There are so many questions heading into a new season. The Green Bay
Packers roster currently is at 90 players, and mostly they will be
looking at the players on the lower half of the roster in the first
preseason game.
On offense there are three major positions to
be watching. At wide receiver, Nelson and Cobb are clearly entrenched as
the number 1 and 2 receivers. The first big question is at number
three. Recent reports have said that Green Bay Packers second round pick
Davante Adams was dealing with a hamstring injury during the OTA's.
Adams was dealing with drops during OTA's, but had an impressive catch
from Matt Flynn during family night and continues to push for playing
time over the incumbent third receiver Jarrett Boykin. Adams continues
to look impressive and it is one of those things where it is a matter of
sooner or later he will overtake Boykin, but Boykin has the experience
edge and the already existing chemistry with Aaron Rodgers. With the
injury to Jared Abbrederis, the later wide receiver spots are something
to keep an eye on as well. Kevin Dorsey has had an impressive training
camp according to reports and Jeff Janis is back practicing this week
after his battle with shingles. Janis has the impressive measurables,
and it will be good to finally get an eye on him to see how he performs
with the offense.
Tight end is a mystery due to the absence of
last year's starter Jermichael Finley. Andrew Quarless played decently
well in backup duties last year, but reports are strong on the
emergence of rookie tight end Richard Rodgers and Brandon Bostick.
Bostick is a highly athletic tight end who is having impressive catches
so far in training camp. Rodgers is the player the Packers drafted in
the third round with their compensatory pick for losing Greg Jennings to
the Minnesota Vikings. The main thing is that it appears that the
competition is wide open between these three, and Colt Lyerla will miss
weeks due to a knee injury.
The other offensive spot to watch is
going to be with the offensive line. Second year player JC Tretter will
have his first NFL game action at Center in the game against the Titans.
Tretter isn't guaranteed the job though, as Center Corey Linsley from
Ohio State is fighting for an opportunity to start at Center as well. It
will be good to see both men get on the field, call out the blocking
assignments, and push some people around. Plus, a major backup was hurt
yesterday in Don Barclay, who tore his ACL and will be out for the
season. This means that former first round pick, offensive tackle Derek
Sherrod, will need to step up and be the swing tackle that the Packers
need as injuries are all too common.
Defensively, the main
question mark for the Packers is still at secondary, where Morgan
Burnett, who was the top player at safety coming into the season, has an
oblique injury, after having a different injury the previous week. In
practice the first team has been played with Micah Hyde and Ha Ha
Clinton-Dix at safety. Hyde just converted to the position after playing
mostly cornerback last year, and Clinton-Dix was the first round pick
for the Packers this year. Don't forget about Sean Richardson though, as
he has been excellent and is having a strong training camp as well.
When
it comes to special teams, it will be interesting to see exactly who
gets reps in the game as the Packers have been using multiple returners
for both punt and kick returns in practice, and it is a competition that
will likely go into the opener. But one thing the Packers haven't been
doing is using Randall Cobb on those returns. After his injury last year
and how important he is to the offense as the slot receiver, it would
be foolish for them to put him back there and risk another injury.
Packers
football is one of the best things about the Fall, and it will be great
to watch these players and many others as they take on the Tennessee
Titans on Saturday August 9.
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