Grading The Packers Rookies: Week 3 & 4 - Final Grade

How did the Packers rookies grade this preseason?

While I usually like to write up a seperate post for each preseason game, with the last game being played on a Thursday afternoon (much to the chagrin of people living on the west coast), I thought it best to write up my observations from week 3 and 4 as well as my final grade before the final 53-man roster was released.

Round 1: Damarious Randall (Overall: B) - Randall has had a quiet but productive preseason, much in the same manner as HaHa Clinton-Dix had when he was a rookie.  Outside of missing the first preseason game due to injury, Randall has been one of the first players (ahead of Rollins) to be called up once the starters have called it a night.  There were some obvious mental errors, most notably when it came to passing off receivers (in one case against the Eagles, Randall and Jake Ryan had to pass off receivers but someone screwed up that resulted in a touchdown) or keeping up with bunched sets but Randall wasn't challenged very much and the main reason was he was typically in good position to play the ball.  Randall was also able to lay the wood on several occasions, most notably against the Eagles punt returner.  Obviously as the Packers first round pick Randall was a lock for the 53 the moment the Packers drafted him.  For the regular season, Randall likely doesn't start unless Casey Hayward really falls on his face on the outside but could factor in as a rotational nickle corner

Round 2: Quinten Rollins (Overall: B-) - While Rollins flashed in his professional debut, I feel he's fizzled somewhat since then.  I get the feeling that Rollins isn't terribly knowledgable about routes and the passing game (which isn't terribly surprising since he played college football for one year) since he doesn't really seem to know where the receiver is going and a lot of the times he ends up just floating behind a reciever, which is great for making the tackle but poor at stopping the pass.  Still, Rollins has also logged in a productive preseason, mostly working with the 2nd and 3rd team defense with Ladarius Gunter. As the Packers 2nd round pick, Rollins spot on the roster was also secure but I feel he's still not ready to play on defense; while he has the phyiscal tools to be productive, I think he needs a lot more refinement in his understanding of the game before he's not a liability on the field.  

Round 3: Ty Monttgomery (Overall: C) - With the injuries to Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, Montgomery started against the Eagles and likely would have started against the Saints, had he not been injured as well.  My overall impression is that Montgomery fits the James Jones mold to a T; while he might just be the most physically impressive wide receiver on the team, his lack of real ability to seperate and run a crisp route remind me alot of the former Packer.  It's not like he hasn't been productive this preseason, but I did not come away with as positive of a feeling for Montgomery as I did Adams last year.  As for special teams, he's a safe returner but we've yet to see him really just hit a gap and run it; maybe its because he was constantly pinned back by kicks or good coverages but Montgomery played it very conservative as a returner.  As a high round draft pick, Montgomery's roster status is essentially secure but I'm not sure what role he'll have on the team outside as a returner.  I don't think he's anywhere in the league of Cobb or Adams and Myles White or Jeff Janis may make more sense in 3 receiver sets.  

Round 4: Jake Ryan (Overall: B-) - Ryan played on the 2nd team defense against the Eagles and was on the 1st team against the Saints.  Ryan is definitely their best interior rusher but is still a liability in pass defense, which makes sense since that's probably the least experienced in pass defense coming out of college as a DE/OLB hybrid.  Ryan also saw plenty of snaps as a outside linebacker or as a inside linebacker aligned as a 7 technique.  Ryan definitely got better as the both games wore on, while it might mean that he just needs to get used to the pro game some more, it's also likely that he's better than most of the 3rd team offensive players in the league but probably can't handle NFL starters at this point.  My guess is that Ryan makes the team (hell Carl Bradford made the team last year) but probably sees the bulk of his rookie season as a special teams player and perhaps occasional rotational player  

Round 5: Brett Hundley (Overall: A+) - Without overreacting too much to Hundley's impressive stats, I think the most striking thing about Hundley is that he looks like an NFL quarterback, which is really what you want to see from late round rookies.  Hundley showed impressive poise in the pocket and was surprising good from under center and most importantly didn't look lost in the game.  He was able to read defenses, go through his progressions and was able to tuck the ball and run at the right time, something he failed to do against Pittsburgh.  The fact that the Packers released Matt Blanchard at the 75-man cutoff instead of the 53-man cutoff speaks volumes to his performance so far.  While I've said similar things in the past (i.e. Graham Harrell), I don't think the Packers can risk trying to stash Hundley on the practice squad (I can see them signing Blanchard if he finds no suitors).  Hundley has played far better than your average 3rd QB and more importantly Thompson traded up and drafted him which means he's already an investment.  Overall, unless armageddon occurs Hundley will spend the rest of the season as a weekly inactive with a clipboard in his hand and hopefully battle Scott Tolzien for backup duties next preseason.  

Round 6: Aaron Ripkowski (Overall: D) - Ripkowski finally managed to show the team what he can do but I wonder if it's a little too late.  Over week 2 and 3, Ripkowski recorded a grand total of 2 snaps per game and was only in as a run blocker.  Against the Saints he finally got to do a little more, catching two passes and being on the field a sizable number of snaps.  Yes he's been a big producer on special teams but it is still alarming that he didn't get more playing time with the offense.  As I mentioned before, his situation reminds me a lot of Carl Bradford as a rookie, where it was pretty apparent right away that Bradford hadn't figured it out and the coaches were hesitant to leave him on the field.  While Bradford had the alibi that he was moving from outside to inside linebacker, Ripkowski has no such excuse.  Overall, I think it's a 50-50 proposition that he makes the team; on one hand the tight end group is pretty weak this year but on the other, Neal and Harris have both been more promising (although Harris' broken hand does limit his chances of making the team).  Personally, I'd rather take an extra running back or tight end instead of Ripkowski but I can see the Packers logic in trying to retain their investment.  

Round 6: Chrisitan Ringo (Overall: C) - Ringo hasn't seen many snaps this preseason but has been able to do some good things as well as some bad things.  For positives, the man is a bull and flat out threw a offensive linemen to the ground against the Saints; he definitely fits the Mike Daniels mold of a shorter, stouter player who generates pressure with good leverage and a non-stop motor.  On the negative side of things, he's still a 1 trick pony with his only viable move being the bull rush and he ends up on the ground a lot.  My guess is that since both Datone Jones and Letroy Guion are both facing suspensions starting next week, Ringo will definitely make the team, but whether or not he'll survive after those two get back is another story.  I'm guessing if the Packers cut him when Guion returns they could probably stash him on the practice squad without worrying about being scooped.

Round 6: Kennard Backman (Overall: C) - Backman benefits from a weak tight end corps this year; I'm assuming the league has decided to not suspend Andrew Quarless right before the season started (but then again this is the NFL...) and Richard Rodgers is likely the starter albeit an unspectacular one.  Outside of that, Backman probably has the best receiving skills of the remaining tight ends and while he's not a great blocker it's not due to a lack of effort but likely a lack of technique.  Backman hasn't shown himself to be a seam splitter but does offer a reasonable safety value/ hot read and short to intermediate pass catcher that will likely win more matchups by being forgotten than by being poorly covered or gaining seperation, which ironically happens a lot with the Packers since the defense is busying with wide reciever stable and Eddie Lacy.  Backman is almost assured a spot on the roster, but probably hasn't show enough to be counted on during the regular season.

UDRFA: Ladarius Gunter (Overall: A-) - The defensive star of the preseason, I did think it was interesting that Gunter has seen his snap count drop every game.  While usually this is a bad thing for rookies, I'm starting to think the Packers already knew they were keeping him and wanted to see what they had with their other cornerbacks instead.  Gunter is the only rookie cornerback that could be trusted to play bump and run and showed surpising recovery speed on a batted pass that would have been a TD against the Saints.  I do wonder how his play style fits within the Dom Capers 3-4 blitzburgh defense, which values cornerbacks who have consistenly great recovery technique since often times there no safety support.  Much in the same way Davon House was only played sparingly, I wonder how the Packers will try to scheme Gunter onto the defense.  

UDRFA: Alonso Harris (Overall: C+) - Harris did not play against the Eagles due to a broken hand but surpisingly totted the rock with a full cast on against the Saints.  Harris has consistently been ahead of John Crockett but seemed to lose a step against Rajion Neal, and the broken hand made things a lot worse.  I can't remember the last time I saw a running back play with a cast on his hand and I can't imagine that his ball security is good enough to trust him to rush or even catch the ball so I'm guessing they cut him and try to stash him on the practice squad.  Harris is the ideal replacement for Lacy or Starks should either go down with a multi-week injury while Neal is more of a scatback/receiving back who provides a little different flavor of runner than Lacy or Starks.  As I mentioned before, in my opinion, either Ripkowski or Harris make the team but not both; before the injury I would have gone with Harris but now with the cast I'm not too sure.  

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Comments (17)

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RCPackerFan's picture

September 04, 2015 at 09:45 am

I agree with everyone but Ripkowski. He has been very good on special teams.
Also on offense he has done a really good job lead blocking.

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hobbes's picture

September 04, 2015 at 01:57 pm

I agree he finally showed up for the last game on offense, but like I mentioned above is that enough to secure him a roster spot? I still don't know the snap count for Ripkowski against the Saints but Tim Masthay has more punts that Ripkowski had snaps up to week 3.

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Dan Stodola's picture

September 04, 2015 at 02:35 pm

I would say Rip absolutely ha done enough for a roster spot. Even if it were only ST, wo offense he would make it. He's on virtually every ST play.

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hobbes's picture

September 04, 2015 at 03:35 pm

As much as it doesn't make sense, the Packers only keep one "core" special teams player; it's been Jarrett Bush for a while and I assume that it's going to be Sean Richardson, who is a lock to make the team based on his guaranteed salary.

In Ripkowski's favor is that the tight end group is quite meh this year so if they do keep 2 FB, it's not like they're letting a good TE go.

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marpag1's picture

September 04, 2015 at 06:23 pm

Um.... what? Only one "core" special teamer? Where was this written?

Did the Packers resign Chris Banjo for his stellar work at the safety position?

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

September 05, 2015 at 09:44 am

Banjo is a serviceable FS. Heads and shoulders above Richardson. They kept Banjo on the PS last year. If they cut him, If I were Banjo, I would not come back to GB. Same for Myles White.

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SpudRapids's picture

September 04, 2015 at 04:02 pm

With everyone freaking out about Special Teams you know they are keeping him... McCarthy wouldn't let someone who gives that unit a boost go

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hobbes's picture

September 04, 2015 at 04:11 pm

Actually I don't know how much say McCarthy has over roster decisions. From what I understand, Thompson holds most if not all power over the roster while McCarthy has control over the coaching staff. Now I'm not saying that Thompson doesn't listen to McCarthy but I don't think McCarthy could veto Thompson.

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Dan Stodola's picture

September 05, 2015 at 12:27 pm

McCarthy can't veto Thompson. Its always Thompsons final decision. However, don't think for a second that McCarthy isn't involved in the shaping of his roster. It has to be a coordinated effort between them when it comes to roster cuts this time of year.

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aaronqb's picture

September 04, 2015 at 02:56 pm

Why even discuss the risks of putting Hundley on the Practice Squad? It is not going to happen. You don't make a 5th round draft pick (who you traded up to get) and obvious ascending QB available to other teams for nothing. There would be 31 waiver claims on him. C'mon. And I've several other articles making the same sort of comment.

I think Ripkowski makes the team - the question is whether he has made Kuhn expendable.

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hobbes's picture

September 04, 2015 at 03:31 pm

Cause I thought exactly the same thing with Graham Harrell in 2013 and I've been trying to rationalize it since: http://allgbp.com/2011/09/10/packers-transactions-the-graham-harrell-story/

Like I mentioned Hundley is vastly more valuable to the Packers than Harrell ever was by way of him being drafted (plus the trade up), but a 3rd string quarterback is essentially useless on the 53 man roster hence why I brought it up.

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Imma Fubared's picture

September 04, 2015 at 04:30 pm

By now you should certainly under stand drCvt picks get priority!

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hobbes's picture

September 04, 2015 at 05:48 pm

Drafted? In that case yes they do get priority but players drafted past the 4th round can and have been cut.

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Imma Fubared's picture

September 04, 2015 at 04:35 pm

People better get it that Ted t keeps draft picks first or he looks like the idiot I peg him as! He can dump ripkowski, we can get another like him next year! Kuhn is a pet of MM. He ain't going anywhere. Gunther's got less work to make those draft choices TT made pan out. Didn't want
T ol gunt to show they were so so picks like perry and datone and worthy.

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hobbes's picture

September 04, 2015 at 06:12 pm

"People better get it that Ted t keeps draft picks first or he looks like the idiot I peg him as! He can dump ripkowski, we can get another like him next year!"

Aren't these two statements contradictory?

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marpag1's picture

September 04, 2015 at 07:16 pm

I agree that Abbrederis gets cut, and I think the notion that other teams are just itching to snatch him from our practice squad is a bit absurd. He was a fifth round draft pick, and might have been even lower than that if the Packers hadn't taken him. Since the time of the draft, what exactly have those teams seen to change their minds? A blown out knee, yet another bad concussion and one catch for 6 yards. And this is a guy who was considered by many to be a huge medical risk even before he was drafted.

I think there is a real possibility that Abbrederis is done with football forever.

Hey, he seems like a nice guy. I liked him at Madison. But not everyone in the world is a Badger fan, y'know?

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Oppy's picture

September 04, 2015 at 07:34 pm

True enough, Abby hasn't had any sort of preseason this year due to his concussion, but last year, he had earned the favor and praise of Rodgers and MM before he blew out the knee.

I don't know what his future holds due to the medical side of things, but Abby looks like the type of player who has the talents and skill to carve out a long term career in the NFL as a reliable, fearless possession type WR. No superstar, perhaps not a fan favorite (well, unless he's playing in WI, lol), but the kind of receiver QB's and OC's covet for blue-collar, every day production.

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