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Message: <blockquote data-quote="TOPHAT" data-source="post: 162668" data-attributes="member: 781">Prediction<a href="http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070822/PKR01/70822178/1989" target="_blank">http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070822/PKR01/70822178/1989</a>Analysis: Who's a lock, who's not as roster cuts near Ted Thompson might be just as busy on the waiver wire and making trades at the end of this training camp as he was after last year’s.   After final cuts last September, the Green Bay Packers’ general manager picked up three players off waivers for his 53-man roster. This year, because injuries and shaky play have put his team in a roster bind at halfback, fullback and tight end, Thompson and his scouting staff are studying every team’s game tapes especially close at those positions for possible trades or waiver pickups before the start of the regular season.  The Packers say they expect to get back halfback Vernand Morency, a likely significant contributor, by the regular-season opener.  backup or two.Following is a breakdown of the Packers’ 87-man roster before the cuts to 75 on Aug. 28 and final cuts to 53 on Sept. 1. Quarterbacks (2 or 3)Locks: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers.On the bubble: Ingle Martin, Paul Thompson.Comment: In 2001, former coach and GM Mike Sherman carried only two quarterbacks the final six weeks of the season, and several NFL teams opened last season with only two quarterbacks on the roster. Ted Thompson never has done that, but even if it’s not likely, it’s something he might consider this year, especially if there’s an extra defensive lineman or defensive back he values.  Undrafted rookie Paul Thompson shows some potential with a live arm and good mobility, and is pushing second-year pro Ingle Martin for the No. 3 job. But both have had their struggles in camp and especially the first two preseason games. Both are eligible for the practice squad. Running backs (5 or 6)Locks: RB Brandon Jackson, RB Vernand Morency, FB Korey Hall.On the bubble: RB Noah Herron, RB-FB Corey White, FB Brandon Miree, RB DeShawn Wynn.Long shots: RB P.J. Pope, FB Erryn Cobb, FB Ryan Powdrell.Comment: The injuries to seventh-round pick Wynn (quadriceps pull) and second-year pro Pope (knee cartilage) helped blow up this position, because both are more talented than Herron, and the Packers hoped one of them would upgrade their No. 3 halfback. Instead, Herron holds that job for now. He’s conscientious and dependable, but that still has to scare the Packers because of Morency’s patellar-tendon injury sustained on the first day of camp. If Morency has more problems with his knee, or the rookie starter Jackson gets hurt, Herron would move up to the No. 2 job, where his pedestrian explosiveness is a liability.  The team also is hurting at fullback, where converted linebacker Korey Hall has made a fast transition as a rookie and will be the starter unless the Packers pick up a more experienced player at that position. Miree started camp slowly and then has been in and out of practice the last three weeks because of a nerve injury in his neck and shoulder. Powdrell, an undrafted rookie, lost whatever shot he had at making the roster with an MCL injury last week that will sideline him three to six weeks. Also, White hasn’t done enough so far to warrant a job at a hybrid halfback-fullback and has only two games to change that. Receivers (5 or 6)Locks: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Ruvell Martin.Good bet: Carlyle Holiday.On the bubble: David Clowney.Long shots: Chris Francies, Shaun Bodiford, Calvin Russell, Carlton Brewster.Comment: The third-round pick Jones has been one of the stars of training camp and a surprise to any scouts who considered him a late-round prospect. He’s wrapped up the No. 3 receiving job and might provide a substantial upgrade from last year.  Martin and Holiday played well enough in camp to make injury-prone Robert Ferguson expendable. Neither is fast, but Martin is a big (6-foot-4) and polished receiver who could be a red-zone threat, and Holiday has become a good special-teams cover man. Clowney, a fifth-round pick, is the best pure vertical threat on the roster and has improved as camp has gone on, but he’s still raw and a better bet for the practice squad than the 53-man roster. Tight end (3 or 4)Lock: Donald Lee, Bubba Franks.On the bubble: Zac Alcorn, Clark Harris.Long shot: Joe Werner.Comment: Lee, the new starter, has been a consistent receiver so far in camp, but this looks like a weak position overall. Franks, the best blocker of the group, looks a tad quicker this year and has had an OK camp after two sub-par years, but still has the same limitations with speed and agility that he’s always had. He and Lee will share time and probably get plenty of snaps in two tight-end sets.  Alcorn supposedly has the best hands of the group, and the Packers had high hopes for him going into camp, but he hasn’t distinguished himself. He gamely practiced through horrendous blistering on his feet, caused by excessive practice reps after injuries hit early in camp, and that’s surely contributed to his struggles. But he’ll need to play well in the last two games to win a roster spot.  Harris has been better lately but probably not good enough after an extremely slow start in camp. Joe Werner, the former UW-La Crosse basketball player, might warrant a shot on the practice squad. Humphrey probably was the best athlete of the group and might have won the No. 3 job if not for his broken leg. Offensive line (9 or 10)Locks: T Chad Clifton, G Daryn Colledge, C Scott Wells, G Jason Spitz, T Mark Tauscher, G Allen Barbre.Good bets: G-T Junius Coston, T Tony Moll.On the bubble: C-T Tyson Walter, C-G Tony Palmer.Long shots: G-T Adam Stenavich, C C.J. Blomvall, G Pat Murray, G-T Travis Leffew, T Orrin Thompson.Comment: The fourth-round pick Barbre has been better than either Spitz or Colledge were last year as rookies. He could be a left guard or left tackle of the future.  Coston finally has made a nice jump in his third season, and with his versatility — he probably could play anywhere on the offensive line if needed — has all but locked up a backup job. Moll has had a tough camp, because he’s still unpolished and has been in and out of practice since Aug. 7 because of a shoulder stinger. Still, he has too much potential to cut.  Palmer is one of the best drive blockers on the roster, so that could win him a job even though he’s been slowed by a hamstring injury the past week. Walter’s versatility to play several positions also could land him a job. Defensive line (9 or 10)Locks: DE Aaron Kampman, DT Ryan Pickett, DT Justin Harrell, DE Cullen Jenkins, DT Corey Williams, DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.Good bets: DT Colin Cole, DT Johnny Jolly.On the bubble: DE Michael Montgomery, DE Jason Hunter, DE Larry Birdine.Long shots: DT Daniel Muir, DE DeVon Hicks.Comment: The Packers are deep enough at defensive tackle to warrant keeping five — Pickett, Harrell, Williams, Jolly and Cole. They could deal one of them, but Thompson values big men and might be loathe to leaving the position vulnerable to injuries.  Montgomery was having a good camp as a backup DE but probably will miss six weeks because of an MCL injury, so Thompson will have to decide whether to carry him on the roster while he recovers for the first month or more of the season, or place him on injured reserve. Hunter has played a big role on special teams and is a decent outside rusher who could replace Montgomery. Birdine, an undrafted rookie, has looked more like the good prospect he was early in his career at Oklahoma rather than the underachiever of the last couple years. He has some pass-rush talent that might make him worth keeping. Muir, another undrafted rookie, might have a decent shot at making the roster in past years, but unless there are injuries or trades appears out of luck this year. Linebackers (5 or 6)Locks: WLB A.J. Hawk, MLB Nick Barnett, SLB Brady Poppinga.On the bubble: SLB Spencer Havner, WLB Tracy White, MLB Abdul Hodge, MLB Desmond Bishop, WLB Rory Johnson.Long shots: WLB Tim Goodwell, SLB Juwan Simpson.Comment: The starters are set and a strength of the defense, but the backups are a major concern. Hodge’s patellar tendinitis in both knees has diminished his play and left him in a dead heat with Bishop for the backup job at middle linebacker. Bishop worked with the No. 2 defense this week in practice.  Havner could be a special-teams core player and is versatile enough to play two or three of the linebacker positions, so he has a decent shot at a job. White is a special-teams standout from the last two seasons and could win a spot on that account. Undrafted rookie Rory Johnson is the most physically gifted of the group and will get a long look the last two games now that he’s close to fully recovered from an abdominal strain. Defensive backs (9 or 10)Locks: CB Charles Woodson, CB Al Harris, S Nick Collins, S Atari Bigby, CB Jarrett Bush, S Aaron Rouse, CB Will Blackmon.On the bubble: S Marquand Manuel, S Charlie Peprah, S Tyrone Culver, CB Patrick Dendy, CB Frank Walker, CB Tramon Williams.Long shots: S Alvin Nnabuife, CB Antonio Malone.Comment: Bigby has a great shot at beating out Manuel for the starting job opposite Collins this week. If Bigby performs, Manuel could become trade bait or a possible cut. The Packers cut Marviel Underwood so they could get a longer look at Peprah and Culver before deciding whether either should be No. 4 safety if Manuel is expendable.  Similar to Bigby at safety, Bush has a chance to nail down the No. 3 cornerback job this week after replacing Dendy in that role in practice. He’s been the third-best cornerback for most of camp. Blackmon, who has all but locked up the job as punt and kickoff returner, still could get consideration for that job as well. Williams and Walker will be battling Dendy for the fifth and likely final CB job. Dendy was the No. 3 last year and is assignment-sure, but didn’t improve as much as Bush and Blackmon. Williams has flashed cover skills, especially early in camp. Walker, who received a $150,000 bonus as the Packers’ only free-agent signee this offseason, hasn’t played as well as projected and needs a big final two games to win a spot. Specialists (3)Locks: P Jon Ryan, LS Rob Davis.On the bubble: K Dave Rayner, K Mason Crosby.Long shot: P Ryan Dougherty.Comment: Rayner and the sixth-round pick Crosby have been in a near dead heat for the kicking job all training camp. Crosby ultimately could get the nod because of his youth and perhaps slightly better long-term talent, but Rayner has a strong leg as well and kicked in Green Bay’s climate for a year. Both have good temperaments for the job. The last two preseason games will be critical.  Ryan has adapted well to changing from a three-step punter to two steps and improved his hang times as well.</blockquote>

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