Quarterback Battle In Green Bay | Preseason Update Ticket King Green Bay

Well everyone, just like that, the first week of the preseason is in the books. Since we have some tape now, here are some of our early observations of the 2014 Green Bay Packers team.

Entering Packers training camp, Sean Richardson and Micah Hyde were slotted as the reserve safeties. They have had great camps, and could actually start over either or both first round draft choice Ha-ha Clinton Dix and Morgan Burnett. However, at the end of the day, we do expect both Clinton-Dix and Burnett to start, as Thompson drafted Dix in round one and paid Burnett too much money last year to sit him on the bench.

With the ACL injury to Jarred Abberderis, the 5^th wide receiver slot is now wide open. Chris Harper, Kevin Dorsey, Myles White, and many others are competing. Dorsey made some nice plays in the family night scrimmage, and had three catches for 23 yards in the first preseason game. Chris Harper has had a decent camp and had two catches for 55 yards in the first preseason game. Myles White hasn’t done so well and has a lot of work to do to catch up. This battle is open, and we do expect Kevin Dorsey to win it at the end of the day.

Packers Backup Quarterback Contest Continues

And then there is that little backup quarterback battle going on. Chase Rettig knows he has no shot at all of making this roster, so he is just biding his time and having fun until he is released. This is a two horse race between Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien. So far they both have looked on and off. Tolzien went 8-12 with a 124 yards passing in the first preseason game and Matt Flynn went 5-10 for 49 yards in the first preseason game. Expect this battle to drag on until the start of the season.

What about the tight ends? Well Colt Lyerla pretty much took himself out of the running by trying to do too much in the family night scrimmage, and will now miss a few weeks. Nobody else has looked particularly good so far- Andrew Quarless, Brandon Bostick, Ryan Taylor, or Richard Rodgers. This may be a tight end by committee this season.

Donald Driver Comes Out Of Retirement If Every Other Packers Wide Receiver Goes Down

Don’t misinterpret Donald Driver.In case you missed it, Donald Driver said something interesting recently in regards to his retirement. Driver basically said he would be in shape and ready to go this season if the Packers called him. Calm down everyone.

Before you dance in the street and get out your # 80 jerseys, relax. Don’t make a bigger deal out of this than it is. Driver is just simply saying something I’m sure the Packers are already aware of. All he is saying is that he will be ready if the Packers need him, which I think is great on his part, and it shows another example of the team first mentality he has always had, and still carries into his retirement. It’s not like he is saying he will play for any team, he is just simply saying he will be ready of the Packers need him. If he really does this and stays in shape, if they really need him, they can call him. Driver knows the offense so there would be zero learning curve in terms of playbook learning. Getting excited, aren’t you?

Driver's Return Would Require So Many Bad Things To Happen

Now for the bucket of water.There is no chance Driver ever plays again. Let me put it this way, Driver has as much of a chance of playing again as a free agent does of getting offered a contract by Ted Thompson. In other words, not going to happen. The Packers already have five receivers- Jarrett Boykin, Jeremy Ross, Kevin Dorsey, Charles Johnson, and Terrell Sinkfield competing for four spots, two of which are practice squad spots, so a bunch of players would have to get hurt before Thompson calls Driver.Driver had a great career with the Packers. Now it’s time to move on. 

Who Will Be The Packers Fourth Wide Receiver In 2013?

For the last several years, the Green Bay Packers have had the deepest collection of wide receivers in league history. That isn’t the case anymore. Greg Jennings has signed with the Minnesota Vikings, Donald Driver has retired, and Jermichael Finley has regressed. This leaves just Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and James Jones at the top of the receiver depth chart. Not that the Packers have anything to complain about, as those three are as good as it gets across the league, but the depth isn’t there anymore, at least not for the time being. This leaves an open competition for the 4^th wide receiver slot. Who will win it?

Jarrett Boykin: Boykin is the popular choice amongst the players contending for the 4^th receiver role. Boykin is certainly big enough, as he stands 6’2”, 218 pounds, but he lacks speed. Last year at the NFL combine, Boykin ran a 4.7 in the 40 yard dash. 40 times aren’t the most important measurement at the end of the day, but they are certainly important. The coaches do like Boykin, although personally I can’t figure out why, other than his size.

Jeremy Ross: Late last season, the Packers caught lightening in a bottle with Jeremy Ross, as he stepped in for the injured Randall Cobb and did a great job returning kicks/punts, right up until that crucial drop in San Francisco, which I think cost the Packers the Super Bowl. Ross has a lot of speed, and if he can get over that muffed punt, he can be a great asset to the Packers in the return game, but I don’t think he can be a true pass catcher.

Charles Johnson: Johnson was one of the two late round draft choices the Packers spent on a receiver in April. Johnson, like Boykin, brings size to the table as he stands 6’2”, 215 pounds. Johnson is a raw prospect who could pay dividends down the road for the Packers. If he can improve his route running, Johnson could be the next wide receiver to climb the depth chart to the top in Green Bay. But I’m not sure if he is ready to be the 4^th wide receiver at this point of his career.

Kevin Dorsey: Dorsey is the other of the two late round draft choices the Packers spent on a wide receiver. Dorsey has speed. Oh boy does he have speed. Dorsey has “down field, one catch a game that changes the game” potential written all over him. But, can he overcome his lack of refinement in other areas of his game? Four decent options are listed here. There are pro’s and con’s to each of them. Which one do you think should win the 4^th receiver job?