This week, the Green Bay Packers signed another wide receiver to bring the total number of wide receivers in camp up to 11. While the top three are locked in, the bottom six are all rookies who probably have to shine during the preseason to stick with the team.
Previously:
Position Review: Offensive Line Guards and Tackles
Position Review: Offensive Line-Center
Starters: Randall Cobb, James Jones, Jordy Nelson. No doubt about it.
The Packers will probably keep three other receivers, two on the 53-man roster and one on the practice squad, and here are the other eight candidates.
Jarrett Boykin. A late season ankle injury ended his rookie campaign early, but before that he looked like a reliable player who ran good routes without dropping passes. He's the early favorite to become the No. 4 wide receiver.
Jeremy Ross. The Packers didn't sign him to the practice squad until October 17, 2012 but he ended up playing in five games (plus playoffs). While he didn't have a single pass thrown to him, he looked like a dynamic return man after big games against the Titans and Vikings. Until this happened against the 49ers. He'll get another chance, but if he drops a punt or two during the preseason, I wouldn't be surprised if he's released.
Charles Johnson and Kevin Dorsey. The two receivers the Packers drafted in the 7th round. Johnson was a small school guy who impressed Mel Kiper Jr. (and obviously the Packers' scouts) while Dorsey was a No. 1 college wide receiver during an epic quarterback injury situation. They might find themselves on the practice squad at the start of the season.
Sederrik Cunningham, Alex Gillett, Tyrone Walker, Myles White. Gillett was just signed this week as he makes the switch from college QB to NFL WR. All four players are going to have a very hard time making even the practice squad.
In the end, while the players will have to learn the offense and train hard, what's going to separate them is whether they drop passes or fumble the ball during the preseason games. It wouldn't be a surprise to see them all stay in camp until the very last preseason game so the Packers can find out who they can trust with the ball.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Free agent LB Brian Urlacher retires
After 13 NFL seasons(all with the Bears), longtime LB Brian Urlacher has retired. Urlacher was expected to play somewhere next year, but couldn't find a team that wanted him enough.
In those 13 years, Urlacher made 8 Pro-Bowl teams, 5 All-Pro teams, won the Brian Piccolo Award, won the Ed Block courage Award, won the Defensive Player of the year Award, and was a part of the '06 Bears team that made it to the Super Bowl. While everything he did in his career was against and not for the Packers, I will always respect him. He was a great player.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Rookie Lineman Tretter Breaks His Ankle
I wrote on Monday about the offensive line and how it was going to be a topic of conversation at the start of OTAs. Unfortunately, I was not hoping that an injury would be the reason it's talked about:
It's not a big deal because this is what agent's do, but Tretter's agent did question why his client was practicing to slide anyway. Maybe this will make the coaches re-think some of their drills, but otherwise that probably won't be an issue.
It's too bad to lose a promising young lineman so early in the season, but these things happen in football. We'll just have to wait until 2014 for our first look at him.
Fourth-round draft choice JC Tretter is the Packers’ first casualty of the year: pckrs.com/z9g6Given time, Tretter should make a full recovery. According to the Journal-Sentinel, his recovery should take several months, but he could return to the field this season. Tretter's injury was compared to Ryan Grant's broken ankle that he suffered during the first week of the 2010 season. Grant was placed on I.R. and there were rumors that Grant could have returned for the playoffs, if the Packers hadn't placed him on I.R. However, assuming Tretter can return this season, I can't imagine the Packers relying on an inexperienced lineman who's barely practiced all year during a playoff run. Even if Tretter can return in 2013, his season is effectively over.
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) May 21, 2013
It's not a big deal because this is what agent's do, but Tretter's agent did question why his client was practicing to slide anyway. Maybe this will make the coaches re-think some of their drills, but otherwise that probably won't be an issue.
It's too bad to lose a promising young lineman so early in the season, but these things happen in football. We'll just have to wait until 2014 for our first look at him.
Charles Woodson signs 1-year deal with Raiders
Finally, all this drama is over. In case you didn't hear, the Raiders, the only team who actually wanted Charles Woodson, have signed him to a 1-year deal. Woodson spent the first 8 years of his career in Oakland followed by 7 in Green Bay.
While I'm happy our old friend finally found a home, I don't care a ton about this. In the upcoming season, Woodson probably won't play much or have a legitimate effect on the team. So again while I'm happy for him, this stuff isn't news. All the Raiders did was sign a guy nobody wanted.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Lester Bagley: We'll beat the Packers in the new stadium's opener
In a recent interview with a Minnesota news station, Vikings VP Lester Bagley stated that his team will beat the Packers when their new stadium opens in the fall of 2016.
"The way the league is structured ... our very first regular-season game likely will be against the Green Bay Packers," Bagley said. "So it will be good to see Adrian Peterson break loose and score the first touchdown in the new stadium and run over Clay Matthews on his way to the end zone. We'll see. Hopefully we'll have the last word when we get to opening day in (September) 2016."
I won't argue this just because it can't be argued. But I do find this story interesting.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Position Review: Offensive Line Guards and Tackles
When the OTAs (organized team activities) start this week for the Green Bay Packers, who's playing where on the offensive line will be a topic of conversation because Mike McCarthy said that Bryan Bulaga and Josh Sitton are moving to the left side of the line and the Packers drafted two rookie lineman in April. It's clear Bulaga and Sitton will be the starters, along with T.J. Lang at right guard, but the position (guard or tackle) and future of every other lineman on the roster is an open question.
Position Review: Offensive Line-Center. Though I wrote earlier about Evan Dietrich-Smith and Greg Van Roten, they're both listed as G/C so it wouldn't be a surprise to see either of them playing guard in the future. But right now, they're the top two centers.
Marshall Newhouse and Derek Sherrod. While their situations are different, Newhouse was displaced by Bulaga on the left side and Sherrod hasn't been able to get his career back on track after a major leg injury, they're probably options 1A and 1B at right tackle. Newhouse can certainly play there but they'd rather see Sherrod show the promise they saw when selected him in the 1st round in 2011. This is a big offseason for both players. The loser will probably wind up on another team's roster in 2014.
David Bakhtiari and J.C. Tretter. The problem for the winner of the Newhouse/Sherrod battle is that they might only win the starting job for one season before Bakhtiari and Tretter are ready. GM Ted Thompson has had success finding offensive lineman in the 4th round (Sitton, Lang) and he found two more in 2013. Both players look more talented then their draft selection would indicate. They might have been available in the 4th round only because it was a strong draft for offensive lineman and they played at two little watched schools (Bakhtiari at Colorado, Tretter at Cornell). Their futures might be at guard, so they should play both guard and tackle this preseason as the coaches get a better look at them. I wouldn't be surprised to see both of them become long-term answers on the offensive line.
Don Barclay, Andrew Datko, Kevin Hughes, Lane Taylor. Barclay beat out Datko last year to become their emergency starter at right tackle, but Datko might look better this year if the shoulder he injured during his senior season is stronger. The problem for all four players is that the Packers have more depth now then they've had over the past few seasons. There might not be any room for undrafted or former practice squad players this year. I count nine lineman ahead of these four players, and the Packers have only kept seven to eight lineman at the start of the last two seasons. Even if they kept nine, these players probably wouldn't make the cut.
The starting five aren't settled like they were a year ago, but there's more depth then ever and it could lead to a surprising mix on the offensive line in 2013.
Position Review: Offensive Line-Center. Though I wrote earlier about Evan Dietrich-Smith and Greg Van Roten, they're both listed as G/C so it wouldn't be a surprise to see either of them playing guard in the future. But right now, they're the top two centers.
Marshall Newhouse and Derek Sherrod. While their situations are different, Newhouse was displaced by Bulaga on the left side and Sherrod hasn't been able to get his career back on track after a major leg injury, they're probably options 1A and 1B at right tackle. Newhouse can certainly play there but they'd rather see Sherrod show the promise they saw when selected him in the 1st round in 2011. This is a big offseason for both players. The loser will probably wind up on another team's roster in 2014.
David Bakhtiari and J.C. Tretter. The problem for the winner of the Newhouse/Sherrod battle is that they might only win the starting job for one season before Bakhtiari and Tretter are ready. GM Ted Thompson has had success finding offensive lineman in the 4th round (Sitton, Lang) and he found two more in 2013. Both players look more talented then their draft selection would indicate. They might have been available in the 4th round only because it was a strong draft for offensive lineman and they played at two little watched schools (Bakhtiari at Colorado, Tretter at Cornell). Their futures might be at guard, so they should play both guard and tackle this preseason as the coaches get a better look at them. I wouldn't be surprised to see both of them become long-term answers on the offensive line.
Don Barclay, Andrew Datko, Kevin Hughes, Lane Taylor. Barclay beat out Datko last year to become their emergency starter at right tackle, but Datko might look better this year if the shoulder he injured during his senior season is stronger. The problem for all four players is that the Packers have more depth now then they've had over the past few seasons. There might not be any room for undrafted or former practice squad players this year. I count nine lineman ahead of these four players, and the Packers have only kept seven to eight lineman at the start of the last two seasons. Even if they kept nine, these players probably wouldn't make the cut.
The starting five aren't settled like they were a year ago, but there's more depth then ever and it could lead to a surprising mix on the offensive line in 2013.
Packers Bishop believes he's "capable" of winning defensive MVP
Around the time of the draft, the Packers were actively shopping their starting linebacker, Desmond Bishop. But now that he's still in Green Bay, the man who got hurt in last year's first preseason game has inflated his ego. Saying that he is "capable" of winning the defensive MVP Award in 2013.
"Seriously," he said. "Why not? I know I'm capable."
While Bishop is overall pretty good, I don't think he's that good. He might have a good season, but he won't be an All-Pro type of guy. But on the bright side, at least he seems healthy. That can't be bad.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Dwight Freeney signs 2-year deal with Chargers
After 11 seasons, 7 Pro Bowl appearances, and a Super Bowl title with the Colts, veteran NFL linebacker Dwight Freeney is leaving Indianapolis for the Chargers, agreeing to a two-year deal with the team yesterday. The deal is worth at least $8.75 million total plus incentives.
"It's great to add a solid veteran who brings valuable experience to our defense," said Chargers coach Mike McCoy. "His proven pass-rush ability is a perfect fit for our defense."
In my opinion, this deal won't really help the Chargers but, like with the current Charles Woodson situation, Freeney deserves to play somewhere.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Seahawks Irvin suspended four games for violating league's PED policy
Yesterday, the Seattle Seahawks announced that their second-year defensive end, Bruce Irvin, had been suspended four games without pay by the league for violating the NFL's PED policy. In the wake of the announcement, Irwin had this to say:
"I want to apologize to my teammates, coaches and Seahawks fans for making a mistake when I took a substance that is prohibited in the NFL without a medical exemption," Irvin said in a statement released by the team. "I am extremely disappointed in the poor judgment I showed and take full responsibility for my actions. I will not appeal the discipline and instead will focus my energy on preparing for the season so I can begin earning your trust and respect again. I look forward to contributing to the team the moment I return."
It's only four games, so it probably won't hurt them too much. But still, it's sad that a problem that we all thought was limited to baseball has stretched into the NFL.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Position Review: Offensive Line-Center
Now that the Green Bay Packers have filled out their roster through the draft and free agency, it's a good time to look ahead at the 2013 roster. They have some roster flexibility but usually it's a consistent number of players at each position. There should be at least two players on the 53-man roster listed as C/G and they could keep one more on the practice squad.
Starter Evan Dietrich-Smith. I was hoping to see the Packers draft their center of the future while keeping him around as a stop-gap measure. The future is open to debate, but the present belongs to Dietrich-Smith. I don't view him as a starter, and I don't get the impression that many around the NFL do either. The Packers gave him a low tender offer that required no draft pick compensation if he signed elsewhere, but no other team pursued him as a restricted free agent. 2013 might be the only year he begins the season as the starter, depending on how the next player develops.
Greg Van Roten. I started my positional reviews at center because I noticed the Packers are now listing Van Roten as a guard and center. Van Roten was an undrafted free agent signed in 2012 who impressed the coaches in training camp. He started the season on the practice squad but finished it on the active roster. I thought rookie 4th round pick JC Tretter would wind up on the inside, but he's starting his NFL career at tackle. Van Roten, and his role on the offensive line, should be a player to watch closely next preseason.
Garth Gerhart (brother of Toby Gerhart) and Patrick Lewis. Gerhart went undrafted in 2012 out of Arizona State and spent the season on the Browns' practice squad. He started 35 games in college, but at 6-1 he's a little short for the NFL. Lewis went undrafted out of Texas A&M after an impressive college career. He's almost identical in size to Gerhart, with similar workout times, and both players lack of elite athleticism and size might be the reason they went undrafted. They won't both stick with the team but they give the Packers their best shot of finding the next Scott Wells (late round/undrafted big college player who developed into a starter).
The Packers might have quietly created a battle for the starting job between Dietrich-Smith and Van Roten, while adding a couple of quality, big school backups. The Packers won't send a center again to the Pro Bowl in 2013, but there might be a good competition at the position.
Starter Evan Dietrich-Smith. I was hoping to see the Packers draft their center of the future while keeping him around as a stop-gap measure. The future is open to debate, but the present belongs to Dietrich-Smith. I don't view him as a starter, and I don't get the impression that many around the NFL do either. The Packers gave him a low tender offer that required no draft pick compensation if he signed elsewhere, but no other team pursued him as a restricted free agent. 2013 might be the only year he begins the season as the starter, depending on how the next player develops.
Greg Van Roten. I started my positional reviews at center because I noticed the Packers are now listing Van Roten as a guard and center. Van Roten was an undrafted free agent signed in 2012 who impressed the coaches in training camp. He started the season on the practice squad but finished it on the active roster. I thought rookie 4th round pick JC Tretter would wind up on the inside, but he's starting his NFL career at tackle. Van Roten, and his role on the offensive line, should be a player to watch closely next preseason.
Garth Gerhart (brother of Toby Gerhart) and Patrick Lewis. Gerhart went undrafted in 2012 out of Arizona State and spent the season on the Browns' practice squad. He started 35 games in college, but at 6-1 he's a little short for the NFL. Lewis went undrafted out of Texas A&M after an impressive college career. He's almost identical in size to Gerhart, with similar workout times, and both players lack of elite athleticism and size might be the reason they went undrafted. They won't both stick with the team but they give the Packers their best shot of finding the next Scott Wells (late round/undrafted big college player who developed into a starter).
The Packers might have quietly created a battle for the starting job between Dietrich-Smith and Van Roten, while adding a couple of quality, big school backups. The Packers won't send a center again to the Pro Bowl in 2013, but there might be a good competition at the position.
Woodson Updates: Giants?
Well, now the Giants are interested in Charles Woodson.
According to ESPN's Josina Anderson, the Giants have "put their toe in the water" with Woodson. Shortly after the veteran was released in March, the Giants were known to have interest, but didn't make a move. Due to New York's Super Bowl potential, they are seen as the favorite to sign him. All offseason, Woodson's been saying that he wants to win a little more, so the Giants may be a perfect fit. It'd be weird seeing him wear the red, white, and blue instead of the green and gold, but it's his choice.