Fox News reports---Davenport on bubble/Gado green backup
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After Davenport's results the 1st 2 weeks it doesn't surprise me. 17 carries for 41 yards and a 2.4 avg isn't a thing of beauty.
Of course Samwise's whopping 3 carries for 6 yards is no prize either. But Gado seems to work his tail off all the time and I am sure Davenport has coasted from time to time.
Of course Samwise's whopping 3 carries for 6 yards is no prize either. But Gado seems to work his tail off all the time and I am sure Davenport has coasted from time to time.
calicheesehead
Cheesehead
Both are decent runners and I actually thought Davenport did better than the yardage suggests from tha ATL game. I hope as hell that Green shows some promise because so far the pass has been opening up the run.
porky88
Cheesehead
I saw this in the press gazette today. I wouldn't read too much into it. Only Gado and Green were put as locks. Henderson as a good bet and the rest were bubbles. I'd be very suprised if they let go of Najeh Davenport especially too keep Vonte Leach.
calicheesehead
Cheesehead
A little lengthy, but here's a breakdown from Packersnews.com http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 30548/1989
Here's a position-by-position breakdown of the Packers' roster with two preseason games remaining:
Quarterbacks (3)
Locks: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers.
Good bets: None.
On the bubble: Ingle Martin.
Long shots: Brian Wrobel.
Rodgers has made a major jump from last year at this time, when he was up and down in practice and played poorly in the preseason. This year, he's shown command and poise, and in two preseason games has a passer rating of 127.7 points.
Martin has improved through training camp and shown a live arm, though he's extremely raw. Wrobel, who played at DeSoto High School, has done OK with the limited snaps of a No. 4 quarterback.
Running backs (5 or 6)
Locks: Ahman Green, Samkon Gado.
Good bets: William Henderson.
On the bubble: Najeh Davenport, Vonta Leach, Noah Herron, Arliss Beach.
Long shots: A.J. Cooper, Ben Brown.
Green has cleared all his small hurdles in his comeback from quadriceps-tendon surgery and should make his preseason debut Monday night at Cincinnati, but the major test will be the regular season and whether he's lost much because of the injury. His health is imperative to the offense.
Gado has had trouble adjusting to the zone-blocking scheme but has a better combination of speed, power and quickness than all the backs except Green. Davenport isn't the best fit for the zone scheme either, and his injury history, including a strained calf that sidelined him for a week in this camp, is a major concern. But he would be hard to cut because of his unusual speed for a 250-pound back.
Beach is an undrafted rookie who didn't start at Kentucky, but he has a chance after averaging 5.6 yards a carry against Atlanta. The coaching staff likes his toughness, and he has more quickness and speed than Herron, who is in the running because he's taken well to the new scheme and, like Gado, can play fullback in a pinch.
At fullback, Henderson will miss at least two weeks and perhaps longer after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee Monday. His blocking has slipped significantly the last couple of years — he's 35 — but he's a sure-handed receiver out of the backfield and a superb locker-room example for a roster full of young players.
Receivers (5 or 6)
Locks: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Robert Ferguson.
Good bets: None.
On the bubble: Rod Gardner, Ruvell Martin, Cory Rodgers.
Long shots: Calvin Russell, Chris Francies, Chad Lucas, Carlton Brewster.
Jennings has been one of the standouts of camp and could be a starter before long. He might provide some playmaking for an offense starved in that area.
But finding a No. 4 receiver who can be productive if there's an injury among the top three could be a problem. Gardner has made good use of his 6-foot-2 frame a couple of times with fully extended, leaping catches, but he's also had long invisible stretches. Martin, who finished last season on the practice squad, has great height (6-4) and has made the most plays after the top three, but it's unclear whether he has the quickness to get open against starting-caliber opponents. Rodgers' best chance was to make it as a return man and hone his receiving skills, but he's been abominable catching punts. He does have some playmaking speed and also was good in punt coverage in college.
Tight ends (3)
Locks: Bubba Franks.
Good bets: David Martin.
On the bubble: Donald Lee, Tory Humphrey.
Long shot: Zac Alcorn.
If Martin is going to do anything in the NFL, this is the year. He's playing for an offensive coordinator (Jeff Jagodzinski) who likes his talent and thinks he's been underused as a threat down the seam. But it all depends on staying healthy, which has been a major problem in his five previous seasons. Lee and Humphrey show ability as downfield receivers. Humphrey is a tad short (6-2) but has good speed and hands and is pushing Lee for the No. 3 job.
Offensive line (9 or 10)
Locks: Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher, Scott Wells, Jason Spitz, Tony Moll, Daryn Colledge.
Good bets: Chris White, Junius Coston.
On the bubble: Josh Bourke, Mookie Moore.
Long shots: Will Whitticker, Pete Trayner, Siitupe Peko, Todd Williams.
Moll, a developmental pick in the fifth round, unexpectedly shot past the struggling Colledge to win a starting job at guard, but how this plays out over the next couple of years is another matter. Colledge is strong through the legs but comes from a Boise State program that doesn't emphasize weightlifting and needs to add significant upper-body strength. He hasthe athletic ability that convinced the Packers to select him in the second round.
Spitz is technically advanced for a rookie and tough. He'll start at left guard and can play any of the inside positions.
Coston has had a rough training camp bouncing from position to position. Spitz ended their competition for a starting guard job early in camp, so Coston moved to backup left tackle and bombed. Now, he's at right tackle. Still, he came to the Packers as an especially raw fifth-round draft pick out of North Carolina A&T last year and has far too much athletic ability to even consider giving up on.
Bourke is an undrafted rookie from Grand Valley State who has a similar frame to another former Packers tackle from Canada, Steve Morley. But he's much tougher than Morley and looks like he can play the difficult left tackle position, so he has a shot at making the roster. Moore played for Jagodzinski in Atlanta and could make it as a veteran fallback at guard.
Whitticker is ill-suited for the zone scheme, and his chances to make it have only gone down because of a hamstring injury that's sidelined him since Aug. 4.
Defensive line (9 or 10)
Locks: Aaron Kampman, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Ryan Pickett, Colin Cole.
Good bets: Corey Williams, Cullen Jenkins.
On the bubble: Johnny Jolly, Michael Montgomery, Kenny Peterson, Kenderick Allen, Dave Tollefson, Jason Hunter.
Long shots: Jerome Nichols, Montez Murphy.
Cole has gone from a midseason street pickup in 2004 to a solid run stopper in the middle. His performance in camp has pushed him ahead of fellow defensive tackles Williams and Jenkins. Neither Williams nor Jenkins has distinguished himself in camp, but both were effective rotational players last season and figure to be so again this year. Allen is a big man (6-5, 325) and looked the part in offseason practices, but hasn't done much since the pads went on. Jolly, a sixth-round pick, has improved as camp has gone on and given himself a chance.
Montgomery and Peterson (ankle) looked like shoo-ins for the top two backups at ends, but Hunter has worked into the mix as a pass-rush specialist after tipping one pass and pressuring the quarterback two other times Saturday night against Atlanta. Peterson has had a non-descript camp and is out with an ankle injury. Tollefson looks like a practice-squad candidate.
Linebackers (6 or 7)
Locks: Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Abdul Hodge, Brady Poppinga, Ben Taylor.
Good bets: None.
On the bubble: Tracy White, Roy Manning.
Long shots: Kurt Campbell, Tim Goodwell.
Hodge, a third-round pick, has shown a nose for the ball in the run game but hasn't played the pass well enough to justify bumping Taylor from the starting strong-side linebacker. Hawk was quiet early in camp but appears to be on the rise and much more comfortable with his reads. Poppinga made an impressively fast comeback to get on the practice field early in camp after knee-reconstruction surgery last December, though players often don't return to full speed and strength until the second season after surgery.
The sixth linebacker job comes down to White and Manning. White, who played with Seattle in 2003-04 and Jacksonville in '05, made his living in the league the last three years as special-teams player. Manning started two games last year for the Packers as an undrafted rookie.
Defensive backs (9)
Locks: Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Nick Collins, Marquand Manuel.
Good bets: Ahmad Carroll, Tyrone Culver, Mike Hawkins.
On the bubble: Jason Horton, Will Blackmon, Tra Boger, Jerron Wishom.
Long shots: Marviel Underwood, Patrick Dendy, Atari Bigby, Jeremy Modkins, Antonio Malone.
Underwood is headed for the injured reserve list. His knee blowout left a void at backup safety, though sixth-round pick Tyrone Culver has been a surprise and appears solid enough to take over the No. 3 job. However, the No. 4 job is open, and it will come down to either Boger or probably a player with another team. Bigby would have been in the running, but broke a knuckle in the team's intrasquad scrimmage and could be out an extended time after undergoing surgery.
Carroll will be the No. 3 cornerback, and Hawkins probably will be No. 4, though there are questions about Hawkins' durability and toughness. The second-year pro has natural cover talent that's hard to find, but he's missed all but one practice since injuring his knee Aug. 4. Horton is in his third year with the Packers and probably will be the dime back but hasn't made many plays in camp.
Blackmon showed a natural ability to play the ball in offseason practices and might have challenged for a job in the passing-down packages, but he hasn't practiced in camp because of a broken foot. He'll be on the physically-unable-to-perform list when the season starts.
Specialists
Locks: None.
Good bets: Rob Davis.
On the bubble: Jon Ryan, Dave Rayner.
Long shots: Thomas Gafford.
Ryan and Rayner have excellent shots at winning the punting and place-kicking jobs, respectively, after the Packers cut their camp competition in the past week. But neither is a shoo-in and will have to perform fairly well in the final two preseason games to avoid being replaced after final cuts. Barring injury, the 37-year-old Davis will be back for his 10th season as the long snapper.
Here's a position-by-position breakdown of the Packers' roster with two preseason games remaining:
Quarterbacks (3)
Locks: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers.
Good bets: None.
On the bubble: Ingle Martin.
Long shots: Brian Wrobel.
Rodgers has made a major jump from last year at this time, when he was up and down in practice and played poorly in the preseason. This year, he's shown command and poise, and in two preseason games has a passer rating of 127.7 points.
Martin has improved through training camp and shown a live arm, though he's extremely raw. Wrobel, who played at DeSoto High School, has done OK with the limited snaps of a No. 4 quarterback.
Running backs (5 or 6)
Locks: Ahman Green, Samkon Gado.
Good bets: William Henderson.
On the bubble: Najeh Davenport, Vonta Leach, Noah Herron, Arliss Beach.
Long shots: A.J. Cooper, Ben Brown.
Green has cleared all his small hurdles in his comeback from quadriceps-tendon surgery and should make his preseason debut Monday night at Cincinnati, but the major test will be the regular season and whether he's lost much because of the injury. His health is imperative to the offense.
Gado has had trouble adjusting to the zone-blocking scheme but has a better combination of speed, power and quickness than all the backs except Green. Davenport isn't the best fit for the zone scheme either, and his injury history, including a strained calf that sidelined him for a week in this camp, is a major concern. But he would be hard to cut because of his unusual speed for a 250-pound back.
Beach is an undrafted rookie who didn't start at Kentucky, but he has a chance after averaging 5.6 yards a carry against Atlanta. The coaching staff likes his toughness, and he has more quickness and speed than Herron, who is in the running because he's taken well to the new scheme and, like Gado, can play fullback in a pinch.
At fullback, Henderson will miss at least two weeks and perhaps longer after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee Monday. His blocking has slipped significantly the last couple of years — he's 35 — but he's a sure-handed receiver out of the backfield and a superb locker-room example for a roster full of young players.
Receivers (5 or 6)
Locks: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Robert Ferguson.
Good bets: None.
On the bubble: Rod Gardner, Ruvell Martin, Cory Rodgers.
Long shots: Calvin Russell, Chris Francies, Chad Lucas, Carlton Brewster.
Jennings has been one of the standouts of camp and could be a starter before long. He might provide some playmaking for an offense starved in that area.
But finding a No. 4 receiver who can be productive if there's an injury among the top three could be a problem. Gardner has made good use of his 6-foot-2 frame a couple of times with fully extended, leaping catches, but he's also had long invisible stretches. Martin, who finished last season on the practice squad, has great height (6-4) and has made the most plays after the top three, but it's unclear whether he has the quickness to get open against starting-caliber opponents. Rodgers' best chance was to make it as a return man and hone his receiving skills, but he's been abominable catching punts. He does have some playmaking speed and also was good in punt coverage in college.
Tight ends (3)
Locks: Bubba Franks.
Good bets: David Martin.
On the bubble: Donald Lee, Tory Humphrey.
Long shot: Zac Alcorn.
If Martin is going to do anything in the NFL, this is the year. He's playing for an offensive coordinator (Jeff Jagodzinski) who likes his talent and thinks he's been underused as a threat down the seam. But it all depends on staying healthy, which has been a major problem in his five previous seasons. Lee and Humphrey show ability as downfield receivers. Humphrey is a tad short (6-2) but has good speed and hands and is pushing Lee for the No. 3 job.
Offensive line (9 or 10)
Locks: Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher, Scott Wells, Jason Spitz, Tony Moll, Daryn Colledge.
Good bets: Chris White, Junius Coston.
On the bubble: Josh Bourke, Mookie Moore.
Long shots: Will Whitticker, Pete Trayner, Siitupe Peko, Todd Williams.
Moll, a developmental pick in the fifth round, unexpectedly shot past the struggling Colledge to win a starting job at guard, but how this plays out over the next couple of years is another matter. Colledge is strong through the legs but comes from a Boise State program that doesn't emphasize weightlifting and needs to add significant upper-body strength. He hasthe athletic ability that convinced the Packers to select him in the second round.
Spitz is technically advanced for a rookie and tough. He'll start at left guard and can play any of the inside positions.
Coston has had a rough training camp bouncing from position to position. Spitz ended their competition for a starting guard job early in camp, so Coston moved to backup left tackle and bombed. Now, he's at right tackle. Still, he came to the Packers as an especially raw fifth-round draft pick out of North Carolina A&T last year and has far too much athletic ability to even consider giving up on.
Bourke is an undrafted rookie from Grand Valley State who has a similar frame to another former Packers tackle from Canada, Steve Morley. But he's much tougher than Morley and looks like he can play the difficult left tackle position, so he has a shot at making the roster. Moore played for Jagodzinski in Atlanta and could make it as a veteran fallback at guard.
Whitticker is ill-suited for the zone scheme, and his chances to make it have only gone down because of a hamstring injury that's sidelined him since Aug. 4.
Defensive line (9 or 10)
Locks: Aaron Kampman, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Ryan Pickett, Colin Cole.
Good bets: Corey Williams, Cullen Jenkins.
On the bubble: Johnny Jolly, Michael Montgomery, Kenny Peterson, Kenderick Allen, Dave Tollefson, Jason Hunter.
Long shots: Jerome Nichols, Montez Murphy.
Cole has gone from a midseason street pickup in 2004 to a solid run stopper in the middle. His performance in camp has pushed him ahead of fellow defensive tackles Williams and Jenkins. Neither Williams nor Jenkins has distinguished himself in camp, but both were effective rotational players last season and figure to be so again this year. Allen is a big man (6-5, 325) and looked the part in offseason practices, but hasn't done much since the pads went on. Jolly, a sixth-round pick, has improved as camp has gone on and given himself a chance.
Montgomery and Peterson (ankle) looked like shoo-ins for the top two backups at ends, but Hunter has worked into the mix as a pass-rush specialist after tipping one pass and pressuring the quarterback two other times Saturday night against Atlanta. Peterson has had a non-descript camp and is out with an ankle injury. Tollefson looks like a practice-squad candidate.
Linebackers (6 or 7)
Locks: Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Abdul Hodge, Brady Poppinga, Ben Taylor.
Good bets: None.
On the bubble: Tracy White, Roy Manning.
Long shots: Kurt Campbell, Tim Goodwell.
Hodge, a third-round pick, has shown a nose for the ball in the run game but hasn't played the pass well enough to justify bumping Taylor from the starting strong-side linebacker. Hawk was quiet early in camp but appears to be on the rise and much more comfortable with his reads. Poppinga made an impressively fast comeback to get on the practice field early in camp after knee-reconstruction surgery last December, though players often don't return to full speed and strength until the second season after surgery.
The sixth linebacker job comes down to White and Manning. White, who played with Seattle in 2003-04 and Jacksonville in '05, made his living in the league the last three years as special-teams player. Manning started two games last year for the Packers as an undrafted rookie.
Defensive backs (9)
Locks: Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Nick Collins, Marquand Manuel.
Good bets: Ahmad Carroll, Tyrone Culver, Mike Hawkins.
On the bubble: Jason Horton, Will Blackmon, Tra Boger, Jerron Wishom.
Long shots: Marviel Underwood, Patrick Dendy, Atari Bigby, Jeremy Modkins, Antonio Malone.
Underwood is headed for the injured reserve list. His knee blowout left a void at backup safety, though sixth-round pick Tyrone Culver has been a surprise and appears solid enough to take over the No. 3 job. However, the No. 4 job is open, and it will come down to either Boger or probably a player with another team. Bigby would have been in the running, but broke a knuckle in the team's intrasquad scrimmage and could be out an extended time after undergoing surgery.
Carroll will be the No. 3 cornerback, and Hawkins probably will be No. 4, though there are questions about Hawkins' durability and toughness. The second-year pro has natural cover talent that's hard to find, but he's missed all but one practice since injuring his knee Aug. 4. Horton is in his third year with the Packers and probably will be the dime back but hasn't made many plays in camp.
Blackmon showed a natural ability to play the ball in offseason practices and might have challenged for a job in the passing-down packages, but he hasn't practiced in camp because of a broken foot. He'll be on the physically-unable-to-perform list when the season starts.
Specialists
Locks: None.
Good bets: Rob Davis.
On the bubble: Jon Ryan, Dave Rayner.
Long shots: Thomas Gafford.
Ryan and Rayner have excellent shots at winning the punting and place-kicking jobs, respectively, after the Packers cut their camp competition in the past week. But neither is a shoo-in and will have to perform fairly well in the final two preseason games to avoid being replaced after final cuts. Barring injury, the 37-year-old Davis will be back for his 10th season as the long snapper.
Zero2Cool
I own a website
Gado I think is a lock because he is probably best suited to fill in for FB if William can't start the first couple of games. Plus he gives the Packers the best chance at having a solid running game if Green can't come back from his injury.
pyledriver80
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Zero2Cool said:
I disagree. Leach is the best blockeron this team. He gives us the best chance at a powerful running game
Zero2Cool
I own a website
pyledriver80 said:
FB catching the ball is huge in this offense. Leach can't catch a cold.
Thanks, but no thanks!Gado at FB Experiment is OverZero2Cool said:
They are planning on using the TEs to fill in for Henderson.
Zero2Cool
I own a website
Thanks? What? Why are you saying that?
Zero2Cool said:
did you press the link (above post) and read the article?
Thanks for trying
Gado dismissed from search for a fullback
By TOM SILVERSTEIN and BOB McGINN
[email protected]
Posted: Aug. 23, 2006
Green Bay - The Samkon Gado experiment is over for now and the Green Bay Packers are exploring other options at fullback.
Advertisement
Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said it was unlikely Gado would be used at fullback anymore now that the tight ends are getting their shot. Gado was used there Monday and Tuesday after starter William Henderson underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, but was back at halfback full-time Thursday.
Asked if Gado was still in the mix at fullback, Jagodzinski said, "I don't know, probably not. I feel confident that our tight ends can do it, too."
Gado was willing to try the fullback position to help make up for the loss of Henderson, who might not be back in time for the season opener. But he doesn't have natural blocking ability and hadn't played the position since high school, so it wasn't a surprise he didn't last there very long.
The Packers' tight ends all have run-blocking ability and have motioned in front of the halfback to become a lead blocker in the team's old offensive system. Backup David Martin was used as a fullback at the end of the 2002 season because of injuries at the position, and free agent Tory Humphrey was used their on the practice squad last year.
"There's not many just downhill collisions for our fullbacks," Jagodzinski said. "It gives us more flexibility as a staff that if we are short in one area to just keep cross-training guys. That's what we're doing right now."
Martin said he didn't think it would be that big of a chore given he has some experience lead blocking. The biggest adjustment will be playing in a different running scheme from the one he served in the past five years.
"The biggest thing is finding your landmarks and where you have to fit up and reading those down lineman," Martin said. "But I'm learning it and I watch the other fullbacks and read what they're doing and get a mental rep that way."
Schmitty
Cheesehead
I dont think Vonte Leach is gonna get the axe. He has been with the pack for awhile and like pyle said is the best blocking back on the team. I wouldnt be really surprised to see Davenport out though. He is getting paid more then Gado, and is hurt more. Noah Herrion even looks better then Davenport. I guess we will see.
DePack
Cheesehead
Just one man's opinion. I have a question though. If Brian Wrobel is a "long shot", why wouldn't Ingle Martin be a "good bet"? We will keep 3 QB's and we aren't going to bring in a vet to be #3. It's dumb stuff like this that makes you stop reading after one paragraph.
I thought about that too DP. There is inconsistency everywhere in the piece.
I guess he is trying to say that they may be forced to keep I. Martin b/c they need 3 QB but is more out of default than b/c he earned the spot out right.
It is a pretty lame way to do things.
I guess he is trying to say that they may be forced to keep I. Martin b/c they need 3 QB but is more out of default than b/c he earned the spot out right.
It is a pretty lame way to do things.
billv
Cheesehead
Maybe with so many questions at RBs, we should start the season with only 2 quarterbacks and put Ingle Martin on the practice squad to start the season.
DePack
Cheesehead
billv said:
If you put Ingle Martin on the practice squad another team can steal him from you. I'm sure the Packers will go with 3 QB's. With Favre's record you'd think we could go with 2 but with our young line we might need all 3......by halftime!
pyledriver80
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DePack said:
Good Point, we better keep 6-7
billv
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I don't believe anyone would steal Ingle Martin at this point. If we're so hurt that he is playing quarterback in a game, we're really in trouble.
porky88
Cheesehead
Zero2Cool said:
Yep and that's why he'll get cut. I think they're keeping the 5 best backs. Green, Henderson, Davenport, Herron, and Gado.
pyledriver80
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porky88 said:
Time will tell, I guess. Knowing TT he probably would cut the best blocking back. TT's doesn't much care about blocking as you see with this O-line. Who needs solid blockers anyhow!
porky88
Cheesehead
pyledriver80 said:
It's all about find guys to fit the system. Leach doesn't fit. That's why I think he'll get the shaft. If we were using man to man blocking, then Leach would probably make the roster. He's not in the right place at the right time really.
Greg C.
Cheesehead
DePack said:
I had to think about it for a minute, but here's the explanation: They could bring in a QB who is cut by another team. There are bound to be a few good ones when the final cuts are made. For similar reasons, the punter and kicker were listed as "on the bubble" even though they have no competition on the roster right at the moment.
As for backup fullback, the answer is obvious: Bring back #51 Torrance Marshall!
DePack
Cheesehead
Greg C. said:
I thought about that Greg but I doubt they bring in a vet to be the #3. They certainly won't bring anybody to be ahead of Rodgers, will they?
Greg C.
Cheesehead
DePack said:
I don't think they would bring in a vet, but they would bring in a young guy if they thought he had a better chance of success than Martin, who from what I heard, has not been particularly impressive in camp. At least not impressive enough to be labelled a "good bet" to make the team. When I look at the other "good bets" on that roster list, they all look more likely to make the team than Martin.
DePack
Cheesehead
Greg C. said:
I see....but I don't see TT giving up on a draft choice before he ever gets a chance.
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