Greetings, G-Force.
This draft was a unique combination of securing the continuance of Aaron Rodgers' dominance and replenishing defensive depth with players who had great production at the college level. First, we ensured that the XLV MVP's blindside was protected for the next 10-12 years. Then, we gave him weapons. Drafting players with high character, Thompson patiently waited to see which impact performers would fall into his lap. Biding his time, Thompson found top-notch SEC talent in the first two-rounds: Derek Sherrod & Randall Cobb. In the 3rd round, Thompson drafted a Home Run threat in Alex Green. On the draft's 3rd day, Thompson loaded the roster with statistically dominant players in Davon House, DJ Williams, DJ Smith, and Ricky Elmore. Thompson brought competition to the offensive & defensive lines in Caleb Schlauderaff and Lawrence Guy. Thompson also added Ryan Taylor who'll bring special teams talent & versatility to the offense.
Plainly stated, Thompson knows the Green Bay Packers. He recognized that the Packers offense almost prevented the XLV run. It was the offense that faltered in Detroit. It was the offense which struggled in Week 17 against Chicago. It was the offense which stalled in the 2nd half at Philly. It was the offense, which failed to produce results in the second half of the NFC Championship. It was the offense that had issues in the 2nd half of the Super Bowl. Additionally, we had issues with our special teams units. These issues have been addressed with high profiles.
As my wife went out with her sister on Friday night, I was left with a Cuban cigar & a bottle of Zyr. She left at approximately 8:00. After the Cobb & Green picks - two guys I'm very familiar with - I was yearning to learn more about Sherrod. So, I lit my cigar, popped open the bottle of Zyr and went to my DVR Playlist. I tuned into the Senior Bowl. I watched every snap that Sherrod played. Competing against Cameron Jordan (1st round pick), Ryan Kerrigan (1st round pick), Jeremy Beal (7th round), Pierre Allen (undrafted), Ian Williams (undrafted), and Christian Ballard (4th round), Sherrod showed great ability. He moves his feet well. He has great length. Uses his body well when bellying up against defenders. A terrific run blocker. He moved his feet with grace. On run plays, it was nice to see him get to the 2nd level. He finishes blocks well in the run game. With that, he definitely needs to add strength. At times, he struggled with the bull rush. He needs to utilize his arm length as occasionally, he lets defenders get into his body. He looks like a LT for the future to me, but he'll take light seasoning and he'll need to add strength.
Against speed rushes, Sherrod did a great job of pushing defenders up the field, which created nice passing lanes. On three goal line plays, Sherrod was impressive as won his battle each time. He showed natural athleticism when he came with cut blocks. As I said, he did struggle with the bull rush. On one play, Pierre Allen came with a power move and pushed Sherrod into the backfield. Greg McElroy broke his hand as he hit it on Sherrod's helmet on his follow-through.
Bottom line: I'm stoked with the Sherrod pick. With Bulaga & Sherrod, we have our tackles for the future. Sherrod is a 2-time 1st-team SEC performer. He had a 3.54 GPA. And he appears to be a high-character individual who is cut out for zone blocking scheme.
One coincidence: Post the XXXI title, the Packers drafted Ross Verbal. He wore #78 and was a LT. According to packers.com, Sherrod will wear #78 as well.
Get ready, G-Force! Randall Cobb is about to amaze! What a thrill! Literally, this pick had me jump off the couch and scream with joy. A resounding: "YES!" About 8 picks before our selection, I was enamored with the thought of drafting either Hankerson, Cobb, Salas or Daniel Thomas. Prior to the draft, I didn't foresee a scenario in which Cobb would be available in the 2nd round. I had envisioned a big run on WR's in the 2nd round. Cobb will bring added dimensions to the offensive & special teams units. Finally, we have a return man!
Cobb has a nose for the end zone. After all, he did have a hand in FOUR touchdowns against the National Champion, Auburn Tigers. He ran for 2 TD's, he caught a TD & a threw a TD. He's a football player. Put him on the field. Put the ball in his hands. Watch him make plays. Consistently. He makes people miss. He makes defenders look foolish. He's a threat to score a touchdown every time he touches the ball. Watch his highlights. See the slant. Watch him take it to the house. Think about how that applies to our roster. Amazing!
His press conference was terrific. His comment in which he's "trying to get a hold of Aaron Rodgers right now, so that he can be wherever Rodgers is at as soon as possible" is exemplary of his leadership skills.
His first tweet as a Packer: Green and yellow green and yellow!!!!! Uh huh u know what it is!!!!!!
No doubt - Randall Cobb will be a fan favorite. Immediately.
The Alex Green pick surprises me. Unquestionably, Green has the skill, speed, size & power to be a terrific addition to our team. He ran a 4.46 & a 4.48 in the 40. Playing in Hawaii's spread offense, he led the league in yards per carry. He's a perfect fit when we go to our 4-wide formations. He sees the hole & he hits it viciously. He has good shake. He's smooth. He's flashy. He's good in space, a threat to take it to the house. Against New Mexico State, he ran for 327 yards. In 12 of 14 games, Green had a play of at least 20 yards. He scored 19 TD's as a Senior. He catches the ball well. He'll be a solid third down back. For these reasons, I'm totally thrilled with the pick. But, I have a huge concern: He fumbles. Often. In 2 years, he fumbled the ball 8 times at Hawaii. When I re-watched the East-West game prior to writing my draft blog, I thought to myself: Man, Green looks good in his uniform. He's sporting dreads. Looks the part. Then, Green fumbled twice.
Since Aaron Rodgers took over, the Packers have won the turnover battle. On running plays last year, the combination of B-Jack, Starks, Grant, Kuhn & Nance had ZERO lost fumbles. Winning the turnover battle has been a foundation of our success. For this reason, I didn't envision Thompson drafting Green. I absolutely believe that he has the tools to be a star in the NFL, but he must solve his fumbling issues. And, if he does, he'll be a legitimate threat. Thompson obviously believes that the Packers can fix his fumbling woes. At this stage, who would I be to second guess Thompson? He went to Green's Pro Day. He's a master evaluator. It does concern me that Edgar Bennett will not be the one who is coaching him on ball security as Bennett is now working with the WR's.
Super cool connection of the draft: Like Aaron Rodgers, Green went to Butte Junior College prior to going to Hawaii. While at Butte, Jordan Rodgers (Aaron's brother) was handing the ball to Green.
My Dad called me mid-way through the 4th round and said, "Well, Scott, give me a name." I said, "I'll give you five. Greg Jones, Lawrence Guy, Cedric Thornton, Davon House and Brandon Burton." Needless to say, I got what I wanted. Not only did we get House in Round 4, but we got Guy in Round 7.
Davon House is a playmaker. 11 interceptions in his college career. 3 of them were returned for TD's. That's Packer football. He gets his head turned. Looks fluid. Can turn and run with receivers. He sees the football and plays the ball well in the air. While he isn't overly physical, he isn't afraid to stick his nose into a play to make a tackle.
House has the size and speed to be a big time NFL Corner. He also had been developed by DeWayne Walker who was the Head Coach at New Mexico State. Prior to being the Head Coach at New Mexico State, Walker was a secondary coach for the Patriots, the Giants and USC. Most certainly, the infancy stages of his development have been taught.
As a man, he seems to accentuate the positive with a hard working mentality. It's noteworthy that his favorite CB is T-Mon! Here's a twitter exchange between the two of them:
House - Packers got them a steal with the 31 first pick in the 4th round. Glad to call this place home
T-Mon - Anyone know if Davon House has a twitter? I want to congratulate him.
T-Mon - Davon, Welcome to Green Bay big dawg!
T-Mon - I just read Davon House said I was his favorite corner. respect respect
House - Tramon, cant wait to meet you. its going to be a pleasure working with you!!!
T-Mon - Davon, Same here fam. U comin to a great organization with great coaches and players. Plus u representing the WAC!! Good to have u
House - Woke up this morning saying whooooo feels good to be a PACKER
Gotta love the camaraderie! Continuing to build the locker room!
In the 5th round, the Packers got a total steal! DJ Williams is a tremendous talent! I thought he'd be a mid-3rd round talent. Almost certainly, I thought he'd be off the board before the Packers drafted at #96 in the 3rd round. So certain that I didn't even keep him on my tracker. The Mackey Award winner has great hands, he's a solid route runner, he manages the middle of the field & can beat LB's down the seam. Additionally, he can be a load to bring down. I believe that he'll make an instant impact. He's also a great insurance policy in case J-Mike doesn't return after he's a FA this year.
Here's additional camaraderie built in the Packers locker room via twitter:
DJ Williams - Thanks everyone for your support with all the tweets and text!!! I will try my best to respond haha green & yellow go packers
Finley - DJ, welcome to titletown USA!! I just saw your story online pretty amazing. Hit me if u need anythin. Oh and AROD, he's a beast!! champs repeat yotto!!!
Williams - Jermichael, thanks man, I will. Glad to be apart of the fam
Our locker room is unified. And our best players are the leaders who are publicly welcoming the newest members of the organization.
I don't know much about Caleb Schlauderaff or DJ Smith. But, from what I read, I like the picks. Schlauderaff seems to enjoy a nasty streak. We needed to look at OG as Colledge's status is uncertain. Further, we haven't identified a definitive a replacement for Colledge. We needed additional competition. Should Colledge leave, it'd be a battle between McDonald, Dietrich-Smith, Lang, Newhouse & Schlauderaff. While each have shown good promise, no one has been able to secure the job and I'd like someone to secure the job by winning it outright - not by default.
DJ Smith means the end of Brady Poppinga. Appears as though Smith will be a heat-seeking missile on special teams. He's a bit undersized, but I read comparisons to Dexter Coakley. There are two players in Appalachian State's football history who amassed 500 tackles in a career: Smith & Coakley. Should Smith be anything similar to Coakley the Packers will have gotten an absolute bargain in Smith. Dear DJ, on special teams, find the football, young man!
For the 6th round, the Ricky Elmore pick was excellent! Great value. While watching Arizona, Elmore was as much of a fighter as his teammate, Brooks Reed. Elmore had 21 sacks in 2 years! He ripped up Ricky Stanzi from Iowa for 2 sacks. He got to Jake Locker. He had 3 sacks against Washington State. In his rivalry game against Arizona State, he had 8 tackles & 3 sacks. Elmore is a battler & will immediately compete with Walden, Jones, and Zombo for snaps as a 3rd-down pass rusher. The combination of Clay Matthews & Elmore gives us two Pac-10 Sack-Masters!
Elmore has the motor that the Packers seek in OLB's. He has great fight and a nose for the QB. While he isn't blessed with great spin moves, Elmore has the fight that Kevin Greene covets. And while he doesn't time well in the 40, he has shown the ability to beat Tackles around the corner with speed rushes. He's smart, disciplined and possesses a high football IQ on the field. In many ways, Elmore's style and competitive streak reminds me of Zombo.
Further camaraderie building: On twitter, Elmore suggests that he's going to grow his hair out. He also has been training with Clay Matthews' Dad & Brother. He also posted this twitter message: Proud to be a packer! I can't wait to get to Titletown.
Unless Ryan Taylor gets moved to FB, this pick confused me. I read that he has solid special teams talent, but how many TE's can you keep? I'd expect the Packers to keep Finley, Quarless, Crabtree & DJ Williams, so it'll be interesting to see how he's utilized. Hopefully, he's a special teams demon.
I love the Lawrence Guy pick. No doubt that he'll be on the roster. He'll make the team. He'll be a solid 3-4 DE for the Packers. Bret Bielema called him the most disruptive DL that the Badgers faced all year. Guy would have benefited from staying in school for his senior year, but nonetheless, he'll be a nice developmental prospect for the Packers. It wouldn't have surprised anyone if he had been a 4th round pick. Getting him this late was a total bargain.
I had a feeling that Thompson was trying to accumulate picks because undrafted Free Agents won't be immediately available for signing. When that time comes, my guess is that the Packers will look at Jeremy Ross, WR, Cal; Nick Bellore, ILB, Central Michigan; Martin Parker, DL, Richmond; Cedric Thornton, DL, Southern Arkansas; Jerrod Johnson, QB, Texas A&M; Scott Tolzien, QB, WI; Lester Jean, WR, FAU; Graig Cooper, RB, []_[].
It was an exciting 3 days for the Packers. We're armed for another Super Bowl run. We're layered with talent. I was happy that we went after offense early in this draft. We got great defensive value late. Thompson targeted big schools as 6 of his 10 picks were from the SEC, ACC or Pac-10. He tried to win the 6th round of the draft by accumulating 3 picks. Clearly, he saw good value between picks 131-197 as he made 5 selections inside that 66 pick segment. I imagine that the Packers will give immediate action to Cobb, Green, House, and Williams. Elmore will compete for 3rd down snaps. Guy will find his way into the rotation at some point in the season. And, hopefully, Taylor & Smith will add immediate value to special teams. If we're lucky, Bulaga & Clifton will remain healthy so Sherrod will have a year to develop and add strength. Through it all, it was a total treat to watch Thompson work his wizardry.
Cheers to Ted Thompson!
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
My Take -> Epic Mock Draft Final Version
Greetings, G-Force.
Caution: Hear me out on this one. Please read carefully.
Most experts write that the longer the CBA lasts, the better off the chances are for the repeat. I'm not sure that I agree.
This isn't about the Repeat. It's about the Three-Peat. Not since 1965-1967 has an NFL team won 3 consecutive titles. Sadly, the history of the NFL is not as cherished as in other sports. Most football fans only understand the Super Bowl era. Unfortunately, the Lombardi Three-Peat is often not recognized by the average fan. Thus, as a fan, my mission is the Three-Peat. With that, I'm concerned that the current CBA situation is punishing the Packers run at 3 in a row. I view this off-season as a "rebuilding" offseason. Not a "reloading" but a "rebuilding." Ted Thompson has built these Green Bay Packers rosters through the Draft. Not via Free Agency, so we won't "reload" with weapons - other than those that are returning from injury. This is an offseason in which we need to replenish our depth with additional youthful talent.
The CBA has dramatically affected the Packers approach towards this draft. Consider this: Had the CBA been signed, the Packers might be looking to trade Matt Flynn for a 2nd round pick. Flynn's trade value cannot get any higher than it is right now. We might be trading Nick Barnett for a 5th round pick. It's possible that we'd get a 6th round pick for Chillar. We'd move Brad Jones to ILB. And Ted Thompson would possess 12 picks, including 6 picks in the first 4 rounds. Further, he'd have the magical number: 4 of the top 100 picks. That'd be lethal.
Additionally, in Free Agency, the Packers would have lost Cullen Jenkins, which would presumably give the Packers a 4th round compensatory pick in the 2012 Draft. It's possible we'd also lose the likes of Korey Hall, Daryn Colledge, B-Jack, and James Jones. These losses would generate four more picks in the 2012 Draft. If the CBA gets remedied soon, it's probable that this scenario will still occur, but the longer the lockout lingers, the more likely the demand for FA's will diminish as there will not be enough time to get players adjusted to new systems. Also, in some instances, I imagine that teams will approach the draft as "need based" rather than the typical best player available.
To paraphrase from an Aaron Rodgers interview post the Super Bowl, "we're bringing back most of our players from this year & we'll be getting the best TE in the league back from injury." I agree, Aaron. Not to get ahead of myself, but let's think Three-Peat...one game at a time.
While I agree with the speculation that the CBA is benefiting the Packers because they got to play into February, I also view the off-season as a vital time for the development of our young roster. This was a big offseason for the likes of Neal, Burnett, Sammy Swagga Shields, Walden, Zombo, Chastin West, Quarless, Starks' pass protection, and Marshall Newhouse. However, there is no doubt that the rest will be a bonus for the Packers. A quick look at recent history shows the following:
In 2005, the Steelers played the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. In 2006, the Steelers failed to make the playoffs. The Seahawks finished 9-7 and won their division. They won 1 playoff game, which happened to be when Tony Romo dropped the snap on a short FG at the end of the game.
In 2006, the Colts beat the Bears in the Super Bowl. In 2007, the Colts did not win a playoff game. The Bears failed to make the playoffs.
In 2007, the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. In 2008, the Giants did not win a playoff game. The Patriots did not make the playoffs.
In 2008, the Steelers beat the Cardinals in the Super Bowl. In 2009, the Steelers did not make the playoffs. The Cardinals won 10 games. Made the playoffs and won 1 playoff game, which was 51-45 victory over the Packers. We all remember the rubbish play that ended this game.
In 2009, the Saints beat the Colts in the playoffs. In 2010, neither the Saints nor the Colts won a playoff game.
Add it all up & a Super Bowl champion has not won a playoff game the following year in the last 5 years. The Super Bowl loser has only won 2 playoff games. And both of those victories required extremely fortunate circumstances. Clearly, there is a Super Bowl hangover. Still, I argue that our team has enough youthful energy on the roster to combat this trend. Additionally, I hold firm on the belief that Ted Thompson builds this team via the Draft & it's crucial for us to have draft picks at our disposal so Thompson has the ammunition to wheel & deal. Currently, the CBA is limiting Thompson from fully capitalizing on his draft-day talents.
Due to the lockout, most of my friends are not as interested in the draft as they have been in previous years. I also feel that coverage of the draft has not been as detailed as in previous years. Moreover, most publications are only giving information that is 2-3 rounds deep. If you're like me, you're devoted to the first 5 rounds. You're absolutely glued for 5 rounds. Your heavily interested through the 6th and you're simply following along in the 7th round. Well, in this version of the mock draft, I'm going to attempt to provide a list of names to keep you entertained throughout the 7 Round NFL Draft. Admittedly, I have followed less this year than in past years. Nonetheless, I still feel armed with knowledge.
Below is a quick breakdown of each position & a list of potential prospects that I'm interested in. I believe these prospects could fill needs for us.
QB: Presently, we're in solid shape. We have the Super Bowl XLV MVP. We have the most talked about back-up in the NFL. We have a developmental prospect in Graham Harrell. Assuming the Packers hold onto Flynn, I cannot imagine Ted Thompson drafting a QB in the first 3 rounds. Below are a couple of names to consider with 4th-7th round picks:
- Greg McElroy, Alabama. Projected Round 5-6. A winner. Reminds me a lot of Matt Flynn will he was in college. Crafty. Good moxie. Knows how to move the football. Natural leader. Football instincts. Would need to be developed and wouldn't be ready to step in for a couple of years. Probably a career back-up.
- Scott Tolzien, WI. Projected Round 6-7. I'd be excited to draft Tolzien as a new toy for McCarthy. I felt that Tolzien grew as a player over the last 2 years. He grabbed command of the offense. He managed the game well. He picked up crucial 3rd downs in big games. He took his team on the road and quieted the crowd. If he lands in the right situation, Tolzien could have a nice career as a back-up/emergency QB.
- TJ Yates, UNC. Projected Round 7 or undrafted FA. Yates possesses a never-say-die situation. Faced with all types of problems this year at UNC due to his teammates off-the-field issues, early in the year, Yates showed his leadership as he fought hard to bring UNC back in the game against LSU. Not overly athletic. But, he's not afraid to attempt most of the throws. He comes across as a confident guy. But, he's inconsistent. At times, I'd watch him and think he has a chance to play in this league. Other times, he looks like a guy that won't get a shot. My guess: he'll get a chance & be an extra arm in someone's camp.
RB: James Starks became the Savior in 2010. Ryan Grant is returning from injury. Quinn Johnson is signed. So is Dmitri Nance. McCarthy appears to be high on Nance. Kuhn, B-Jack & Korey Hall are all Free Agents. Kuhn figures to be back. B-Jack's status is in question. Korey Hall was not offered a tender, which means he's free to go. Expect the Packers to draft a RB at some point this year. It wouldn't surprise me we picked a RB in any round this year. Here's my list:
- Mark Ingram: If he's available in Round 1, I expect the Packers to take him. I doubt he'll be there, but it's possible. Remember that Ted Thompson has ties to Ingram's father from his 1st go-around with the Packers, when Mark Ingram was catching passes from Favre. It should be noted that Ingram set the record for the fastest 10-yard split in the history of the NFL Draft. By now, we know Thompson is big on this number.
- Mike LeShoure, Illinois. Projected Round 1-2. LeShoure has a solid combination of speed, strength & elusiveness. Get him in space & LeShoure will make good things happen. He dominated the Wrigley Field game when Illinois played Northwestern. The typical workhorse who gets better as the game goes on. He'll wear you down. Beat you up. And he'll keep on running.
- Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech. Projected Round 2-3. Since the first time I watched him play against Alabama in the '09 opener, I've admired his game. He knows where the yard marker is at. He finds the goal line. He'll beat you to the corner. He's performed well in big games. He took it to the []_[] with HR ability. He's a bit short, but he makes up for it with toughness.
- DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma. Projected Round 2-3. Murray can run. He can catch. He's not afraid to stick his nose in the action to block. Some potential durability issues. But, when given the chance, Murray performs. An athletic back who'll bring good versatility to someone's offense.
- Daniel Thomas, Kansas State. Projected Round 3. His running style mirrors Ryan Grant. Runs the stretch play with grace. Gets to the corner. Hits the hole hard. Good one-cut runner. A threat to get into the oppositions secondary. My concern is that a lot of his yards came via the wildcat formation. He has the speed and awareness to get to the corner & generate a big play.
- Jordan Todman, UCONN. Projected Round 3-4. At 5-9, he doesn't have great size. But, he's 200 lbs. He can absorb contact. While he runs a 4.40, he doesn't seem to fly by players on the field. But, he produces. Every time you watch Todman play, he'll impress you with his steady production. He delivers consistently.
- Shane Vereen, Cal. Projected Round 3-4. Quicker than fast, Vereen has his eye on the big play. Good hands, which makes him a constant match-up problem. Hits the hole hard. Big play capability. Not an every down back, but will fit into someone's rotation nicely.
- Charles Clay, Tulsa. Projected Round 4. He has terrific hands. He's got a unique build. He's not a fierce blocker, but he's a constant mismatch problem for opposing defenses. Every year - it seems that the Thompson/McCarthy regime makes a head-scratching decision at either FB or TE. This year, it's in the form of Charles Clay who can carry the ball, but he could also be viewed as a guy that could play FB or potentially, TE.
- Damien Berry, []_[]. Projected Round 7. While Berry occasionally has had issues holding onto the football, he has shown glimpses of brilliance in his collegiate career. While he's not the most powerful back, he'll throw his body into the line of scrimmage & push for additional yardage. He's got NFL ability if he can stay healthy. He's fearless & might turn out to be a better NFL player than he was as a collegiate player.
- Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech. Projected Round 7. I can't say that I love his game. He played in a gimmick offense. He's not overly elusive. Not overly powerful. Not overly fast. Not overly impressive. But, he's consistently gaining yards. Gets yards after contact. A lot of uncertainty surrounds his game due to the type of offense he played in.
- Nic Grigsby, Arizona. Projected Round 7. If he had stayed healthy in college, he might be a 4th-5th round prospect. Good one-cut runner. Sees the hole & bursts thru it. HR potential. Good speed. He would be a great late round value pick. Good nose for the end zone & tough to take down in space. I'd like to see him in Green & Gold.
- Noel Devine, WVU. Projected Round 7. While he's tremendously undersized, you can't argue with his speed. Nor his collegiate production. He's a threat every time he touches the ball. Get him in space and let him make someone miss. It'll be 6 points. I'll bet most teams are confused because he didn't return kicks at the college level as Jock Sanders took over most of these duties. I'd be interested to see if he's capable of returning punts. Definitely worth a shot late in the draft.
- I'm going to pass on Jacquizz Rodgers, Alex Green, Derrick Locke, and Dion Lewis. I don't think that any of them fit into what the Packers style. Rodgers is too small and I'm not sure he can return kicks. Green is a valuable 3rd down back, potentially, but I fear he'll have fumbling issues. Locke & Lewis are too small. I am also not sold on Roy Helu, Bilal Powell, Evan Royster & Mario Fannin.
WR: Greg Jennings has solidified himself as an elite WR in the league. Donald Driver can still play, but his game is on the decline. Jordy Nelson played his best game as a pro in the Super Bowl. He was featured. It wouldn't surprise me if the Packers insert him in the starting line-up in 2011. James Jones should not be re-signed. Brett Swain's ability is limited. I remain high on Chastin West. I truly believed that West would make a big impact during training camp last year. It didn't happen. Expect West to play a prominent role in the preseason this year. Still, it's necessary that the Packers draft a WR. Don't be surprised if the Packers draft 2 WR's this year.
- Leonard Hankerson, []_[]. Projected Round 1-2. Bring the Swagga to Lambeau! I want Hank in Round 1! Rodgers could use another weapon. Keep his stable of stallions stocked with youthful, fearless energy. Hankerson fits! He can play in the slot. He can beat the jab at the line of scrimmage. He'll occasionally have a mental lapse & drop a pass, but he's also a legitimate playmaker. He'll beat you deep. He runs a solid down-and-out. He'll run the post. He'll run the slant. He'll catch the ball in traffic. He's not afraid to take a hit. He has a nose for the end zone. He has great work ethic. He worked out with Mark Duper, his childhood idol, before his Junior Year to improve his route running. I want him. I can't guarantee that he'll be a Pro Bowl WR, but he'll be a solid NFL WR for the next 10 years, if he stays healthy.
- Randall Cobb, Kentucky. Projected Round 2. Utility player. Can return kicks. Great with the ball in his hands. Has played QB. Elusive. Gifted athlete. Might need to be developed as a WR, but he's a classic Ted Thompson style "football player."
- Jerrel Jernigan, Troy. Projected Round 2-3. This years Dexter McCluster. Just find a way to get him the ball. Undersized. Quick. Every time he touches the ball, he's thinking TD.
- Titus Young, Boise State. Projected Round 3. A poor man's DeSean Jackson. Not positive I'd draft him because I believe he's afraid to take a hit. He'll have alligator arms on routes across the middle, but his return value makes him a legitimate prospect. Great speed. Dangerous returner. Loves the deep route. Without his return value, I don't list him.
- Greg Little, UNC. Projected Round 3-4. Without the character issues, he'd be listed much higher. Watch his video & it shows a talented WR who has the size to be an elite WR in the league. He has the size & speed to be a mid-round steal of the draft. He's also played RB. Overly physical. Seeks contact. Tough to bring down. A fighter with the ball in his hands. Physically beats down Defensive Backs. Possible attitude issues. But, Thompson has shown that he's not afraid to take a risk on a middle round pick.
- Greg Salas, Hawaii. Projected Round 3-4. Watch Greg Salas play and you'll think Greg Jennings. He is football smart. He understands angles & is great at improvising both with the ball in his hands & without the ball in his hands. He is a premier player after the catch. He goes up & gets the ball in jump ball situations. He may not fly in the 40, but he's football fast. He will make people miss, but he'll also fight through a defender for additional yards.
- Terrence Tolliver, LSU. Projected Round 4-5. Ideal size for the NFL. I thought he improved as the season went along last year. Seemed more focused. Will go over the middle with confidence. Great NFL size. Excelled, at times, against top notch competition. From what I saw, he looked good in the workouts prior to the East-West game as well.
- Austin Pettis, Boise State. Projected Round 5. Whoever drafts Austin Pettis will get a solid football player. He'll never be a #1 WR, but he'll have a long career. Above average hands. A big-game player. A go-to guy on 3rd down & late in games. He's a winner. Solid route runner. I like him better than Titus Young. Take away return abilities and I'd rank the WR's in this draft like this: 1.) AJ Green 2.) Julio Jones 3.) Leonard Hankerson 4.) Greg Salas 5.) Greg Little 6.) Austin Pettis
- Jeremy Kerley, TCU. Projected Round 5-6. How can you not root for this guy? Doesn't have ideal size. Doesn't have ideal speed. He just gets open. Wiggles his hips. Makes you miss. Solid returner as well. Worth a mid-to-late round pick. Reminds a little of a young Antonio Freeman.
- Lester Jean, FAU. Projected Round 6-7. Had a chance to see a little of him while I was living in Miami Beach. He definitely looks the part in his uniform. A little raw. Played against questionable competition. I went to the FAU v FIU game to watch Anthony Gaitor, TY Hilton & Rob Housler. I left the game being most impressed with Lester Jean. A developmental prospect who will get a look after getting a chance to perform at the East-West game.
- Stephen Burton, West Texas. Projected Round 6-7. By now, we know Ted Thompson loves Texas kids. This can't be stated enough. Burton has the size at 6-1, 221. He's a junior college prospect who thrilled scouts at his Pro Day. Good leaping ability allows him to get up and make plays against defenders. He uses his body well to shield receivers to create space.
- Dwayne Harris, WR, ECU. Possession WR. Looks like a slot receiver who would have a hard time beating the jam at the line of scrimmage, so it'd be necessary to slide him inside.
- Jamel Hamler, WR, Fresno State. Big, athletic WR. Had some big games for Fresno last year. Good developmental prospect.
- I'm not sold on Jonathan Baldwin, Pitt. I also have concerns over Torrey Smith's route running. Sure, he has the speed, but most of his success can on go-routes. He'll need more than that to thrive in the NFL.
TE: J-Mike returns. Assuming he's healthy, he'll be in the Pro Bowl. I have concerns over his long-term status. He'll have contract demands. It's questionable whether Thompson would be willing to meet his financial desires. Quarless showed promise, at times. He was forced into action sooner than the Packers would have ideally liked him to play. He was inconsistent, but he showed enough to offer hope for a more productive 2nd year. Crabtree is a legitimate blocking TE. The guy also has solid hands. Remember that he played most of the year with 1 hand. He'll be more involved in the offense this year. Donald Lee will not be back. I foresee Ted Thompson adding a TE in the middle rounds of the draft. We have to prepare for a worst case scenario (ie: losing Finley). It's in the DNA of Ted Thompson to add a TE when he has an elite prospect nearing a contract year.
- Luke Stocker, TN. Projected Round 3-4. Physical TE. Good blocker. Solid possession receiver. A bear to bring down. He'll run you over. Good hands in traffic. While some compare him to Jason Witten, I look at him as being more comparable to John Carlson.
- Jordan Cameron, USC. Projected Round 3-4. Can you say mismatch? This former basketball player knows body control. Great at snatching the ball out of the air in traffic. Uses his body well to shield defenders to create separation. Not only is he talented coming out of a 3-point stance, you can also stand him up. Put him at WR. Have him run the slant. Throw it up. Let him go get it. He'd be a terrific insurance policy in case J-Mike leaves via FA after next year.
- Virgil Green, Nevada. Projected Round 4. Workout wonder. Great combine. Solid performance in the East-West game. Has potential. I believe him to be slow off the snap and thus, at times, he fails to create separation. Might be too soft. But, he has the build to be a guy the Packers would be interested in.
- Rob Housler, FAU. Projected Round 5. I went to a game of his to check him out. A man among boys at his level of competition. But, while he looked the part in uniform, he didn't blow me away with his production. He's a workout maniac and I've read the Packers have had discussions with him.
OL: Bulaga has a future. Sitton has Pro Bowl potential. Wells has 1-year remaining on his contract. Clifton had a solid campaign in 2010, but he's nearing the end of his career. He'll be a Packers HOF'er. I doubt Colledge comes back. With that, there will be an opening at LG. TJ Lang would be the leading candidate for the gig. McCarthy has long stated that he believes Lang to be a Guard. Nick McDonald & Evan Diedrich-Smith have also garnered praise from McCarthy as developmental prospects. Personally, I'm high on Marshall Newhouse. He had a great pre-season. He dominated the game-winning final drive of the Seahawks game. He was a stud against the Colts in the preseason. High hopes surround Newhouse. Still, it's imperative that the Packers draft a couple of OL in this year's draft. As always, I lack knowledge with regards to OL as draft prospects. Although, I would be excited if the Packers traded up for Gabe Carimi in the 1st round. He & Bulaga would be the book-ends of the future.
DL: BJ "the Freezer" Raji is one of the fastest rising defenders in football. He was durable. He was a consistent playmaker. A force in the middle. Pickett remains a solid player, but he has had injury issues the past couple of years. He's also not getting any younger. CJ Wilson showed promise. Mike Neal has 7 sack potential, if he can stay healthy. If fit, Neal could become a legitimate force in the 3-4. Howard Green is a capable run defender. While Jairus Wynn gives great effort, he can be upgraded. Cullen Jenkins will most likely be gone via FA. Jolly will never wear #97 in Green & Gold again. Therefore, the Packers must address the DL in this years draft. Thankfully, the DL position is arguably the strongest position in the draft.
- Cameron Heyward, Ohio State. Projected Round 1. If he's available at #32, I believe that he'll be the pick. Ideal 3-4 DE. Would fill in for Cullen Jenkins when we lose him via FA. Can play the run & the pass. Has the genes as his Dad was a former NFL player. Spends time in opponents backfield.
- Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple. Projected Round 1. Great athlete. Dominated light competition. Fluid for his size. Perfect fit for a 3-4 defense.
- Kendrick Ellis, DT, Hampton. Projected Round 2-3. 6-5. 345. Massive. He'd be a great addition to our DL. He'd fit our Big Beefy package.
- Terrell McClain, South Florida. Projected Round 4. Super athletic big man. Fits the 3-4 DE spot. Holds the point of attack. Uber quick for his size. Played both the run & the pass very well. He'd add pressure and can hold the point of attack - though not overly powerful.
- Cedric Thornton, Southern Arkansas. Projected Round 5. Watched him extensively during the Senior Bowl week. Hard worker. Small school player that competed admirably against the big school players. Active hands. Good spin moves.
- Martin Parker, Richmond. Projected Round 6. Had a great performance in the East-West game. Moves well in small spaces. Showed a good motor in the East-West game. Good pressure on the QB. Smart defender. Reads plays well. Has good size for either the 3-4 or the 4-3. He has the capacity to have a nice rotational NFL career.
- Anthony Gray, SMU. Projected Round 7. Big boy. Stout run defender. Would be able to hold the point of attack at DT in the 3-4. It's possible he could slide out to DE in Big Beefy front.
- Brandon Bair, Oregon. Projected Round 7. From a weight perspective, he's a bit undersized for the 3-4, but he's an active player with a great motor. No one will work harder on the field & he has a nose for the football.
LB: The Claymaker is among the elite players in the NFL. Desmond Bishop legitimized himself as an ILB. I'm stoked that he got his contract! AJ Hawk earned his contract as well. Together, Hawk & Bishop showed great continuity. Erik Walden's development was an encouraging sign. Frank "The Z-Man" Zombo showed ability. Between Zombo & Walden, we have enough talent at OLB and therefore, drafting an OLB early in the draft is not overly necessary. I also don't think that you can discount the relationship between Zombo & Clay. Clearly, from the NFL videos that I've seen, there is a mutual respect & strong camaraderie. The Packers will also get Brad Jones back. Expect to see Jones get some action at ILB this year. The status of Barnett & Chillar is up in the air. Diyral Briggs & Matt Wilhelm were nice mid-season additions, but I would think we can find an upgrade. I envision the Packers drafting at least one LB; and probably two of them.
- Akeem Ayers, UCLA. Projected Round 1. For a part of the 2010 college season, Ayers was my favorite player in college football. I thought he'd be an ideal fit across from Clay. Ayers can drop in coverage. He attacks with a vengeance. Great athleticism. Then, with great excitement, I tuned into the UCLA vs Oregon game. Ayers was slow. He got beat to the corner a number of times. Then he ran a poor 40 at the Combine. Don't get me wrong, if we're drafting OLB early, I want it to be Ayers. He's an instinctive football player. Looks the part. He'd be a fun addition to the Packers defense.
- Brooks Reed, Arizona. Projected Round 1-2. What I liked most about Reed was his ability to close out games. Early in the year, in close games, Reed was applying pressure and sealing wins for Arizona. I'm concerned that he was a DL at the college level who will have to convert to OLB. We've never seen him stand up and drop in coverage. He had a great combine - especially in the 10-yard split, which is what Thompson covets. I like Reed, but I don't see him as the best player available at #32. If he's our 1st pick, I hope we trade down & grab additional picks and get him around #40.
- Casey Matthews, Oregon. Projected Round 3-4. Definitely not his brother. But, he has a nose for the football and the heart of a lion.
- Colin McCarthy, []_[]. Round 3. Immediately, he'll be a stallion special teams player. Finds the football. Moves well. Gets sideline to sideline.
- Greg Jones, Michigan State. Round 3-4. At one time, he was considered a top-15 prospect. Now, we might last until Day 3. It's almost unbelievable. Every time he plays, he seems to lead the game in tackles. Even at the Senior Bowl, he had a dozen tackles. Not the best size. Not the best speed. Just a football player. I'd take him.
- Akeem Dent, Georgia. Projected Round 6. Great awareness. Sees the field. I envision him immediately contributing on special teams. Gets to the sideline well. Will take on blockers. He's not going to shy away from contact.
- Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State. Projected Round 7 or Undrafted. Might be able to play both ILB & OLB. Active player. Appeared to have good discipline during the East-West game. Versatile defender. Can drop in coverage. Decent awareness.
- Mario Harvey, Marshall. Round 7. You know when you watch someone play one time & he instantly catches your eye? That happened to me with Mario Harvey. Not ideal size nor speed. But, he plays like Desmond Bishop. Crushes you. I'd take him in a heartbeat in Round 7.
- Marc Scheichl, Colorado School of the Mines. Round 5-7. So, I wrote about the Packers being present at this Pro Day. Well, Schiechl became the talk of local sports radio for a night after he posted a 35-inch vertical jump and ran up 38 reps on the bench pressure. He stands just over 6-2 & weighs 251 lbs. Speculation was that the Packers were a huge player in conducting drills that tested his ability to drop in coverage and play as an OLB as he was mainly a DE at the college level. Further, he holds the D2 record with 45 career sacks. He was a man amongst boys.
- Cheta Ozougwu, Rice. Round 6-7. Arguably, the most naturally gifted of the bunch. Moves with grace. Totally fluid. Good lateral movement. Played DE in college, but I believe his skills translate to OLB in the NFL. Runs like Walden. Good developmental prospect.
- Matt Berning, Central Michigan. Probably an UFA. But, what would a Ted Thompson prospect list be without a guy from Central Michigan? He needed to be on the list.
- Bruce Miller, UCF. Projected Round 7. Put this guy on the field. Let him get after the QB. I'd love to see the Packers take a shot on him either in the 7th round or as an undrafted FA. Consistently, he's applying pressure. Great effort player. Late him games, I've seen him seal the deal.
- I view OLB's Dontay Moch, Chris Carter, and Mason Foster all as players who will make rosters & bring solid special teams contributions. I don't necessarily view them as players that will be upgrades over our current roster.
CB: With Sir Charles, T-Mon, and Sammy Swagga, the Packers are in good position. But, depth concerns me. Underwood, P-Lee, and J-Bush have not shown consistency nor true development. Josh Bell remains on the roster, but I don't have confidence in him either. I like Josh Gordy as a developmental prospect. I liked him out of college. I'll be interested to follow him in training camp. I foresee the Packers drafting at least one CB this year.
- Jimmy Smith, Colorado. Projected Round 1. If he's available at #32, man, he'd be tough to pass up. Baltimore, Philly, NYJ and Pittsburgh seem like logical spots for him. But, it's possible he could fall. Ideal size. Attitude is a concern, but I think our locker room would straighten him up.
- Aaron Williams, Texas. Projected Round 1-2. Many think he'll have to play Safety at the next level. Not me. I think he'd be a solid CB both in the slot and on the outside. Great tackler. Aggressive. Gets his hands on the ball. Plays the ball well in the air. I'd like him at #32 if he's the pick.
- Ras-I Dowling, Virginia. Projected Round 2-3. As I've said before, he were healthy, he'd be a top-15 pick. I love his game. 'Nuff said.
- Curtis Brown, Texas. Projected Round 2-3. Has the size, the speed and awareness. Good out of his breaks. Legit prospect. Will be a great pick for someone.
- If Korey Lindsey, Brandon Hogan, and Marcus Gilchrist stood at least 5-11, I'd write with great length about each of them. But, since they're only 5-10, they haven't fit the typical Ted Thompson profile.
- Cortez Allen, Citadel. Projected Round 5. Sometimes I watch players and think "Green Bay Packer." He fits the bill. Long, lanky. Good extension. Aggressive. Looks the part.
- Richard Sherman, Stanford. Round 4-5. Raw. Only played one year of CB. Previously, he was a WR. Has great size. Small similarities to Ras-Al. We struck gold with a 1-year collegiate CB last year.
- Antareis Bryan, Baylor. Projected Round 5. He's 6-1, 200. He ran a 4.37 at his Pro Day. He's had injury issues. As a sophomore he had 9 passes defensed. He's a Texas kid. He didn't get a combine invite. It's widely known that the Packers have interest. He's a classic Ted Thompson pick.
- Chris Rucker, Michigan State. Projected Round 4-5. Gets in your face as a CB. I enjoy his game. Jabs you. Runs with you. Gets his head turned around & finds the ball.
- Kevin Rutland, Mizzou. Projected Round 5-6. Fast. Powerful. Would be a great late round pick. Can rush the passer from his CB spot with great success. Really helped developed Mizzou's defense last year. Gets his hands on the ball. A legit prospect. Will be on a roster next year.
S: The Packers have great depth at S. Nintendo Nick, Morgan Burnett, Charlie Peprah, Anthony Smith, and Anthony Levine will be back. While most would look at this depth chart & assume the Packers would not draft a Safety, I've learned with Ted Thompson to expect the unexpected. Therefore, I've looked into late round safety prospects.
- Tyler Sash, Iowa. Projected Round 3. If Ted Thompson drafts him, he'll say "football player." He makes plays that you're used to seeing in backyard football. A lot like Jim Leonhard.
- Zac Etheridge, Auburn. Projected Round 7. The leader in the secondary for the National Champs.
Special Teams: While I'm not overly sold on Mason Crosby, Thompson won't be spending a draft pick on a K. Tim Masthay was a hero over the last half of the season. We could use help with a kick returners. I've read the Packers are spending pre-draft visits with kick returners. Even though McCarthy has been outwardly against using a small receiver, I've long believed that if given the opportunity, McCarthy would enjoy diagramming a play to get it to a scat-back type player who was a weapon in space.
- Shaky Smithson, WR/KR, Utah. He led the nation in punt return yards and punt return average. He'd be a 6th or 7th round pick, possibly an undrafted FA. The Packers visited with him. I've watched every YouTube video I could find on him. Guy has bounce. A swing to his step, he'll dance in the open field. He can be seeing throwing a TD pass, catching deep balls for TD's, and looking like a magician returning kicks.
- Jeremy Ross, WR/KR, Cal. Ross can absolutely fly. He blew up at his pro day, running under a 4.40. I've watched all of his YouTube videos as well as I understand the Packers brought him in for a visit. Standing 5-11, 213 lbs., Ross is a beast. Not a great route runner. He has limitations as a WR. Still, he could be worth a late round draft as a kick returner & a deep threat on offense. His video also showed him as a weapon running a reverse. Further, he holds a number of Cal records for strength & conditioning in events such as the power clean, the bench press, the squat and the vertical jump. Best of all, he wore #3 in college. Sounds like a Ted Thompson prospect to me.
As always, though they are necessary, no OL in my mock draft. I'd like to draft 2 OL, but I don't know the prospects all that well. For the record, I'd like the Packers to trade out of the 1st round with hopes of grabbing a total of 6 picks in the first 4 rounds. I like the magical 4 of the top 100 as we refuel. I doubt that pick #32 will have significant trade value as it appears that most teams near the end of the 1st round are interested in trading down. Though the demand to trade up for QB's will be high towards the end of the 1st round, I imagine that supply will outweigh demand. The Seahawks, Bears, Patriots. Steelers and Packers are all rumored to be interested in trading down & out of the 1st round. Again, this draft is about replenishing the depth on our roster. Since the CBA won't allow for teams to trade players, I project that Flynn will be on the roster in 2011 and thus, the Packers won't draft a QB. Always remember, Ted Thompson likes players with roots from TX, CA, FL, and MI.
Round 1 - Cameron Heyward, DL, Ohio State - Kills me to not type Hankerson, but we must continue to win the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball.
Round 2 - Greg Salas, WR, Hawaii - It's probably a bit early for him, but Thompson gets his guy.
Round 3 - Daniel Thomas, RB, K-State - Ryan Grant is in the last year of his contract. Typically, Thompson buys himself insurance in this scenario.
Round 4a - Greg Jones, ILB, Michigan State - So much production. Nose for the football. Line him up. Put pads on him. Let him play.
Round 4b - Jordan Cameron, TE, USC - Though we are loaded at TE, his athleticism is too good to pass up.
Round 5 - Antareis Bryan, CB, Baylor - Vintage Ted Thompson pick. Texas product. Injury issues limited his college production.
Round 6 - Martin Parker, DL Richmond - Furthers the depth. Really like his ability to move.
Round 7a - Mark Schiechl, OLB, Colorado School of the Mines - while we might be able to get him as an undrafted FA, why take the chance?
Round 7b - Jeremy Ross, WR/KR, Cal - he'd potentially solve our issues at KR. He'd also be a nice developmental WR.
In Ted Thompson, I trust.
Cheers,
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Caution: Hear me out on this one. Please read carefully.
Most experts write that the longer the CBA lasts, the better off the chances are for the repeat. I'm not sure that I agree.
This isn't about the Repeat. It's about the Three-Peat. Not since 1965-1967 has an NFL team won 3 consecutive titles. Sadly, the history of the NFL is not as cherished as in other sports. Most football fans only understand the Super Bowl era. Unfortunately, the Lombardi Three-Peat is often not recognized by the average fan. Thus, as a fan, my mission is the Three-Peat. With that, I'm concerned that the current CBA situation is punishing the Packers run at 3 in a row. I view this off-season as a "rebuilding" offseason. Not a "reloading" but a "rebuilding." Ted Thompson has built these Green Bay Packers rosters through the Draft. Not via Free Agency, so we won't "reload" with weapons - other than those that are returning from injury. This is an offseason in which we need to replenish our depth with additional youthful talent.
The CBA has dramatically affected the Packers approach towards this draft. Consider this: Had the CBA been signed, the Packers might be looking to trade Matt Flynn for a 2nd round pick. Flynn's trade value cannot get any higher than it is right now. We might be trading Nick Barnett for a 5th round pick. It's possible that we'd get a 6th round pick for Chillar. We'd move Brad Jones to ILB. And Ted Thompson would possess 12 picks, including 6 picks in the first 4 rounds. Further, he'd have the magical number: 4 of the top 100 picks. That'd be lethal.
Additionally, in Free Agency, the Packers would have lost Cullen Jenkins, which would presumably give the Packers a 4th round compensatory pick in the 2012 Draft. It's possible we'd also lose the likes of Korey Hall, Daryn Colledge, B-Jack, and James Jones. These losses would generate four more picks in the 2012 Draft. If the CBA gets remedied soon, it's probable that this scenario will still occur, but the longer the lockout lingers, the more likely the demand for FA's will diminish as there will not be enough time to get players adjusted to new systems. Also, in some instances, I imagine that teams will approach the draft as "need based" rather than the typical best player available.
To paraphrase from an Aaron Rodgers interview post the Super Bowl, "we're bringing back most of our players from this year & we'll be getting the best TE in the league back from injury." I agree, Aaron. Not to get ahead of myself, but let's think Three-Peat...one game at a time.
While I agree with the speculation that the CBA is benefiting the Packers because they got to play into February, I also view the off-season as a vital time for the development of our young roster. This was a big offseason for the likes of Neal, Burnett, Sammy Swagga Shields, Walden, Zombo, Chastin West, Quarless, Starks' pass protection, and Marshall Newhouse. However, there is no doubt that the rest will be a bonus for the Packers. A quick look at recent history shows the following:
In 2005, the Steelers played the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. In 2006, the Steelers failed to make the playoffs. The Seahawks finished 9-7 and won their division. They won 1 playoff game, which happened to be when Tony Romo dropped the snap on a short FG at the end of the game.
In 2006, the Colts beat the Bears in the Super Bowl. In 2007, the Colts did not win a playoff game. The Bears failed to make the playoffs.
In 2007, the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. In 2008, the Giants did not win a playoff game. The Patriots did not make the playoffs.
In 2008, the Steelers beat the Cardinals in the Super Bowl. In 2009, the Steelers did not make the playoffs. The Cardinals won 10 games. Made the playoffs and won 1 playoff game, which was 51-45 victory over the Packers. We all remember the rubbish play that ended this game.
In 2009, the Saints beat the Colts in the playoffs. In 2010, neither the Saints nor the Colts won a playoff game.
Add it all up & a Super Bowl champion has not won a playoff game the following year in the last 5 years. The Super Bowl loser has only won 2 playoff games. And both of those victories required extremely fortunate circumstances. Clearly, there is a Super Bowl hangover. Still, I argue that our team has enough youthful energy on the roster to combat this trend. Additionally, I hold firm on the belief that Ted Thompson builds this team via the Draft & it's crucial for us to have draft picks at our disposal so Thompson has the ammunition to wheel & deal. Currently, the CBA is limiting Thompson from fully capitalizing on his draft-day talents.
Due to the lockout, most of my friends are not as interested in the draft as they have been in previous years. I also feel that coverage of the draft has not been as detailed as in previous years. Moreover, most publications are only giving information that is 2-3 rounds deep. If you're like me, you're devoted to the first 5 rounds. You're absolutely glued for 5 rounds. Your heavily interested through the 6th and you're simply following along in the 7th round. Well, in this version of the mock draft, I'm going to attempt to provide a list of names to keep you entertained throughout the 7 Round NFL Draft. Admittedly, I have followed less this year than in past years. Nonetheless, I still feel armed with knowledge.
Below is a quick breakdown of each position & a list of potential prospects that I'm interested in. I believe these prospects could fill needs for us.
QB: Presently, we're in solid shape. We have the Super Bowl XLV MVP. We have the most talked about back-up in the NFL. We have a developmental prospect in Graham Harrell. Assuming the Packers hold onto Flynn, I cannot imagine Ted Thompson drafting a QB in the first 3 rounds. Below are a couple of names to consider with 4th-7th round picks:
- Greg McElroy, Alabama. Projected Round 5-6. A winner. Reminds me a lot of Matt Flynn will he was in college. Crafty. Good moxie. Knows how to move the football. Natural leader. Football instincts. Would need to be developed and wouldn't be ready to step in for a couple of years. Probably a career back-up.
- Scott Tolzien, WI. Projected Round 6-7. I'd be excited to draft Tolzien as a new toy for McCarthy. I felt that Tolzien grew as a player over the last 2 years. He grabbed command of the offense. He managed the game well. He picked up crucial 3rd downs in big games. He took his team on the road and quieted the crowd. If he lands in the right situation, Tolzien could have a nice career as a back-up/emergency QB.
- TJ Yates, UNC. Projected Round 7 or undrafted FA. Yates possesses a never-say-die situation. Faced with all types of problems this year at UNC due to his teammates off-the-field issues, early in the year, Yates showed his leadership as he fought hard to bring UNC back in the game against LSU. Not overly athletic. But, he's not afraid to attempt most of the throws. He comes across as a confident guy. But, he's inconsistent. At times, I'd watch him and think he has a chance to play in this league. Other times, he looks like a guy that won't get a shot. My guess: he'll get a chance & be an extra arm in someone's camp.
RB: James Starks became the Savior in 2010. Ryan Grant is returning from injury. Quinn Johnson is signed. So is Dmitri Nance. McCarthy appears to be high on Nance. Kuhn, B-Jack & Korey Hall are all Free Agents. Kuhn figures to be back. B-Jack's status is in question. Korey Hall was not offered a tender, which means he's free to go. Expect the Packers to draft a RB at some point this year. It wouldn't surprise me we picked a RB in any round this year. Here's my list:
- Mark Ingram: If he's available in Round 1, I expect the Packers to take him. I doubt he'll be there, but it's possible. Remember that Ted Thompson has ties to Ingram's father from his 1st go-around with the Packers, when Mark Ingram was catching passes from Favre. It should be noted that Ingram set the record for the fastest 10-yard split in the history of the NFL Draft. By now, we know Thompson is big on this number.
- Mike LeShoure, Illinois. Projected Round 1-2. LeShoure has a solid combination of speed, strength & elusiveness. Get him in space & LeShoure will make good things happen. He dominated the Wrigley Field game when Illinois played Northwestern. The typical workhorse who gets better as the game goes on. He'll wear you down. Beat you up. And he'll keep on running.
- Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech. Projected Round 2-3. Since the first time I watched him play against Alabama in the '09 opener, I've admired his game. He knows where the yard marker is at. He finds the goal line. He'll beat you to the corner. He's performed well in big games. He took it to the []_[] with HR ability. He's a bit short, but he makes up for it with toughness.
- DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma. Projected Round 2-3. Murray can run. He can catch. He's not afraid to stick his nose in the action to block. Some potential durability issues. But, when given the chance, Murray performs. An athletic back who'll bring good versatility to someone's offense.
- Daniel Thomas, Kansas State. Projected Round 3. His running style mirrors Ryan Grant. Runs the stretch play with grace. Gets to the corner. Hits the hole hard. Good one-cut runner. A threat to get into the oppositions secondary. My concern is that a lot of his yards came via the wildcat formation. He has the speed and awareness to get to the corner & generate a big play.
- Jordan Todman, UCONN. Projected Round 3-4. At 5-9, he doesn't have great size. But, he's 200 lbs. He can absorb contact. While he runs a 4.40, he doesn't seem to fly by players on the field. But, he produces. Every time you watch Todman play, he'll impress you with his steady production. He delivers consistently.
- Shane Vereen, Cal. Projected Round 3-4. Quicker than fast, Vereen has his eye on the big play. Good hands, which makes him a constant match-up problem. Hits the hole hard. Big play capability. Not an every down back, but will fit into someone's rotation nicely.
- Charles Clay, Tulsa. Projected Round 4. He has terrific hands. He's got a unique build. He's not a fierce blocker, but he's a constant mismatch problem for opposing defenses. Every year - it seems that the Thompson/McCarthy regime makes a head-scratching decision at either FB or TE. This year, it's in the form of Charles Clay who can carry the ball, but he could also be viewed as a guy that could play FB or potentially, TE.
- Damien Berry, []_[]. Projected Round 7. While Berry occasionally has had issues holding onto the football, he has shown glimpses of brilliance in his collegiate career. While he's not the most powerful back, he'll throw his body into the line of scrimmage & push for additional yardage. He's got NFL ability if he can stay healthy. He's fearless & might turn out to be a better NFL player than he was as a collegiate player.
- Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech. Projected Round 7. I can't say that I love his game. He played in a gimmick offense. He's not overly elusive. Not overly powerful. Not overly fast. Not overly impressive. But, he's consistently gaining yards. Gets yards after contact. A lot of uncertainty surrounds his game due to the type of offense he played in.
- Nic Grigsby, Arizona. Projected Round 7. If he had stayed healthy in college, he might be a 4th-5th round prospect. Good one-cut runner. Sees the hole & bursts thru it. HR potential. Good speed. He would be a great late round value pick. Good nose for the end zone & tough to take down in space. I'd like to see him in Green & Gold.
- Noel Devine, WVU. Projected Round 7. While he's tremendously undersized, you can't argue with his speed. Nor his collegiate production. He's a threat every time he touches the ball. Get him in space and let him make someone miss. It'll be 6 points. I'll bet most teams are confused because he didn't return kicks at the college level as Jock Sanders took over most of these duties. I'd be interested to see if he's capable of returning punts. Definitely worth a shot late in the draft.
- I'm going to pass on Jacquizz Rodgers, Alex Green, Derrick Locke, and Dion Lewis. I don't think that any of them fit into what the Packers style. Rodgers is too small and I'm not sure he can return kicks. Green is a valuable 3rd down back, potentially, but I fear he'll have fumbling issues. Locke & Lewis are too small. I am also not sold on Roy Helu, Bilal Powell, Evan Royster & Mario Fannin.
WR: Greg Jennings has solidified himself as an elite WR in the league. Donald Driver can still play, but his game is on the decline. Jordy Nelson played his best game as a pro in the Super Bowl. He was featured. It wouldn't surprise me if the Packers insert him in the starting line-up in 2011. James Jones should not be re-signed. Brett Swain's ability is limited. I remain high on Chastin West. I truly believed that West would make a big impact during training camp last year. It didn't happen. Expect West to play a prominent role in the preseason this year. Still, it's necessary that the Packers draft a WR. Don't be surprised if the Packers draft 2 WR's this year.
- Leonard Hankerson, []_[]. Projected Round 1-2. Bring the Swagga to Lambeau! I want Hank in Round 1! Rodgers could use another weapon. Keep his stable of stallions stocked with youthful, fearless energy. Hankerson fits! He can play in the slot. He can beat the jab at the line of scrimmage. He'll occasionally have a mental lapse & drop a pass, but he's also a legitimate playmaker. He'll beat you deep. He runs a solid down-and-out. He'll run the post. He'll run the slant. He'll catch the ball in traffic. He's not afraid to take a hit. He has a nose for the end zone. He has great work ethic. He worked out with Mark Duper, his childhood idol, before his Junior Year to improve his route running. I want him. I can't guarantee that he'll be a Pro Bowl WR, but he'll be a solid NFL WR for the next 10 years, if he stays healthy.
- Randall Cobb, Kentucky. Projected Round 2. Utility player. Can return kicks. Great with the ball in his hands. Has played QB. Elusive. Gifted athlete. Might need to be developed as a WR, but he's a classic Ted Thompson style "football player."
- Jerrel Jernigan, Troy. Projected Round 2-3. This years Dexter McCluster. Just find a way to get him the ball. Undersized. Quick. Every time he touches the ball, he's thinking TD.
- Titus Young, Boise State. Projected Round 3. A poor man's DeSean Jackson. Not positive I'd draft him because I believe he's afraid to take a hit. He'll have alligator arms on routes across the middle, but his return value makes him a legitimate prospect. Great speed. Dangerous returner. Loves the deep route. Without his return value, I don't list him.
- Greg Little, UNC. Projected Round 3-4. Without the character issues, he'd be listed much higher. Watch his video & it shows a talented WR who has the size to be an elite WR in the league. He has the size & speed to be a mid-round steal of the draft. He's also played RB. Overly physical. Seeks contact. Tough to bring down. A fighter with the ball in his hands. Physically beats down Defensive Backs. Possible attitude issues. But, Thompson has shown that he's not afraid to take a risk on a middle round pick.
- Greg Salas, Hawaii. Projected Round 3-4. Watch Greg Salas play and you'll think Greg Jennings. He is football smart. He understands angles & is great at improvising both with the ball in his hands & without the ball in his hands. He is a premier player after the catch. He goes up & gets the ball in jump ball situations. He may not fly in the 40, but he's football fast. He will make people miss, but he'll also fight through a defender for additional yards.
- Terrence Tolliver, LSU. Projected Round 4-5. Ideal size for the NFL. I thought he improved as the season went along last year. Seemed more focused. Will go over the middle with confidence. Great NFL size. Excelled, at times, against top notch competition. From what I saw, he looked good in the workouts prior to the East-West game as well.
- Austin Pettis, Boise State. Projected Round 5. Whoever drafts Austin Pettis will get a solid football player. He'll never be a #1 WR, but he'll have a long career. Above average hands. A big-game player. A go-to guy on 3rd down & late in games. He's a winner. Solid route runner. I like him better than Titus Young. Take away return abilities and I'd rank the WR's in this draft like this: 1.) AJ Green 2.) Julio Jones 3.) Leonard Hankerson 4.) Greg Salas 5.) Greg Little 6.) Austin Pettis
- Jeremy Kerley, TCU. Projected Round 5-6. How can you not root for this guy? Doesn't have ideal size. Doesn't have ideal speed. He just gets open. Wiggles his hips. Makes you miss. Solid returner as well. Worth a mid-to-late round pick. Reminds a little of a young Antonio Freeman.
- Lester Jean, FAU. Projected Round 6-7. Had a chance to see a little of him while I was living in Miami Beach. He definitely looks the part in his uniform. A little raw. Played against questionable competition. I went to the FAU v FIU game to watch Anthony Gaitor, TY Hilton & Rob Housler. I left the game being most impressed with Lester Jean. A developmental prospect who will get a look after getting a chance to perform at the East-West game.
- Stephen Burton, West Texas. Projected Round 6-7. By now, we know Ted Thompson loves Texas kids. This can't be stated enough. Burton has the size at 6-1, 221. He's a junior college prospect who thrilled scouts at his Pro Day. Good leaping ability allows him to get up and make plays against defenders. He uses his body well to shield receivers to create space.
- Dwayne Harris, WR, ECU. Possession WR. Looks like a slot receiver who would have a hard time beating the jam at the line of scrimmage, so it'd be necessary to slide him inside.
- Jamel Hamler, WR, Fresno State. Big, athletic WR. Had some big games for Fresno last year. Good developmental prospect.
- I'm not sold on Jonathan Baldwin, Pitt. I also have concerns over Torrey Smith's route running. Sure, he has the speed, but most of his success can on go-routes. He'll need more than that to thrive in the NFL.
TE: J-Mike returns. Assuming he's healthy, he'll be in the Pro Bowl. I have concerns over his long-term status. He'll have contract demands. It's questionable whether Thompson would be willing to meet his financial desires. Quarless showed promise, at times. He was forced into action sooner than the Packers would have ideally liked him to play. He was inconsistent, but he showed enough to offer hope for a more productive 2nd year. Crabtree is a legitimate blocking TE. The guy also has solid hands. Remember that he played most of the year with 1 hand. He'll be more involved in the offense this year. Donald Lee will not be back. I foresee Ted Thompson adding a TE in the middle rounds of the draft. We have to prepare for a worst case scenario (ie: losing Finley). It's in the DNA of Ted Thompson to add a TE when he has an elite prospect nearing a contract year.
- Luke Stocker, TN. Projected Round 3-4. Physical TE. Good blocker. Solid possession receiver. A bear to bring down. He'll run you over. Good hands in traffic. While some compare him to Jason Witten, I look at him as being more comparable to John Carlson.
- Jordan Cameron, USC. Projected Round 3-4. Can you say mismatch? This former basketball player knows body control. Great at snatching the ball out of the air in traffic. Uses his body well to shield defenders to create separation. Not only is he talented coming out of a 3-point stance, you can also stand him up. Put him at WR. Have him run the slant. Throw it up. Let him go get it. He'd be a terrific insurance policy in case J-Mike leaves via FA after next year.
- Virgil Green, Nevada. Projected Round 4. Workout wonder. Great combine. Solid performance in the East-West game. Has potential. I believe him to be slow off the snap and thus, at times, he fails to create separation. Might be too soft. But, he has the build to be a guy the Packers would be interested in.
- Rob Housler, FAU. Projected Round 5. I went to a game of his to check him out. A man among boys at his level of competition. But, while he looked the part in uniform, he didn't blow me away with his production. He's a workout maniac and I've read the Packers have had discussions with him.
OL: Bulaga has a future. Sitton has Pro Bowl potential. Wells has 1-year remaining on his contract. Clifton had a solid campaign in 2010, but he's nearing the end of his career. He'll be a Packers HOF'er. I doubt Colledge comes back. With that, there will be an opening at LG. TJ Lang would be the leading candidate for the gig. McCarthy has long stated that he believes Lang to be a Guard. Nick McDonald & Evan Diedrich-Smith have also garnered praise from McCarthy as developmental prospects. Personally, I'm high on Marshall Newhouse. He had a great pre-season. He dominated the game-winning final drive of the Seahawks game. He was a stud against the Colts in the preseason. High hopes surround Newhouse. Still, it's imperative that the Packers draft a couple of OL in this year's draft. As always, I lack knowledge with regards to OL as draft prospects. Although, I would be excited if the Packers traded up for Gabe Carimi in the 1st round. He & Bulaga would be the book-ends of the future.
DL: BJ "the Freezer" Raji is one of the fastest rising defenders in football. He was durable. He was a consistent playmaker. A force in the middle. Pickett remains a solid player, but he has had injury issues the past couple of years. He's also not getting any younger. CJ Wilson showed promise. Mike Neal has 7 sack potential, if he can stay healthy. If fit, Neal could become a legitimate force in the 3-4. Howard Green is a capable run defender. While Jairus Wynn gives great effort, he can be upgraded. Cullen Jenkins will most likely be gone via FA. Jolly will never wear #97 in Green & Gold again. Therefore, the Packers must address the DL in this years draft. Thankfully, the DL position is arguably the strongest position in the draft.
- Cameron Heyward, Ohio State. Projected Round 1. If he's available at #32, I believe that he'll be the pick. Ideal 3-4 DE. Would fill in for Cullen Jenkins when we lose him via FA. Can play the run & the pass. Has the genes as his Dad was a former NFL player. Spends time in opponents backfield.
- Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple. Projected Round 1. Great athlete. Dominated light competition. Fluid for his size. Perfect fit for a 3-4 defense.
- Kendrick Ellis, DT, Hampton. Projected Round 2-3. 6-5. 345. Massive. He'd be a great addition to our DL. He'd fit our Big Beefy package.
- Terrell McClain, South Florida. Projected Round 4. Super athletic big man. Fits the 3-4 DE spot. Holds the point of attack. Uber quick for his size. Played both the run & the pass very well. He'd add pressure and can hold the point of attack - though not overly powerful.
- Cedric Thornton, Southern Arkansas. Projected Round 5. Watched him extensively during the Senior Bowl week. Hard worker. Small school player that competed admirably against the big school players. Active hands. Good spin moves.
- Martin Parker, Richmond. Projected Round 6. Had a great performance in the East-West game. Moves well in small spaces. Showed a good motor in the East-West game. Good pressure on the QB. Smart defender. Reads plays well. Has good size for either the 3-4 or the 4-3. He has the capacity to have a nice rotational NFL career.
- Anthony Gray, SMU. Projected Round 7. Big boy. Stout run defender. Would be able to hold the point of attack at DT in the 3-4. It's possible he could slide out to DE in Big Beefy front.
- Brandon Bair, Oregon. Projected Round 7. From a weight perspective, he's a bit undersized for the 3-4, but he's an active player with a great motor. No one will work harder on the field & he has a nose for the football.
LB: The Claymaker is among the elite players in the NFL. Desmond Bishop legitimized himself as an ILB. I'm stoked that he got his contract! AJ Hawk earned his contract as well. Together, Hawk & Bishop showed great continuity. Erik Walden's development was an encouraging sign. Frank "The Z-Man" Zombo showed ability. Between Zombo & Walden, we have enough talent at OLB and therefore, drafting an OLB early in the draft is not overly necessary. I also don't think that you can discount the relationship between Zombo & Clay. Clearly, from the NFL videos that I've seen, there is a mutual respect & strong camaraderie. The Packers will also get Brad Jones back. Expect to see Jones get some action at ILB this year. The status of Barnett & Chillar is up in the air. Diyral Briggs & Matt Wilhelm were nice mid-season additions, but I would think we can find an upgrade. I envision the Packers drafting at least one LB; and probably two of them.
- Akeem Ayers, UCLA. Projected Round 1. For a part of the 2010 college season, Ayers was my favorite player in college football. I thought he'd be an ideal fit across from Clay. Ayers can drop in coverage. He attacks with a vengeance. Great athleticism. Then, with great excitement, I tuned into the UCLA vs Oregon game. Ayers was slow. He got beat to the corner a number of times. Then he ran a poor 40 at the Combine. Don't get me wrong, if we're drafting OLB early, I want it to be Ayers. He's an instinctive football player. Looks the part. He'd be a fun addition to the Packers defense.
- Brooks Reed, Arizona. Projected Round 1-2. What I liked most about Reed was his ability to close out games. Early in the year, in close games, Reed was applying pressure and sealing wins for Arizona. I'm concerned that he was a DL at the college level who will have to convert to OLB. We've never seen him stand up and drop in coverage. He had a great combine - especially in the 10-yard split, which is what Thompson covets. I like Reed, but I don't see him as the best player available at #32. If he's our 1st pick, I hope we trade down & grab additional picks and get him around #40.
- Casey Matthews, Oregon. Projected Round 3-4. Definitely not his brother. But, he has a nose for the football and the heart of a lion.
- Colin McCarthy, []_[]. Round 3. Immediately, he'll be a stallion special teams player. Finds the football. Moves well. Gets sideline to sideline.
- Greg Jones, Michigan State. Round 3-4. At one time, he was considered a top-15 prospect. Now, we might last until Day 3. It's almost unbelievable. Every time he plays, he seems to lead the game in tackles. Even at the Senior Bowl, he had a dozen tackles. Not the best size. Not the best speed. Just a football player. I'd take him.
- Akeem Dent, Georgia. Projected Round 6. Great awareness. Sees the field. I envision him immediately contributing on special teams. Gets to the sideline well. Will take on blockers. He's not going to shy away from contact.
- Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State. Projected Round 7 or Undrafted. Might be able to play both ILB & OLB. Active player. Appeared to have good discipline during the East-West game. Versatile defender. Can drop in coverage. Decent awareness.
- Mario Harvey, Marshall. Round 7. You know when you watch someone play one time & he instantly catches your eye? That happened to me with Mario Harvey. Not ideal size nor speed. But, he plays like Desmond Bishop. Crushes you. I'd take him in a heartbeat in Round 7.
- Marc Scheichl, Colorado School of the Mines. Round 5-7. So, I wrote about the Packers being present at this Pro Day. Well, Schiechl became the talk of local sports radio for a night after he posted a 35-inch vertical jump and ran up 38 reps on the bench pressure. He stands just over 6-2 & weighs 251 lbs. Speculation was that the Packers were a huge player in conducting drills that tested his ability to drop in coverage and play as an OLB as he was mainly a DE at the college level. Further, he holds the D2 record with 45 career sacks. He was a man amongst boys.
- Cheta Ozougwu, Rice. Round 6-7. Arguably, the most naturally gifted of the bunch. Moves with grace. Totally fluid. Good lateral movement. Played DE in college, but I believe his skills translate to OLB in the NFL. Runs like Walden. Good developmental prospect.
- Matt Berning, Central Michigan. Probably an UFA. But, what would a Ted Thompson prospect list be without a guy from Central Michigan? He needed to be on the list.
- Bruce Miller, UCF. Projected Round 7. Put this guy on the field. Let him get after the QB. I'd love to see the Packers take a shot on him either in the 7th round or as an undrafted FA. Consistently, he's applying pressure. Great effort player. Late him games, I've seen him seal the deal.
- I view OLB's Dontay Moch, Chris Carter, and Mason Foster all as players who will make rosters & bring solid special teams contributions. I don't necessarily view them as players that will be upgrades over our current roster.
CB: With Sir Charles, T-Mon, and Sammy Swagga, the Packers are in good position. But, depth concerns me. Underwood, P-Lee, and J-Bush have not shown consistency nor true development. Josh Bell remains on the roster, but I don't have confidence in him either. I like Josh Gordy as a developmental prospect. I liked him out of college. I'll be interested to follow him in training camp. I foresee the Packers drafting at least one CB this year.
- Jimmy Smith, Colorado. Projected Round 1. If he's available at #32, man, he'd be tough to pass up. Baltimore, Philly, NYJ and Pittsburgh seem like logical spots for him. But, it's possible he could fall. Ideal size. Attitude is a concern, but I think our locker room would straighten him up.
- Aaron Williams, Texas. Projected Round 1-2. Many think he'll have to play Safety at the next level. Not me. I think he'd be a solid CB both in the slot and on the outside. Great tackler. Aggressive. Gets his hands on the ball. Plays the ball well in the air. I'd like him at #32 if he's the pick.
- Ras-I Dowling, Virginia. Projected Round 2-3. As I've said before, he were healthy, he'd be a top-15 pick. I love his game. 'Nuff said.
- Curtis Brown, Texas. Projected Round 2-3. Has the size, the speed and awareness. Good out of his breaks. Legit prospect. Will be a great pick for someone.
- If Korey Lindsey, Brandon Hogan, and Marcus Gilchrist stood at least 5-11, I'd write with great length about each of them. But, since they're only 5-10, they haven't fit the typical Ted Thompson profile.
- Cortez Allen, Citadel. Projected Round 5. Sometimes I watch players and think "Green Bay Packer." He fits the bill. Long, lanky. Good extension. Aggressive. Looks the part.
- Richard Sherman, Stanford. Round 4-5. Raw. Only played one year of CB. Previously, he was a WR. Has great size. Small similarities to Ras-Al. We struck gold with a 1-year collegiate CB last year.
- Antareis Bryan, Baylor. Projected Round 5. He's 6-1, 200. He ran a 4.37 at his Pro Day. He's had injury issues. As a sophomore he had 9 passes defensed. He's a Texas kid. He didn't get a combine invite. It's widely known that the Packers have interest. He's a classic Ted Thompson pick.
- Chris Rucker, Michigan State. Projected Round 4-5. Gets in your face as a CB. I enjoy his game. Jabs you. Runs with you. Gets his head turned around & finds the ball.
- Kevin Rutland, Mizzou. Projected Round 5-6. Fast. Powerful. Would be a great late round pick. Can rush the passer from his CB spot with great success. Really helped developed Mizzou's defense last year. Gets his hands on the ball. A legit prospect. Will be on a roster next year.
S: The Packers have great depth at S. Nintendo Nick, Morgan Burnett, Charlie Peprah, Anthony Smith, and Anthony Levine will be back. While most would look at this depth chart & assume the Packers would not draft a Safety, I've learned with Ted Thompson to expect the unexpected. Therefore, I've looked into late round safety prospects.
- Tyler Sash, Iowa. Projected Round 3. If Ted Thompson drafts him, he'll say "football player." He makes plays that you're used to seeing in backyard football. A lot like Jim Leonhard.
- Zac Etheridge, Auburn. Projected Round 7. The leader in the secondary for the National Champs.
Special Teams: While I'm not overly sold on Mason Crosby, Thompson won't be spending a draft pick on a K. Tim Masthay was a hero over the last half of the season. We could use help with a kick returners. I've read the Packers are spending pre-draft visits with kick returners. Even though McCarthy has been outwardly against using a small receiver, I've long believed that if given the opportunity, McCarthy would enjoy diagramming a play to get it to a scat-back type player who was a weapon in space.
- Shaky Smithson, WR/KR, Utah. He led the nation in punt return yards and punt return average. He'd be a 6th or 7th round pick, possibly an undrafted FA. The Packers visited with him. I've watched every YouTube video I could find on him. Guy has bounce. A swing to his step, he'll dance in the open field. He can be seeing throwing a TD pass, catching deep balls for TD's, and looking like a magician returning kicks.
- Jeremy Ross, WR/KR, Cal. Ross can absolutely fly. He blew up at his pro day, running under a 4.40. I've watched all of his YouTube videos as well as I understand the Packers brought him in for a visit. Standing 5-11, 213 lbs., Ross is a beast. Not a great route runner. He has limitations as a WR. Still, he could be worth a late round draft as a kick returner & a deep threat on offense. His video also showed him as a weapon running a reverse. Further, he holds a number of Cal records for strength & conditioning in events such as the power clean, the bench press, the squat and the vertical jump. Best of all, he wore #3 in college. Sounds like a Ted Thompson prospect to me.
As always, though they are necessary, no OL in my mock draft. I'd like to draft 2 OL, but I don't know the prospects all that well. For the record, I'd like the Packers to trade out of the 1st round with hopes of grabbing a total of 6 picks in the first 4 rounds. I like the magical 4 of the top 100 as we refuel. I doubt that pick #32 will have significant trade value as it appears that most teams near the end of the 1st round are interested in trading down. Though the demand to trade up for QB's will be high towards the end of the 1st round, I imagine that supply will outweigh demand. The Seahawks, Bears, Patriots. Steelers and Packers are all rumored to be interested in trading down & out of the 1st round. Again, this draft is about replenishing the depth on our roster. Since the CBA won't allow for teams to trade players, I project that Flynn will be on the roster in 2011 and thus, the Packers won't draft a QB. Always remember, Ted Thompson likes players with roots from TX, CA, FL, and MI.
Round 1 - Cameron Heyward, DL, Ohio State - Kills me to not type Hankerson, but we must continue to win the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball.
Round 2 - Greg Salas, WR, Hawaii - It's probably a bit early for him, but Thompson gets his guy.
Round 3 - Daniel Thomas, RB, K-State - Ryan Grant is in the last year of his contract. Typically, Thompson buys himself insurance in this scenario.
Round 4a - Greg Jones, ILB, Michigan State - So much production. Nose for the football. Line him up. Put pads on him. Let him play.
Round 4b - Jordan Cameron, TE, USC - Though we are loaded at TE, his athleticism is too good to pass up.
Round 5 - Antareis Bryan, CB, Baylor - Vintage Ted Thompson pick. Texas product. Injury issues limited his college production.
Round 6 - Martin Parker, DL Richmond - Furthers the depth. Really like his ability to move.
Round 7a - Mark Schiechl, OLB, Colorado School of the Mines - while we might be able to get him as an undrafted FA, why take the chance?
Round 7b - Jeremy Ross, WR/KR, Cal - he'd potentially solve our issues at KR. He'd also be a nice developmental WR.
In Ted Thompson, I trust.
Cheers,
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Sunday, April 3, 2011
My Take -> Epic Mock Draft Volume 2
Greetings, G-Force.
For some, April brings baseball season. For me, it's the start of NFL Draft month. The 2011 NFL Draft is less than a month away. Ted Thompson has 9 picks. If his guy falls in Round 1, he'll have the ammunition to trade up. Also, depending on what happens with the likes of Christian Ponder, Jake Locker, and Ryan Mallett, the #32 pick might be coveted. The new draft format gives added value to the later picks on Day 1 & the earlier picks in Round 2. Remember that last year the Viqueens were able to swing a deal with the Lions at pick #30. The Broncos also traded up to pick #25 to grab Tebow. It wouldn't surprise me if Thompson were to receive a solid offer for pick #32 - depending on what happens with the QB position. Every year, I say that I like having 4 of the top 100. This year - Thompson has 5 of the top 131.
And now for Volume 2 of my Epic Mock Draft. Once again, I don't include OL. Time limits me & quite simply, I don't follow it closely enough to make an opinion. I wish I had more time to dig into the OL as it's a crucial component to the 2011 Draft, but unfortunately, I've been busy.
Round 1 (#32): Leonard Hankerson, WR, []_[]. I've tried to convince myself to go another direction & to grab a DL or OLB at this spot. I've looked at options to potentially grab WR later and while I'm intrigued at the possibility of grabbing a gifted WR later in the draft, my focus is on giving Aaron Rodgers another weapon. Too many times we've seen this offense stall late in games. It was our defense that saved games. With the majority of our playmakers coming back on defense, it's vital to add more talent on offense. By now, we know that Ted Thompson places an emphasis on spending early picks on pass-catchers. See: Terrence Murphy, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, J-Mike. This year - the choice is Hankerson. He leaves THE []_[] having caught more TD's than any player in the rich history of Miami football. Hankerson not only has a knack for finding the end zone, but he's also had a pension for getting open on 3rd down. He's not afraid to go across the middle. He can play in the slot. He can also play on the outside. He's solid in traffic. He's a gifted WR. Occasionally, he'll drop a pass, but I believe he'd look great wearing either #86 or #84 next year.
Others to watch: Muhammad Wilkerson, DL, Temple. Great talent. Impressive quickness for a big guy. Powerful. Don't think he'll make it to #32, but if he does, he'd be a solid 3-4 DE. Same applies to Cameron Heyward, DL, Ohio State. For the record, I don't want Brooks Reed, OLB, AZ with our 1st round pick. After watching him play 5 times this year, I don't see him as a 1st round talent. He has a great motor. He's a closer. He'll finish games with a sack, which intrigues me. But, he was strictly a DE in college. He didn't drop in coverage. His hand was in the dirt. Yes, he'd add variety to the Defense, but I've never considered him a 1st round talent. I viewed him as a 3rd rounder, at best. If he's our 1st pick, I hope we've traded down & accumulated extra draft choices. Also, earlier in the college season, I wrote that Akeem Ayers would fit the Packers better than anyone else at the college level. I viewed him as a perfect compliment to the Claymaker. He dominated Texas. But, this was prior to knowing that Texas was awful last year. Additionally, then I watched him play Oregon. Against Oregon, he looked slow. Granted, Oregon made most defenders look slow, however that's the type of speed that Ayers will face on a weekly basis in the NFL. Consistently, Ayers was beat to the corner. The Combine also showed that Ayers lacked speed. He wasn't overly physical. Still, I'd like Ayers, a lot as our 1st round pick. I've seen him dominate. He has the ability. I'm no longer juiced with the notion of Martez Wilson, LB, IL in the 1st round. Aaron Williams, CB, Texas. Often times, in late-March/early-April, teams forget about the tape. They remember the pre-draft workouts. Players who consistently made plays at the college level drop in the draft. It's always confused me. For me, this applies to Williams. At one point, Williams was viewed as a 1st round pick. The draft advisory board listed him as a 1-2 round prospect. Now, while reading the draft "experts", they express concern rather than discussing his positive attributes. While at Texas, Williams did it all. He picked off passes (4), he got to the QB (3 sacks, 3 pressure), he made plays against the run (12 tackles for loss), he forced fumbles (6) and he blocked punts (5). At times, he even returned punts. In some ways, his style of play reminds me of Sir Charles. He's physical. He attacks the football. Additionally, as we know, the McCarthy/Thompson combination requires rookies to play special teams. Well, not only did Williams block kicks, but he also finished tied for the team lead with 9 tackles on special teams. Most speculate that his college teammate, Curtis Brown, will be selected before him. Williams stands 6-0, 200 lbs. He ran a 4.42 in the 40. Presently, it appears #32 will be too early for Aaron Williams. It's doubtful that he'll be around when the Packers select at #64.
Round 2 (#64): Kendrick Ellis, DT, Hampton. 6-5. 345. Massive. He'd be a great addition to our DL. He'd fit our Big Beefy package. I've often wrote that Ted Thompson will occasionally draft for next year (meaning 2012) rather than this year. Well, Ryan Pickett is aging. Howard Green has one more year on his contract. Couple that with the assumption that Cullen Jenkins will be gone via FA & the Packers must draft a DL in the early portions of the 2011 NFL Draft. Thankfully, DL is largely considered the most talented position in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Others to watch: Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy. Elusive with the ball in his hands. He'll make you miss & he's a highlight film in the making. But, the big question mark is his size. Is he physical enough to withstand the punishment of the NFL game. Truly, I believe that Mike McCarthy would love to design plays to get Jernigan in the open field. Randall Cobb, KR/WR, Kentucky. The Packers love versatile performers. Cobb played both QB & WR for Kentucky in his career. He was also a dangerous KR. I envision Ted Thompson calling him a "football player." Christian Ballard, DL, Iowa. I've seen his name attached to the Packers at the end of Round 1. I don't see him as a 1st round pick rather I see him as a mid-to-late 2nd rounder. If he's around, he'd be a solid pick as he'd be able to rotate with Mike Neal/CJ Wilson at DE. He'd also be able to pressure the QB in the 2-4-5 defense that the Packers often use. While I believe the Packers are in good hands with the Grant/Starks/Kuhn combination, there might be good talent available when the Packers pick at #64. Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech. Williams is a game changer. He gets better with more carries. He's a home run threat. Mikel LeShoure, RB, IL. LeShoure is a nifty runner who was extremely productive at the college level. For his collegiate career, he averaged 6.0 yards per carry. Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia. If he'd have stayed healthy, he'd be a top-20 draft pick. Great frame. Sees the field. Plays the ball. As I've said before, when healthy, he outplayed his college teammate, Chris Cook who was an early 2nd round pick for the 'queen in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Round 3 (#96): Casey Matthews, ILB, Oregon. Totally wishful. There looks to be good value in the 3rd round at ILB with the likes of Colin McCarthy, []_[] and Greg Jones, Michigan State, as other options. I know that it's unlikely that Matthews will be a Packer, but man, it's attractive to consider. He'd fit the 3-4. He has the long hair that we require to play LB. He's instinctive. He has the bloodlines. Plus, we have a true requirement to add an ILB. If Matthews is on the board at pick #96, I want him!
Others to watch: I'm enamored with Austin Pettis, WR, Boise St. The guy will have a career in the NFL. He runs solid routes. Great size. Solid hands. A gamer.
Round 4 (#129): Jordan Todman, RB, UCONN. Every time I watched UCONN play over the last two years, Todman was making plays. He has a nose for the end zone, he gets tough yards and for his size, he falls forward. Would be a solid addition to our backfield. Again, Thompson will draft for 2012 over 2011 - at some point - in this draft. Todman might be that pick if he doesn't expect to resign Ryan Grant after this year.
Round 4 (#131): Terrell McClain, Super athletic big man. Fits the 3-4 DE spot. Holds the point of attack. Uber quick for his size. Played both the run & the pass very well. He'd add pressure and can hold the point of attack - though not overly powerful.
Others to watch: Charles Clay, RB, Tulsa. He has terrific hands. He's got a unique build. He's not a fierce blocker, but he's a constant mismatch problem for opposing defenses. Every year - it seems that the Thompson/McCarthy regime makes a head-scratching decision at either FB or TE. This year, it's in the form of Charles Clay who can carry the ball, but he could also be viewed as a guy that could play FB or potentially, TE. I know I previously said that I'd undoubtedly have him as my pick at #129, but surprisingly (even to myself), I've changed my mind. Virgil Green, TE, Nevada. A physical specimen. A threat that has the size & speed to create headaches for defensive coordinators. If utilized properly, he could turn into a true gem. Alex Green, RB, Hawaii. Out of a spread offense, he led the nation in yards per carry. He also rushed for over 1,000 yards. Solid 3rd down back.
Round 5 (#163): Antareis Bryan, CB, Baylor. He's 6-1, 200. He ran a 4.37 at his Pro Day. He's had injury issues. As a sophomore he had 9 passes defensed. He's a Texas kid. He didn't get a combine invite. It's widely known that the Packers have interest. He's a classic Ted Thompson pick.
Others to watch: Julius Thomas, TE, Portland State. I'll be ultra-interested to see where Thomas is selected. A tremendous athlete. Former TE. Sound hands. Great confidence. Anthony Sherman, FB, UCONN. A bruising FB who the ability to catch the ball. Looks for contact. Similar player to Kuhn. He could also be used as the occasional runner. Solid blocker.
Round 6 (#197): Marc Scheichl, OLB, Colorado School of the Mines. I continue to read on the Internet & hear on the radio that the Packers are showing interest in Scheichl. The DII prospect has the size and physical attributes to play at the next level. Not only were the Packers 1 of 3 teams to be in attendance at his Pro Day, but they have now scheduled a private workout with him. It might be in hopes of him being signed as a UFA, but with the CBA restrictions I'm guessing the Packers use a draft pick on him.
Others to watch: Bruce Miller, OLB, Central Florida. Every time I watched him, he was around the football. Especially late in games. To me, he's almost every bit the prospect as Brooks Reed. Nic Grigsby, RB, Arizona. Has the speed & tools to be a big-play threat. Was limited in college, but he would be a good compliment to the running styles of Grant/Starks.
Round 7 (#204): Scott Tolzien, QB, WI. He's a great prospect. A heady football player. Can make the throws. Great moxie. Intelligent QB. Developmental player. McCarthy could use a new toy. Tolzien fits the bill.
Round 7 (#233): Dwayne Harris, WR, ECU. Last year, Thompson drafted CJ Wilson from ECU and he scored well. This year it's Dwayne Harris, the highly productive college performer. Harris scored 10 TD's as a Senior after scoring 7 as a sophomore.
Others to watch: I'm confident that Thompson will look at WR in the later rounds. Names the Packers have spent time with: Edmund Gates, Abilene Christian; Jamel Hamler, Fresno State; Lester Jean, FAU; and Stephen Burton, West Texas.
Tick-tock to the draft. It's the time when Ted Thompson generally plays like "Pop Tarts!"
Wishing you an XLV-like April!
Cheers,
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
For some, April brings baseball season. For me, it's the start of NFL Draft month. The 2011 NFL Draft is less than a month away. Ted Thompson has 9 picks. If his guy falls in Round 1, he'll have the ammunition to trade up. Also, depending on what happens with the likes of Christian Ponder, Jake Locker, and Ryan Mallett, the #32 pick might be coveted. The new draft format gives added value to the later picks on Day 1 & the earlier picks in Round 2. Remember that last year the Viqueens were able to swing a deal with the Lions at pick #30. The Broncos also traded up to pick #25 to grab Tebow. It wouldn't surprise me if Thompson were to receive a solid offer for pick #32 - depending on what happens with the QB position. Every year, I say that I like having 4 of the top 100. This year - Thompson has 5 of the top 131.
And now for Volume 2 of my Epic Mock Draft. Once again, I don't include OL. Time limits me & quite simply, I don't follow it closely enough to make an opinion. I wish I had more time to dig into the OL as it's a crucial component to the 2011 Draft, but unfortunately, I've been busy.
Round 1 (#32): Leonard Hankerson, WR, []_[]. I've tried to convince myself to go another direction & to grab a DL or OLB at this spot. I've looked at options to potentially grab WR later and while I'm intrigued at the possibility of grabbing a gifted WR later in the draft, my focus is on giving Aaron Rodgers another weapon. Too many times we've seen this offense stall late in games. It was our defense that saved games. With the majority of our playmakers coming back on defense, it's vital to add more talent on offense. By now, we know that Ted Thompson places an emphasis on spending early picks on pass-catchers. See: Terrence Murphy, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, J-Mike. This year - the choice is Hankerson. He leaves THE []_[] having caught more TD's than any player in the rich history of Miami football. Hankerson not only has a knack for finding the end zone, but he's also had a pension for getting open on 3rd down. He's not afraid to go across the middle. He can play in the slot. He can also play on the outside. He's solid in traffic. He's a gifted WR. Occasionally, he'll drop a pass, but I believe he'd look great wearing either #86 or #84 next year.
Others to watch: Muhammad Wilkerson, DL, Temple. Great talent. Impressive quickness for a big guy. Powerful. Don't think he'll make it to #32, but if he does, he'd be a solid 3-4 DE. Same applies to Cameron Heyward, DL, Ohio State. For the record, I don't want Brooks Reed, OLB, AZ with our 1st round pick. After watching him play 5 times this year, I don't see him as a 1st round talent. He has a great motor. He's a closer. He'll finish games with a sack, which intrigues me. But, he was strictly a DE in college. He didn't drop in coverage. His hand was in the dirt. Yes, he'd add variety to the Defense, but I've never considered him a 1st round talent. I viewed him as a 3rd rounder, at best. If he's our 1st pick, I hope we've traded down & accumulated extra draft choices. Also, earlier in the college season, I wrote that Akeem Ayers would fit the Packers better than anyone else at the college level. I viewed him as a perfect compliment to the Claymaker. He dominated Texas. But, this was prior to knowing that Texas was awful last year. Additionally, then I watched him play Oregon. Against Oregon, he looked slow. Granted, Oregon made most defenders look slow, however that's the type of speed that Ayers will face on a weekly basis in the NFL. Consistently, Ayers was beat to the corner. The Combine also showed that Ayers lacked speed. He wasn't overly physical. Still, I'd like Ayers, a lot as our 1st round pick. I've seen him dominate. He has the ability. I'm no longer juiced with the notion of Martez Wilson, LB, IL in the 1st round. Aaron Williams, CB, Texas. Often times, in late-March/early-April, teams forget about the tape. They remember the pre-draft workouts. Players who consistently made plays at the college level drop in the draft. It's always confused me. For me, this applies to Williams. At one point, Williams was viewed as a 1st round pick. The draft advisory board listed him as a 1-2 round prospect. Now, while reading the draft "experts", they express concern rather than discussing his positive attributes. While at Texas, Williams did it all. He picked off passes (4), he got to the QB (3 sacks, 3 pressure), he made plays against the run (12 tackles for loss), he forced fumbles (6) and he blocked punts (5). At times, he even returned punts. In some ways, his style of play reminds me of Sir Charles. He's physical. He attacks the football. Additionally, as we know, the McCarthy/Thompson combination requires rookies to play special teams. Well, not only did Williams block kicks, but he also finished tied for the team lead with 9 tackles on special teams. Most speculate that his college teammate, Curtis Brown, will be selected before him. Williams stands 6-0, 200 lbs. He ran a 4.42 in the 40. Presently, it appears #32 will be too early for Aaron Williams. It's doubtful that he'll be around when the Packers select at #64.
Round 2 (#64): Kendrick Ellis, DT, Hampton. 6-5. 345. Massive. He'd be a great addition to our DL. He'd fit our Big Beefy package. I've often wrote that Ted Thompson will occasionally draft for next year (meaning 2012) rather than this year. Well, Ryan Pickett is aging. Howard Green has one more year on his contract. Couple that with the assumption that Cullen Jenkins will be gone via FA & the Packers must draft a DL in the early portions of the 2011 NFL Draft. Thankfully, DL is largely considered the most talented position in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Others to watch: Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy. Elusive with the ball in his hands. He'll make you miss & he's a highlight film in the making. But, the big question mark is his size. Is he physical enough to withstand the punishment of the NFL game. Truly, I believe that Mike McCarthy would love to design plays to get Jernigan in the open field. Randall Cobb, KR/WR, Kentucky. The Packers love versatile performers. Cobb played both QB & WR for Kentucky in his career. He was also a dangerous KR. I envision Ted Thompson calling him a "football player." Christian Ballard, DL, Iowa. I've seen his name attached to the Packers at the end of Round 1. I don't see him as a 1st round pick rather I see him as a mid-to-late 2nd rounder. If he's around, he'd be a solid pick as he'd be able to rotate with Mike Neal/CJ Wilson at DE. He'd also be able to pressure the QB in the 2-4-5 defense that the Packers often use. While I believe the Packers are in good hands with the Grant/Starks/Kuhn combination, there might be good talent available when the Packers pick at #64. Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech. Williams is a game changer. He gets better with more carries. He's a home run threat. Mikel LeShoure, RB, IL. LeShoure is a nifty runner who was extremely productive at the college level. For his collegiate career, he averaged 6.0 yards per carry. Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia. If he'd have stayed healthy, he'd be a top-20 draft pick. Great frame. Sees the field. Plays the ball. As I've said before, when healthy, he outplayed his college teammate, Chris Cook who was an early 2nd round pick for the 'queen in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Round 3 (#96): Casey Matthews, ILB, Oregon. Totally wishful. There looks to be good value in the 3rd round at ILB with the likes of Colin McCarthy, []_[] and Greg Jones, Michigan State, as other options. I know that it's unlikely that Matthews will be a Packer, but man, it's attractive to consider. He'd fit the 3-4. He has the long hair that we require to play LB. He's instinctive. He has the bloodlines. Plus, we have a true requirement to add an ILB. If Matthews is on the board at pick #96, I want him!
Others to watch: I'm enamored with Austin Pettis, WR, Boise St. The guy will have a career in the NFL. He runs solid routes. Great size. Solid hands. A gamer.
Round 4 (#129): Jordan Todman, RB, UCONN. Every time I watched UCONN play over the last two years, Todman was making plays. He has a nose for the end zone, he gets tough yards and for his size, he falls forward. Would be a solid addition to our backfield. Again, Thompson will draft for 2012 over 2011 - at some point - in this draft. Todman might be that pick if he doesn't expect to resign Ryan Grant after this year.
Round 4 (#131): Terrell McClain, Super athletic big man. Fits the 3-4 DE spot. Holds the point of attack. Uber quick for his size. Played both the run & the pass very well. He'd add pressure and can hold the point of attack - though not overly powerful.
Others to watch: Charles Clay, RB, Tulsa. He has terrific hands. He's got a unique build. He's not a fierce blocker, but he's a constant mismatch problem for opposing defenses. Every year - it seems that the Thompson/McCarthy regime makes a head-scratching decision at either FB or TE. This year, it's in the form of Charles Clay who can carry the ball, but he could also be viewed as a guy that could play FB or potentially, TE. I know I previously said that I'd undoubtedly have him as my pick at #129, but surprisingly (even to myself), I've changed my mind. Virgil Green, TE, Nevada. A physical specimen. A threat that has the size & speed to create headaches for defensive coordinators. If utilized properly, he could turn into a true gem. Alex Green, RB, Hawaii. Out of a spread offense, he led the nation in yards per carry. He also rushed for over 1,000 yards. Solid 3rd down back.
Round 5 (#163): Antareis Bryan, CB, Baylor. He's 6-1, 200. He ran a 4.37 at his Pro Day. He's had injury issues. As a sophomore he had 9 passes defensed. He's a Texas kid. He didn't get a combine invite. It's widely known that the Packers have interest. He's a classic Ted Thompson pick.
Others to watch: Julius Thomas, TE, Portland State. I'll be ultra-interested to see where Thomas is selected. A tremendous athlete. Former TE. Sound hands. Great confidence. Anthony Sherman, FB, UCONN. A bruising FB who the ability to catch the ball. Looks for contact. Similar player to Kuhn. He could also be used as the occasional runner. Solid blocker.
Round 6 (#197): Marc Scheichl, OLB, Colorado School of the Mines. I continue to read on the Internet & hear on the radio that the Packers are showing interest in Scheichl. The DII prospect has the size and physical attributes to play at the next level. Not only were the Packers 1 of 3 teams to be in attendance at his Pro Day, but they have now scheduled a private workout with him. It might be in hopes of him being signed as a UFA, but with the CBA restrictions I'm guessing the Packers use a draft pick on him.
Others to watch: Bruce Miller, OLB, Central Florida. Every time I watched him, he was around the football. Especially late in games. To me, he's almost every bit the prospect as Brooks Reed. Nic Grigsby, RB, Arizona. Has the speed & tools to be a big-play threat. Was limited in college, but he would be a good compliment to the running styles of Grant/Starks.
Round 7 (#204): Scott Tolzien, QB, WI. He's a great prospect. A heady football player. Can make the throws. Great moxie. Intelligent QB. Developmental player. McCarthy could use a new toy. Tolzien fits the bill.
Round 7 (#233): Dwayne Harris, WR, ECU. Last year, Thompson drafted CJ Wilson from ECU and he scored well. This year it's Dwayne Harris, the highly productive college performer. Harris scored 10 TD's as a Senior after scoring 7 as a sophomore.
Others to watch: I'm confident that Thompson will look at WR in the later rounds. Names the Packers have spent time with: Edmund Gates, Abilene Christian; Jamel Hamler, Fresno State; Lester Jean, FAU; and Stephen Burton, West Texas.
Tick-tock to the draft. It's the time when Ted Thompson generally plays like "Pop Tarts!"
Wishing you an XLV-like April!
Cheers,
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
My Take -> Epic Mock Draft Volume 1
Greetings, G-Force.
Presently, it's 5:49 on a Wednesday cocktail hour in March. I just completed a 5 mile run. To refresh, I'm sitting on my balcony. Sipping an Aguila, the last of which I brought with me from Miami Beach to Denver. I chose a light beer tonight as tomorrow will be flocked with Guinness. I'm wearing shorts, sandals & a t-shirt. Culture's Cultural Livity disc is ringing in the background. Last I looked, it was 71 degrees outside. There's 2 robins picking at the grass in my front yard. Must be spring time again. And, I've decided to take a moment to bask in a quenching XLV thought. Pop Tarts!
If you're looking for CBA commentary, at this time, this blog is not the place for that topic. The original intention of the blog was to provide an optimistic yet realistic view of the Green Bay Packers. For all posts in which I'm the author, presently, I intend to keep it that way. I'm excited for other authors to possibly join the blog as they'll diversify the flavor. Once again, I'd like to reiterate that if you'd like to post a take to the blog, simply write to me & I'll add you as an author.
I've begun a thoroughly analyze the NFL Draft. I've watched all of the Senior Bowl practices that I have on DVR. I've watched the 1st half of the East-West Game & the 1st half of the Senior Bowl. I've done a fair amount of reading on the Texas vs. the Nation game. Over the last 2 weeks, I've committed 10-15 minutes a day to internet researching the draft.
As I've delved into the Draft, I've started to compile a list of guys that scream Ted Thompson to me. Some have been uncovered via reading that the Packers have attended their Pro Days. Others just by watching the way that they move. And some of the players are guys that I've enjoyed watching over the last year. Here's the list so far along with the expected round that they'll be drafted:
QB: Christian Ponder, FSU. Round 1-2. It wouldn't shock me if he ends up being the top QB in this draft.
Greg McElroy, Alabama. Round 5-7. Screams Matt Flynn to me.
Scott Tolzien, WI. Round 6-7. It's been widespread that McCarthy spent significant time with him during the WI Pro Day. Would be a good developmental prospect.
RB: Mikel LeShoure, IL. Round 1-2. If Marshall Faulk says that the kid has an NFL career, I believe him.
Ryan Williams, Va Tech. Round 1-2. While I can envision Thompson drafting a RB early in the '11 draft, I've seen Williams single-handedly dominate games.
Jordan Todman, UCONN. Round 3. He catches the ball. He's deceptively elusive. Small shake to him. Runs harder than he appears.
Shane Vereen, Cal. Round 3. When healthy & given the chance, this guy has performed at elite levels. Good hands.
Noel Devine, WVU. Round 7. I've been watching him forever. He's a Home Run waiting to happen. Wishful thinking, but have to include him.
Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech. Round 7. Not the fastest guy. Not the best shake. Straight ahead kind of guy that seems to be in the mold of Thompson's style.
Nic Grigsby, Arizona. Round 7. Sometimes, you just get a feeling about a guy. I have that feeling about Grigsby. Kid can fly. Underrated prospect.
FB: Charles Clay, Tulsa. Round 3-4. If there is one guy I'm certain the Packers will draft, it's Charles Clay. Can play TE. But, he's a FB. An H-Back. Much in the mold of Rod Bernstein. A bigger Larry Centers. Not a great blocker, but he's decent. Terrific hands out of the backfield. He's versatile. Good after the catch. He's a utility player who creates match-up problems. The Packers interchange the TE & FB. Clay seems to fit this description identically. From now on, he'll be included in my mock draft.
Stanley Havili, USC. Round 4. He, too, is a match-up problem. More of a threat as a pass-catcher & a runner than a blocker. He runs like a HB, in many ways. Similar to Kuhn. I can see him playing special teams as well.
WR: Leonard Hankerson, []_[]. Round 1-2. He has the size, speed, and flair to be a big-time NFL player.
Jerrel Jernigan, Troy. Round 2. Kick-return skills. McCarthy would have to devise plays for him. He'd have to find a way to make him fit. I imagine he'd be able to successfully do so.
Randall Cobb, Kentucky. Round 2. Electric player. Every time he touches the ball, you feel something good is going to happen. Would love him in Green Bay.
Jeremy Kerley, TCU. Round 4-5. He's a Texas kid, which makes this possible. We know Ted Thompson loves Texas players.
Ryan Whalen, Stanford. Round 5. Reminds me of Jordy Nelson in many ways.
Stephen Burton, West Texas A&M. Round 7. Another Texas kid. Ran a sub 4.4 at his pro day. He's super quick & has NFL size.
Lester Jean, FAU. Round 7. Great production at the college level. Often talked about in South Florida circles. The Packers were at his Pro Day.
Jamel Hamler, Fresno State. Round 7. Ted Thompson likes players from TX, CA, FL, and MI. Especially receivers.
TE: Virgil Green, Nevada. Round 4. The Packers spent significant time with him at the Combine. Nevada was loaded with athletes this year.
Rob Housler, FAU. Round 3-4. The Packers spent time with him at his Pro Day. Has the size & speed to create difficulty for opposing defenses.
Julius Thomas, Portland State. Round 5. Ted Thompson likes athletic TE's. Thomas is a former PF in college basketball. Much like Jimmy Graham last year, he could burst onto the scene late in the season next year.
DL: Adrian Clayborne, Iowa. Round 1. It baffles me how someone so productive at the college level could start to dip down draft boards due to a less than stellar combine. We need to replace Cullen Jenkins. Mike Neal is part of the solution. Clayborne could be the other piece.
Cameron Heyward, Ohio St. Round 1. NFL bloodlines. He, too, would be a nice addition to replace Cullen Jenkins.
Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple. Round 1-2. True athlete. Great mobility for a big man. Looks the part.
Kendrick Ellis, Hampton. Round 2. Supposedly there were 5 times at his Pro Day. The Packers were one of them. He's huge. 6-5. 345. Our Big Beefy formation was crucial to our success. Another thing I've learned about Ted Thompson on draft day is that he doesn't necessarily draft for this year rather he drafts for next year. Next year Howard Green is a FA & Pickett will turn 33.
Terrell McClain, South Florida. Round 5-6. Super athletic big man. Fits the 3-4 DE spot. Holds the point of attack. Ultra quick for his size.
Blaine Sumner, Colorado School of the Mines. Round 6-7. Rumor has it that 3 teams showed up at the Colorado School of the Mines Pro Day. The Broncos, Bills & the Packers. During the Pro Day, Sumner tied the Combine record with 49 reps on the bench. The Packers witnessed this.
Brandon Bair, Oregon. Round 6-7. While it's clear that 300 lbs is the ideal weight for a DE in the 3-4, the last two years Thompson has drafted someone in the 280-290 range in the later rounds. Bair gives the effort needed to succeed. He's active with long arms. In many ways, he's a poor man's JJ Watt.
Frank Kearse, Alabama A&M. Round 7. The Packers have spent significant time with Kearse during the off-season. 6-5, 325. He'd give Raji a breather. He'd also fit the Big Beefy package.
OLB: Martez Wilson, IL. Round 1. Might be the ideal prospect for the Packers. Played OLB early in his college career. Made the transition to ILB. A total beast. Can see him being a guy opposite CM3.
Akeem Ayers, UCLA. Round 1. During the '11 college season, at one point, I wrote that he was my favorite player in college football. It didn't end that way after I watched him play Oregon. Still, I have no doubt that he can play at the next level.
Justin Houston, Georgia. Round 1. Played in a 3-4 in college. Had great success. Can get to the QB. Can he drop in coverage? That, I don't know.
Brooks Reed, Arizona. Round 1. It baffles me that he's considered a 1st round prospect. Early in the college season, I was writing about him before most draft publications even listed him. I wrote about his motor. I wrote that he was a closer late in games. I wrote that he could pressure the QB. I envisioned him as a 5-6 round prospect, 4th at best. Now, I read that the Packers were front & center at his pro day. Shocked. I wouldn't mind him being drafted as a Packer. Just not in the 1st round. I'm not center that he's a massive upgrade over the Brad Jones/Erik Walden/Frank Zombo combination.
Sam Acho, Texas. Round 2-3. While I am not positive that he's an ideal fit, man, he's had quite the offseason. Texas' defense struggled this past year, but Acho has been a superstar in the Combine & in the post-season bowl game. Gifted. Gets around the edge. At times, he's unblockable.
Dontay Moch, Nevada. Round 2-3. Did anyone have a better combine than him? I was writing about him early in the year as well. I first saw him on ESPN against Mizzou 2 years ago as he was stripping Blaine Gabbert on a sack. He can fly around the corner & has the size to play.
Marc Scheichl, Colorado School of the Mines. Round 5-7. So, I wrote about the Packers being present at this Pro Day. Well, Schiechl became the talk of local sports radio for a night after he posted a 35-inch vertical jump and ran up 38 reps on the bench pressure. He stands just over 6-2 & weighs 251 lbs. Speculation was that the Packers were a huge player in conducting drills that tested his ability to drop in coverage and play as an OLB as he was mainly a DE at the college level. Further, he hold the D2 record with 45 career sacks. He was a man amongst boys. By request, he's been invited to attend the pro day for Air Force.
Cheta Ozougwu, Rice. Round 6-7. The most naturally gifted of the bunch. Moves with grace. Totally fluid. Good lateral movement. Played DE in college, but I believe his skills translate to OLB in the NFL. Runs like Walden. Good developmental prospect.
Matt Berning, Central Michigan. Probably an UFA. But, what would a Ted Thompson prospect list be without a guy from Central Michigan? He needed to be on the list.
ILB: Casey Matthews, Oregon. Round 3-4. It's in the genes.
Colin McCarthy, []_[]. Round 3. Immediately, he'll be a stallion special teams player. Finds the football. Moves well. Gets sideline to sideline.
Greg Jones, Michigan State. Round 3-4. Another guy whose stock has plummeted post his collegiate career. At one time, he was considered a top-15 prospect. Now, we might last until Day 3.
Mario Harvey, Marshall. Round 7. You know when you watch someone play one time & he instantly catches your eye? That happened to me with Mario Harvey. Not ideal size nor speed. But, he plays like Desmond Bishop. Crushes you. I'd take him in a heartbeat in Round 7.
CB: Aaron Williams, Texas. Round 1-2. I've loved his game since the first time I watched him play.
Curtis Brown, Texas. Round 2. With all this talent on defense, it amazes me that Texas couldn't stop anyone this year. Many think he is better than Williams. Not me.
Ras-I Dowling, Virginia. Round 2-3. Without the injuries, he'd be a top-15 pick. Plus, he's got a sublime name.
Richard Sherman, Stanford. Round 4-5. Raw. Only played one year of CB. Previously, he was a WR. Has great size. Small similarities to Ras-Al. We struck gold with a 1-year collegiate CB last year.
Ryan Hill, []_[]. Round 5. Ended up starting over DeMarcus Van Dyke. Had a great pro day. His stock is flying high.
Devon Torrence, Ohio State. Round 7. Every time you watch him play, he's grabbing highlights. Will get beat on occasion, but worth a look this late.
S: Tyler Sash, Iowa. Round 3-4. Not the fastest guy. Not the biggest guy. Just a football player. No doubt, Ted Thompson loves this guy.
Zac Etheridge, Auburn. Round 7. The leader in the secondary for the National Champs.
At this point, I envision a draft that includes additions to the DL, OLB, ILB, OL, QB, WR, and Charles Clay. With the compensation pick for AK-74, I expect either another DL or another OL. Per the norm, I'd prefer to see the Packers trade down. Unless Gabe Carimi is available. But, I hear he won't fall past Chicago. If Carimi is off the board, I wouldn't mind a trade down to accumulate more picks to continue to build depth & training camp competition.
As always, this will change in the near future. In fact, if you would have asked me yesterday, it would have been different. But as of now, my ideal mock draft is as follows: (as always, I don't list OL)...
Round 1: If Clayborn or Heyward are available, I'd like one of them. However, I don't foresee that happening. Right now I'm tugging between 3 guys: Leonard Hankerson, Muhammad Wilkerson & Martez Wilson. For now, I'm sticking with Hankerson. We need to continue to load Rodgers with weapons. True, YOTTO is coming back, but I believe Hankerson would be a terrific compliment to Jennings. He can play the slot & learn from Driver. He can replace Jones and run the deep routes. He'll make the difficult catch. He has a nose for the end zone. He'll bring more swagga to Lambeau. We struck it rich with the []_[] last year. I have a feeling that most of the players from the []_[] will have better pro careers than they did college careers as Randy Shannon was not gifted with developing players. While I'm taking Hankerson, note that I've listed 4 defenders as potential replacements. We must continue to add to our front 7. The front 7 was dominant over the last 6 games of the XLV run.
Round 2: I'm tugging between two players: Jerrel Jernigan & Kendrick Ellis. Jernigan would solve a problem at KR. He's also a weapon at WR. He'd add more diversity to the offense, but I've already gone Hankerson in Round 1. Therefore, Ellis is the selection. We learned in 2011 that when the Packers stop the run, we're tough to beat. Stopping the run puts our 3 Pro Bowl DB's in position to make plays. Ellis would aid in this component of the game. He'd also be a terrific long term compliment to Mike Neal. One side note: if Christian Ponder falls this far, it'd be interesting to see how Thompson would respond.
Round 3: Presently, for me, it's a no-brainer that the Packers draft an ILB in Round 3. McCarthy, Matthews & Jones are all talented players who played for big time Universities & made a number of impact plays against top-notch competition. Of course, I'm going with Casey Matthews. I'd love another long-haired wonder in our LB core!
Round 4: Book it. For the rest of my mock draft preparation, I'm selecting Charles Clay in Round 4. He's a Ted Thompson guy. Over the course of the next 6 weeks, two things won't change: 1.) I'll have the Packers selecting an ILB in Round 3 & I'll have Charles Clay as the pick in Round 4.
Round 4a: I'm budgeting a 4th round pick as compensation from the loss of AK-74. I see some project a #3. I doubt we'll get that due to his injury. If Ras-I Dowling is around, he's the pick. If healthy, he'd have been a 1st rounder. No doubt. But, injuries derailed his year. He has talent. He was better than Chris Cook & the Viqueens used a top pick in the 2nd round on Cook last year. Dowling's stock is dropping fast, but I don't see him falling this far. So, the Packers select Richard Sherman. While raw, he's showed he can play the ball. Solid hands. Still learning the position, but he'll receive guidance from some of the best next year.
Round 5: Marc Scheichl. Clearly, the Packers have a genuine interest. His production at the D2 level is unmatched in the history of the game. I imagine that it's a priority to find someone opposite the Claymaker in the 2011 Draft even though I really liked the way Walden progressed. Scheichl interests me.
Round 6: Scott Tolzien. McCarthy needs a QB to develop. Tolzien has the tools. He's smart. Well-spoken. Generally, he makes good decisions. He's deceivingly mobile. He understands the game. He could develop into a legitimate QB.
Round 7: Nic Grigsby. He has the quickness. He sees the seam & goes for it. Didn't see a lot of him in college, but what I did, I really liked. I hope Thompson accumulates a couple of late rounders as I see solid talent later in the draft. I like names such as Jamel Hamler, Bruce Miller, Frank Kearse, Mario Harvey and Brandon Bair. I believe that all have the talent to play in this league.
XLV for life!
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Presently, it's 5:49 on a Wednesday cocktail hour in March. I just completed a 5 mile run. To refresh, I'm sitting on my balcony. Sipping an Aguila, the last of which I brought with me from Miami Beach to Denver. I chose a light beer tonight as tomorrow will be flocked with Guinness. I'm wearing shorts, sandals & a t-shirt. Culture's Cultural Livity disc is ringing in the background. Last I looked, it was 71 degrees outside. There's 2 robins picking at the grass in my front yard. Must be spring time again. And, I've decided to take a moment to bask in a quenching XLV thought. Pop Tarts!
If you're looking for CBA commentary, at this time, this blog is not the place for that topic. The original intention of the blog was to provide an optimistic yet realistic view of the Green Bay Packers. For all posts in which I'm the author, presently, I intend to keep it that way. I'm excited for other authors to possibly join the blog as they'll diversify the flavor. Once again, I'd like to reiterate that if you'd like to post a take to the blog, simply write to me & I'll add you as an author.
I've begun a thoroughly analyze the NFL Draft. I've watched all of the Senior Bowl practices that I have on DVR. I've watched the 1st half of the East-West Game & the 1st half of the Senior Bowl. I've done a fair amount of reading on the Texas vs. the Nation game. Over the last 2 weeks, I've committed 10-15 minutes a day to internet researching the draft.
As I've delved into the Draft, I've started to compile a list of guys that scream Ted Thompson to me. Some have been uncovered via reading that the Packers have attended their Pro Days. Others just by watching the way that they move. And some of the players are guys that I've enjoyed watching over the last year. Here's the list so far along with the expected round that they'll be drafted:
QB: Christian Ponder, FSU. Round 1-2. It wouldn't shock me if he ends up being the top QB in this draft.
Greg McElroy, Alabama. Round 5-7. Screams Matt Flynn to me.
Scott Tolzien, WI. Round 6-7. It's been widespread that McCarthy spent significant time with him during the WI Pro Day. Would be a good developmental prospect.
RB: Mikel LeShoure, IL. Round 1-2. If Marshall Faulk says that the kid has an NFL career, I believe him.
Ryan Williams, Va Tech. Round 1-2. While I can envision Thompson drafting a RB early in the '11 draft, I've seen Williams single-handedly dominate games.
Jordan Todman, UCONN. Round 3. He catches the ball. He's deceptively elusive. Small shake to him. Runs harder than he appears.
Shane Vereen, Cal. Round 3. When healthy & given the chance, this guy has performed at elite levels. Good hands.
Noel Devine, WVU. Round 7. I've been watching him forever. He's a Home Run waiting to happen. Wishful thinking, but have to include him.
Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech. Round 7. Not the fastest guy. Not the best shake. Straight ahead kind of guy that seems to be in the mold of Thompson's style.
Nic Grigsby, Arizona. Round 7. Sometimes, you just get a feeling about a guy. I have that feeling about Grigsby. Kid can fly. Underrated prospect.
FB: Charles Clay, Tulsa. Round 3-4. If there is one guy I'm certain the Packers will draft, it's Charles Clay. Can play TE. But, he's a FB. An H-Back. Much in the mold of Rod Bernstein. A bigger Larry Centers. Not a great blocker, but he's decent. Terrific hands out of the backfield. He's versatile. Good after the catch. He's a utility player who creates match-up problems. The Packers interchange the TE & FB. Clay seems to fit this description identically. From now on, he'll be included in my mock draft.
Stanley Havili, USC. Round 4. He, too, is a match-up problem. More of a threat as a pass-catcher & a runner than a blocker. He runs like a HB, in many ways. Similar to Kuhn. I can see him playing special teams as well.
WR: Leonard Hankerson, []_[]. Round 1-2. He has the size, speed, and flair to be a big-time NFL player.
Jerrel Jernigan, Troy. Round 2. Kick-return skills. McCarthy would have to devise plays for him. He'd have to find a way to make him fit. I imagine he'd be able to successfully do so.
Randall Cobb, Kentucky. Round 2. Electric player. Every time he touches the ball, you feel something good is going to happen. Would love him in Green Bay.
Jeremy Kerley, TCU. Round 4-5. He's a Texas kid, which makes this possible. We know Ted Thompson loves Texas players.
Ryan Whalen, Stanford. Round 5. Reminds me of Jordy Nelson in many ways.
Stephen Burton, West Texas A&M. Round 7. Another Texas kid. Ran a sub 4.4 at his pro day. He's super quick & has NFL size.
Lester Jean, FAU. Round 7. Great production at the college level. Often talked about in South Florida circles. The Packers were at his Pro Day.
Jamel Hamler, Fresno State. Round 7. Ted Thompson likes players from TX, CA, FL, and MI. Especially receivers.
TE: Virgil Green, Nevada. Round 4. The Packers spent significant time with him at the Combine. Nevada was loaded with athletes this year.
Rob Housler, FAU. Round 3-4. The Packers spent time with him at his Pro Day. Has the size & speed to create difficulty for opposing defenses.
Julius Thomas, Portland State. Round 5. Ted Thompson likes athletic TE's. Thomas is a former PF in college basketball. Much like Jimmy Graham last year, he could burst onto the scene late in the season next year.
DL: Adrian Clayborne, Iowa. Round 1. It baffles me how someone so productive at the college level could start to dip down draft boards due to a less than stellar combine. We need to replace Cullen Jenkins. Mike Neal is part of the solution. Clayborne could be the other piece.
Cameron Heyward, Ohio St. Round 1. NFL bloodlines. He, too, would be a nice addition to replace Cullen Jenkins.
Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple. Round 1-2. True athlete. Great mobility for a big man. Looks the part.
Kendrick Ellis, Hampton. Round 2. Supposedly there were 5 times at his Pro Day. The Packers were one of them. He's huge. 6-5. 345. Our Big Beefy formation was crucial to our success. Another thing I've learned about Ted Thompson on draft day is that he doesn't necessarily draft for this year rather he drafts for next year. Next year Howard Green is a FA & Pickett will turn 33.
Terrell McClain, South Florida. Round 5-6. Super athletic big man. Fits the 3-4 DE spot. Holds the point of attack. Ultra quick for his size.
Blaine Sumner, Colorado School of the Mines. Round 6-7. Rumor has it that 3 teams showed up at the Colorado School of the Mines Pro Day. The Broncos, Bills & the Packers. During the Pro Day, Sumner tied the Combine record with 49 reps on the bench. The Packers witnessed this.
Brandon Bair, Oregon. Round 6-7. While it's clear that 300 lbs is the ideal weight for a DE in the 3-4, the last two years Thompson has drafted someone in the 280-290 range in the later rounds. Bair gives the effort needed to succeed. He's active with long arms. In many ways, he's a poor man's JJ Watt.
Frank Kearse, Alabama A&M. Round 7. The Packers have spent significant time with Kearse during the off-season. 6-5, 325. He'd give Raji a breather. He'd also fit the Big Beefy package.
OLB: Martez Wilson, IL. Round 1. Might be the ideal prospect for the Packers. Played OLB early in his college career. Made the transition to ILB. A total beast. Can see him being a guy opposite CM3.
Akeem Ayers, UCLA. Round 1. During the '11 college season, at one point, I wrote that he was my favorite player in college football. It didn't end that way after I watched him play Oregon. Still, I have no doubt that he can play at the next level.
Justin Houston, Georgia. Round 1. Played in a 3-4 in college. Had great success. Can get to the QB. Can he drop in coverage? That, I don't know.
Brooks Reed, Arizona. Round 1. It baffles me that he's considered a 1st round prospect. Early in the college season, I was writing about him before most draft publications even listed him. I wrote about his motor. I wrote that he was a closer late in games. I wrote that he could pressure the QB. I envisioned him as a 5-6 round prospect, 4th at best. Now, I read that the Packers were front & center at his pro day. Shocked. I wouldn't mind him being drafted as a Packer. Just not in the 1st round. I'm not center that he's a massive upgrade over the Brad Jones/Erik Walden/Frank Zombo combination.
Sam Acho, Texas. Round 2-3. While I am not positive that he's an ideal fit, man, he's had quite the offseason. Texas' defense struggled this past year, but Acho has been a superstar in the Combine & in the post-season bowl game. Gifted. Gets around the edge. At times, he's unblockable.
Dontay Moch, Nevada. Round 2-3. Did anyone have a better combine than him? I was writing about him early in the year as well. I first saw him on ESPN against Mizzou 2 years ago as he was stripping Blaine Gabbert on a sack. He can fly around the corner & has the size to play.
Marc Scheichl, Colorado School of the Mines. Round 5-7. So, I wrote about the Packers being present at this Pro Day. Well, Schiechl became the talk of local sports radio for a night after he posted a 35-inch vertical jump and ran up 38 reps on the bench pressure. He stands just over 6-2 & weighs 251 lbs. Speculation was that the Packers were a huge player in conducting drills that tested his ability to drop in coverage and play as an OLB as he was mainly a DE at the college level. Further, he hold the D2 record with 45 career sacks. He was a man amongst boys. By request, he's been invited to attend the pro day for Air Force.
Cheta Ozougwu, Rice. Round 6-7. The most naturally gifted of the bunch. Moves with grace. Totally fluid. Good lateral movement. Played DE in college, but I believe his skills translate to OLB in the NFL. Runs like Walden. Good developmental prospect.
Matt Berning, Central Michigan. Probably an UFA. But, what would a Ted Thompson prospect list be without a guy from Central Michigan? He needed to be on the list.
ILB: Casey Matthews, Oregon. Round 3-4. It's in the genes.
Colin McCarthy, []_[]. Round 3. Immediately, he'll be a stallion special teams player. Finds the football. Moves well. Gets sideline to sideline.
Greg Jones, Michigan State. Round 3-4. Another guy whose stock has plummeted post his collegiate career. At one time, he was considered a top-15 prospect. Now, we might last until Day 3.
Mario Harvey, Marshall. Round 7. You know when you watch someone play one time & he instantly catches your eye? That happened to me with Mario Harvey. Not ideal size nor speed. But, he plays like Desmond Bishop. Crushes you. I'd take him in a heartbeat in Round 7.
CB: Aaron Williams, Texas. Round 1-2. I've loved his game since the first time I watched him play.
Curtis Brown, Texas. Round 2. With all this talent on defense, it amazes me that Texas couldn't stop anyone this year. Many think he is better than Williams. Not me.
Ras-I Dowling, Virginia. Round 2-3. Without the injuries, he'd be a top-15 pick. Plus, he's got a sublime name.
Richard Sherman, Stanford. Round 4-5. Raw. Only played one year of CB. Previously, he was a WR. Has great size. Small similarities to Ras-Al. We struck gold with a 1-year collegiate CB last year.
Ryan Hill, []_[]. Round 5. Ended up starting over DeMarcus Van Dyke. Had a great pro day. His stock is flying high.
Devon Torrence, Ohio State. Round 7. Every time you watch him play, he's grabbing highlights. Will get beat on occasion, but worth a look this late.
S: Tyler Sash, Iowa. Round 3-4. Not the fastest guy. Not the biggest guy. Just a football player. No doubt, Ted Thompson loves this guy.
Zac Etheridge, Auburn. Round 7. The leader in the secondary for the National Champs.
At this point, I envision a draft that includes additions to the DL, OLB, ILB, OL, QB, WR, and Charles Clay. With the compensation pick for AK-74, I expect either another DL or another OL. Per the norm, I'd prefer to see the Packers trade down. Unless Gabe Carimi is available. But, I hear he won't fall past Chicago. If Carimi is off the board, I wouldn't mind a trade down to accumulate more picks to continue to build depth & training camp competition.
As always, this will change in the near future. In fact, if you would have asked me yesterday, it would have been different. But as of now, my ideal mock draft is as follows: (as always, I don't list OL)...
Round 1: If Clayborn or Heyward are available, I'd like one of them. However, I don't foresee that happening. Right now I'm tugging between 3 guys: Leonard Hankerson, Muhammad Wilkerson & Martez Wilson. For now, I'm sticking with Hankerson. We need to continue to load Rodgers with weapons. True, YOTTO is coming back, but I believe Hankerson would be a terrific compliment to Jennings. He can play the slot & learn from Driver. He can replace Jones and run the deep routes. He'll make the difficult catch. He has a nose for the end zone. He'll bring more swagga to Lambeau. We struck it rich with the []_[] last year. I have a feeling that most of the players from the []_[] will have better pro careers than they did college careers as Randy Shannon was not gifted with developing players. While I'm taking Hankerson, note that I've listed 4 defenders as potential replacements. We must continue to add to our front 7. The front 7 was dominant over the last 6 games of the XLV run.
Round 2: I'm tugging between two players: Jerrel Jernigan & Kendrick Ellis. Jernigan would solve a problem at KR. He's also a weapon at WR. He'd add more diversity to the offense, but I've already gone Hankerson in Round 1. Therefore, Ellis is the selection. We learned in 2011 that when the Packers stop the run, we're tough to beat. Stopping the run puts our 3 Pro Bowl DB's in position to make plays. Ellis would aid in this component of the game. He'd also be a terrific long term compliment to Mike Neal. One side note: if Christian Ponder falls this far, it'd be interesting to see how Thompson would respond.
Round 3: Presently, for me, it's a no-brainer that the Packers draft an ILB in Round 3. McCarthy, Matthews & Jones are all talented players who played for big time Universities & made a number of impact plays against top-notch competition. Of course, I'm going with Casey Matthews. I'd love another long-haired wonder in our LB core!
Round 4: Book it. For the rest of my mock draft preparation, I'm selecting Charles Clay in Round 4. He's a Ted Thompson guy. Over the course of the next 6 weeks, two things won't change: 1.) I'll have the Packers selecting an ILB in Round 3 & I'll have Charles Clay as the pick in Round 4.
Round 4a: I'm budgeting a 4th round pick as compensation from the loss of AK-74. I see some project a #3. I doubt we'll get that due to his injury. If Ras-I Dowling is around, he's the pick. If healthy, he'd have been a 1st rounder. No doubt. But, injuries derailed his year. He has talent. He was better than Chris Cook & the Viqueens used a top pick in the 2nd round on Cook last year. Dowling's stock is dropping fast, but I don't see him falling this far. So, the Packers select Richard Sherman. While raw, he's showed he can play the ball. Solid hands. Still learning the position, but he'll receive guidance from some of the best next year.
Round 5: Marc Scheichl. Clearly, the Packers have a genuine interest. His production at the D2 level is unmatched in the history of the game. I imagine that it's a priority to find someone opposite the Claymaker in the 2011 Draft even though I really liked the way Walden progressed. Scheichl interests me.
Round 6: Scott Tolzien. McCarthy needs a QB to develop. Tolzien has the tools. He's smart. Well-spoken. Generally, he makes good decisions. He's deceivingly mobile. He understands the game. He could develop into a legitimate QB.
Round 7: Nic Grigsby. He has the quickness. He sees the seam & goes for it. Didn't see a lot of him in college, but what I did, I really liked. I hope Thompson accumulates a couple of late rounders as I see solid talent later in the draft. I like names such as Jamel Hamler, Bruce Miller, Frank Kearse, Mario Harvey and Brandon Bair. I believe that all have the talent to play in this league.
XLV for life!
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Friday, March 4, 2011
Random Packers Vibes!
Greetings, G-Force.
I wanted to remind you that we'll have to wait until pick #32 in the 1st Round before we make our initial selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. Ever since my good mate, Vargas, & I conjured a plan to someday open a restaurant called the "Irish Mexican" - I've based my NFL Draft Party around Irish & Mexican goodies. Well, and maybe a lil' Zyr Vodka. Looks like this year, I'll have to stack the plate of nachos a little higher. And, potentially, I'll have to buy an extra 4-pack of canned Guinness.
Damn, it feels good to be a Cheesehead! Yes, we're Super Bowl Champions. As proud supporters, yes, we the G-Force are Super Bowl Champions! Beauty! While the CBA & impending lockout is a total buzzkill, it's not enough to thwart the continued excitement that the final 6 weeks of the 2010 NFL Season brought to life. XLV FOREVER!
I got my Super Bowl goodies in the mail from the Packers Pro Shop. When I pulled out my XLV Flag, I couldn't help but run around the house. Wrapped in the flag, I belted out "Olè, Olè, Olè, Olè...Olè, Olè!" I couldn't help myself. It was instinctive! Purely natural.
Cheers to Ted Thompson. Have to like the AJ Hawk signing. Hawk & Bishop will be manning the middle of our defense for the next 4 years. Together, they had great continuity. They were teammates. They complimented each other. They were in lock-step. Unified.
Speaking of such camaraderie, in case you missed it, I wanted to share a Twitter conversation between Clay Matthews & Aaron Rodgers:
Rodgers writes to Matthews: were u the big man on campus dropping clawledge and looking for designs for ur next tribal tattoo??
Matthews replies: When r we gonna take out ur SB MVP camaro n look for cougars!? I just got a new barbed wire tat around my ankle!! #clawledge
Rodgers responds: when u stop dousing ur hair with water 5 times a game on the sideline just so u can do that hair flip u love to do
Matthews comes back with: Chicks dig the flip. And so does Suave!! :) Is it true ur dating Mila Kunis!? Ur so Hollywood bro!! #MVP
Rodgers writes: if by dating u mean met for the first time the other night, then yes. Uve changed bro. Ur so socal now. sorry I forgot that guys like u stay at the 4 seasons
Matthews jabs: You've changed... I want my old friend back!!
Camaraderie. Teammates. Locker room leaders. Youthful. Playful. Together - forever. Our Offensive MVP & Defensive MVP = Littering a conversation with fun sarcasm. Further evidence of their relationship is revealed as Matthews talks about hanging out with Rodgers' brother at sporting events. Additionally, it appears as though Twitter shows that Rodgers has relationships with Matthews' brothers. Making the relationship even thicker is the fact that Matthews' brothers seem to have brotherhood with Rodgers' brothers as they exchange messages back & forth. Clearly, the relationship between Rodgers & Matthews is deeply rooted. Bring out the Belt!
I believe that team camaraderie is partially the reason that Thompson signed Hawk. In some ways, Hawk defines the Packers of 2010. The consummate team player. Early in the year, he was buried on the depth chart. He never complained. He was the subject trade rumors. He never said anything negative about the organization. He played thru pain. As the captain of the defense, he engineered a terrific defensive performance throughout the 2010 NFL Season.
Oh, and via twitter, the Claymaker had something to say about this as well: Happy 2 see AJ Hawk inked a new 5 yr deal w/ the PACK! I still have better hair!! #longhairdontcare #suave
Barnett, on the other hand, challenged the Packers organization publicly. He negatively responded to Aaron Rodgers' comments prior to the Super Bowl as well. At least partially, I imagine this played a part in Thompson's decision making. Barnett has played his last down in Green & Gold. At this stage, I'd trade him for a 5th or 6th round pick. Though I doubt we'll even get that.
If you haven't watched the replay of the 2nd Quarter of the Packers at Atlanta playoff game in the last week, what are you waiting for? Live that moment again. As I reflect on games that I've gone to in my life & think about the most fun Quarters that I've attended, a quick look at my top 5 would be:
5.) 4th Quarter: Dallas @ Green Bay in Week 13. I was sitting in section 22 - approximately 40 rows from the field. I was with my Mom, my brother Bob & my sister, Marni. The Cowboys had been the thorn in the Packers side throughout the 90's. Leading 24-10, the Cowboys started driving as Troy Aikman hit Michael Irvin on a deep ball. Jerry Jones walked out of the tunnel & onto the field. Wearing a trench coat, he enthusiastically applauded along the Cowboys sideline. Emmitt Smith punched it into the end zone to cut the score to 7. Then the Packers went to work. Favre to Freeman for 6. Levens pounded away as he marched near 200 yards rushing. Pounding through defenders, Levens was Dorsey the Horsey! Levens punched it in to give the Packers a 21 point lead. The party was finished when Darren Sharper picked up a fumble & danced into the end zone. 21 fourth quarter points & Mac was blaring "Mama don't let your babies grow up to be Cowboys" through the loud speakers at Lambeau!
4.) 1st Quarter: San Francisco @ Green Bay in the 1996 NFC Divisional Playoffs. In the freezing rain, I was sitting in Section 22 with my brother Chad, approximately 9 rows from the field. After the Packers forced a Steve Young offense into a 3 & out, Desmond Howard returns the punt 71 yards for a TD. Again, Young walks onto the field. Another defensive stop. Another huge Howard punt return leads to a Brett Favre to Andre Rison TD. 14-0 Packers. An injured Young gets replaced by Elvis Grbac. This set the tone for the entire 1996 playoffs. It confirmed that the '96 Regular Season was not a fluke. We were, indeed, the best team in the NFL. Convincingly so.
3.) 2nd Quarter: Green Bay @ Atlanta in the 2010 NFC Divisional Playoffs. I was sitting upper deck with my brother, Bob, & my brother-in-law, Paul. Trailing 7-0, the Packers were driving. Just over 3 minutes into the 2nd Quarter, Rodgers hits Nelson to equalize! A special teams blunder makes it 14-7 Atlanta. Then the nearly unparalleled excitement begins. Kuhn gets the Packers even after he bulls his way into the end zone from a yard out. On this play, the "Freezer" was born! Then Chuckie gets a big sack to force 3rd and long to slow Atlanta as the Falcons entered the Red Zone. The following play, T-Mon kills the drive by baiting Matt Ryan into a bad pass. The MVP goes back to work. 5 times in the 2nd Quarter, Rodgers connects with passes of at least 20 yards. Punctuated with a tremendous TD pass to James Jones in the corner of the end zone. Then, on the final play of the Quarter, it's T-Mon to close the half. Ecstasy! I can't get enough of Joe Buck's call of that play. Seriously sensational!
2.) 1st Quarter: Pittsburgh vs. Green Bay in Super Bowl XLV. I was sitting 21 rows from the field with my Mom, Dad, and my brother, Chad. Obviously, there was a bit of uncertainty as to how the Packers would fare against the veteran Steelers roster. While I believed the Packers were the better team, seeing is believing. Rodgers hits Jordy for 6. Howard Green applies the pressure. Nintendo Nick grabs the pick. And the return. 14-0 Packers. It was SUPER!
1.) 3rd Quarter: New England vs Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXI. Sitting with my Uncle Pat approximately 25 rows from the field, the Packers entered the 3rd Quarter with a solid 27-14 lead. Early in the quarter, it was back & forth. The Packers were driving and looking to take a 3-score lead, which in essence, would have ended the game. On 4th & 1, Holmgren called a questionable run with Dorsey Levens to the outside of the field. Levens was stopped. The Patriots responded. Nerves were at an all-time high. Obviously, I'd never tasted a Packers Super Bowl Title before. I did not know what it felt like to be a Champion. After Curtis Martin cut the Packers lead to 27-21, Desmond Howard goes 99 yards for a Packers TD. Favre hits Chmura for a 2-point conversion & the lead was 14. After the Packers kicked off, it was vintage Reggie White. As the Packers faithful shouted "Reggie, Reggie" with wholehearted passion, the Minister of Defense responded. Dominating Max Lane on 3 straight plays, he sacked Drew Bledsoe twice. At this point, we knew the Packers would win Super Bowl XXXI. For the 1st time, I'd felt the Super Sensation. While the first 12 minutes of the quarter were nail biting material, the final 3 minutes were the ultimate. It was celebration time!
Continue to revel in the notion of Super Bowl XLV. Hopefully, the CBA will be agreed upon in the next week or so. If so, I'll have a post on the current state of the Packers union & how I'd approach the offseason. If it doesn't happen, I'll continue to slowly put together draft thoughts as the draft is now less than 2 months away.
Go Pack Go!
Cheers,
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
I wanted to remind you that we'll have to wait until pick #32 in the 1st Round before we make our initial selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. Ever since my good mate, Vargas, & I conjured a plan to someday open a restaurant called the "Irish Mexican" - I've based my NFL Draft Party around Irish & Mexican goodies. Well, and maybe a lil' Zyr Vodka. Looks like this year, I'll have to stack the plate of nachos a little higher. And, potentially, I'll have to buy an extra 4-pack of canned Guinness.
Damn, it feels good to be a Cheesehead! Yes, we're Super Bowl Champions. As proud supporters, yes, we the G-Force are Super Bowl Champions! Beauty! While the CBA & impending lockout is a total buzzkill, it's not enough to thwart the continued excitement that the final 6 weeks of the 2010 NFL Season brought to life. XLV FOREVER!
I got my Super Bowl goodies in the mail from the Packers Pro Shop. When I pulled out my XLV Flag, I couldn't help but run around the house. Wrapped in the flag, I belted out "Olè, Olè, Olè, Olè...Olè, Olè!" I couldn't help myself. It was instinctive! Purely natural.
Cheers to Ted Thompson. Have to like the AJ Hawk signing. Hawk & Bishop will be manning the middle of our defense for the next 4 years. Together, they had great continuity. They were teammates. They complimented each other. They were in lock-step. Unified.
Speaking of such camaraderie, in case you missed it, I wanted to share a Twitter conversation between Clay Matthews & Aaron Rodgers:
Rodgers writes to Matthews: were u the big man on campus dropping clawledge and looking for designs for ur next tribal tattoo??
Matthews replies: When r we gonna take out ur SB MVP camaro n look for cougars!? I just got a new barbed wire tat around my ankle!! #clawledge
Rodgers responds: when u stop dousing ur hair with water 5 times a game on the sideline just so u can do that hair flip u love to do
Matthews comes back with: Chicks dig the flip. And so does Suave!! :) Is it true ur dating Mila Kunis!? Ur so Hollywood bro!! #MVP
Rodgers writes: if by dating u mean met for the first time the other night, then yes. Uve changed bro. Ur so socal now. sorry I forgot that guys like u stay at the 4 seasons
Matthews jabs: You've changed... I want my old friend back!!
Camaraderie. Teammates. Locker room leaders. Youthful. Playful. Together - forever. Our Offensive MVP & Defensive MVP = Littering a conversation with fun sarcasm. Further evidence of their relationship is revealed as Matthews talks about hanging out with Rodgers' brother at sporting events. Additionally, it appears as though Twitter shows that Rodgers has relationships with Matthews' brothers. Making the relationship even thicker is the fact that Matthews' brothers seem to have brotherhood with Rodgers' brothers as they exchange messages back & forth. Clearly, the relationship between Rodgers & Matthews is deeply rooted. Bring out the Belt!
I believe that team camaraderie is partially the reason that Thompson signed Hawk. In some ways, Hawk defines the Packers of 2010. The consummate team player. Early in the year, he was buried on the depth chart. He never complained. He was the subject trade rumors. He never said anything negative about the organization. He played thru pain. As the captain of the defense, he engineered a terrific defensive performance throughout the 2010 NFL Season.
Oh, and via twitter, the Claymaker had something to say about this as well: Happy 2 see AJ Hawk inked a new 5 yr deal w/ the PACK! I still have better hair!! #longhairdontcare #suave
Barnett, on the other hand, challenged the Packers organization publicly. He negatively responded to Aaron Rodgers' comments prior to the Super Bowl as well. At least partially, I imagine this played a part in Thompson's decision making. Barnett has played his last down in Green & Gold. At this stage, I'd trade him for a 5th or 6th round pick. Though I doubt we'll even get that.
If you haven't watched the replay of the 2nd Quarter of the Packers at Atlanta playoff game in the last week, what are you waiting for? Live that moment again. As I reflect on games that I've gone to in my life & think about the most fun Quarters that I've attended, a quick look at my top 5 would be:
5.) 4th Quarter: Dallas @ Green Bay in Week 13. I was sitting in section 22 - approximately 40 rows from the field. I was with my Mom, my brother Bob & my sister, Marni. The Cowboys had been the thorn in the Packers side throughout the 90's. Leading 24-10, the Cowboys started driving as Troy Aikman hit Michael Irvin on a deep ball. Jerry Jones walked out of the tunnel & onto the field. Wearing a trench coat, he enthusiastically applauded along the Cowboys sideline. Emmitt Smith punched it into the end zone to cut the score to 7. Then the Packers went to work. Favre to Freeman for 6. Levens pounded away as he marched near 200 yards rushing. Pounding through defenders, Levens was Dorsey the Horsey! Levens punched it in to give the Packers a 21 point lead. The party was finished when Darren Sharper picked up a fumble & danced into the end zone. 21 fourth quarter points & Mac was blaring "Mama don't let your babies grow up to be Cowboys" through the loud speakers at Lambeau!
4.) 1st Quarter: San Francisco @ Green Bay in the 1996 NFC Divisional Playoffs. In the freezing rain, I was sitting in Section 22 with my brother Chad, approximately 9 rows from the field. After the Packers forced a Steve Young offense into a 3 & out, Desmond Howard returns the punt 71 yards for a TD. Again, Young walks onto the field. Another defensive stop. Another huge Howard punt return leads to a Brett Favre to Andre Rison TD. 14-0 Packers. An injured Young gets replaced by Elvis Grbac. This set the tone for the entire 1996 playoffs. It confirmed that the '96 Regular Season was not a fluke. We were, indeed, the best team in the NFL. Convincingly so.
3.) 2nd Quarter: Green Bay @ Atlanta in the 2010 NFC Divisional Playoffs. I was sitting upper deck with my brother, Bob, & my brother-in-law, Paul. Trailing 7-0, the Packers were driving. Just over 3 minutes into the 2nd Quarter, Rodgers hits Nelson to equalize! A special teams blunder makes it 14-7 Atlanta. Then the nearly unparalleled excitement begins. Kuhn gets the Packers even after he bulls his way into the end zone from a yard out. On this play, the "Freezer" was born! Then Chuckie gets a big sack to force 3rd and long to slow Atlanta as the Falcons entered the Red Zone. The following play, T-Mon kills the drive by baiting Matt Ryan into a bad pass. The MVP goes back to work. 5 times in the 2nd Quarter, Rodgers connects with passes of at least 20 yards. Punctuated with a tremendous TD pass to James Jones in the corner of the end zone. Then, on the final play of the Quarter, it's T-Mon to close the half. Ecstasy! I can't get enough of Joe Buck's call of that play. Seriously sensational!
2.) 1st Quarter: Pittsburgh vs. Green Bay in Super Bowl XLV. I was sitting 21 rows from the field with my Mom, Dad, and my brother, Chad. Obviously, there was a bit of uncertainty as to how the Packers would fare against the veteran Steelers roster. While I believed the Packers were the better team, seeing is believing. Rodgers hits Jordy for 6. Howard Green applies the pressure. Nintendo Nick grabs the pick. And the return. 14-0 Packers. It was SUPER!
1.) 3rd Quarter: New England vs Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXI. Sitting with my Uncle Pat approximately 25 rows from the field, the Packers entered the 3rd Quarter with a solid 27-14 lead. Early in the quarter, it was back & forth. The Packers were driving and looking to take a 3-score lead, which in essence, would have ended the game. On 4th & 1, Holmgren called a questionable run with Dorsey Levens to the outside of the field. Levens was stopped. The Patriots responded. Nerves were at an all-time high. Obviously, I'd never tasted a Packers Super Bowl Title before. I did not know what it felt like to be a Champion. After Curtis Martin cut the Packers lead to 27-21, Desmond Howard goes 99 yards for a Packers TD. Favre hits Chmura for a 2-point conversion & the lead was 14. After the Packers kicked off, it was vintage Reggie White. As the Packers faithful shouted "Reggie, Reggie" with wholehearted passion, the Minister of Defense responded. Dominating Max Lane on 3 straight plays, he sacked Drew Bledsoe twice. At this point, we knew the Packers would win Super Bowl XXXI. For the 1st time, I'd felt the Super Sensation. While the first 12 minutes of the quarter were nail biting material, the final 3 minutes were the ultimate. It was celebration time!
Continue to revel in the notion of Super Bowl XLV. Hopefully, the CBA will be agreed upon in the next week or so. If so, I'll have a post on the current state of the Packers union & how I'd approach the offseason. If it doesn't happen, I'll continue to slowly put together draft thoughts as the draft is now less than 2 months away.
Go Pack Go!
Cheers,
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Monday, February 21, 2011
Pre-combine Mock Draft
Greetings, G-Force.
The Super Bowl buzz remains stiff. The Green Bay Packers are Super Bowl Champions! For me, the defense of this title begins Thursday with the beginning of the NFL Combine. While Ted Thompson & his staff have been preparing for the 2011 NFL Draft for quite some time, I have been unable to motivate. I've been stuck in Super Bowl savoring mode. Rightfully so. However, with that said, I'm further behind in my analysis of the NFL Draft than I've been in recent memory. Sure, I watched numerous college football games in the '10 campaign & I did write the occasional "Who Are You Watching Now?" during the season, but the majority of my notes did not travel across country with me as I moved from Miami Beach to Denver. Additionally, while I still have the Senior Bowl, a couple of Senior Bowl practices & the East/West Game on DVR, I've yet to watch them in their entirety.
Any way, for those that are new to the mock draft poriton of the blog, there's one rule that I follow: In my mock draft, I don't select OL. Only because I don't follow OL closely enough during the college season. Furthering my 2011 mock draft difficulty, I feel the Packers most pressing need going into the NFL Draft is the OL. Assuming the CBA gets worked out & players are forced to play 6 years on a team before becoming an UFA, the Packers rosted will be loaded at most positions - except for the OL. On the OL, I really like Sitton. I believe he has Pro Bowl ability. I feel Bulaga has a career in the league. Then come the question marks. Clifton is aging. Colledge's career in Green Bay might be coming to a close through FA. Wells is steady, but he's in the middle-tier of NFL Centers. With regards to depth, I want to like Lang, but I'm not sure where he fits. I thought Marshall Newhouse showed a ton of progress in the preseason, but at this stage, he's a developmental prospect. Is for players like Marshall Newhouse that I hope the NFL keeps a 4-game preseason schedule. Those games are imperative to the development of late round draft picks. Continuing with the depth chart, Jason Spitz has played his last down as a Packer, Tauscher has probably done the same unless he comes back at the league minimum as a back-up, and both Nick McDonald & Evan Diedrich-Smith fit into the developmental category. Clearly, to me, the Packers need to draft OL. It just won't happen in my mock draft.
Round 1: Ted Thompson has been aggressive with winning the perimeter on the offensive side of the ball. It has been a priority of his since he took over in 2005. 5 times in 6 drafts, Thompson has drafted a pass catcher in the 1st 3 rounds (Terrance Murphy, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and Jermichael Finley). While he hasn't invested an early round pick in a pass-catcher since 2008, it wouldn't surprise me if Thompson provided Aaron Rodgers with a weapon in Round 1. After all, Donald Driver isn't getting younger, James Jones has not only disappointed - at times - but he's potentially going to be a FA, and Jord Nelson has had issues with consistency. Two WR's that are presently listed as 2-3 rounders interest me as a potential selection at #32. Don't be surprised if the stock of Leonard Hankerson, WR, []_[], climbs significantly during the combine. He has scored more TD's than any WR in the history of the []_[]. He had a great Senior Bowl. At times, in college, he was unguardable. Not afraid of traffic. He can run the deep route. He has the build that attracts Thompson's eye. For now, my 1st round pick is Hankerson. I realize that NO ONE has Hankerson as a 1st round pick. Still, it's early in the evaluation process. If, after the combine, he's still low on the totem pole, I'll reconsider.
The other WR that interests me is Titus Young, WR, Boise State. In some ways, he reminds me of DeSean Jackson. Electric with the ball. Undersized. He gets deep. He can return kicks. He, too, is listed as a 2-3 round prospect. Wouldn't shock me if he solidifies himself as a solid early round 2nd round prospect. Therefore, if we want him, we have to get him at #32.
Many consider the Packers #1 requirement to be OLB across from the Claymaker. For me, I believe that I saw enough out of Erik Walden to give him a chance to be the starting OLB across Clay. I thought Walden was a terrific addition to our defense. Still, I won't complain if the Packers #1 pick is an OLB. One of the strengths of the 1st round in the 2011 Draft might be the availability of 3-4 OLB's. Von Miller, Bruce Carter, Akeem Ayers & Justin Houston all are potential 1st round picks. I like all of them. At this stage, I see Miller, Carter & Ayers all being selected prior to #32. If Houston is available, he'd be a great pick at #32. For a while, this year, I thought Ayers was as good as any LB in the country at the college level. It'll also be interesting to track how Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue drops in coverage at the Combine. He didn't do much of it in college, but the guy could get to the QB.
If the Packers deem CB to be the pick, Aaron Williams, Texas, is the guy that interests me the most. Williams plays the run well. Also, he aggressive in coverage. To me, he fits in the Dom Capers scheme.
Round 2: Muhammad Wilkerson, DL, Temple. Perfect for the Packers 3-4. He can rush the passer. He can stop the run. He'd be a solid fit in the 2-down lineman rotating with Raji. Though Jolly should be back in 2011, I expect the Packers to lose Cullen Jenkins due to FA. While Mike Neal looks to be a gem, he has to stay healthy. I wouldn't be surprised if the Packers added depth to the DL. For now, most have Wilkerson projected as a late 2nd, early 3rd. Don't be surprised if he climbs the charts post a solid combine. But, until I see his name climbing the ranks, he's my choice.
A couple of other 2nd round prospects to keep an eye on: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado; Jerrell Jernigan, WR/KR, Troy; Brandon Hughes, CB, WVU; Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia. Smith has shut-down capabilities. Jernigan is a threat every time he touches the ball. He'd solve our return woes. Hughes, though only 5-10, was a stand-out at WVU. He battled injuries at the end of the year, so I'd check his durability. The same can be said with Dowling who could not stay healthy this year. When healthy, Dowling was a better player than Chris Cook who was the Vikings 1st selection last year.
Ryan Williams, RB, Va Tech, is a big play gamer. He has a flair for running hard & making big plays in big games. Doubt the Packers look for a RB in the early portions of the draft though.
Round 3: Presently, I see ILB as the best 3rd round value. Casey Matthews, ILB, Oregon, Greg Jones, ILB, Michigan State, and Colin McCarthy, ILB, []_[] have all grabbed my interest at this point. Naturally, I would like Matthews to be the selection as it'd be great to see the long-haired brothers manning the Packers defense. Therefore, my selection is Casey Matthews.
If Ted Thompson finally chooses a scat back who can return kicks, Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State could be the pick.
Round 4: I'm giving the Packers two 4th round picks. The bonus pick will be for Aaron Kampman. I project a 4th round compensatory pick. In the 4th round, the Packers grab Richard Sherman, CB, Stanford. At this point, Sherman is virtually off the board. No one is talking about Sherman. They will soon. From what I saw at the Senior Bowl, he has superstar potential. He reminded me a little of Al Harris. Big CB. Likes to put his hands on you. Then, he'll turn & run with you. He hasn't played a lot of CB. He's fairly raw. Thompson struck gold with Sammy Swagga, who had a similar background. Sherman learned under the tutelage of Jim Harbaugh. He'll be NFL ready.
Others: I like CB value in this draft. Chris Rucker, CB, Michigan State, Marcus Gilchrist, CB, Clemson, Jalil Brown, CB, Colorado are all names that could be solid picks in this area.
With the other 4th round pick, the Packers grab Bruce Miller, OLB, Central Florida. A classic work-hard OLB. Endless motor. Gets to the QB. Closes out games. Every time I watched UCF play, Miller was making plays in workman-like fashion.
Others: Jordan Todman, RB, UConn. I like the way Todman runs & catches the ball. If he lands in the right spot, he'll have an NFL career. Jeremy Kerley, WR, TCU. Kid can flat out make plays with the ball in his hands. He, too, can return kicks.
Round 5: Noel Devine, RB, WVU. I'm amazed that most have him as a 6-7 round prospect. Unbelieveable. He was lethat - at times - in college. Every time he touches the ball, he's a threat. He didn't return punts in college. I'd like to see if he can do it, but man, this guy is dangerous. He's undersized, but at this point, he seems like the classic mid-round Ted Thompson selection.
Others: At some point, Thompson will to draft a CB. Shareece Wright, CB, USC could be a solid 5th rounder. Also, at OLB, Mark Herzlich, BC would be a great value pick - if his health clears. Two years ago, he was an elite player. Now, he is a recovered cancer patient. At times, he returned to form in 2010. Will be interesting to track where he falls. WR, Terrance Tolliver, LSU, is a playmaker. He, too, can stretch the field. He'd be solid running the "go" routes that McCarthy designs down the outside of the field. He'd cause potential match-up issues on Rodgers' deep balls.
Round 6: Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama. McCarthy needs a new toy. McElroy is similar to Flynn. In college, he was a winner. Held onto the ball. Managed games. Created crucial third downs. Won a National Championship. Did a lot with his legs. Solid - at times - with his arm. When the game was on the line, he won. He has enough tools to be a weapon for McCarthy to sharpen.
Others: Mario Harvey, ILB, Marshall. Undersized, but always around the ball. Great effort guy. Classic special teams wizard. Jerrell Powe, DT, Mississippi. Big boy. Questionable effort, but you gotta like the size as a 6th rounder. Made some plays against top-notch competition.
Round 7: DeMarcus Van Dyke, CB, []_[]. 4 year starter. Going to be reunited with Sammy Swagga. Van Dyke might end up as a better pro than college player. Wouldn't shock me. Good size. He can run. Sees the field well.
Others: Scott Tolzien, QB, WI. Another guy that McCarthy could play with. S, Zac Etheridge, Auburn. Playmaker in the secondary for the National Champions. DT, Brandon Bair, Oregon. A little undersized, but a high energy/high effort guy who produced for Oregon. Often, he was their best defender. Good value pick.
More to come post the combine.
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
The Super Bowl buzz remains stiff. The Green Bay Packers are Super Bowl Champions! For me, the defense of this title begins Thursday with the beginning of the NFL Combine. While Ted Thompson & his staff have been preparing for the 2011 NFL Draft for quite some time, I have been unable to motivate. I've been stuck in Super Bowl savoring mode. Rightfully so. However, with that said, I'm further behind in my analysis of the NFL Draft than I've been in recent memory. Sure, I watched numerous college football games in the '10 campaign & I did write the occasional "Who Are You Watching Now?" during the season, but the majority of my notes did not travel across country with me as I moved from Miami Beach to Denver. Additionally, while I still have the Senior Bowl, a couple of Senior Bowl practices & the East/West Game on DVR, I've yet to watch them in their entirety.
Any way, for those that are new to the mock draft poriton of the blog, there's one rule that I follow: In my mock draft, I don't select OL. Only because I don't follow OL closely enough during the college season. Furthering my 2011 mock draft difficulty, I feel the Packers most pressing need going into the NFL Draft is the OL. Assuming the CBA gets worked out & players are forced to play 6 years on a team before becoming an UFA, the Packers rosted will be loaded at most positions - except for the OL. On the OL, I really like Sitton. I believe he has Pro Bowl ability. I feel Bulaga has a career in the league. Then come the question marks. Clifton is aging. Colledge's career in Green Bay might be coming to a close through FA. Wells is steady, but he's in the middle-tier of NFL Centers. With regards to depth, I want to like Lang, but I'm not sure where he fits. I thought Marshall Newhouse showed a ton of progress in the preseason, but at this stage, he's a developmental prospect. Is for players like Marshall Newhouse that I hope the NFL keeps a 4-game preseason schedule. Those games are imperative to the development of late round draft picks. Continuing with the depth chart, Jason Spitz has played his last down as a Packer, Tauscher has probably done the same unless he comes back at the league minimum as a back-up, and both Nick McDonald & Evan Diedrich-Smith fit into the developmental category. Clearly, to me, the Packers need to draft OL. It just won't happen in my mock draft.
Round 1: Ted Thompson has been aggressive with winning the perimeter on the offensive side of the ball. It has been a priority of his since he took over in 2005. 5 times in 6 drafts, Thompson has drafted a pass catcher in the 1st 3 rounds (Terrance Murphy, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and Jermichael Finley). While he hasn't invested an early round pick in a pass-catcher since 2008, it wouldn't surprise me if Thompson provided Aaron Rodgers with a weapon in Round 1. After all, Donald Driver isn't getting younger, James Jones has not only disappointed - at times - but he's potentially going to be a FA, and Jord Nelson has had issues with consistency. Two WR's that are presently listed as 2-3 rounders interest me as a potential selection at #32. Don't be surprised if the stock of Leonard Hankerson, WR, []_[], climbs significantly during the combine. He has scored more TD's than any WR in the history of the []_[]. He had a great Senior Bowl. At times, in college, he was unguardable. Not afraid of traffic. He can run the deep route. He has the build that attracts Thompson's eye. For now, my 1st round pick is Hankerson. I realize that NO ONE has Hankerson as a 1st round pick. Still, it's early in the evaluation process. If, after the combine, he's still low on the totem pole, I'll reconsider.
The other WR that interests me is Titus Young, WR, Boise State. In some ways, he reminds me of DeSean Jackson. Electric with the ball. Undersized. He gets deep. He can return kicks. He, too, is listed as a 2-3 round prospect. Wouldn't shock me if he solidifies himself as a solid early round 2nd round prospect. Therefore, if we want him, we have to get him at #32.
Many consider the Packers #1 requirement to be OLB across from the Claymaker. For me, I believe that I saw enough out of Erik Walden to give him a chance to be the starting OLB across Clay. I thought Walden was a terrific addition to our defense. Still, I won't complain if the Packers #1 pick is an OLB. One of the strengths of the 1st round in the 2011 Draft might be the availability of 3-4 OLB's. Von Miller, Bruce Carter, Akeem Ayers & Justin Houston all are potential 1st round picks. I like all of them. At this stage, I see Miller, Carter & Ayers all being selected prior to #32. If Houston is available, he'd be a great pick at #32. For a while, this year, I thought Ayers was as good as any LB in the country at the college level. It'll also be interesting to track how Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue drops in coverage at the Combine. He didn't do much of it in college, but the guy could get to the QB.
If the Packers deem CB to be the pick, Aaron Williams, Texas, is the guy that interests me the most. Williams plays the run well. Also, he aggressive in coverage. To me, he fits in the Dom Capers scheme.
Round 2: Muhammad Wilkerson, DL, Temple. Perfect for the Packers 3-4. He can rush the passer. He can stop the run. He'd be a solid fit in the 2-down lineman rotating with Raji. Though Jolly should be back in 2011, I expect the Packers to lose Cullen Jenkins due to FA. While Mike Neal looks to be a gem, he has to stay healthy. I wouldn't be surprised if the Packers added depth to the DL. For now, most have Wilkerson projected as a late 2nd, early 3rd. Don't be surprised if he climbs the charts post a solid combine. But, until I see his name climbing the ranks, he's my choice.
A couple of other 2nd round prospects to keep an eye on: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado; Jerrell Jernigan, WR/KR, Troy; Brandon Hughes, CB, WVU; Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia. Smith has shut-down capabilities. Jernigan is a threat every time he touches the ball. He'd solve our return woes. Hughes, though only 5-10, was a stand-out at WVU. He battled injuries at the end of the year, so I'd check his durability. The same can be said with Dowling who could not stay healthy this year. When healthy, Dowling was a better player than Chris Cook who was the Vikings 1st selection last year.
Ryan Williams, RB, Va Tech, is a big play gamer. He has a flair for running hard & making big plays in big games. Doubt the Packers look for a RB in the early portions of the draft though.
Round 3: Presently, I see ILB as the best 3rd round value. Casey Matthews, ILB, Oregon, Greg Jones, ILB, Michigan State, and Colin McCarthy, ILB, []_[] have all grabbed my interest at this point. Naturally, I would like Matthews to be the selection as it'd be great to see the long-haired brothers manning the Packers defense. Therefore, my selection is Casey Matthews.
If Ted Thompson finally chooses a scat back who can return kicks, Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State could be the pick.
Round 4: I'm giving the Packers two 4th round picks. The bonus pick will be for Aaron Kampman. I project a 4th round compensatory pick. In the 4th round, the Packers grab Richard Sherman, CB, Stanford. At this point, Sherman is virtually off the board. No one is talking about Sherman. They will soon. From what I saw at the Senior Bowl, he has superstar potential. He reminded me a little of Al Harris. Big CB. Likes to put his hands on you. Then, he'll turn & run with you. He hasn't played a lot of CB. He's fairly raw. Thompson struck gold with Sammy Swagga, who had a similar background. Sherman learned under the tutelage of Jim Harbaugh. He'll be NFL ready.
Others: I like CB value in this draft. Chris Rucker, CB, Michigan State, Marcus Gilchrist, CB, Clemson, Jalil Brown, CB, Colorado are all names that could be solid picks in this area.
With the other 4th round pick, the Packers grab Bruce Miller, OLB, Central Florida. A classic work-hard OLB. Endless motor. Gets to the QB. Closes out games. Every time I watched UCF play, Miller was making plays in workman-like fashion.
Others: Jordan Todman, RB, UConn. I like the way Todman runs & catches the ball. If he lands in the right spot, he'll have an NFL career. Jeremy Kerley, WR, TCU. Kid can flat out make plays with the ball in his hands. He, too, can return kicks.
Round 5: Noel Devine, RB, WVU. I'm amazed that most have him as a 6-7 round prospect. Unbelieveable. He was lethat - at times - in college. Every time he touches the ball, he's a threat. He didn't return punts in college. I'd like to see if he can do it, but man, this guy is dangerous. He's undersized, but at this point, he seems like the classic mid-round Ted Thompson selection.
Others: At some point, Thompson will to draft a CB. Shareece Wright, CB, USC could be a solid 5th rounder. Also, at OLB, Mark Herzlich, BC would be a great value pick - if his health clears. Two years ago, he was an elite player. Now, he is a recovered cancer patient. At times, he returned to form in 2010. Will be interesting to track where he falls. WR, Terrance Tolliver, LSU, is a playmaker. He, too, can stretch the field. He'd be solid running the "go" routes that McCarthy designs down the outside of the field. He'd cause potential match-up issues on Rodgers' deep balls.
Round 6: Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama. McCarthy needs a new toy. McElroy is similar to Flynn. In college, he was a winner. Held onto the ball. Managed games. Created crucial third downs. Won a National Championship. Did a lot with his legs. Solid - at times - with his arm. When the game was on the line, he won. He has enough tools to be a weapon for McCarthy to sharpen.
Others: Mario Harvey, ILB, Marshall. Undersized, but always around the ball. Great effort guy. Classic special teams wizard. Jerrell Powe, DT, Mississippi. Big boy. Questionable effort, but you gotta like the size as a 6th rounder. Made some plays against top-notch competition.
Round 7: DeMarcus Van Dyke, CB, []_[]. 4 year starter. Going to be reunited with Sammy Swagga. Van Dyke might end up as a better pro than college player. Wouldn't shock me. Good size. He can run. Sees the field well.
Others: Scott Tolzien, QB, WI. Another guy that McCarthy could play with. S, Zac Etheridge, Auburn. Playmaker in the secondary for the National Champions. DT, Brandon Bair, Oregon. A little undersized, but a high energy/high effort guy who produced for Oregon. Often, he was their best defender. Good value pick.
More to come post the combine.
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
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