Jersey Al's Packers Blog

Game 1 for the Green Bay Packers is just days away, and optimism is high for the PACK’s 2010 season hopes. But before we get that far, let’s take a look at the current roster. I have some real issues with the current composition of said roster and some of the players still around, as well as those gone. So let’s get right after it.

My biggest question for TEDDY & MIKE is why SPENCER HAVNER is no longer in town? I didn’t notice any drop-off in his overall performance this summer. I also think his biggest asset is his versatility, which is a subject we hear about in Coach-Speak all year. How many things can a player do for his team? So HAVNER is now in Detroit with his ability to play special teams, TE and LB.  Read more... (1059 words + 6 images, estimated 4:14 mins reading time)

According to Pete Dougherty of Packernews.com, the Green Bay Packers today have signed the following players to the practice squad:

Green Bay Packers Practice Squad:

• Graham Harrell
• Robert Francois
• Breno Giacomini
• Anthony Levine
• Chris Campbell
• Maurice Simpkins
• Chastin West
• James Johnson, RB, from Cincinnati

The Packer sooooooo need  a defensive lineman as emergency insurance, yet Kareem Copeland of PackersNews.com told me on twitter that he asked Thompson about this and he seemed unconcerned? Huh? Wynn, Toribio and Talley all gone and you’re not concerned about what happens if one of the 6 DL on the roster gets injured and can’t play?

Also, how ironic is it that after two years on the #Packers roster, Giacomini easily makes it onto the practice squad?

Simpkins really made an impression in the Chiefs game. While he was far from perfect, his effort was outstanding, unlike Obiozor, who I thought looked like he didn’t care. Well, Simpkins gets to stick around.  Read more... (354 words + 5 images, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

The Green Bay Packers have reduced their roster to the League-required 53 man limit. As there are every year, there were a few surprises. No longer on the Packers 53-man roster today are:

• OL Allen Barbre
• DT Anthony Toribio
• DE Ron Talley
• RB Kregg Lumpkin
• OLB Cyril Obiozor
• S / RET Will Blackmon
• WR / RET Jason Chery
• WR Charles Dillon
• TE Spencer Havner
• OL Evan Dietrich-Smith
• LB Alex Joseph
• LB Robert Francois
  
• DE Jarius Wynn
• OT Chris Campbell
• OT Breno Giacomini
  
• LB Maurice Simpkins
• WR Chastin West
• WR Patrick Williams
• S Anthony Levine
• CB D.J. Clark
• P Chris Bryan
• QB Graham Harrell
  

Let’s take a quick look at some of these moves.  Read more... (932 words + 5 images, estimated 3:44 mins reading time)

Final Green Bay Packers roster predictions for 2010.  Now that the Green Bay Packers have completed the preseason, here is my best guess at predicting the 53-man roster they will enter the regular season with. Anything you see in RED are additions and/or changes from my preliminary predictions before the Chiefs game.

Quarterbacks – 2

Aaron Rodgers           yes

Matt Flynn                   yes

Graham Harrell          cut – PS (will probably be claimed)

The only question here is, will Harrell last on the practice squad? Having had Brian Brohm picked up off their practice squad last season, Harrell is another QB with a good college football resume. It’s very possible  another team would take a chance on him. Would the Packers be tempted to do what most NFL teams do and keep 3 QBs on their roster? I’ll vote no.

Running Backs – 5

Ryan Grant                  yes

Brandon Jackson       yes  Read more... (1929 words + 6 images, estimated 7:43 mins reading time)

Preliminary Green Bay Packers roster predictions for 2010.  My final predictions will come after the Packers – Chiefs preseason game has been played.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers           yes

Matt Flynn                   yes

Graham Harrell          cut – PS

The only question here is, will Harrell last on the practice squad? Having had Brian Brohm picked up off their practice squad last season, Harrell is another QB with a good college football resume. It’s very possible  another team would take a chance on him. Would the Packers be tempted to do what most NFL teams do and keep 3 QBs on their roster?

Running Backs

Ryan Grant                  yes

Brandon Jackson       yes

Kregg Lumpkin           yes

Quinn Porter                IR

James Starks                PUP

John Kuhn                    yes

Korey Hall                    no / trade

Quinn Johnson           yes  Read more... (1496 words + 6 images, estimated 5:59 mins reading time)

In this installment of Film Study, I decided to focus on one player I get asked about quite a bit – B.J. Raji.  So I went back and watched all of his snaps in the Green Bay Packers – Indianapolis Colts preseason game and here are my observations:

From a personality standpoint,  Raji  hasn’t shown much of a mean streak, and that was my only real concern when the Packers first selected him. From observing Raji, and speaking to people here in NJ that knew him during his high school  years, he’s a “good boy.” Polite, kind, soft-spoken: the type of kid you’d want your daughter to marry.

Of course, that doesn’t translate well to the battlefield known as the NFL. Not to say they are mutually exclusive. There have been plenty of “good guys” who would rip your heart out on the field if needed. Bart Starr, the ultimate gentleman, has been described as such by many teammates. Raji hasn’t shown me that killer instinct, yet.  Read more... (905 words + 6 images, estimated 3:37 mins reading time)

As the Packers prepare to face the Cleveland Browns in their first preseason game, the defense is ready to embark on their second year under Dom Capers. The key unit to watch out for, in my opinion will be the defensive line.

Last season, the injury-riddled secondary struggled as the Packers were unable to mount enough of a pass rush to help the inexperienced replacements out. A big part of the lack of pass rush can be attributed to the defensive line not getting a push up the middle or occupying blockers so the linebackers had blitzing lanes.

When Dom Capers was hired to be the Packers Defensive Coordinator we all heard the doom and gloom predictions of what would happen making the change to a 3-4 defense without having the players to fit the system

That proved to be a wasted worry, as the improvement in the defense was one of the best things to come out of the 2009 season.  Read more... (1333 words + 6 images, estimated 5:20 mins reading time)