2012 NFL Draft: Packers Looking For An Outside Linebacker?
by Brandon on Feb 21, 2012 4:00 PM CST
in Green Bay Packers Draft
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PrintIn a followup to yesterday's post on whether USC's Nick Perry would be a good fit for the Green Bay Packers, I thought I'd look at two other names who were discussed in the comments. And they're also the top two outside linebacker candidates. It's just as likely that they'll rise in the draft, but you never know; they could slide down to the Packers spot with the No. 28 overall pick.
South Carolina's Melvin Ingram. He's a good pass rusher and he's showed the ability to drop into zone coverage. While playing as a defensive lineman, he had an outstanding senior season and earned All-SEC honors. But he was inconsistent throughout his earlier college career. It looks like he's pretty raw, which isn't a reason to avoid him, but he might not contribute much at first. He's currently the 16th best prospect and expected to go in the middle of the first round.
Alabama's Courtney Upshaw. His best position might be "pass rusher" though he's proven to be very agile and shows good effort. He seems to be a better overall prospect then Ingram though he's only ranked as the 17th best prospect. But maybe Rob Rang is just hedging his bet because he has Upshaw going to the Bills with the No. 10 overall selection.
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I would be relatively gob-smacked if either fell within reach of the Packers. Barring catastrophe or serious injury, I just don’t see it.
And frankly, if either had an injury serious enough to derail their draft status, the Packers might be better-suited to look elsewhere anyway. They need help on defense now, not in 2013, and can’t really afford an early-round luxury pick of an injured player.
Defense heavy draft
Ingram will drop. Upshaw may not. Vontaze Burfict and Donta Hightower are also interesting prospects from linebacker ranks. Jerel Worthy and Whitney Mercilus are also worth watching.
I do like all those players, but Burfict and Hightower are ILBs and Worthy is a DT/DE, while Mercilus is projected as an OLB, the more I think about him I start to like him at 28, but he still seems a bit risky.
by Tracker J Dunn on Feb 22, 2012 2:20 AM CST up reply actions
bruce irvin! bruce irvin!
d-lineman in the first round, bruce irvin in the second! irvin! irvin! he is rather raw…but he would be an upgrade from what we already have and he has all the things that cannot be coached. eat your heart out, kevin greene. irvin! irvin!
also...
if there is no stud d-lineman available first round, i would not be opposed to scooping up peter konz if he’s available. he would probably be my least disappointing non defensive pick.
ingram is awesome
earlier in season I think he returned a punt for TD, had an INT, and sack. Dude just plays football, would love it if he was around.
ingram would awesome...
He goes hard non stop and you cant avoid him on the field
by WildPack86 on Feb 21, 2012 9:02 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Ingram and Upshaw...
Not a big fan of either… Both are like 6’1 270+, Don’t like those dimentions on an OLB. They are both to short in ht as well as having short arms. Neither is particularly explosive. If they were to drop down to 255 and become quicker and more explosive i would like them more. Both are good pass rushers, but would be severe liabilities in coverage. Just not explosive or athletic enough for my liking. Of the 2 I would take Ingram over Upshaw, but I seriously hope the Packers don’t take either of them. I know they are rated higher from all the media scouts, but I just don’t think either is versatile enough for Capers D.
Perry in the 1st, maybe Mercilus if Thompson thinks he can play OLB, otherwise wait till the 2nd for Curry or Irvin! Perry Curry and Irvin are IMO, the best 34 OLB prospects in this draft. Perry goes in the 1st, and Curry and Irvin are both 2nd round picks. I would love to get Cox/Konz in the 1st and Irvin in the 2nd! That would be a great draft, especially if we got Cox and Irvin.
Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!
by Strohman on Feb 21, 2012 9:38 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
While I do like Ingram, despite his height.. that scenario would be one of my top choices, I also wouldn’t mind getting Perry (maybe Mercilus) and then Wolfe/Reyes/Worthy.
by Tracker J Dunn on Feb 22, 2012 2:23 AM CST up reply actions
I know he’s short but he looks like he has longer arms than your average 6’1" guy. He didn’t get asked to drop into coverage much so it’s hard to say but I know I read somewhere that he was a linebacker his freshmen season, and that he also got used as a kick returner as a freshmen. I’m sure he bulked up from then but if he dropped 5-10 lbs. I think he could do alright dropping.
And Upshaw actually got used a 3-4 OLB quite a bit — I think Bama called it their “Jack” linebacker. I’ve seen that he’s more around 260-265 lbs. but we’ll see at the combine.
I’d like taking either of those guys but I don’t see either dropping to us, or into the low 20’s.
I’m starting to think my ideal draft would be Cox and Irvin as well. My thinking is Cox can help the pass rush a bit right away if Irvin isn’t able too. Though, it wouldn’t surprise me if Irvin picked things up quickly. He’s just so explosive!
by packallday555 on Feb 22, 2012 2:04 PM CST up reply actions
Both are mentioned as having short arms
Both are closer to 6’1 than 6’2. I know Upshaw playing in bama’s 34 scheme, but I don’t think he ever dropped in coverage. He was the best pass rusher. Neither is particularly explosive off the ball, thats my biggest problem and Upshaw is mostly just a power rush guy. At his size and w/o the explosiveness you would like, I’m just scared that he won’t be nearly as good a pass rusher as you want. He’s great against the run, but don’t know if he’ll be the kinda pass rusher to take pressure off Matthews. Think Ingram is a little better that way, so rather have him myself. Honestly, I actually think I would prefer Perry, Mercilus, Branch, Curry and Irvin. Might be off on them, but I’m just not impressed.
Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!
outside linebacker?
child please kiss da baby we clearly need offensive help lyke omg
Actually came across as the former to me.
Subtle sarcasm is the best, haha.
"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence!"
After further review,
The Munsters of the Midway still suck,
Skol is a four-letter word,
abd those upstarts in Detroit couldn't beat the Little Sisters of the Poor.
by NorthStarr on Feb 22, 2012 2:28 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I like the OLB's in this draft, I wouldn't mind possibly snagging two..
Some OLB draft prospects I like, I don’t know a TON about most of these guys besides their basic bio’s and breakdowns, but I will be paying attention to them in the combine (I have a sneaky feeling that Perry will beast at the combine, since he hasn’t been doing much since his season ended so early)
1st tier OLB:
Courtney Upshaw- I like him, but it might be a bit because of the whole Bama D last year
Melvin Ingram – I like him better than Upshaw, he just seems like a gamer
Nick Perry – I really like him and I would take him in a second if he was available
2nd tier OLB: Whitney Mercilus, Andre Branch, Vinny Curry, Bruce Irvin
lot of potential, I wouldn’t mind any of these guys in the second, possibly with a mid-round trade up, if we could package our 4th or a bit later with our 5th. Would love staying pat and grabbing Irvin if we go DE in 1st.
3rd tier OLB: Cam Johnson, Jonathan Massaquoi, Ronnell Lewis
I wouldn’t mind double-dipping on OLBs if we could grab one of these talents in the 4th (we may have 2 compensatory picks)
4th tier OLB: Donte Paige-Moss, Olivier Vernon
some guys with some talent, but with off the field or injury issues, could be a great value pick with one of our compensatory picks or 5th rounder maybe
LATE/UDFA: Cordarro Law – based solely off my like for Southern Miss and his complete beast mode in the C-USA title game.
What do you all think?
double dipping...
I think they’ll do that too actually. Get an OLB in the 1st or 2nd and then another one later. Later on Paige-Moss would be my choice in the late rounds. Terrific athlete, should be able to transition to OLB. Bit of a headcase and off-field problems, but w/ a 6th rd pick, if you can get him straightened out, he has 1st rd talent.
Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!
1. Ingram
2. Perry
3. Irvin
4. Curry
This is under the assumption that Upshaw is the first pass rusher taken — of the ones who could be 3-4 OLB’s.
by packallday555 on Feb 22, 2012 2:06 PM CST up reply actions
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