Finally, the games will count.

Thank the sweet lord or whatever higher power you pray to that the preseason is over.  As much as I enjoy watching players that will never be heard from again (where have you gone Taco Wallace?), it is time to watch a football game with both teams going all out.  I still could not give you a true gauge on how good the Pack will turn out.  If the Packers, and by that I mean the starters, play like they did against the Bengals, Denver, and that brief flash against the Titans, the Pack should go 10-6.  If it is a San Francisco performance, well, you are excused to pop in your best of 2007 DVD on Sundays in December. 

Who will be apart of this Packers' class of 2008 is unknown until tomorrow.  Here is a prediction of who will be on the 53-man roster.  I am already going to give three roster spots to John Ryan, Mason Crosby, and J.J Jansen (unless his injury is that bad) for special teams purposes so here is how I see the other 50 spots being dished out.

OFFENSE

Quarterback (3)

Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, Brian Brohm all stay

It is pretty much 99% certain that Rodgers, Flynn, and Brohm will have a Packers uniform come Sunday morning.  Although, I am going to be bold enough and just say it.  It should be Brohm not Flynn that needs to be a little worried about possibly having to dust up the resume.  I know a thing or two about bad quarterback play.  You get to be an expert on that subject growing up in Northern Illinois.  Brian Brohm looks like many of the train wrecks the Chicago Bears have rolled out.  A veteran behind Rodgers is needed and Flynn not Brohm should be the third quarterback.  Financial reasons and pride will prevent that from happening.  Flynn's solid play and ability to handle the speed of the NFL should at least make sure that him being the backup is reality not based on money and pride.

Running Back (6) 

Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, Vernand Morency, Kregg Lumpkin, Korey Hall, & John Kuhn stay.  Noah Herron & Corey White we hardly knew ye.

You can never have enough running backs and the Pack have solid depth at this position.  Mike McCarthy loves to run that inverted wishbone and he seems to actually want to make sure Ryan Grant will have a career a decade from now.  Six players in the backfield seems to be a smart bet.  With big question marks on the offensive line, it will be imperative for this team to have some guys in the backfield that can block.  That is why I think Morency and Kuhn will still cash Packers paychecks.  Plus, Morency is a little bit better receiver out of the backfield than Herron.  Ted Thompson loves draft picks and I think he could get a late pick for Herron anyway. 

Wide Receiver (5)

Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Ruvell Martin, and Jordy Nelson stick around.  Brett Swain or Jake Allen could make the practice squad.  Johnny Quinn and Taj Smith need to hand out resume tapes to other teams.

The only way I see the Pack carrying six wide receivers is if James Jones's knee injury is very serious.  Since, most indications say he will be ready for the season opener do not bet on Swain nabbing a roster spot.  Jake Allen has intriguing size and could be worth a spot on the practice squad.  Same goes for Swain.  Although, it seems like those two, along with Quinn and Smith will be four guys with stories about how they spent a summer in a NFL training camp.

Tight End (3)

Donald Lee, Troy Humphrey, and Jermichael Finley make the team.  Do what it takes to make sure Joey Haynos makes the practice squad.

Lee is throughly entrenched as the starter and Humphrey has shown he can be a competent NFL tight end.  He just needs to stay on the field.  Finley and Haynos have shown they can make some grabs but the blocking has to improve.  Both have potential you got to like but when it comes down to it, I think the draft pick will win out in the end.

Offensive Line (9)

Mark Tauscher, Chad Clifton, Scott Wells, Darryn Colledge, and Jason Spitz are shoe-ins.  I'm going with Tony Moll, Josh Sitton, Orrin Thompson, and somehow Junius Coston makes the team.  Allen Barbre could make it if Wells or Sitton's injury is that severe.  Breno Giacomini (got to like him for the name), Ryan Keenan, Brennen Carvalho need to seek work elsewhere.

The biggest question mark of the preseason.  With Wells's injury, the line has not been able to get that cohesion it needs to succeed.  In the end, the same starting five from last season should start against the Vikings again.  Really, I do not see many changes from last year's line.  I think Moll makes it for his versatility, Sitton because of the injury and potential, Thompson because you need at least someone else who can play tackle, and Coston stays because it seems like this guy gets more second chances than Bill Clinton.

DEFENSE

Defensive Line (9)

Aaron Kampman, Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly, Cullen Jenkins, KGB, Colin Cole, Michael Montgomery, Jason Hunter, and Jeremy Thompson sneaks in while Justin Harrell is on the PUP list.  Daniel Muir, Conrad Bolston, Alfred Malone, and Rodney Allen need to return the playbook.

A position of great depth last season has turned into a position of who knows what you will get beyond the starters.  I know I have left the D-line a little defensive end heavy but A) this team needs to find someway to generate a consist pass rush  B)  Mr. August, Michael Montgomery can always slide in and play some tackle as well.  Hunter sticks around for the special teams and Jeremy Thompson may make this team for a cup of coffee while Justin Harrell's health gets sorted out.  Thompson has that frame that NFL teams like to have on rosters in hopes that he bulks up.

Linebacker (7)

A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett, Brady Poppigna start.  Brandon Chillar, Desmond Bishop, Abdul Hodge, and Tracy White stay.  Stinks to be Spencer Havner and Danny Lansanah (going to miss saying that name).

This is probably the Pack's greatest position of strength.  Tons of talent and you got to put the best players on the 53-man roster.  The Pack want to put Aaron Rodgers in a position to succeed and the best way to help the guy is with good special teams play and good linebacker play to limit opponents from having long, scoring drives.  Bishop is a hitter and has done enough to stick around.  Hodge is back to the form that made some think he could be better than Hawk, and you keep Chillar and White for the special teams play.

Secondary (8)

Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Atari Bigby, Nick Collins, Tramon Williams, Will Blackmon, Aaron Rouse, Pat Lee, and Tryone Culver will be your secondary.  We will no longer be subjected to watching Jarrett Bush get burned worse than your morning toast.  Joe (not the All-Pro linebacker) Porter, Scorpio Babers (isn't that a character from Lord of the Rings?), and Charlie Peprah will spend Sundays watching games on the couch.

Bush has gotten burned too many times and Williams and Blackmon have outplayed him.  Lee showed he could be a home run threat in the return game.  I just have not seen that many mistakes from Culver for him to get cut (trust me, I have seen every minute of the preseason as I am your Packers Gameday producer).  Charlie Peprah's injuries will keep him off this roster.