It’s that time of year again where I get to play Brian
Gutekunst, the General Manager of the Green Bay Packers. By Saturday evening, he’ll decide the 53 players on Head Coach Matt
LaFleur’s first roster. To tell you the
truth, the 2019 training camp was devoid of drama, save for the surprising (to
some) releases of veteran players like Mike Daniels, Jason Spriggs and Josh
Jones.
There was competition, but in only a couple of position
groups and outside of perhaps left guard and inside linebacker, the starting
jobs were sewn up even before the team checked in to St. Norbert College in
late July.
So with that, here’s my fifty-three.
OFFENSE (27)
Quarterbacks (3)
Aaron Rodgers, DeShone Kizer, Tim Boyle. Rodgers will enter his 15
th
season without taking a single snap in pre-season games, a first. Gutekunst traded for Kizer and hasn’t given
up on him yet. If Rodgers makes it
through the regular season intact, something he hasn’t done in the past three
years, Kizer will get first dibs but if he should falter, LaFleur won’t
hesitate to give Boyle a shot.
Running Backs (5)
Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, Tra Carson, Dexter Williams, Danny
Vitale. Like Rodgers, Jones will hit
the Bears game un-hit. Willliams missed
plenty of time too but they’re clearly the 1-2 punch LaFleur is hoping to build
his promised run game around. Carson ran hard all summer and was much
improved in pass protection. For all
the mistakes the Notre Dame rookie made in camp, the upside flashes and Vitale
will be a much utilized fullback in this offense.
Tight Ends (4) Jimmy
Graham, Mercedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan,
Jace Sternberger. If the Packers decide
to go light here, my guess is the veteran Lewis will be the odd man out. Graham has vowed more production in year two
and he needs to deliver.
Wide Receivers (6)
Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow,
Trevor Davis, Darrius Shepherd. This
was one of the most competitive positions of camp. Only one of the three drafted wideouts from
2018 will stick with Equanimeous St. Brown likely headed to injured reserve and
J’Mon Moore let go to search for a new pair of hands. Alan Lazard would be a tough cut, he’s earned
a look.
Offensive Line (9)
David Bakhtiari, Bryan Bulaga, Corey Linsley, Billy Turner, Lane Taylor,
Alex Light, Justin McCray, Elgton Jenkins, Lucas Patrick. If the coaching staff believes Jenkins is
ready to start from day one, Taylor could be a casualty. Light earned the swing tackle spot while
McCray and Patrick are versatile tough guys.
Cole Madison will return as a practice squad member.
DEFENSE (23)
Defensive Line (5)
Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Montravius Adams, Tyler Lancaster, Kingsley Keke. Easy picks here with Clark primed for a big
year leading the way. Lancaster and
Keke both got a lot of quality reps in the pre-season games. Fadal Brown missed too much time and James
Looney couldn’t make the year two jump.
Outside Linebacker (5)
Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Kyler Fackrell, Reggie
Gilbert. This may be the last shot for
Gilbert. I liked the way Brady Sheldon
played and late camp additions like Markus Jones and James Floston just didn’t
have enough time.
Inside Linebackers (3)
Blake Martinez, Ty Summers, James Crawford. Very light here but Oren Burks and Curtis
Bolton both finished camp on the injured list.
The Packers won’t be playing very
much base defense anyway under Mike Pettine.
Cornerbacks ( 6)
Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Tramon Williams, Tony Brown, Josh Jackson,
Ka’Dar Hollman. Brown’s camp was too
good to ignore and Hollman flashed promise
King’s health is vital for this group to have a big year.
Safeties (4) Adrian
Amos, Darnell Savage, Raven Greene, Will Redmond. Ibraheim Campbell still figures into the
picture but he’ll likely have wait until mid-October to come off the PUP
list. Redmond barely beats out former
Badger Natrell Jamerson because he’s more of a physical safety.
SPECIALISTS (3)
Mason Crosby, J.K. Scott, Hunter Bradley. Crosby
fends off the Sam Ficken challenge, Scott hit the ball very well in
August and Bradley still has a few too many errant snaps for my liking.
The numbers point toward an offensive heavy roster but don’t
forget, LaFleur is an offensive minded Head Coach. The key for Pettine’s unit is the
versatility so many players offer.
Let’s see how my 53 stacks up with Gute’s.
