Packers 46-Man Roster Prediction vs. Giants
By rule, the Packers must have seven players inactive for Sunday's playoff game against the Giants. We have the prediction who they'll be.
Here's our best guess at predicting the Packers gameday roster for divisional round game against the New York Giants.
The entire roster is included. Those bold and italicized are predicted to be inactive...
Quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, Graham Harrell
Running backs: Ryan Grant, James Starks, John Kuhn, Brandon Saine
Wide receivers: Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Randall Cobb
Tight ends: Jermichael Finley, Tom Crabtree, Ryan Taylor, D.J. Williams
Offensive line: Chad Clifton, T.J. Lang, Scott Wells, Josh Sitton, Bryan Bulaga, Marshall Newhouse, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Ray Dominguez, Herb Taylor
Defensive line: B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, Mike Neal, Jarius Wynn, C.J. Wilson, Howard Green
Outside linebackers: Clay Matthews, Erik Walden, Frank Zombo, Brad Jones, Jamari Lattimore, Vic So'oto
Inside linebackers: A.J. Hawk, Desmond Bishop, D.J. Smith, Robert Francois
Cornerbacks: Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Jarrett Bush, Pat Lee, Davon House
Safeties: Morgan Burnett, Charlie Peprah, M.D. Jennings
Specialists: Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode
Commentary:
- Greg Jennings, Randall Cobb, James Starks, Bryan Bulaga, Chad Clifton and Evan Dietrich-Smith are all listed as probable for Sunday's game. They all should play.
- Robert Francois was limited in practice both Wednesday and Thursday and didn't practice on Friday at all. It's very unlikely he plays on Sunday.
- Predicting Graham Harrell, Ray Dominguez, Herb Taylor and Davon House will be inactive was a fairly easy choice. The last two decisions were much tougher.
- In my mind, it came down to making two of the following six players inactive: Brandon Saine, D.J. Williams, Mike Neal, Frank Zombo, Jamari Lattimore and Vic So'oto. It was a two very difficult choices.
- My first guess is Vic So'oto. I see him as a risk/reward player. He might be able to get a sack on defense, but he's a risk to miss an assignment, and he definitely can't be trusted in pass coverage. And he's not a good a special teams player as Lattimore. The Packers can't afford the risk in the playoffs.
- My first guess is Lattimore. He's probably the best special teams player among him, Zombo and So'oto. But he's the last choice on defense at outside linebacker. The Packers can get away without having Lattimore on special teams.
- Zombo isn't much on special teams. But he's experienced and probably the healthiest he's been all season. Zombo is the type of player who you trust putting out on the field, even if he doesn't come up with the big play.
- Williams always seems to be a core member of the punt protection unit, giving him the inside track on being active.
- Saine is a safe choice because he contributes both on offense and special teams, albeit in limited fashion. But his speed is too valuable. If he can take one screen pass for a first down, he's probably worth keeping active.
- Neal is the wild card. He offers little to no special teams value. And as poor as he's played on defense this season, he does seem to be getting marginally better.


