wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
There are a whole lot of "What if's" here. But I guess that is part of the preseason process.

Mike acts like the Packers can have 65 players on the team. One of his sillier statements is at QB when he says,

But wouldnt some people sleep better if there was a veteran insurance policy?



What does he mean by that? This is his article. Is he advocating another QB or not? Does this mean that Flynn who is now in his 3rd season is not a veteran? Does that then mean he is still a rookie? Does he mean that he wants a veteran QB who has started some games with another team to be the GB backup? If so does that mean he would rather have some old player (Perhaps 10 years older than Flynn) who is not good enough to still have the starting job as the GB #2 QB? If so does that mean GB should release Flynn or carry 3 QB? If they keep 3 QB which position should they cut back on? And if they cut back on another position doesn't that mean GB will weaken the other position and add even more to his concerns?
All in all this story seems to be written without a lot of thought on his part. He must have been facing a deadline and just hacked out a bunch of random ideas without seeing how one statement will impact another.


link 

Which Packers position group is most worrisome halfway through the preseason? Heres my position by position look at the team, listed in order of most pressing concerns:

Linebacker The Packers have been decimated by injuries, with their potential four starters Clay Matthews, Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones missing the Seahawks game. Things should look better, perhaps as soon as Thursday vs. the Indianapolis Colts, as the healing process continues. Matthews might not return from his hamstring injury until next week at the earliest. But even at full strength, how effective will this unit be on the outside? After Matthews, there are a lot of question marks. Can Jones improve from a decent rookie season? Can Brandon Chillar make the transition from inside to outside? Can Brady Poppinga rush the passer and cover? I still think General Manager Ted Thompson needed to bolster this position either through the draft or by signing an unrestricted free agent. Regular-season injuries could wreak havoc.

Safety After Pro Bowler Nick Collins, things get a little dicey. Rookie Morgan Burnett is a projected starter in the absence of veteran Atari Bigby, who is expected to start the season on the physically unable to perform list and miss six weeks. Burnett has displayed promise, but its asking a lot for a rookie to step into the starting lineup and not have the defense miss a beat. Veterans Will Blackmon, Derrick Martin and Charlie Peprah have a combined seven NFL starts between them. In a pinch the Packers could also use Jarrett Bush. This is not the deepest, most talented or experienced group and could become a problem even if injuries dont strike.

Running back The Packers were forced to use fullback John Kuhn in the halfback role against the Seahawks. Quinn Porter, Kregg Lumpkin and rookie James Starks are currently on the list of walking wounded. When they return is anybodys guess. In the meantime, that leaves Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson standing upright. The Packers were desperate enough to call on Ahman Green in the middle of last season. They might have to do that again, but sooner.

Cornerback No one knows if Al Harris will be ready for the regular-season opener. If he doesnt answer the bell, the Packers will face the same problem they experienced last year: relying on inexperienced players in the nickel and dime packages behind Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams. Against the Seahawks Brandon Underwood and Pat Lee looked vulnerable. Its possible they will grow into the job, but that could be a painful process.

Offensive line This is the deepest group since Thompson arrived in 2005. But if veteran tackles Chad Clifton or Mark Tauscher go down, there could be potential trouble. Rookie Bryan Bulaga would get thrown into the fire at left tackle and probably survive. But is Breno Giacomini or T.J. Lang ready for action if Tauscher gets hurt? For now, there is enough depth at the interior positions to rest easy in case of injuries.

Quarterback Going with two quarterbacks on the active roster seems like a risk, although Thompson has done it without blinking an eye and will likely employ the same strategy this year. A Packers starting QB hasnt missed a start in 18 years, so you would think the law of averages will eventually catch up with them. Matt Flynn had his moments against Seattle and showed hes capable of filling in. But wouldnt some people sleep better if there was a veteran insurance policy?

Defensive line The front four seems set with Cullen Jenkins, B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett and rookie Mike Neal. Theres not a wealth of experience after that, which could be a concern.

Fullback Kuhn and Korey Hall give the Packers all the muscle they need and might make Quinn Johnson expendable.

Tight end This group goes five deep and shouldnt be a problem.

Receiver Nothing to worry about here as long as No. 3 and 4 receivers James Jones and Jordy Nelson continue to progress as they have in training camp.


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musccy
14 years ago
Just responding to your QB comments, but putting words in his mouth, I'm guessing he means he'd like a Sage Rossenfels/Derek Anderson type guy on the roster.

Assuming that's what he means, I agree. A Sage or a Derek certainly aren't stellar, but at least they've proven in the past that they can be competent. Flynn has no meaningful NFL experience in the regular season on the other hand, which isn't particularly settling if Aaron Rodgers goes down.
Tezzy
14 years ago
I agree with you WPR, who would he even be talking about for a backup QB. Should we be like the Bears and sign Todd Collins just because. I dislike writers who push forth big ideas without any substance. Same thing with his statements about our OLBs. He wanted Ted Thompson to bring in a UFA. What UFA OLBs were available that the Packers could have gone after? He maybe has valid points, but don't know who he is comparing things to.

To the point of the thread. The DBs as an entire group is what scares me the most. Individual assignments are one thing, but when you put two inexperienced players together who have to mesh together in passing off coverages, that's where big plays happen.
On top of every beard grows a man.
"The Bears are shell-shocked... and it's breaking my heart."
Yerko
14 years ago
Yeah, I am with musccy on this. I agree that it would be good to have a "veteran" somewhere in the mix at quarterback. I am not taking anything away from Matt Flynn as he shows progression each year, but the game experience definitely exceeds anything Flynn has at the moment.

I think he is reaching for things to talk about in some positions. We are pretty stacked right now at linebacker, IMO. Clay Matthews injury is minor and his time out is precautionary. I think Chillar would play fine at OLB as the transition from MLB to OLB is easier than OLB to MLB. Personally, I have faith in Jones or Chillar at OLB and if AJ Hawk under-performs or Barnett goes down with an injury (knock on wood) I trust that Desmond Bishop (or Chillar) would be a good backup.
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Tezzy
14 years ago

Just responding to your QB comments, but putting words in his mouth, I'm guessing he means he'd like a Sage Rossenfels/Derek Anderson type guy on the roster.

Assuming that's what he means, I agree. A Sage or a Derek certainly aren't stellar, but at least they've proven in the past that they can be competent. Flynn has no meaningful NFL experience in the regular season on the other hand, which isn't particularly settling if Aaron Rodgers goes down.

"musccy" wrote:



It wouldn't be settling for me for any backup to assume Rodgers position if something ever happened. Derek Anderson would have been the only guy I would have looked at since he was a FA. Trading for the Rosencopter would have upset me and I give Flynn the same odds as Rosenfels to win a game. Unless a team has a top 5 defense and top 5 running game, I think backup QBs are a waste except as trade bait after developing them.
On top of every beard grows a man.
"The Bears are shell-shocked... and it's breaking my heart."
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
14 years ago

Just responding to your QB comments, but putting words in his mouth, I'm guessing he means he'd like a Sage Rossenfels/Derek Anderson type guy on the roster.

Assuming that's what he means, I agree. A Sage or a Derek certainly aren't stellar, but at least they've proven in the past that they can be competent. Flynn has no meaningful NFL experience in the regular season on the other hand, which isn't particularly settling if Aaron Rodgers goes down.

"musccy" wrote:



Just because a player has started a few games at QB in the past doesn't make him a better option than a player who has never started at QB ever. We just have to look at Rodgers to see that is so. He wasn't HOF his first year but he was adequate. Also consider if Rodgers goes down for a major portion of the season that GB may not make the playoffs no matter who is the back up. If that is the case why take a roster spot from someone else that you may need for the next few years?
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DakotaT
14 years ago
My Bear buddy told me yesterday that he does not see a weakness anywhere on our team. He said we are more stacked than most past Super Bowl winners.

The GB sports writers are fat, rich, old women gossiping about nothing.
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musccy
14 years ago
Tezzy...I agree with you that talking about vet qbs/lbs in this article is a bit of a 'pie in the sky' scenario...esp. at lb, who really should the team have gone after this offseason, keith bulluck?!? (plus I agree w/ g-force, lb is the least of our concerns).

I'm just speaking from the land of Eutopia saying I would feel more comfortable with a vet with reg. season starting experience than Flynn who has none.
musccy
14 years ago
I completely understand your argument WPR...cassell and brady are 2 other good arguments supporting what you're saying.

However, with someone like anderson/sage...you at least have some confidence that they're not going to steer the truck off the highway, so to speak. Flynn, you just don't know...could be great, could be a bust.
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
musccy I expected you to point out that Aaron started in his 5th season and Flynn is in his 3rd and that makes a difference.

Also that Aaron was at one time projected to be the #1 overall pick and that could have made a difference (Although there have been #1 QBs that were a bust.)

I guess what I am saying is if GB adds another QB, ok fine. But then who goes? Which position gets weaken for this luxury that may never be used? And finally, is it really worth it?
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