Undrafted Free Agents: Who Might The Packers Target?
by Brandon on May 4, 2011 7:01 AM CDT
in Green Bay Packers News
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PrintThe Green Bay Packers aren't signing any undrafted free agents as long as the lockout remains in place. But they'll have their shot whenever free agency begins, and there were some good players left undrafted.
In 2010, the Packers didn't draft anyone to return kicks or play linebacker, so it wasn't a surprise when they targeted players who could fill those roles. They signed CB Sam Shields, who turned out to be a much better cornerback than kick returner (too many fumbles), and signed a couple college defensive ends to convert to outside linebacker, such as LB Frank Zombo.
But with so many draft choices in 2011 (10 players drafted) there aren't as many roster spots that will need additional depth. Still, Mocking The Draft has the list of the Top 25 undrafted players, and the Packers might be able to find a couple players with potential.
USC C Kristofer O'Dowd. It's surprising to see him available after NFL Draft Scout rated him as the 3rd best center and one of the Top 120 players in the draft. He's everything you could want in a center, except he had multiple injuries in college, and they were probably the reason he went undrafted. There are a couple other centers listed among the Top 25 available too. I mention the position for the Packers because they could have an opening behind C Scott Wells if Jason Spitz leaves in free agency. Even then, they'd still have Evan Dietrich-Smith and promising second year player Nick McDonald, so it's not a desperate need.
Delaware QB Pat Devlin. While a couple of similarly ranked players like Alabama's Greg McElroy and North Carolina's T.J. Yates were drafted, Devlin is still looking for a chance. It wouldn't hurt the Packers to bring a training camp quarterback as an extra arm anyway, but if the Packers do trade Matt Flynn then they'll need at least a new practice squad quarterback.
UCLA K Kai Forbath. I'm not desperate to see K Mason Crosby run out of town, but he could be a free agent, and he's far from the best kicker. Leg strength on kickoffs aren't as important with the new kickoff rules, but he hasn't been the most accurate kicker either. I wouldn't expect Forbath to beat him out, but I'd welcome the competition. And he was rated as the No. 2 kicker in the draft by NFL Draft Scout.
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I'd love to seem them take a flyer
on Cedric Thornton, DT, Southern Arkansas. Farrar says:
One of the more underrated defenders in this class — I had a fifth-round grade on Thornton, and I was very surprised to see him slip through the draft. He fits so many defenses; Thornton can work as a five-tech end or three-tech tackle, and he has the strength and athleticism to flash pass-rush ability that may put people in mind of Muhammad Wilkerson. He was 16th in the nation in tackles for loss in 2010, and he’ll play that way for whoever’s smart enough to take him in the NFL.
Greinke: "It’s not about the guacamole itself. I just don’t want to let them win."
Advantage = Packers
As the defending Super Bowl champs, I would think the Packers have a big advantage in recruiting UDFAs. After all, if the Packers want you in for competition with the roster depth that they have… even if you don’t make the final roster, you’d think that GMs across the league will have you in for workouts to see what Ted and Mike saw in you.
Beyond Cedric Thornton, who sounds like a good catch, there’s OLB Marc Schiechl and WR Jamorris Warren still out there. It will be interesting to see how much interest the Packers have in any of them.
The advantage I see UDFAs are brought in and cut easily
It is often said of teams that they cut me because I was a high draft pick. With the high profile success of Shields and Zombo and the other UFDAs on our roster a player knows that if there talented enough they’ll make the team. The politics of we drafted him won’t get in the way of making the correct decision.
I’m not sure being defending Super Bowl champs will be a big advantage because most players will know how deep we are and want to make that team in training camp where they can make a impression. I think that maybe a disadvantage.
Well not necessarily. These young guys are looking for a chance to make the roster and possibly play, the Packers are the deepest team in the league which means the likelihood of them making the team is pretty small. I think it would help us with veterans who want to win but less so with undrafted FA rookies.
The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010
OLB Marc Schiechl
I think it would be awesome to see this guy in the competition camp with Brad Jones, Frank Zombo, Erik Walden, and Ricky Elmore.
He had monster production and put up really good measurable numbers at a Pro Day taboot. Packers training camp would be the perfect way to see if he can really make the cut against elite competition.
When I retire, I want to have Ted Thompson's job!
*cough*JEFF MAEHL*cough*
And yes, I know we drafted Cobb. I’d at least like to see the guy in for a workout.
And (here’s the Badger fan in me) try out Tolzien. I think that properly developed, he’d be better than Graham Harrell.
"Career highlights? I had two. I got an intentional walk from Sandy Koufax and I got out of a rundown against the Mets." - Bob Uecker
Would Love For Them To Bring In Tolzien For A TRYOUT!! : ) Can never have too many QB's EITHER!
I can’t see TT doing anything too crazy once FA starts… But, I could see him trading Flynn for a 2nd Round Pick next year… Meaning we would need to have at least one more QB in camp to spread the wealth around… Tolzien, Devlin… There are some guys out there that MM could develop… : )
Wouldn’t give up on Graham Harrell… He was wicked at Texas Tech… And even though he played in the spread offense, he’s a winner… If TT doesn’t trade Flynn… We could still stash another QB on the practice squad right…??? : ) Will be interesting to see what happens…
"SOUTHERN HILLS KENNEL" ~ We Breed The Best Bitches In TEXAS!!!
GO PACK GO!!!
Harrell > Tolzien
Tolzien has no arm and is particularlly accurate either. I would like to see Harrell stick around, I see some potential there but with Tolzien… he is as “good” as he will ever be.
SUPER BOWL CHAMPS
by Chief Oshkosh on May 4, 2011 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions
*is NOT particularlly accurate
geez
SUPER BOWL CHAMPS
by Chief Oshkosh on May 4, 2011 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions
+1
It pained me to watch Tolzien play. If our running game wasn’t going, he wasn’t doing squat on offense. He’s got a weak arm, and struggled to make throws when he wasn’t coming off of play action. He’s not an NFL quarterback.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on May 4, 2011 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions
And Brooks Bollinger was?
Um. Yes. Bollinger was. Despite not having any height or arm strength.
If it pains you to watch a QB complete 13 passes on 16 attempts and not get sacked once against the most lethal defense in the nation, you might be unpleasable.
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 4, 2011 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, too be honest, I wasn’t even sure who he was referring to. I assumed Ohio St. but they were by no means lethal.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on May 4, 2011 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions
If a team that finished with the number 4 passing defense in the nation wasn’t lethal…
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 4, 2011 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions
What was their run defense because that’s what mattered. It wasn’t like we challenged their pass defense or something. We pounded the ball and threw the ball ONLY 16 times.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on May 4, 2011 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions
The passing game opened up the running game.
And vice versa. Ohio State couldn’t and didn’t cover Nick Toon effectively (which is why he had 6 receptions for 72 yards in that game alone).
Had there been no passing game, I don’t think the running game would have been as effective. Tolzien had the best game by any quarterback Ohio State’s defense faced in 2010. Don’t discount that.
Against Michigan State, where Nick Toon had something like 4 drops alone and the running game got stuffed? That was ugly. But what didn’t help Tolzien was his wide receivers getting mugged by the Michigan State CBs.
No, he wasn’t a perfect quarterback, but last I checked, he led the team down the field for the game winning TD against Iowa, when the running game was dead in the water, and he opened up the running game in the 70-23 blowout of NU by throwing as effectively as he did.
As much as you might deny it, Tolzien was a good QB in 2010. Compared to the others in this year’s draft class? He wasn’t considered good enough to get drafted.
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 4, 2011 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions
We’ll just have to agree to disagree. Never once did Wisconsin’s passing game open up their running game. Ever.
Yeah, he played his role well against Ohio St. The running game was effective, which meant that play-action was too. When he needed to make a throw, he did. (Granted, none of them were very difficult but still.)
I don’t know if he “led” us down the field against Iowa. The punter got 20 yards or so for us, with Ball and Clay doing most of the rest. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t he complete a 5 yarder on 4th down and 4 and then a 7 yarder on 3rd and 6? Yeah, those were nice plays, but both were extremely manageable too. And that’s what our offense did for him. They usually put him in manageable down and distance situations, which greatly helped him because he isn’t some world beater at QB.
I don’t he think he was necessarily “bad”. He was a pretty good fit for the system we use on offense. Which was, let the running game do 75-80% of the work, and then let him throw when we have the defense thinking pass. Maybe if their was a team in the NFL that used that sort of system, he could go to them but there isn’t. He just doesn’t have the talent to play in an NFL offense that requires him to be able to beat the defense.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on May 4, 2011 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions
How could Wisconsin's passing game open up the running game...
when we don’t have a passing game?
SUPER BOWL CHAMPS
by Chief Oshkosh on May 4, 2011 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions
OSU=14 pis/game
God Bless Our Troops............Especially Our Snipers!
by bigbill992001 on May 4, 2011 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, for the Vikings yeah, but that doesn’t really count. There’s a reason he’s been out of the league.
College is a whole different game. It’s easy to look good when you’re sitting behind the best OL in football, and can play off of the best running game in football. Like I said, he did most of his damage off of play-action. The LB’s always got sucked in towards the line of scrimmage and he had massive windows to throw into.
Remember what he and the offense looked like against TCU when they were shutting our run game down? He didn’t have those wide open windows, which led to him not being able to do a whole lot.
I know you love your Wisconsin guys, but be realistic.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on May 4, 2011 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Actually, you're wrong.
Brooks Bollinger was drafted by the Jets in the 6th round.
He actually played well on a really crappy 2005 Jets team, starting 8 games and throwing 7 touchdowns with 6 INTs. Not amazing, but considering that team’s receivers and defense (BAD)…
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 4, 2011 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions
The only reason he even played was because Pennington and Fielder were hurt, right?
All I’m saying is there’s a reason he’s been out of the NFL.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on May 4, 2011 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
The only reason TCU stuffed Wisconsin's running game
Is because Chryst got away from it after the sweeps to the side didn’t work. Fact is, Wisconsin had easy running lanes up the middle every single play and they just stayed away from it for whatever reason.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on May 4, 2011 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, you’re right. He kept trying to call powers that took to long to develop, and TCU kept blowing the play up. I agree he could have pounded it right up the gut but for some reason he didn’t.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on May 4, 2011 11:33 PM CDT up reply actions
I almost mentioned Maehl
But I can’t see how he’d make the roster. I’d love to see him on the practice squad, but he might be looking for a team that has fewer established receivers than the Packers.
I could see Tolzien getting a chance with the Packers. McCarthy and Thompson attended the Badgers pro day, and they gave Stocco a chance.
Herzleich?
or however you spell his name…the LB from Boston College who had a tremendous year, got and beat cancer then had another solid year? I mean I’ve heard people saying that he was one of the top 5 LB’s in his draft class had he not gotten sick. He’s got the potential he just needs to regain his strength.
However we do have a glut of LB’s right now, so probably not
"We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time" - Vince Lombardi
by ilovethegbpackers on May 4, 2011 10:45 AM CDT reply actions
If he can play ILB, sure!
SUPER BOWL CHAMPS
by Chief Oshkosh on May 4, 2011 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Definitely
But Would he ever get a chance behind Hawk and Bishop? I think he’s a bit blocky in pass coverage so he wouldn’t be out there for 3rd downs either
"We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time" - Vince Lombardi
by ilovethegbpackers on May 4, 2011 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions
If I remember correctly
Herzlich is actually pretty good in coverage. I think he would be worthwhile FA to pick up. And if he ever fully recovers from the cancer treatments he could be a gem. He wasREALLY highly regarded pre-cancer.
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
I'm hoping he signs with the Nighthawks to build up strength,
then signs with the Packer safter the UFL season ends.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!
Big no on Pat Devlin.
He’s essentially Anthony Morelli with an inexplicably better reputation.
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 4, 2011 12:30 PM CDT reply actions
I am serious. Don't call me Shirley.
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 4, 2011 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Devlin >>>>> Morelli
I’m not saying Devlin is going to be the next Joe Flacco, but at least he has enough brains to be able to check down receivers. Morelli might have a huge arm, but his biggest drawback is that he would stare at the receiver he was going to throw the ball to, probably because he is about as dumb as bricks. Devlin is a smart man, and it shows on the football field.
Zane Taylor
Would come in and be a perfect back up to the Center position. With Wells contract ending this year, you need to bring in a kid to learn in case Wells decides he wants more money. Also, Wells may be the most reliable on the offensive line, but as we all know, anybody can get hurt. Taylor is athletic and a smart kid who could pick up the game really well.
Center
McDonald is the Packers Center of the future, IMO… Lang is gonna be a LG this year w/ McDonald backing him up and backing Wells up. I think McDonald will be ready to take over for Wells in ’12. Which works well since this is Wells final year under contract!
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
I don't know about McDonald
The coaches love him, from what I’ve read, but I haven’t seen him play much. He’ll be someone to watch next preseason. I wasn’t watching for him that closely last year because I didn’t think he’d make it. I was surprised they kept him over Dietrich-Smith (who didn’t have a great preseason, he was overpowered at times).
Also, I expect they’ll resign Wells. He’s got at least one more contract left in him, and I don’t see why they’d want him to leave. Plus, he shouldn’t cost too much.
Wells
Is 30 and will be 31 when the season ends. He’s on a contract for about 3M per. His next one will be probably 4+, maybe 5M per. I don’t see them paying him that much when they have a younger, bigger, stronger guy behind him that will play for 500k or so… McDonald has the ability to hold up better at the point of attack and handle NT better. After this year our OL will have been totally revamped and young guys across the OL to lead the team! THey’ll be able to let those guys play together for the next 5 years. Kinda like they did when they had Clifton, Wahle, Flanigan, Rivera, Tauscher for a 4 years stetch or so.
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
I wouldn't mind us going after...
O’Dowd or Justin Boren just to compete during the pre-season to help out our line for the future and to also add depth..
If we didn’t draft Alex Green, I would have liked to go after Devine or Locke. They both have good speed (possible return ability), but I am beyond sure that we wouldn’t because of their size.
I also forgot to mention Jake Kirkpatrick above.. I’m sure he slipped for some reason… But he had a pretty damn good collegiate career.
Maybe we would be looking at McDaniel or Williams from Clemson/North Carolina to add to our secondary.
Other then those guys I don’t see us going after any of the “higher rated” UDFAs. Other then those guys I’d like to see us bring in DeAndre Brown just because of his size. I know he has character issues and hasn’t produced since his freshmen year at Southern Miss.. So that’s another guy we’d probably shy away from.
I could see brining in Brown as an udrafted FA.
Kinda surprised he wasn’t drafted actually. Kid has some talent. As he’s undrafted, the risk/reward thing is ALOT better. Don’t know what his issues were off field, but theres no loss if he can’t cut it.
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
Randall Cobb
Check out this article about Randall Cobb
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/690213-green-bay-packers-draft-pick-randall-cobb-primed-for-strong-rookie-campaign
I wouldn't take anything on BR very serious!
Just fans like any of us and usually over-exuberant! I could write better than almost any of them…
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
Yeah, the only who I used to read was Jersey Al. Otherwise, they were all pretty bad.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on May 4, 2011 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Dane Sanzenbacher
OSU W\R deserves a look, imo.
God Bless Our Troops............Especially Our Snipers!
I thought about it
But just too slow. Similar to Jordy Nelson with his hands not quite being as steady. Lack of speed really limits his upside, but perhaps over swain?
"We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time" - Vince Lombardi
by ilovethegbpackers on May 4, 2011 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions
ya know
they said that when he arrived at OSU, too. I don’t recall his 40, but it’s not that bad. And, he can catch.
God Bless Our Troops............Especially Our Snipers!
by bigbill992001 on May 5, 2011 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, and he doesn’t have the body Nelson has either, which is what really hurts him imo.
I think he could be an upgrade over Swain at receiver but that’s not really Swain’s role, and wouldn’t be Sanzenbacher’s if we signed him. He’d be used almost solely as a special teams guys and who knows if he’s good at that. We know Swain is great so it just doesn’t make much sense I don’t think.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on May 5, 2011 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions
OB?
So both Sanzenbacher and Maehl went undrafted? I guess they aren’t so good after all… Kinda like I said…
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
Just OBS
and I went round and round on both those players! I didn’t think either one would amt to much in the NFL. If they get picked up as FA, we’ll see how they do.
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
For the record
I don’t know any of those players, just saying plenty of undrafted players turned out to be really good…
"IT IS TIME"
Sam Shields comes to mind
Tramon Williams . . .
I agree that it’s way too early to say “I told you so” on this one.
53 Bears, 1 Cup
by I voted for Kodos on May 4, 2011 9:02 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah
time will tell
God Bless Our Troops............Especially Our Snipers!
by bigbill992001 on May 5, 2011 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions
I wouldn't say that they aren't good..
they just don’t have the size and speed (which really kills them from ever getting a chance in the NFL). I know that you can train and try to become faster, but isn’t most people who are naturally fast, fast? I think both Sanzenbacher and Maehl ran around the 4.6s… But I feel that if they ran 4.4s or maybe even a 4.5, maybe one of them would have been drafted.
Both have great hands and run above average routes and put up decent numbers the past few years. I am pretty sure Maehl was a special teamer early on at Oregon (since he used to play defense before he switched to WR)
I guess I will just get to my point and stop blabbing.. I just think if some of these UDFAs fall into the right situation that ultimately they will have a chance to prove themselves. I am about 99% sure that this years UDFA will not produce the next NFL Hall of Famer or anything like that. But look at the Rams team (yes, I know that they weren’t a good team last year) last season. Amendola bounced around teams because coming out of TTU he was small, slow and only ran good routes. He ended up being the Rams leading WR (at least I think so..) I’m also sure that Danario Alexander was another UDFA who had one decent game last year.
So yeah, I am a little biased because I root for players like this who have such a great challenge ahead of them. I want them to prove me and everyone else wrong and actually make a splash in the NFL. I just hope the NFL gets their shit together soon and end this lockout. I don’t want this going on until the pre-season and ultimately putting a damper on several free agents chances of making a team AND of course ruining our Sundays later on this fall/winter.
they just don’t have the size and speed
Which was my point all along! Too small and too slow and not strong enough to win at the LOS in the NFL! And why I didn’t think they would be drafted, and likely why ultimately its highly unlikely they will make an NFL roster! And as far as the Packers go, we already have on of them in Swain! OBS’s view was that they were good enough to be drafted and much better than Swain. We all kinda root for underdogs like them, but it doesn’t change the fact that they don’t really have the tools to crack an NFL team. Doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t, but its unlikely!
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
I completely agree with you.
And I like Swain as well, I just want to see if he can become a better offensive player for us since we have not really seen him play that much.
by xRevocationx on May 5, 2011 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Get the center
We need some more competition on the line.
I also would have liked Devine to return kicks but Cobb should take that role.
53 Bears, 1 Cup
by I voted for Kodos on May 4, 2011 9:01 PM CDT reply actions
O-line and D-line help
Packers seem to have plenty of LB’s and TE’s, unless there’s a real standout waiting to be signed I think the team needs to focus on O-line and D-line help and maybe players who can double as secondary and return men should Cobb get injured. Yep, hate to say the “i” word but injuries have nearly wiped out this team two years in a row, especially last year and having opportunities to pick up a few undrafted FAgents might be a season saviour like last year.
Wrong, sir, wrong!
MOAR TIGHT ENDZ!
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 6, 2011 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions
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