Labor Day Weekend Cuts

Sunday, August 31, 2008

by James Knell
Total Amateur Packer Analyst

Labor Day Weekend Cuts

I’ve got to admit there are a few times a year I get the urge to play “Packer Analyst” and Labor Day weekend tends to be one of them. So a few comments on the Packers cut-down, practice squad signings, and lack of waiver claims are in order.

Defensive Tackles and Player Development:

Greg Bedard wrote an article last fall that pointed to the Bates defense putting a lot of stress on DTs and resulting in a higher rate of injury. McGinn's piece on the cuts today quotes an unnamed scout as saying, "There's none to be had. Everybody is looking for those guys."

These are NOT the kinds of decision that generally build dynasties. Acquiring elite players does that, but developing adequate back ups doesn't hurt the cause. Terdell Sands was a Packer in 2003, but they let him go. Last year he started 11 games for the bad Raider's defense so he is probably good enough to be the #4 DT. At the same time the Packers carried OT Orrin Thompson for those 3 years only to release him yesterday.

Preseason player development has been spotty at other positions. Sitton at guard but now he’s injured. Williams at CB… maybe. LB’s Bishop and Hodge are getting good reviews, but the defense looked unstoppable and deep last preseason.

Increasing Cullen Jenkins number of snaps is a bad idea. When he's not banged up Jenkins can be a force. With the KGB injury, you can already see this drift happening. That no one was deemed worthy of the #4 DT slot is ominous.

Why let Corey Williams go if Harrell, Jolly, and Cole are both coming off injuries and you are not sure that Daniel Muir would progress and make the team? Muir was picked up by the Colts immediately. Let’s remember Muir beat out Kenny Peterson who we just saw starting for the bad Denver defense. I figured Ted Thompson knew what he was doing but…


Long Snappers: Only noticed during disasters

Also, there is no excuse for the Packers to play the Vikings without a LS specialist. TT tries to get by with a non-specialist and something goes wrong, people should take note. Who remembers former Badger Jeff Dellenbach handling LS in the Super Bowl years? Did the Packers have a LS specialist before that or was it the center?

CCF adds: Speaking of LS disasters, we had a guard back in 80's Buddy Aydelette, who in '80 was a LS. He gift wrapped 9 points to Pittsburgh in a 22-20 loss to the Steelers. Charlie Ane did some LS for the Pack in those years, too. McCarren didn't do much LS in his day.

News Update: As if we needed a reminder from the name of the new LS, Brett Goode. Yes Bret was very, very good, lol. At least there may be life beyond Rob Davis. The era of the specialist has not been turned back in Green Bay. I have no idea if Wells or Spitz have ever long snapped anyway, but I'm relieved that I won't be finding out. Goode was in the Jacksonville training camp the last two years and was a LS all during his college career at Arkansas, so at least he's not new to the trade.


Special Teams: The Third Dimension

Did you catch the Tracy White quote in McGinn’s 8/30 article “Packer Cut Backs”:

[Currently, the roster contains seven linebackers, but veteran Tracy White understands that he might be waived to make room for the long snapper.
"I'm here but I'm not here," White said. "Ted Thompson called me and said I'm part of the team, whatever. They were telling me different things. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. Monday will probably tell it all."]

I guess there is a real bond of trust there and some good communication, lol.

With the run offense and the run defense suspect, the Packers could get lift on Special Teams if they keep guys like Bishop and Tracy White and a few of the other good ones.

For what it’s worth, I think there is room on most rosters for a LS and a “special teams demon” or two. The Demon, is generally not a wedge-buster. They are fast, know when to go for the ball and when to tackle, and sometimes can do both at the same time. The Demon has a focus on the nuances of punt and kick coverage including technique and rules. If they are versatile they are good open field blockers on kick and punt return teams also, but that seems to be rare. So the Demon is generally a coverage specialist.

I recall the Packers lost wedge-buster / guard Tony Palmer early last season to a neck injury. He was on the released on April 25, 2008. He is the only Packer I can recall ever being singled out for being a good WB or even identified as “the wedge buster”. Please tell me if there are others that you know about. I haven’t been able to tell who took over for Palmer last year or who has been the WB this preseason. It is regrettable that Tony Palmer couldn’t make it back – he was fearless.

Right now I am pulling for Tracy White and Desmond Bishop, when you have the choice between back-ups, screw-ups, and projects and guys who can affect the game go with the Demons.

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