Packer Related: NFL Combine, Defensive Backs
by Brandon on Mar 3, 2010 9:00 AM CST
in Green Bay Packers Draft
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PrintMy first choice is that the Green Bay Packers take a long look at the defensive backs available at the end of the 1st round, so this was arguably the biggest day of the combine for them.
Unfortunately the day was a mess. USC S Taylor Mays initially recorded an unbelievable 40 time, but it was adjusted later by two-tenths of a second. However it was still a big turnaround for Mays because his stock had been slipping due to a poor 2009 season and a lousy showing at the Senior Bowl. Meanwhile CB Joe Haden had been considered the top cornerback until a bad 4.57 40 time will likely cause teams to second guess him. But Rob Rang threw some cold water on the combine results:
As impressive as Mays' athleticism is in workouts, it is important to remember the game film. Just as I mentioned with the recent blog regarding Florida cornerback Joe Haden's surprisingly slow 40-yard dash time, good tape beats good workouts every time.
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eyeball test
watching film is the most effective tool to use on these players to see if they can play at the next level. yeah it’s nice that they can run these drills and say to themselves" boy i’m a great athlete", but sometimes it doesn’t translate on the field ( bruce campbell). great athlete, average football player. he only started 17 games and never received a single vote for a all- conference performer in a week conference.
if the nfl were looking just for athletes, they might as well send scouts to the WWE and start pilfering some of those guys. get even with vince mcmahon for trying to start that debacle of a another football league. " he hate me", please….
DB's
I have been a Taylor Mays fan and I hope he’s available when we pick. The way I look at it, Clay Mathews will let them know if we want him. If he’s there and we don’t take him I’m ok with it. If we do take him I’m really ok with it. If Clay is telling them to take him and he’s not available I’ll be a little disappointed. Does that make any sense?
Anyway, this will be a crazy successful offseason if we could sign Sproles and draft 3 DB’s, 3 OL’s, and like a 5th round WR (Kerry Meier?). I would be very happy with that and think that would put us ahead of the Vikes even with Favre.
I like the thinking but...
IMO, Taylor Mays is going to be a huge bust in the NFL. Everything I’ve read has said that he lacks the side to side and backwards speed required to be a NFL safety. Many people are suggesting he is converted to a LB like Thomas Davis was by the Panthers a few years ago.
On your other point, if Sproles leaves, he will cost way too much for a third down back, although I would love to have him, I think we’re better off taking a flyer on some late round pick with speed, or a early round pick from a smaller school(see RB Ryan Matthews, Fresno St).
I do think that DBs (including at least one safety) and OL are for sure what we should be targeting, and I totally agree that a late round receiver with size would be a great pick up.
Sproles?
Is Sproles really leaving SD? I figured he is going to be the main guy since LT already left. I mean that would be great if we got him and all but I am shocked more with him and SD for not getting a contract done since he is by far their best back. As for draft needs I agree we need O-Line mainly. When our O-Line struggled Rodgers never had time. DB are also needed since our secondary is getting up there in age. I think Mays can be productive, but like others have said if we do not draft him I will not be upset. I will say I am excited about how the PACK is coming along and expect Rodgers to improve year after year. Get a couple more pieces we could be dangerous
???
You guys live in a cave? The Chargers said like a week ago that they were going to let Sprioles test free agency.
And...
They aren’t letting him fully test free agency. The tendered him. Not sure what, but he’s a Restricted free agent, and the Packers would have to give up a pick to sign him.
My cave has internet and TV.
You must have a TV that shows OLD broadcasts then...
Actually they didn’t tender him. If they wanted to keep him around in that way, they would have had to franchise him again at a price of over $7 million for the year. They decided not to and let him test the market. Its very possible that they just find out the value and then offer him a similar deal to stay there though…
Oh wow. They had announced earlier in the week that they weren’t going to tender him. Disappointing that they decided too but probably a smart move on their part.
by packallday555 on Mar 4, 2010 3:21 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, your probably right. I think McKnight or McCluster could do be successful in a Sproles type role. It would just have been nice to get a guy who has had a lot of success in the 3rd down back type role.
I just hope we don’t stick with Jackson..I read in an article on JSonline that Brandon Jackson “emerged as a 3rd down back” for us, and instantly got sick to my stomach. I sure hope he didn’t gather that from anything MM or TT might have said to him because while Jackson is an ok blocker he isn’t anywhere near the type of running back or receiving target we need.
by packallday555 on Mar 4, 2010 7:12 PM CST up reply actions
Taylor Mays
Is it possible that the nfl got his official time very wrong:http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/03/02/did-the-nfl-screw-up-taylor-mays-time/?ncid=txtlnkusspor00000002
This looks very convincing and just proves that 40 times mean little and official times in the 40 mean even less
Haha what a joke. Thanks for posting that, it’s pretty interesting. No way Mays ran a 4.43 if Holiday ran a 4.33.
by packallday555 on Mar 3, 2010 4:53 PM CST up reply actions
I hope we don't draft Taylor Mays
I just have a bad feeling about this guy. He seems like an excellent hard hitting Strong Safety, but lacks cover skills. With that said, how would he be an upgrade over Atari Bigby? We might as well use our 1st Round pick on somebody else and resign Bigby.
"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi
He would definitely be an upgrade over Bigby I think. The one thing that generally keeps Bigby from taking heavy heat from a lot of us is that he is “a big hitter” but is he really even that? Maybe in 2007 he was but after the injuries in 2008 and 2009, plus the system change he’s been a below average player. Mays is a sure tackler, and could be reliable as far as coming up and making tackles go but would probably be a liability in coverage. (Not that Bigby isn’t though).
P.S.- I’m not at all saying I want Mays cause I don’t haha. I’d much rather see us take Rolle in the mid rounds or go with a guy like Chad Jones or Asante, if we choose to go that route.
by packallday555 on Mar 3, 2010 4:51 PM CST up reply actions
That's true
Since Rolle is coming out saying he plans to do other work after his NFL career, I’m beginning to wonder how long of an NFL career he plans on having. I’d rather go with Chad Jones. Besides, those FSU guys scare me. Literally, I just don’t trust them anymore! LOL.
"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi
Haha understanable. I wouldn’t mind Jones. He could contribute to the return game too as he and Holiday alternated returning punts.
by packallday555 on Mar 3, 2010 9:07 PM CST up reply actions
I don’t even think Mays is that sure of a tackler. He has a tendency to hit high which causes a lot of missed tackles in the NFL and the angles he takes seem suspect to me.
I watch a lot Pac-10 football and from what I’ve seen he also has a tendency to ball watch. This work in the NCAA since he can just catch up to the play later but personally I don’t think that will fly in the league.
Out of the Pac-10 defensive backs I like TJ Ward the most. Mediocre ball skills and undersized but he still manages to wreck some big players plus I think he’s a 4th round pick at best and totally worth the chance.
by turnitin.com on Mar 7, 2010 11:18 PM CST up reply actions
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