Position Evaluation: Secondary

Cornerback is the position former Head Honcho Ted Thompson (or is he, but more on that later) worked on the most in his final years and the position that was the least improved and the main reason, in addition to Dom Capers, the Packers defense sucked for the last several seasons.

Cornerback has been a major disaster after the loss of Tramon Williams and Sam Shields, despite being filled by three high draft choices. Thompson began to rebuild the unit by drafting Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins No. 1 and No 2 in 2015 and then Kevin King No. 2 (he was actually Thompson’s top draft pick when he traded out of the 1st round) last season. In addition, he drafted Demetri Goodson No. 6 in 2014.

New Teams for Old Packers

It took a while, but the career of former Packer Backer favorite (until he got beat for the winning TD in overtime of the 2014 “Great Collapse”) isn’t over after Tramon Williams signed a 1-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

Cutdown to 75 Had Some Surprises

It was cutdown day in the NFL when all 32 teams had to get down to 75 and end of the day there were a few surprising moves by the Packers.

Hometown Boy Peter Mortell Was Living The Dream Until Monday - His Grandfather Hunting With Vince Lombardi And With His Dad At Lambeau Field

First, General Manager Ted Thompson cut Green Bay native Peter Mortell. I thought Mortell had won the battle with Tim Masthay for the punting job. He seemed to be a gamer and I was ready to move on from Masthay, who has been mired in a year and a half slump. But what do I know?

Offense Wasn't Bad in First Game

The Packers opened the season with a 17-11 win over the Super Bowl contending Cleveland Browns and many will say it was a good start for many reasons.

 

I will agree in this respect. It is surely (and don't call me Shirley) better to win than lose, but there were several disturbing trends, which don't bode well for the upcoming season.

 

First, I didn't like Aaron Rodgers sitting this one out. The Packer offense was dysfunctional last year and Rodgers had a terrible season by his high standards. Everyone on the offense needs to play every game and Rodgers was the only offensive starter that wasn't injured that didn't play.

 

Post Draft Analysis

Tramon Williams May Get Cut

Unlike the uninformed musings of one NFL Network analysis Mr. Mark Dulgerian (see Lombardi's Den 168) I hope to give you some observations that are accurate and informative.

First thing I saw was a throwaway comment made about the trade the Cleveland Browns made with the Miami Dolphins for veteran cornerback Jamar Taylor.

The story said "The Browns, though, need help at the position. Pro Bowler Joe Haden is coming off an injury-plagued season and veteran Tramon Williams had his ups and downs in 2015", so maybe another former Packer may be hitting the open market soon to join wide receiver Greg Jennings, who was let go by the Dolphins on March 5th and inside linebacker A. J. Hawk, who was let go by the Bengals on April 26th.

Countdown to Seahawks

The dreaded Seahawks are coming to town to play on NBC's Sunday Night Football and besides having to play a team that seems to have the Packers' number lately (Failed Mary, the opening season 36-16 loss the next year and the worst collapse in NFL playoff history in terms of time it took) we have to suffer through the over-bloviations (I know that's an over exaggeration of the term which means to discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner) of Chris Collinsworth, who has never seen a player on either team at any position that wasn't the best in football. I live in Southern Illinois and can't get any other play-by-play that isn't somehow ahead of the TV or behind the TV by a few seconds. I am doomed to suffer the slings and arrows of not only Collinsworth, but, I fear, another loss to the pompous and boastful Seahawks.

Winning TD over Tramon Williams in the playoffs

The Packers are coming off an uneven effort against the Bears, which if they had played another team that didn't have Cutler on it probably would have lost. Take that Ask Vic. In your eye with an apple pie. It gripes my butt (and I have a thing on it I'm about will have removed to prove it) to be scolded by insecure fans when us (I've been a Packer Backer since 1965) who have been through the Wilderness Years and didn't jump ship point out the deficiencies of the current Ted Thompson teams (yes, I said it, you Trust in Ted sycophants).

Where Are They Now - After The Cuts

Since my last Where Are They Now when there were 45 ex-Packers on 22 teams a lot has happened. First I missed middle linebacker Jamari Lattimore with the Jets, so there actually 46 on 22 team and then during the next day another four ex-Packers were signed tight end D. J. Williams by the Redskins, middle linebacker Terrell Manning by the Falcons, defensive end Luther Robinson by the Chargers and tight end Ryan Taylor by the Chiefs upping the grand total to 50 just before the final cuts on Tuesday and Saturday.

A.J.Hawk

Almost immediately Williams, Manning, Robinson and Taylor were cut and then Cowboy running back Michael Hill, Seahawk cornerback Will Blackmon, 49ers inside linebacker Desmond Bishop, Panthers wide receiver Jarrett Boykin, running back DuJuan Harris from the Vikings, kick returner Jeremy Ross and defensive end Jerel Worthy from the Lions, quarterback Matt Flynn from the Jets, place kicker Giorgio Tavecchio and defensive end C. J. Wilson from the Raiders and tackle Aaron Adams from the Texans were put on waivers along with the NFC Championship Game Goat tight end Brandon Bostick by the Vikings and former No. 1 draft choice tackle Derek Sherrod by the Chiefs. By Saturday at 3 p.m. 17 ex-Packers were unemployed.

Tramon Williams

Outside linebacker Dezman Moses survived the cut to 53 with the Chiefs, but was cut almost immediately after tight end Brian Parker was claimed off waivers from the Chargers on Sunday. Then Wednesday he was re-signed when guard Paul Fanaika was placed on injured reserve.

Where Are They Now?

Currently there are 45 ex-Packers in the NFL on 22 teams. The Giants and the Raiders lead the list with four while the Chiefs, the Panthers, the Seahawks and Vikings are next with three.

 

As of the August 25 depth charts there are 16 starters, 15 on the second string, 7 on the third string, 4 on the fourth string, 1 on the fifth string and 2 on the sixth string, so to speak.

 

Out of the 16 starters four are on special teams. Three are long snappers J. J. Jansen with the Panthers, Thomas Gafford with the Bears and Clark Harris with the Bengals and one is Seahawks punter Jon Ryan. Place kicker Georgio Tavecchio is currently sitting behind Sebastian Janikowski for the Raiders after being signed as injury insurance.

 

In addition, second string wide receiver Jeremy Ross of the Lions is their punt and kickoff returner.

 

Of the remaining 12 starters there are six on offense and six on defense. On offense there are Greg Jennings as right wide receiver for the Dolphins and Charles Johnson at left wide receiver for the Vikings; Evan Dietrick-Smith (now just Evan Smith) at center for the Bucs; and Breno Giacomini at right tackle for the Jets.

 

There are two surprises with every Packers' fan's least favorite left tackle, until this year, Marshall Newhouse starting at right tackle for the Giants and former 2007 fourth round bust Allen Barbre starting at left guard for the Eagles after starting his career as a right tackle with the Packers.

 

Tramon Williams with the Cleveland Browns