Greetings, G-Force.
Yes, I am a football nerd. And, yes, therefore, the NFL Draft is one of my favorite weekends of the year. Admittedly, I’m a total amateur, but nonetheless, I like to scout college players during the season to project their NFL careers. Often times, I’m wrong. Dead wrong. However, on occasion, I put Kiper & McShay to shame. At one time, I thought Ben Troupe would be a Pro Bowl TE. He has been FAR from it, but I’d still argue that, in some way, he was a victim of circumstance and landed in an offensively deficient program that did not utilize his skills to full capacity. I try to forget those predictions. Instead, I remember the ones in which I predicted that Steve Slaton would be among the elite or that I listed Chevis Jackson among the best of last year’s CB’s…definitely ahead of Patrick Lee. I also stand by the prediction that Brian Brohm does not translate into a legitimate NFL QB. On the last two points, I hope I end up dead wrong. Thus far, I’m spot on. Regardless, if I’m wrong, I can still write this silly blog with no worries. If Ted Thompson is wrong this weekend, he could end up looking for employment post the 2009 NFL Season.
Sadly, due to minimal free time and computer access, I will not be able to go as deep into the draft as I’d like via the blog. However, I would not be doing this blog justice if I did not apply some final draft thoughts. So here goes:
I argue that this years NFL Draft could determine the legacy of Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy. We have 5 of the top 109 selections in a draft where there will not be all that much of a difference between pick 20 and pick 120. How much better will Darius Butler be than Victor Harris? What about Vontae Davis and Mike Mickens? DJ Moore or Asher Allen? Hell, I’d prefer Allen!
Look at DT, Sen’Derrick Marks, Jarron Gilbert, and Fili Maola are projected as 2nd to 3rd rounders, but I’d rather have Myron Pryor in the 4th to 5th. Evander Hood is viewed as a potential 1st round talent. I’d put Pryor in the same breath as Hood.
It becomes really interesting when you look at the 3-4 OLB players. How much better is Sintim than Follett? One could argue that Follett may end up as a better pro player than Brian Cushing, if Follett ends us in a 3-4 and he can put on 10lbs. Follett can play every down! Can Clay Matthews or Brian Cushing? Can Aaron Maybin? Can Everette Brown? Yet, I’m convinced that with 10lbs, Follett can be an every down player. Matthews, Cushing, Maybin, & Brown are all considered top 25 picks. Follett is viewed as a 4th rounder. To me, Follett defines ‘roid rage. I’ll take him in Round 3.
At TE, Bear Pascoe can be had in the 5th round? Yet, he might be the best in-line blocker in the draft. He has soft hands. He can catch the ball in traffic. And, the first man almost never brings him down by himself. He might be a possession TE, but look at what Chmura, Bavaro & Christensen did for their teams. Or, on a much smaller scale, look at what Kevin Boss did for Eli. Pascoe will help on 3rd and 1 goal line situations. This is a no-brainer. I like Ingram, Beckum, and Coffman, but none of the 3 can block. They’re all pass catchers. They’re also considered 2nd to 3rd rounders.
Round 1: I assume that there is no chance that these guys are available: Stafford, Curry, J. Smith, and Monroe. After that, it’s anyone’s guess. Going into the season, the Packers need a defense with a “No Surrender. No Retreat.” mentality. This attitude has to be established through the draft. I understand we have pains at Right Tackle. In my mind, we can figure that one out later. Think Bruce Wilkerson.
Breaking it down to the simplest, I would be stoked if we selected one of the following:
- BJ Raji: We need help at DT. Pickett broke down last year. There is a mammoth difference between Raji and every other DT in the draft, with the exception of Peria Jerry.
- Malcolm Jenkins: From the sounds of it, he’s dropping FAST due to his 40 time. This does not concern me all that much. He’s a football player and plays fast on the field. We might be able to slide down a couple of spots and still get him.
- Michael Crabtree: If he falls to us, this has to be the pick. He’s far too talented to let him pass us by. The last time we let a premier WR fall past us was in 1998 when we selected Vonnie Holliday over Randy Moss. We all know how that one ended up.
I’d also be fine if we selected one of these guys:
- Jeremy Maclin: He possesses true playmaking ability. Whether it’s on special teams or as a receiver, he’s a threat to take it to the house.
- Andre Smith: You cannot argue with his film. The offseason jargon concerns me, but we do have issues at RT and if Thompson feels that this is the biggest area of need, I would understand the pick. Not my ideal choice, but I’ll be OK with it.
- Michael Oher: He’s supposedly flying up the charts. While Andre Smith has dropped, Oher has skyrocketed.
- Brian Orakpo: I think he is the best pure pass-rusher in the draft. Is he an every down player? In a 3-4 defense, I’m not positive that he fits the bill. Regardless, I’d appreciate the selection. We need to attack the QB.
I do not want Everette Brown or Aaron Maybin with our 1st round selection.
I’d be ecstatic if we traded down. Are the Broncos an option for their #’s 12 and 48. Sanchez could be available at 9. If so, let’s get down! If we were to trade down to the 16-22 range, Peria Jerry is a great option at DT. Robert Ayers is also someone to consider.
But, from all that I read & hear, it appears that the Packers will select Tyson Jackson. He’s viewed as the best 3-4 DE in the draft. One should note that he played in a 4-3 for the better part of his college career. It’s funny as I found some old chicken scratch that I had compiled over the last 3 years. Early last year, I wrote the following: “Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU, pass rusher.” To me, he’s disappointed as he’s aged. At one point, I looked at him as though he was dominant at the point of attack. Physical. Full of desire. Aggressive. But, last year, I was disappointed in his play. He was banged up and, in my mind, lazy at times. As a sophomore, he had 10 sacks. As a junior and a senior, he combined for 8.5 sacks. Why the decline? Is it the Glenn Dorsey factor? Any way, he’s 6-4 1/8 and 296lbs. He can add weight. We need bodies on the DL. He’s dreaded. Hence, we fit. I’m not over the top enamored with him, but I’d like the pick – especially if we drafted a 3-4 OLB to play next to him in the 2nd round.
Round 2: If Michael Johnson is there, draft him! The major knock on Johnson is his desire – he takes plays off. Isn’t that why we brought Kevin Greene into our program? Johnson has Pro-Bowl talent. He has a little Jason Taylor in him. If Greene cannot bring this out of Johnson – who could? Plus, we got rid of our #93 this offseason, so the jersey number has opened up for him. He may have to battle Tyson Jackson for it, but that’d be fun competition. I can picture it now – Jackson at #93, Johnson at #90. Lined up right next to each other. Anchors of the right side of our defense for the next decade. Bringing attitude. This is an immediate solution to all of our pains on the right side of our defensive line!
If Johnson is gone, I’d be interested in the following: Sean Smith, Lawrence Sidbury, Larry English, Vontae Davis, Connor Barwin, LeSean McCoy, Percy Harvin, Ron Brace, and Clint Sintim.
I’d be OK with the following: Shonn Greene, Rashad Johnson, Donald Brown, Brian Robiskie, Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Britt, Darius Butler, Patrick White, and Alex Magee. In some of these guys cases, it is probably too early to draft them, but I still think they are good football players. In others, they most likely won’t be available.
As 2nd round picks, I don’t want: Jared Cook, Cornelius Ingram, Shawn Nelson, Jarron Gilbert, Chris Wells, Mohammad Massoquai, Derrick Williams, Louis Delmas, Alphonso Smith (though he can play, he’s too small to cover the likes of Calvin Johnson), William Moore, Ziggy Hood, James Laurinaitis, or Patrick Chung. It’s not that I don’t like some of these guys, it’s just that I don’t think they fit into what we’re trying to construct at this point of the draft. If we can get one of these guys in a later round, I’d consider it. Of this list, the only guy I have ZERO interest in is Derrick Williams.
Round 3: Zach Follett, ‘nuff said.
I also think that the 3rd round is a great spot to add a CB. I’d look into Victor Harris, Mike Mickens, Sherrod Martin, Asher Allen and Coye Francies. I also see value in Keenan LewisAgain, I don’t want DJ Moore. I’m not overly stoked about Kevin Barnes.
***Let me pound my chest for a bit – I see in a lot of places that Bradley Fletcher, CB, Iowa is listed as a 3rd or 4th round pick. Remember that you heard of him HERE – yes, in this blog – FIRST. His name was not listed on draftcountdown.com or at walterfootball.com. You heard his name right here – talkins-mac.blogspot.com. If, that is, you were paying attention. I would not select him above Harris, Mickens or Allen. Martin and Francies are getting a lot of publicity in Miami newspapers, but this might be too early to draft either of them.***
Round 4: I’d like Javon Ringer at this pick – if he’s available. But, this is probably a good time to select a DT. I’m still committed to Myron Pryor at this point. If you are to start looking into small division prospects, this is a time to look at Sammie Lee Hill. Others to consider are Ricky Jean-Francois, Clinton McDonald or Terrance Taylor. Other than Pryor, Taylor impresses me the most because I think he has a ton of upside if he is motivated.
Round 5: Bear Pascoe! The Packers are drafting the Bear!
Round 6: If Brandon Tate is available, this has to be the guy. But, chances are that someone will grab him before this. So, I’m turning to a LB. Robert Francois, Willie Williams or Tyrell Sales are all options. Francois comes from BC. Remember that BC was coached by Jeff Jagodzinski who comes from McCarthy’s system. You know that he’s familiar with the Green Bay Way. Francois is a special teams wedge buster. He’s a no-nonsense kind of guy who simply loves to play football. On the contrary, Williams & Sales are tremendous athletes with all the skills in the world. However, these guys can’t keep themselves on the field. Williams was once the prized possession of the “U.” Now, he’s looking for a chance at redemption. Sales arrived at Penn State – full of optimism, full of promise. As he began to realize his potential, the problems came. He could be a late round gem – if he can stay out of trouble. Another trouble guy that might find his way around this slot is Jaison Williams.
Round 6: Arian Foster is a name to consider. If the guy could hang onto the ball, he’d be a 2nd round pick. Problem is that he loses focus and becomes lackadaisical. Who better to learn from than Edgar? Foster has the talent to be an NFL starter. I’d also look at another DE, such as Jeremy Navarre. He’s a big body who would add competition. If the move is to add a DE, other names to look at are George Hypolite and Will Johnson. Both spent time at DT in college, but could transition to a DE spot in the 3-4. You also can’t hate on Terrill Byrd’s production from the DT spot. Guy can simply get into the offensive backfield. Brandon Underwood at CB is also a solid value pick at this spot.
Round 7: I’m taking a shot at a small school playmaker. Names that interest me are Josh Vaughan, Dudley Guice, Greg Toler, Don Carey, Vaughn Martin, Jason Williams, Johnny Knox or Rashad Jennings. Someone who performed at peak levels against lower competition. All might end up as lower division gems at the next level. Think Ahmad Bradshaw, Marques Colston.
Here’s a list of guys that I’ll be watching in rounds 5-7 (some may end up as 4th rounders, but, oh well):
RB: Josh Vaughan, Arian Foster, Ian Johnson, James Davis, Rashad Jennings, Mike Goodson (solid 3rd down back), Devin Moore, Gartrell Johnson, and Javarris Williams.
WR: Johnny Knox, Dudley Guice, Brandon Tate, Kenny McKinley, Patrick Turner, Jamarko Simmons, Michael Jones, and Jaison Williams.
TE: John Nalborne, Jared Bronson, Dan Gronkowski, Brandon Myers, David Johnson, and Brandon Ledbetter. All seem to be low round picks who have the ability to be blocking TE’s and possession receivers.
FB: Brannan Southerland
DE: David Veikune, Philip Hunt (probably 4th round), Mitch King (probably 4th round), Jeremy Navarre, Will Johnson, Zach Potter, and George Hypolite.
DT: Vaughn Martin, Marlon Favorite, Terrill Byrd, and Demonte Bolden.
ILB: Scott McKillop, Ronnie Palmer
OLB: Robert Francois, Jason Williams, Kaluka Maiava, Brandon Williams, Willie VanDeSkees, Ian Campbell, Kirston Pittman, Brian Toal, Tyrell Sales, Willie Williams.
CB: Brandon Underwood, Don Carey, Greg Toler, DeAngelo Smith, London Fryar, Jacob Lacey and DeAndre Wright
S: David Bruton (probably 4th round), Chris Clemons (4th round), Derek Pegues (4th round), Troy Nolan, Otis Wiley, Kevin Ellison, Lendy Holmes, Terence Moore, and Keith Fitzhugh.
I’m hoping to provide light thoughts on each of these guys before draft day…if time permits.
Any way, this draft could depend on Mark Sanchez. Let’s hope he’s available at #9. This will provide options and the ability for Ted Thompson to work his draft day trading magic. An ideal scenario:
1.) Lions – Stafford
2.) Rams – J Smith
3.) Chiefs – Curry
4.) Seahawks – Monroe
5.) Browns – Orakpo
6.) Bengals – A Smith
7.) Raiders – Crabtree
8.) Jaguars – Maclin
9.) Packers!!!
This would allow options. Raji, Jenkins, Jackson would all be available. But, the best option would be to slide down and add another pick or two inside the top 120. If we could end up with 7 of the top 120, we’d be in position to WIN THE DRAFT! Right now, we have 5 of them.
So, since Sanchez is a Mexican. I’m having a theme party at my place on Saturday night. It’s the Mexican-Wisconsin party. Mexican Food. Mexican Beer. Tequila. WI cheese. WI beer. And hopefully, some Mexican luck. Vargas, got any pull, bro?
Hey Ted, Make It Happen!
Time to Roll, Baby!
Talkin’ S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Monday, April 20, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Fantasy Mock!
Greetings, G-Force.
Often in life, you notice the real tenacity of a man, when things around you become more difficult. For Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers, this happened today. One quick look at the NFC North, the Division that the Packers dominated for the better part of 15 years, shows that if the Packers don't better themselves quickly, we might find ourselves in the cellar.
The 'Queens are the defending champs. The Bears just added the best young QB in the NFL and a massive OT to protect him. And, as for the 0-16 Lions, well, I take you back in time...in 1988, the Dallas Cowboys finished 3-13. That Cowboys team had one weapon, Michael Irvin. The Lions have Calvin Johnson. In 1989, the Cowboys drafted Troy Aikman. They finished 1-15. The Lions have Matthew Stafford waiting in the wings. In 1990, the Cowboys drafted Emmitt Smith with the #17 pick overall. This year, the Lions have the 20th pick in addition to the #1 pick. Knowshown Moreno will probably be available. Sure, they already have Kevin Smith, who I like, but...ok, I'm not saying, but I'm just saying...
Regardless, it's time for the Packers to get going. Time for the Packers to respond. Time for the Packers to win the 2009 NFL Draft. Time for the Packers to extend T-Mon, Collins and Jennings. Get this done now! Before the mini-camps. Before the draft. Show the players and fans that you are serious. Until now, we've been on our heels. It's time to act.
Hopefully, Duke Preston will provide necessary depth to our offensive line. Hopefully, this means one less OL is drafted as well.
The NFL Draft is 23 days away. I'm going to attempt to compile my fantasy NFL Draft. It will be a draft that is focused on building our roster to fit the 3-4 alignment and constructing a defense that is physically built to last.
Round 1: Raji tests positive - I can trade down and still get him. I like Orapko, but I am not certain that he can drop in coverage. I love Malcolm Jenkins game, but I can get him later. My gut tells me that we draft a T such as Andre Smith or Michael Oher - assuming Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe are gone. I don't draft OL in my mocks, so I'm trading down. The 49ers want a QB at 10, possibly Sanchez. As I've documented in the past, Ted Thompson has his trading buddies. One team is the New York Jets. Another is the Bucs. Both need QB's. Thompson negotiates with both as he did in the Favre drama last year. Again he strikes it rich with the Jets as Tampa does not have a 2nd round pick. A look at the draft point value chart shows me that the Packers get Tampa's #1, #2, and #5 in exchange for the Packers #1 and #6. With the #19 pick, the Packers select Michael Johnson. I'm convinced that with proper coaching and weight room development, this guy will become an NFL monster. He can drop in coverage. When motivated, he'll attack the backside against the run. He can get to the QB. He'll knock down passes. He can block kicks, which would improve special teams. I've swung and missed before, but man, I'm taking a chance with MJ. This pick might be WAY too early, but I'm ok with this. Last year - I wanted Slaton...regardless of where we had to draft him. I wanted Slaton. This year - I want MJ.
Round 2a: Sean Smith. Depending where you look, this guy falls late first to late 2nd. It's my fantasy mock. So, I'm having fun. Adding Smith would fulfill all of our secondary requirements. Our secondary would be lethal! Connor Barwin is also an option. I don't think that Sintim will be available. Sintim's the better pass rusher, but I like Barwin's work ethic and he's truly a Green Bay kind of guy. Plus, Barwin would bring attitude, selflessness, and fight to the special teams unit. He's developmental, but I think, if given the right system, he'll mature into a solid pro. He wants it. Seems like a Thompson kind of pick. But, I don't normally think like Thompson. I'm taking Smith.
Round 2b (from Tampa): Ron Brace, DT, BC. Well, I passed on Raji. It was tough to do, but we'll take his sidekick, Brace. He's an ideal size for the 3-4 NT. He went relatively unnoticed due to Raji's presence right next to him, but Brace can play. Great run stopper. But, can also get light pressure on the QB.
Round 3a: Mitch King, DE, Iowa. It would seem fitting. Lord knows I like Iowa defenders and their ability to transition into an NFL player. He has a 3-4 DE's frame. He'd play with fight. He's tough. He's blood, sweat and tears.
Round 3b: Zach Follett. I passed on Barwin in round 2 because I could get Follett here. Everywhere I look - it lists Follett as a 4th rounder. I want him this bad. Taking him with the Jets pick. OK, it's Favre for Follett. I guess.
Round 4: Mike Mickens. Last year, it was Chevis Jackson. This year, it's Mickens or Asher Allen. Appears Allen will be picked before Mickens. Mickens is a solid zone cover guy. Will also get in your face. Good hands. Good tackler. Been writing about him for 3 years. Hope his knee can recover. I'm sure it has.
Round 5a: I've been vocal about my desires for Bear Pascoe. Nothings changed. Again, everything I read says that he'll be here at this point. I'm grabbing him.
Round 5b: I doubt that Brandon Tate will last this long, but if so...man, tough to pass up. I bet he's long gone come draft day. So, I'm going back to defense. Myron Pryor. Sticking with the DT scheme. We rotate Brace, Pryor, and Pickett. I've been writing about Pryor's game and my desire to get him as a mid round pick. He can play in the 3-4.
Round 6 (from NO in last years trade): Robert Francois, LB, BC. When you like the draft as much as I do, you get feelers for things. Last year it was with Jeremy Thompson. Had a feeling he'd be a Packer. This year - strange, but true. I get that buzz with Francois. Had a great Pro day. A wedge buster. Loves special teams. Can play ILB and OLB. We need LB depth. It would not surprise me.
Round 7: Brannan Southerland, FB, Georgia. He'd bring a winner's mind. He'll leave his heart and soul on the field. He can catch. He can block. He can run. He's intelligent. If Kuhn is not retained, this should happen. If Kuhn is retained, I'm looking at a big WR such as Aaron Kelly or Patrick Turner.
This mock draft includes one trade down. We draft 2 OLB. 1 ILB. 2 DT. 1 DE. 1 CB. 1 S. The defense is stocked with youthful talent. Players who produced against big time competition at the collegiate level. Offensively, we add a TE and a FB or WR.
It's time to get serious.
Talkin' S-Mac.
Often in life, you notice the real tenacity of a man, when things around you become more difficult. For Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers, this happened today. One quick look at the NFC North, the Division that the Packers dominated for the better part of 15 years, shows that if the Packers don't better themselves quickly, we might find ourselves in the cellar.
The 'Queens are the defending champs. The Bears just added the best young QB in the NFL and a massive OT to protect him. And, as for the 0-16 Lions, well, I take you back in time...in 1988, the Dallas Cowboys finished 3-13. That Cowboys team had one weapon, Michael Irvin. The Lions have Calvin Johnson. In 1989, the Cowboys drafted Troy Aikman. They finished 1-15. The Lions have Matthew Stafford waiting in the wings. In 1990, the Cowboys drafted Emmitt Smith with the #17 pick overall. This year, the Lions have the 20th pick in addition to the #1 pick. Knowshown Moreno will probably be available. Sure, they already have Kevin Smith, who I like, but...ok, I'm not saying, but I'm just saying...
Regardless, it's time for the Packers to get going. Time for the Packers to respond. Time for the Packers to win the 2009 NFL Draft. Time for the Packers to extend T-Mon, Collins and Jennings. Get this done now! Before the mini-camps. Before the draft. Show the players and fans that you are serious. Until now, we've been on our heels. It's time to act.
Hopefully, Duke Preston will provide necessary depth to our offensive line. Hopefully, this means one less OL is drafted as well.
The NFL Draft is 23 days away. I'm going to attempt to compile my fantasy NFL Draft. It will be a draft that is focused on building our roster to fit the 3-4 alignment and constructing a defense that is physically built to last.
Round 1: Raji tests positive - I can trade down and still get him. I like Orapko, but I am not certain that he can drop in coverage. I love Malcolm Jenkins game, but I can get him later. My gut tells me that we draft a T such as Andre Smith or Michael Oher - assuming Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe are gone. I don't draft OL in my mocks, so I'm trading down. The 49ers want a QB at 10, possibly Sanchez. As I've documented in the past, Ted Thompson has his trading buddies. One team is the New York Jets. Another is the Bucs. Both need QB's. Thompson negotiates with both as he did in the Favre drama last year. Again he strikes it rich with the Jets as Tampa does not have a 2nd round pick. A look at the draft point value chart shows me that the Packers get Tampa's #1, #2, and #5 in exchange for the Packers #1 and #6. With the #19 pick, the Packers select Michael Johnson. I'm convinced that with proper coaching and weight room development, this guy will become an NFL monster. He can drop in coverage. When motivated, he'll attack the backside against the run. He can get to the QB. He'll knock down passes. He can block kicks, which would improve special teams. I've swung and missed before, but man, I'm taking a chance with MJ. This pick might be WAY too early, but I'm ok with this. Last year - I wanted Slaton...regardless of where we had to draft him. I wanted Slaton. This year - I want MJ.
Round 2a: Sean Smith. Depending where you look, this guy falls late first to late 2nd. It's my fantasy mock. So, I'm having fun. Adding Smith would fulfill all of our secondary requirements. Our secondary would be lethal! Connor Barwin is also an option. I don't think that Sintim will be available. Sintim's the better pass rusher, but I like Barwin's work ethic and he's truly a Green Bay kind of guy. Plus, Barwin would bring attitude, selflessness, and fight to the special teams unit. He's developmental, but I think, if given the right system, he'll mature into a solid pro. He wants it. Seems like a Thompson kind of pick. But, I don't normally think like Thompson. I'm taking Smith.
Round 2b (from Tampa): Ron Brace, DT, BC. Well, I passed on Raji. It was tough to do, but we'll take his sidekick, Brace. He's an ideal size for the 3-4 NT. He went relatively unnoticed due to Raji's presence right next to him, but Brace can play. Great run stopper. But, can also get light pressure on the QB.
Round 3a: Mitch King, DE, Iowa. It would seem fitting. Lord knows I like Iowa defenders and their ability to transition into an NFL player. He has a 3-4 DE's frame. He'd play with fight. He's tough. He's blood, sweat and tears.
Round 3b: Zach Follett. I passed on Barwin in round 2 because I could get Follett here. Everywhere I look - it lists Follett as a 4th rounder. I want him this bad. Taking him with the Jets pick. OK, it's Favre for Follett. I guess.
Round 4: Mike Mickens. Last year, it was Chevis Jackson. This year, it's Mickens or Asher Allen. Appears Allen will be picked before Mickens. Mickens is a solid zone cover guy. Will also get in your face. Good hands. Good tackler. Been writing about him for 3 years. Hope his knee can recover. I'm sure it has.
Round 5a: I've been vocal about my desires for Bear Pascoe. Nothings changed. Again, everything I read says that he'll be here at this point. I'm grabbing him.
Round 5b: I doubt that Brandon Tate will last this long, but if so...man, tough to pass up. I bet he's long gone come draft day. So, I'm going back to defense. Myron Pryor. Sticking with the DT scheme. We rotate Brace, Pryor, and Pickett. I've been writing about Pryor's game and my desire to get him as a mid round pick. He can play in the 3-4.
Round 6 (from NO in last years trade): Robert Francois, LB, BC. When you like the draft as much as I do, you get feelers for things. Last year it was with Jeremy Thompson. Had a feeling he'd be a Packer. This year - strange, but true. I get that buzz with Francois. Had a great Pro day. A wedge buster. Loves special teams. Can play ILB and OLB. We need LB depth. It would not surprise me.
Round 7: Brannan Southerland, FB, Georgia. He'd bring a winner's mind. He'll leave his heart and soul on the field. He can catch. He can block. He can run. He's intelligent. If Kuhn is not retained, this should happen. If Kuhn is retained, I'm looking at a big WR such as Aaron Kelly or Patrick Turner.
This mock draft includes one trade down. We draft 2 OLB. 1 ILB. 2 DT. 1 DE. 1 CB. 1 S. The defense is stocked with youthful talent. Players who produced against big time competition at the collegiate level. Offensively, we add a TE and a FB or WR.
It's time to get serious.
Talkin' S-Mac.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Can Ted Thompson save the offseason?
Greetings, G-Force.
I write with frustration. I write with disappointment. I write with confusion. Over the past three days, the Packers & Ted Thompson have agreed to deals with the likes of Jarrett Bush, Michael Montgomery, and Jason Hunter. Good ol' Teddy is bringing us back to the days of 1988. Teddy, this is like resigning Tiger Greene, Alphonso Carreker, and Robert Brown. All hard workers. All will leave everything they have on the playing field. All have extreme deficiencies.
Montgomery & Hunter showed that they are absolutely incapable. Neither can stop the run and unless they are playing the porous Bears or Lions OL's, neither can get to the QB. If they are expected to make contributions and see playing time in '09, Dom Capers will fail. Clearly, this would not be Capers' fault. As for J-Bush, read Stack's comment to the previous post. I need not say more.
Consider this - over the last 6 games of the '08 season, the Packers gave up an average of 28 points a game. The Packers went 1-5 during that span. In an effort to improve the defense, Thompson has signed Anthony Smith and resigned three absolute failures. Additionally, the Packers appear to have shown zero interest in what it would take to obtain Peppers. This brings me to the 2009 NFL Draft, which is the ONLY way Ted Thompson can save the 2009 offseason.
The current state of flux on the defensive side of the ball has me sitting in confusion as to how I would prepare a mock draft. I am excited about the move to a 3-4. I am ecstatic to witness the movement toward a more physically intense defensive system. But, again, as I overwhelmingly have pointed out in previous takes -> when you change defensive systems, you need to change the players to fit into that system as well. Normally, the 2 OLB's are the most versatile, feared players on the defense. Presently, I don't believe the Packers have anyone on the defense that can both rush the QB and turn and drop into zone coverage to defense the pass against a RB, TE, or slot WR. Any way, here goes my attempt at bringing the Packers back to the playoffs and building through the draft (as always, I do not draft OL because I simply do not know enough about the players).
As I seem to document each and every year, I always like at least 4 picks in the first 3 rounds. We already have that. With our defensive transition and our crippled OL, this year I want 7 picks in the first 4 rounds. For example, trading down in the first round...sliding about 12-15 spots...grabbing another 3 & a 4. Additionally, trading Rasta Al for a 2. Or trading AK-74 for a 2nd round pick. Shaking his hand. Slapping his back. Letting him know that he'll be a Packer HOF'er. A "we appreciate his service type of thing." Hell, if Jerry Rice can be a Seahawk, Favre a Jet, Montana a Chief, Lott a Jett, Emmitt a Cardinal, Deion a Raven, Sapp a Raider, Seau a Patriot, Dawkins a Bronco, and now Derrick Brooks might wear another helmet? Well, I'm OK with AK-74 wearing another uniform as well if it betters the franchise. Got me? But, that's all included in a Fantasy mock draft in the coming weeks. For now, I'm still sticking with the basics.
Round 1: After watching numerous college games during the regular season, a large majority of Bowl games, a heavy dose of the Senior Bowl practices, the Senior Bowl itself, and nearly every second of televised combine coverage, I'm beginning to feel qualified to make an educated statement on a majority of the top NFL prospects. The last mock draft I wrote - I listed Michael Johnson as my pick. I still believe that he'd be a great fit in our defense. But, it seems that he can be had much lower in the draft. I listed BJ Raji as my #2 choice. If we stay at #9, he's probably jumped to the top. But, really, the Packers should trade down. We still need to accumulate picks. We have needs at OT, TE, and we need to dramatically improve our talent on defense. If you ask my brother, Chad, he'll tell you the Packers need to upgrade the FB position. I agree with him. We might be in a perfect trading partner position with the 49ers needing a QB and the Packers being one spot above them in the draft. (Sorry, I can't get it out of my system!)
Nonetheless, assuming the Packers stay steady at #9, Raji is my pick. First and foremost, it's been well discussed that Raji would LIKE to play in Green Bay! That holds value! He's been dominant at the college level. He can rush the passer. He can stop the run. If he can stay healthy, he could be the anchor of the 3-4 for years to come.
The second option would be Malcolm Jenkins. He grew up in zone coverage at OSU. The Packers are moving towards zone coverage schemes. He can stop the run. Nothing intimidates him. He's a Midwestern guy. He'd make sense and he'd adore playing with Chuckie! Plus, in college, he wore #2.
In Round 2, I'm looking at Connor Barwin. He's the guy that made a play every game. Your Mike Vrabel kind of guy. Won't be the MVP. Always makes a difference. Great hands. Great mind. Tough guy. Knows how to play football. A Ted Thompson kind of mentality. He could come in and start at one of the OLB positions. Barwin is also a spectacular special teams player. If you drafted Johnson in the first and Barwin in the 2nd, you'd have your two OLB's for the next decade. Barwin beats out Clint Sintim for my choice by a hair.
Man, I would love Sean Smith at this spot as well. Just doubt he'll be available. If he is though, I'd pair him with Nick Collins and be set at S for the foreseeable future.
Round 3: Asher Allen. Assuming we don't draft Jenkins in Round 1, I'm going with Ahser Allen. He's a pimp. With a limp. He, too, wore #2 in college. He's confident. He's comfortable with himself. Despite his size, he'll take on anyone in the open field.
My apologies go to Mike Mickens, but after he did not participate in the combine, I have serious questions about his health.
Round 3b: Zach Follett. If this guy had 10 more pounds, he'd be a 1st rounder. If you've been reading, you know my thoughts on this guy. He'll be a 3-4 LB in this league.
Round 4: Myron Pryor. I'm committed to building a DL with new players. Whether young or old, it does not matter. Give Montgomery & Hunter competition and they should not make the team. Pryor impresses me. Quick off the ball. Thinks about the strip when making a tackle. Again, if you've been reading, you know my thoughts.
Round 5: Bear Pascoe. Write it in ink. Bear Pascoe - Green Bay Packers. They go together. He's growing on me. Hell, well, I read he is a 5th-6th rounder, I'd take him in Round 4 if I felt it necessary. The man is HUGE. He can block. He'd help our run game. He'd compliment J-Mike. He's a reliable target for Rodgers. I am a product of my youth. I spent my childhood trying to cover a bigger guy in the front yard. I learned how difficult it can be. Chmura provided further evidence. I WANT THE BEAR!
Round 6: Brannan Southerland. I'll buy into my older brother's advice and draft the only FB that I feel comfortable with in this year's draft. Guy had major injuries as a Senior, but was a big time performer as a Junior. He never found his stride as Senior. Was rusty. Lethargic, at times. But, he's mean. He's physical. He's a Georgia boy who enjoys contact. He'll catch it and run after the catch. He'd bring an added dimension to the offense.
Round 6b: Brandon Tate. Put him on the field. Get him the ball. He'll do something with it. I've been watching him for years. You've been reading about him for years. He was the NCAA's all time leader in kick return yards. Then he tore his ACL. He can also get deep via the pass. He can run the short route. Really - at this stage - it's a no brainer. Plus, what's a draft without a WR?
Round 7: Tim Jamison. Michigan boys have found success in Green & Gold. See Chuckie. See Desmond. See John Anderson. Jamison is loaded with talent, but he can't stay healthy. Not sure that he has the size to play in the NFL, but at this point he's worth a shot. So are Terrill Byrd and Nick Reed. Both produced at major levels against big time competition.
Save The Season,
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
I write with frustration. I write with disappointment. I write with confusion. Over the past three days, the Packers & Ted Thompson have agreed to deals with the likes of Jarrett Bush, Michael Montgomery, and Jason Hunter. Good ol' Teddy is bringing us back to the days of 1988. Teddy, this is like resigning Tiger Greene, Alphonso Carreker, and Robert Brown. All hard workers. All will leave everything they have on the playing field. All have extreme deficiencies.
Montgomery & Hunter showed that they are absolutely incapable. Neither can stop the run and unless they are playing the porous Bears or Lions OL's, neither can get to the QB. If they are expected to make contributions and see playing time in '09, Dom Capers will fail. Clearly, this would not be Capers' fault. As for J-Bush, read Stack's comment to the previous post. I need not say more.
Consider this - over the last 6 games of the '08 season, the Packers gave up an average of 28 points a game. The Packers went 1-5 during that span. In an effort to improve the defense, Thompson has signed Anthony Smith and resigned three absolute failures. Additionally, the Packers appear to have shown zero interest in what it would take to obtain Peppers. This brings me to the 2009 NFL Draft, which is the ONLY way Ted Thompson can save the 2009 offseason.
The current state of flux on the defensive side of the ball has me sitting in confusion as to how I would prepare a mock draft. I am excited about the move to a 3-4. I am ecstatic to witness the movement toward a more physically intense defensive system. But, again, as I overwhelmingly have pointed out in previous takes -> when you change defensive systems, you need to change the players to fit into that system as well. Normally, the 2 OLB's are the most versatile, feared players on the defense. Presently, I don't believe the Packers have anyone on the defense that can both rush the QB and turn and drop into zone coverage to defense the pass against a RB, TE, or slot WR. Any way, here goes my attempt at bringing the Packers back to the playoffs and building through the draft (as always, I do not draft OL because I simply do not know enough about the players).
As I seem to document each and every year, I always like at least 4 picks in the first 3 rounds. We already have that. With our defensive transition and our crippled OL, this year I want 7 picks in the first 4 rounds. For example, trading down in the first round...sliding about 12-15 spots...grabbing another 3 & a 4. Additionally, trading Rasta Al for a 2. Or trading AK-74 for a 2nd round pick. Shaking his hand. Slapping his back. Letting him know that he'll be a Packer HOF'er. A "we appreciate his service type of thing." Hell, if Jerry Rice can be a Seahawk, Favre a Jet, Montana a Chief, Lott a Jett, Emmitt a Cardinal, Deion a Raven, Sapp a Raider, Seau a Patriot, Dawkins a Bronco, and now Derrick Brooks might wear another helmet? Well, I'm OK with AK-74 wearing another uniform as well if it betters the franchise. Got me? But, that's all included in a Fantasy mock draft in the coming weeks. For now, I'm still sticking with the basics.
Round 1: After watching numerous college games during the regular season, a large majority of Bowl games, a heavy dose of the Senior Bowl practices, the Senior Bowl itself, and nearly every second of televised combine coverage, I'm beginning to feel qualified to make an educated statement on a majority of the top NFL prospects. The last mock draft I wrote - I listed Michael Johnson as my pick. I still believe that he'd be a great fit in our defense. But, it seems that he can be had much lower in the draft. I listed BJ Raji as my #2 choice. If we stay at #9, he's probably jumped to the top. But, really, the Packers should trade down. We still need to accumulate picks. We have needs at OT, TE, and we need to dramatically improve our talent on defense. If you ask my brother, Chad, he'll tell you the Packers need to upgrade the FB position. I agree with him. We might be in a perfect trading partner position with the 49ers needing a QB and the Packers being one spot above them in the draft. (Sorry, I can't get it out of my system!)
Nonetheless, assuming the Packers stay steady at #9, Raji is my pick. First and foremost, it's been well discussed that Raji would LIKE to play in Green Bay! That holds value! He's been dominant at the college level. He can rush the passer. He can stop the run. If he can stay healthy, he could be the anchor of the 3-4 for years to come.
The second option would be Malcolm Jenkins. He grew up in zone coverage at OSU. The Packers are moving towards zone coverage schemes. He can stop the run. Nothing intimidates him. He's a Midwestern guy. He'd make sense and he'd adore playing with Chuckie! Plus, in college, he wore #2.
In Round 2, I'm looking at Connor Barwin. He's the guy that made a play every game. Your Mike Vrabel kind of guy. Won't be the MVP. Always makes a difference. Great hands. Great mind. Tough guy. Knows how to play football. A Ted Thompson kind of mentality. He could come in and start at one of the OLB positions. Barwin is also a spectacular special teams player. If you drafted Johnson in the first and Barwin in the 2nd, you'd have your two OLB's for the next decade. Barwin beats out Clint Sintim for my choice by a hair.
Man, I would love Sean Smith at this spot as well. Just doubt he'll be available. If he is though, I'd pair him with Nick Collins and be set at S for the foreseeable future.
Round 3: Asher Allen. Assuming we don't draft Jenkins in Round 1, I'm going with Ahser Allen. He's a pimp. With a limp. He, too, wore #2 in college. He's confident. He's comfortable with himself. Despite his size, he'll take on anyone in the open field.
My apologies go to Mike Mickens, but after he did not participate in the combine, I have serious questions about his health.
Round 3b: Zach Follett. If this guy had 10 more pounds, he'd be a 1st rounder. If you've been reading, you know my thoughts on this guy. He'll be a 3-4 LB in this league.
Round 4: Myron Pryor. I'm committed to building a DL with new players. Whether young or old, it does not matter. Give Montgomery & Hunter competition and they should not make the team. Pryor impresses me. Quick off the ball. Thinks about the strip when making a tackle. Again, if you've been reading, you know my thoughts.
Round 5: Bear Pascoe. Write it in ink. Bear Pascoe - Green Bay Packers. They go together. He's growing on me. Hell, well, I read he is a 5th-6th rounder, I'd take him in Round 4 if I felt it necessary. The man is HUGE. He can block. He'd help our run game. He'd compliment J-Mike. He's a reliable target for Rodgers. I am a product of my youth. I spent my childhood trying to cover a bigger guy in the front yard. I learned how difficult it can be. Chmura provided further evidence. I WANT THE BEAR!
Round 6: Brannan Southerland. I'll buy into my older brother's advice and draft the only FB that I feel comfortable with in this year's draft. Guy had major injuries as a Senior, but was a big time performer as a Junior. He never found his stride as Senior. Was rusty. Lethargic, at times. But, he's mean. He's physical. He's a Georgia boy who enjoys contact. He'll catch it and run after the catch. He'd bring an added dimension to the offense.
Round 6b: Brandon Tate. Put him on the field. Get him the ball. He'll do something with it. I've been watching him for years. You've been reading about him for years. He was the NCAA's all time leader in kick return yards. Then he tore his ACL. He can also get deep via the pass. He can run the short route. Really - at this stage - it's a no brainer. Plus, what's a draft without a WR?
Round 7: Tim Jamison. Michigan boys have found success in Green & Gold. See Chuckie. See Desmond. See John Anderson. Jamison is loaded with talent, but he can't stay healthy. Not sure that he has the size to play in the NFL, but at this point he's worth a shot. So are Terrill Byrd and Nick Reed. Both produced at major levels against big time competition.
Save The Season,
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Mucho Gusto, 2009!
Greetings, G-Force.
Oh, what a beautiful buzz. The 2009 NFL Season has begun. 2009 will mark the year in which UNO-DOS! makes his first Pro Bowl. Greg Jennings also makes his first Pro Bowl. Chuckie Woodson takes another step closer to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame - I imagine he's approximately 20 interceptions short of a potential trip to Canton. And 2009, could potentially determine the long term fate of both Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson. While I believe that they are guaranteed at least the 2010 season, I also feel that without a minimum of 9 wins this year, you can expect intense media pressure. Either way - the honeymoon period is over for me.
When we see something succeed in life, often times, we try to mimic them. Such is the case with the Packers move to a 3-4 defense. In recent history, the Steelers and Patriots have been Super, in large part, due to a fierce, complicated 3-4 defense. Whenever you switch defensive schemes, ti takes time to get the appropriate players to fit that scheme. This should not take any longer than 2 years to accomplish. But, you've got to be committed to this initiative. Thus far, the Packers have not been aggressive. This is disappointing - to say the least.
In order to find evidence of this philosophy, one needs to look no further than when the Packers franchise last reached the pinnacle. I was reminded of it as I turned on "Favre's First Comeback" on the NFL Network. Each time I watch the replay, I grow more enchanted with the notion of seeing the Green & Gold in a 3-4 defense. Remember the days of Tony Bennett, Bryce Paup, Brian Noble and Johnny Holland at LB? All were solid 3-4 defenders, however none of them were 4-3 defenders. In fact, remember that the Packers let go of Paup when we transferred to a 4-3 and he eventually went on to win a Defensive Player of the Year Award. Nonetheless, Ron Wolf was committed to the 4-3 scheme. Thus, he brought in the likes of Reggie, Dotson, Jones, and the Grave Digger. For as good as Wolf was on draft day, it should be noted that all 4 of them were signed as FA's! Ted Thompson, are you listening?
Prior to this year, I have given TT a pass. I let the Favre thing go with relative ease. I did not harp on the Randy Moss nor the Tony Gonzales deals. I'm not even sure that I discussed the non-deal with the Browns which we could have traded down when Cleveland wanted to trade up for Brady Quinn. In each case, I thought we handled the situation poorly. This year, TT must earn his paycheck. McCarthy showed his desires by putting together a solid proven defensive staff. Now they need talent.
Same players. New scheme. Chancers are that we fail. Does AK-74 become Matt Roth with a move to the 3-4? I would not be surprised if this were the case. I have major concerns. I feel like I'm being played for a fool. If 6 out of the front 7 are AK-74, Jenkins, Jolly, Pickett, Hawk and Barnett, how much different will the results be? Conceptually, the scheme might appear differently, but I have a hard time imaging a drastic improvement in production. Plus, for the most part, these guys have never played the 3-4 before. We need to bring people in to mentor them in the 3-4. We need to bring in "system guys."
The OLB position is a top priority in the 3-4 defense. Normally, these are the fiercest, most intimidating players on your defense. Athletically gifted. Able to both rush the passer and drop into a zone coverage to make a play on a back, TE, or slot WR. Think James Harrison running back an interception 100 yards for a TD AND adding numerous pressures on the QB. Do we have anyone on our roster that could have accomplished such a feat? I think not. But, Terrell Suggs, D-Ware, Joey Porter, Merriman, and S. Phillips are names of guys that instantly come to mind as others who could have done the same exact thing. My fear is this: As a DE, AK-74 is among the best in the business. As an OLB, AK-74 might become average. We'll see. I hope I'm wrong. Either way - for the record - if I were TT, I'd call the Panthers and offer a #3 and AK-74 for Peppers. It'd be a starting point. Peppers wants the 3-4. We know AK-74 dominates in the 4-3.
Naturally, it's wise to bring in veterans who can teach the youth the ropes and aid in development. Again, think back to '96. LeRoy Butler grew as a player when partnered with the likes of Eugene Robinson and Mike Prior. Ron Cox helped Brian Williams with football maturity. Edgar Bennett learned the professional ropes from Harry Sydney and then passed those lessons to Dorsey Levens.
Think about our young players who have advanced. Do you think UNO-DOS! grew by watching and learning from #4? Do you think Greg Jennings has benefited from having Donald Driver leading the WR's? Has anyone else noticed Nick Collins growth since he befriended Chuckie Woodson this past offseason? This is no coincidence. Our 3 youthful pillars have had veterans perform and hold there hand to show them the ropes. I'd suggest that the Packers bring in a veteran LB to help AJ, but I think Kevin Greene will be able to play that role much in the same way that Ryan Grant has Edgar Bennett.
But, I do want some help on the DL. I'd bring in 2 guys. Veterans. Near the end of their career. I'd consider Kevin Carter and Vonnie Holliday as solutions. Both would be great examples for Johnny Jolly who needs a role model. Both would be able to show Jolly the ropes of the DE position in the 3-4. Sure, at this stage of their careers, both would be limited as far as snap availability, but both have played a number of years in the 3-4, they've experienced successes in it, and they've played under Capers before as well.
A quick look at our DL depth chart shows the following names: Kampman, J. Thompson, Jenkins, Jolly, Pickett, Malone, Kenny Pettway, Montgomery, Harrell, Anthony Toribio and Hunter. In a 3-4 system, J. Thompson and Kampman become OLB's. Pettway, Malone, Montgomery, Hunter, and Toribio should not be back on the roster. This leaves us with Jenkins, Jolly, Pickett, and the unreliable Harrell. Even in a 3-4, you still keep 7-8 DL. We need depth! And while, I want to add depth in the draft, a couple of veterans with positive attitudes, work ethic, and leadership skills would be absolutely valuable.
Cautiously, I'm somewhat excited about the Anthony Smith. I liked Smith coming out of Syracuse. I liked him a lot. I thought he was brash, confident, cocky, a baller. I thought he could flat out find the football. Both against the run and through the air. I thought the Steelers had another defensive playmaker in Smith. He never panned out. I just hope that the Steelers trash does not become our problem. Either way - I doubt that we gave him any significant $$$. The last I saw was that the terms were not yet disclosed.
No matter how you look at it - this is the year Thompson has to shine. He needs to get Jennings & Collins signed to long term deals. He's drafted them. Now, he has to sign them. He has $30 million to make some waves and build a winner in '09. Anything less than a winning season is a waste of a year. The pieces need to fall into place before the MM/TT project starts being viewed as a failure.
The next mock draft is close to completion, but not yet finalized. I hope to post by Monday.
Better Late Than Never,
Talkin' S-Mac.
Oh, what a beautiful buzz. The 2009 NFL Season has begun. 2009 will mark the year in which UNO-DOS! makes his first Pro Bowl. Greg Jennings also makes his first Pro Bowl. Chuckie Woodson takes another step closer to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame - I imagine he's approximately 20 interceptions short of a potential trip to Canton. And 2009, could potentially determine the long term fate of both Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson. While I believe that they are guaranteed at least the 2010 season, I also feel that without a minimum of 9 wins this year, you can expect intense media pressure. Either way - the honeymoon period is over for me.
When we see something succeed in life, often times, we try to mimic them. Such is the case with the Packers move to a 3-4 defense. In recent history, the Steelers and Patriots have been Super, in large part, due to a fierce, complicated 3-4 defense. Whenever you switch defensive schemes, ti takes time to get the appropriate players to fit that scheme. This should not take any longer than 2 years to accomplish. But, you've got to be committed to this initiative. Thus far, the Packers have not been aggressive. This is disappointing - to say the least.
In order to find evidence of this philosophy, one needs to look no further than when the Packers franchise last reached the pinnacle. I was reminded of it as I turned on "Favre's First Comeback" on the NFL Network. Each time I watch the replay, I grow more enchanted with the notion of seeing the Green & Gold in a 3-4 defense. Remember the days of Tony Bennett, Bryce Paup, Brian Noble and Johnny Holland at LB? All were solid 3-4 defenders, however none of them were 4-3 defenders. In fact, remember that the Packers let go of Paup when we transferred to a 4-3 and he eventually went on to win a Defensive Player of the Year Award. Nonetheless, Ron Wolf was committed to the 4-3 scheme. Thus, he brought in the likes of Reggie, Dotson, Jones, and the Grave Digger. For as good as Wolf was on draft day, it should be noted that all 4 of them were signed as FA's! Ted Thompson, are you listening?
Prior to this year, I have given TT a pass. I let the Favre thing go with relative ease. I did not harp on the Randy Moss nor the Tony Gonzales deals. I'm not even sure that I discussed the non-deal with the Browns which we could have traded down when Cleveland wanted to trade up for Brady Quinn. In each case, I thought we handled the situation poorly. This year, TT must earn his paycheck. McCarthy showed his desires by putting together a solid proven defensive staff. Now they need talent.
Same players. New scheme. Chancers are that we fail. Does AK-74 become Matt Roth with a move to the 3-4? I would not be surprised if this were the case. I have major concerns. I feel like I'm being played for a fool. If 6 out of the front 7 are AK-74, Jenkins, Jolly, Pickett, Hawk and Barnett, how much different will the results be? Conceptually, the scheme might appear differently, but I have a hard time imaging a drastic improvement in production. Plus, for the most part, these guys have never played the 3-4 before. We need to bring people in to mentor them in the 3-4. We need to bring in "system guys."
The OLB position is a top priority in the 3-4 defense. Normally, these are the fiercest, most intimidating players on your defense. Athletically gifted. Able to both rush the passer and drop into a zone coverage to make a play on a back, TE, or slot WR. Think James Harrison running back an interception 100 yards for a TD AND adding numerous pressures on the QB. Do we have anyone on our roster that could have accomplished such a feat? I think not. But, Terrell Suggs, D-Ware, Joey Porter, Merriman, and S. Phillips are names of guys that instantly come to mind as others who could have done the same exact thing. My fear is this: As a DE, AK-74 is among the best in the business. As an OLB, AK-74 might become average. We'll see. I hope I'm wrong. Either way - for the record - if I were TT, I'd call the Panthers and offer a #3 and AK-74 for Peppers. It'd be a starting point. Peppers wants the 3-4. We know AK-74 dominates in the 4-3.
Naturally, it's wise to bring in veterans who can teach the youth the ropes and aid in development. Again, think back to '96. LeRoy Butler grew as a player when partnered with the likes of Eugene Robinson and Mike Prior. Ron Cox helped Brian Williams with football maturity. Edgar Bennett learned the professional ropes from Harry Sydney and then passed those lessons to Dorsey Levens.
Think about our young players who have advanced. Do you think UNO-DOS! grew by watching and learning from #4? Do you think Greg Jennings has benefited from having Donald Driver leading the WR's? Has anyone else noticed Nick Collins growth since he befriended Chuckie Woodson this past offseason? This is no coincidence. Our 3 youthful pillars have had veterans perform and hold there hand to show them the ropes. I'd suggest that the Packers bring in a veteran LB to help AJ, but I think Kevin Greene will be able to play that role much in the same way that Ryan Grant has Edgar Bennett.
But, I do want some help on the DL. I'd bring in 2 guys. Veterans. Near the end of their career. I'd consider Kevin Carter and Vonnie Holliday as solutions. Both would be great examples for Johnny Jolly who needs a role model. Both would be able to show Jolly the ropes of the DE position in the 3-4. Sure, at this stage of their careers, both would be limited as far as snap availability, but both have played a number of years in the 3-4, they've experienced successes in it, and they've played under Capers before as well.
A quick look at our DL depth chart shows the following names: Kampman, J. Thompson, Jenkins, Jolly, Pickett, Malone, Kenny Pettway, Montgomery, Harrell, Anthony Toribio and Hunter. In a 3-4 system, J. Thompson and Kampman become OLB's. Pettway, Malone, Montgomery, Hunter, and Toribio should not be back on the roster. This leaves us with Jenkins, Jolly, Pickett, and the unreliable Harrell. Even in a 3-4, you still keep 7-8 DL. We need depth! And while, I want to add depth in the draft, a couple of veterans with positive attitudes, work ethic, and leadership skills would be absolutely valuable.
Cautiously, I'm somewhat excited about the Anthony Smith. I liked Smith coming out of Syracuse. I liked him a lot. I thought he was brash, confident, cocky, a baller. I thought he could flat out find the football. Both against the run and through the air. I thought the Steelers had another defensive playmaker in Smith. He never panned out. I just hope that the Steelers trash does not become our problem. Either way - I doubt that we gave him any significant $$$. The last I saw was that the terms were not yet disclosed.
No matter how you look at it - this is the year Thompson has to shine. He needs to get Jennings & Collins signed to long term deals. He's drafted them. Now, he has to sign them. He has $30 million to make some waves and build a winner in '09. Anything less than a winning season is a waste of a year. The pieces need to fall into place before the MM/TT project starts being viewed as a failure.
The next mock draft is close to completion, but not yet finalized. I hope to post by Monday.
Better Late Than Never,
Talkin' S-Mac.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Now, Let's Build a Defense!
Greetings, G-Force.
Dom Capers will control our defense. I'm happy McCarthy brought in a big name. He should be a significant upgrade over Bob Sanders, but he'll need players - in abundance. If we think that we have the arsenal to play a 3-4, we're fooling ourselves.
It should be noted that I wanted Gregg Williams. He says that he chose New Orleans over Green Bay. That tells me that either we didn't offer him enough money, he was not confident in McCarthy's plan or Green Bay is simply not an attractive place for an Assistant Coach to plan his future. All could be possible.
I have not seen the contract for both Williams and Capers. Clearly, Williams was McCarthy's first choice. He would have been mine as well. In his past, Williams has done a lot with a little. Capers has been the architect of some stellar defenses. He's also had terrific LB's when his defenses have been at the top of the NFL. He's pressured the QB. When he has not had an extraordinary front 7, it could be argued that Capers has failed. With our current roster, Capers will mightily struggle. With Carolina, he had Sam Mills, Lamar Lathon and Kevin Greene. With Pittsburgh, he had Levon Kirkland, Greg Lloyd and Kevin Greene. He was wise to take Greene with him to Carolina. If I can recite this from memory 12-15 years after the fact, you know these defenders could play. I believe that all were Pro Bowlers at one stage of their career.
It'll be interesting to watch both the Saints and the Packers defenses this year. McCarthy vs. Payton. Capers vs. Williams.
Clearly, Capers has what it takes to bring our defense to an elite status. But, in order to to this, the Packers have to make investments via FA and the Draft. This investment has to be made in our Front 7. Capers needs his Kevin Greene. In fact, it'd be great to bring a guy like Kevin Greene into our program to partner alongside Capers. Sure, Greene does not have coaching experience, but he was a master in Capers system. And our organization could use his toughness.
Capers also needs his Sam Mills/Levon Kirkland. Both were tremendous in the middle of Capers' defense. They flourished in Capers defense. They pressured the QB. They stopped the run. They attacked the line of scrimmage and covered the field from sideline to sideline. They filled passing lanes. Our LB's have failed in each of this criteria.
Ted Thompson has some major decisions to make during this offseason. Does AK-74 fit in a 3-4? What about Cullen Jenkins? Ryan Pickett? Johnny Jolly? In a 3-4, is Colin Cole worth minimum wage? If McCarthy fails in '09, the media will be calling for both his and Thompson's head. While I disagree with this notion, '09 must be a success. In order for it to be, we need to focus on building a defense. And this starts in FA.
Terrell Suggs is a terrific 3-4 DE/OLB. He gets to the QB. He'd be one of the solutions to our most pressing problem. We were miserable at rushing the passer. I doubt that the Ravens will apply the franchise tag to Suggs as other valuable Ravens, such as Ray Lewis, are FA's. Although, I suppose, it depends on what happens between today and February 27th.
Obviously, I'd be stoked to see Peppers as a Packer. But, I would not give up the #9 pick to get him. A Franchise tag on Peppers would rule out my desire to bring him in.
If Karlos Dansby is not tagged, I'd aggressively pursue him. He can do it all. And would be a guy that our Front 7 could build around.
I'd also be excited to make a run at Thomas Howard. Two years ago, Howard had 6 picks. He also had 11 passes defensed. He finds the football. He plays sideline-to-sideline. He can play on the inside in a 3-4. He'd start immediately. He can be had at a reasonable cost.
Bart Scott is a proven commodity in a 3-4 defense. Can he play without Suggs and Ray Lewis on the same front? I'm not positive. But, I'd talk to him.
When healthy, Leroy Hill has also been a legitimate playmaker, but I'm not certain that he'd transition to a 3-4.
It's also worth talking to Michael Boley and Angelo Crowell.
I'd also bring in Mike Peterson for a visit. I'd see if he's still serious about playing football. Does he still have the legs? We know he'd bring the attitude and the physical presence. But, does he still have what it takes to be a premier NFL LB? If I'm not positive about it, I would not bring him in.
Also, at S, I'd love to complete the secondary with Oshiomogho Atogwe. He's a ball hawk. Plays the ball well in the air. He's looking for the strip when making the tackle. He'll come up and stop the ball carrier.
While I'd love Suggs, I'd be absolutely stoked with an offseason that would bring in Dansby and Atogwe. If Dansby is tagged, I'd be totally satisfied with an offseason that brought in Atogwe and Howard. Spend the money, Ted Thompson.
A quick updated look at the Mock Draft now shows:
1.) Michael Johnson. When I think 3-4, I think of guys like Kevin Greene, Greg Lloyd, Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, James Harrison, DeMarcus Ware, Adalius Thomas, Willie McGinest, and Mike Vrabel. All these guys have the ability to rush the passer. They all could drop in coverage. They all are above average against the run. While Johnson is occasionally run over, I believe he has the physique in which he will put on upper body strength. Sure, the draft is 3 months away, but at this stage, Johnson is my overwhelming favorite to be our pick at #9. I'm interested to see how he performs at the combine, but if he performs like I think he will, he could be the guy that you build a defense around. But, again, since the draft is still 3 months away, I do reserve the right to change this pick as the draft nears. I will say that we cannot afford a bust at this pick and Johnson can disappear.
I'm also high on BJ Raji as there does not seem to be as much depth at the DT position once you drop below the 2nd round. Clearly, we need a steadying force to clog the middle Raji might be that guy. For as much as you need dominant edge rushers in the 3-4, you also need your Haloti Ngata. Raji would fit that role.
2.) Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois. Kevin Greene had Greg Lloyd. Then, he had Lamar Lathon. Shawne Merriman has Shaun Phillips. Harrison has Woodley. Suggs had Adalius Thomas during his best years. Joey Porter had Jason Gildon. DeMarcus Ware has Greg Ellis. People might not notice, but Ellis has over 20 sacks combined over the last 2 years.
As for English, I have not watched him play in a game. I've listened to the NFL Network's talking heads glow about him. I've seen him in pads. I watched him in some drills. He looks like the real deal. And his stats are outrageous. Can he drop in coverage?
I'd also consider Clay Matthews at this spot. It's in his genes.
3a) Sean Smith, CB, Utah. Saw him once. Was totally buzzed. But, he fully caught my eye. Grabbed my attention. I watched the game without volume, but everytime I looked at the TV screen, I felt that #4 was making plays. Big. Fast. Nose for the ball. This might be a little late for him as he could be a 2nd rounder.
3b.) Zach Follett, LB, Cal. This offseason is about getting the QB. Becoming a nasty defense. This guy punishes. Zach Follett will make plays at the next level. Follett, too, might be drafted before this when draft time arrives.
4.) Myron Pryor, DT, Kentucky. If Raji is not the pick in Round 1, I'd be excited to see him drafted in the middle rounds.
5.)Asher Allen, CB, Georgia. Pimp with a limp. I love his game. He'd be a potential steal at this spot. He's a bit small, but he makes up for it in heart. And he's got all the confidence in the world. I cannot believe that he's listed as being this low, but from what I see, he's not rated very high.
Interesting to note - for those that follow the blog - Bradley Fletcher is now listed as the #18 CB in the draft.
6a.) Phillip Hunt, DE/LB, Houston. I watched him in the East-West Shrine Game and I was not as impressed with him as I was when I first watched him. Nonetheless, his stats earn him street cred and the memory of his Bowl game continues to last in my mind. Again, I'll be interested to follow where he's projected come draft time.
6b.)Keith Fitzhugh, S, Mississippi St. Plays with attitude, totally intense. A mean competitor. Sometimes, he comes across as a punk. But, the guy believes in himself. And when he hits you, you feel it. Overshadowed on the field, at times, by his S mate, Derek Pegues. From what I saw, I thought he played well in the East-West Shrine Game. He's worth a look.
7.) Terrill Byrd, DT, Cincy. Everytime I watched him, he performed. He made a lasting impression. Sure, he's undersized. Still, he's slippery and might be a good inside rusher on passing downs.
Spend the $$$. Build a defense.
Talkin' S-Mac.
Dom Capers will control our defense. I'm happy McCarthy brought in a big name. He should be a significant upgrade over Bob Sanders, but he'll need players - in abundance. If we think that we have the arsenal to play a 3-4, we're fooling ourselves.
It should be noted that I wanted Gregg Williams. He says that he chose New Orleans over Green Bay. That tells me that either we didn't offer him enough money, he was not confident in McCarthy's plan or Green Bay is simply not an attractive place for an Assistant Coach to plan his future. All could be possible.
I have not seen the contract for both Williams and Capers. Clearly, Williams was McCarthy's first choice. He would have been mine as well. In his past, Williams has done a lot with a little. Capers has been the architect of some stellar defenses. He's also had terrific LB's when his defenses have been at the top of the NFL. He's pressured the QB. When he has not had an extraordinary front 7, it could be argued that Capers has failed. With our current roster, Capers will mightily struggle. With Carolina, he had Sam Mills, Lamar Lathon and Kevin Greene. With Pittsburgh, he had Levon Kirkland, Greg Lloyd and Kevin Greene. He was wise to take Greene with him to Carolina. If I can recite this from memory 12-15 years after the fact, you know these defenders could play. I believe that all were Pro Bowlers at one stage of their career.
It'll be interesting to watch both the Saints and the Packers defenses this year. McCarthy vs. Payton. Capers vs. Williams.
Clearly, Capers has what it takes to bring our defense to an elite status. But, in order to to this, the Packers have to make investments via FA and the Draft. This investment has to be made in our Front 7. Capers needs his Kevin Greene. In fact, it'd be great to bring a guy like Kevin Greene into our program to partner alongside Capers. Sure, Greene does not have coaching experience, but he was a master in Capers system. And our organization could use his toughness.
Capers also needs his Sam Mills/Levon Kirkland. Both were tremendous in the middle of Capers' defense. They flourished in Capers defense. They pressured the QB. They stopped the run. They attacked the line of scrimmage and covered the field from sideline to sideline. They filled passing lanes. Our LB's have failed in each of this criteria.
Ted Thompson has some major decisions to make during this offseason. Does AK-74 fit in a 3-4? What about Cullen Jenkins? Ryan Pickett? Johnny Jolly? In a 3-4, is Colin Cole worth minimum wage? If McCarthy fails in '09, the media will be calling for both his and Thompson's head. While I disagree with this notion, '09 must be a success. In order for it to be, we need to focus on building a defense. And this starts in FA.
Terrell Suggs is a terrific 3-4 DE/OLB. He gets to the QB. He'd be one of the solutions to our most pressing problem. We were miserable at rushing the passer. I doubt that the Ravens will apply the franchise tag to Suggs as other valuable Ravens, such as Ray Lewis, are FA's. Although, I suppose, it depends on what happens between today and February 27th.
Obviously, I'd be stoked to see Peppers as a Packer. But, I would not give up the #9 pick to get him. A Franchise tag on Peppers would rule out my desire to bring him in.
If Karlos Dansby is not tagged, I'd aggressively pursue him. He can do it all. And would be a guy that our Front 7 could build around.
I'd also be excited to make a run at Thomas Howard. Two years ago, Howard had 6 picks. He also had 11 passes defensed. He finds the football. He plays sideline-to-sideline. He can play on the inside in a 3-4. He'd start immediately. He can be had at a reasonable cost.
Bart Scott is a proven commodity in a 3-4 defense. Can he play without Suggs and Ray Lewis on the same front? I'm not positive. But, I'd talk to him.
When healthy, Leroy Hill has also been a legitimate playmaker, but I'm not certain that he'd transition to a 3-4.
It's also worth talking to Michael Boley and Angelo Crowell.
I'd also bring in Mike Peterson for a visit. I'd see if he's still serious about playing football. Does he still have the legs? We know he'd bring the attitude and the physical presence. But, does he still have what it takes to be a premier NFL LB? If I'm not positive about it, I would not bring him in.
Also, at S, I'd love to complete the secondary with Oshiomogho Atogwe. He's a ball hawk. Plays the ball well in the air. He's looking for the strip when making the tackle. He'll come up and stop the ball carrier.
While I'd love Suggs, I'd be absolutely stoked with an offseason that would bring in Dansby and Atogwe. If Dansby is tagged, I'd be totally satisfied with an offseason that brought in Atogwe and Howard. Spend the money, Ted Thompson.
A quick updated look at the Mock Draft now shows:
1.) Michael Johnson. When I think 3-4, I think of guys like Kevin Greene, Greg Lloyd, Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, James Harrison, DeMarcus Ware, Adalius Thomas, Willie McGinest, and Mike Vrabel. All these guys have the ability to rush the passer. They all could drop in coverage. They all are above average against the run. While Johnson is occasionally run over, I believe he has the physique in which he will put on upper body strength. Sure, the draft is 3 months away, but at this stage, Johnson is my overwhelming favorite to be our pick at #9. I'm interested to see how he performs at the combine, but if he performs like I think he will, he could be the guy that you build a defense around. But, again, since the draft is still 3 months away, I do reserve the right to change this pick as the draft nears. I will say that we cannot afford a bust at this pick and Johnson can disappear.
I'm also high on BJ Raji as there does not seem to be as much depth at the DT position once you drop below the 2nd round. Clearly, we need a steadying force to clog the middle Raji might be that guy. For as much as you need dominant edge rushers in the 3-4, you also need your Haloti Ngata. Raji would fit that role.
2.) Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois. Kevin Greene had Greg Lloyd. Then, he had Lamar Lathon. Shawne Merriman has Shaun Phillips. Harrison has Woodley. Suggs had Adalius Thomas during his best years. Joey Porter had Jason Gildon. DeMarcus Ware has Greg Ellis. People might not notice, but Ellis has over 20 sacks combined over the last 2 years.
As for English, I have not watched him play in a game. I've listened to the NFL Network's talking heads glow about him. I've seen him in pads. I watched him in some drills. He looks like the real deal. And his stats are outrageous. Can he drop in coverage?
I'd also consider Clay Matthews at this spot. It's in his genes.
3a) Sean Smith, CB, Utah. Saw him once. Was totally buzzed. But, he fully caught my eye. Grabbed my attention. I watched the game without volume, but everytime I looked at the TV screen, I felt that #4 was making plays. Big. Fast. Nose for the ball. This might be a little late for him as he could be a 2nd rounder.
3b.) Zach Follett, LB, Cal. This offseason is about getting the QB. Becoming a nasty defense. This guy punishes. Zach Follett will make plays at the next level. Follett, too, might be drafted before this when draft time arrives.
4.) Myron Pryor, DT, Kentucky. If Raji is not the pick in Round 1, I'd be excited to see him drafted in the middle rounds.
5.)Asher Allen, CB, Georgia. Pimp with a limp. I love his game. He'd be a potential steal at this spot. He's a bit small, but he makes up for it in heart. And he's got all the confidence in the world. I cannot believe that he's listed as being this low, but from what I see, he's not rated very high.
Interesting to note - for those that follow the blog - Bradley Fletcher is now listed as the #18 CB in the draft.
6a.) Phillip Hunt, DE/LB, Houston. I watched him in the East-West Shrine Game and I was not as impressed with him as I was when I first watched him. Nonetheless, his stats earn him street cred and the memory of his Bowl game continues to last in my mind. Again, I'll be interested to follow where he's projected come draft time.
6b.)Keith Fitzhugh, S, Mississippi St. Plays with attitude, totally intense. A mean competitor. Sometimes, he comes across as a punk. But, the guy believes in himself. And when he hits you, you feel it. Overshadowed on the field, at times, by his S mate, Derek Pegues. From what I saw, I thought he played well in the East-West Shrine Game. He's worth a look.
7.) Terrill Byrd, DT, Cincy. Everytime I watched him, he performed. He made a lasting impression. Sure, he's undersized. Still, he's slippery and might be a good inside rusher on passing downs.
Spend the $$$. Build a defense.
Talkin' S-Mac.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Needed: A Defensive Revival!
Greetings, G-Force.
3-4 or 4-3? With our current personnel, it does not matter. At this stage, we aren't built for a 3-4. As we saw in '08, we aren't built for a 4-3 either. Either way, we need a massive upgrade of infrastructure.
Regardless of the business, a company is only as good as its people. You can have a masterful strategy, but without the people to implement that strategy, more often than not the organization will fail. Management requires subordinates to perform in order to be successful. At this stage, not only do we need a coordinator, but we need players.
I look at the NFL Playoffs and I see 8 teams that play defense with an aggressive mentality. They are looking to get to the QB. 6 of the teams are absolutely looking to punish people. The Chargers and Cardinals pressure the QB. They've also invested in defense through the draft and they drafted well. It should be noted that there is a healthy mix of 3-4 & 4-3 defenses. You can win with both. But, you need an aggressive, physical mentality. A passive nature does not win.
I feel that it would be easier to improve via the 3-4. The college game has moved to a format that allows smaller, quicker defensive ends to perform. Occasionally, these ends get eaten up in the NFL. See: Jamal Reynolds. Reynolds was a speed end who excelled in the college game. He was 6-3, 260. Brian Orakpo dominates the college game. He stands 6-4, 260. With Orakpo, there was almost no middle ground. He either pressured the QB or he was eaten up. 4 times, he impacted the game. Nearly every other play, he was going backwards. He was swallowed. Don't get me wrong, he could develop into the next Dwight Freeney. I did not see enough of him to judge. But, to me, in one game watching him, he looked fragile. He looked like a guy that might sustain injury at the next level. But, boy, he is quick around the corner. A couple of times, he looked unstoppable.
I want to be mean. I want to have speed. I want to pursue.
What's more important to me is to watch how Thompson and McCarthy work together this offseason. It's a vital offseason for the future of this franchise. When Holmgren & Wolf joined forces, Holmgren brought the West Coast offense. In return, Wolf got him Favre to lead the charge. Favre became Holmgren's Montana. Wolf drafted RB's that could effectively run the screen in Bennett & Levens. They became Holmgren's Roger Craig. Wolf drafted him a blocking FB that could also catch the ball out of the backfield in William Henderson. Henderson became Tom Rathman. Wolf drafted Chmura who became Russ Francis/Brent Jones. Physical over the middle of the field. Tough blocker. Soft hands. Reliable. Good runner after the catch. Holmgren needed WR's that could run the slant, the down and out, and the deep post. Brooks, Freeman, and Rison soon followed.
But, a telling point of the Holmgren & Wolf relationship came when Holmgren lost Ray Rhodes to the Philadelphia Eagles. Holmgren chose Fritz Shurmur. Shurmur demanded a big front 4. A physical front 4. In came Sean Jones and Santana Dotson. Shurmur needed a playmaking Safety to play next to LeRoy Butler. In came George Teague and then Eugene Robinson. Shurmur needed aggressive LB's. He drafted Brian Williams and paired him with Wayne Simmons on the outside. Shurmur needed physical, in-your-face CB's. Wolf drafted Craig Newsome in the 1st round to play across Doug Evans.
Holmgren had requirements. Wolf delivered results. Together, they won a Championship.
McCarthy and Thompson are at this crossroad. McCarthy is faced with a big decision. It'll arguably be a choice that defines his legacy. Soon after, Thompson will be faced with his biggest offseason as a GM in Titletown, USA. Thompson needs to bring defenders to our defense. We need maniacs. We need attitude. Thompson has given McCarthy the tools to produce results on offense.
Last offseason, Thompson his time in defense. Defending his decision not to bring back Brett Favre. This offseason, Thompson must spend his time on defense. We need major alterations.
All Good to You,
Talkin' S-Mac.
****Quick side note from the OSU-Texas game. Anyone catch Steve Rehring? Guy is huge! 6-7, 335. And he plays RG. Seemed to be able to move. He was the guy pulling in front of Beanie Wells in the first half. Opening huge holes. He was also the pulling guard on the TD that gave OSU the lead. Draftcoundown has him listed as the 26th best Guard in the draft. I'd take a shot on him. Plus, you had to love his desire. In the 1st half, when OSU was driving and the RT was called for a false start, Rehring grabbed his face mask. Looked him in the eye. Gave him a word. And then gave him a 335 lb. love tap of encouragement on the back of the head. I liked what I saw.
Marcus Freeman will not be a better player than Nail Diggs was as a Packer. Limited ability. Average in coverage. Average against the run. Average on the blitz. Above average effort.
While watching James Laurinaitis, I kept seeing AJ Hawk wearing #47. Making those same plays. Pursuing the QB. Stopping the run. Getting beat in coverage, but still making the tackle. Playing with a fierce nature. And then, I wondered what happened to AJ Hawk? You know, the guy that, in his rookies season, led the Packers' defense with 119 total tackles, 82 of them solo. Additionally, he had 2 interceptions, 3.5 sacks, 6 passes defended and 1 forced fumble. AJ, where did you go?
Finally, that was not the way Malcolm Jenkins expected his college career to end. He deserved better than that. In my mind, he's a better player than what we saw last night.
3-4 or 4-3? With our current personnel, it does not matter. At this stage, we aren't built for a 3-4. As we saw in '08, we aren't built for a 4-3 either. Either way, we need a massive upgrade of infrastructure.
Regardless of the business, a company is only as good as its people. You can have a masterful strategy, but without the people to implement that strategy, more often than not the organization will fail. Management requires subordinates to perform in order to be successful. At this stage, not only do we need a coordinator, but we need players.
I look at the NFL Playoffs and I see 8 teams that play defense with an aggressive mentality. They are looking to get to the QB. 6 of the teams are absolutely looking to punish people. The Chargers and Cardinals pressure the QB. They've also invested in defense through the draft and they drafted well. It should be noted that there is a healthy mix of 3-4 & 4-3 defenses. You can win with both. But, you need an aggressive, physical mentality. A passive nature does not win.
I feel that it would be easier to improve via the 3-4. The college game has moved to a format that allows smaller, quicker defensive ends to perform. Occasionally, these ends get eaten up in the NFL. See: Jamal Reynolds. Reynolds was a speed end who excelled in the college game. He was 6-3, 260. Brian Orakpo dominates the college game. He stands 6-4, 260. With Orakpo, there was almost no middle ground. He either pressured the QB or he was eaten up. 4 times, he impacted the game. Nearly every other play, he was going backwards. He was swallowed. Don't get me wrong, he could develop into the next Dwight Freeney. I did not see enough of him to judge. But, to me, in one game watching him, he looked fragile. He looked like a guy that might sustain injury at the next level. But, boy, he is quick around the corner. A couple of times, he looked unstoppable.
I want to be mean. I want to have speed. I want to pursue.
What's more important to me is to watch how Thompson and McCarthy work together this offseason. It's a vital offseason for the future of this franchise. When Holmgren & Wolf joined forces, Holmgren brought the West Coast offense. In return, Wolf got him Favre to lead the charge. Favre became Holmgren's Montana. Wolf drafted RB's that could effectively run the screen in Bennett & Levens. They became Holmgren's Roger Craig. Wolf drafted him a blocking FB that could also catch the ball out of the backfield in William Henderson. Henderson became Tom Rathman. Wolf drafted Chmura who became Russ Francis/Brent Jones. Physical over the middle of the field. Tough blocker. Soft hands. Reliable. Good runner after the catch. Holmgren needed WR's that could run the slant, the down and out, and the deep post. Brooks, Freeman, and Rison soon followed.
But, a telling point of the Holmgren & Wolf relationship came when Holmgren lost Ray Rhodes to the Philadelphia Eagles. Holmgren chose Fritz Shurmur. Shurmur demanded a big front 4. A physical front 4. In came Sean Jones and Santana Dotson. Shurmur needed a playmaking Safety to play next to LeRoy Butler. In came George Teague and then Eugene Robinson. Shurmur needed aggressive LB's. He drafted Brian Williams and paired him with Wayne Simmons on the outside. Shurmur needed physical, in-your-face CB's. Wolf drafted Craig Newsome in the 1st round to play across Doug Evans.
Holmgren had requirements. Wolf delivered results. Together, they won a Championship.
McCarthy and Thompson are at this crossroad. McCarthy is faced with a big decision. It'll arguably be a choice that defines his legacy. Soon after, Thompson will be faced with his biggest offseason as a GM in Titletown, USA. Thompson needs to bring defenders to our defense. We need maniacs. We need attitude. Thompson has given McCarthy the tools to produce results on offense.
Last offseason, Thompson his time in defense. Defending his decision not to bring back Brett Favre. This offseason, Thompson must spend his time on defense. We need major alterations.
All Good to You,
Talkin' S-Mac.
****Quick side note from the OSU-Texas game. Anyone catch Steve Rehring? Guy is huge! 6-7, 335. And he plays RG. Seemed to be able to move. He was the guy pulling in front of Beanie Wells in the first half. Opening huge holes. He was also the pulling guard on the TD that gave OSU the lead. Draftcoundown has him listed as the 26th best Guard in the draft. I'd take a shot on him. Plus, you had to love his desire. In the 1st half, when OSU was driving and the RT was called for a false start, Rehring grabbed his face mask. Looked him in the eye. Gave him a word. And then gave him a 335 lb. love tap of encouragement on the back of the head. I liked what I saw.
Marcus Freeman will not be a better player than Nail Diggs was as a Packer. Limited ability. Average in coverage. Average against the run. Average on the blitz. Above average effort.
While watching James Laurinaitis, I kept seeing AJ Hawk wearing #47. Making those same plays. Pursuing the QB. Stopping the run. Getting beat in coverage, but still making the tackle. Playing with a fierce nature. And then, I wondered what happened to AJ Hawk? You know, the guy that, in his rookies season, led the Packers' defense with 119 total tackles, 82 of them solo. Additionally, he had 2 interceptions, 3.5 sacks, 6 passes defended and 1 forced fumble. AJ, where did you go?
Finally, that was not the way Malcolm Jenkins expected his college career to end. He deserved better than that. In my mind, he's a better player than what we saw last night.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Makin' the Beauty of the World...
Greetings, G-Force.
Saturday morning. 2 miles. 1,000 sit-ups. 250 push-ups. That's what a 12-pound, 10-day vacation will do to you.
Pot of Blue Heeler Organic coffee. Thanks, PatRad. Michael Franti on random iTunes. Everyone Deserves Music. All The Freaky People Make the Beauty of the World.
Defense wins championships. The Packers defense needs music. We need freaky people. The Bowl games are leading me to hypothesize. So, I'm going to have some fun. I'm going to add a freaky nature to our defense. After all, for the most part since 1998, I've watched my team have one of the best QB's in the league and a defense that was not good enough to win a Super Bowl. I'm sick of it.
***Quick side note as I'm the BuzzBoy. It's random encouragement from an interrogated spirit. Unknown in identity. Profound with intention. Why is there never a peep as to whether LeRoy Butler belongs in the NFL's Hall of Fame? In some way, didn't he alter the way the Safety position is played in the NFL? He was the first defensive back to have both 20 sacks and 20 interceptions. If it weren't for an injury, he would have eclipsed 40 interceptions (he had 38) and 20 sacks. He won a Super Bowl. Played in another. He was on the All Decade team in the 1990's. He was a leader both on the field and off. It should not be ignored that he invented the Lambeau Leap.***
As for rebuilding a defense, first, I'm going to trade Al Harris to the Baltimore Ravens for a 2nd round pick. The Ravens defense is aging and has a small window to bring home another Super Bowl title. Al harris still has plenty of game, but his NFL life is dwindling. Harris needs the Ravens. The Ravens need Harris. He fits their scheme and defensive mentality. The Ravens defense gets in your face. Not many do it better than Ras-Al.
Our defense has so many requirements that, once again, I'm going to trade down unless Malcolm Jenkins is available. Since it appears that the Packers are going to stay in a 4-3, I'm goiong to pass on Michael Johnson. Don't trade too far down, but we'll dip down either 2 or 3 spots in a trade with either the Bills or the Broncos who will want to jump the 49ers in an effort to land Johnson. The Bills will get their Cornelius Bennet type end. In return, the Packers add a 4th and a 6th. These two trades give the Packers 12 picks.
***Another quick side note, Corey Williams had 0.5 sacks this year. Ted Thompson has been bashed a lot over the last 12 months, but he deserves major props for that trade regardless of how either Brohm or Patrick Lee perform.***
Mock Draft 1.0a gives a different look. It's highly speculative and it includes only defenders. Through the draft, the Packers should build a freaky defense. My apologies go out to Brandon Spikes and Asher Allen who have yet to declare. If they both become eligible for the draft, I would not mind them being our 1st & 2nd round picks respectively. Until then, I'm only going to include players that have already stated that they are going to enter the draft.
Round 1: After trading down a couple of spots, the Packers draft BJ Raji, DT, Boston College. The Packers defensive line got abused against the run in '08. Raji is a solution to the problem. He's quick as a cat. He's got force. He lives in the backfield. He can also get to the QB.
Round 2a: Victor Harris, CB, Virginia Tech. I was disappointed in Mickens' play during the Orange Bowl. Clearly, his knee still bothered him. He was playing on one leg and lacked confidence. So, for now, I'm going to pass on him. This may change after the combine, but Harris makes sense. He's electric on special teams. With Willie B. being a FA, he may need to be replaced. Thompson like Virginia Tech kids. Harris is a ballhawk. Chuckie would like to mentor this kid.
Round 2b (Al Harris trade): Kevin Ellison, S, USC. Solid player. Good against the run. He'd complete our secondary. Everything I read is positive. Has the size and the speed. Use to big time competition and carries a winning attitude.
Round 3a: Zach Follett, LB, Cal. This guy's game excites me. I've wrote about him with length repeatedly. No need to repeat myself.
Round 3b (Brett Favre trade): Phillip Hunt, DE/LB, Houston. Kid can flat out get to the QB. He's 6-2, 260. By comparison, Trent Cole is 6-3, 270. Dwight Freeney is 6-1, 268. Robert Mathis is 6-2, 245. In '06, Hunt had 8 sacks. 12 tackles for loss. In '07, he had 10.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. In '08, he had 14 sacks and two forced fumbles. I saw him dominate his Bowl game late. Playing with what appeared to be a cramp. He'll come with the spin. He'll run around you. He'll try to bull rush you. He'll play with one hand on the ground. He'll line up with two hands on the ground. He piqued my interest. I'm intrigued. I'm going to pay EXTRA attention to him as the draft nears. It's also noteworthy that Jim Jeffcoat was his college position coach.
Round 4a: Myron Pryor, DT, Kentucky. Early in the year, I stated that he'd be an upgrade over what we've got on our team now. I still stand by that statement. In his bowl game, he's the one that forced the fumble in the backfield that was subsequently returned for the game winning touchdown.
Round 4b (trade down in 1st round): Terrill Byrd, DT, Cincinatti. I have watched him with interest over the last two years. He capped off his career with a 10 tackle, 1 sack performance in the Orange Bowl. He's quick off the ball. Moves up and down the line with grace. Can play the run and the pass. He had 8 sacks last year. I know that this gives the Packers taking three DT's in the first 4 rounds, but did you see our run defense? We need an immediate upgrade. Pickett is a soon-to-be FA. Cole is a FA. Harrell can't stay healthy. Jolly's status is in the air with the law and the league. We need DT help.
Round 5: David Bruton, S, Notre Dame. Interesting, but Bruton, Otis Wiley, and Keith Fitzhugh are all considerd 4th-6th round picks depending on where you look. I love Bruton's special teams play. He's a heady defender who is fearless on special teams. Thinking about forcing the turnover when making the tackle as well. Say bye-bye to Charlie Peprah.
Round 6a: Tim Jamison, DE, Michigan. Amazingly, he's considered a 6th round pick. A bust for a Senior year at Michigan. Both his and Terrance Taylor's stock have plummeted. Taylor looks to be had in the 4th round at this stage. At times, he's lazy. Other times, he's dominant and in the backfield. Disappeared a lot this year. Seemed to give up a bit. But, he has upside. As a Junior, he looked like a prime NFL prospect. On the DL, Michigan has sent out flops to the NFL. In two years with Arizona, Alan Branch has 0 sacks in 15 games. Still, as a 6th rounder, I'm taking a long look at Jamison. His college career reminds me of Alex Brown. Sort of an underproducer, but has the ability to play at the next level, if motivated. Jamison is 6-3, 266. Alex Brown is 6-3, 260. They play a similar style of football.
Round 6b (trade down in 1st round): Antonio Appleby, LB, Virginia. Worst case scenario, his speed and quickness improves our special teams. ILB that can run with most. Pressures the QB. Not a liability in coverage. Instinctive. Good late round pick.
Round 6c (last year draft day trade): Kaluka Maiava, LB, USC. He didn't get the hype because he's surrounded by future Pro Bowlers, but Maiava can play football. Good instincts. Plays on the fly. Pursues the football. He, too, would upgrade our special teams units.
Round 7: Brandon Fletcher, CB, Iowa. I saw him play once and that was in his Bowl game. In the first half, he intercepted a pass and forced a fumble. Both led to scores and an Iowa blowout. Iowa has a reputation for producing NFL DB's. At this point in the draft, I'm taking a chance and waving goodbye to J-Bush.
We're Getting Freaky,
Talkin' S-Mac.
Saturday morning. 2 miles. 1,000 sit-ups. 250 push-ups. That's what a 12-pound, 10-day vacation will do to you.
Pot of Blue Heeler Organic coffee. Thanks, PatRad. Michael Franti on random iTunes. Everyone Deserves Music. All The Freaky People Make the Beauty of the World.
Defense wins championships. The Packers defense needs music. We need freaky people. The Bowl games are leading me to hypothesize. So, I'm going to have some fun. I'm going to add a freaky nature to our defense. After all, for the most part since 1998, I've watched my team have one of the best QB's in the league and a defense that was not good enough to win a Super Bowl. I'm sick of it.
***Quick side note as I'm the BuzzBoy. It's random encouragement from an interrogated spirit. Unknown in identity. Profound with intention. Why is there never a peep as to whether LeRoy Butler belongs in the NFL's Hall of Fame? In some way, didn't he alter the way the Safety position is played in the NFL? He was the first defensive back to have both 20 sacks and 20 interceptions. If it weren't for an injury, he would have eclipsed 40 interceptions (he had 38) and 20 sacks. He won a Super Bowl. Played in another. He was on the All Decade team in the 1990's. He was a leader both on the field and off. It should not be ignored that he invented the Lambeau Leap.***
As for rebuilding a defense, first, I'm going to trade Al Harris to the Baltimore Ravens for a 2nd round pick. The Ravens defense is aging and has a small window to bring home another Super Bowl title. Al harris still has plenty of game, but his NFL life is dwindling. Harris needs the Ravens. The Ravens need Harris. He fits their scheme and defensive mentality. The Ravens defense gets in your face. Not many do it better than Ras-Al.
Our defense has so many requirements that, once again, I'm going to trade down unless Malcolm Jenkins is available. Since it appears that the Packers are going to stay in a 4-3, I'm goiong to pass on Michael Johnson. Don't trade too far down, but we'll dip down either 2 or 3 spots in a trade with either the Bills or the Broncos who will want to jump the 49ers in an effort to land Johnson. The Bills will get their Cornelius Bennet type end. In return, the Packers add a 4th and a 6th. These two trades give the Packers 12 picks.
***Another quick side note, Corey Williams had 0.5 sacks this year. Ted Thompson has been bashed a lot over the last 12 months, but he deserves major props for that trade regardless of how either Brohm or Patrick Lee perform.***
Mock Draft 1.0a gives a different look. It's highly speculative and it includes only defenders. Through the draft, the Packers should build a freaky defense. My apologies go out to Brandon Spikes and Asher Allen who have yet to declare. If they both become eligible for the draft, I would not mind them being our 1st & 2nd round picks respectively. Until then, I'm only going to include players that have already stated that they are going to enter the draft.
Round 1: After trading down a couple of spots, the Packers draft BJ Raji, DT, Boston College. The Packers defensive line got abused against the run in '08. Raji is a solution to the problem. He's quick as a cat. He's got force. He lives in the backfield. He can also get to the QB.
Round 2a: Victor Harris, CB, Virginia Tech. I was disappointed in Mickens' play during the Orange Bowl. Clearly, his knee still bothered him. He was playing on one leg and lacked confidence. So, for now, I'm going to pass on him. This may change after the combine, but Harris makes sense. He's electric on special teams. With Willie B. being a FA, he may need to be replaced. Thompson like Virginia Tech kids. Harris is a ballhawk. Chuckie would like to mentor this kid.
Round 2b (Al Harris trade): Kevin Ellison, S, USC. Solid player. Good against the run. He'd complete our secondary. Everything I read is positive. Has the size and the speed. Use to big time competition and carries a winning attitude.
Round 3a: Zach Follett, LB, Cal. This guy's game excites me. I've wrote about him with length repeatedly. No need to repeat myself.
Round 3b (Brett Favre trade): Phillip Hunt, DE/LB, Houston. Kid can flat out get to the QB. He's 6-2, 260. By comparison, Trent Cole is 6-3, 270. Dwight Freeney is 6-1, 268. Robert Mathis is 6-2, 245. In '06, Hunt had 8 sacks. 12 tackles for loss. In '07, he had 10.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. In '08, he had 14 sacks and two forced fumbles. I saw him dominate his Bowl game late. Playing with what appeared to be a cramp. He'll come with the spin. He'll run around you. He'll try to bull rush you. He'll play with one hand on the ground. He'll line up with two hands on the ground. He piqued my interest. I'm intrigued. I'm going to pay EXTRA attention to him as the draft nears. It's also noteworthy that Jim Jeffcoat was his college position coach.
Round 4a: Myron Pryor, DT, Kentucky. Early in the year, I stated that he'd be an upgrade over what we've got on our team now. I still stand by that statement. In his bowl game, he's the one that forced the fumble in the backfield that was subsequently returned for the game winning touchdown.
Round 4b (trade down in 1st round): Terrill Byrd, DT, Cincinatti. I have watched him with interest over the last two years. He capped off his career with a 10 tackle, 1 sack performance in the Orange Bowl. He's quick off the ball. Moves up and down the line with grace. Can play the run and the pass. He had 8 sacks last year. I know that this gives the Packers taking three DT's in the first 4 rounds, but did you see our run defense? We need an immediate upgrade. Pickett is a soon-to-be FA. Cole is a FA. Harrell can't stay healthy. Jolly's status is in the air with the law and the league. We need DT help.
Round 5: David Bruton, S, Notre Dame. Interesting, but Bruton, Otis Wiley, and Keith Fitzhugh are all considerd 4th-6th round picks depending on where you look. I love Bruton's special teams play. He's a heady defender who is fearless on special teams. Thinking about forcing the turnover when making the tackle as well. Say bye-bye to Charlie Peprah.
Round 6a: Tim Jamison, DE, Michigan. Amazingly, he's considered a 6th round pick. A bust for a Senior year at Michigan. Both his and Terrance Taylor's stock have plummeted. Taylor looks to be had in the 4th round at this stage. At times, he's lazy. Other times, he's dominant and in the backfield. Disappeared a lot this year. Seemed to give up a bit. But, he has upside. As a Junior, he looked like a prime NFL prospect. On the DL, Michigan has sent out flops to the NFL. In two years with Arizona, Alan Branch has 0 sacks in 15 games. Still, as a 6th rounder, I'm taking a long look at Jamison. His college career reminds me of Alex Brown. Sort of an underproducer, but has the ability to play at the next level, if motivated. Jamison is 6-3, 266. Alex Brown is 6-3, 260. They play a similar style of football.
Round 6b (trade down in 1st round): Antonio Appleby, LB, Virginia. Worst case scenario, his speed and quickness improves our special teams. ILB that can run with most. Pressures the QB. Not a liability in coverage. Instinctive. Good late round pick.
Round 6c (last year draft day trade): Kaluka Maiava, LB, USC. He didn't get the hype because he's surrounded by future Pro Bowlers, but Maiava can play football. Good instincts. Plays on the fly. Pursues the football. He, too, would upgrade our special teams units.
Round 7: Brandon Fletcher, CB, Iowa. I saw him play once and that was in his Bowl game. In the first half, he intercepted a pass and forced a fumble. Both led to scores and an Iowa blowout. Iowa has a reputation for producing NFL DB's. At this point in the draft, I'm taking a chance and waving goodbye to J-Bush.
We're Getting Freaky,
Talkin' S-Mac.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)