What starters should come back/be replaced?

[James1980]

Kampman
Pickett
DT Free Agent/Draft Pick (Jolly replaced in starting lineup)
Jenkins

Chillar
MLB Free Agent/Draft Pick (Barnett moves to outside, Hawk and Popinga backups)
Barnett

Harris
Collins
SS Free Agent/Draft Pick (Bigby too injured/inconsistent)
Woodson

Clifton at RT
Colledge
Wells
Spitz
LT Free Agent/Draft Pick

Rodgers
Jennings
Driver
Lee
Kuhn
Grant unless we have better option, use Jackson more though

[ReasonablySober]

Hawk won't be replaced. Neither will Barnett.

Tauscher, Lee, Grant, Jolly, Poppinga and Bigby are the six starters I would look to replace if there's upgrades available.

[dedned]

The D line needs more of an upgrade than just replacing Jolly. I'd say Pickett could probably be replaced too. Should probably bring in someone to replace Jenkins too and use him as a sub.

[Kerb Hohl]

Must replace:
Tauscher (sadly), Poppinga

Only worth replacing if elite value is available cheap (probably draft):
Bigby, Grant

Want to replace but won't happen:
Hawk

Will be replaced, but still should see a lot of action:
Jolly

[LUKE23]

I would say that Poppinga and Jolly are the two on defense I'd like to replace. Everyone else I'm fine with on the defense.

On offense, I would take an upgrade over Grant, but don't see it happening, and I think we're OK with him and Jackson if the OL improves. I'd like to replace both Clifton and Tauscher, but only see one of them gone next year, and a OT drafted somewhat high (one of our first three picks). I'd also like to see an upgrade to Lee if available.

[El Duderino]

Besides those mentioned, i'd like an upgrade at least at one of the guard spots. Neither Spitz or Colledge are terrible, but neither is close to being really good either and both are way to inconsistent.

One problem the run game suffers from is that of the three inside guys, Colledge/Wells/Spitz, none are a top notch run blocker besides being so inconsistent. Those inside guys are so vital to any really successful and consistently good running game. It's also part of the reason we struggle in short yardage, none of those three are overly strong and able to push the big bodies backwards when needed. There is also the disadvantage that all of our tight ends are much more skilled pass catchers than run blockers.

Neither Grant or Jackson has special skills, but there isn't a single really good and consistent run blocker on the offensive line either.

[xTitan]

I will be a tad more generic, at least 2 offensive lineman need to be added and possibly a vet TE. I am angry Brandon Jackson is not getting more run at RB, he just seems to be much quicker and more elusive at the RB spot than Grant.....if a real RB emerges I might have to seriously consider him....the zone blocking scheme seems to be working real well with Slaton in the backfield.

I am rebuilding the defensive front seven and it is the perfect time because Jolly is going away for at least 4 games and there just isn't alot of talent remaining on the D-line.....Montgomery can go, Hunter can go, Harrell can go, Cole can go.....I am hiring Mike Nolan and going to the 3-4. I believe it is much easir to find an edge rusher in an LB's body than it is to find a star DE in the 280 lb body. I like the aggressive zone blitzing schemes where you are not sure where or when the rush is coming. I also believe you can find some quality free agents to fit this scheme, Joey Porter and his deamons would have been perfect, the Packers need some crazies with attitudes. Kampman will have to add about 15 pounds but he has done that before and is a team guy, Kampan and Jenkins could be ideal ends in the 3-4 scheme, Pickett at the nose and address depth through free agency and the draft, again, you can find some players who fit this scheme. The other part of the 3-4 that I like is you can find impact LB's and they don't have to be top 10 picks, look at Willis in SF, Ray Lewis, and any number of other LB's on Pittsburgh or Baltimore. I would start out with the LB out of USC, he is a nasty beast, plays very physical, yet appears to be a fairly bright guy......Mt Cody, the huge NT out of Alabama is another possibility.

[El Duderino]

I will be a tad more generic, at least 2 offensive lineman need to be added and possibly a vet TE. I am angry Brandon Jackson is not getting more run at RB, he just seems to be much quicker and more elusive at the RB spot than Grant.....if a real RB emerges I might have to seriously consider him....the zone blocking scheme seems to be working real well with Slaton in the backfield.

I am rebuilding the defensive front seven and it is the perfect time because Jolly is going away for at least 4 games and there just isn't alot of talent remaining on the D-line.....Montgomery can go, Hunter can go, Harrell can go, Cole can go.....I am hiring Mike Nolan and going to the 3-4. I believe it is much easir to find an edge rusher in an LB's body than it is to find a star DE in the 280 lb body. I like the aggressive zone blitzing schemes where you are not sure where or when the rush is coming. I also believe you can find some quality free agents to fit this scheme, Joey Porter and his deamons would have been perfect, the Packers need some crazies with attitudes. Kampman will have to add about 15 pounds but he has done that before and is a team guy, Kampan and Jenkins could be ideal ends in the 3-4 scheme, Pickett at the nose and address depth through free agency and the draft, again, you can find some players who fit this scheme. The other part of the 3-4 that I like is you can find impact LB's and they don't have to be top 10 picks, look at Willis in SF, Ray Lewis, and any number of other LB's on Pittsburgh or Baltimore. I would start out with the LB out of USC, he is a nasty beast, plays very physical, yet appears to be a fairly bright guy......Mt Cody, the huge NT out of Alabama is another possibility.

I'm with you on wanting to see Jackson get more carries even if i have doubts that he's skilled enough to be the primary ball carrier for a good team. Once we were basically eliminated by the loss to the Texans, i saw no reason to not give Jackson the bulk of the carries for the last three games.

As for the defense, i share many of your same views. Jenkins and Kampman have the size to be effective ends in a 3-4 defense. Pickett has the bulk to play NT in a 3-4, but it would be important to find a quality backup there because these fat guys can decline in a blink, look at Gilbert Brown. Between all the stress on their legs from carrying 330-350 pounds and the constant double teams, it's tough for those guy to stay effective into their 30's. Adding a few nasty attitudes to that front seven is a view i share also. We don't seem to have any trouble making bad guys on defense, but IMO we also have a little to much of the AJ Hawk laid back we just gotta watch film to see what went wrong after getting run over types. There's very little nasty or intimidation to the current defense.

I remember hearing Homer interview Chumura after the loss to Houston. He said back in the days when his Packer teams were good, if the defense got run over, the locker room was filled with very pissed off and embarrassed guys. They weren't afraid to call out teammates in the locker room for lazy or passive play, that the coaches didn't need to do it because the leaders on the team did so. Churma thought this Packer team overall seemed to flatlined for him and if i remember correctly, McGinn had a piece about this around two weeks ago. That the organization and locker room is full of mostly good guys, but from Ted Thompson down to the players, there were few firery personalities or out spoken types. Talent is obviously the most important thing to winning in football, but i don't doubt that to a degree, teams can play to the personalities of the coaches and players.

[MickeyDavis]

EVERY offensive lineman should be replaced. Of course that won't happen but if there is an upgrade available for any of them, via draft or free agency take it. Barnett will get his job back but if he plays like he did this year I hope we have a better alternative than moving Hawk over. Hawk signed a 6 year deal so we probably have to keep him another year or two, too expensive to cut now.

The team isn't high on Rouse, they have chosen to move Woodson there instead of letting Rouse play. So safety is a concern. Williams hasn't shown he should start either, he's a nickel back, nothing more.

Let's see what Jackson can do full time the next two weeks. I'm not sold on Grant at all.

And we could use an improvement at tight end.

Hell, other than Rodgers, Kampman, Jennings, Woodson and Driver I'd be on the lookout for an upgrade EVERYWHERE.

[randy84]

Wow, from 13-3 to rebuilding within one year.

I hope this isn't the beginning of a year after year rebuilding process. And if it is, I'm not sure I want TT in charge of it.

The problem with building through the draft is that if you whiff on players you set the team back three years. Think about, right now Harrell should be about ready to take over on the defensive line, but since he was such a horrible pick, we are now going to have to draft a guy and wait three years for him to develop. In the meantime, our defense will be horrible.

[ReasonablySober]

You're insane if you think Williams isn't a capable starter. Colledge has been the team's best offensive lineman this season. It won't be worth it to take a guard in the top 10 anyway. If Robinson slips to the 2nd he's a worthy pick. I'd also look at Max Unger, Alex Mack, Terrance Caldwell or Jonathan Luigs there and if they can move to guard, then give them a shot. But I'm guessing the three interior linemen are all back next season.

[El Duderino]

You're insane if you think Williams isn't a capable starter. Colledge has been the team's best offensive lineman this season. It won't be worth it to take a guard in the top 10 anyway. If Robinson slips to the 2nd he's a worthy pick. I'd also look at Max Unger, Alex Mack, Terrance Caldwell or Jonathan Luigs there and if they can move to guard, then give them a shot. But I'm guessing the three interior linemen are all back next season.

I would almost never draft guard in the top 10 unless the guy was an amazing prospect, but that doesn't mean either Colledge or Spitz should go into next year with a near lock on a starting job at guard. Both guys are decent, but neither is consistent at all. With the regression we saw from Clifton this year, there isn't a single guy on that offensive line that you could legitimately say is even remotely close to being a Pro Bowl worthy offensive lineman. If say scouts voted on every starting guard in the NFL, would Colledge or Spitz get voted in the top 20 of the 60 starting guards? I highly doubt it. Maybe Colledge would land in the top 30, but even that wouldn't be a lock.

Obviously getting a tackle is the highest priority, but i see the trio inside of Colledge/Wells/Spitz to be an average at best group. Unless either or both of the guards show improvement next year, which i accept as a possibility, the team should be hoping for an upgrade in at least one of the guard spots or Spitz taking over at center and finding a higher quality guard.

[Jollay]

1st round pick-- Playmaker on defense--either line, LB or safety. If nothing comparable on line I like the 3-4 idea and draft LB.

2nd round pick--Young offensive tackle.

2nd round pick--Either safety or line, whichever wasn't addressed in 1st round.

3rd round pick--corner

FREE AGENCY--VET GUARD AND RED ZONE TARGET, HOPEFULLY AT TE. (Or TT can wait for Finley to "get it" sometime in 2012.) Colledge goes to bench, where he can still develop with rookie OT, at G or T as need may dictate.

Pretty simple. As I said, there's gotta be some FA play. TT knows he's on the hotseat from day 1 next year, so I think he will. We can also do it without hamstringing the franchise.

[ReasonablySober]

I do agree with MD on this:

Hell, other than Rodgers, Kampman, Jennings, Woodson and Driver I'd be on the lookout for an upgrade EVERYWHERE.

But that's something you're going to say about every team in the NFL. Given our issue's on the defensive line as they relate to pass rush, the ineffectiveness of the tackles, the lack of explosiveness in the runningbacks and the age of our top two corners makes the guards a pretty low priority. I think Thompson could bring in a guard in free agency and maybe another in the 3rd round to challenge for a spot, but I wouldn't waste a pick in the top two rounds on one, and chances are that's where you're going to get one that's got a legit chance to start as a rookie.

[ReasonablySober]

1st round pick-- Playmaker on defense--either line, LB or safety. If nothing comparable on line I like the 3-4 idea and draft LB.

2nd round pick--Young offensive tackle.

2nd round pick--Either safety or line, whichever wasn't addressed in 1st round.

3rd round pick--corner

FREE AGENCY--VET GUARD AND RED ZONE TARGET, HOPEFULLY AT TE. (Or TT can wait for Finley to "get it" sometime in 2012.) Colledge goes to bench, where he can still develop with rookie OT, at G or T as need may dictate.

Pretty simple. As I said, there's gotta be some FA play. TT knows he's on the hotseat from day 1 next year, so I think he will. We can also do it without hamstringing the franchise.

I think, if we take anyone but a lineman with our first rounder, we'll be kicking ourselves the same way we're kicking ourselves for taking a linebacker at #5 in 2006. This is a deep class of linebackers. A good one is likely to be there in the 2nd.

[aaprigs311]

I don't think Grant needs to be replaced, but would like to see Jackson get more PT.

I agree with DB on the offensive line situation. Sign a free agent and use a first day pick on another linemen.

How huge would a Haynesworth signing be? Pay him.

Draft a pass rusher with the first pick. The kid from Texas is Mr. Nasty.

Resign Bigby for cheap, but bring in a vet safety for some security.

Wouldn't be opposed to moving Barnett outside. If he cries about it too bad.

[El Duderino]

I do agree with MD on this:

Hell, other than Rodgers, Kampman, Jennings, Woodson and Driver I'd be on the lookout for an upgrade EVERYWHERE.

But that's something you're going to say about every team in the NFL. Given our issue's on the defensive line as they relate to pass rush, the ineffectiveness of the tackles, the lack of explosiveness in the runningbacks and the age of our top two corners makes the guards a pretty low priority. I think Thompson could bring in a guard in free agency and maybe another in the 3rd round to challenge for a spot, but I wouldn't waste a pick in the top two rounds on one, and chances are that's where you're going to get one that's got a legit chance to start as a rookie.

While i don't think as highly of Colledge as you do, there is some possibilities next year at guard that wouldn't take a massive leap of faith for improvement

1. Colledge/Spitz aren't old and some lineman need more time than others to reach their potential

2. Sitton was thought of highly by the coaches before getting hurt. Maybe an offseason getting stronger and in better shape, along with knowing the system better could make him into a quality starter.

3. Babre seems to have all the athletic gifts the team wants at guard, but from what i've read, he's not the bright bulb in the room. Maybe he simply needed a few years to watch and learn because he's a slow learner.

4. From what i've read, supposedly some think Spitz is a better center than guard and has more upside at center than Wells. It's possible the team could move Spitz to center if say Sitton grabs hold of a guard spot, thus upgrading two spots at once.

[James1980]

The D line needs more of an upgrade than just replacing Jolly. I'd say Pickett could probably be replaced too. Should probably bring in someone to replace Jenkins too and use him as a sub.

Jenkins was our best D lineman and had more sacks than Kampman before he got hurt.

[Jollay]

1st round pick-- Playmaker on defense--either line, LB or safety. If nothing comparable on line I like the 3-4 idea and draft LB.

2nd round pick--Young offensive tackle.

2nd round pick--Either safety or line, whichever wasn't addressed in 1st round.

3rd round pick--corner

FREE AGENCY--VET GUARD AND RED ZONE TARGET, HOPEFULLY AT TE. (Or TT can wait for Finley to "get it" sometime in 2012.) Colledge goes to bench, where he can still develop with rookie OT, at G or T as need may dictate.

Pretty simple. As I said, there's gotta be some FA play. TT knows he's on the hotseat from day 1 next year, so I think he will. We can also do it without hamstringing the franchise.

I think, if we take anyone but a lineman with our first rounder, we'll be kicking ourselves the same way we're kicking ourselves for taking a linebacker at #5 in 2006. This is a deep class of linebackers. A good one is likely to be there in the 2nd.

I'll take your word for it-I wont get my thoughts on the matter organized for 2 months or so. I thought there were still 1-2 impact guys worthy with taking with our first pick however.

I would be happy to draft an impact O-lineman if that turns out to be the case first.

[LUKE23]

I think Colledge permanently moves to tackle next year, replacing Clifton. I think we definitely also draft a tackle with one of the first three picks. We really need Barbre to step up, because he has a lot of talent. I'm high on Sitton as well.

I could see both Clifton/Tauscher gone, and them throwing Colledge/Spitz/Wells/Barbre/Sitton/Giacomini/draft pick (s) out there in training camp and just seeing what the best combination is.