Who Stays / Who Goes?
Who stays, who goes? I play GM
By Mike Vandermause / gbpressgazette
Posted 8-31-2007
It's time to play the part of Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson. It will involve adding phrases to my vocabulary like "dad gum it" and "the proof is in the pudding." A slight Texas drawl also would help. Most of all, the ability to make tough decisions is required. With a month of training camp and four preseason games in the books, the NFL-mandated cutdown deadline looms on Saturday. My job is to trim the Packers' roster to 53.
Quarterback (2): Why keep three on the roster when you have the most durable player in NFL history? Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers will be just fine, while Paul Thompson and Ingle Martin can hone their skills on the practice squad. Emergency third-string QB Carlyle Holiday can't do any worse than T.J. Rubley.
Running backs (6): This battered and bruised position must be reinforced via a trade or the waiver wire. Who knows if Vernand Morency or Brandon Jackson will be healthy next week? Even the durable Noah Herron got hurt Thursday against Tennessee after scoring a first-quarter touchdown. Corey White stays employed because he plays halfback and fullback, while rookie Korey Hall gets the nod at fullback based on potential and special teams. Injury-prone Brandon Miree is sent packing, and rookie DeShawn Wynn, with two drops vs. the Titans, is dispatched to the practice squad.
Receivers (5): Injured Donald Driver insists he'll be ready for the regular season. James Jones, Greg Jennings and Ruvell Martin are solid. Holiday deserves to stay because of his special-teams prowess. Rookie speedster David Clowney had the team made until a shaky performance against the Titans. A dropped pass and bumbled kickoff return relegates Clowney to the practice squad.
Tight ends (3): Donald Lee and Bubba Franks are adequate but not flashy. Zac Alcorn and rookie Clark Harris are lacking, so the best waiver warrior gets signed.
Offensive line (9): The starting unit remains intact with Chad Clifton, Daryn Colledge, Scott Wells, Jason Spitz and Mark Tauscher. Junius Coston and rookie Allen Barbre are adequate backups; Tony Moll sticks around while battling the injury bug; and Tyson Walter wins a job based on his versatility and Tony Palmer's injury concerns.
Defensive line (10): A team never can have too many good defensive linemen, unless you can trade one for a running back. Starting ends Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins should have banner seasons. Tackles Johnny Jolly, Ryan Pickett and Corey Williams are looking good. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Michael Montgomery are walking wounded, but when healthy should make significant contributions. Colin Cole and Justin Harrell will take up plenty of space in the middle. The final job goes to special-teams star Jason Hunter. Trading Cole or Williams would open the door for Daniel Muir.
Linebackers (6): A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett and Brady Poppinga form a solid starting unit. There's a dropoff after that, but Tracy White excels on special teams and Desmond Bishop is a rising, if unpolished rookie. Spencer Havner barely gets the final spot.
Secondary (9): Cornerbacks Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Jarrett Bush, Will Blackmon and Patrick Dendy are keepers. Nick Collins, Atari Bigby, Aaron Rouse and Charlie Peprah are the safeties. The ax falls on Marquand Manuel.
Specialists (3): Punter Jon Ryan and long snapper Rob Davis are in. Despite missing a 52-yard field goal against the Titans, rookie Mason Crosby stays and incumbent Dave Rayner gets traded.
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By Mike Vandermause / gbpressgazette
Posted 8-31-2007
It's time to play the part of Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson. It will involve adding phrases to my vocabulary like "dad gum it" and "the proof is in the pudding." A slight Texas drawl also would help. Most of all, the ability to make tough decisions is required. With a month of training camp and four preseason games in the books, the NFL-mandated cutdown deadline looms on Saturday. My job is to trim the Packers' roster to 53.
Quarterback (2): Why keep three on the roster when you have the most durable player in NFL history? Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers will be just fine, while Paul Thompson and Ingle Martin can hone their skills on the practice squad. Emergency third-string QB Carlyle Holiday can't do any worse than T.J. Rubley.
Running backs (6): This battered and bruised position must be reinforced via a trade or the waiver wire. Who knows if Vernand Morency or Brandon Jackson will be healthy next week? Even the durable Noah Herron got hurt Thursday against Tennessee after scoring a first-quarter touchdown. Corey White stays employed because he plays halfback and fullback, while rookie Korey Hall gets the nod at fullback based on potential and special teams. Injury-prone Brandon Miree is sent packing, and rookie DeShawn Wynn, with two drops vs. the Titans, is dispatched to the practice squad.
Receivers (5): Injured Donald Driver insists he'll be ready for the regular season. James Jones, Greg Jennings and Ruvell Martin are solid. Holiday deserves to stay because of his special-teams prowess. Rookie speedster David Clowney had the team made until a shaky performance against the Titans. A dropped pass and bumbled kickoff return relegates Clowney to the practice squad.
Tight ends (3): Donald Lee and Bubba Franks are adequate but not flashy. Zac Alcorn and rookie Clark Harris are lacking, so the best waiver warrior gets signed.
Offensive line (9): The starting unit remains intact with Chad Clifton, Daryn Colledge, Scott Wells, Jason Spitz and Mark Tauscher. Junius Coston and rookie Allen Barbre are adequate backups; Tony Moll sticks around while battling the injury bug; and Tyson Walter wins a job based on his versatility and Tony Palmer's injury concerns.
Defensive line (10): A team never can have too many good defensive linemen, unless you can trade one for a running back. Starting ends Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins should have banner seasons. Tackles Johnny Jolly, Ryan Pickett and Corey Williams are looking good. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Michael Montgomery are walking wounded, but when healthy should make significant contributions. Colin Cole and Justin Harrell will take up plenty of space in the middle. The final job goes to special-teams star Jason Hunter. Trading Cole or Williams would open the door for Daniel Muir.
Linebackers (6): A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett and Brady Poppinga form a solid starting unit. There's a dropoff after that, but Tracy White excels on special teams and Desmond Bishop is a rising, if unpolished rookie. Spencer Havner barely gets the final spot.
Secondary (9): Cornerbacks Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Jarrett Bush, Will Blackmon and Patrick Dendy are keepers. Nick Collins, Atari Bigby, Aaron Rouse and Charlie Peprah are the safeties. The ax falls on Marquand Manuel.
Specialists (3): Punter Jon Ryan and long snapper Rob Davis are in. Despite missing a 52-yard field goal against the Titans, rookie Mason Crosby stays and incumbent Dave Rayner gets traded.
Story Link >>
Published by PackerPundit On Friday, August 31, 2007 at 9:09 PM.
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