OLB Situation / Interesting Waiver wire prospects

[Dantés]

Ugh.. Really wish they would have added Simon. I'm not comfortable with our depth.

They still might, and the cut someone. They now have 5 ILB so that could be the move.

 

[Dantés]

Even if the Packers are pursuing Simon, there’s no reason for them to leave a spot available. He could always choose to go somewhere else and then you cut someone for nothing.

 

[Dantés]

i don't know about that. jones gives them 3 and jackson makes it 4. that's about the minimum they can get away with.

Not really. They’ve generally only carried three true running backs. The fourth was always Rip but he wasn’t ever more than an emergency ball carrier.

 

[gbgary]

Not really. They’ve generally only carried three true running backs. The fourth was always Rip but he wasn’t ever more than an emergency ball carrier.

last year they had 5...monty, williams, jones, mays, rip. they don't want to get caught short like they did the year before.

 

[PackFan2]

And Packers picked up RB Darius Jackson from Dallas Practice Squad. Jackson was a prospect I was eyeing and posted about. Hes in the the physical mold (similar 40 time, testing etc.) of a Ryan Grant, hopefully he plays like him too.

 

[Poppa San]

You could be right, and I wondered about bringing Rip back, but one thing that gives me pause was a comment Gute made. It was essentially “how much does a FB really play any more?” Rather than say, we’d have loved to keep him but it was a numbers game, he indicted the position. Makes me wonder if he’s just not in favor of carrying a true FB. But as with all of this press conference interpretation, it could mean nothing.

Maybe they would prefer Odom based on familiarity, but I think they can do better.

Gute also said that a TE could do most of what they ask a FB to do. Yet Kerridge made the PS. Rip was a core ST guy. I don't foresee 3 of the 4 TEs doing that except possibly FG blocking.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Looks like he was fairly productive the first two weeks of preseason and then tailed off. The Cowboys line has been injured and underperforming during camp as a result and that could have been a factor.

I read this, which doesn't get me too excited about the guy, but who knows.

"Jackson, 24, played in just one preseason game, carrying five times for one yard and catching one pass for six yards in the Cowboys’ preseason finale against the Houston Texans."

 

[PackFan2]

I read this, which doesn't get me too excited about the guy, but who knows.

"Jackson, 24, played in just one preseason game, carrying five times for one yard and catching one pass for six yards in the Cowboys’ preseason finale against the Houston Texans."

Yeah I saw that! I'll need to watch that game to pass judgement. If its 5 carries where the DLine just passes through a Oline who didnt block him, i'll pass judgement but if its Jackson trying to be pretty in the back.. then... thats an issue we have to look at.

 

[PackFan2]

Jackson is a freaky athlete. 6’ 220 lbs, ran a 4.40, jumped a 41” and 11’1” respectable. Sub 6.9 3C.

Was very efficient on ~220 touches his last year at EMU.

Looks like he was fairly productive the first two weeks of preseason and then tailed off. The Cowboys line has been injured and underperforming during camp as a result and that could have been a factor.

Cowboys are STACKED at RB, no surprised Jackson didnt make the team. Not sure if he has anything to offer on special teams tho.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Yeah I saw that! I'll need to watch that game to pass judgement. If its 5 carries where the DLine just passes through a Oline who didnt block him, i'll pass judgement but if its Jackson trying to be pretty in the back.. then... thats an issue we have to look at.

Considering it was the final preseason game that he gained 1 yard on 5 carries, I'm not so sure you will be able to conclude much of anything.

Cowboys are STACKED at RB, no surprised Jackson didnt make the team. Not sure if he has anything to offer on special teams tho.

The Cowboys only kept Zeke and Rod Smith at RB, so hold your breath on that other theory of the Cowboys being stacked at RB.

 

[Dantés]

Jackson played in all four games per the box scores.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Jackson played in all four games per the box scores.

I read that stat from a Dallas article talking about the Packers picking him up and you are correct or at least if my new information is correct. I found this on NFL.com for the preseason stats:

21 carries 72 yards 3.4 ave. 18 yds longest carry.

Still no regular season carries in his 2 years with Cleveland and Dallas. So at least he has never fumbled in regular season action!

Edit: That first stat actually came from PackerWire....shame on them:

"Jackson, 24, played in just one preseason game, carrying five times for one yard and catching one pass for six yards in the Cowboys’ preseason finale against the Houston Texans."

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/20...rb-darius-jackson-off-cowboys-practice-squad/

 

[Dantés]

This is probably a minority opinion, but I would guess that if Jackson shows out well in the next two weeks in practice, there's a chance he stays and Montgomery goes when Jones comes back.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

This is probably a minority opinion, but I would guess that if Jackson shows out well in the next two weeks in practice, there's a chance he stays and Montgomery goes when Jones comes back.

If Monty isn't on IR by then

While most of us loved the promise that Monty first flashed when he was switched mid 2016 season to RB, he has pretty much been fighting injuries and has gone downhill, while seemingly always running uphill, since that time. Maybe the Packers still have a hope that he is able to stay healthy and can start finding or making yards on his own, but I just don't see anything special about the guy. A lot of hype about him being a dual running and catching threat out of the backfield is fine, but he needs to learn how to run with the ball, block and stay healthy, before that comes to fruition.

 

[Dantés]

If Monty isn't on IR by then

While most of us loved the promise that Monty first flashed when he was switched mid 2016 season to RB, he has pretty much been fighting injuries and has gone downhill, while seemingly always running uphill, since that time. Maybe the Packers still have a hope that he is able to stay healthy and can start finding or making yards on his own, but I just don't see anything special about the guy. A lot of hype about him being a dual running and catching threat out of the backfield is fine, but he needs to learn how to run with the ball, block and stay healthy, before that comes to fruition.

Yeah his inability to block is going to cost him snaps if the younger guys stay healthy. And there’s no future there with him. So if Jackson looks good and would seem to be functional, cheap depth for the future then it makes more sense to keep him.

It’s most likely that Jackson doesn’t actually look good enough to warrant this, but in the case that he does...

 

[Dantés]

I’m not seeing any news on Simon or Means regarding any teams, the two edge players I find most appealing.

 

[Poppa San]

I’m not seeing any news on Simon or Means regarding any teams, the two edge players I find most appealing.

Which means they are holding out for the star treatment ...

Spoiler: or ...

you are over rating them and no one else thinks they're worth

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Seems like the Packers can't catch much of a break on RB's. Sure Jones and Williams are both showing some promise, but Jones gets suspended and Williams gets nicked up a bit, so fingers crossed on both of them. But as far as developing guys, meh! Getting tired of reading about this team or that team with virtually unknown backs exploding onto the scene. I guess it comes down to the Packers relying heavy on the passing game and thus not needing one of those stud RB's. However, it sure would be nice to have a 2014 version of Eddie Lacy standing behind Rodgers come out of a preseason looking like a stud!

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

No question Simon will be on a team soon. I am sure he and his agent are shopping his options, which have to be quite a few teams, lets just hope the Packers land him.

 

[Dantés]

Which means they are holding out for the star treatment ...

Spoiler: or ...

you are over rating them and no one else thinks they're worth

Or, ya know, they’re doing the normal FA thing of having their agents lined up visits.

 

[HardRightEdge]

Gute also said that a TE could do most of what they ask a FB to do. Yet Kerridge made the PS.

A TE, not just any TE. If Lewis were injured they'd have the option of bringing Kerridge up to the roster if they're not happy with Kendricks in that role. Graham, Tonyan, no.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

A TE, not just any TE. If Lewis were injured they'd have the option of bringing Kerridge up to the roster if they're not happy with Kendricks in that role. Graham, Tonyan, no.

When they sign John Simon, I can see clearing some Cap and a roster space by letting Kendricks go or attempt to trade him. I would be fine with Graham, Lewis and Tonyan as the 3 TE's. I still think we will see Lance produce more than he did last year, but if it means improving the OLB depth, I am all for it.

 

[Dantés]

McCarthy said after Jackson signing that it took a little longer, but they finally have their 53 set for week one. Not sure if that means they’re not pursuing another edge or what. We shall see. It could be that Pettine is going to go with heavy DL usage and the staff feels like a 5th OLB isn’t all that critical.

 

[HardRightEdge]

When they sign John Simon, I can see clearing some Cap and a roster space by letting Kendricks go or attempt to trade him. I would be fine with Graham, Lewis and Tonyan as the 3 TE's. I still think we will see Lance produce more than he did last year, but if it means improving the OLB depth, I am all for it.

I see a lot of John Simon echo chamber stuff in a "John Simon Packers" search. What makes you think the Packers are interested? They signed Toomer instead.

 

[ThePerfectBeard]

I see a lot of John Simon echo chamber stuff in a "John Simon Packers" search. What makes you think the Packers are interested? They signed Toomer instead.

I don't think anyone is saying they are, but rather they should be. We have two OLBs that are consistently injured and could use the depth. He was pretty good for the Colts last year and just doesn't fit their 4-3. Unless he's asking a lot, I think he'd be worth it.