What instant grade do you give the Packers' draft?
Say It With Me: D-fense...D-fense...
Posted April 30th, 2012 @ 02:04am
Need a center of the future? Sorry. Another running back? Uh-uh. Wasn't on Ted Thompson's agenda. Oh, he'll tell you he followed the integrity of his board. That he drafted six consecutive defensive players to start the draft because that's the way the players fell. Right. Never had the Packers drafted six straight defenders. But this year, it was the only way to go.
On top of that, Thompson started the draft with 12 picks and ended up selecting eight guys. This is a deep team, with a lot of young talent. Thompson packaged picks to move up and grab guys he really wanted. I love that.
We all know the Packers gave up more yards than any team in NFL history in 2011, though finished 19th in points against. There's talent on that side of the ball, but not enough. Remove Cullen Jenkins and Nick Collins from the equation and your defense is going to take a step back. The problem is, the Packers D took a giant moonwalk leap back, yet the team still finished 15-2. It was time to bring in re-enforcements.
Let's start with the first two rounds. After addressing the pass rush in round one with Southern Cal's Nick Perry, Thompson went against typecast and traded up twice in round two to grab the guys he had his eyes on. Jerel Worthy was considered a late first or early second round pick. When he was still there at 51, Thompson pounced. Worthy is expected to compete to win one of the two D-line spots in the nickel, and will have a chance to start in the base as well.
Perry has some critics who are unsure whether he can transition from defensive end, with his hand in the dirt, to the 3-4 where he'll be asked to rush the passer from a two point stance. Also, at 270 he's too heavy to play in coverage. He played closer to 250 and he'll need to get down closer to that weight to play outside linebacker. I think he has huge upside and will provide an instant upgrade over the Waldens, Zombos and Joneses of the world.
When Thompson got Bill Belechick to part with his late second round pick in exchange for a third and a fifth, he scored a major coup. The trade value chart gives the Pack the big edge here, but the pick needs to deliver. Casey Hayward seems to have everything you want in a corner except top-line speed. He has all the instincts you want and was an interception machine in the SEC for Vandy. He'll have a chance to step right in and compete for playing time.
Fast forward to Saturday. Thompson began the day adding three more defenders, beginning on the defensive line, with former Hawkeye Mike Daniels, who is vertically challenged, much like Jenkins, but is tenacious and can rush the passer.
You knew the Pack would add a safety and Thompson surprised by going the Division 1AA route (a la Nick Collins), with Maine's Jerron McMillian, whose known as a sure tackler and student of the game. I thought Boise State's George Iloka would be the pick. We'll see if we got the right guy. The final defensive pick was Terrell Manning, an inside linebacker from NC State who came out as a junior and probably should have played one more year. Once projected as a second round pick, injuries dropped his stock. If healthy, he'll have a chance to push for playing time.
The Pack's final two picks, tackle Andrew Datko, from Florida State and QB BJ Coleman from Tennessee-Chattanooga both play positions where the team has openings. Coleman is a Tennessee transfer who is tall and has big hands and long arms, something Mike McCarthy looks for in quarterbacks.
As for the undrafted guys, Thompson signed 12-15 guys, most of whom will be hard-pressed to earn a spot on the 53 man roster. Keep an eye on South Dakota State's Dale Moss, a former basketball player who played just one year of football. Nicholas Cooper, a RB from Winston Salem State will be moved to fullback and will have a chance to stick. The other back, Marc Tyler from USC, took a step back in 2011 after a big 2010 campaign. He's had some issues but he'll be given every opportunity to replace some of Ryan Grant's carries. Expect the Pack to keep an eye on the waiver wire for more help at this position.
The biggest surprise is that the Packers didn't add a center to be groomed under Jeff Saturday. Either (A) they have a lot of faith in the stompee, Evan Dietrich Smith, (B) they think Saturday may have two years left in him or (C) they plan to scour other teams' castoffs for one in late August.
My instant draft grade: B+. If the top three picks become starters I'll upgrade it to an A. I'm sure TT will be able to sleep better tonight.
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Thompson "Goes Crazy," Trades Up Twice To Help Defense
Posted April 28th, 2012 @ 03:04am
Those were his words, not mine. I got it wrong: I thought Ted Thompson might trade up in the second round if there was a guy there he liked. He ended up doing it twice.
First he jumped up eight spots to grab Michigan State defensive lineman Jerel Worthy, a guy many mock drafters thought the Pack might take in the first round. When he was still sitting there at #51, Thompson pounced. The team preferred him slightly over Penn State's Devon Still (the Big Ten's defensive player of the year), because he has more wiggle. Okay.
The knock on Worthy is that he had a penchant for taking some plays off. My guess is that will be coached out of him by Mike Trgovac and he will be the opening day starter next to BJ Raji. Adding Worthy and Perry to the front seven gives the Pack a whole new look and the chance to be a much stronger pass rushing unit.
Thompson struck again, moving up 28 spots and back into the second round to grab Vanderbilt corner Jason Hayward. I'll be honest: I never heard of the dude before the draft. But after reading scouting reports and listening to him, it sounds like the Packers got a guy who will be a starting corner down the road. And if Charles Woodson moves to safety, that could happen sooner rather than later. Hayward was incredibly productive at Vandy, matched up against talented SEC receivers and seemed to play his best in the red zone. He should instantly be in the mix for the dime corner job, and though he played some safety in college, it looks like the Pack will play him exclusively at corner.
Despite trading its third, fourth and fifth round picks on Friday, Thompson still has a bunch of picks to make on Saturday, including two compensatory picks in the fourth round. Expect him to add a safety, running back, and an offensive lineman or two before he's done.
There's been a lot of speculation that he will add a QB as well, but late reports on Friday indicate the Pack is in trade talks with the Browns to acquire Colt McCoy, who is now expendable, after Cleveland drafted Brandon Weedon in the first round. I'd love to see this. I'm not comfortable with Graham Harrell as the backup. I'd love to see a guy with some starts under his belt backing up Rodgers. If he costs only a late round pick, it seems like an easy decision. Plus, give McCoy some time learning from McCarthy, Clements and Rodgers and he could develop into a future starter, a la Matt Flynn.
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Packers Beef Up Pass Rush With Trojans' Perry
Posted April 27th, 2012 @ 03:04am
After going offense with his first three picks last year, Ted Thompson is likely to flip and address defense early and often in this draft. He pounced on Southern Cal's Nick Perry with the 28th pick, a bit of a surprise since Perry professed his desire to play end in a 4-3 defense in the NFL when asked at the NFL Combine.
With the Packers he will be asked to stand up and play outside linebacker to complement fellow Trojan Clay Matthews. I'm guessing he won't hesitate to embrace his new position. Dom Capers can't wait to get his hands on him. Moments after the draft he reminded everyone that Perry ran a 4.5 at 270 pounds. Think about that for a second. What do you think it feels like to get hit by a guy that big and that fast. We're hoping opposing QBs find out, beginning this season.
Capers maintains that having explosive ability to come off the edge is the #1 priority in a 3-4 outside linebacker. He also knows that you need two of them on the field to really make that 3-4 hum.
Perry will struggle in coverage and is not too good against the run, but what he provides is a nice bookend for Matthews and a chance to develop into an all around player. He played against very good competition in the Pac 12 and had his way with Stanford tackle Jonathan Martin, likely an early second round pick.
It would be a surprise if he's not the opening day starter, opposite Matthews. So what will Thompson do on Friday? I expect a defensive lineman (Nebraska's Jared Crick?) and maybe a safety ('Bama's DeQuan Menzie?). Will he package a few picks to try to pick twice in the second round? Will a running back catch his eye?
What would you like to see the Packers do in the second and third rounds?