Prospect Watch: South Florida CB Jerome Murphy

by Brandon on Mar 30, 2010 7:00 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers Draft

It's odd to see that some sites like Football Outsiders consider cornerback to be the Green Bay Packers's biggest need. Despite their unbelievably bad performance in the Wild Card game, the pass coverage was ranked No. 3 by Pro Football Focus and they're only in need of one player who can send CB Jarrett Bush back down to the end of the bench. My hope is that former 2nd round CB Pat Lee, who was on I.R. for all of 2009, will be that player. But they could also use another player to either push last year's 6th round pick, CB Brandon Underwood, towards improvement or off the roster.

That player might be South Florida CB Jerome Murphy. According to the National Football Post, the Packers are scheduled to meet and/or workout Murphy after his impressive showing at the NFL combine. NFL Draft Scout projects him to go in the 3rd round. Whether you like the idea of selecting Murphy in the late 2nd, early 3rd round (if the Packers can trade down), he looks like a GM Ted Thompson-type cornerback. NFL Draft Scout says he's impressive in run support, which is critical in Dom Capers's 3-4 scheme because the cornerback cannot allow long runs down the sidelines. He's also a big cornerback at 6'0" and 196 lbs. which makes him about the same size and weight as the last two cornerbacks the Packers have drafted: Lee and Underwood.

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Glad to hear he’s at least 6 feet. We need to get some height at that position to keep up with the tall WRs out there these days. We do need to get at least one CB in who has the potential to replace one of our aging starters.

by TrevorR on Mar 30, 2010 8:22 AM CDT reply actions

I'd like to draft a CB in the 3rd Round

He sounds like he’d be a good fit.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Mar 30, 2010 8:59 AM CDT reply actions

I don't find it odd

CB is a major need – maybe 1a behind offensive line help.

Harris is coming of a significant injury, and Woodson, while a superstar, ain’t no spring chicken. Williams was decent as a 3rd/2nd CB, but beyond that, we’re hosed for reliable depth.

by swilldog on Mar 30, 2010 9:19 AM CDT reply actions

looking ahead

CBs need almost as much time as O-linemen to develop. So usually you need to draft your guy a few years before you need him. Look at how Williams took time to develop. Look at how Al Harris was terrible for a long time (even washing out in Philly) before he eventually became a pro-bowler. There are exceptions, of course (Craig Newsome, for example), but the rule is that guys need reps at the position and lots of coaching before they’re ready to start effectively. So, yeah, there’s practically always a need for CBs. (not to mention how it would be great to expand the roster in such a way that Jarrett Bush gets cut.)

LT is still obviously our biggest need position, though. There is nobody-but-nobody behind Clifton.

by Curly Lambeau on Mar 30, 2010 1:35 PM CDT reply actions