Just to recap what Green Bay has done (and not done) so far in the off-season leading up to the draft... Free Agents Signed: Kevin Barry Ahman Green Najeh Davenport Rod Gardner Aaron Kampman Ben Taylor (From Browns) Ryan Pickett (From Rams) Billy Cundiff (From Dallas) Mark Boerigter (From Chiefs) William Henderson Kenny Peterson Ben Taylor (From Browns) Tracy White (From Jags) Free Agents Lost: Ryan Longwell Mike Flanagan Paris Lenon Tony Fisher Antonio Chatman Unsigned Free Agents (Likely Lost) Grady Jackson N'ail Diggs (Released) Grey Ruegamer Earl Little Some thoughts: - Offensive Line looks like a big concern again this year. I don't mind losing Flanagan, but I think the Packers should try to keep Ruegamer. No help at guard is in sight. Why the Packers didn't talk to Larry Allen is beyond me. - I really would like to keep Grady Jackson and put him and Pickett in the middle together, but there's no way that's going to happen. The Packers have been really crappy to Jackson in the past few years. - Not sure if Cundiff is the answer at kicker, but the Packers don't have any sixth or seventh round picks to use on a kicker, so I predict that Thompson trades down to acquire a sixth or seventh round pick. - Packers are going to need to draft a running back and a fullback at some point. Green and Davenport have one year deals and Henderson inches closer to retirement every year. - Packers are still $20 million under the cap, so there's still room to maneuver before the draft.
Quote-Pack Attack Offensive Line looks like a big concern again this year. I don't mind losing Flanagan, but I think the Packers should try to keep Ruegamer. No help at guard is in sight. Why the Packers didn't talk to Larry Allen is beyond me. Scott Wells should be fine at Center(hopefully), Chris White and Junius Coston will also be in the mix to compete at Center, Wells stuggled a little at gaurd last year though and is a much better center and the other two are young and kind of raw not really who I want calling the blocks. White and Coston should also compete at gaurd along with Kevin Barry and Adrian Klemm. Ruegamer and Allen don't really fit the new Zone blocking scheme implemented, it favors smaller (285-310) agile athletic gaurds instead of the brusiers. Clifton may have some problems in this scheme dude to his size but he is relativly athletic as is Barry so they could make the transition well.
Kevan Barry I think will make a solid Guard that's where they want to play him. That was my main concern with Sherman. He said Barry could start but he was to good in the U-71.. Your starting lineup is more important than the U-71 which is in the scrap book now. I also like the move of getting Wells to C. I think he'll be a fine starter and do well. That still leaves an opening at the other guard. Maybe Whittaker can slim down and get quicker and learn to play it in the zone scheme. Grady Jackson wants more money than Pickett. He said he's a better players. Green Bay is the team that gave him a chance when the Saints cut him. I can understand wanting to make a pay day but he sounds like he's pouting because someone younger and better got a nice deal. I'm concerned with WR, OG, and LB yet..
