Green Bay Packers Mailbag: The First Edition
Good morning, afternoon or night to all the Green Bay Packers fans – ladies and gents who may be reading!
This is our first in a regular series of mailbags that will be posted weekly based on YOUR questions! We are very excited to do this and look forward to the many questions that will be posed by our readers.
NOTE: This post will be the area in which we will accept questions for next week, as well as in a reminder post at midweek. Just scroll down to the comments below and ask away!
NOTE: This post will be the area in which we will accept questions for next week, as well as in a reminder post at midweek. Just scroll down to the comments below and ask away!
First we have Kenneth Kumerle, and he asks,
“Will Bradford start in 2014?”
Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Carl Bradford during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Sun Devil Stadium. Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
I am assuming, Kenneth, that we are referring to Carl Bradford, and not Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams. All I can think of right now is a nightmare scenario in which Aaron Rodgers once again bites the dust, Matt Flynn comes down with the consumption, and Scott Tolzien ends up in an actual tornado (as opposed to the awesome “Tolzien Tornado”). Sam Bradford gets traded to us from the Rams to the Packers, and well, you get the drift.
Anyway, to answer the question, Kenneth, I think it more depends on what position the Packers decide for him to play (inside or outside, which for the record they view him as outside). Once that is established, we can go from there. I think if it is outside, everything depends on Nick Perry more than Carl Bradford.
Perry is a first round pick entering his third year after two disappointing injury-riddled seasons. Bradford is a fourth rounder just learning the Packers system. Are either very attractive? Not really, but Perry is the one with the draft status, making the money, and with the knowledge of the system so he is going to get the first stab at it. One more bad injury, however, and I think you could see Bradford in his place. Dom Capers isn’t afraid to use inexperienced players – just look at Frank Zombo.
If we are looking inside, I think that Brad Jones could have a bounce-back year. Even if he doesn’t, Jamari Lattimore is more likely to end up with the job than Bradford.
Next we have Shane Arman, who asks:
“What is the Packers biggest liability position on the roster? Which position should we be MOST worried about and why?”
Well, Shane, after thinking about it, I have to say the position that worries me the most is center. For the fourth time in four seasons Aaron Rodgers will be taking snaps from someone new, and this time we have no idea about them. Whether it is J.C. Tretter or Corey Linsley, both are rookies (Tretter was lost in the first bit of training camp last year so he has no true experience). With Evan Dietrich-Smith, he had been on the practice squad a bit and he was well more experienced when he stepped in.
Tretter was a left tackle in college, and Linsley while a good center while at Ohio State, is a fifth round pick. Can you say you aren’t worried about the man standing right in front of our MVP quarterback hiking him the ball with those credentials? There are too many unknowns and with Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, Lamarr Houston, and Sharrif Floyd lining up in front of him I am afraid the tests will be great right from the start. Tretter or Linsley could be amazing players, but neither has the track record yet to prove it.
Finally, Chuck Savage asks,
“With the TE so deep, do you think Colt Lyerla could end up on our practice squad? Has he shown enough maturation to have other teams scoop him up if we don’t have enough room on our roster?”
Oregon Ducks tight end Colt Lyerla against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2013 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Oregon defeated Kansas State 35-17. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
That may be his best chance if he doesn’t make the final 53. If you look at tight end, we may have four already without him in the form of Andrew Quarless, Richard Rodgers, Brandon Bostick, and Ryan Taylor. Quarless may have the most experience but I could see him losing a roster spot or at least ending up on PUP if he doesn’t start practicing soon. Anytime a man doesn’t practice it isn’t generally a good thing.
Rodgers really played well in workouts, but we all have to listen to that little voice in the back of our heads reminding us “These are just no pad workouts.” Bostick played well in spots last season, so he could really gain if he could just show up during training camp. Bostick has Jermichael Finley athleticism. Ryan Taylor may not be a great tight end, but he is a fantastic special teamer so he isn’t going anywhere.
Colt Lyerla could make the roster if Quarless, Rodgers, or Bostick ends up either disappointing or injured. He could simply outplay them but I think he needs a year to learn the ropes. As talented as the guy is, the practice squad would probably be best for him. I think he could and should stick on the practice squad given most general managers didn’t want to touch him with a 39-1/2-foot pole after the draft. Green Bay give Lyerla a shot, the best QB in the NFL to throw to him, and a great environment in which to learn and stay out of trouble.
We have had simply fantastic questions this week!
Please continue to submit them in the comments below, on our Facebook, and our Twitter, and we will do our best to provide the answers next week!