As we approach the final preseason game of 2012, it’s time to take a first crack at predicting the Packers 53-man roster to start the season. Once the preseason game against the Chiefs is in the books, we will publish a table with predictions from the entire staff here at AllGreenBayPackers.com (so you can mock us all from one convenient place).
Looking over the candidates for this year’s 53-man roster, I’m feeling like it will be an easier task than it was last year. There were more wide-open spots at the bottom of the roster last season, as can be evidenced by Jamari Lattimore, MD Jennings and Vic So ‘oto all making the final roster as UDFAs.
Quarterback (2): Rodgers, Harrell
Despite what Ted Thompson says, the packers have done a masterful and purposeful job of hiding BJ Coleman from the prying eyes of the rest of the league. Last week he got a whole 5 minutes of playing time at the end of the game, and the Packers proceeded to have him predominantly hand off the ball. You’re not fooling us Ted… Coleman goes to the practice squad and Harrell is the backup, unless the asking price for Colt McCoy gets into the conditional late-round pick area…
Running Back (5): Benson, Green, Starks, Saine, Kuhn
In 2010, the Packers kept 3 fullbacks and only 2 running backs. In 2011, they kept only 4 running backs, total. So, it’s kind of obvious the type of short shrift they have given this position in the past. This year, a new wind is blowing at Lambeau Field and I’m not referring the South End Zone changes. The Packers brought in Cedric Benson as a guy who can consistently pick up yards if defenses continue to sit back with two deep safeties. It’s rather shocking that James Starks is now the most likely of the four running backs to not make the roster, but I just can’t go there.
Wide Receiver (5): Jennings, Driver, Nelson, Jones, Cobb
Last year, I predicted the Packers would keep six wide receivers (Tori Gurley as #6) As much as I was convinced that 2012 would now be the year that Tori Gurley would force the Packers to keep 6 receivers (Driver is NOT getting cut and Jones is NOT getting traded), I have seen little from him to convince me he has earned a spot. I never quite got the Diondre Borel hype from day one, and his recent case of the dropsies in the Bengals game may have written his ticket out of Green Bay. Boykin has shown more promise than both, and will go to the practice squad. Borel and Gurley go elsewhere and the Packers keep 5.
Tight End (4): Finley, Crabtree, Williams, Taylor
This might be the easiest position group to predict. Lock it in…
Offensive Line (8): Newhouse, Lang, Saturday, Sitton, Bulaga, Dietrich-Smith, Wells, Datko
The Packers kept 8 offensive linemen to start the season last year, which I thought was a risky move, but they did eventually bring up Ray Dominguez from the practice squad, so I’m going with the same approach. Especially since with the combination of Reggie Wells and Evan Dietrich-Smith, they can have all three positions covered with two guys, with Datko as a backup at either tackle position.
Defensive Line (6): Pickett, Raji, Wilson, Worthy, Daniels, Merling, Neal (SUS)
As this preseason started, I was fairly sure this would be the year the Packers keep 7 defensive lineman. With all the new additions and Capers’ expressed desire to get more energetic play (juice) out of the group, I expected more of a rotation to keep everyone fresh. While I still expect that, I’m going back to the standard six DL, taking into account Mike Neal being available after game four. I have abit of an upset her, with Philip Merling beating out Dan Muir for the last spot. Nobody’s been talking about Merling, but I think I’ve seen some good things from him on tape, and he does bring some “juice.”
Linebacker (10): Matthews, Perry, Moses, Walden, Hawk, Smith, Francois, Lattimore, Manning, Jones
The unfortunate injury to Desmond Bishop is to the great benefit of Terrel Manning, who the Packers loved in the draft, but has been slow to look like an NFL linebacker. There were other teams that were hoping to land manning, so i don’t think he would survive a trip to the practice squad. Instead, I’m sending So ‘oto there, who is still too raw to make a 53-man roster, but has enough potential worth keeping for another year. Lattimore has been a very pleasant surprise on his move to the inside, and Moses is living up to the OTA hype. Add Nick Perry, who will start at LOLB and I’m certain get better and better as the season rolls on ashe piles up the much-needed reps from a two point stance. It’s a solid group.
Defensive Back (10): Woodson, Williams, Bush, House, Hayward, Shields, Burnett, McMillian, Jennings, Richardson
I’m looking at five cornerbacks, four safeties, and Woodson as a combination CB/S. The five cornerbacks are set (unlike many people, I don’t think for a second that Sam Shields will get cut). The final two safety spots will go to either Anthony Levine, MD Jennings or Sean Richardson. While Richardson could be safely put on the practice squad, Levine has practice squad eligibility left also. Mostly for those reasons, I select Jennings and Richardson.
Specialist (3): Crosby, Masthay, Goode
how boring…
Practice Squad (8): Coleman, Cooper, Boykin, Van Roten, Barclay, Guy, Ross, Levine
I think we’ve seen the last of Gurley and Borel, as they could get picked up by other teams. If neither of them stick, I think Boykin is the obvious third choice.
PUP: Sherrod, Quarless, Brooks, Zombo
Sherrod would probably not be active for the first few games anyway, so might as well put him on PUP and save the roster spot. Good chance Zombo is given an injury settlement and cut.
IR: Bennett, Dominguez, Bishop, Lair, McCabe
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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.
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I do not see any value in keeping Hawk, Kuhn, and Driver. Hawk is just too slow. Kuhn can be replaced by Benson and Saine. I would keep Boykin over Driver who drops too many passes and has lost some speed.
Don’t see why this comment got so many negative responses.
Driver may be the most popular Packer right now, thanks to DWTS
1.) Kuhn plays the part of FB, when they go with 2 backs. He acts as a lead blocker as opposed to a runner that the others are.
2. I see your point with Hawk, but TT seems to like him, and I believe due to his salary we would suffer some cap penalties.
3. Driver is a fan favorite, and the only one who we KNOW shows up during playoff games *couGIANTSgh*
In response to your response Grunt I would say;
1.) On Kuhn see Bubbas comment below.
2.) Outside of the cap hit I’m guessing 75% of serious Pack fans wouldn’t mind seeing Hawk gone.
3.) Driver had a good not great game against the Giants(weren’t they covering him with an LB anyway?). So he’s popular. By that logic we should implement Bart Starr as the backup QB.
That being said, I don’t want the Pack to Kuhn or Driver and Hawk for cap reasons. But still all of Marsh’s original comments have merit, so keep your fingers off the buzzer.
That’s “I don’t want the Pack to cut Kuhn or Driver….”
Kuhn is the Packers’ most trusted pass blocking back. Whether you agree with them or not, it’s why they play him A LOT in long third down situations.
I may be a year early but I’m still beating the drum that Kuhn doesn’t make the 53. His age (turns 30), salary ($2.3M in ’12), and the Packers going to more one back sets make him expendable. His FB duties can be picked up by a TE and his ST duties can be covered by a TE or LB.
(Caveat-Saine and Starks need to be at or near healthy at the start of the season otherwise TT will have to keep Kuhn).
Kuhn’s roster spot could go to Muir, Dominguez, Jones, or ?
BTW-I feel you can book it, Muir makes the 53. I don’t know at whose expense but he already proved his worth.
They only have 1 healthy TE.
yes, you’re way too early on Kuhn. He’s dependable and versatile. If Green can’t get up to speed with pass protection, he could even be the 3rd down back…
And of course, we need him for the one yard fullback dive that often fails because everyone knows it’s coming.
You have them keeping five backs and only five receivers. Don’t ya think maybe they should keep one more receiver thay way these guys are getting banged up in the NFL these days and only 4 R.B.’s?
running backs have more injuries than receivers, so if you want to use that logic, no.
I’d be surprised if Manning survives as one of 9 LB’s especially as that gives a 5-4 inside outside split (they kept 6 OLB and 4 ILB if memory serves last year). Brad Jones is a starter on all 4 ST units and can play both inside and outside at a pinch. I think he sticks and Manning’s best hope is them keeping 10 LB or Francois injury proving more serious. I’m guessing he’s cut.
I think Muir beats out Merling, Levine and Richardson swap places and more controversially that they try and get Sherrod on the 53-six weeks without practice means you are looking at 8-10 weeks with Wells and Datko as your backup tackles and that is nerve wracking. Something has to give to achieve that so…there’s a shock cut for Starks or Saine depending on the last PS game.
I look forward to being spectacularly and completely wrong..
remember that Lattimore can play both inside and outside…
Yeah that’s a fair point.
I’m guessing though that his move inside has been so impressive that the Packers see him purely as an ILB now and even at 240 he’s a little light to set the edge v the run ? I know Jones is around the same weight but he seems able to use his frame to his advantage..
I suppose the other thing I didn’t consider is that the Packers could keep Manning as the Week 1 replacement for Walden and then try and sneak him on to the PS with rosters being more settled ? I just don’t see a role on the 53 for him this year. I may well eat my words !
I think they keep 7 DL, with the 8th being Neal when he comes off the suspension.
I know there are more CB/s and OL needed on your typical 53. But Datko/Richardson are still eligible for PS. There are simply more DL deserving of spots.
And we all know how tired those bigs get too. It seems every time we have adequate depth at DL, GB has a successful year on D. Every time they do not however….
eight would be highly unusual.
Cullen Jenkins comes back and everyone breathes a sigh of relief. Just a dream, TT would piss on a spark plug before he would let that happen..
Your 53 looks really good to me. Only thing is I’d like to keep one more rotational d-line fat guy, so I’d keep Muir over someone else. I’d have to think about who else to cut. But with Guy on the PS they would bring him up over the coarse of the season if they need a big body, and with Neal back in week five they should have enough d-lineman – so maybe your roster is good as is.
Your PS answers a question I had on Guy. I guess he is eligible for the PS after all. I like your PS, but no Moss? Very raw, but good athlete.
Looks like a lot of good ST players also.
Looks reasonable to me, but i’d guess that Richardson is put on the PS and Levine makes the 53.
House wearing a harness is a very big question mark. Woodson did it in 2007, I think. And of course Williams played with injury last year. Both were already All-Pro players. House is still learning. They’d have to cut lose a backup up elsewhere to keep him on the 53. Can he heal in the season? That would be my big question. Med staff says if his shoulder pops out again it is definetely surgery. The harness is not going to improve his performance.
Before keeping Datko, I’d require additonal medical evaluation. Oline backup is far too important to be keeping someone who is not going to be able to perform. They need to add a backup in your scenareo, to a total of 4.
Wynn cut today. With Neal suspended for 4 games it might be a good idea to find another bull rusher some where. Easy to say.
Someone’s been having a field day with the thumbs down button.