Packer Notes: Briggs, Wilhelm Signed; Simpkins Released; Tim Masthay Stinks; and Power Rankings
by Brandon on Oct 27, 2010 7:01 AM CDT
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The Green Bay Packers announced some roster moves. They officially placed DE Mike Neal and LB Brady Poppinga on I.R. which ends the season for both players. They also released former Arena league player LB Maurice Simpkins, which wasn't a huge surprise since he was left inactive last week and didn't appear to be making a difference on special teams. But who they signed to replace them was surprising.
First was a typical signing. Young veteran LB Diyral Briggs has appeared in 5 games over the past two seasons for the 49ers and Broncos. But the signing of LB Matt Wilhelm was very unusual for the Packers because he's an eight year veteran. He's appeared in 82 games, with 22 starts, over his career, most recently with the 49ers and their 3-4 scheme. GM Ted Thompson does not sign street free agents with that much experience and that many miles on their aging bodies. But injuries, and the uncertainty last week whether LB A.J. Hawk or LB Brandon Chillar could play, had left the door slightly open that a recent addition from the practice squad, LB Robert Francois, could become the starter. That apparently was too little experience, even for Ted Thompson, and he signed the veteran Wilhelm, who should be able to step in right away and at least know what he's supposed to do.
I expect a coach to stand by his players, but special teams coach Shawn Slocum (who I have serious doubts about anyway) went out of his way to say that his "expectations for Tim are high." The player in question is P Tim Masthay, who had a good game against the Vikings. His current net average is 33.8 yards per punt, which is 3rd worst in the NFL among regular punters, and is even lower than last season's awful punter, P Jeremy Kapinos. Masthay has shown off a big leg at times, but he remains wildly inconsistent. I can't imagine saying my expectations for him are high. I'd just like to see if he could become average.
It's been a while since I looked at the SB Nation NFL Power Rankings, and after a couple of overtime losses, the Packers have slipped down to No. 12 overall. Next week could be a real statement game because the Jets are currently ranked No. 1 overall in those same rankings. Both teams are ranked closer together in the Football Outsiders rankings. Either way, their matchup is certain to be one of the best games of the week.
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I expect a coach to stand by his players, but special teams coach Shawn Slocum (who I have serious doubts about anyway) went out of his way to say that his “expectations for Tim are high.”
IMO, “expectations for Tim are high” because he’s NOT Jeremy Kapinos…
Soon coming to SBNation: The Peyton's Liberation Army?
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 27, 2010 7:21 AM CDT reply actions
Signings
Understand these signings, but surprised no DLs were picked up, as we discussed yesterday.
Saw something this morning that there is still one spot open and could be used to activate Harris or Bigby, but that there is more of a chance that another signing is made. Hopefully someone to provide depth on the line in case Pickett and/or Jenkins are unable to go.
That being said, I am also eager to have one or more of the PUP players (Harris, Bigby, and Starks) be activated. The first two moreso, so I guess that would someone else gets cut. Any candidates?
On Starks – can he continue to practice with the team if they don’t activate him from the PUP? Jackson is playing well and with Starks being a rookie, missing his time at Buffalo and all of training camp, he may not add a lot this year. So, if he’s able to work with the team, pick up the offense and get into playing shape to help the team next year, maybe that’s the route to go down.
Starks
If that’s true, unless he’s returning (which I don’t think would happen), I don’t see why we activate him. Might as well use the spot for someone that could provide depth at a position of need. Unless he comes in as a replacement for Nance, I don’t think we activate him.
From everything I’ve read about him, it doesn’t even seem like he’ll be activated this season.
by packallday555 on Oct 27, 2010 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions
sources?
I haven’t read anything about him since the season started. What sources do you have?
You've been Stroh'd!!!
Greg Bedard of Milwaukee JS
No one really knows what to expect with him. Some people think he’s bound to breakout while others think there is little chance for a big impact.
So kinda like us?...
Just read that he was practicing today along w/ Harris and Bigby. He can continue to practice w/ the team for the 3 wk exempt period then the Packers either put him on IR or activate him. Don’t see him being released outright! My guess is they activate him and give him a shot and find room for him on the roster. Even if its at the expense of Nance.
May not be much of a need to use him alot for now, as Jackson according to the coaches played his best game vs Minn. It’ll continue to be BJ and Kuhn until Starks is ready to contribute. Wk 10 he is acitvated and get actual playing time w/in a week or two, IMO.
You've been Stroh'd!!!
Interesting.
I see where you are going, and I agree with most of it. I just want to see what Nance can do, before ways are parted if Starks seems to be getting there.
by Bush League All Star on Oct 27, 2010 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I would like to see Nance get his shot too… But given the choice between putting Starks on IR for the season and possibly losing Nance, I expect Thompson to elevate Starks… Nothing against Nance, but Thompson will go w/ his draft choice! Thats just who he is…
If there is anyway possible Thompson will keep both Nance and Starks on that active roster, IMO…
You've been Stroh'd!!!
It was nice to see Starks actually out there on a few plays. The first couple I kept trying to figure out who 23 was, then it dawned on me! I am sure we’ll have another injury or two at the rate things are going so maybe that will open up the roster spot for Starks. You are right though, no way they release him.
Think you meant Nance here
For the first part of your post. That wasn’t Starks on the field.
Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"
Can’t remember where I read it sorry. I just remember the author mentioning Harris and Bigby likely being activated, while hinting Starks probably won’t be. He could easily be wrong though.
by packallday555 on Oct 27, 2010 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Obiazor
I just noticed that the Chargers cut Obiazor…anyone interested in bringing him back? I figure he knows the system, plays, coaches, etc. Might be a nice filler to our injury riddled defense.
Kapinos is a Colt now
I know there was a lot of vitriol that went his way last season, but is Masthay the answer? Painful watching some of his punts.
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi
Jesus
We need another defensive lineman, this whole 2-man front stuff for a quarter and a half is ridiculous.
by Archibaldcrane on Oct 27, 2010 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions
Let's give this a try!
Need to spend a first rounder on a punter, natch
by Bush League All Star on Oct 27, 2010 11:27 AM CDT reply actions
Congratulations to Matt WIlhelm
Your defense is half ex-OSU guys, it seems. Hawk, Wilhem, Jenkins.
If I may suggest signing Craig Krenzel with an immediate promotion to starting QB?
The Daily Norseman
Off Tackle Empire
SB Nation Minnesota
"A parent's only as good as their dumbest kid. If one wins a Nobel Prize but the other gets robbed by a hooker, you failed."
"Pull your 84 jerseys out, man. I think this is going to be a fun ride." Randy Moss, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Hawk and Wilhelm yes.
Jenkins was an undrafted FA who played at Central Mich or some other smaller Mich school.
I would expect that you need a QB FAR worse than the Packers!!! The viqueens are FAR more likely to sign Krenzel than the Packers!
You've been Stroh'd!!!
Hope he was also joking about what half of eleven is.
(It’s not 3). Anyway, I can think of worse schools to get our talent from.
by AmericasRealTeam on Oct 27, 2010 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Everyone knows
that Drew Henson is CLEARLY going to start for the Vikings…
Soon coming to SBNation: The Peyton's Liberation Army?
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 27, 2010 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions
2003 Wisconsin
is why Krenzel should NEVER have been drafted by anyone.
What we need is Will Smith.
Not him!
THIS One.
Soon coming to SBNation: The Peyton's Liberation Army?
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 27, 2010 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions
AJ Hawk getting drafted by the Packers
was bad enough. WIll Smith on the Packers would’ve Über-sucked
The Daily Norseman
Off Tackle Empire
SB Nation Minnesota
"A parent's only as good as their dumbest kid. If one wins a Nobel Prize but the other gets robbed by a hooker, you failed."
"Pull your 84 jerseys out, man. I think this is going to be a fun ride." Randy Moss, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Careful
we’re going to grab Dexter Larimore in the Draft :-)
Soon coming to SBNation: The Peyton's Liberation Army?
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 27, 2010 7:11 PM CDT up reply actions
We should
have grabbed Malcolm Jenkins too, just to make you SUFFAH!
Or Michael Jenkins.
Soon coming to SBNation: The Peyton's Liberation Army?
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 27, 2010 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions
I like those guys
but like I’m sure you do, you have one or two guys you hero worship and follow once they leave Wisconsin.
Like if John Clay…or better yet, JJ Watt, were to become Vikings.
The Daily Norseman
Off Tackle Empire
SB Nation Minnesota
"A parent's only as good as their dumbest kid. If one wins a Nobel Prize but the other gets robbed by a hooker, you failed."
"Pull your 84 jerseys out, man. I think this is going to be a fun ride." Randy Moss, WR, Minnesota Vikings
I thought Erasmus James was going to be good
I had high hopes for him. He was so quick off the line, but if remember correctly injuries really derailed his career.
Go Badgers!
Go Packers! Even more!
by I voted for Kodos on Oct 27, 2010 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions
I did too
and the few games he played truly injury free, I thought he was good. Had a few sacks, great push off speed, and brought pressure from the perimeter. It seemed that James and Kenechi Udeze were going to be good bookend DE’s for the Vikes for a long time.
Ironically, Jared Allen became a Viking because they didn’t, so I guess it worked out, but I still would’ve liked to see Kenechi Udeze come back from his leukemia, very inspiring and humble guy.
The Daily Norseman
Off Tackle Empire
SB Nation Minnesota
"A parent's only as good as their dumbest kid. If one wins a Nobel Prize but the other gets robbed by a hooker, you failed."
"Pull your 84 jerseys out, man. I think this is going to be a fun ride." Randy Moss, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Drafting Schofield
would have worked out so much better than Everson Griffith IMO…
And it would have ripped me apart as well.
Lance Kendricks + Shiancoe would be a murderous TE combination.
Trail Blazers atop the Northwest at 2-0!
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 28, 2010 12:49 AM CDT up reply actions
Kendricks is going to be a player. He can do it all.
by packallday555 on Oct 28, 2010 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions
What about Ryan Pickett?
Or is that what you meant by Jenkins?
by I voted for Kodos on Oct 27, 2010 10:39 PM CDT up reply actions
LBs make sense
Packers have lost 2 of their top 6 LBs for the season. Chillar is not completely back, and watching the last game, I wonder if Matthews is really healthy. Plus one reason MM gave for going to the 3-4 was to have more LB-types to play special teams.
On the DL we’ve lost two substitutes (4th and 5th man on depth chart). Both positions have been filled: Montgomery and Wynn. The question is if they’ve been filled adequately or not. Neither is really a big-bodied 3-4 type lineman. It would be nice to have another DL for a few games, but you have to wonder how much they would be able to contribute over just 1-3 games while Jenkins heals, if they don’t know the defense.
When Bigby and Harris come back, I expect to see Underwood and Bush cut.
Power polls
Cousin Sal on the BS Report had a good analogy for the value (or lack thereof) that power rankings have this early in the season. He said…
It’s like if my 4-year-old tells me that he wants to be a Pilgrim when he grows up and I get really concerned and think “oh boy, this is something I’ve got to talk to my wife about.” Y’know, it’s early, so just… no big deal.
There’s a lot of season left, and who looks great now has no bearing on who will look great later.
that said…
I’m headed over to SI.com to check out this weeks power rankings. They used to be something I really looked forward to when Dr. Z did them, but they’re still a must read now even though Don Banks is …myeh.
by Curly Lambeau on Oct 27, 2010 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions
I have a to the punter problems, for next season anyway..
Draft Alex Henery from Nebraska.
How often is it that a kicker/punter is one of the most important players on your team? Well that’s true for NEB, and it says more about Henery than the Huskers. The guy is amazing.
He’s made more FGs than Kris Brown, and he still has half the season to go. He will also break Brown’s all-time scoring record by the end of the tear. He’s missed 7 FGs total in his career, all beyond 40 yards. His career long is 57, which he drilled at the end of a game against Colorado for the win.
Last season, he took over as the punter for Nebraska, and was spectacular. He can boot it deep is he needs to, postin a couple 50 and 60 yard punts. But his real talent is in directional kicking. He had so many balls die or go out of bounds inside the 20, 10, 5 last year. His ability to flip the field won Nebraska at least a few games last year.
Draft Henery. He’ll be an upgrade in both the kicking and the punting game.
Extend Jared Dudley!
Gotta have room for 3 FBs and 4 TEs!
by I voted for Kodos on Oct 27, 2010 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions
He could, but we have one of the best kickoff guys in the country in Adi Kunalic.
That allows him to handle kicks and punts without worrying about his leg falling off.
Extend Jared Dudley!
He does TWO THINGS?!?!
TT is going to be drooling over him. Actually TT would drool if the guy long snapped it to himself holding and blasted it 50 yards.
But that is a nice double threat that guy is. I wouldn’t mind him at all if he can be had late. Punting is a weakness on this team along with kick offs. Your special teams can’t look like crap if the kicker puts them in the end zone each time. I will take each and every touchback.
by Bush League All Star on Oct 27, 2010 11:27 PM CDT up reply actions
3 actually.
Last game he was backed up inside like the 2o. He runs out to do a rugby style punt, but pulls it down and takes off. He makes some nice cuts and ended up scampering 27 yards downfield. Apparently Henery has the green light to do that with every punt if he sees an opening. Shows how much confidence Bo has in him.
Extend Jared Dudley!
Holy crap we need this guy
I’ve always wondered why punters never just took off running when everyone on D has already turned their back after the punter’s second step. Ever since Jon Ryan’s awesome first down run I’ve dreamed of a punter who could run and/or tackle. And this day has arrived. I’m so excited I’m gonna go all Strohman and use a bunch of exclamation points!!! We need good special teams and this Henerey guy could really help us out, especially since he can kick away from Hester. I’ve never been so excited about a punter (which I think is a tribute to the Packers’ inability to have a decent punter since Craig Hentrich left town)
This guy, as BLAS has astutely noted, should make TT happy because he plays multiple positions (almost as important as being a FB or TE), so we actually have a chance to get him.
I want Henery in the 6th I do,
Henerey in the 6th I do I do,
He is punter for the Cornhuskers,
and we need punters like never before,
Second verse, same as the first! etc.
by I voted for Kodos on Oct 28, 2010 8:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Don't be expecting too many tackles.
The kid weighs 175 lbs and looks even smaller than that. Although I’m sure he’d try.
Extend Jared Dudley!
Trying is all I ask for
Plugging a lane is good enough. If you can make the returner slow down or fall while running you over, all the better.
by I voted for Kodos on Oct 30, 2010 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Awesome.
Get this guy, he sounds awesome. I’ve never been excited about a K/P/RUGBY dude in my life.
by Bush League All Star on Oct 28, 2010 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Henery
I’ve watched Henery alot too and he’s good at both, but he aint the end all be all of kicking/punting!
Why is it that no other players have done both? They have certainly tried but the last one was about 30 yrs ago. Russell Erxlaben? sp… The techniques are vastly different and its hard to do both. Maybe he can, but I doubt it… Don’t think Henery would be an upgrade over Crosby and kicking from what I can tell is what he is best at. We’ll see, but something tells me he won’t be doing both in the NFL!
You've been Stroh'd!!!
I agree…though it would be nice to have someone on the roster that could fill in for the punter if an injury were to happen. But honestly, if you have one guy doing both and he gets hurt suddenly you are trolling the waivers for not only a kicker but a punter too…that would be ST suicide!
That's true.
We have Adi Kunalic handling kickoffs so Alex’s leg doesn’t fall off. He may need to focus on one thing, but I do believe he can do both. The kid is a stud (at least as far as a 175 lb kicker can be).
I disagree with Stroh as far as not being an upgrade over Crosby. Henery has just as much leg and is more accurate than what Crosby has done over the last 2 years. He’s also as confident as they come and has ice in his veins.
Anyway, Nebraska>>>>>>Colorado.
Extend Jared Dudley!
Why can't a kicker play both positions?
I mean, really, all you do is effing KICK THE BALL. Certainly there is enough time in the day to work on both techniques.
As far as worrying about injuries, that’s a valid concern, but I have a solution. You just get Kerry Shrug in to teach him how to stick a landing if he goes all Bill Gramatica on us. And more seriously, how much of a downgrade is anyone on the waiver wire over what we’ve had the last few years? Keep a kickoff specialist on the roster. He could kick emergency kicks in the short-term and have Henerey teach him to do some decent punting in practice.
I want Henerey! Don’t make me sing the song again . . .
by I voted for Kodos on Oct 28, 2010 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Kickers
Why can’t a kicker play both positions?
Why can’t pitchers hit?
TT bashers - turning my stomach since 2005!
The glass is way more than half-full!
Why can't a diamond ring?
And, why can’t you tuna fish?
TT bashers - turning my stomach since 2005!
The glass is way more than half-full!
Well, I'm out of arguments . . .
so it’s back to the song! Thanks to Herman’s Hermits for the tune.
I want Henery in the 6th I do,
Henerey the 6th I do I do . . .
By the way, I can punt and kick equally poorly, so why can’t someone be good at both? I can’t imagine Crosby is that much worse than Kapinos at punting.
by I voted for Kodos on Oct 30, 2010 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions
"Keep a kickoff specialist on the roster. He could kick emergency kicks in the short-term and have Henerey teach him to do some decent punting in practice."
That’s what we’re doing now with Adi Kunalic, who also happens to be a senior ;). Adi has a helluva leg, and his FG kicking is good enough to make a big-time DI\iv. 1 team, but I have no clue about any punting skills.
Extend Jared Dudley!
That's a good point
But honestly, if you have one guy doing both and he gets hurt suddenly you are trolling the waivers for not only a kicker but a punter too.
You could soften that potentual blow by keeping a backup at one position or the other, but then what would be the point, as you wouldn’t be saving a roster spot by having a guy who could do both jobs.
TT bashers - turning my stomach since 2005!
The glass is way more than half-full!
Last thing about Henery.
He was a walk-on who earned his scholie, so he certainly knows about hard work.
I also created him on Madden and had the Packers sign him :D
Extend Jared Dudley!
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