Well - here's what a source in Green Bay has to say about it all......
Final roster begins to take shape
By Jason Wilde / Wisconsin State Journal
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DAVID DUPREY / ASSOCIATED PRESS Green Bay
Packers quarterback Brett Favre (4) throws a touchdown
pass to Ahman Green under pressure from Buffalo Bills'
London Fletcher (59) at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard
Park, N.Y., Saturday.
GREEN BAY -- After two preseason games, Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson has a pretty good idea of who'll be on his 53-man roster after he makes his final cuts 13 days from now.
Well, at least he has a better idea than he did coming into the most uncertain training camp since then-general manager Ron Wolf locked him in a dark film room with a stack of tapes and gave him his first NFL job in 1992.
At this time last year, all 22 starting jobs on offense and defense were set, only about a dozen roster spots were up for grabs and the biggest burning question was which veteran punter would replace third-round flop B.J. Sander (Bryan Barker was signed Aug. 23). The next two weeks will be a lot more interesting.
"It's not unanticipated," Thompson said of the roster uncertainty this camp. "We thought that there would be some battles during camp and some competition and it's working itself out that way. Yeah, there will be some new faces in the lineup this year for the Green Bay Packers.
"This team has been relatively intact, certainly with their more name players for a long time, and that's unusual. This just happens to be the year where it looks like we'll have some new faces.
"I think as with any team, I think there'll be some surprises as we move along."
With the NFL's two mandatory roster reductions -- to 65 players by 3 p.m. Aug. 30 and to 53 players by 3 p.m. Sept. 4 -- in mind, here's a subjective look at where the Packers stand following their 27-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills Saturday.
Counting unsigned transition tight end Bubba Franks, the Packers have 89 players on their roster. Their 10 NFL Europe roster exemptions expire at the last cutdown.
Quarterbacks (3)
In: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers.
On the bubble: Craig Nall.
Out: J.T. O'Sullivan.
Rodgers had a fabulous night Aug. 4, in the Packers' first joint practice with Buffalo, but he hasn't been particularly impressive since -- in the Aug. 5 scrimmage (1-for-7, 8 yards), the Aug. 11 preseason opener against San Diego (2-for-6, 7 yards) and Saturday's game against the Bills (4-for-9, 21 yards). Nall played lights-out in his five regular-season appearances last year as Favre's primary backup following Doug Pederson's back injury, and it looks like the Packers have to keep him. O'Sullivan managed to set up Ryan Longwell's game-winning field goal against the Chargers but has shown little else.
Running backs (5-6)
In: Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport, William Henderson, Tony Fisher.
On the bubble: Nick Luchey, Vonta Leach.
Out: Walt Williams, Joey Harris, Derrick Johnese.
Leach suffered a torn MCL against the Chargers but will stick if the Packers keep three fullbacks. The coaches remain enamored with Luchey's versatility but as he enters his third year with the club, he has yet to contribute significantly. Williams probably deserves a roster spot but isn't going to beat out Fisher. Harris, signed after two other training-camp backs went down, has shown flashes but not enough.
Wide receivers (5-6)
In: Javon Walker, Donald Driver, Robert Ferguson, Terrence Murphy, Antonio Chatman.
On the bubble: Andrae Thurman, Craig Bragg, Vince Butler.
Out: Jamal Jones, Sam Breeden, Chad Lucas.
Thurman has shown some kickoff return ability and has toughed out a broken thumb but there might not be a roster spot for him. Chatman continues to show he deserves the No. 4 job, while Murphy, a rookie second-round pick, has been plagued by injuries (hip flexor, followed by a torn MCL).Murphy has played well when he's been on the field, but he hasn't been there enough to challenge Chatman for the No. 4 job or the punt return gig.
Tight ends (3)
In: None.
On the bubble: David Martin, Ben Steele, Sean McHugh.
Out: Tory Humphrey, Steve Fleming.
Unsigned: Bubba Franks.
When Martin (groin) didn't play against the Bills and Steele left the game with a neck injury, the Packers' desperate need for Franks came into sharp relief. Nonetheless, the team feels its made a fair offer to him and does not want to overpay. Steele has been maddeningly inconsistent catching -- and dropping -- the ball, but he should be the No. 3 behind Franks and Martin. Don't be surprised if the Packers add a tight end released by another club on the final cutdown, however.
Offensive line (9-10)
In: LT Chad Clifton, RT Mark Tauscher, C Mike Flanagan, RT Kevin Barry, RG Will Whitticker, LG Adrian Klemm, LT Brad Bedell, C/G Scott Wells.
On the bubble: G/C Grey Ruegamer, C Chris White.
Out: RG Matt O'Dwyer, LG Junius Coston, RG Atlas Herrion, LT/RT Steve Morley, LT Joe Hayes.
Nothing's official, but Whitticker and Klemm appear to be the starters at guard. They started both preseason games and did nothing to hurt their standing. Ruegamer was replaced by Wells in the guard competition but offensive coordinator Tom Rossley has said his experience and versatility are too valuable to lose. Given the surprising camp of rookie seventh-round pick Whitticker, O'Dwyer is likely the odd man out. Bedell should be back this week from a hamstring injury and is a capable backup to Clifton. The Packers will have to hope they can sneak Coston, a fifth-round pick, and White, an impressive undrafted rookie, onto the practice squad.
Defensive line (9)
In: DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, DE Aaron Kampman, DT Corey Williams, DE-DT Cullen Jenkins.
On the bubble: DT Cletidus Hunt, DT Grady Jackson, DE Mike Montgomery, DT Colin Cole, DT Donnell Washington, DE Kenny Peterson, DT James Lee, DE R-Kal Truluck.
Out: DT A.J. Lindsay, DE Seante Williams, DT Quintene Newhouse.
What a mess. Easily the most uncertain position on the roster, especially the interior line. The team's two most talented tackles -- Hunt (out since Aug. 4 with shoulder and knee injuries) and Jackson (still on the physically unable to perform list) -- remain unknowns but appear to be the best the Packers can do. Williams has the team made even though he hasn't outplayed Hunt and has injuries (back, side, ribs) of his own. Cole works hard but has limited ability, while Washington and Lee started against the Bills and did little to excite. At end, rookie sixth-round pick Montgomery has flashed, while either Peterson or Truluck will probably make the team virtually by default.
Linebackers (6)
In: Nick Barnett, Na'il Diggs.
On the bubble: Ray Thompson, Brady Poppinga, Roy Manning, Hannibal Navies, Paris Lenon.
Out: Zac Woodfin, Nick McNeil, Kurt Campbell, Jeremiah Garrison.
Thompson and Navies have started the first two preseason games, while Diggs recovers from a torn MCL. One of the two figures to be a starter, while the other likely will be released. Ever-reliable Lenon played well against Buffalo and continues to work hard and maximize the limited ability he has. Manning, an undrafted rookie from Michigan, should make the roster barring a collapse. Poppinga, a fourth-round pick, missed a ton of time with a hamstring injury early but figures to be the sixth linebacker while he learns the position. Campbell, a seventh-round pick, showed promise but has a torn ACL and will go on injured reserve
Defensive backs (9)
In: CB Al Harris, S Nick Collins, CB Mike Hawkins, CB Ahmad Carroll, S Mark Roman, CB Joey Thomas, S Earl Little, S Marviel Underwood.
On the bubble: CB Jason Horton, CB Chris Johnson, CB Leigh Torrence.
Out: S Todd Franz, CB Chris Day, S Julius Curry, CB Patrick Dendy.
Hawkins played well in his start against the Bills. Carroll is the starter by default right now at left corner because Thomas (calf, then hip) has been on the field for only three full days of practice. Roman was ahead of Little for the safety spot next to rookie second-round pick Collins, but Roman missed the Bills game and Little could overtake him. Horton, Johnson and Torrance are likely battling for one roster spot.
Special teams
In: K Ryan Longwell, LS Rob Davis.
On the bubble: P B.J. Sander
Sander ranks seventh in the NFL in preseason punting, averaging 45.2 gross yards and 35.3 net yards on 13 punts. (Ex-Packers punter Josh Bidwell, now with Tampa Bay, leads the league.) Two more solid preseason performances and he'll be on his way to being a solid punter -- although he'll never be worth his third-round selection. Davis is too valuable to cut even though he doesn't play another position.
Well. that would be a mouthful.... I don't agree with it all - but it's not long now and the answers will come quick. I think he's off on the Left Guard controversy and BJ Sander's not going anywhere; his performance so far has finally proven to be what they were expecting of him last year. I also think he's wrong about Colin Cole, totally!