Final Roster Guess

[TJV]

Although there is a discussion of the likely 53 man roster on other threads and discussions about particular positions throughout.

 

[AllouezPackerFan]

Only one fullback?

 

[7thFloorRA]

I really want Lattimore to make this team. He looks like a gamer.

 

[PackerChef]

My final roster guess at this point is similar to yours, with QBs, RBs, WRs, OL, DL, CB, and STs all the same.

At LB I simplydon't see Jones making the cut, especially after another poor game in Indy combined with the good play of So 'oto and Lattimore. I see one of these guys making the final 53, with the other getting a practice squad offer along with Elmore (who i think would have been ok with OTAs and such but needs a year on the PC to learn to play LB like you said). I'm leaning So 'oto, primarily because I like his bend when he rushes the passer, plus in the preseason games, he's shown a great engine that just doesn't stop.

Great topic.

 

[Mr. StyleZ]

I really want Lattimore to make this team. He looks like a gamer.

Me too, but he's really underweight. Hopefully will go on PS and put on some good weight for next year.

 

[Mr. StyleZ]

edit: wow I'm an idiot.. 6 receivers 5 TE's seems excessive lol, but I'll just go with this. I'll look smart if I'm right.

Offense (27)

QB (3)
Aaron Rodgers
Matt Flynn
Graham Harrell

RB (3)
Ryan Grant
James Starks
Alex Green

FB (1)
John Kuhn

WR (6)
Greg Jennings
Donald Driver
Jordy Nelson
James Jones
Randall Cobb
Chastin West

O Line (9)
Chad Clifton
Derek Sherrod
Scott Wells
Josh Sitton
Bryan Bulaga
T.J. Lang
Marshall Newhouse
Nick McDonald
Evan Dietrich-Smith

TE (5)
Jermichael Finley
Andrew Quarless
Tom Crabtree
D.J. Williams
Ryan Taylor

Defense (23)

D Line (6)
Ryan Pickett
B.J. Raji
Mike Neal
Howard Green
C.J. Wilson
Jarius Wynn

OLBs 5)
Clay Matthews
Erik Walden
Frank Zombo
Brad Jones
Vic So'oto

ILBs (4)
A.J. Hawk
Desmond Bishop
Robert Francois
D.J. Smith

CB (5)
Charles Woodson
Tramon Williams
Sam Shields
Jarrett Bush
Davon House

S (3)
Nick Collins
Morgan Burnett
Charlie Peprah

Special Teams (3)
Mason Crosby
Tim Masthay
Brett Goode

 

[TCHickman24]

So'oto definitely makes the 53.. Dude is everywhere on the field!

 

[FrankRizzo]

So oto has to make it now.
Peprah is better than Burnett, still.
Quinn Johnson is on the bubble IF Taylor is capable of doing some of the FB stuff.
Can't imagine them keeping 6 WRs with 5 TEs... someone has to be moved. But West is NFL-ready now. He'd be a #3 or #2 WR on some teams out there, or he should be.

I'm not a fan of Francois.

 

[Helmets]

Bottom line - too much talent, too few roster spots.

 

[Guacamole]

Bottom line - too much talent, too few roster spots.

Which means the Pack will have one hell of a practice squad, with many guys ready to fill in when someone gets hurt, cuz it's going to happen.

 

[7thFloorRA]

Does Harrell really need to make this team? Aside from the last 2 drives (penalty aided and all) he looked terrible.

 

[TJV]

Regarding only one FB, the operative word in the title for me is “guess”.

 

[JoshuaRHuffman]

QB: Rodgers, Flynn (2)

RB: Grant, Starks, Green, Kuhn, Johnson (7)

WR: Jennings, Driver, Nelson, Jones, Cobb, West (13)

TE: Finley, Quarless, Williams, Taylor (17)

OL: Clifton, Lang, Wells, Sitton, Bulaga, Sherrod, Dietrich Smith, Newhouse, McDonald (26)

DL: Raji, Pickett, Neal, Green, Wilson, Wynn (32)

LB: Matthews, Bishop, Hawk, Zombo, Walden, Jones, Smith, Francois, So'oto (41)

DB: Williams, Woodson, Shields, House, Collins, Peprah, Burnett, Bush, and either Underwood/Lee/Gordy. I think that you'd have to retain at least keep 9 DBs. (50)

ST:
Crosby
Masthay
Goode (53)

PS
Harrell
Saine
Gurley
Schuladeraff
Guy
Lattimore
Elmore
Levine

*I'm not sure how long Zombo's injury is, but maybe they put him on PUP. That would definitely make So'oto more likely on the 53-man roster.

*I think they have to retain at least one DL on their practice squad because Mike Neal is a ticking time bomb.

*Out of the 53 guys I have making the roster, I'd say Quinn Johnson is most vulnerable, especially if they want to keep 10 DBs and/or like Taylor as a backup FB.

 

[okcpackerfan]

QB: Rodgers, Flynn (2)

RB: Grant, Starks, Green, Kuhn, Johnson (7)

WR: Jennings, Driver, Nelson, Jones, Cobb, West (13)

TE: Finley, Quarless, Williams, Taylor (17)

OL: Clifton, Lang, Wells, Sitton, Bulaga, Sherrod, Dietrich Smith, Newhouse, McDonald (26)

DL: Raji, Pickett, Neal, Green, Wilson, Wynn (32)

LB: Matthews, Bishop, Hawk, Zombo, Walden, Jones, Smith, Francois, So'oto (41)

DB: Williams, Woodson, Shields, House, Collins, Peprah, Burnett, Bush, and either Underwood/Lee/Gordy. I think that you'd have to retain at least keep 9 DBs. (50)

ST:
Crosby
Masthay
Goode (53)

PS
Harrell
Saine
Gurley
Schuladeraff
Guy
Lattimore
Elmore
Levine

*I'm not sure how long Zombo's injury is, but maybe they put him on PUP. That would definitely make So'oto more likely on the 53-man roster.

*I think they have to retain at least one DL on their practice squad because Mike Neal is a ticking time bomb.

*Out of the 53 guys I have making the roster, I'd say Quinn Johnson is most vulnerable, especially if they want to keep 10 DBs and/or like Taylor as a backup FB.

That is very well thought out and organized, summed it up perfectly

 

[ThorMatthews]

The team will be
Flynn and Matthews, just those two.

 

[DevilDon]

Does Harrell really need to make this team? Aside from the last 2 drives (penalty aided and all) he looked terrible.

I think he does. This is Flynn's last year and Harrell wouldn't clear waivers. Too many teams need QBs and teams would be inclined to pick him up just because he's been coached at QBU.

 

[DevilDon]

It's been said by many Packers fans that since the Packers were the best and deepest team last year, the lockout provided them with an advantage since they practiced longer into 2011 than others and have such a deep team. I think that's true but where the lockout hurt the Packers more than almost any other team IMO was this: The Packers depend more on drafting (and signing UDFAs) and developing players than almost every other team and they missed out on an entire off season of working with, and evaluating rookies and second year players. Even so, I think we Packers fans are on the cusp of a special run by our Packers, led by Thompson, McCarthy, and Capers, that will surpass what happened after the victory in Super Bowl XXXI.

Here's my guess for the final roster:

QUARTERBACKS 3
Rodgers, Flynn, and Harrell.
They seem to love Harrell and since this will probably be Flynn's last season in Green Bay, they can't afford to expose next season's backup to waivers.

RUNNING BACKS 4
Grant, Starks, Green, and Kuhn.
Quinn Johnson does one thing well, block. He's not good on STs, he doesn't catch or run the ball particularly well and that's why I think an extra WR should take his spot on the roster. While Nance has had a good camp, there's just not room for him. I look for them to try to get Saine to the PS.

WIDE RECEIVERS 6
Jennings, Driver, Nelson, Jones, Cobb, and West.
You can't teach height and they like Gurley, but can you really keep a guy named 'girlie'? JK. Instead of West it could be Gurley because of his STs play. West has to improve his STs play but I think he can. They'll try to get a waived WR to the PS, but I doubt they'll have much luck doing so.

TIGHT ENDS 4
Finley, Quarless, Taylor, and Williams.
Taylor is on all the first team STs units so I think he's in. And he played H back in college so he could be a second FB in place of Johnson. I love stories like Taylor's - late round pick that gets the most of the talent God gave him. Williams sticks because he's only going to get better in the passing game. Quarless is next year's Finley if Finley leaves via free agency. Crabtree is the best blocker of the group but I have him on the outside looking in because of the rookies' potential and he's not special in the passing game. Like Johnson is forte is only blocking.

OFFENSIVE LINE 9
Clifton, Lang, Wells, Sitton, Bulaga, Sherrod, Newhouse, McDonald, and Schlauderaff.
If not Schlauderaff, then it's probably Dominquez. I haven't understood the praise the staff has heaped upon McDonald since he arrived: He got beat consistently last pre season in one-on-ones and I never see him excel in pre season games. So I wouldn't keep him but the staff apparently views him as the center of the future so he's in.

IMO it took Thompson quite a while to settle the OTs of the future issue but he can check that off his to-do list now. Bulaga will get better and better. Sherrod is not an OG IMO but he's going to be a fine LT and Newhouse just needs experience and I'll bet he backs up both OT spots next season if Clifton retires and Sherrod takes over at LT. Where they lack depth IMHO is the interior of the OL. But that's a much easier fix than OT.

DEFENSIVE LINE 6
Raji, Pickett, Green, Neal, Wilson and Wynn.
My guess is Guy is the odd man out and they'll try to get him to the PS. If either Wilson or Wynn falter before the final cut down, Guy or a waiver wire claim is in.

LINEBACKERS 8
Matthews, Bishop, Hawk, Walden, Zombo, Smith, Francois, and Jones.
My guess is Zombo won't be IR'd - they'll wait for his return 5-6 weeks into the season. I have a feeling teams may try running the ball more to counter Capers' schemes and Zombo is better vs. the run than Walden. Smith is another great story - he just knows how to play football! Jones makes it over So'oto because of his experience and ability to play inside and outside (Francois can too). I will not be surprised if So'oto wins the spot over Jones though. Jones may be assignment sure but I've never seen much of anything from him in the limited number of snaps he's played, so I'd prefer they keep a youngster like So'oto or Lattimore. OTOH they had Jones starting opposite Clay at the beginning of last season. Again, they'll try to get a LB or two to the PS, including Elmore who needs an offseason to adjust to OLB.

DEFENSIVE BACKS 10
Woodson, Williams, Collins, Burnett, Shields, Peprah, Bush, House, Gordy, and Jennings.
What a fantastic group! Bush makes because of his STs play and let's all hope House or Gordy take over as the #4 CB based on merit. I have Jennings over Levine because he's showed some playmaking ability and because of Levine's concussion but that's a close call.

SPECIALISTS 3
Masthay, Crosby, and Goode.
Thompson has found (and will keep) a punter! Masthay was fantastic toward the end of last season and if you don't believe that watch the last two Bear games again. And he's picked up where he left off. Goode got extended so he's on the roster (I would love the LS to be able to backup another position but you've gotta have a good(e) LS. (Sorry about that, couldn't resist!) BTW, I would like to send a thank you on behalf of all Packers fans to Chris Bryan, the punter who vied with Masthay last pre season for the job and who taught him the Australian-style pooch punt that Tim has used so well to pin opponents inside the 20

I think your list is spot on. Every poster will have one or two that they feel stronger about but I think we all agree the close one's could go either way.
WRs can go West or Gurley, but I'd rather see the taller target and ST play of Gurley. I agree that whoever doesn't make the team will not clear waivers. It makes me sick to think of either player on another team. TE seems right too. Everyone wondered why so many TEs in the draft until we consider Taylor as H Back. Sorry to say I think you're right about Crabtree. But I'd rather see a big group of capable TEs with receiving threats than fullbacks.
I think what the coaches like in McDonald is his "squareness" They like his style and his build for center. I completely agree on Sherrod and Newhouse. I think they are in a good position at tackle. I'm not even sweating Sherrod not coming on strong this early because I am pretty high on Newhouse. Let's pray Cliffy stays healthy and a power one more year.
On D-line I think Guy will be a PS guy but that's just what I believe. I have no reason to think the Packer staff is that high on him. I would just like to see him work out. You know... the hidden gem late round story. I like the Smith story at LB. Dom kinda compared him to another outstanding small LB he worked with. I really had high hopes for Jones, but So'oto really has opened my eyes. You gotta love his bend and aggressiveness. One has to wonder if Jones is the same athlete he was before his injury too. I also loved the concept of Elmore but he hasn't seemed to impress anybody that I've heard of.
I think Peprah is as good as Burnett but obviously Burnett has more upside. You gotta love Peprah as a backup though right? Philly might have more "name" players in their backfield, but this unit is as good as theirs IMHO. I have Jennings over Levine even without concussions.
I am completely okay with the ST personnel, I'd just like to see some "special" in ST.
I will say this ThxJack, I understand how the Pack might be hampered more than other teams since they rely more on draft and so on. But every team has had to deal with it. The Packers were so deep that I don't think any of us are really expecting any draft picks to have a considerable impact. It would be nice if they do, but I sense they won't have to unless injuries mount again this season.
I'd hope Sherrod gets a year to learn from Cliffy, Cobb will make an impact for sure, but he's not going to see alot of catches with the huge amount of receiving potential we have at WR, TE and RB. Alex Green will keep fresh and learn. House might be a dime at some point this season but he's probably not going to see the field alot. I suppose if any draft pick will have an impact immediately DJ will be the man. He just looks so unbelievably quick and good. I like Quarless ALOT and I think he and DJ could be the future if Finley isn't able to stay. Schlauderaff could see action in case of injury as well as DJ Smith but I'm hoping not. Taylor may have an impact as an H back. I'm excited to see if that happens.
It looks like losses in free agency and pickups in the draft and returns of starters from injury has us in good stead. If you had to pick one weakness it's the D-line. You have to think if this team had a weakness it's best if it's on D since Dom will make a jigsaw of players into a complete picture, regardless of which pieces you give him.

 

[7thFloorRA]

Swain and Havner have both been cut as was expected.

 

[7thFloorRA]

I think he does. This is Flynn's last year and Harrell wouldn't clear waivers. Too many teams need QBs and teams would be inclined to pick him up just because he's been coached at QBU.

I would IR him in that case.

 

[TJV]

I would IR him in that case.

 

[realcaliforniacheese]

53 Players

 

[PFanCan]

... You can't hide players...

Sure you can, Jack. We hide our players all the time over on the Viking's active roster!

 

[ThorMatthews]

Sure you can, Jack. We hide our players all the time over on the Viking's active roster!

ouch

 

[ivo610]

here are two predictions

http://packertalkonline.com/final-roster-prediction/

http://jerseyal.com/GBP/2011/08/31/zach-kruse-my-initial-packers-53-man-roster-prediction/

I cant imagine a scenario where DD gets cut, but then again TT traded Brett Favre so I guess anything is possible.

 

[Future]

Which means the Pack will have one hell of a practice squad, with many guys ready to fill in when someone gets hurt, cuz it's going to happen.

Assuming no other teams take these guys off of our practice squad.