6th WR if they keep one.

 

[HyponGrey]

6 WRs is certainly heavy... If we keep a 6th. he'll be inactive the entire season, even if there's an injury.

The question then turns to your first point...are any of those 3 guys worth a roster spot if they're not going to see the field this season. These guys show some promise, but they're not the second coming of Larry Fitzgerald (or Randall Cobb for that matter). We could probably slip a couple of the three back onto the practice squad.

You can't make PS if you have spent two years on a PS. Gurley and Borel have both been on the PS 2 years, so there goes that theory. Also when you cut a guy other teams get a chance to claim them off waivers before you can PS them, so teams will factor that in. On a side note, anybody know who is ACTUALLY eligible for the PS? Here are the rules: http://www.ehow.com/facts_4793705_nfl-practice-squad-rules.html

Get rid of So'to and Francois. Not impressed by them. They are your typical look good in preseason type of players who do nothing in the regular season. Go to a 2 qb roster, and go after a decent offensive backup tackle. Neither Coleman or Harrell are very good backups, so jettison them both and get a decent one via trade or waivers. Don't need 6 WR's now that they have Benson, so get rid of one and get another decent linebacker or cb.

Those players who "do nothing" run ST all year. Its why Francois will stay. I don't see how Benson makes a WR spot irrelevant, but even if it did, the pack has only this year considered keeping 6 WR. For the past few years its only been 5. The 6th receiver is there for when we jettison Driver next year. As for your "decent CB" we have 6 (including Ross) "decent CB" and we usually keep 5. More likely would be linebacker where Francois is proven from past years to be "decent"

● A couple of players make the roster because of STs – Bush has been the most obvious example of that early in his career. I think Francois has that chance – and he’s a decent backup LB IMO – but he injured his hamstring against the Bengals so his chances just got worse.

● Wilson probably has a very good chance to make the roster – I was just so disappointed in him and Wynn last season I didn’t include him in my roster guess. But Wilson did start at DE last night. He probably stays and Merling goes.

● Good point about keeping 52 instead of 53 – I have Jones on the team and then getting waived for Walden’s return but it doesn’t make sense to plan to have a player on the team for one game.

Yeah the hamstring might actually put Jones ahead of him.
I have Guy on the PS because he sat on IR last year, and I was more inclined to take 7 DL. I had Merling getting cut after Neal got back or possibly for Quarless.
I had So'oto on for the one game patch, but 52 may very well be a better idea.

 

[GreenBlood]

You can't make PS if you have spent two years on a PS. Gurley and Borel have both been on the PS 2 years, so there goes that theory.

Where did you get that idea? They were both rookies last year.

 

[HardRightEdge]

You can't make PS if you have spent two years on a PS. Gurley and Borel have both been on the PS 2 years, so there goes that theory.

No, both Gurley and Borel were rookies last year. They did not have any time on the active roster, so they can certainly go back to practice squad. To return to our PS they'd have to be released and then choose not to sign with any other team.

Though not applicable in these cases, a guy could go on practice squad a 3rd. year if he has not been on an active roster or on IR for 6 games or more. That last situation doesn't happen very often...if you don't get picked for somebody's active roster by the 3rd. year, you're generally considered not NFL material.