Final Preseason Practice: Injuries, Barnett and Matthews, and Final Preseason Roster Battles
by Brandon on Sep 2, 2009 8:00 AM CDT
in Green Bay Packers News
Email
PrintTuesday was the last open practice of training camp. From Tom Pelissero, the 200 fans that watched it gave them a standing ovation. It's been a great preseason and training camp.
Speaking of Tom, he provided a great run down of who won't play on Thursday night. CB Charles Woodson and CB Al Harris won't play; coaches' decision. The players battling injuries won't play either; RB Brandon Jackson, S Charlie Peprah, CB Will Blackmon, S Aaron Rouse, DE Justin Harrell, and WR Greg Jennings.
Anyone not mentioned above will play. That means it's the first live action for LB Clay Matthews and LB Nick Barnett. Although they've missed the first three preseason games, depending on how they both play at Tennessee, it's possible they could both start Week 1. Back in 2006, LB Brady Poppinga won the starting OLB job after missing the first three preseason games. If Barnett is healthy, is there any justification for starting LB Brandon Chillar ahead of him? Does Matthews deserve a chance to start Week 1 after missing most of the preseason?
(Do you still have a lot of evaluating to do?)
Oh yeah, I think we have a lot of evaluating to do, especially the special teams part of it.
Special teams might be the reason they keep FB John Kuhn over rookie FB Quinn Johnson, although according to Tom Silverstein, it sounds like the competition is still open. I hope they don't release or take away the starting job from FB Korey Hall, I think the running game is much better with him in as the lead blocker, but he could easily become the odd man out.
According to Pete Dougherty, Rouse and Peprah are battling for one roster spot at safety, but those guys are both in danger. It's not their fault, but it's hard to evaluate someone when they're not playing. And the team would be fine with CB/S Jarrett Bush and S Anthony Smith as the only backup safeties. I'd hate to see them release Rouse.
In the final preseason game against Tennessee last season, QB Aaron Rodgers and the 1st team offense only stuck around for one play. So it's lots of playing time for QB Brian Brohm while QB Matt Flynn continues to nurse his sore shoulder. Pete Dougherty discussed the possibility of claiming former New England QB Kevin O'Connell, but he couldn't possibly be an improvement over Brohm? Maybe my judgment is clouded because I'm a big Brohm fan.
Mitchell has admitted his mistake, but I can't help myself. Cincinnati finally signed OL Andre Smith last week after a lengthy contract dispute and almost immediately he breaks his foot. I'm so happy they landed DT B.J. Raji instead.
17 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
My thoughts too
I’d hate to see them release Rouse
He was so good when he played.
battlekow: Bill is having an oppo-gasm
Why?
Why the love for Rouse??? He has made a couple INT’s that cover for his deficiencies!!! You guys act like cuz he made a few INT’s that he is the 2nd coming… He is NOT!!! In fact he is really a pedestrian safety! What goes unnoticed by the casual fans, is that he is a POOR tackler. Everyone thinks he is 6’4 and 230 so he is a really good tackler, but he sucks… And that is assuming he gets to the play!!! Far too many times Rouse has taken POOR angles to get to the ball, whether a pass or run and never even sniffed the play… And the few times he has gotten there he has been unable to bring down anyone!! His height actually works against him in that he can’t get low and wrap up!
You see the INT that he made against Manning for a TD… good play? Absolutely… But he never shows up in film cuz he never gets to the play to make a tackle!!! Vs. New Orleans, he allowed the big TD to Colston, that LOOKED like Wood was beaten… Well look a little closer. Rouse should have had over the top coverage! He took a POOR angle to the play, couldn’t even get in the picture and cost the Pack 7 pts!!!
Some of you need to get over the INT’s and recognize that he is just not that good. For every INT he made he prolly cost the Packer in a couple other plays!!!
Put him on IR, hope the light goes on in the next year! If it doesn’t get rid of him!!! He is just THE MOST OVER-RATED player I have seen in a LONG time…
Can't release Rouse
He is soo much better then both Bush and Peprah.
I hope we keep Q. Johnson as well.
Release Harrell?
I’m not saying its a good or bad decision (or that I would support it at this point), but converting the the 3-4 and having Kampman able to move back to the line if needed may have them release one extra DL to keep Johnson or Rouse.
Just a thought….
I would be for it, I don’t know if the staff would though. It seems MM and TT still aren’t giving up on Harrell yet. I really think keeping Rouse and Q Johnson would be smart, and would benefit our team. Rouse played very well last year when filling in for Bigby at times.
by packallday555 on Sep 2, 2009 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions
"Just a thought…."
and a very good one at that. Harrell’s a bust and the Packers ought not keep him around simply due to his status as a high draft pick, particularly if it comes at the cost of losing players who have a lot of potential (Johnson) or have actually performed well at this level when healthy (Rouse).
No way.
Harrell has too much potential to just give up on and is a better fit at 3-4 DE in this scheme than Jolly, who is scheduled to be a FA this offseason if the CBA rules stay intact. If you need the roster spot that badly, just move him to IR. The injuries suck and are frustrating, but the best course of action would be to wait it out.
Moving Kampman back to DE in the 3-4 mitigates his effectiveness, kinda like putting him in coverage as an OLB (d’oh!). If they need an extra DL, they could always keep both Montgomery and Wynn, or re-sign Talley (no way he makes the team outright) at a later date.
Godspeed...
and by better fit...
…I mean he can play disciplined, contained football, something that has been a problem for the somewhat out of control Jolly in the past. I don’t mean disciplined in a hot-headed sense.
Godspeed...
"If you need the roster spot that badly, just move him to IR. The injuries suck and are frustrating, but the best course of action would be to wait it out."
That’s a much more thoughtful point than I bothered to make. Well put.
Bush and Peprah both need to go, they are bad blood on the team
and Rouse and Smith and more than capable
On that fly to right-center
I kinda expected JD to plow into Rios with an ATV.
EVERYBODY PICK US FOR 3RD OR 4TH SO I DINK WE DOIN POOTY GOO
Sox Machine
by Sox Machine on Aug 17, 2009 7:35 PM PDT reply recommended Unrec 3
Harrell
I agree with him being a bust.. He needs to GO!
by Andrew Andrekopoulos on Sep 2, 2009 8:48 PM CDT reply actions
Final 53-man roster...Offense
It’s going to be interesting…How “bad” is Brandon Jackson’s ankle injury? My guesss is we keep four RB’s and two FB’s…TThompson would look bad if Quinn Johnson were cut-if it were another wasted (5th round)pick…my guess is he stays…the choice between Hall and Kuhn is a toss-up…RB:Ryan Grant starts, Brandon Jackson may get cut…Look, I know he was a second-round pick, but, he’s not a breakaway threat and I believe D.Wynn, K. Lumpkin-a bruiser, and T. Sutton have looked better than him. No one is saying this, but, don’t be surprised if it happens. Tight end:Donald Lee needs to increase his yards per catch this year or he’ll be cut in 2010…Finley, I’ve heard “walks on water” and is ready for a monster year…Evan Moore or Spencer Havner…both solid number threes…I’m choosing Havner because of his versatility…Wide Receiver:Jennings and Driver will start, number three-Jordy Nelson, number four-James Jones and number five-Ruvell Martin…I think we will only keep five on the 53-man roster…Brett Swain will most likely get traded or picked by another team…Offensive line, we know the starting five…the question is, do we trade or keep Scott Wells? My guess is they trade him, if they can get a 5th or 6th round pick (Seattle?)…which leaves back-ups:Lang, Giacomini, Meredith and probably one other player…QB:Rogers, Flynn and if he plays well tonight-Brohm…if he stinks, expect either him to be traded or released. I truly hope he plays well. He was supposed to be a first round pick if he came-out a year earlier…please not another wasted second round pick…hey, whatever happened to Ahmad Carroll?
Interesting
But I think Jackson stays – he’s been the third down back which means they like his pass protection. IMO, eventhough Sutton has been fun to watch against the 2s and 3s, I don’t think he’s shown enough against the 1s to warrant a roster spot. And I think Lumpkin is out also, mostly because of the “fumble-itis” he’s been tagged with.
Also, if Wells goes, who’s the backup center?
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
