Pack-A-Day Podcast - Episode 1847 - Packers 53-man Roster Prediction
On today's show, Andy walks through his 53-man roster prediction and practice squad. Don't miss it!
By AndyHerman
On today's show, Andy walks through his 53-man roster prediction and practice squad. Don't miss it!
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Andy is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh and owns & operates the Pack-A-Day Podcast. Andy has taken multiple courses in NFL scouting and is an Editor for Packer Report. Andy grew up in Green Bay and is a lifelong season ticket holder - follow him on Twitter @AndyHermanNFL!
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Comments (11)
Esquetoi
August 16, 2023 at 11:09 am
Having seen the Bengals game, wonder why Emanuel Wilson would not be a cinch to make the 53 as he is at a position where careers are short and with questions after this year a threat like he showed should be a must keep. Also Benny Sapp had me intrigued. His play on the ball late near the 5 yd line had me confused thinking it was Cox who I was ready to elevate to TB's Brooks status but I found out it was Sapp...he looks big and proved he could see and get the ball. Nichols and the young hybrid LB can wait a year IMO.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 16, 2023 at 07:38 pm
Wilson has played 0 ST. I'd think he could pick it up quickly, and I hope he was handed the whole playbook on day 1 as well as being told ain't no way he's getting spot 1 or 2, and RB#3 must have great pass blocking and ST.. Even more important now that #84 Davis is out for the season.
I hope he gets chances, and I hope he proves he's worked his tuckus off learning those assignments. I'd love to see him on the roster!
WD
August 16, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Generally your predictions seem reasonable with the exception of WR. With that group you seemed to abandon your rationality. I can see 7 receivers picked but it was copletly baffling that Bo Melton was not one of them. I know in the ancient fable the tortoise beat the hare....but this is the NFL. Grant Dubose over Bo Melton? C'mon man.
greengold
August 16, 2023 at 12:18 pm
WD, I'm a HUGE Bo Melton fan and want for him to make this 53. He just left today's practice with a hamstring injury per Paul Bretl's reporting.
That WR Room is CROWDED! For sure. I was wondering if the Packers might try stashing Melton on the IR for a while until needed? That's a possibility. As far as Grant DuBose goes, don't be surprised by him making a huge impression straight out of the gate with no OTA nor previous TC experience. He's got a look about him as being an NFL ready player, and that was while he was at tiny Charlotte University. Not much has changed, apparently.
I had been thinking the Packers might try to IR DuBose to save him for a while this season, but, with the slot & jet concept reps looking to be split between Toure & Reed, I could see there might not have been enough room to keep Melton rostered initially. Protecting him on IR might be a really smart play, as players do get injured during a long 17 game schedule.
I'm as curious as you about this, but there's my best guess.
Melton & DuBose are very different players. I could see DuBose eventually becoming a good backup to Watson. Maybe Wicks & DuBose backup Watson & Doubs..? Hard to say. Looking like Watson, Doubs, Toure, Reed, Wicks, DuBose, Heath right now. With roster positions so tight, maybe they only keep 6 WRs on the 53 to start the season.
WD
August 16, 2023 at 01:29 pm
Hopefully you are right greengold. It would at least protect him. If something happens to Watson who will be able to stretch the field? Not Wicks, Heath, or Dubose. You can't make a rabbit out of a tortoise. Scantling made a living Just stretching the field and turned out eventually to be a very good WR now with the champion KC Chiefs. Lafleur said not long ago that he needed to find speed in the WR position. Hopefully he will practice what he preaches and keeps the young speedster. We will have to seee how serious the hamstring is. Watson had issues with that as well.
greengold
August 16, 2023 at 01:36 pm
All good points, WD! Thanks!
Wicks stretches the field, for sure, without being the typical 4.3 burner. He's got a different kind of acceleration that is coupled with a fantastic separation skillset at the LOS. Because of that ability to gain separation so early, his sneaky acceleration puts more distance between he and the defender, oftentimes taking the top off of defenses. It's weird, but you'll see it enough as the season progresses. Special player.
I can't wait to see DuBose click. I do believe it is going to happen. My guess is Melton should return to give us a positive impact as well at some point.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 16, 2023 at 07:44 pm
Wicks and DuBose are both 4.57 on the 40, Te17 is 4.56. Heath is 4.64.
Bo Melton is our fastest WR @ 4.34. Nobody really backs up #9, but Melton is almost a carbon copy of Reed. Would be a nice substitution, easy on the QB. I'd love to see him earn a roster spot.
CheeseEdWest2
August 16, 2023 at 06:24 pm
From my armchair, I agree with the 7 WR's. The only one I question I have is with punter, and that's b/c I don't have any insight into how O'Donnell and Whelan compare as holders. I can see having a vet holder to calm down the new kicker. And...what about getting a veteran kicker for a year and putting Carlson on the PS to season for a year?
SicSemperTyrannis
August 16, 2023 at 07:46 pm
This week will show if holder impacts Carlson. O'Donnell is a more consistent punter than Whelan.
GregC
August 17, 2023 at 06:56 am
Although Andy ultimately decided to keep Josiah Deguara, his comments were interesting. Deguara was a third round draft pick two years ago, and he's ended up as a small role player, mostly lining up at fullback. I've seen him throw some good blocks on running plays, but he doesn't seem to have much going for him as a pass catcher at the NFL level, and he's not going to be taking handoffs. I think Matt LaFleur wants the flexibility that having a fullback/H-back provides, though, so Deguara will stick. And they do appear to have a viable backup at the position now with Henry Pearson.
I'm fine with keeping 7 receivers again this year. They've put a ton of draft capital into that position in the past two years: 6 picks, plus Bo Melton was a 7th round pick for the Seahawks last year. Unfortunately, his hamstring injury may cost him a roster spot. On the other hand, Malik Heath and Grant DuBose look so good that Melton may not make it even if he fully recovers from the injury in the next two weeks. You don't want to keep 8 receivers. I wonder if one of these receivers could be traded for a TE or interior O-lineman on cutdown day.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 17, 2023 at 05:58 pm
Why can't you handoff to DeGuara? Isn't that a major duty of the FB position? Then again if you're using #28 by having him get up to near full speed before handing him the ball that's pretty much a FB play, isn't it?