Running Backs and Tight Ends were the two positions besides
cornerbacks Ted Thompson worked on last year. He drafted three running backs in
the fourth, fifth and seventh rounds and signed five tight ends, one
unrestricted free agent, three street free agents and one undrafted free agent and
hit big at running back and crapped out at tight end. The best you could hope
from Ted Thompson since 2010 was 50 percent.
The season opened with James Starks and Eddie Lacy being
released. Starks ended up retiring unofficially and Lacy signed with the
Seahawks and showed that it wasn’t being fat (he earned all his weight
incentives) that was his problem. It seems Lacy has just lost it and will
probably be cut this offseason.
So the season began with holdover Ty Montgomery, No. 4 pick
Jamaal Williams, No. 5 pick Aaron Jones, No. 7 pick Devante Mays, undrafted
free agent Kalif Phillips and undrafted free agent Williams Stanback at running
back. At fullback was 2015 No. 6 pick Aaron Ripkowski (who forced the release
of John Kuhhhhhhhhnnnnn) and undrafted free agent Joe Kerridge.
Tight end was Thompson’s favorite obsession. He played
around and played around re-signing Jared Cook, despite being asked not so
politely by Aaron Rodgers to do so, and finally he dumped his effort and signed
former Cowboy, former Bear and former Patriot Martellus Bennett. Bennett had
always been a good to better tight end and was coming off a great season with
the Patriots, but something went wrong, terribly wrong and he either gave up on
the team after Rodgers was hurt or he was hurt and hiding it (which is what the
Thompson FAKE NEWS operation told us) and he was cut and re-signed with the Patriots
and ended up on injured reserve. Cook signed for less than Thompson’s last
offer with the Raiders and had a good season.
Lance Kendricks was cut by the Rams and signed with the Packers
as a street free agent. Aaron Peck was signed as an undrafted free agent. Beau
Sandland was a holdover from the practice squad. Richard Rodgers was the other
holdover, but he had lost favor even though he proved to have the best hands
because they think he is too slow. During the season Thompson signed two more
tight ends former undrafted rookie free agents and now street free agents Emanuel
Byrd, who was cut by the Chiefs, and Robert Tonyan, who was cut by the Lions.
RUNNING BACKS:
Ty Montgomery, who did a great job filling in for Eddie Lacy
and James Starks in 2016, was a bust last year because of injuries. He is now a
man with no position. He has one year left on his rookie contract costing just $735,000
remaining this season. He will be moved back to receiver and will probably be
used in the slot forcing a showdown with Randall Cobb. He’s cheap and the
Packers do love their cheap players. He probably won’t be cut.
Jamaal Williams was initially a bust of major proportions
during the pre-season and early games, but turned into a major surprise and is
now the starting running back. He is a keeper.
Aaron Jones was a total surprise when Montgomery went down and seemed to heading
for “Offensive Rookie of the Year”, but he suffered a knee injury and lost his
job to Williams. The funny thing is McCarthy also hates him. In his first start
he gained over a 100 and was named Offensive Player of the Week. The next week
he was benched and Montgomery
started. Montgomery
got hurt again and the following week he gained over a 100 yards again and was
named Offensive Player of the Week again. He then got hurt and Williams took
over. If he fully recovers the Packers will have their best backfield since
Lacy and Starks in their heyday and rivaling Edgar Bennett and Dorsey Levens.
Devante Mays proved to be a bust because his first two
carries were fumbles. He didn’t show anything in the preseason and nothing once
he got back on the field. He is an unknown quantity. You can’t have too many
running backs and he is cheap ($600,000). He should get another chance.
New General Manager Brian Gutekunst’s first signing was
running back Joel Bouagnon from Northern Illinois .
He is just a training camp body.
FULLBACKS:
The “Ripper” is the top special teamer and a decent fullback
both as a runner and a blocker. Kerridge seems to be favorite of either Ted
Thompson (remember he still has a job with the Packers) or Mike McCarthy.
However, there probably won’t be an opening for a second fullback until
injuries hit and they will.
TIGHT ENDS:
Richard Rogers is on his way out. McCarthy doesn’t like him.
Lance Kendricks was up and down and mostly down. He might be cut or he might be
the last man standing. Sandland was waived/injured and Peck was just cut. Byrd was
signed to the practice squad and was activated. Tonyan was signed late to the
practice squad. I would keep Rodgers and cut the rest leaving tight end a major
upgrade position for the second straight year. That could mean a free agent
signing or a drafting a tight end rather high.
To Sum It Up. Running back is stocked (thank you Ted
Thompson – that doesn’t sound right coming from me, but I give credit where
credit is due). Fullback is also fine. Tight End is a major project.
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