This should be one of the most talked about positions since the Green Bay Packers completely shook up the roster. Gone are veteran starters Ryan Grant and Cedric Benson while three rookies have been added.
Position Review: Offensive Line Guards and Tackles
Position Review: Offensive Line-Center
Position Review: Wide Receivers
Position Review: Quarterback
It's not clear who will be the starter. The rookies might be ready to grab the ball and run, but they're probably not up to speed with the overall playbook and pass blocking, which might give the returning veterans an advantage for the first few weeks of the season. It would be a surprise if the Packers kept more than three running backs, so a couple of once promising players might not be with the team much longer.
DuJuan Harris. He might seem like the player with the least upside, but he finished 2012 as the starter and every player and coach seems to rave about him. He was productive last season in six games, rushing for 4.6 ypc during the regular season and four touchdowns (two in the playoffs). He might be the best bet to start the season.
Eddie Lacy. He's the player I want to see on the field, but he comes with legitimate injury risks and not a lot of college experience. He might need some time to get ready (and healthy) for the NFL.
Johnathan Franklin. He was talked about as a potential 2nd round pick, so I was surprised he was still available later (and apparently the Packers were too because they traded up in the 4th round to select him). He's lighter (205 lbs.) than Lacy and might be more of a complementary back but his speed score was solid and it could be a sign that he should hold up just fine as the primary rusher.
Alex Green. Maybe he should be higher on the list now that he's another year removed from his torn ACL, but he didn't impress last season and I don't see how he fits with the Packers anymore. Supposedly, he's at the top of the depth chart, but that June ranking means nothing if he's only averaging a couple yards per carry during the preseason. I thought he could be a trade candidate, but the team seems to be giving him the chance to start, so he'll stay if he runs well. If he flops during the preseason, I doubt the Packers will make room for him or be able to find anything in trade.
James Starks. He came into the NFL after a lost college season due to injury, and he hasn't been able to stay healthy as a pro either. Also, he didn't impress last season when healthy (3.6 ypc, one carry of greater than 20 yards). I doubt he has any trade value, but a strong preseason might encourage another team to take a chance on him as a free agent.
Angelo Pease. Despite playing on Kansas State's high powered offense, he wasn't much of a factor in college (333 rushing yards in 2012). McCarthy likes what he's seen, but Pease's 4.59 40 time is a little slow for a back his size (5-10, 211 lbs.). He might have a better chance of staying due to his eligibility for the practice squad, but the Packers might not need him if they have three other backs on the 53-man roster.
Showing posts with label Angelo Pease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Angelo Pease. Show all posts
Friday, July 12, 2013
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Who Are These Guys? Packers 2013 Undrafted Rookie Free Agents - Offense
It's a little hard to find out information on the undrafted rookie free agents signed by the Green Bay Packers because these are not top prospects. But every year, a couple of them find their way into the starting lineup. This post will start with the offense on this list of the 2013 undrafted rookie free agents posted by Jersey Al's:
QB Matt Brown, Illinois State. He tore up Division I (subdivision) and he's got NFL size (6-3, 223 lbs.) I expect he's got a strong arm, which is why they drafted B.J. Coleman last year, but the other backup (Graham Harrell) is a soft tosser by NFL standards, so maybe a strong arm isn't a prerequisite for the Packers. He's not highly regarded even among the undrafted QBs. CBS Sports.com had him ranked below guys like Penn State's Matt McGloin (who signed with the Redskins) but above players like Nate Montana (he was invited to 49ers camp because, of course he was). Unless Brown shows something in training camp, I don't expect he'll beat out Coleman as the practice squad QB.
C Patrick Lewis, Texas A&M. While he played in college on a winning team alongside the No. 2 overall selection (Luke Joeckel), Lewis wasn't expected to be drafted. He started a whopping 52 games in college and was named All-Big 12 in three seasons. Based on his 40 and shuttle times, he seems agile enough, but he's listed at 6-1 so he's a bit short for an NFL center. I can't find his arm length measurement from the combine, but I'm guessing his arms might be a little short too. He'll probably get a chance to prove himself during the preseason, but he's not going to be given too many opportunities.
RB Angelo Pease, Kansas State. He was the change of pace back for the Wildcats, so it's hard to picture him ever becoming an NFL featured back. At 211 lbs. he ran a 4.50 40 at the combine, which isn't quite big enough or fast enough to stand out from the other backs. While he has almost zero chance of making the 53-man roster, he might stick on the practice squad if the Packers want to keep an extra back.
TE Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State. Good receiving tight ends like Tyler Eifert were popular this year, so I'm surprised Stoneburner wasn't someone's late round draft selection. He'll have to move ahead of TEs D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor to make the roster, but those two haven't exactly set the world on fire. If he can make some tough catches this preseason and show his value on special teams, he's got a shot at earning a 53-man roster spot.
G Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State. He wasn't considered a college prospect but went onto have a great college career. Now he's hoping to do the same though he was ranked as only the No. 35 prospect at guard by CBS Sports.com. The Packers will have room for a lineman on the practice squad, so he'll have a chance at earning a spot on it.
LS James Winchester, Oklahoma. Watch out Brett Goode! Winchester's a little small at 210 lbs. to snap punts, Goode's 255 lbs., so I'm not sure he can take Goode's role on special teams. Winchester had a great workout at Oklahoma's pro day, with better marks then some skill players, so maybe the Packers are just bringing a great athlete into camp and seeing if they can make something of him.
OT Jeremy Vujnovich, Louisiana College. He's an interesting Division III player with a 6-5 frame and he did 35 reps in the bench press, so he's strong too. He's more likely to become the next Allen Barbre than the next Josh Sitton and he's looking at a steep learning curve from Division III to the NFL. He's only got a tryout but the Packers have some room on their 90 man roster, and they need to improve their depth at tackle, so he'll have a chance.
QB Matt Brown, Illinois State. He tore up Division I (subdivision) and he's got NFL size (6-3, 223 lbs.) I expect he's got a strong arm, which is why they drafted B.J. Coleman last year, but the other backup (Graham Harrell) is a soft tosser by NFL standards, so maybe a strong arm isn't a prerequisite for the Packers. He's not highly regarded even among the undrafted QBs. CBS Sports.com had him ranked below guys like Penn State's Matt McGloin (who signed with the Redskins) but above players like Nate Montana (he was invited to 49ers camp because, of course he was). Unless Brown shows something in training camp, I don't expect he'll beat out Coleman as the practice squad QB.
C Patrick Lewis, Texas A&M. While he played in college on a winning team alongside the No. 2 overall selection (Luke Joeckel), Lewis wasn't expected to be drafted. He started a whopping 52 games in college and was named All-Big 12 in three seasons. Based on his 40 and shuttle times, he seems agile enough, but he's listed at 6-1 so he's a bit short for an NFL center. I can't find his arm length measurement from the combine, but I'm guessing his arms might be a little short too. He'll probably get a chance to prove himself during the preseason, but he's not going to be given too many opportunities.
RB Angelo Pease, Kansas State. He was the change of pace back for the Wildcats, so it's hard to picture him ever becoming an NFL featured back. At 211 lbs. he ran a 4.50 40 at the combine, which isn't quite big enough or fast enough to stand out from the other backs. While he has almost zero chance of making the 53-man roster, he might stick on the practice squad if the Packers want to keep an extra back.
TE Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State. Good receiving tight ends like Tyler Eifert were popular this year, so I'm surprised Stoneburner wasn't someone's late round draft selection. He'll have to move ahead of TEs D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor to make the roster, but those two haven't exactly set the world on fire. If he can make some tough catches this preseason and show his value on special teams, he's got a shot at earning a 53-man roster spot.
G Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State. He wasn't considered a college prospect but went onto have a great college career. Now he's hoping to do the same though he was ranked as only the No. 35 prospect at guard by CBS Sports.com. The Packers will have room for a lineman on the practice squad, so he'll have a chance at earning a spot on it.
LS James Winchester, Oklahoma. Watch out Brett Goode! Winchester's a little small at 210 lbs. to snap punts, Goode's 255 lbs., so I'm not sure he can take Goode's role on special teams. Winchester had a great workout at Oklahoma's pro day, with better marks then some skill players, so maybe the Packers are just bringing a great athlete into camp and seeing if they can make something of him.
OT Jeremy Vujnovich, Louisiana College. He's an interesting Division III player with a 6-5 frame and he did 35 reps in the bench press, so he's strong too. He's more likely to become the next Allen Barbre than the next Josh Sitton and he's looking at a steep learning curve from Division III to the NFL. He's only got a tryout but the Packers have some room on their 90 man roster, and they need to improve their depth at tackle, so he'll have a chance.