Here’s my way-too-early Packers 53-man roster prediction and depth chart. It’s presented without comment because I’d rather see what all of you have to say about it in the comments section.
(And spare the “it’s way too early to be talking about this” comments). I know it’s way too early. Hence the title. In my opinion, this topic is much better than rehashing the same old stories that come out of OTAs every year.)
QB
Rodgers
Harrell
Coleman
RB
Starks
Saine
Green
FB
Kuhn
TE
Finley
Taylor
Crabtree
Williams
WR
Jennings
Nelson
Jones
Cobb
Driver
Gurley
LT
Newhouse
Sherrod
LG
Lang
Dietrich-Smith
C
Saturday
Genus
RG
Sitton
RT
Bulaga
Datko
D-line
Raji
Pickett
Worthy
Wilson
Daniels
Guy
OLB
Matthews
Perry
Walden
So’oto
ILB
Bishop
Hawk
Smith
Jones
CB
Williams
Woodson
Shields
Hayward
House
S
Burnett
McMillian
Peprah
Bush
Jennings
P
Masthay
K
Crosby
LS
Goode
Does not count against 53-man roster:
Physically Unable to Perform
Quarless
Suspended
Neal
Hargrove
Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .
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I don’t see DJ Williams as having a solid roster spot either, think he’s more vulnerable than Crabtree if they’re looking to shave TE numbers. He showed next to nothing last year, and doesn’t appear to have much drive to be an NFLer. (Of course, this is based on a very limited view into his personality. His twitter account seems to suggest a man still stuck in his college days.)
Adam, it’s interesting that after you correct your omission of Manning and indicate moving Coleman to the PS, that 7 of 8 draft choices makes your 53 with the other 1 on the PS. Not just you, but a lot of us have a bias for the new guys.
I wonder statistically if the goodwill towards newbies is justified or if it’s psychologically just wishful thinking; that you can get rid of the under-performers with guys we just drafted. Also, whether you could apply this type of optimism to the other teams fan bases as well.
Well, I think generally the draftees will get the benefit of the doubt over veteran guys whose ceilings (or lack thereof) are fairly well already established.
I agree with MOST of adam’s post with a few exceptions… Here’s what I think the final shakedown turns out to be like:
QB-(2)A Rodgers, G Harrell
RB-(3)J Starks, A Green, B Saine
WR-(5)G Jennings, J Nelson, R Cobb, J Jones, T Gurley
TE-(4)J Finley, R Taylor, D Williams, T Crabtree
T-(4)M Newhouse, B Bulaga, D Sherrod, A Datko(This is one guy who I think makes it, he has a lot more talent than a guy like Dominguez who made it at G last season)
G-(3)T Lang, J Sitton, E Dietrich-Smith
C-(2)J Saturday, S Genus(There has to be 2 interior depth players and I think this is your second one)
K-M Crosby / P-T Masthay / LS-B Goode
DL-(6)B Raji, R Pickett, J Worthy, M Daniels, C Wilson(Think he can still get better, young, and injury-free), *This last position will be one of the most contested during training camp but I really think it comes down to a true 3-4 run stopping body via P Merling if he proves stout OR the young unknown in L Guy…. If both fizzle we keep J Wynn around till M Neal comes back then say sayounara! When A Hargove comes back I think you then see M Neal take a hike.
LB-(9) Most 3-4 teams keep 9 or 10 LB’s on their team. That said I think the Packers go 9 deep for the third consectutive year.
OLB-C Matthews, N Perry, D Moses*, V So’oto, B Jones 5 total
ILB-D Bishop, A Hawk, T Manning, D Smith
*A couple things here: one I think B Jones doubles as an inside/outside/ST’s guy, and A Hawk makes it b/c of the lack of experience inside even if he is often subbed on 3rd downs. D Moses is my roster surprise for that 9th LB spot.
S-(4)M Burnett, M Jennings, J McMillian, A Levine
CB-(6)T Williams, C Woodson, S Shields, J Bush,C Hayward, D House
8-man P.S.:
QB-B Coleman
C-T Draheim
G-J Brooks or D Barclay or G Cook
WR-D Moss
RB-D Bennett or M Tyler or FB-N Cooper
DE-L Guy
S-S Richardson
CB-D Turner
I dont think D Borel Sticks another season on this P.S. as someone will scoop him up..
Looks like a Superbowl.roste to me! …… by the way, Manning will make the 53…..I hope Saturday doesn’t get hurt, the depth behind him is shaky at best. And of course, we can’t lose AR, no.Flynn this year, I’m nervous about our back-up QB situation.
Since I posted this last Sunday, and noone commented, I thought I’d restate it: P.E.O.’s Packers Roster 2012
early predictions (with ages)
Mason Crosby 27
Tim Masthay 25
Brett Goode 27
Bryan Bulaga 23 / Andrew Datko 21
Josh Sitton 26
Jeff Saturday 36, Evan Diedrch-Smith 25
T.J. Lang 24
Marshall Newhouse 23, Derek Sherrod 23
Aaron Rodgers 28, Graham Harrell 27, BJ Coleman 23
James Starks 26, Alex Green 23,
Brandon Saine 23
John Kuhn 29
Greg Jennings 28, Randall Cobb 21,
Diondre Borel 23
Jordy Nelson, 27 James Jones 28,
Tori Gurley 24
Jermichael Finley 25, Ryan Taylor 24,
Tom Crabtree 26, DJ Williams
Anthony Hargrove 28, Mike Neal 24,
Jarius Wynn 25
B.J Raji. 25, Ryan Pickett 32
Jerel Worthy 22, Mike Daniels 22
Clay Matthews 26, Frank Zombo 25
A.J.Hawk 28, Terrell Manning 22,
D.J. Smith 23
Desmond Bishop 27
Nick Perry 22 Erik Walden 26
Charles Woodson 35 / Casey Hayward 22
Tramon Williams 29, Davon House 22,
Sam Shields 24, Jarrett Bush 28
Morgan Burnett 23, Sean Richardson 22
Charlie Peprah 29, Jerron McMillian 23
PUP: 23 Andrew Quarless 23
CUT but with a shot: Donald Driver 37, Jon Hoese 22, Marc Tyler 23,
Shaky Smithson 24, Dale Moss 23,
Genus Sampson 24, James Brooks 22,
Don Barclay 23, C.J.Wilson 25,
Lawrence Guy 22, Vic So’Oto 25,
Robert Francois 27, Brad Jones 26, Jamari Lattimore 23, Anthony Levine 25
I think Levine could unseat Peprah.
If Datko or Coleman are put on PS, another team will steal them, just because they have potential AND the Packers saw enough to keep them.
Richardson and borel could spend the year on the PS, opening up for some LB or DL.
Guy and Merling have size/athletic skill but won’t produce enough for roster spots.
I’m also classifying Hargrove and Neal as “making it” when they are available.
Fun thought: 5 years from now the roster could be this:
Mason Crosby 32
Tim Masthay 30
Brett Goode 32
Bryan Bulaga 28 / Andrew Datko 26
Josh Sitton 31, 2nd round pick
Center 1st rnd pick
T.J. Lang 29, 3rd rnd pick
Marshall Newhouse 28, Derek Sherrod 28
Aaron Rodgers 33, Graham Harrell 32, BJ Coleman 28, 3rd rnd pick
RB 1st round pick, Alex Green 28
Brandon Saine 28
Fullback 3rd rnd pick
Randall Cobb 26, Jordy Nelson, 32
WR 2nd rnd pick,Diondre Borel 28,
Tori Gurley 29
Jermichael Finley 30, Ryan Taylor 29,
DJ Williams 28, 3rd rnd pick
1st round pick, Mike Neal 29, Mike Daniels 27
B.J Raji. 30, 2nd round pick,
Jerel Worthy 27, 3rd round pick
Clay Matthews 31,
Terrell Manning 27, D.J. Smith 28
2nd round pick, Desmond Bishop 32
Nick Perry 27
Casey Hayward 27, 1st round pick
Davon House 27, 1st round pick
Sam Shields 29
Morgan Burnett 28, Sean Richardson 27
Jerron McMillian 28, 2nd round pick,