Packers Release Official 53-Man Roster
Well after the 4 p.m. ET deadline, the Packers officially released their final 53-man roster as they gear up for the 2017 regular season, which commences this Thursday night.
Much like in prior years, general manager Ted Thompson likely waited a long while after other teams submitted their final rosters before releasing his own. Right around 5:30 Lambeau time, the Packers' had their 53-best players ready to go.
There weren't major surprises considering the sample size Thompson and co. saw during the preseason and in the Packers' 19 training camp practices was more than enough to formulate some kind of takeaway as far as who belongs where.
It took releasing 37 players since Monday and 34 in the last 24 hours, but eventually, the deed was done.
One of the surprise players to crack the 53-man roster is cornerback Lenzy Pipkins, who went undrafted out of Oklahoma State before being signed to the Packers' roster in May.
He first made noise in his preseason debut against the Eagles, finishing as one of the top cornerbacks to play in that first week by Pro Football Focus.
According to PFF's Louie Benjamin, Pipkins "was on the field for 32 snaps in coverage, and allowed two receptions for just four yards. He had three tackles including a stop and zero missed tackles, while adding a pass breakup and a quarterback hit."
Pipkins also flashed against the Redskins the following week. His limited reps, yet, impressive individual performances were apparently enough to make him the Packers' seventh cornerback when a majority of fans predicted they would enter the season with six.
He's the latest undrafted cornerback to make the Packers' roster, joining Josh Hawkins. Both of which, following suit behind former starters Sam Shields and Tramon Williams.
Another surprise is the fact that both DeAngelo Yancey and Malachi Dupre—fifth and seventh-round draft picks back in April, respectively—didn't make the cut.
Both of the rookie receivers will likely be stashed on the practice squad and, if need be, can be called up at any time during the season.
For now, the Packers will enter the regular season with Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, Trevor Davis and Jeff Janis—five receivers—as targets for quarterback Aaron Rodgers against the Legion of Boom.
Second-year wide receiver Geronimo Allison is suspended for the first week, but will likely replace one of the 10 offensive linemen the Packers kept on the roster or potentially even Pipkins, depending on how well the secondary performs.
For now, the hope is that Max McCaffrey will clear waivers and the Packers will be able to stash him on the practice squad along with Yancey, Dupre and 6-6 ex-basketball player Michael Clark. The Packers will have a hoard of talent on the practice squad if they're able to securely move them there.
After entering last season with Eddie Lacy and James Starks spearheading the rushing attack, the Packers are entering 2017 with four (!) running backs. Ty Montgomery leads the trio of rookies behind him in Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones and Devante Mays.
The three 2017 draft picks may have either shown too much or too little in the preseason with their limited workload, however, establishing a potent and diverse ground game this season could very well be something that the Packers try to enforce. In a pass-heavy scheme, that has always been the last of head coach Mike McCarthy's concerns.
With the plethora of talent in the backfield, that could very well change.
At the moment, Ahmad Brooks has yet to officially be signed to the Packers' roster but is expected to sign on Sunday once cuts are all said and done, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
He wasn't listed on the Packers' official 53-man roster announcement, but the notion is that third-round pick Montravius Adams (foot) will be moved to injured reserve and thus, creating a spot for Brooks. It'll be one less defensive lineman of the six initially projected on the roster for the Packers to utilize come week one.
Both linebacker Vince Biegel and cornerback Demetri Goodson will begin the regular season on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list and will have to miss at least the first six weeks of the regular season. Meanwhile, Adams will accompany fullback Joe Kerridge and linebacker David Talley on IR.
Here is the official Packers' 53-man roster as of September 2nd, 6 p.m. CT.
...
QB (2): Rodgers, Hundley
RB (4): Montgomery, Williams, Jones, Mays
FB (1): Ripkowski
WR (5): Nelson, Adams, Cobb, Janis, Davis
TE (3): Bennett, Kendricks, Rodgers
OL (10): Linsley, Taylor, Evans, Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Barclay, Murphy, Spriggs, Patrick, McCray
...
DL (6): Daniels, Lowry, Clark, Jean Francois, Ringo, Adams
LB (7): Matthews, Perry, Ryan, Martinez, Thomas, Fackrell, Elliott
CB (7): House, Randall, Rollins, King, Hawkins, Gunter, Pipkins
S (5): Clinton-Dix, Burnett, Jones, Brice, Evans
...
STs (3): Crosby, Vogel, Goode
...
Suspended (1): Allison
PUP (2): Biegel, Goodson
IR (2): Kerridge, Talley
__________________________
Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (84)
badaxed
September 02, 2017 at 06:13 pm
McCaffrey caught everything thrown to ,even the bad throws. I see NE picking him up to replace Edleman.
ZacharyJacobson
September 02, 2017 at 06:18 pm
Belichick's going to turn him into a 3,000-yard receiver.
ejr450
September 02, 2017 at 06:35 pm
They have their replacement for him already in Austin Carr. We have to stop overvaluing the cuts - we do it every year.
Thegreatreynoldo
September 02, 2017 at 07:14 pm
Probably not NE, but there is a good hance someone picks up Max as their #4/5 WR and #1 or 2 PR.
JerseyAl
September 02, 2017 at 07:22 pm
Return skills is a nice bonus that makes him an attractive pick-up. #Jets should be interested.
ZacharyJacobson
September 02, 2017 at 07:58 pm
It's a joke.
GatorJason
September 03, 2017 at 01:10 am
Definition of Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
TKWorldWide
September 03, 2017 at 07:59 am
I like that.
Very much.
"Chasm"!!
dobber
September 03, 2017 at 06:49 am
The Pats cut Carr.
...and you're right. Most of these guys were "camp crushes". Very few real head-scratchers.
badaxed
September 02, 2017 at 06:13 pm
McCaffrey caught everything thrown to ,even the bad throws. I see NE picking him up to replace Edleman.
TKWorldWide
September 02, 2017 at 11:08 pm
I could envision NE getting former first round WR Phillip Dorsett from Indy in exchange for a backup QB along the lines of a Jacoby Brissett.
Brandin Cooks and Dorsett could make a nice pair of deep threats for that sixth round QB out of Michigan that NE has.
lebowski
September 02, 2017 at 06:13 pm
It was obvious this team had a glut of talented receivers and horrible depth on the O line. So of course we kept twice as many O linemen as receivers.
Turophile
September 02, 2017 at 07:01 pm
Yep, that was really odd, counter-intuitive. OL was weak after the starting 5, so they keep 10 ??
I can understand Patrick being kept as backup Barclay is dinged and someone needs to back up Linsley, but McCray was a surprise. Did he deserve his place more than Gilbert, Tripp, McCaffrey ?
One consolation is this is not the final roster. The only thing I can think of is that with the shortage of decent O linemen around the league, TT is stashing a couple of his, either for trade (unlikely) or they will be waived later, after all the scrutiny around the league for bargains ends, and quietly stashed on the PS.
fthisJack
September 02, 2017 at 07:50 pm
they should have cut Patrick and Mcray and kept McCaffrey and Gilbert or Price. this was dumb...who was going to scab up on these 2 Ol guys anyway? put THEM on the PS!
Thegreatreynoldo
September 03, 2017 at 02:32 am
It seems probable that Barclay (ankle - maybe out a month?) and Patrick (concussion - never really know when a player will pass the protocol) might not be healthy or even available for game 1 and McCray was the only healthy center. It would be embarrassing if Linsley got hurt against Seattle (knock on wood) and there was no one who could snap the ball. I mean snapping the ball is kind of a basic requirement to play.
TKWorldWide
September 03, 2017 at 08:01 am
I think O line is one place where TT is watching other teams' cuts closely.
We'll see.
Mojo
September 02, 2017 at 06:21 pm
From the receiver group it would be a bummer to lose McCaffrey and Clark if they can't be signed to our PS. Still wondering why Clark chose to come here since he signed after the draft. Like both of their potential.
And speaking of the PS, how many WR's does GB want there anyway? You still have to fit in a number of other position groups. Dupre I kind of like, Yancey - meh.
RobinsonDavis
September 02, 2017 at 06:27 pm
My feelings exactly! Still a little uncomfortable with 5 RBs in a pass happy offense, but I will get over it. Any chance they have their eye on another WR? Regardless, hope they are not done and look to improve the roster more.
Thegreatreynoldo
September 02, 2017 at 07:05 pm
As to the PS, have to figure as minimums:
1 QB, 0 RB, 0/1 TE, 1 to 3 WRs, 0 OL, 1 DL, 1 OLB, 1 ILB, 0/1 CB.
I like Hill, D. Brown, Max, Gilbert, Tripp, for sure, probably Price, Clark, (7 so far) best interior OL we can find, maybe 2, perhaps Dupre or the safety Taylor, though he got cut Friday, so it sounds as though I like him better than GB does.
TommyG
September 02, 2017 at 06:33 pm
Color me surprised. I in no way anticipated TT keeping that many running backs. Just a week ago we were discussing the possibility of having 8 WR on the roster. I'm not onboard with this decision as I just don't see how this benefits our style of offense.
ejr450
September 02, 2017 at 06:47 pm
Our style of offense will be different - again. In 2011 we got 1600 yards of total offense from Grant and Starks. And we didn't have 7 or 8 WRs that year. It was 5 good ones and Finley. We have that again with the WRs and Bennett. And Kendricks is an upgrade over that year's TE2 - Crabtree. (Still love ya Tom) We have 5 quality, multi-purpose backfield players. That's great. The offense's calling card will be formation diversity and multiple options from the same personnel groups. Play us to run, we can pass. Play us to pass, we look like we'll be able to run it. Simplify the reads on D for A-Rod and he can be a surgeon.
Need the D to hold up their end of the bargain now.
TommyG
September 02, 2017 at 07:50 pm
You are correct. I'm still getting used to the idea of having two incredible TE on this team st the same time. Their skills make this more like 7 receivers.
JerseyAl
September 02, 2017 at 07:27 pm
All three rookie RBs showed to be worthy of further development. Too early to give up on one - need more time for one to show he doesn't belong. Plus, they cut two draft picks in Yancey and Dupre. Cutting three rookie draft picks would not be a good look for Ted.
TommyG
September 02, 2017 at 07:51 pm
Very true, Al. Ted is going to Ted eventually. I don't mean that in a negative light, just confirming that he does need to keep some of his drafted players.
NickPerry
September 02, 2017 at 08:00 pm
Al why hasn't Brooks signed his contract yet????????
flackcatcher
September 02, 2017 at 09:06 pm
Sunday Nick. Sunday.
lou
September 02, 2017 at 08:08 pm
Agreed, all 3 showed promise but keeping a 3rd (4th total excluding FB) who will probably not be active on game days (unless a promising special teamer) makes little sense, he could be further developed on the practice squad. Based on John Crockett, Rajon Neal, and Lorenzo Harris all showing promise but also clearing waivers I seriously doubt Mayes would have been claimed. The short times all of them were on the roster they were the 3rd RB behind Lacey and Starks, not the 4th like now, in today's NFL keeping 4 on the 53 seems like a luxory.
lebowski
September 02, 2017 at 10:03 pm
They cut 3. Amichia was dumped as well.
L
September 03, 2017 at 09:59 am
They did cut three with the O-lineman cut.
RobinsonDavis
September 02, 2017 at 06:50 pm
I don't feel the Packers will store much more than 2 WRs on the Practice Squad. There are just too many other needs. Look for Gilbert, Brown, a TE, one of the O-linemen to be cut and resigned once they find a veteran, Price, Hill, an ILB,....all of course, if still available.
Bedrock
September 02, 2017 at 07:23 pm
I got excited when I saw Gilbert Brown. Too bad there was a comma.
Bunkerbill
September 02, 2017 at 06:46 pm
Barclay must not be ready to go in game 1, so they had to keep either McCray or Patrick as a backup center, but why both?
Thegreatreynoldo
September 02, 2017 at 07:10 pm
My thought exactly. Perhaps they think Patrick is more NFL ready to play if necessary against Seattle and McCray is more long term. Or the other way around, even. It seems possible as well that Barclay will be gone a month, that Patrick also won't be ready until week 2 or 3, so they kept McCray for next Sunday.
GatorJason
September 03, 2017 at 01:22 am
Patrick was much better than McCray at C but Patrick may be in concussion protocol. McCray was better at OG. I still think Ted is scouring cut list so both of these guys may be placeholders.
Since'61
September 02, 2017 at 07:08 pm
I believe the Packers will go with 6WRs once Allison returns for Week 2. The question will be who gets cut then.
M. Adams will go to IR to make room for Brooks.
Maybe Fackrell gets released to make room for Allison or possibly McCray or Patrick. It may depend on how the PS shakes out as well.
With the return of Allison I can see the Packers going with 6 WRs plus Monty, Jones and Mays can receive coming out of the backfield. Couple that with 3 TEs and Rodgers has a total of 12 weapons. Our offense will be fine.
There will be a few more moves before it's all settled.
Thanks, Since '61
croatpackfan
September 03, 2017 at 03:17 am
Or maybe they will cut Gunter?! It is human to have hopes...
Turophile
September 03, 2017 at 06:17 am
Thanks 61, for breaking up your 'text walls'. It looks great.
I can't see McCray lasting longer than it takes for either Barclay to come back, or for Patrick to be cleared in concussion protocol. That head trauma sure did stir up the squad balance though (for now).
With M. Adams to IR (clears a space for Ahmad Brooks) and Allison back in week 2 (probably in place of McCray), the roster makes a bit more sense.
QB=2, OL=9, WR=6, RB+FB=5, TE=3
DL=5, LB=5+3, DB=12
DBs still look like a bloated unit, but at least three at the tail end, M.Evans, L.Pipkins, J.Hawkins, have shown well in camp. In fact, if you think of Safeties playing plenty of ILB, it's more like 9LBs, 11DBs, which is closer to a balanced squad.
Once Barclay and Patrick are back, I'd ideally like to see Patrick waived for a 7th WR (McCaffrey), or perhaps more likely LB Biegel, when he comes off pup..
Good to see FB Kerridge has a chance of being retained, since he is safely on IR.
Thegreatreynoldo
September 02, 2017 at 07:16 pm
I would be almost amused if GB cuts all ties with Yancey, Dupre, Clark and Max. I'd be upset too, especially with the last two.
JerseyAl
September 02, 2017 at 07:30 pm
I would find that highly unlikely - as unlikely as all four being claimed by other teams. They will try to keep two of the four.
Thegreatreynoldo
September 02, 2017 at 07:31 pm
I am reading that John Greco, C/G, who has played both positions, is among the most attractive OL available. Alex Boone gets mentioned, but I don't think he plays center.
Any other candidates at any positions?
JerseyAl
September 02, 2017 at 07:43 pm
Wasn't Boone the guy that said the Packers would be in the Super Bowl in his home stadium "over my f***ing dead body?"
Thegreatreynoldo
September 02, 2017 at 08:15 pm
LOL, Details. So he's got some spirit; nothing wrong with that.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2724507-alex-boone-says-packers-will-...
Mojo
September 02, 2017 at 08:40 pm
Great, now we have to kill Alex Boone.
sonomaca
September 02, 2017 at 07:40 pm
Had Richardson not been traded to Seattle, it's possible Packers roster might have been a bit different. I think Ted was caught off guard (pun intended) and panicked a bit.
Bearmeat
September 02, 2017 at 07:56 pm
...what on earth does that have to do with anything on the Packers roster??
sonomaca
September 02, 2017 at 09:37 pm
10 offensive linemen. Come on.
Bulaga and Barclay hobbled. Linsley still not 100%? Seattle's front 7 beefed up even further with Richardson.
Clearly, the Richardson trade motivated TT to add depth to o/line, at least for one game. He's not going to risk it.
Somedumbname
September 02, 2017 at 11:08 pm
Guarantee one trade made no difference to the evaluation and conclusion of the Packers roster.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
September 03, 2017 at 01:01 am
That whole 2nd string offensive line did not pass the "eye test" to myself. I hope none of those chumps gets forced into significant playing time. I wonder if they kept 10 because Bulaga my not be able to play right out of the gate. Since all of their back up Tackles are as of now unsound fundamentally, I think they may have kept so many to ride "the hot hand" since not a one is reliable. A least until Bulaga comes back to full health. I bet Barclay's health may also have something to do with the number of O linemen kept.
What a strange 53. I think it may change some before the Seattle game (fingers crossed). A lot of surprising cuts around the league. Maybe we'll get one or more of these players? Time will tell.
croatpackfan
September 03, 2017 at 03:25 am
Can you, please, explain me how status "Bulaga is not ready to play" is connected to "keeping additional OL players on the roster". Would they play 2 instead of Brian?, Or they will change OL player when they see who will be opposite to RT? What in the world you are people talking about?
Most of the fans here does not have clue what is looks like to make roster.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
September 03, 2017 at 08:47 am
Sure I can explain, Croat, perhaps my explanation was lost in hyperbole. We do not have a good backup tackle on this team right now. If one of these tackles who are playing for Bulaga just isnt getting the job done (Im looking at you, Spriggs) keeping another option or two at the position affords the Packers to make an in game adjustment to try to get someone in there that is at least semi servicable.
Also, no need to claim I dont know anything about roster building. Based on your past comments, I believe I know more or at the very least as much as you about NFL football and especially the Packers. No need to be rude, my foreign friend.
croatpackfan
September 03, 2017 at 09:52 am
You surely knows more than me... If for no other reason, at least for experience of watching football more than I had. There is no question about it.
I was not referring to you, my Packers fan companion with my remark of knowledge how the roster is making. In was referred on all those feared fans or disappointed fans whose darling player did not survive the cut, including me and you, of course. Because I admit that I have no clue what are the facts (all of them) that comes into the consideration whom to keep and whom to release. I believe I can number some of that facts, but I do believe it would be less than 50 % of it...
So, I was not trying to be rude, just to point out what is obvious, but despite obvious, I see lot of dissatisfaction with decision of the people who knows how to build 53 men roster. They prove it through last 8 season, where Packers were contenders and one of two franchise to be constantly in postseason.
I'm also confused by Packers moves, but I'm trying to understand them, not claiming that TT and his team make mistakes.
Also, I still do not understand how you can expect that player can fill the position if he was not prepared to the position. So if Spriggs should replace David, we may expect Murphy can replace Spriggs as both were playing LT in college. And that is the reason why Packers keep both of them. Also, Murphy was playing RT, too. But expect that somebody from street (FA) can jump into the role, especially if that player is C/G is not realistic!
Btw, I think we all can agree that good O-line need to work as group. So, in Denver Spriggs started on the RT with 1st unit and did a good job. On 5 snaps in the row he kept Von Miller in check. He just get tricked on fifth try. Well many tackles can say that that they did not have 5 snaps before Von Miller tricked them. That is why he is one of the best OLB/DE in the league. After 2nd unit comes into the game, cohesion of the unit was ruined and every of 5 OL was island by themselves. By my humble opinion that was the main reason why blitzes was so effective...
But again, you may say that I do not understand football and that cohesion of the unit is of no importance or of little importance.
Than OK.
Anyhow, thanks for nice answer!
ThxJackVainisi
September 03, 2017 at 11:10 am
Gavel: "If one of these tackles who are playing for Bulaga just isnt getting the job done (Im looking at you, Spriggs) keeping another option or two at the position affords the Packers to make an in game adjustment to try to get someone in there that is at least semi servicable."
The problem with this is even if the 10 OL survive the next couple of days, all of them won't be active on game day. Here's hoping Thompson and staff can acquire a vet OL who could really make a difference.
Thegreatreynoldo
September 04, 2017 at 05:16 am
Now that is interesting. We usually keep 7 OL active on game day. So, the 5 starters, McCray if he is the only healthy OC, and ? Between Spriggs and Murphy. I'd guess Spriggs since he is supposed to be able to play LT, Murphy not so much, and Spriggs presumably backs up RT and OG as well. Of course, maybe we keep 8 active against Seattle, or Patrick is cleared and he backs up OC and OG.
Lphill
September 02, 2017 at 07:42 pm
Maybe the reason for all the running backs is if due to injury Monty can revert back if the other backs can carry the load .
Mojo
September 02, 2017 at 08:44 pm
I do believe the Pack are concerned with T-Mos soft-tissue issue.
Remember how many times he went down last year but miraculously came back into the game? Think it might have been what took him out in the preseason too.
NickPerry
September 02, 2017 at 08:03 pm
WHY HASN'T BROOKS SIGNED HIS CONTRACT YET???? Doe anyone know?? Doesn't this seem a little strange after 3 days??
Thegreatreynoldo
September 02, 2017 at 08:20 pm
No, Nick, it isn't strange. It has been explained repeatedly. GB can't recall M. Adams from IR unless he makes the final 53, THEN is placed on IR. So, Brooks signs after the initial 53 man roster is sent to the NFL. Brooks should sign Sunday or Monday. Before the next practice at all events.
flackcatcher
September 02, 2017 at 10:01 pm
Good chance Adams is done for the year. That kind of injury is recurring, so the bone must heal completely and be allowed to built back up, otherwise SNAP! (speaking from personal painful experience here)
croatpackfan
September 03, 2017 at 03:27 am
If Adams is down for a year, they will already placed him on IR. So, not true what you wrote...
flackcatcher
September 03, 2017 at 08:42 am
No. Depending on how the bone broke, this could take a while. This may not be a clean break, or Adams could have one or more hairline fractures. I don't know, but Adams break happen just before TC. Think how long it takes to heal a clean break, and compare that to the length of the NFL season. Then ask yourself how long it would take to get in football shape. Being a rookie on top of that. Bad timing for Adams that's all...
croatpackfan
September 03, 2017 at 09:58 am
Well, I will repeat myself. If Packers knows that they can not activate M. Adams during the season, they may place him on IR immediately. If they did so, Adams will be lost for the season,
If Packers thinks that Adams can be activated sometimes during season, , than they needed to put him FIRST on 53, and then on Sunday afternoon, or Monday morning on IR. In this case he may be designated for return from IR.
I think this is the reason why they placed Adams on 53 and did not consumed contract with Ahman Brooks yet.
NickPerry
September 03, 2017 at 05:29 am
Thank you!! I guess I didn't catch the reasons why he hadn't signed.
4zone
September 02, 2017 at 08:04 pm
Gilbert and McCaffrey were better at their position than some others were that were kept at other positions. Too bad but that's how it goes in Rock-N-Roll.
LayingTheLawe
September 02, 2017 at 08:23 pm
Ten offensive lineman? Well I guess that goes under the heading of all the backups stink so lets keep a bunch of em. And keeping three tight ends shows how much they want to run two tight end formations.
Adams going on IR to be called back midseason to add Brooks makes sense, but whos on the team for only a week when Allison is back in week two?
Mojo
September 02, 2017 at 08:53 pm
I think it's either Patrick or McCray since they're basically the same player anyway. They're both there to cover for Barclay. His ankle injury must have been pretty severe. By then you'd expect Barclay to be back so they both may go.
The question then becomes who gets kicked off the PS because that's likely where GB sends at least one of them.
TKWorldWide
September 02, 2017 at 11:15 pm
Yes, ten offensive linemen.
As of right now.
flackcatcher
September 02, 2017 at 09:51 pm
Not surprised at all. Sorry for MacCaffrey, not enough slots. Should have turned his ankle or bruised his shin, then he could join Kerridge on the IR. (MM walks into RB room. Walks up to Kerridge.'Son you twisted your ankle, go see the trainer.' Turns, walks out.) Packers needed to save two slots, and shifted one the the defense for an extra DB. (packers going to hyde pipkins) Picking up Brooks took another slot away. So there were only 7-9 open on the 53 this year. Looking forward to the PS signing, at some point some of these guys will be on the 53. I wonder who will be on the packers ready list this year, it would give us an idea of their future needs.
Packer_Fan
September 02, 2017 at 09:58 pm
On offensive, WR and OL don't make sense. Lot more WR talent to drop. Perhaps Barclay is hurt more than expected. I think a guy like John Greco would be a good pickup.
On defensive side, 7 CB don't make sense. There isn't that talent. GABE should do some more shopping and let Gunter go.
ZacharyJacobson
September 03, 2017 at 03:07 pm
They'll have six once Allison comes back, and it makes sense. They have three very talented pass-catching TEs that can be thrown into the mix. Some of the other guys that got cut just needed some more developmental work.
In the preseason, the backup OL was horrid. Keeping 10 also made since for depth purposes in the event of injury.
Just like the Packers went into the season WR-heavy a year ago because their WR group in 2015 was decimated, same thing with the CBs in 2017. They were hurt all of 2016, so they loaded up on depth - and talented depth at that. Pipkins had a very good preseason.
Bearmeat
September 02, 2017 at 10:01 pm
I don't like it.
10 OL??? There weren't even 8 that should be on an NFL roster. 7 CBs? 5 RBs? And both Gilbert and Price left off the roster. Both were deserving.
I understand keeping Fackrell given his draft status, but he's pretty much sucked too.
Why note keep Clark and/or McCaffrey over the schlock we had at backup OL?
Ted, I just don't get you sometimes.
flackcatcher
September 02, 2017 at 11:38 pm
Well, by NFL standards it is pretty logical. Rules changes have made pro football a first pass last run league. I think the rules have taken away a lot of what made pro football so appealing. but that is for another day. The problem for Dom Capers, is how do you generate pressure when the rules favor protecting the QB position. Every DC faces the same problem in the league. The answer Capers and every DC in the league came up with, is you don't. You concede that every sack in the league will be a coverage sack, and scheme to that end. Draft Jones, shift Burnett inside, keep Evens, convert Gunter and Pipkins? to the' hyde' position. Nickel become the base, Dime the preferred defense. ILB becomes the new fullback on defense. On the offense, keeping 10 is protecting the future, One or two are going to get cut, or go the PS when Barkley is healthy enough to go. Packers, like every NFL team is looking for players who can pass protect. Ironically, there are only a minority of division 1 teams who teach pro pass. That's one reason why Wisconsin OL are drafted so highly in the NFL year after year. Pick your cliche, panning for gold, diamond in the rough, it's all the same. Finding someone with the skills to pass protect is hard. Especially in a league that caters to instant gratification. One thing to remember about the NFL. Coaching staffs are not the only ones to scheme in this league too.
Samson
September 02, 2017 at 11:15 pm
Final roster?? --- I doubt it. -- The OL is definitely a concern. -- One injury anywhere and there's a problem. -- Priority #1 is to protect AR.
CAG123
September 03, 2017 at 01:42 am
Who's d*ck is Jeff Janis sucking? Why does this guy still have a roster spot after 4 years of nothing? Oh he was great in the preseason! Oh he had that "great" playoff game! Was that playoff game really that good or could it be defined by 2 plays? Point is we've been waiting to see this guy put it all together for some time only to see him do absolutely nothing yet Dupri and Yancey both get cut?
fastmoving
September 03, 2017 at 04:06 am
yeah you are right....what does he do besides to produce whenever getting a chance???
playoffgames, preseason, specialteams (one of the best gunner in the nfl), hell even in his limited snaps on offence, when 12 never throws his way!!
I have no idea what other areas in football exists in our world, but besides that.................. he really did nothing!
an in sharp contrast to Dupri and Yancey, Janis may be claimed in a second if they cut him...
dobber
September 03, 2017 at 07:04 am
Yep. Janis would not be out of work long.
Look at Jordan Tripp: he got cut and the Packers snapped him up. All he did was play ST.
CAG123
September 03, 2017 at 11:31 pm
He had one playoff game get off the gas! He gave them 2 plays against Seattle when the game was already locked up? So please tell me more about Jeff Janis brilliance? Because I haven't seen him do shit. You talk as if he's averaging 400 yards a season and a couple of scores! One of the best gunners in the league oh yeah those are so hard to come by. Don't give me that "Rodgers doesn't throw to him" crap because if he was open he would get the ball, Allison doesn't seem to have trouble getting a few balls thrown his way
NoNonsense
September 03, 2017 at 01:59 am
I don't like the Reggie Gilbert cut, that dude out played, out muscled and out hustled both Elliot and Fackrell all camp and all 4 preseason games. Hope he goes unclaimed, gets to the PS and gets elevated to the 53 at some point.
Feels a little like the Joe Thomas cut last year or the year before, he got frustrated and signed with Dallas practice squad instead of GBs before Ted poached him back from them. Wouldn't be surprised to see the same scenario unfold if Gilbert with him signing elsewhere if doesn't get claimed outright for someone's 53. The guy is a player.
Also liked McCaffery, Clark and Dupre but you can't keep them all, hopefully all 3 make it to the PS. Allison outplayed the 3 of them IMO and Janis and Davis were kept mostly for their special teams prowess and speed but both look improved as WRs over last year.
We already have 7 good options in the pass game with the 3 TEs and Allison, not counting RBs, so their STs contributions will be more valuable to GB than what they can do at WR anyway. Davis and Janis do bring that big play ability with their speed though so they won't go unused or shouldn't on offense.
croatpackfan
September 03, 2017 at 04:33 am
It is interesting how people here has so little confidence in Packers organization and coaching staff. That organization and coaches preparing team every year to the level of contender. And people here is not satisfied with that.
Regarding not final roster. It might make a lot of sense. First, we knows how players perform on open practices and preseason games. Both occasions are vanilla regarding schemes and requests asked from players to do. That can show you pure athleticism. Not much of football intelligence. But, coaches and personal department are in meetings, closed practices and in contact with medical staff, strength and condition trainers etc.
So, we are operating with limited level of data and, sometimes, some decision from Packers looking strange for us (I know they look "strange" for me), but, by time, it turn around that I was wrong and Packers are right. Well, maybe not in 100% but very close to that.
So, I think we should stay calm and look for new, very soon, events which will give us more insight what Packers are doing.
Also, the road for catastrophe is to claim other teams OT or G/C and plug him after few practices in the starting OL. In that case I can predict so many false starts and so many disarray in functioning of the line.
No need for that.
With existing offensive linemen, Aaron knows what he has. With new face he does not. So, that is recipe for disaster...
TKWorldWide
September 03, 2017 at 08:08 am
Your thoughtful, measured remarks fly in the face of flipping out, which is clearly more fun.
meatstyk
September 03, 2017 at 06:26 am
Hope ted finds a couple veteran backups on the wire. O line, d line, and maybe lb
PatrickGB
September 03, 2017 at 08:30 am
And we add "Crospy" as our kicker ;-).
I hope that McCraffry makes it to the PS and Gilbert as well.
Everyone else cut is meh.
egbertsouse
September 03, 2017 at 08:30 am
I can hardly drink my coffee because I'm laughing so hard. It always cheers me up to see all the pundits and super fans trying to rationalize all the insane, unexplainable stuff that Ted does. It will never make sense to us mortal humans, Ted's head is a dark and scary place.
dobber
September 03, 2017 at 10:33 am
Actually, it's a white, fuzzy, wrinkly place.
cheesehead1
September 03, 2017 at 10:56 am
Hope TT picks us up some OL depth.