Since our WR corps is thin, I want to start looking at teams with a logjam at WR to see what 'acorns' may fall from the tree for Jeff Ireland at roster-cutdown time. Here's a piece from a Packers blog about their bottom of the depth chart receivers: In order, here is a look at the WRs who may become available out of Green Bay. Feel free to discuss them and add any other WRs from other teams. Diondre Borel Second Year, 6'0" 199lbs, 40 Time: 4.52 40 Low: 4.45 40 High: 4.59, Utah State QB - Slash type player (WR/RB/KR) http://www.packers.com/team/roster/Diondre-Borel/224012ef-4ea5-4e8e-a0c6-6449950578bf Apparently Borel caught Rogers eye on the first day of camp: http://jerseyal.com/GBP/2012/06/13/diondre-borel-catches-the-eye-of-aaron-rodgers-on-day-1-of-packers-minicamp/ Rogers says, . Borel spent 2011 on the Packers practie squad after being signed as a UDFA. The fact that he's back means he has developed some. Interestingly, Borel *declined* a chance to sign onto Tampa Bay's active roster and chose to stay on with Green Bay. That was pre-Donald Driver. Who knows how it plays out now. I could see us claiming him off waivers, if no one above us does (what's the order anyways? Is Tampa above us?) [video=youtube;OYjX3j4KYqY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYjX3j4KYqY[/video] He'd be great depth behind Bess, or to come on in a four-wide as the second inside receiver. Tori Gurley Second Year UDFA/Practice Squad 2011, 6'4" 232lbs, 35" arms, 9 3/4" hands, 40 Time: 4.56, 33.5 Vertical, 118" broad http://www.packers.com/team/roster/Tori-Gurley/e4136c36-84c4-4e19-ae24-223bbaa860b1 Former basketball player. NFL Combine Profile [video=youtube;u_jFW7yqSE8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_jFW7yqSE8[/video] To me, he's not as good a passing mismatch as Egnew, but may actually be a better blocker as a compromise if you get ten more pounds onto him and move him to TE. I don't think he sounds better than Roberto Wallace, and I'd rather keep Wallace than pick Gurley up if he were playing at WR. What jumps out at me looking at video are his stiff, un-fluid hips and lower lumbar. Shaky Smithson Second Year UDFA spent 2011 on IR, 5'11" 202lbs, 40 Time: 4.65 (Utah Pro Day), 30.5 Vert http://www.packers.com/team/roster/Shaky-Smithson/68f12513-b796-4c76-be42-8006a12383eb Explosive returner: http://jerseyal.com/GBP/2011/07/25/packers-sign-utah-wrkr-shaky-smithson/ He's known as a one-dimensional player who won't contribute much as a WR. With Miller and Bush, I don; think we are desperate enough at returner, nor stacked enough at WR to spend a WR roster spot on this guy. I would say no to Shaky if he were cut (which I expect he will be, as he only survived last year because he was on IR and didn't count against the roster numbers). (I had to cut the video of Shaky because we only get a max of five in a post. Sorry Shaky, you got cut.) Dale Moss Rookie UDFA, 6'3" 213lbs, 40 Time: 4.45 (Pro Day), 41.5 Vert http://www.packers.com/team/roster/Dale-Moss/333d363f-3547-4fea-8b6f-b7fe7c8e9f41 He was on Sports Illustrated "2012 Wes Welker Watch List" as a huge sleeper. Former basketball player about whom they said: Sigmund Bloom writes: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1167929-green-bay-signs-undrafted-ultra-athletic-converted-basketball-player-dale-moss Tons of upside with this guy. He's like Ryan Tannehill that way, just at the tip of the iceberg of his potential. Thing is, I'd be shocked if Green Bay let him go. If they did, I'd be first in line. No way he gets cut. In fact... Tells you they intend to develop him, but they need to carry him on the active roster to do it. If Green bay has a brain fart and actually thinks they can slip this guy onto the practice squad, I'll be thrilled. The "Legendary" Pro Day [video=youtube;qVcJR5aVtaM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVcJR5aVtaM[/video] Love his hands. Catching fully extended, huge catch radius. Catching in tight to the body when he has to. Catching low with inverted hands. ANd I'm sure no draft/talent expert but his routes look bad to me... to be expected with only a year of experience. I can't imagine the damage this kid could do once he gets his technique down. Moss shows off his route-running skills (I'm sure he made this video to answer questions about his route running and footwork due to inexperience). What do you think, good, bad or in between? [video=youtube;S_0PHqArENI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_0PHqArENI&feature=relmfu[/video] I still think he rounds his cuts off WAY too much. Seriously, please let the Packers cut this guy though. He'd be a monster here with some time to grow. Marcus Rivers UDFA Rookie (U of Buffalo!), 6'5", 218lbs, Speed:4.61, Arm:34 1/8 Hand:9 1/4 According to ProFootballWeekly: http://www.profootballweekly.com/prospects/player/marcus-rivers-2/ [video=youtube;u7CsMnXm2Fk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7CsMnXm2Fk[/video] Not so high on Marcus. He'll probably develop into a decent 5th receiver for someone, but that's not what we're looking for. We need someone who can either get onto the field for us this year, or have huge upside. (Then again, who *isn't* looking for that?) BEST WR TO GET FROM PACKERS: Dale Moss - Only he won't get cut. No way. Most Likely WR To Get From Packers: Diondre Borel - I think Diondre would want to sign with us because of our thin WR situation. Hopefully they either cut him and we get him off waivers, or if they practice squad him then he gets to choose where to go... and he is more likely to choose somewhere like miami where he could crack the lineup. Thoughts?
I understand the preception of our team its that we are really thin at WR. If you read the reports though out really seems otherwise. Naanee is looking really good. Chad Johnson is looking like the Chad of old. Hartline is going to be a starter once healthy. Bess is having the best camp of his career. Then the younger guys like Pruitt, Wallace, Fuller, and Thigpen are all looking pretty solid. Usually hear each of them making at least 1 or 2 good plays a day. I'm not so sure we are as thin as people think we are.
IMO, we already have a vet Wr corps and a slew of talented but unproven Wr's prospects. Would Moss be that much of an upgrade over say JPruitt?
Im really just tempted to see what our own young players have and give them a chance. I think thats the best way to go. You never know what you may uncover during game action...I think Fuller, Matthews, Wallace and Pruitt all have far more to offer then any of those guys. Fuller has chemistry and talent if he can just work on his hands. Matthews just has to work on getting better. Wallace is a deep threat waiting to happen and at the very least Pruitt should be a ST ace.
Outside of trading for Wallace, I'd rather see what our young guys can do. We drafted 2 WR's and picked up another that's looking good.
I don't think we need any more developmental guys, we need game-breaking starter types. Guys who will push/be pushed off the roster by Roberto Wallace/Jeff Fuller/Julius Pruitt aren't too helpful right now, in my opinion.
Which of these possible rejects are definitively better that Bess, Johnson, NaaNee, Hartline, Wallace, Pruitt or Fuller today? I only ask because I doubt they keep 7 WR and the 2 draft picks are most likely PS bound.
Yep, it looks like our vet 4 are good Wr's but not game breaker types which is why I would not mind playing the younger players, maybe Wallace or Fuller is a Steve Johnson waiting to happen. The one exception I may make is Anthony Armstrong.
IMO whichever wrs from our roster make the 53, then they deserve to be here and are better than any other cuts made by other teams
I don't think our WR's are doing that badly for one reason only. Were not hearing that the offense is having trouble moving the ball. The big issue is 'drops'.
Personally Im keeping an eye on the Titans WR corp. They Nate Washington, Kenny Britt, Kendall Wright, Damian Williams, and Lavelle Hawkins at WR. Thats a fairly deep unit. Hawkins and Williams both had over 40 catches last year but only 1 TD for Hawkins and 5 TDs for Williams. Im interested if we couldnt pry one of those two loose specifically Williams
Doesn't seem like I'm the only guy that thinks the glass is half full. Some people don't actually look at the glass, they just think its as empty as they are told.
You're not the only one. I'd rather not dwell on the worst case scenario before the fact. I'm taking a wait and see approach, but I have hopes that one or 2 of the young WRs can emerge as viable receiving threats. Why not take the positive approach? Less chance of ulcers that way.
My hopes are highest for Wallace blossoming. Fuller maybe, but he's a physical copy of Wallaxe but slower.
I'm pulling for Pruitt the most, personally. I loved his work as a gunner last season and it would be really cool if he became a solid WR for us as well.
You're right. I have zero opinions. Never have. I just blindly go around believing what I'm told. Things like, this offense doesn't need a #1 WR. All sarcasm aside, this WR group does have a chance to be good. Alot of things just need go the right way. Hartline needs to get/stay healthy and continue to develop. Chad needs to be Johnson and not Ochocinco. At least one of Wallace/Pruitt/Fuller needs to breakout. Nanee needs a career year. IF 3 of those 4 things happen, we could be all right. If one or none happen.....yikes.
I wasn't singling you out personally, more of the collective belief of the media and casual fans that just believe what they hear. I don't think its completely unreasonable to think that Chad, Hartline, Naanee, and one out two of the young guys have a good year. As well as Fasano and Clay at the TE position who are both big threats in the passing game. You add in Reggie out of the backfield I personally see a lot of people who can catch the ball and make plays.
I don't know if there is a "these guys will have to do until next year camp" but that's where my tent would be. I don't see a Superbowl team that's just missing a wr or two. Hello, btw.
Eh, depends, good Qb play makes avg Wr's better, do agree that pining a season on Johnson and Naanee and Hartline as playmakers is not a recipe for success w/o the improbable happening. What I do see is a Wr corps that is reminiscent of the 08 Corps with Bess/Ginn/Greg C, not playmakers but not terrible. This is one of the reasons why I'd almost prefer giving the youngsters shots at playing time, even if CJ and Naanee pan out..so what? Both are here on 1 yr prove it deals, we need Wr's for THill's starting days in 2013-14 and beyond. I'll give the Bills credit, they bit the bullet and developed some Wr's and jettisoned Lee Evans when the young guys showed they could get it done.
I know. I was just messing around It's not unreasonable to think one or maybe two of those things could happen. Problem is, it's also quite likely none work out. I do believe our best bet for offensive production will come from the TE and RB positions.
I'm not sure...Last thing I remember was opening a package I got in the mail..and now, here I am. Is Feidler doing any better?
