Burkes Blog 8/30
By: Burke Griffin
Updated: August 30, 2012
1. Graham Harrell
Its been a bit of a broken record this preseason, but after looking like Harrell had made some strides during the offseason, he hasn't quite given Packer fans reason to be confident in him should Aaron Rodgers get hurt. Harrell improved his overall arm strength and you would think that another year in the system should help is ability to read defenses, but his play during gametime has been less than stellar. He hasn't been given the best opportunity to be successful by his lineman though and tonight we'll see the last of Harrell for awhile, because Rodgers will get almost all the reps starting Monday.
2. WR battle
So how many receivers does Mike McCarthy keep? Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, and Randall Cobb are all locks and Donald Driver has done nothing to keep him from staying in Green Bay. If they decide to keep six, does the big and strong Tori Gurley stay, or possibly the quick and shifty Diondre Borel? Or maybe even rookie free agent Jarrett Boykin. Tonight is the last chance for all three of those guys to try and rab a roster spot.
3. Jermichael Finley
We haven't seen the Packers starting TE in gametime yet this preseason. From injuries to the birth of a child, the talented youngster will see the most playing time in a long while against the Chiefs. Green Bay is depleted in the tight end group and not only does Finley need the work, he'll get more of it out of necessity. McCarthy kept a high number of tight ends on his roster last year, and might have to just get a few guys healthy.
4. Cornerback
The last preseason game usually sees very little action from the starters on offense, but you might see the defensive guys out there a little bit longer. As far as position battles go, it appears as though CB is the only real one, which had made this one of the more boring training camps in a long time. Tramon Williams is on one side and either Jarrett Bush, Sam Shields, or Casey Heyward is likely to be on the other. Again....all will contribute and Davon House is returning from injury.
5. Who will be this years Vic So'Oto, Sam Shields, or even Tramon Williams? Historically there are always 1 or 2 guys who make the team that you hadn't really heard about before training camp. And then they go on to become starters. As we mentioned last week, Dezman Moses is probably the biggest free agent gem so far, but against Kansas City, it's the last time will see most of those guys under the bright lights.
Its been a bit of a broken record this preseason, but after looking like Harrell had made some strides during the offseason, he hasn't quite given Packer fans reason to be confident in him should Aaron Rodgers get hurt. Harrell improved his overall arm strength and you would think that another year in the system should help is ability to read defenses, but his play during gametime has been less than stellar. He hasn't been given the best opportunity to be successful by his lineman though and tonight we'll see the last of Harrell for awhile, because Rodgers will get almost all the reps starting Monday.
2. WR battle
So how many receivers does Mike McCarthy keep? Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, and Randall Cobb are all locks and Donald Driver has done nothing to keep him from staying in Green Bay. If they decide to keep six, does the big and strong Tori Gurley stay, or possibly the quick and shifty Diondre Borel? Or maybe even rookie free agent Jarrett Boykin. Tonight is the last chance for all three of those guys to try and rab a roster spot.
3. Jermichael Finley
We haven't seen the Packers starting TE in gametime yet this preseason. From injuries to the birth of a child, the talented youngster will see the most playing time in a long while against the Chiefs. Green Bay is depleted in the tight end group and not only does Finley need the work, he'll get more of it out of necessity. McCarthy kept a high number of tight ends on his roster last year, and might have to just get a few guys healthy.
4. Cornerback
The last preseason game usually sees very little action from the starters on offense, but you might see the defensive guys out there a little bit longer. As far as position battles go, it appears as though CB is the only real one, which had made this one of the more boring training camps in a long time. Tramon Williams is on one side and either Jarrett Bush, Sam Shields, or Casey Heyward is likely to be on the other. Again....all will contribute and Davon House is returning from injury.
5. Who will be this years Vic So'Oto, Sam Shields, or even Tramon Williams? Historically there are always 1 or 2 guys who make the team that you hadn't really heard about before training camp. And then they go on to become starters. As we mentioned last week, Dezman Moses is probably the biggest free agent gem so far, but against Kansas City, it's the last time will see most of those guys under the bright lights.
