Who Gets Those Final Roster Spots on the 53?

Most decisions have already been made.

Sunday's scrimmage-type practice is history and the sense now is the Packers are transitioning into more of a game week schedule for the final two weeks before the opener against the Vikings. The team doesn't have to make roster cuts until this weekend but clearly Matt LaFleur has a solid idea of who most of his 53 will be. After Saturday's practice LaFleur admitted "I think it's more or less a few roster spots down at the bottom" that are yet to be determined.

So at what position do you figure those final decisions are being made? Could it be receiver? Much has been written about the Packers not needing more than five. That would be Adams, Lazard, MVS, EQ, and probably Kumerow. But guys like Begelton, Shepard, and Taylor have had their moments. If one of them looks great on special teams Gutey and LaFleur may add a sixth wideout.

What about the logjam at running back? How many to keep? Jones, Jamal Williams and Dillon are in. Ervin is most probably in. Has Dexter Williams played well enough to make the 53?

All those offensive linemen taken low in the draft. Can Green Bay get away with stashing one or two of them on the Practice Squad or would another team like Stepaniak and/or Hanson enough to sign them away? Got to figure Runyan is in but where does that leave players like Leglue and Nijman? Alex Light?

Kirksey, Burks and Martin will stick at inside linebacker. Ty Summers is a good bet. Bolton and Roberts never got a chance. Do they need more there? On the outside the Smith brothers and Gary make for a blue chip top three, but then who?    Did Garvin show enough?   Tim Williams?   

There's a lot of safeties on this roster. Amos and Savage will start. Greene, Redmond and rookie Vernon Scott figure to make the 53. Or do they? Can you get by with four? Does Scott go to the PS?

Defensive back is intriguing.   Alexander, King, Jackson and Sullivan are secure.   Hollman seems ready to take the next step.   But I don't think Ento and Stanford Samuels will make it to the PS before somebody else snaps them up. 

Then there are wild card players.   Guys like talented John Lovett.   He's listed as a fullback but he's versatile and has shown some good play in camp. 

One thing is for sure.   If you're an undrafted free agent trying to make this team, you got a lousy break this year.   With no preseason games, you simply won't get enough reps to show what you can do.   Gutekunst admitted on Saturday that the UDFA's probably aren't getting a fair shake.   "Particularly this year you weren't able to give the guys the opportunities in these games to go out and prove some things.   At the same time it's our job to go out and try to make the best decisions that we can and put the best football team out there....It's unfortunate.   It's the situation we're in and I feel for these guys."

On the other hand, the Packers can stash 16 players on the expanded practice squad this year.   And since all teams will have such a bloated PS, there may be less danger of your guys being signed to someone else's 53.

As LaFleur stated, this team is pretty well set at positions one through about 50.   It will be really interesting to see who nails those final spots.   How good of a guesser are you?  

 

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Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.

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8 points
 

Comments (50)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
ShooterMcGee's picture

August 31, 2020 at 06:35 am

On offense I see 3 Qbs, 4 rbs, 4 TEs, 5 wrs, and 9 O linemen, plus either Lovett at FB or an extra O-lineman. 1 question is who is the #5 wr- Kumerow, Taylor, Beggleton, or Shepherd. Who among the 4 brings the most to special teams? Can any of these guys return punts if Ervin gets hurt? It seems they really like Lovett and I don't think he makes it to the PS. The 49ers covet him as they put in a waiver wire claim for him but we beat them to the punch. So maybe Lovett make the 53 and they try to sneak Hanson onto the p s.

On defense I predict a surprise cut of Monty Adams. We keep only 5 DL since Z can swing inside. This allows us to keep 5 OLBs who are Z, P. Smith, Gary, Ramsey, and Garvin. 4 ILBs which may be our weakest position since only Kirksey and Martin can start. 5 safeties and 6 Cbs make the team.

Add in the 3 specialists to come up with our initial 53.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 31, 2020 at 07:10 am

Good point about Lovett and SF's interest. I don't know that Lovett wowed in TC but he did some things but also had some demerits along the way.

Dexter Williams played himself onto the PS.

There are only 7 OL who I'd be fairly comfortable seeing on the field. Don't have a feel on Hanson, but a bubble guy at any rate for 8th. The rest would be terrifying except for Nijman, who just got back to practice. Don't know whether he's improved. Really could use another OT.

Baylis didn't do enough. 4 TEs are clear.

Only 4 DL deserve a spot. Previlon is 5th: flashed/by default.
4 ILBs deserve a spot. Summers is 4th: he's on the bubble.
7 OLBs deserve a spot. Keep 6? Probably Tipa and maybe Barnes to PS.
3 CBs deserve a spot. Ento was a good bet. Jackson (4th) is a good bet. Hollman? Samuels?
5 Safeties. Redmond might be a little iffy, but he seemed to go about his business well enough.

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dobber's picture

August 31, 2020 at 07:18 am

"The 49ers covet him as they put in a waiver wire claim for him but we beat them to the punch."

Keep the players who showed best, have a future, and make you better. Don't cut a player you like to keep a player who doesn't necessarily make you better. Don't worry about who might claim your castoffs.

"Can any of these guys return punts if Ervin gets hurt?"

DBs are commonly asked to return punts in college. I think Chandon Sullivan has returned punts. Jaire Alexander did it in college and my recollection was he was very good (but I would cringe at putting him back there). What do you need out of your punt returner? Secure the catch. Get what's blocked.

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ShooterMcGee's picture

August 31, 2020 at 07:31 am

Last year we were about to set a record low for punt return yardage until Ervin saved us from ignominity. That's why I think 5th wr should bring some return ability just in case.
I have always been of the opinion that a punt returner only needs to fair catch a punt, never fumble, and never let the ball hit the ground(except inside 10 yard line). Just by doing this the yardage saved would be significant.

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SpikeHyzer's picture

August 31, 2020 at 03:51 pm

Ignominy.
No such word as ignominity.

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Guam's picture

August 31, 2020 at 07:39 am

Generally like the Packer's 53 except for DL and OLT. The defensive line is thin and the depth at OLT is non-existent. Gute still has some work to do.

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PackEyedOptimist's picture

August 31, 2020 at 07:03 am

Reposting my prediction (not exactly what I would keep):
Offense: 27
3 QB: Aaron Rodgers, Tim Boyle, Jordan Love
5 RB: Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, AJ Dillon, Tyler Ervin, John Lovett
5 WR: Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St Brown, Jake Kumerow
4 TE: Jace Sternberger, Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara
4 OT: David Bakhtiari, Billy Turner, Rick Wagner, Alex Light
3 OG: Elgton Jenkins, Lane Taylor, Jon Runyan,
3 C: Corey Linsley, Lucas Patrick, Jake Hanson

Defense: 23
6 DL: Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Kingsley Keke, Treyvon Hester, Tyler Lancaster, Montravius Adams
4 OLB: Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Tim Williams
4 ILB: Christian Kirksey, Oren Burks, Ty Summers, Kamal Martin
5 CB: Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Josh Jackson, Chandon Sullivan, Ka'dar Hollman
4 S: Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Raven Greene, Will Redmond

Special Teams: 3
K: Mason Crosby
P: JK Scott
LS: Hunter Bradley

(I expect only 5 DL to be kept, so I'm hoping Vernon Scott replaces Hester or M Adams)

16 PS: Dexter Williams, Reggie Begelton, Darrius Shepherd, Evan Baylis, Yosh Nijman, John Leglue, Jonathan Garvin, Randy Ramsey, Tipa Galeai, Kabion Ento, Stanford Samuels, Vernon Scott, + 4 more!

I REALLY like this roster with the exception of DL and ROT. Coincidentally, those were the two positions I "drafted" this spring. *shrugs shoulders

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ShooterMcGee's picture

August 31, 2020 at 07:50 am

Jared Veldheer on line 1.

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Coldworld's picture

August 31, 2020 at 08:07 am

I think Vernon Scott May make it as Greene’s back up. We need a backup at the hybrid role. Redmond is a deep safety.

I do not think Kumerow makes it. I think Shepherd or Bagelton bring more and did more in camp. One of them. However, EQ did very little in camp that I heard of. Could he be the wild card with Kumerow kept for his blocking prowess? I just can’t see it although EQ doesn't play special teams notably.

I think that they will find a way to keep Nijman. I just don’t see him making the PS as so much upside. I don’t see us keeping 3 centers. Will Patrick be kept as guard depth? Alternatively, is Turner/Wagner the swing and Light gone?

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JohnnyLogan's picture

August 31, 2020 at 12:41 pm

My thoughts: Garvin makes it. He flashed almost every practice. Adams cut . Sheperd beats out Kumerow.

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jannes bjornson's picture

August 31, 2020 at 12:57 pm

I believe Shepherd and Kumerow both make the squad. Six at the WR position. Special teams ability counts.

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SpikeHyzer's picture

August 31, 2020 at 04:09 pm

It's a super tough cut this year, but I honestly like most of your practice squad better as immediate contributors more than many guys who made the team. Since the post was about those last roster spots, I would change these 9.

Cut: Lovett, Kumerow, Marcades (there has to be a surprise and we only need 3 TEs), Light, Hanson (to PS), Lowry, Lancaster, Tim Williams, and Redmond.

Replace with: Dexter Williams, Shepherd, Nijman, Garvin, Galeai, Samuels, Scott, Begelton and Taylor (7 WRs, but 2 will be inactive in each game and we have had our injury issues at the position and should keep guys who know the system in the system).

I think it gives us a versatile and athletic roster that will excel on special teams, and they can maybe try to play 'positionless' up front in the way the Bucks play positionless basketball (i.e. roll with the potential of athletic guys who make big plays over the couple of bad athletes we have on the DL).

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croatpackfan's picture

September 01, 2020 at 02:19 am

Who is MARCADES? What position he plays? When he was signed with team?

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 31, 2020 at 07:23 am

Quite honestly, this is one of the hardest years to try and predict the 53. Without being able to see the players in person its hard for us to sit here and make accurate predictions. All we have to go off of is what the Media is reporting. Which now is less then ever.

To highlight a few positions I'm curious how they turn out. These are my thoughts on those positions.

OL - Bakhtiari, Jenkins, Linsley, Taylor, Turner, Wagner should be locks. I would think Patrick and Runyan would be on the 53. That would leave 1-2 spots for Hanson, Stepaniak, Nijman, Light

WR - Right now I would say that Adams, Lazard, MVS, EQ are locks for the 53. I think Kumerow will be the 5th, though a guy like Shepherd or Turner could change that?

CB - Alexander, King, Jackson, Sullivan are locks imo. Ento, Hollman, Samuels are all in the running for probably 2 spots.

OLB - The Smiths, Gary are locks. After them, there are some intriguing players. It sounds like Tim Williams has really showed up. I have seen Ramsey's name mentioned. Garvin is an intriguing 7th round pick. I'm curious who gets that 4th and maybe 5th spot.

S - It seems like the 4th spot is between Redmond and Vernon Scott.

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dobber's picture

August 31, 2020 at 07:27 am

That backup OLT position is a problem. Right now, I don't think they have anyone who could start 3-5 games and not be a real liability.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 31, 2020 at 07:42 am

The media told us that King, Jaire and Sullivan had very good camps. But a ton of WRs had good camps, and they had to do it against somebody. Jackson was up and down, but I'd see pass completed despite good coverage by Jackson at times in addition to some PBUs and such. Shepherd in particular had a very good camp, so someone couldn't cover him unless it was all against zone. Was the game too big for Shepherd last year? Has he grown or is he a TC warrior. IDK.

A ton of OLBs had very, very good camps. Had to be against somebody.

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Coldworld's picture

August 31, 2020 at 08:27 am

Yesterday was concerning for Jackson. While we can all have a bad day, it seems like grabbing is becoming a concern.

How much have we actually heard from EQ in terms of plays. Is he sliding? Lazard, MVS, Adams are locks, looks like Shepherd has had the best camp. Did Bagelton do enough? Does Ervin impact the make up of this group.

Is special teams a factor beyond Ervin (Bagelton excels there I believe while EQ does not). Is Kumerow worth keeping for his blocking prowess? I think that although it’s important in this system, probably not.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 31, 2020 at 09:51 am

MVS got a lot of tweets about plays and improved route running. Lazard didn't get a ton of mentions but he'd get the great catch stuff sometimes, and I don't remember demerits. EQ got some mentions but not a lot of them, and I don't remember great catches or anything enthusiastic about him especially. Shepherd had the best camp. Begelton got quite a few tweets early though he tapered off. Turner got some plaudits: Herman said "don't know about his ceiling but he belongs in the NFL." FWIW. Kumerow caught some balls now and again. Taylor got mentioned a fair amount, but not with great enthusiasm.

I am not at camp and therefore I am just trying to convey the "house opinion" of the media guys who are there. Questions asking for fine distinctions btw players who seem close probably should be directed to Aaron Nagler.

Age old issue as well: some of these guys appear to have talent but aren't ready to play now, and maybe not this year. So Gute has to balance 2020 vs. the long-term. To wit: Nijman and 7 OLBs.

Stepaniak goes seamlessly on the PUP from NFI. I don't think he has to go through waivers, but it has been a while since I looked at the NFI rules.

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 31, 2020 at 09:53 am

Yeah, I really would like to see them bring Velhdeer back honestly.

Nijman is an intriguing guy. Just have no idea if he can play. Preseason would have been nice for him.

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jannes bjornson's picture

August 31, 2020 at 12:42 pm

He should be on board after the opening game. They can save money bringing him in later.

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Coldworld's picture

August 31, 2020 at 08:16 am

Stepaniak is likely going to remain on PUP. Ento may go to IR. I think there will be an extra hybrid type, perhaps Scott or an extra cover ILB. Redmond is better deep but Scott could replace a Greene if needed.

Redmond is, like Savage a potential addition to CB depth. It will be interesting to see how that group rounds out. I sense Jackson may not be a definite yet. Do we really trust him outside? Holman or Samuels could squeak that one, with one of the safeties playing central db in multi back sets.

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croatpackfan's picture

September 01, 2020 at 02:21 am

Ento has broken bone in his foot! Reported several days ago! If Packers keep him he will be on IR for a year!

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blacke00's picture

August 31, 2020 at 07:33 am

There's always surprises on the final roster. CHTV should have a contest on "the" surprise addition and/or subtraction to the final roster.

Guess right and you win a "date" with Aaron and Cory!

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Lare's picture

August 31, 2020 at 11:32 am

My question is how long they stick with guys like M Adams, Burks, ESB, Kumerow, D Williams and Light.

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jannes bjornson's picture

August 31, 2020 at 12:55 pm

Maybe Montravious goes to PUP and they hunt for a DT via trade? Pettine is not a heavy nickle type of guy with ZA and Gary capable of going DE or three tech. I would keep four at inside LB with Burks on the bubble.

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NickPerry's picture

September 01, 2020 at 05:28 am

ESB? Really??

He did okay as a 6th round pick his rookie season and then got injured playing on that field in Canada in the preseason last year. On a field that didn't meet standards and the Packers shouldn't have EVER been on.

I'm excited about EQ.

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NickPerry's picture

September 01, 2020 at 05:28 am

ESB? Really??

He did okay as a 6th round pick his rookie season and then got injured playing on that field in Canada in the preseason last year. On a field that didn't meet standards and the Packers shouldn't have EVER been on.

I'm excited about EQ.

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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

August 31, 2020 at 07:59 am

My biggest questions come down to these three players...Tyler Ervin, Dexter William, and John Lovett.

At WR Kumerow is just a guy who will never really lift the team. Good guy but don't understand the love he gets. We have several WR's with similar body types that are much younger, faster, and more talented with more upside. Don't need Kumerow but does Ervin or Shepard make it for a change of pace? Quicker in the slot? If Ervin is the 5th WR it would open a spot for someone like Dexter or Lovett.

I think many are not giving Dexter enough recognition of the talent he has. He may not have opportunity to show it unless Aaron Jones gets injured, or the Packers do not sign Jones next year but Dexter is very talented and the Packers need to somehow keep him. Why Ervin as WR makes sense as that 5th WR to allow for Dexter or Lovett to make 53.

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ShooterMcGee's picture

August 31, 2020 at 08:12 am

The problem with Dexter in my opinion is that he only plays 1 position. Ervin plays rb, wr, punt and kick returner. Lovett plays fb, hb, te, and overall versatile weapon. Seems like coach covets versatility so that may play into the decision.

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Coldworld's picture

August 31, 2020 at 08:32 am

Dexter’s problem is not running but blocking and assignments. It seems he still is hit and miss. I don’t see 2 RBs making the roster who aren’t reliable. Dillon is going to be there, so despite D Williams appearing the logical backup to Jones, I think he is on the outside.

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Pistolero's picture

August 31, 2020 at 01:53 pm

Re WR's behind Kumerow, my response is: Upside doesn't move the chains, that's what the practice squad is for. All the potential in the world means nothing if Rodgers doesn't throw it to them.

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SpikeHyzer's picture

August 31, 2020 at 04:13 pm

Kumerow has never moved the chains either.

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croatpackfan's picture

September 01, 2020 at 02:24 am

This claim is not true, but I agree with you, Kumerow is under average WR and better to keep guy with upside than "already at maximal level" under average guy!

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mnbadger's picture

August 31, 2020 at 08:01 am

Montravius is gone. they'll scour cast-off and practice squads to find one serviceable DT. TY S goes to PS and is replaced the same way. Let's get started. GPG

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PackfanNY's picture

August 31, 2020 at 08:51 am

Couldn’t agree more. Is Montravious still in a boot? I see maybe him getting put on IR before getting released. Major disappointment who can never get on the field.

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Bure9620's picture

August 31, 2020 at 08:06 am

26 offense
QB: Rodgers, Boyle, Love
RB: Jones, Williams, Dillon, Swervin, Lovett
WR: Adams, MVS, EQ, Lazard, Turner
OL: Bahk, Jenkins, Lindlsey, Taylor, Turner, Wagner, Patrick, Runyan, Hanson
TE: Tonyan, Sternberger, Deguara, Lewis

24
DL: Clarke, Keke, Lowry, Lancaster, Hester
OLB: Z, Smith, Gary, Garvin, Tipa
ILB: Kirksey, Martin, Burks, Barnes
Corner: Jaire, King, Sullivan, Samuels, Jackson, Hollman
S: Savage, Amos, Greene, Scott

Teams: Crosby, Scott, LS

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Johnblood27's picture

August 31, 2020 at 09:23 am

No P. Smith???

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

August 31, 2020 at 09:42 am

This looks like a very reasonable take.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

August 31, 2020 at 09:20 am

It seams like there will be less of a chance that teams poach each other teams practices squad players this season since they will have no tape. Probably this is why the Packers asked the media to not disclose who ran with what group in practice this camp.

10 points
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13TimeChamps's picture

August 31, 2020 at 09:41 am

Makes sense.

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Coldworld's picture

August 31, 2020 at 11:42 am

But then if COVID strikes, refilling from other squads may also become more prevalent?

These players have presumably been scouted anyway.

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murf7777's picture

August 31, 2020 at 11:37 am

I believe the final roster will be one or two who aren’t on the team right now. There is going to be some opportunities with prove it deals with FA’s and cuts made from other teams that could fill our team needs better then who we have now.

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Lare's picture

August 31, 2020 at 12:31 pm

Could be, they still seem to have openings at RT, ILB and DL. Of course, we've been saying that since January.

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SpikeHyzer's picture

August 31, 2020 at 04:25 pm

Agree.
I predict at least one OL and one DL and probably no other FAs from other team's cuts.
Usually a few guys make it on to the team that way, but I think it will be less so this year.

0 points
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WMA's picture

August 31, 2020 at 12:57 pm

Previlon will make the 53.

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Mcdaws's picture

August 31, 2020 at 02:47 pm

Expand upon this, I’m curious about him. Who are your d-linemen?

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Packers0808's picture

August 31, 2020 at 01:58 pm

I have a gut feeling the keep 6 WR and Bigleton makes the team!

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Mcdaws's picture

August 31, 2020 at 02:53 pm

I think 6 wr but shep or Taylor.

So, Adams, Lazard, MVS, Ervin, kumerow then one of the other two, eq stashed to hide but he has been quiet.

I think they alternate series with 3wr sets and 22 personnel or is that 2 rb’s on the field. So unpredictable and wide skill sets to mix it up

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SpikeHyzer's picture

August 31, 2020 at 04:28 pm

Ervin is listed with the RBs.
Kumerow will be cut. ESB, Malik, Begelton and Shepherd will then all make it.

I know it's 7, but remember that only 46 are active on game day. Instead of risking these players--at a position that is unsettled and injury prone--we can stash them among the 7 inactives each week (Begelton and Malik).

Time to move on from Jake because Shep and Malik lit it up in the scrimmage and have way more upside.

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flackcatcher's picture

August 31, 2020 at 06:29 pm

Couple of short notes. Don't just look at the talent, it is the scheme and system that the talent runs that will decide their fate. Reporters are the worse at forgetting what MLF and Pettine runs, and overly focusing on the pure size speed ratio of the players. As mentioned, a lot of this roster is set for the future, especially in the OL. There is a good chance that 3 out of the five current starters will not be with this team next year. Packers got to make some hard choices next year. Radom thoughts: Will the Packers keep an extra DB in the hybrid roll over a ILB, and who starts at RG, Taylor or Turner. As Coldworld and others have mentioned in the comments, who is going to be the swing tackle, or will they have a backup at each tackle slot. (As Gute did last year for the first half of the season) RT should be Wagner, and yet... Does a FB make the roster this year... H-Back, whose roster position gets whacked, TE or RB... Have to wait and see...

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