Confessions of a Polluted Mindset - Roster Cuts Edition
The Weekly Packers Brain Drain from Jersey Al.
By JerseyAl
Yiadom over Ento - Let's just pray that Yiadom doesn't get much time on the field as a defensive back and he's just here for his tackling on special teams. Sure, Ento has some tackling issues, as I pointed out a couple of weeks ago, but Yiadom has a history of allowing touchdown completions, as he did in the Bills game.
Rivers and Garvin Both Stay - I nailed this in my 53-man prediction post and I thought it was an easy one actually. It seemed clear that Z Smith will likely not be ready for Week one and you can not go into a game with only three OLB. Of course, one of these two will be a prime candidate to be cut when the Packers need to make room for someone.
Four Safeties - I consider this a surprise. It shows they have a lot of confidence in Black and Scott, two young and inexperienced players. I also would have expected either Uphoff or Gaines to be kept for special teams, but if they are both on the Practice Squad (as I anticipate), they can be easily called up when needed.
Braden - After losing a four-way battle for a guard spot, the Packers took a look at him as a possible tackle backup and they likely saw what I saw - a guy that would be a real liability on the edge against speed rushers. Braden is more of a "phone booth" type player, but I still thought the Packers would keep him as insurance at multiple positions.
Malik Taylor - Talk about making it impossible for a team to cut you, Taylor simply did everything asked of him, did it well and made no mistakes. I believe he would have made it even if Funchess did not get hurt.
Nijman - I've heard a lot of people say Nijman played poorly against the Bills and I have no idea why. I saw a lot of good things from him - you can feel his confidence building with every game. His run blocking has surprised me the most while In 157 preseason snaps, (many against starters), he has allowed a total of 1 sack and 1 QB hit. He was a raw prospect with purely physical skills when signed, and the development time the Packers have put in with him is starting to pay off.
Hefty Hefty Heflin - This guy put on one of the best UDFA camp performances in recent memory. He is the stout run defender he came advertised as, but what shocked me most about Heflin is his ability to get after the quarterback. Once he sheds his man, he closes on the quarterback with speed you just wouldn't expect. A great find.
Gutey - One thing we can now say about Gutey is that he's not afraid to cut bait if one of his draft picks just isn't working out. Kamal Martin, JK Scott Equanimeous St, Brown, Dexter WIlliams, and Cole Van Lanen are this year's models.
JK47 - The weapon has been decomissioned. Fantastic move.
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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of many hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also a recovering Mason Crosby truther. Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.
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Comments (84)
MarkinMadison
September 01, 2021 at 06:34 am
Nijman - I think we tend to focus on the negative plays. The camera is always focusing on the ball. So the negative plays just really pop out because they impact the ball. The strip/sack he gave up is all most of us really remember from the first game. I didn't think they would keep Nijman. Not because I think he was bad but because I didn't think he had come far enough. I would not be comfortable seeing him at LT. I'd like to see him focus on RT and maybe take that spot over next year if he continues to progress.
Braden - I thought he would make it but there it is. When I figure out if I'm going to a game this year I owe someone a beer.
JK47 - Between my wife's obsession with Bakh's hair and her desire to adopt JK47 she is now threatening to boycott all Packer games through week 8.
Roadrunner23
September 01, 2021 at 06:46 am
Nijman is why Braden didn’t make it, he proved he can play RT & LT
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 08:32 am
Nijman had 2 bad snaps at the hardest O line position in football after barely playing in 3 years and a complete technical overhaul—someone on the coaching staff should get a lot of credit for that. PFF rated him the 4th best OL playing (any position) over 50 snaps in the preseason and among the best in all 3 weeks. That list includes a fair number of starters.
Nijman is now a big part of our long term plans and a valuable commodity. He will likely get more time at RT now, but he’s likely going to be a LT long term. Having been exclusively trading at left, he will be given time to adjust in practice, but could end up starting at some point this year.
Newman rated as the best of any OL playing 50 snaps this preseason. He’s our RG for the foreseeable future. Once Bakh returns, Jenkins can now go back to LG (why the competition was for LG by the end) or C if necessary. That’s a pretty good group. Runyon is the back up G. Clearly they did not like anyone at C much Behind Myers because they chose Hanson over another G/T for the last spot. I do think Braden is back on the PS.
CheesyTex
September 01, 2021 at 11:32 am
Coldworld. You have been giving a realistic;, positive view of Nijman all year long and it's good to see others do it too. Rome wasn't built in a day, but neither was #12's career.
Now its just up to Yosh -- he has all the tools for a long career, so let's hope he has the fire burning to make it happen.
MarkinMadison
September 01, 2021 at 08:16 pm
I think your assessment is probably better than mine. I need to go back and look at the tape. I didn't think he was as bad in the first game as some. I thought he was having more problems in the second and third than others. But I didn't keep a count, and just because he makes a few mistakes doesn't make him a bust. The thing is that we all know is that it is easier for RH QBs to deal with mistakes on the right than it is on the left. So that's why I think let him have RT sooner and maybe in a few years when Bakh is fading he can take over the LT. But obviously if the Packers thought he was ready to start LT right now we wouldn't have Jenkins in that spot.
Irish_Cheesehead
September 01, 2021 at 07:00 am
Perhaps Nijman can be a starting right tackle some day, but I shutter thinking about him protecting our QB’s blind side.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 08:33 am
Go back and watch him. He’s not Bakh, but who is. Watch and you may feel better.
LambeauPlain
September 01, 2021 at 09:55 am
He did a great job protecting our QBs blind side in 3 straight preseason games. I simply do not understand fans degrading Nijman when the evidence is exactly the opposite. He's had a heck of a camp.
CheesyTex
September 01, 2021 at 11:35 am
Ten thumbs up and a bottle of Irish Whiskey.
croatpackfan
September 01, 2021 at 07:07 am
Regarding Nijman, I did not notice much, except that 1 "sack" he allowed. But, reading more experienced persons and people who knows what is good OL play, I must admit I change my mind. I'm not surprised as they need someone for LT or RT if either of our starters at the position would be injured, even if only for some time during the one game. Also, what I learned from my limited experience following football is that the best OL players are those you will not hear or read about them during the game or immediately after the game. Later their work will be recognized. As the conclusion, I must say that I believe Al when it comes to evaluation of offensive lineman.
Bill Braden will be on PS, only if some other OL needed team will not snatch him from waivers. He still need some work.
JK Scott is sad story, but I'm glad Packers moved from him. I wish him successful career on any other team or in other business he might pursue after this cut.
The only head scratcher for me is picking up Yiadom over Denmark, but we do not know what those 2 players showed during closed practices, so we should wait and see how this will develop. I know that Yiadom is maybe better choice for ST, but I do not think that he is so much better than Denmark at ST, but he is less than zero on defense. If he will play on D, I suspect opponent will have 12 players on the field, while Packers will play with 10.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 08:39 am
Denmark is very likely to make the PS. Yiadom would be more questionable (on history not necessarily merit). That’s my best guess. The same is true with Ento.
I’m wondering if they want to try Yiadom more in practice, maybe as a deep S. He tackles well and is better facing the QB.
Personally I keep Ento. You can’t teach instincts while you can improve tackling (Ento actually made some key ones as well as whiffing). That said, keeping Yiadom is similar to keeping Burks. Proven no instinct players with a good ST record in the pros. I don’t like it. Wilborn and Ento were good at STs and have upside, but I can see the pattern.
jurp
September 01, 2021 at 10:24 am
IMO, Yiadom = Jarrett Bush.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 10:35 am
In my view Bush was a better STer. I’ve not seen enough of Yiadom to know if he is a Bush level CB or better or worse.
jlc1
September 01, 2021 at 04:19 pm
I have to say that if you can teach tackling GB seems to be one place where it is not part of the curriculum. Poor tackling by too many different players has been true for the Pack for a number of years now.
dobber
September 01, 2021 at 07:29 am
"I think we tend to focus on the negative plays."
When a LT has a bad snap, it usually shows up on the stat sheet as a sack, strip sack, or even an INT. Makes it easy to find those plays. As much as I thought he looked like he was struggling in space (a bad sign for a LT) against Houston--and as much as I didn't expect him to make this cut--I had a hard time finding too much bad in his game over the other two PS games. He earned this spot. Kudos to him.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 08:43 am
I would have liked to see Nijman play with the starters at LT. LG was the weakest link throughput the preseason for a lot of his snaps. Tough to be T with a G that you don’t know what they can or are going to do. Nijman had to function on an island a lot. That should add to his credit. He needs snaps, but he far exceeded my expectations.
CheesyTex
September 01, 2021 at 11:48 am
I wouldn't be terribly shocked, depending on the matchups, to see him play early on. IMO Jenkins on his right covers a multitude of sins.
LambeauPlain
September 01, 2021 at 10:07 am
Again Dobber, the Houston game was a good performance for Nijman even accepting his guy getting the strip sack. Coach Matt placed part of that sack on Love who he faulted for taking a 9 step drop while being slow in his reads.
I rewatched the 3 preseason games (I know, I have issues🙄) to focus on specific players such as Nijman, Heflin, Slayton, Hill, Malik Taylor and McDuffie. Nijman not only played well in space, he dominated his guy the vast majority of snaps. Several times he rode his guy completely out of the play.
He has really upped his game this year. Great upside.
croatpackfan
September 01, 2021 at 12:02 pm
Now please report on Heflin, Slaton, Hill, Taylor and McDuffie! It is not kindly asking it is the request! ;-)
MarkinMadison
September 01, 2021 at 08:19 pm
I don't think that is an issue, I think that is expanding your brain. I just don't have time to look at it right now.
Spock
September 01, 2021 at 06:36 am
Al, I always look forward to your "confessions" pieces. This team looks ready to rock and roll and the usual "churn" of the 53 for the next week or so (and beyond) should be interesting to watch! JK (the weapon) Scott turned out to be a weapon that misfired at the worst possible time. Wish him well but, man, those tackle attempts (granted he shouldn't have had to be the last guy to try one) were feeble at best.
PackEyedOptimist
September 01, 2021 at 06:40 am
I always look forward to your brain drain, Al!
The thing about Rivers making the team that surprises me, is that he had/has a TERRIBLE RAS. Maybe Gute is changing his stance on that a bit?
Honestly, we all thought Braden would make the team because of his coach's comment that he was in the running for a starting job. In reality, he has looked pretty average to me.
I originally thought Gaines or Uphoff would make the team for their special teams play, but then I looked at the rest of the roster and realized they already HAVE more of those types than they can use (DeGuara, Dafney, Taylor, Summers, McDuffie, Scott, Black, Stokes, Jean-Charles, not to mention Hill, Rodgers, Garvin, and Richards). I do hope Gaines makes the PS.
Roadrunner23
September 01, 2021 at 06:45 am
Burks is good at ST too
PackEyedOptimist
September 01, 2021 at 07:13 am
Right, missed him!
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 08:49 am
But Burks can’t play D unless it’s a pure rushing role. ST gets you time to develop potential, but unless you are truly stellar, that time is limited. Those 12 snaps in game 2 on D were truly scary.
LambeauPlain
September 01, 2021 at 10:18 am
Burks is similar to Yiadom in this concern: both are players with above average speed, can tackle well....but on D are rarely in position to tackle because of horrible instincts and ineffective recovery speed.
They seem to run themselves out of a D play shortly after the snap and their speed is negated.
McDuffie on the other hand showed great instincts and was in the middle of plays all the time. Good to see because his profile from college was a great tackler but outran plays at times. Didn't over the preseason.
croatpackfan
September 01, 2021 at 12:05 pm
Well NFL is much faster than college football, so he was maybe already ready for Nfl ;-) while playing at college
dobber
September 01, 2021 at 07:47 am
Rivers was pretty steady, active, and around the ball during the preseason. I thought he was the most consistent OLB on the bubble.
As for Braden, he lost out to Hanson, in my mind. Not an expert, but I think that with the juggled OL and the need for Jenkins to play on the outside, they needed a true C to back up Myers. They must not have liked what they saw out of Runyan or Patrick enough to want to use those guys at C, or felt that their G depth wasn't good enough to want to put one of those guys on the field and shift Patrick inside.
Hanson better not get comfortable, though, because he's a prime cut when Bakh is ready do come back.
"I originally thought Gaines or Uphoff would make the team for their special teams play"
In recent years, the Packers have favored S depth over CB depth on game day. They've played Redmond (or Greene) as a dime defender instead of going to the 4th CB. This year, it looks like there might be a change in philosophy here--and the CB room is deep. Instead of keeping safeties, they kept ILBs. Maybe that will make the ST coverage units just a little more stout.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 08:54 am
The CB room is deep? I think it’s better, but I don’t see more than 3 perimeter types, 2 central players, one of whom is raw and Yiadom. None of the safeties can cover deep and I don’t see much in the CB room but Yiadom as willing tacklers. I don’t see a Redmond type in this roster unless it’s Yiadom.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 08:46 am
Not every player tests well. It’s a bell curve. Rivers plays faster than his testing on film and other teams had seen that. He also needed development coming out. How much potential he has is unclear, but more than his pro day suggests.
Roadrunner23
September 01, 2021 at 06:43 am
My surprise is they kept Hansen on the OL. If Myers gets dinged and Hansen has to play, lord help them!
The new kid at Punter looks good, but is he a good holder? JK was pretty good at saving bad snaps from Bradley.
Speaking of Bradley I still think they cut bait with him and sign a long snapper
Otherwise the roster looks great
Nice job Gutey
ND
PackEyedOptimist
September 01, 2021 at 07:17 am
I agree about Hansen; he had a number of bad-looking plays this preseason, BUT I'm guessing that he has made some major improvements in his strength etc. since last year. He had very good experience, leadership, and athleticism when they drafted him, so maybe they have seen real potential if he keeps improving.
MarkinMadison
September 01, 2021 at 08:20 pm
Can we see Love at holder? I'd like to see that move.
greengold
September 01, 2021 at 07:12 am
Yiadom
There must be something this staff saw in him that they like, other than ST, where we definitely needed to add tackling. In fairness to him, he has been with the team about two weeks. Maybe Gray can make him a contributor as a DB. Possibly shifts to S… also, possibly a placeholder till a better player is added.
Rivers/Garvin
I like them both, a lot, and this makes good sense. The two of them have worked well together, and I think both stick on this roster throughout.
Four Safeties
There’s a lot to like about Black and Scott. As much as I liked Gaines & Uphoff, they are raw, especially Uphoff. This seems a position they might add a cut down player from another team.
Braden
They like Kelly better. Hopefully he sticks to PS.
Taylor
Brilliant performance after becoming an afterthought with the TC showing of Winfree. Taylor offers so much on ST as a primary gunner and a KR. His play at WR went through the roof, and that’s great to see.
Nijman
Totally agree, Al. Nijman played really well throughout, both LT and RT. Only gave up 2 pressures going against opponent’s 1s for much of the time. Great development by this staff and Yosh.
Hefty Oscar Heflin
Described by a scout as a “trash can of dirt,” Heflin rode that trash can to winning a roster spot outright. Great success story there. Jack Heflin is going to really help this Packers team this year. Should be great next to Kenny Clark, or in heavy sets. Heflin tweeting a gif of Sesame Street Oscar popping up out of a trash can yesterday upon making the team was chef’s kiss.
Gutey
Glad to see him slough off his mistakes more readily than his predecessor, but I’m still concerned a bit keeping Ty, Oren and Yiadom. If your best players on STs produce the league worst STs, you might want to get better players. Summers and Burks play Joe Barry’s coaching strength position at ILB, so there is hope there that they prove themselves this season. Barry must see something he likes. Lancaster is another holdover who has offered little to date. I expected more turnover with those 3 players, quite honestly.
I was a huge fan of the drafting of Ty Summers. He’s an elite athlete, and was a highly effective defender at TCU. We all want development to occur generally within two years, but sometimes it takes more time. Burks was a great defender too. Maybe we lacked the proper coaching for our ILBs previously. Seems Barry likes to employ both distinctly different body types in his D, and I’m hoping for all of their successes.
GPG
croatpackfan
September 01, 2021 at 07:11 am
I agree on some points with you and some points not - 50/50 I can say. So, I did not upvote or downvote you.
All the best!
greengold
September 01, 2021 at 07:18 am
Ha! Who’s counting?
No big thing. Have a stellar day, croat.
PackEyedOptimist
September 01, 2021 at 07:26 am
Rivers and Heflin are both Bad RAS prospects who have looked good through effort. I'm happy to see Gute keeping play over potential with some guys.
Both Yiadom and Kelly didn't look good in what we saw of them, but they both have a lot of experience (and tape) for the coaches and Gute to weigh. I accept that.
dobber
September 01, 2021 at 07:44 am
Heflin was a HS wrestler, too, and while he might not be an explosive athlete by the numbers, he's going to understand leverage--and a good wrestler is usually a tenacious bull to deal with. They already know how to set up moves in advance. He's a guy who is easy to root for.
I was briefly a wrestler (in our hometown there was a really good youth wrestling program) until my HS years and learned quickly that I didn't have that understanding of leverage or tenacity when sparring with a two-time state champ (and eventual OG for U of Mich, and draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers).
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 09:00 am
Again, testing isn’t foolproof. Some out perform and some underperform in the day. Film trumps testing. Heflin is not un athletic and neither is Rivers. Time will tell how much their play exceeds their testing, but both have shown more than their metrics suggested.
dobber
September 01, 2021 at 07:52 am
I think Braden to the PS would be good for the Packers, but we also have to remember that Braden is no kid anymore...he's knocked around for about 5 years and is 27...which is still a kid to most of us, but not in NFL circles.. He's at his peak physically and about to head downhill. I don't know how much more develop there is in him. I feel more than a little bad for the guy because this seemed to be a good chance for him to stick...at least for a year.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 09:03 am
The same is true of Bagelton (28). That said, both can play a role if needed for 3 years or more. Braden looked to me to be a decent utility guy. With the PS rules, the type you promote if anyone goes down. Kelly just perplexes me, but if he goes to IR, Braden may be back.
mrtundra
September 01, 2021 at 08:10 am
I think Yiadom has a lot of HHCD in him. When I watched him, in preseason, he was out of position and four to six feet behind the ball carrier/WR as they headed into the end zone. That, is a lot like HHCD, IMO. I was surprised the Packers kept him. He must be good on STs, or somewhere else, that I missed. Of course his main competition in camp was Kabion Ento, who missed a slew of tackles by trying to run into the ball carrier rather than trying to wrap him up. On some tackles, Ento just plain whiffed. Maybe the choice between Yiadom and Ento was easier than I thought.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 09:07 am
Yiadom is supposed to be a willing and effective tackler. What you describe could be just not knowing the scheme/calls. HHCD had a unique attitude to tackling or any non splash play, I’m not sure I’m ready to tar Yiadom with that. I’m not a Yiadom fan, just willing to let him and the team show me why he’s here despite strong doubt about his ability as a cb.
greengold
September 01, 2021 at 09:14 am
I agree. Also have to consider it is highly likely 2 or 3 of the players we are talking about here stand a good chance of being cut today or tomorrow, once waiver claims are made. Gutekunst is really tireless when it come to turning over the bottom of the roster players. We may even have another surprise or two there.
Yiadom has been with us for less that two weeks or so. Agree on waiting to see more from him regarding their decision.
Ferrari-Driver
September 01, 2021 at 06:57 am
We don't have the advantage of seeing the daily practice sessions and have a limited view of other aspects of the players...but that won't keep us from having the fun of expressing our opinions.
I am excited to see that "Hefty" Heflin made the 53; he is a pleasure to watch play the game with such enthusiasm and he certainly seems to get the most out of the body he was born with.
When I watch the reruns of the games I tape, I spend most of my time on line play and it didn't take to many views to identify "Hefty" as a young undrafted free agent I was pulling for to make the team. All in all, job well done Al.
egbertsouse
September 01, 2021 at 07:12 am
I’m really glad I don’t have to watch Scott and his Bermuda shorts that highlight his toothpick legs any longer. I don’t get the Summers/Burks love, if they are so wonderful at ST why do the ST suck so bad? Like Jarret Bush, they could be dime-a-dozen ST players surrounded by stiffs that make them look better.
PackEyedOptimist
September 01, 2021 at 07:21 am
Both Burks and Summers had excellent RAS scores and were team captains/highly respected players on their college teams. Gute and company place a lot of weight on "locker room fit" and RAS, so I suspect that with any signs of improvement, they give guys like this more slack.
Razer
September 01, 2021 at 08:13 am
...I don’t get the Summers/Burks love, if they are so wonderful at ST why do the ST suck so bad?...
I hear you Egbertsouse. Neither of these guys has distinguished themselves as linebackers and ST play has not improved since they have been contributing on that front - so I don't see why they continue to hold a spot. My bigger concern is with the ILB position. These guys need to step up on this front or we will pay a bigger price than poor ST play.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 09:13 am
Bush was very good in ST and consistently so. He would also tackle as a CB and was probably better in coverage than Yiadom seemed. He was a viable last CB on the roster and occasionally made plays (we all remember one interception). Burks has never got close to being viable on D. Summers played decently in the championship game, but has done nothing in camp. He might be a parallel to Bush. Burks? I have no idea why he’s here and why they seem to go out of their way to find him a role, however implausible—last year was cover OLB, at which he was dire. This year it seems to be a pure rush ILB.
greengold
September 01, 2021 at 10:29 am
Jarrett Bush had an INT in the Super Bowl to help secure the Lombardi Trophy for the 2010 season. Sometimes, the contributions we all want from players show up in the most unlikely of places...
Norm
September 01, 2021 at 11:40 am
Came here to say the same thing and defend Jarrett Bush. He was a punching bag on this site (and others) for his DB play but was a damn good special teamer and came through as a DB when needed in the Super Bowl. He was on the field late in the fourth quarter when the Steelers were attempting to tie or win the game, which of course they did not. I’ll admit I was one of the Bush Bashers at times, but my lasting memories of him will always be as a key member of the defense that kept the Steelers from driving for the tying/go ahead score at the end of the game.
croatpackfan
September 01, 2021 at 07:12 am
As always lot of nice observation, Al.
NickPerry
September 01, 2021 at 08:01 am
Thanks Al, I really enjoy this piece each week...
Bummed out about Bakh being out but I never really understood those who so certain he'd be in the lineup week one. I mean DB is a 300 plus pound man on a team with one of the most if not the most cautious medial staffs in the NFL coming off knee surgery. Expecting him to play week one AFTER giving him that contract just WASN'T going to happen, at least IMO. Thank God for Mr. E Jenkins. Hope he bitch slaps Bosa week 3.
I AM a bit worried about who will be the holder. Lets assume it's going to be our new punter at this time. They have 2 weeks if Hunter Bradley is still the long-snapper week one to practice. Scott was excellent at handling Bradley's less than perfect snaps, hopefully this new punter is equally good.
OR, Gute can bring in someone else who's been cut and get to practicing NOW! I'd hate to lose a critical game (they all are really) because of the long-snapper or holder...UGH!!
GO PACK GO...
Tundraboy
September 01, 2021 at 10:43 am
Calm yourself NP . We’ll be fine. No reason to think the new guy is a bad holder and Mason’s a big boy!
NickPerry
September 02, 2021 at 05:55 am
Whew...Thanks for talking me off the ledge TB!!!
stockholder
September 01, 2021 at 08:05 am
The surprise is Hanson. Not Braden. Patrick No longer is the back- up, at center. And with Newman getting snaps. Change is coming. 4 safeties.- I'm not surprised. Savage likes playing close to the LOS. And will they resign Amos? Ento/ Trade- Sorry, but I would have kept Jackson. While Gute may not be afraid to cut his picks. He just doesn't know a good deal when he sees one. I doubt we would have Cobb if Rodger's didn't speak up. With that said. You may be high on his picks. But there were too many misses-- IMO. Severe Warning- Good Roster But- Expect more turn-over after Rodgers.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 09:15 am
Of course there will be turnover after Rodgers whenever that occurs. Odd to be griping about Gute’s miss rate looking at this team. But that’s your sugar isn’t it.
dobber
September 01, 2021 at 10:04 am
boom.
JerseyAl
September 01, 2021 at 03:53 pm
Cues up "Pour Some Sugar on Me" on the turntable...
stockholder
September 02, 2021 at 06:47 am
Thats my sugar? NO-- It’s calling the Kettle Black! Al pointed to how Gute isn’t afraid to cut bait. And listed 5 examples. I only concurred. Gute needs to be better with his selections. So we wouldn’t keep seeing the turn-over. Didn’t we see To MUCH TURN OVER, the LAST 10 years? WE haven’t won since 2010. You can’t keep shifting the blame. You can’t keep switching QBs, as we experienced before #4. It’s not about doing a good job. IT’s about Finishing the Job! Either you want the best team in the NFL, or you don’t. You don’t!
packer132
September 01, 2021 at 11:04 am
Thanks captain obvious, Teams turnover about 25% every year and with the salary cap you can't keep everyone (Linsley). Packers did keep 20 of 22 starters, so jump on the bandwagon anytime. The train is leaving without you.
Tundraboy
September 01, 2021 at 02:41 pm
I don’t know, but picking up a legitimate punter who lead the league in average yards last year and even had a 74 yarder for a minor swap of late round picks is a pretty good deal. And with the added bonus of giving us the ability to have a decent punter this all in year year instead of biting ourvnails every time Scott punted works for me.
greengold
September 01, 2021 at 08:37 pm
Plus, the dude got his great numbers punting in the cold weather at BUF…
RCPackerFan
September 01, 2021 at 08:33 am
Yiadom over Ento -
Perhaps in a different scheme Yiadom will be different? But yes, lets hope he doesn't see the field on defense. I would not be surprised if Ento is one that gets called up on game days though.
Rivers and Garvin Both Stay -
I think this was a smart move honestly. Garvin really looks good to me. And I was impressed with Rivers. Right now with Z possibly missing some time, we needed an extra OLB also.
Four Safeties -
I would say it maybe is a minor surprise. But to me it wasn't that big of a surprise based on who they had. Neither Uphoff or Gaines showed up well enough to merit a spot on the 53. Uphoff possibly as a gunner. But he is a guy if he makes it to the PS, could be called up and do the same role. I really like Black and Scott. I think both will be really good this year.
Braden -
I also thought Braden maybe would have made it. Beings he could fill in at OG or RT, I thought there was a realistic chance he made it.
Malik Taylor -
I really wish we could have seen the 4 man battle. But 3 of them got hurt. Either way it was going to be tough to see Taylor not making it with the way he played. I believe I saw he led the league in receiving yards. He caught anything and everything his direction. Also he is a good contributor on special teams.
Hopefully AR approved of this decision to keep Taylor.
Nijman -
Nijman was not good against the Texans. But I thought he played well the last 2 weeks. Nijman is a guy who just needs the reps. Plain and simple.
Hefty Hefty Heflin -
Definitely a great find! Heflin is one of those guys that slipped through the cracks. When I watch him I still wonder why he went undrafted. His path to the NFL was likely part of it. But I think he is one of those guys that fell during the draft process because this was an odd year. I would not be surprised if Lancaster were to start the season on IR. Depending on how his injury is. I think we will see a quite a bit of Heflin early on.
Gutey -
Hopefully he wasn't to hasty in his decisions. He cut Vince Biegel and he has been pretty good after leaving GB. I am hoping we can see Cole Van Lanen return to the PS.
JK47 -
Out of all the move this was probably the biggest surprise move, yet was not a surprise at all. I liked JK. He just wasn't consistent enough.
Since'61
September 01, 2021 at 09:07 am
It seems every season there are head scratching decisions over who stays and who gets chucked or sent to the PS.
I think at least a few of the decisions this year were based on trying to improve our STs, such as retaining Burks and Yiadom. Hopefully Ento and Wilborn make it the PS and possibly get brought back up when Yiadom and Burks fail.
Good to see Gute move on from ESB, Williams and JK Scott. Not sure why he is sticking with Burks, Summers and Lancaster.
On the other hand it's difficult to argue with back to back 14-4 seasons even with the disappointments in both NFCCGs. let's see who makes it back to our PS.
GPG! Thanks, Since '61
dobber
September 01, 2021 at 10:26 am
Agreed, and even though we like to play GM in how we think the roster should look, virtually all the disagreement tends to center on peripheral players. We knew what players would be filling 48 or so spots on this roster when camp opened.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 10:48 am
The biggest surprise cut of a healthy player based upon where we were at the start of camp might be Martin, the runner up might be ESB. The biggest surprise keep might be Burks or Hanson (although none of us really knew much about him) and Heflin. The surprise stars, Taylor, Nijman and Hill on O and Heflin and McDuffie on D.
Yes, I think that proves your point.
Since'61
September 01, 2021 at 09:05 pm
Great post Dobber! Cookie!! Agree that the coaching staff knows at least 42-45 players that will be on the roster when TC opens. The remaining spots are sorted out during TC, preseason games and injuries. The Packers look pretty solid on the 53 and the PS. Thanks, Since '61
greengold
September 01, 2021 at 10:30 am
Another thing to consider with Vernon Scott is that he has a hamstring injury. I think he is a really good player, and I bet Gutekunst does too. I know Ben Fennell does, and he is exceptional at pro talent film review. Scott would have to have been made part of the 53 man roster if he were to go onto IR in the hopes of returning later in the season.
Those hamstrings can take a while to heal, and going to IR might be best for him.
I think that is what they are doing with Scott, and they will likely bring one of the other Safeties back onto the roster if they clear, or try to find a better, more skilled, veteran to add there off waivers.
Here's the initial 53:
2021 Roster
OFFENSE (24)
QB (2)
Aaron Rodgers
Jordan Love
RB (3)
Aaron Jones
AJ Dillon
Kylin Hill
WR (6)
Davante Adams
Alan Lazard
MVS
Amari Rodgers
Randall Cobb
Malik Taylor
TE (4)
Mercedes Lewis
Robert Tonyan
Josiah Deguara
Dominique Dafney
OL (9)
Lucas Patrick
Elgton Jenkins
Josh Myers
Jon Runyan
Billy Turner
Royce Newman
Yosh Nijman
Dennis Kelly
Jake Hanson
DEFENSE (26)
DL (6)
Kenny Clark
TJ Slaton
Kingsley Keke
Dean Lowry
Jack Heflin
Tyler Lancaster
ILB (5)
Khrys Barnes
De’Vondre Campbell
Ty Summers
Oren Burks
Isaiah McDuffie
OLB (5)
Za’Darius Smith
Preston Smith
Rashan Gary
Chauncey Rivers
Jonathan Garvin
CB (6)
Jaire Alexander
Eric Stokes
Kevin King
Shemar Jean-Charles
Chandon Sullivan
Stephen Denmark
S (4)
Adrian Amos
Darnell Savage
Henry Black
Vernon Scott
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
Mason Corsby
Corey Bojorquez
Hunter Bradley
dobber
September 01, 2021 at 10:27 am
Wow...Bortles was a real darkhorse then... ;)
greengold
September 01, 2021 at 10:32 am
Did it again.... I'm going to have to hire a proof reader. Better yet, just change my own damn list in my old notes... LOL.
jurp
September 01, 2021 at 10:37 am
Unless I switched universes or something, you have your QBs wrong; you also have Denmark instead of Yiadom at CB.
k.rock87_SoCalPackerBacker
September 01, 2021 at 11:50 am
Blake Bortles as one of our QB's? and no Rodgers?
Hmmm.
LambeauPlain
September 01, 2021 at 10:30 am
Summers is like Nijman in that both are fantastic athlete who moved to the other side of the ball in college. Nijman was a long term DL in grade/high school...Summers was a star QB before going to TCU.
Maybe Summers has shown the upside Nijman did in camp.
greengold
September 01, 2021 at 10:51 am
After Summers filled in at DE in an emergency after an injury while at TCU, Southern University Head Coach Dawson Odums said, "I think No. 42, I don't know his name, is one of the better players in the country, and we're not talking about this ballgame. I am talking about in the country, NFL, college, high school, he is one of the best."
FWIW. A note I recalled from back when we drafted Ty.
Both Summers and Rashan Gary were the only players from that draft class for the Packers to have ELITE rankings in both RAS and SPARQ. Nijman and Savage were both just one step below in only one of those rankings, and I can't recall which it was. Gary, Savage, Jenkins, Keke and Summers appear to be the sole survivors from that 2019 NFL Draft.
Ty is a good player. We've seen some of his limitations, but we also saw limitations with Blake Martinez under questionable coaching from Mike Pettine - and Blake became a better ILB under better coaching. Maybe Joe Barry, who excels at coaching ILBs, knows what he sees in Summers. Hoping for the best.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 10:55 am
Summers played pretty well in the championship game and is by far the best athlete at ILB despite being comfortably the largest man. What surprises me is that he’s been anonymous in camp. Perhaps that’s him focusing on learning the new system (as he’s the back up caller), but it could be he’s just not putting it on the line in camp. If so he should do. If it clicks with him he’s going to be a find. Does he want it enough? I’d still see him as one heck of a lot more logical a keep than Burks for those reasons.
greengold
September 01, 2021 at 11:06 am
Yeah, I think more of that had to do with processing. Ty has a great football acumen. He's one of those self motivated players not far off from what Blake Martinez was, or very similar to what Rashan Gary is now. He's a super high character guy who isn't going to slough off opportunities.
In regards to those timelines we all have for development of players, maybe this one should be extended.
From the info Martinez shared after he left, it sounded like Pettine told his ILBs to just go out there and make plays... with little to no direction, training, game planning.
I'm very interested to see what Joe Barry does with these two players (Burks and Summers) many of us had essentially written off, should they remain on roster post waiver claims.
hijokr
September 01, 2021 at 10:38 am
What about the biggest shocker, Jake Hansen?
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 11:19 am
In fairness, we saw nothing in camp last year of Hanson. He got injured for much of the season on the PS. Then we picked another C with our second pick and I think a lot of us at least to some extent assumed that Hanson must be a flop.
Hanson was widely thought to be lacking functional power (typically a euphemism for lower body strength—his 33 bench presses were good) and weight. He had strong hands but isn’t hugely athletic as tested yet seemed plenty fast enough in the short area OL operate in on film. That’s why he was a late 6th despite his record at Oregon and perceived toughness—he has some nasty. He did need some technical work on his snaps per scouts.
He looks to have added both weight and strength this off season. That would be a big plus. Then we rarely saw him till the last game where he did play pretty well after his first snap. Overall he seems to have improved. I did not have him on my roster, but perhaps we all underestimated his starting point, attitude and development. He is not Myers, but it’s not impossible that he’s the best C option while Jenkins is busy and may have more upside than pure as a pure C or Braden. He is 6’4” and if he has added mass he’s going to be well over the 296 he weighed early last year.
As I said, I did not have him on my roster, but that’s my subsequent rationalization. I have to admit I had largely overlooked him in my watching and expectations.
dobber
September 01, 2021 at 01:53 pm
I think many of us thought that the Packers, with versatility on the OL being important, wouldn't have space for two C-only players. Hanson profiled that way, but he did play a little RG in the preseason, I think.
In the end, I'm thinking it was a combination of Bakhtiari's injury, Kelly's experience, Nijman's competence, and iffy backup C play from Runyan in the preseason that doomed Braden and opened the door to Hanson.
Coldworld
September 01, 2021 at 06:54 pm
I’m not sure I disagree, but I think the player was a mystery we all thought an afterthought before he really had a chance to play. Most 6th rounders take a while.
greengold
September 01, 2021 at 08:20 pm
That last bit resembles a circular argument. At least, in the sense it made my head spin!
You should really have a cymbal crash after something like that. dobs.
Dragon5
September 01, 2021 at 11:05 am
Heflin, being in a personal 7 year, will also carry elevated injury risk this season. Since my last post Aug 12th where I clearly noted that our secondary's health is my major concern for '21, we've already witnessed Scott succumb to a hammy.
I applaud management's decision to sit Bahk out for at least half the season during his enemy year--protect the investment. He is still in an (injury-prone) personal 7 year that began on his birthday last year 09-30-2020 that will come to pass in 4 weeks.
greengold
September 01, 2021 at 11:12 am
"Numerology ROCKS!" - 69