Packers Mock Draft: Voting Day 2
by Brandon on Apr 9, 2010 7:00 AM CDT
in Green Bay Packers Draft
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PrintThe last time I looked at the results of voting from yesterday's post, the preference was to draft an offensive tackle. I've got to make a choice this weekend for the Green Bay Packers 2nd round pick in the SB Nation writers mock draft, so if you want to influence my decision, please go vote or leave a comment. I'm open to suggestion at this point. And for those who are looking for the best player available, go to Mocking The Draft (all the picks are in the right side column) tell me who you're surprised is still available. It doesn't look like anyone surprising is slipping down so far.
I've been content at offensive tackle after the re-signing of LT Chad Clifton and RT Mark Tauscher. While neither is great at this point in their careers, they are both good starters who solidified the offensive line. But maybe an offensive tackle is the most important player they can draft because their first priority should be to keep QB Aaron Rodgers healthy.
I've been down on USC OT Charles Brown because his college playing weight was under 300 lbs. and he's only beefed up to right around 300 lbs. in order to get ready for the draft. But Wes Bunting over at National Football Post was just gushing about Brown in his most recent post, and it blows his mind that Brown isn't being considered a Top 5 pick alongside Oklahoma State OT Russell Okung.
Pete Prisco at CBSSports.com has listed three pass rushing OLB as good prospects for the Packers, but he's currently one of those writers who believe they should draft Rutgers CB Devin McCourty. Unfortunately Prisco describes OT Allen Barbre as a "quality depth at tackle" so I'm not sure how much I trust his judgment at the moment.
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In this draft we got an OLB already
You picked up Sergio Kindle in the first round (a steal). Also Charles Brown is off the board. I think we should get Rodger Saffold with this pick.
Veldheer
Saffold is a carbon copy of Lang… BOth are probably better suited at RT or LG…. I don’t know if Saffold can play LT in the NFL.
I would look at Veldheer in the 2nd.
I don't know about that.
Veldheer sounds like a MASSIVE project, literally and figuratively. And if you WANT a project pick, that’s good, but if you want instant impact, it isn’t…
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Apr 10, 2010 12:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Impact
Your not going to find instant impact this late in the 2nd! The guys left now are mostly projects who should be starters in a year. Veldheer looked great at the combine and dominated his opponents. I know it wasn’t top college competition but given a year he should be ready to become a great LT… Only concern is relatively short arms, but they meet the minimum…
Only a CB that could be the immediate nickel CB would give any kind of immediate impact.
Prisco doesn't know the Pack
I read that article too and he thinks Bush is our normal nickleback forgetting that Harris is coming back and that we have Lee. Most of the coverage I saw out of CBS was pure crap.
CB
Patrick Robinson (CB – FSU) or Kareem Jackson (CBC – Ala)
If there isn’t much talent left at CB, and Arrelious Benn (WR – Ill) is still available, I’d consider him. He may be a guy to eventually replace Driver. Nelson is good, but I see him as 3rd reciever.
I don’t see any notable OT left, so we find a way to get Gabe Carimi next year to fill the OT spot (like that will happen)!
WE'RE BLOWING IT! GO OT IN THE FIRST ROUND!!!
Offensive tackles (especially left OT’s) who excel at the next level don’t come along very often. That’s why they’re usually first round picks. Couple this with the fact that this draft is loaded with many very good OLB candidates where there isn’t that much of a drop off in projected performance between the first tier (Kindle, Weatherspoon, Hughes, etc.) & the second tier (Sapp, Worilds, Gibson, etc). screams for us to go OT first round-especially if Charles Brown is still there at pick #23.
Wes Bunting is right. Just look at USC tape. Brown just jumps off the screen. He’s technically ready for the next level & if he needs a litttle more weight, get Ryan Pickett’s mama to cook for him & then get him in the weight room. Seriously, he’s got the frame where a pro training table diet & lifting regimen will fill him out & add the bulk/muscle he may need.
Is anybody, besides me, concerned about our lack of depth at running back? After you get past Ryan Grant, there isn’t much there. What if Grant goes down? There should be several very capable running backs available with our second round pick (#56) such as Gerhart, Hardesty, or Tate that could really give us a great 1-2 punch at RB. Let’s grab one & go for the OLB with the next pick. This draft is so deep in OLB candidates, a very good one will be there for us at pick #87.
With regard to our defensive backfield, I personally agree with PackApologist that with Harris & Lee coming back we can take a calculated risk & not draft a CB at this point with pick #120. (Do what most teams do & backfill at CB with post draft signings of FA athletes.) Instead, we’ll have the opportunity to better our SS pass coverage with players like Chancellor, Asante or Rolle-all of which should be available at this point of the draft.
In the last few rounds of the draft we’ll have the chance to backfill the offensive line & obtain a kick/punt return specialist & possibly even a punter even though most teams will go FA after the draft to get a punter.
It looks like it could be a great draft for the Pack if they carefully consider their priorities and the player depth & quality at each position. What does everyone else think?
nosmo
Pretty good analysis……a big thumbs up!
by bigbill992001 on Apr 10, 2010 3:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Gotta' be LT
I’ve been pounding the table on this. Clifton is solid when he’s in the game, but he WILL get hurt and miss extended stretches and games at a time. There is currently nobody else on the roster who can play LT.
There’s six quality LTs in the draft who are worthy of a 1st round pick. One of them should fall to us. Don’t over-think this.
not to over think but...
Who do you think are the six that are worthy of a 1st round?
by PackApologist on Apr 9, 2010 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, I’m the furthest thing from a college scouting guru, but, from what I’m reading, it would be (in no particular order)
Russel Okung,
Anthony Davis,
Trent Williams,
Charles Brown,
Bruce Campbell, and
Bryan Baluga.
by Curly Lambeau on Apr 9, 2010 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions
small problem
The only issue with that nice list is by some mocks, all 6 will be gone by the time we pick. LT seems to be a run on year this year, and would you be ok with OLB if all 6 of those gentlemen are gone by the time 23 rolls around?
I honestly am not sure I would include maybe Anthony Davis as 1st round talent anymore, not with everything I’ve heard. I would maybe do Safford or Duclasse in Round 2.
I don't like the idea of Ducasse going in the 2nd round at all.
First of all, he’s never had to work against the type of DE that the big time schools have to offer. Second, he has technique issues. Third, Ducasse has apparently been beaten up by some of the big time DE prospects he went face-to-face with.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Apr 10, 2010 12:22 AM CDT up reply actions
There is every possibility that this years OT prospects are like 2004's QB prospects.
Huge emphasis in the first, not so much in the second and definitely NOT in later rounds. There’s a definite dropoff in talent after the first round OTs are gone, so only project OTs might be left after the 1st round. That can be good or bad, depending on how you look at it.
Right now, all we can do is guess at who’s going to go in the draft. I would love to see Sean Witherspoon in a Packers uniform, first or second round.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Apr 10, 2010 12:25 AM CDT up reply actions
I think Charles Brown will still be available, and possibly Anthony Davis.
I just don’t like a Safford, Ducasse, or Veldheer. They all seem like 2-3 year projects,
by packallday555 on Apr 10, 2010 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions
But Wes Bunting over at National Football Post was just gushing about Brown in his most recent post, and it blows his mind that Brown isn’t being considered a Top 5 pick alongside Oklahoma State OT Russell Okung.
At first, I was definitely down on Charles Brown. I really wanted Buluga but as that started to seem more and more unlikely I decided to do a little looking at some guys like Brown, Williams, and Davis. From some of the stuff I’ve seen on Brown I really, really like him.
Too start he is probably the best or 2nd best LT in the draft as far as pass protection goes. He is said to be the most athletic of all the LT’s in this years draft, and played in the zone blocking scheme at USC. His once concern is his weight, and while that definitely is a legit concern I think he helped quiet that concern by showing up at the combine over 300 lbs. Would he be able to maintain that weight while playing? Probably not but he probably could stay at 295 lbs. or so which I think is plenty enough.
The guy really has no negatives as far as his on the field play goes, and has tons and tons of potential.
Run blocking
I would have to say that Browns run blocking leaves alot to be desired…. Also heard he enjoyed the country club atmosphere at USC a little too much and may not take the game seriously enough… Doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t in the pros, but it was raised as a concern by some scouts.
And aren’t you one of the guys always complaining that the Packers need to be more physical? Brown will never be mistaken for a physical player, especially in the run game! If he can’t get his playing wt up to 310 I wouldn’t consider him in the 1st rd…
Just a head’s up for you guys while you’re chatting this up. By the time Green Bay picks Ducasse and Veldheer will be gone.
Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.
Nah...
There’s no way there’ll be 8 LTs picked in one round! That’s crazy talk.
…and even if there is, then we’ll see someone drop to us that shouldn’t have, and that’s fine. If we get a top-15 value guy at #23 (which is pretty much what would have to happen for all 8 of those LTs to be gone), then I’m fine with that, regardless of what position it is.
by Curly Lambeau on Apr 10, 2010 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions
I think he is saying this is reference to the 2nd round, or at least I hope. There is no way either Veldheer or Ducasse go in the 1st round.
by packallday555 on Apr 10, 2010 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm with Curly
If there’s that big a run on tackles then that’s still good news for the Pack cause there will be some real talent. If that happens there either by a great pass rusher available or a real special offensive talent like Spiller or Bryant (I know I’ve been down on Bryant but the a few articles I’ve been reading have started to change my mind if he falls down to our selection).
by PackApologist on Apr 10, 2010 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Veldheer
Veldheer was just taken at #50 by KC… Looks like we better hope Saffold makes it thru the next 5 picks in this mock draft. If not, I would either trade down here for another pick, take a CB now then trade up in the 3rd rd for Tony Washington… I cant see landing a viable LT beyond the 3rd rd. Washington has the size, arm length and athleticism to become a good LT, but he too played at a D2 school, so he’ll take at least a year before he’s ready!!!
Saffold gone too
Unfortunately around the time I start looking back at offensive lineman, we go on a little mini-run in the SB Nation mock with 4 of the last 7 picks o-lineman. And Dan is referring to o-lineman drafted in the 2nd round.
why is no one thinking
Does anyone not see a need to get a good RB in this draft. Historically first round OT G do notlive up to all of the hype that surrounds them. Yes, there are some that do but those numbers fail in comparison to a running back. We do need one and if one of the top 5 is still there we should take one. yes Aaron Rodgers needs to be protected but we cant protect him every play. Play action is a great alternative to some blocking help. But we cant do thisd with out a feared running back. Or at least the threat of a run game. Notthat I am saying that Grant cant handle the game because he is a very capapble back. But who do we have behind him….. NO ONE. We really should look atthis scenario as well
What Rb would you want us to take? Probably Spiller or Best I would assume? I guess I’d be alright with either but then I think we would have to trade up to take a LT in the 2nd round. (I think if we wait until pick 55 all the more thought of LT’s will be taken, and I really don’t think we can afford to take a 2-3 year project guy.)
I would prefer Best of the two guys personally. I think if we took a Rb in the 1st we would do so thinking that he would eventually take Grant’s #1 job with Grant moving into a role where he gets maybe 100 carries. I don’t think Spiller could handle 200 carries. He seems like more of a guy who is going to be a better receiving threat as opposed to an actual Rb. I just can’t help but think of him and think Reggie Bush, which I don’t think would be worth a 1st round pick but I could be wrong about him.
by packallday555 on Apr 11, 2010 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Actually...
Tackles tend to be have the lowest amount of bust to them. The highest positions are QB and WR. The thing about RB is that they can have the most impact right away because you basically give the dude the ball and tell them to go.
As for the Pack and their RB situation Grant is solid to above average. Jackson is turning into a solid third down back (maybe not worth a second round pick but still a good contribution). After that, sure we could use another horse for the stable, but more than LT? More than blitzing helping? More than secondary help? Really?
by PackApologist on Apr 12, 2010 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions
After that, sure we could use another horse for the stable, but more than LT? More than blitzing helping? More than secondary help? Really?
I suppose I should have explained myself a bit more. If one of the top 6 LT’s is available we should take him hands down.
I was basing my thinking about taking a Rb on the assumption that the top 6 LT’s were all already picked.
As for OLB, I personally think we’re alright with Jones. He provided decent pass rush last season, and played tremendousely for us despite being a 7th round draft pick and coming in half way through the year. He should be able to put some weight on this offseason, and will probably improve (as most rookies do).
As far as the secondary goes, after Haden, I don’t think any of the other Cb’s are worth picking the 1st round. Wilson is probably an early 2nd round guy, maybe late 1st round but after him the next tier of guys is pretty deep. A lot of them will probably go in the 2nd and 3rd round, and I think that is where we should try and take one.
by packallday555 on Apr 12, 2010 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions
I think having what could potentially be a Pro Bowl Rb would help our offense out a lot. Firstly, Grant is an average Rb. I know he has put up good stats but how much of that has to do with teams playing our pass first and the amount of carries he is getting? I personally think it has a lot to do with those two things.
He is a one-cut back, which is good for the zone blocking scheme. Problem is, he has no vision. He can make ok cuts but he can rarely find the open hole too run through. I can’t even count the number of times I saw him run into one of our OL’s back. Another thing is he is supposed to be a power back, and well, he just isn’t. He rarely falls forward, and rarely makes the first guy miss.
He is one dimensional as a Rb. All he can really do is run the ball, and like I shared above, I don’t even think he is very good at that. On top of that, he is NO receiving threat and is probably one of the worst Rb’s in the league when it comes to picking up blitzes.
Taking a Javhid Best would better our run game, and give Rodgers a dangerous guy to drop the ball off to on 3rd down. The guy has exceptional vision and quickness which would both be huge pluses in our scheme. He would be able to make something out of nothing, while Grant struggles to make something out of something. If we could make defenses actually respect our run game a bit too, just imagine how unstoppable our offense could be. It would force opposing DL’s to not just pin their ears back, and would also force opposing LB’s to wait a second to drop back into coverage. Think Rodgers would have a field day with Finley if that happened? I sure do.
by packallday555 on Apr 12, 2010 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions
I can see your point but...
I guess I would have to see what talent is available. I’ve got an uncle who’s all about Best, and I would all for Spiller. I think I would rather see a blitzing OLB if available or even Dez Bryant. I think the Pack can go further with a more ammo in the passing attack and let Grant, as average as he is, just grind down the clock.
But I think you’ve got some good points. I guess this is the one luxuray of picking at 23, you can let the draft come to you.
by PackApologist on Apr 12, 2010 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, I think if Bryant was still available we’d take him. I guess I wouldn’t mind Spiller, I just would want us to take someone who can take over the majority of the carries from Grant, and I don’t know if Spiller could handle that workload.
We really will have to let something come too us, and hopefully it will.
by packallday555 on Apr 12, 2010 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Best is NOT capable of taking many carries!!! He already has significant concussion problems from playing college ball, you think that is going to bode well for him in the NFL? NO way!!! He is a concussion or two from being done w/ football… Personally, I wouldnt touch Best until the 4th rd! Some team will take a chance but I hope like hell it isn’t the Packers!!!
I also dont think 6 OT go before the Packers pick.. I give Okung, Williams, Bulaga and Davis 1st rd gredes. Campbell and Brown 2nd rd grades based on needing full year before they are remotely close to being ready for full time LT…
I know he had the concussion last year but does that really mean he may be a hit or two away from being done with football? I don’t know. Seems like you could say that for any player.
I think Brown has to be given a grade above Campbell. He was good in college, while Campbell was mediocore at best. I’d put Brown up there with Williams and Davis.
by packallday555 on Apr 12, 2010 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t mess with someone who has a high frequency of concussions already coming out of college. I still wonder if the league has plans about how they handle concussions. They might start having requirements about time away or something.
I can understand that but from what I’ve read it doesn’t sound like he has struggled with concussions his whole life. Sounds like he suffered a concussion against Oregon State and then tried to come back to early a week later and suffered a second one.
Of course that’s just reading some scouting profiles and wikipedia, so who really knows. He could have a concussion problem, or it could have just been him making a poor decision in deciding to play to soon after coming back.
I think they should do something with required time away. Though that could be a touchy subject with players and coaches.
by packallday555 on Apr 12, 2010 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Kudos! graygoose41 !!!
Good point about RB. Both RB & OT are need areas. If either Grant or Clifton go down, we’re hurting.
I personally would much rather have the OT & some assurance of continued protection of our franchise QB than the extra running back but this may not be the way to go. But guess what? This may be a draft where we can get both. To wit:
If Charles Brown or any of the other top 6 OT’s drop to #23, grab him because after the first round OT quality quickly drops off. With RB the quality doesn’t drop off as much when you go from Spiller, Dwyer or Best to the second tier of Gerhart, Hardesty or Tate. One of these very good players (in my opinion, comparable to Grant) should be available for us at #56 & could give us a great 1-2 punch at RB.
If we play our cards right, we have the chance to build depth at both positions depending upon who’s available when and how much of an improvement they represent.
RB isn't need it's luxury
RB may become an area of need in a year or two, but right now it’s not need. It’s a good position to draft at if the right guy falls, but need is a bit of a stretch.
by PackApologist on Apr 12, 2010 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Packers #56
packers are on the clock at 56 in the mock. All the OT are gone, So I would go CB…
Ghee
Cook
Franks
Owusu Ansah
I go w/ Cook or Owusu Ansah… Cook has versatility as a CB or S and Owusu Ansah has kick return abiltiy better than the rest!!!
Anyone else?
I like Cook and Franks a lot. Never saw Owusu Ansah play but the Cb or S tag kind of scares me. Seems like most of the time when guys can play two positions, they can play both mediocorely but not one well (Aaron Rouse). But again, I never saw Owusu Ansah so maybe he is an exception.
by packallday555 on Apr 12, 2010 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Franks
I’m a OU fan after UW of course… Franks never impresssed me much and I watched OU alot… Rouse never played anything but Safety… not sure where your going w/ him, but I get the two position argument. Seems most scouts see cook as a good CB though.
Owusu Ansah is a great return man!!! And has a ton of potetial as a CB, but is a small school kid.
Franks
I guess Brandon didn’t agree w/ my assessment of Franks!!! As Franks it is… LOL
Would have went w a different CB, but CB was the right pick.
In the 1st, I would have taken Hughes over Kindle and in the 2nd Owusu Ansah or Cook.
Got the positions right tho…
bowman, owusu-ansah, mitchell
navarro bowman, olb from penn state…great pass rusher
akwasi owusu-ansah, cb from indiana (pa)…d2 guy but he’s got great size and speed and can return kicks
carlton mitchell, wr from south florida…not really a great pick for what the pack needs but he’s basically brandon marshall but w/out the tiny brain, and driver is pushin 40…
Owusu Ansah
Bowman is a 43 OLB, doesn’t have the size or skill of a typical 34 OLB…
My pick is Owusu Ansah!
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