Roster Breakdown - 4/29

[xTitan]

I think the Packers front seven is weak, as much as I like Neal and Wilson, they are totally unproven. I am a bit torn, Ilike the talent the Packers drafted, but this organization has totally neglected an average dfense - there best pass rushing lineman is gone and i see some major trouble on the horizon. I have always beeen bothered by their neglect of an outside rushing LB....this year will be disappointing defensively unless added a miricle who can make plays.

Lesson #1, don't post when you have been out drinking ...I am concerned because I think the loss of Jenkins can really have a negative effect on the defense, the one game Matthews was out the Pass rush was horrid, as much as I like the players drafted, without Jenkins and if Matthews ever misses games the defense has no pass rush. I like Wilson and Neal, they have potential, but c'mon the other OLB spot needs to be looked at hard.

[xTitan]

Even if Neal doesn't pan out (I think he's going to be a player), would you really call:

DE: Pickett - Neal/Wilson/Green
NT: Raji

OLB: Matthews
OLB: Walden/Zombo/Jones
ILB: Bishop - Chillar
ILB: Hawk - Barnett

Weak? There are a lot of good players in that group.

Raji and Matthews are both top 5 players at their positions. I think you could make an argument Matthews is the best player at his position.

Bishop and Pickett are both above average starters for their spots.

Hawk has been very solid and Chillar is a great back-up. Barnett isn't off of the team yet and he is also a very solid player.

Green is a solid starter if we need him. Neal has a huge upside and Wilson could also improve as he is still young. The other OLB isn't filled with amazing talent... But Zombo, Walden and Jones are all young players who could take a step forward and for now they are serviceable.

You aren't going to have a pro bowl player at every spot on the roster. That front 7 is fine if we add a guy or two in the draft considering it is backed by the best secondary in the NFL.

To go over some of your points....Chillar is not a good back-up, he is terribly mismatched in the 3-4 defense, really hasn't added to it since he was brought in, I like Pickett but he is getting old and really doesn't have a lot left. I believe Zombo and Walden were serviceable because they do play opposite the best 3-4 LB in the league, when matthews missed a game, the Packers had no pass rush, if Matthews ever goes down they are in huge trouble, not another plus pass rusher at the LB spot. TT also said he WANTED to address the front 7 in the first 2 days, but the draft didn't allow him to do that, so basically he knows he has some holes, Dom Capers can only do so much

[Bucksfans1and2]

Unless we take a guy today, Harrell is a lock to make the 53, he just won't be on the active roster. There's an exemption, isn't there for QBs?

I also think either Swain is a lock or we take another WR. We're not going into next season with only 4 WRs.

When you consider that another WR, either Swain or someone else, is a lock then you're looking at one open spot on the active. To me that means a CB to beat out Underwood/Lee or a defensive lineman to beat out Wynn.

After that we're gonna have eight open spots on the 53, eight on the practice. My guesses as of right now:

Kuhn (re-signed)
Dietrich-Smith
Underwood
Lee
Wynn
Poppinga

Cuts:
Harrell (hope I'm wrong and he shows something)
Barnett
Nance
Havner

Today I'm hoping we draft a linebacker to play special teams so we can cut Poppinga. Another CB to compete with Underwood and Lee. A WR to compete with Swain. Another DL.

1. The QB exception is if the QB is one of the 8 inactive guys. Activating him means that the starter becomes deactivated.

2. I believe we started last year with 4 Recievers on the 45 and Swain being one of the 8 guys that were inactive.

3. I think you need a 6th Dlineman. Going in with 5 seems suicidal.

4. I think Kuhn stays on and one of Crabtree of Quinn Johnson ends up being inactive.

5. I think Harrel and Nance and are among the 8.

[an_also]

Packers: Two fun additions on offense
By Kevin Seifert

While we were grinding away on other topics Friday night, the Super Bowl champions quietly added two fascinating prospects who are equipped to add new dimensions to their already explosive offense. I'm guessing few teams around the NFL would enjoy reading that sentence about the Green Bay Packers, but it's true.

Kentucky's Randall Cobb is officially listed as a receiver, but in reality he was an all-purpose running back-receiver-returner in the fast-paced SEC who could play all over the field for the Packers. And running back Alex Green's experience in Hawaii's run-and-shoot offense all but guarantees he will be a reliable and bruising receiver out of the backfield. Packers running back Brandon Jackson caught 43 passes last season, but his return as a pending free agent is questionable at best.

Cobb was one of 25 players the NFL hosted at the draft at New York City's Radio City Music Hall, and in case you haven't heard of him, here's one statistic that should make you sit up straight: He set an SEC record last season with 2,396 all-purpose yards. Given that conference's long history of dynamic playmakers, it was quite an accomplishment.

Among others, it bettered the totals racked up by former Florida scatback Percy Harvin, who was used in a similar manner and is now with the Minnesota Vikings. Cobb is about 15 pounds lighter than Harvin, and I'm guessing his slighter stature had something to do with his availability at the No. 64 overall pick. But Packers coach Mike McCarthy is one of the more creative offensive minds in the game, and I have no doubt he'll find plenty of ways to use Cobb in a Harvin-like fashion.

Speaking to Wisconsin reporters, Cobb embraced the comparison.

"He's able to do a lot of different things on the field and he's a very active football player and really understands the game and has a lot of great talent," Cobb said. "And I believe I can really fit in that mode, too."

As Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com points out, that list could include punt and kickoff returns and even the Wildcat, a formation the Packers have never really embraced under McCarthy.

Said running backs coach Edgar Bennett: "I'm going to defer that to Coach Mike, but certainly this kid (having) had some background as a quarterback, it just opens up additional opportunities," Bennett said. "We're talking about a guy that's versatile. We're not game-planning right now, but I'm pretty sure we'll take full advantage of what this kid is capable of doing."

Green, on the other hand, might not get as much immediate playing time as long as incumbents Ryan Grant and James Starks are rotating in the backfield. But neither are built like the 6-foot, 230-pound Green, and I'm guessing the Packers will find a way to use his receiving skills at some point during the season. He averaged 13.4 yards on 27 receptions last year, and I would be curious to see how he would fare in the fourth quarter of games when his legs are fresh while defenders are growing tired.

Like the Detroit Lions, the Packers have remained true to their draft board and refused to deviate to find a potential starting right outside linebacker. Perhaps they could find a candidate Saturday among their six picks in the final four rounds. Regardless, the Packers' haul to this point has been intriguing to say the least.

[Bucksfans1and2]

I'm thinking we should have somebody drop the playbooks off in our picks car while they're at the press confrence.

[Turk Nowitzki]

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but coaches were briefly allowed to contact players and give them playbooks, yes? If players recieved the playbooks are they now required to return them or can they hold on to them?

[Bucksfans1and2]

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but coaches were briefly allowed to contact players and give them playbooks, yes? If players recieved the playbooks are they now required to return them or can they hold on to them?

The can't return them because that would be having contact with the organization.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

It would be cool if someone like Jennings could xerox his playbook and send it to Cobb.

[Bucksfans1and2]

It would be cool if someone like Jennings could xerox his playbook and send it to Cobb.

If Jennings has his playbook that would be entirely legal as far as I can tell.

[Bucksfans1and2]

Hell somebody that follows Jennings on Twitter send him that idea.

[xTitan]

Teams show draft picks their playbooks but NEVER let them keep them until camp starts, lock out or no lock out....teams are way to afraid a playbook would be lost or stolen then wind up on the internet and everyone sees your offense/defense.