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Official Training Camp Thread 5
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<blockquote data-quote="TOPHAT" data-source="post: 163275" data-attributes="member: 781"><p><a href="http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070829/PKR01/708290531/1989" target="_blank">http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070829/PKR01/708290531/1989</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Battles go down to wire for roster spots</strong>: The Green Bay Packers probably will max out their defensive-line depth when it comes to final cuts on Saturday. </p><p></p><p></p><p>The Packers finished last season with eight defensive linemen on their roster, and many teams prefer to carry nine. But the Packers have quality depth on the line, with at least five defensive tackles worth keeping and also probably five defensive ends, especially with injuries to Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Michael Montgomery. That opens the door for one of two young ends to make the 53-man roster: Jason Hunter or Larry Birdine. Hunter and Birdine will get extended playing time Thursday night to make their final arguments, along with all the other Packers backups. The coaching and scouting staffs will use this game to help set the depth chart and determine who makes the final open roster spots. </p><p></p><p><strong>Several positions will warrant an especially close look</strong>. </p><p></p><p><strong>Kicker:</strong> This has been a quality battle throughout camp between incumbent Dave Rayner and sixth-round draft pick Mason Crosby. Both belong in the NFL, and General Manager Ted Thompson is looking to trade one. Both have good temperaments for the job and strong legs, though Crosby might rate a slight edge because his more compact swing could give him an accuracy edge over the long haul. In camp, according to the Press-Gazette's unofficial tally of all live kicking (more than 100 kicks each), Crosby made 85.2 percent of his kicks to Rayner's 79.8 percent. In the first three preseason games, both are 3-for-3. </p><p></p><p><strong>Safety:</strong> Atari Bigby can win the starting job opposite Nick Collins with another good performance in his second straight start on Thursday. Manuel will not play, which might bode poorly for the 28-year-old making the final roster. If Bigby wins the job, the Packers might want to keep a young, developmental and special-teams safety ahead of Manuel, and by sitting him Thursday night, they can avoid having to pay Manuel for a few weeks or more if he was injured. With rookie Aaron Rouse ready to return from a hamstring injury next week, that would leave the fourth and final safety spot to either Charlie Peprah or Tyrone Culver, two second-year pros. Both will play extensively, and Peprah might go in with a slight edge, in part because of an interception against Seattle. </p><p></p><p><strong>Cornerback:</strong> Coach Mike McCarthy is holding out starters Al Harris and Charles Woodson at Tennessee for a long look at his backups for the final three cornerback spots. Jarrett Bush appears all but locked into the No. 3 job, and second-year pro Will Blackmon is sure to make the roster as a backup cornerback and primary return man. He's the leading candidate for the No. 4 job as well. Free agent Frank Walker, former No. 3 cornerback Patrick Dendy and first-year pro Tramon Williams are battling for the final spot. Dendy has slipped from the No. 3 job to probably being a little behind Walker. Williams started camp well but looks like the long shot of the group. </p><p></p><p><strong>Tight end:</strong> Zac Alcorn and seventh-round pick Clark Harris will play extensively and try to prove they deserve the No. 3 job behind Donald Lee and Bubba Franks. If neither performs well enough, the Packers will look to the waiver wire or a trade. </p><p></p><p><strong>Running back:</strong> The Packers are a mess here because of injuries to their top two backs, Brandon Jackson (concussion) and Vernand Morency (patellar-tendon strain). Noah Herron is a lock as a backup because he's assignment-sure, but his physical limitations make him only a situational back. The question is whether intriguing seventh-round pick DeShawn Wynn can win a spot after missing the first three preseason games because of a quadriceps injury. His history of injuries and underachievement make him a risk to keep on the final 53, but he has a shot. Undrafted rookie Corey White is trying to win a job as a backup halfback-fullback, and has to show some blocking ability. Brandon Miree, the starting fullback coming into training camp, is on shaky ground because he missed two weeks of camp with a shoulder stinger that's still slowing him. He hasn't blocked as well as when he joined the team last year. Thompson just as likely could add a halfback and fullback via trade or waivers if he's unsatisfied with what he sees. </p><p></p><p><strong>Receiver:</strong> The only <strong>question is whether fifth-round pick David Clowney can win a job as the sixth receiver </strong>— Carlyle Holiday appears to have the No. 5 job wrapped up because of his strong special teams play, where he's a member of all four No. 1 units. After a quiet early camp, Clowney has been more visible the past two weeks and has an outside shot at winning a job, though he's raw and more likely a practice squad candidate.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TOPHAT, post: 163275, member: 781"] [url]http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070829/PKR01/708290531/1989[/url] [b]Battles go down to wire for roster spots[/b]: The Green Bay Packers probably will max out their defensive-line depth when it comes to final cuts on Saturday. The Packers finished last season with eight defensive linemen on their roster, and many teams prefer to carry nine. But the Packers have quality depth on the line, with at least five defensive tackles worth keeping and also probably five defensive ends, especially with injuries to Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Michael Montgomery. That opens the door for one of two young ends to make the 53-man roster: Jason Hunter or Larry Birdine. Hunter and Birdine will get extended playing time Thursday night to make their final arguments, along with all the other Packers backups. The coaching and scouting staffs will use this game to help set the depth chart and determine who makes the final open roster spots. [b]Several positions will warrant an especially close look[/b]. [b]Kicker:[/b] This has been a quality battle throughout camp between incumbent Dave Rayner and sixth-round draft pick Mason Crosby. Both belong in the NFL, and General Manager Ted Thompson is looking to trade one. Both have good temperaments for the job and strong legs, though Crosby might rate a slight edge because his more compact swing could give him an accuracy edge over the long haul. In camp, according to the Press-Gazette's unofficial tally of all live kicking (more than 100 kicks each), Crosby made 85.2 percent of his kicks to Rayner's 79.8 percent. In the first three preseason games, both are 3-for-3. [b]Safety:[/b] Atari Bigby can win the starting job opposite Nick Collins with another good performance in his second straight start on Thursday. Manuel will not play, which might bode poorly for the 28-year-old making the final roster. If Bigby wins the job, the Packers might want to keep a young, developmental and special-teams safety ahead of Manuel, and by sitting him Thursday night, they can avoid having to pay Manuel for a few weeks or more if he was injured. With rookie Aaron Rouse ready to return from a hamstring injury next week, that would leave the fourth and final safety spot to either Charlie Peprah or Tyrone Culver, two second-year pros. Both will play extensively, and Peprah might go in with a slight edge, in part because of an interception against Seattle. [b]Cornerback:[/b] Coach Mike McCarthy is holding out starters Al Harris and Charles Woodson at Tennessee for a long look at his backups for the final three cornerback spots. Jarrett Bush appears all but locked into the No. 3 job, and second-year pro Will Blackmon is sure to make the roster as a backup cornerback and primary return man. He's the leading candidate for the No. 4 job as well. Free agent Frank Walker, former No. 3 cornerback Patrick Dendy and first-year pro Tramon Williams are battling for the final spot. Dendy has slipped from the No. 3 job to probably being a little behind Walker. Williams started camp well but looks like the long shot of the group. [b]Tight end:[/b] Zac Alcorn and seventh-round pick Clark Harris will play extensively and try to prove they deserve the No. 3 job behind Donald Lee and Bubba Franks. If neither performs well enough, the Packers will look to the waiver wire or a trade. [b]Running back:[/b] The Packers are a mess here because of injuries to their top two backs, Brandon Jackson (concussion) and Vernand Morency (patellar-tendon strain). Noah Herron is a lock as a backup because he's assignment-sure, but his physical limitations make him only a situational back. The question is whether intriguing seventh-round pick DeShawn Wynn can win a spot after missing the first three preseason games because of a quadriceps injury. His history of injuries and underachievement make him a risk to keep on the final 53, but he has a shot. Undrafted rookie Corey White is trying to win a job as a backup halfback-fullback, and has to show some blocking ability. Brandon Miree, the starting fullback coming into training camp, is on shaky ground because he missed two weeks of camp with a shoulder stinger that's still slowing him. He hasn't blocked as well as when he joined the team last year. Thompson just as likely could add a halfback and fullback via trade or waivers if he's unsatisfied with what he sees. [b]Receiver:[/b] The only [b]question is whether fifth-round pick David Clowney can win a job as the sixth receiver [/b]— Carlyle Holiday appears to have the No. 5 job wrapped up because of his strong special teams play, where he's a member of all four No. 1 units. After a quiet early camp, Clowney has been more visible the past two weeks and has an outside shot at winning a job, though he's raw and more likely a practice squad candidate. [/QUOTE]
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