http://www.packers.com/team/depth-chart.html 

I don't think there are any huge surprises, they didn't repeat some names but that's probably to save room.

I'm surprised that D.J. Clark is listed higher than Sam Shields, Josh Bell and Al Harris. Harris is injured, but I'm not sure why Clark is listed higher than Bell and Shields.

Sam Shields is listed the 3rd at both return spots.

They don't have punter even listed. Maybe they think it's too tight to list one higher than the other?

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It's apparently been an extremely close race, according to Greg Bedard:



As one commenter pointed out, Bryan is apparently competing with his inner demons. 😉

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I found it interesting that Breno G is listed as the No. 2 RT and Lang is only listed at RG.

I also like that Brandon Chiller is getting a crack at OLB. Not sure he's big enough to do it, but he certainly gives the Pack more options.

Packers have some good second string players. It really stands out looking at their depth chart.

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I doubt they'll be keeping 3 FBs, so seeing Quinn Johnson as 3rd on the depth chart doesn't make me too happy.

I hope that Quinn Porter beats out Kregg Lumpkin, eventually.

McCarthy said something about taking this punting competition into pre-season week 4 if he has to and if it stays as close as it has been.

Of course, this all means very little right now.

Like I said I think they're trying to not double names right now as to save room on the depth chart. They did it for Bulaga as they had room to and not put anyone on "other" and because they didn't want Barbre or Newhouse listed at #2 LG.




I think Chiller could be a very good pass rusher from the outside.




The guy has to learn to more than just run blocking. He has to learn to pass block or run routes and catch passes if not both. Also add more to STs.



Yeah I wasn't very happy to see Lumpkin as the #3 RB. I was hoping one of the other two beats him out.

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I say screw it. Let's not have a punter. Save a roster spot for someone more important. In the rare occasions we have to punt, I'm sure Aaron can punt. I mean, how hard is it to kick a ball far?

I remember reading an argument where everyone should just go on fourth down. The thing is, I think the guy was a university professor and he had statistics to back up the argument.

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He does, but I don't see why we should keep 2 FBs on the roster who most likely won't improve from here on out.

2 FBs is one too many to just have on your roster. If we're keeping a 2nd FB, it has to be because he's a project. Like Quinn is.

STs is a good point, but I think that TE might be the position where we keep so many people that they make up for half the STs unit this year. Finley - Lee - Havner - Quarless doesn't sound like a longshot. And Crabtree has been pretty decent in camp, as well.

For all I care, Quinn does his best Giacomini impression this year.

I've read suggestions that Quinn Johnson should gain 15 pounds or so and try out for guard, since all he can do is block anyway. He is slow, lumbering, and can barely catch even the easiest catches. That might be his best chance for a future in a league that is increasingly deprecating the position of fullback.

I agree that I want Porter to beat out Lumpkin. I've wanted Lumpkin gone for a couple of years now. He always looks so promising in camp but never seems to produce anything on the field.

Gregg Easterbrook (Tuesday Morning Quarterback) is an outspoken advocate  of going for it on fourth down. He points out that the average NFL play covers more than 5 yards, while the average distance required on fourth down is well under 5 yards.

Bryan Burke over at AdvancedNFLStats.com  is another advocate of going for it on fourth down, and he's done a rather exhaustive statistical study of its benefits.

I personally also hate watching teams punt, particularly in short-yardage situations, unless they're pinned deep in their own territory. Obviously, the strategy has to be used judiciously. 4th-and-2 is a lot different than 4th-and-26. One of the things I respect about Mike McCarthy and Bill Belichick is they go for it on fourth down far more than the average NFL coach. Peyton Manning likes to go for it on fourth too, which is one of the reasons I am a Manning apologist (even though I hate to watch him play).

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NSD - Thanks for those 2 links. But it was neither of those. It was someone who was not even associated with football; someone who was a statistics professor or economics professor or something boring like that, but it totally made sense when he explained the numbers.

I think coaches who punt within their opponent's 35 should be beaten and left for dead in Siberia. When I see them do that, I get really, really angry.

If you have an elite QB (in the cases of Rodgers, Brady, and Manning, the three teams you mentioned), you should go for it on 4th down a lot more. Drive opposing Defensive Coordinators nuts. Nothing a DC hates more than seeing his team fail on stopping a fourth down. Makes their blood pressure go up.

That's one thing I've always wanted to see. I want to see an opposing DC lose it and end up rocking back and forth in a loonie bin. That would rule.

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You're probably referring to this paper  by Berkeley economist David Romer.

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