NFL Draft Thursday: What Will The Packers Do?
by Brandon on Apr 22, 2010 7:00 AM CDT
in Green Bay Packers Draft
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Print- It's still anyone's guess what GM Ted Thompson will do with the Green Bay Packers 1st round pick (No. 23 overall). Maybe he doesn't know either since the draft could depend on whether the Rams trade out of the top spot, ESPN's Rachel Nichols says it's possible but unlikely, or where QB Jimmy Clausen is drafted. Based on the rumors from earlier this week, it seems they are more likely to trade up then down. I'd love to see them stay at No. 23 in the 1st round, and then move up in the 2nd round because there is a drop off after the top 50 players.
- BigBlueShoe got the chance to chat with the NFL Network's Mike Mayock. He said the Packers are "looking for a tackle" and mentioned two names: USC OT Charles Brown, who's been moving up draft boards recently, and Indiana's OT Rodger Saffold. The fans at the Lambeau field draft party might be left shaking their head if Saffold's name is called. It's easy to have missed him though I had wanted him for the Packers in the 2nd round of the SB Nation writers mock draft. Saffold's a good player who's started at left tackle since his freshman year. It's easy for a football player to fall under the radar by playing at Indiana. Here's more on him from Mocking The Draft. I wouldn't object to either player, but neither is likely to help in 2010.
- I had picked Texas LB Sergio Kindle for the Packers in the 1st round, but he's slipping a little due to concerns over his knee. He's also had some problems in the past with an arrest in 2007 and a car accident in 2009. I can't say I'd complain if they went with TCU LB Jerry Hughes instead, who Pete Dougherty said can provide an outside pass rush and has a "clean background and a love of football."
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they could trade their 1st for a 2nd and 3rd?
maybe Brown can be had in the early part of the 2nd? GB could use the extra draft pick to get Nate Allen or Chad Jones 2-3 rounds, or Kendrick Lewis in the later rounds.
They want power. We want respect...
I'd rather see the Brandon plan
Let the draft come to us at 23, get Kindle or Hughes. After that it might be nice to take advantage of the new format, package our 2 and 3 (maybe even a 5) and move up in the second to target Saffold.
As for getting a Tackle who may not play this year, well, tough fans. I know we are close, but remember Cliffy is more machine than man these days and it’s very possible that a rookie Tackle could be helping us out this year. I’ll be happy with a pass rusher, tackle, or secondary help.
or they can draft a OLB at 3-5 rounds that has a great pass rush ability (Eric Norwood) and put him in on passing downs leaving Brad Jones a opportunity to still play and improve.
They want power. We want respect...
by SenorChuckles on Apr 22, 2010 8:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Don't forget the secondary help
Many of those later picks should also be used on CB’s and a S or two. While I’m not thinking they need to spend early picks there, there is a depth issue with too many guys coming off injuries in our secondary.
by PackApologist on Apr 22, 2010 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions
+1
I was actually thinking the secondary is the position in which we need a backup. When teams went against us last year with more than a few good receivers, we couldn’t keep up with them (see Pittsburgh or Arizona games as examples).
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 22, 2010 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions
I still don't think all the blame should be on the secondary.
The bigger problem was our inability to get to the QB. Warner, Favre, and Roethlisberger had all day to throw against us.
by Charlie Kelly on Apr 22, 2010 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions
It's not a question of blame it's a question of depth
The reality is that teams don’t often use the “base” defense as much as nickel and dime defenses right now. A strong defense needs three starting corners to be effective. C-Wood and T. Williams fit the bill of starters, but we don’t what’s going to happen with Harris and Lee. After those two guys we start getting into shudder territory with Bell, Bush, and whoever MM drags off the street.
This isn’t even counting safety where shudder territory starts after Bigby, who has only played one full season. The good news on that end is that even though our safety situation is bad, it’s the best in the division. How sad is that?
Yes, we need a pass rush, and that will help with all I listed above, but depth is sorely needed as well.
by PackApologist on Apr 22, 2010 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Pass rush was some of the problem but so was depth. Bush and Bell could barely keep their guys in front of them last year, and when those guys are your nickel and dime backs your going to be in trouble. Having even 1 of the 3 guys coming back play somewhat well should really help our secondary.
by packallday555 on Apr 22, 2010 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Stop ragging on Bush and Bell
The last thing anybody will accuse me of is being a Ted Thompson fan, but you can’t blame him too much for the problems in the secondary last year. Harris and Woodson are (or were, until Harris blew out his knee) top-tier starting cornerbacks, and Williams, while not at their level, was a solid nickel back. The team also had Pat Lee and Will Blackmon. It is not reasonable to expect Thompson to plan for three CBs being knocked out with injuries. When that happened, guys who were signed as special teams players were forced to play on defense, and clearly they aren’t really a good fit. But they were never intene3d to be on the field as safeties or CBs. In November, there are no quality unemployed CBs available to sign, at least not any who are not suspended or in jail. When Harris went down, the roster really couldn’t be fixed.
Now if you want to talk about punters or tackles or guards and what a moron Ted Thompson is, be my guest. You will get plenty of support from me.
Haha I wasn’t blaming TT for Bush and Bell’s struggles. I realize they were the last options and they were both really bad.
by packallday555 on Apr 22, 2010 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions
They weren't "bad"
If McCarthy played Colledge at safety (why not, he can’t play guard) it would have been the same thing — he wasn’t on the team to play safety and so when he sucks when he is put there, it isn’t really his fault.
Ok, how about they played badly but it wasn’t their fault? I think Bush can be blamed because he had been our dime back before. He’s been with us for a while, and had previously seen time at nickel. He is just a bad Cb, and really is pretty worthless on special teams as well.
by packallday555 on Apr 22, 2010 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions
You have a point
I don’t rag on TT often, but here’s how what happened was his fault. Basically they rushed Lee to IR too soon. Lee was ready to go during the worst of our secondary issues, but they didn’t want to wait for him to get better so instead they placed him there.
Instead of that they kept three fullbacks and a tackle who was never activated. That’s TT’s fault.
by PackApologist on Apr 22, 2010 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions
That was partially the scheme too…we didn’t send the blitz on those QBs. It wasn’t that it was getting picked up, it was that we weren’t even trying!
Definitely with Farve
I remember reading that Capers was reluctant to bring the heat against Brett. Worried that we wouldn’t get home and he would shred us. Personally I wish we would of just rolled the dice like the Saints. At least get a few good shots on him.
by PackApologist on Apr 22, 2010 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions
He shredded us without any heat
And he would have shredded us worse with heat. Packers didn’t handle elite quarterbacks all season, no matter what they did.
blitz
THe problem is that w/ the best QB’s you can’t blitz or at least you can’t rush more than 4… The QB’s are extremely proficient at reading the blitz and getting the ball to someone. You MUST be able to play coverage AND get pressure w/ 4 pass rushers!!! Thats a main reason we need an OLB who can rush the QB relentlessly opposite of Matthews!
ANd Hughes is the best 34 OLB and pass rusher in the draft!!!
This sounds like a good plan too.
Someone who works well in the 3-4 defense is key.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 22, 2010 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions
I remain enthused about OTs Brown and Veldheer, CB Cook, OLB Schofield & Norwood, and S Rolle. Grabbing OLB Hughes would be a bonus – the Packers have a lot of work to do in Round 2 & 3.
Interesting insights from Bob McGinn
see http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/91783214.html
Of great interest, Thompson would trade up if Bulaga, A. Davis, or M. Pouncey were within striking distance. McGinn relies on sources that said Thompson considers these players “elite.”
McGinn goes on to say that if these players are not available and Graham, Hughes, and Kindle were still available, the pick would be Hughes. Kindle would be out due to numerous issues, including narcolepsey!
my question is why did the reporter that covers GB keep predicting we get Mays.
its not this guy in the link, but does anyone know who I’m talking about? One thing I got from this is maybe GB thinks Hughes will be more productive than Brad Jones—they could split playing time as well. Big CBs that can be in play for GB could be Jerome Murphy, Myron Lewis, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah; all are at least 6’0". At safety GB will have a chance to draft Chad Jones or Nate Allen—both would help depth wise.
Anyone got any ideas who GB might think would help us at RB and DE?
They want power. We want respect...
by SenorChuckles on Apr 22, 2010 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions
The only guy I saw predict that was the no name NFL network got on
He said he was some sport director of a talk radio station in GB, but I grew up there and never heard of the station.
by PackApologist on Apr 22, 2010 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah dude managed to get on ESPN and said the same BS prediction.
They want power. We want respect...
by SenorChuckles on Apr 22, 2010 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions
From everything I’ve read for about a week now, Charles Brown is rising up people’s boards and will not be available to us anymore. He’s going to be, like, the 3rd tackle taken.
I've come across similar rumblings
People worry that Bulaga might only be a RT and Davis’ attitude. I’m not buying on those thoughts cause Brown needs some pounds added on to him, but hey weirder things have happened.
by PackApologist on Apr 22, 2010 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions
I actually have seen a few recent mocks where guys have Williams going before Okung. With Okung and Buluga also going in the top 10. From there it seems pretty split. Brown’s stock has definitely risen, and you mentioned Davis’ troubles with attitude. I just hope any of those guys will be available to us when we pick.
by packallday555 on Apr 22, 2010 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions
All I know is that I can't wait
For a sports fan without cable I’m going to have to rely on websites to get my overhyping of whatever is happening tonight. Despite this fact, I really can’t wait to see what happens and to see who the Packers end up getting.
So come on NFL, let’s get this party started!
If Ted Screws it up . . . .
At least the Brewers won today, 20-0. Randy Wolf threw 6 shutout innings, and Manny Parra pitched and didn’t suck.
I love playing the Pirates. Good things always happen.
After much ponder,
I realized I have no clue as to what will the Packers do nor what should they do. So I’m just anxious to see what TT does and willing to accept (almost) any decision he makes.
The Dude abides
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