MW4Bucky&SNC
Done with Winter
With only one pre-season game and less than 2 weeks to go until it really counts it's time for the regular season thread. Some general thoughts, which of course could change based on an injury or something unexpected as training camp winds down.
*The depth on the DL really concerns me. I like their top 4 DL of Raji, Jenkins, Pickett, and Neal, but if Jolly was around as a 5th you could trust I'd really feel a ton better about the overall unit. Either Wynn is going to have to continue progressing (which I haven't seen too much from him in this camp) or {gulp} they're going to have to get something from Justin Harrell and his balky back.
*I also see some issues with the CB depth. It's hard to say what they are going to get out of Harris. If he comes back to decent form early in the season I feel pretty good about their nickel situation. The guys beyond Woodson, Williams, and Harris are just so up and down. It doesn't speak well for some of the incumbent younger guys on the roster that Sam Shields is probably going to make the team and is actually making a run at some playing time even though he played only one year of CB in college. He'll make some mistakes along the way but has upside. These other guys make mistakes and don't have as much upside so they might as well grow with Shields.
*I like the overall LB core including the depth. Some unheralded young guys are even looking good. I think you'll see some gadget defenses with a bunch of those guys out there walking around pre-snap.
*Maybe I should be more concerned here because the top 2 backups are both working back from injuries, but I think safety will be fine.
*I love how the o-line is coming along. Drafting really good o-lineman hasn't been one of TT's strengths considering he had to go back to a Sherman draftee he tried to get rid of as his starting C and both OTs are old guys past their best days they had to re-sign out of necessity. In his first couple of years I didn't see 5 guys they could trust. Now they have 8, with Bulaga, Spitz, and Lang in addition to the starters. We're going to see a much better start to the season because of the drastic improvement and stability with this unit as compared to a year ago.
*The QB situation as a whole is better. We now know Rodgers wasn't a flash in the pan and can lead the team to a good record. I feel a ton better about Flynn this year than last. This team doing much of anything still hinges on ARodg's health, but last year I questioned whether Flynn could complete a handful of passes in a game if he had to play any significant snaps.
*At WR we know the top 4 are set and I like the group. I think with some of the numbers in other spots you'll see them keep 5 and get a practice squad guy. I know they like this Chery kid. If Blackmon's knee is a problem I could see him making the 53. I could see him and Williams being the last spot and the practice squad guy with Swain being the odd man out. Interesting 3 man battle for 2 spots.
*The RB, FB, and TE positions are almost grouped together because the number they keep at each will impact the others. I'm almost certain they'll keep 4 TEs and wouldn't be surprised if at least initially they keep 3 FBs and only 2 halfbacks. If they do go with a 3rd halfback I'm almost certain it will be a guy not currently on the roster who brings a different dynamic than they already have. Starks they'll at least PUP and I'll expect a likely IR (really dumb pick but that's for another discussion). Porter looked good for part of one preseason game, but he was just a flash in the pan. I think they like Lumpkin, but I'm not sure they love him. When Kuhn showed he could give something as an emergency 3rd back I think they just realized if nobody else springs from another roster that they liked their 3rd fullback and their 4th TE better than their 3rd halfback and could live with it. The funny thing about the 4 TEs is that it looks almost certain multiple season starter Donald Lee will be one of them.
*The new punter has to be Masthay. He's just more consistent.
*The depth on the DL really concerns me. I like their top 4 DL of Raji, Jenkins, Pickett, and Neal, but if Jolly was around as a 5th you could trust I'd really feel a ton better about the overall unit. Either Wynn is going to have to continue progressing (which I haven't seen too much from him in this camp) or {gulp} they're going to have to get something from Justin Harrell and his balky back.
*I also see some issues with the CB depth. It's hard to say what they are going to get out of Harris. If he comes back to decent form early in the season I feel pretty good about their nickel situation. The guys beyond Woodson, Williams, and Harris are just so up and down. It doesn't speak well for some of the incumbent younger guys on the roster that Sam Shields is probably going to make the team and is actually making a run at some playing time even though he played only one year of CB in college. He'll make some mistakes along the way but has upside. These other guys make mistakes and don't have as much upside so they might as well grow with Shields.
*I like the overall LB core including the depth. Some unheralded young guys are even looking good. I think you'll see some gadget defenses with a bunch of those guys out there walking around pre-snap.
*Maybe I should be more concerned here because the top 2 backups are both working back from injuries, but I think safety will be fine.
*I love how the o-line is coming along. Drafting really good o-lineman hasn't been one of TT's strengths considering he had to go back to a Sherman draftee he tried to get rid of as his starting C and both OTs are old guys past their best days they had to re-sign out of necessity. In his first couple of years I didn't see 5 guys they could trust. Now they have 8, with Bulaga, Spitz, and Lang in addition to the starters. We're going to see a much better start to the season because of the drastic improvement and stability with this unit as compared to a year ago.
*The QB situation as a whole is better. We now know Rodgers wasn't a flash in the pan and can lead the team to a good record. I feel a ton better about Flynn this year than last. This team doing much of anything still hinges on ARodg's health, but last year I questioned whether Flynn could complete a handful of passes in a game if he had to play any significant snaps.
*At WR we know the top 4 are set and I like the group. I think with some of the numbers in other spots you'll see them keep 5 and get a practice squad guy. I know they like this Chery kid. If Blackmon's knee is a problem I could see him making the 53. I could see him and Williams being the last spot and the practice squad guy with Swain being the odd man out. Interesting 3 man battle for 2 spots.
*The RB, FB, and TE positions are almost grouped together because the number they keep at each will impact the others. I'm almost certain they'll keep 4 TEs and wouldn't be surprised if at least initially they keep 3 FBs and only 2 halfbacks. If they do go with a 3rd halfback I'm almost certain it will be a guy not currently on the roster who brings a different dynamic than they already have. Starks they'll at least PUP and I'll expect a likely IR (really dumb pick but that's for another discussion). Porter looked good for part of one preseason game, but he was just a flash in the pan. I think they like Lumpkin, but I'm not sure they love him. When Kuhn showed he could give something as an emergency 3rd back I think they just realized if nobody else springs from another roster that they liked their 3rd fullback and their 4th TE better than their 3rd halfback and could live with it. The funny thing about the 4 TEs is that it looks almost certain multiple season starter Donald Lee will be one of them.
*The new punter has to be Masthay. He's just more consistent.
