NT?

[Wade-A-Holic]

I'm with you, Drugbust. Raji is not a NT nor is he anywhere near being worth taking with the #9 pick. There will be much better players there. Pickett, Cole, and Jolly are all big enough to play NT. Whether or not they can become two gap guys remains to be seen, but they are all built for it.

This is a bad draft to be looking for a nose tackle, but if the Packers really want one, they'll look at Brace from BC, Terrance Taylor from Michigan (who I like in the 4th round), or MAYBE Dorell Scott, although he's probably a 4-3 guy.

[ReasonablySober]

There's two more. Are all of these scouting reports wrong. That's 7 that say he can.

All you have to do is say no. Just say, "No. I've never seen him play a single down, yet he's my number one choice at number nine because I read a lot about him on the internet".

[Ill-yasova]

There's two more. Are all of these scouting reports wrong. That's 7 that say he can.

All you have to do is say no. Just say, "No. I've never seen him play a single down, yet he's my number one choice at number nine because I read a lot about him on the internet".

Yes. That is the case. Now you say "I have seen him play once and totally elimnate him as a productive nose tackle, based on my opinion of him, despite the fact that people far more knowledgeble than me contradict everything that I have said"
It's a run-on sentence, but whatever.

[ReasonablySober]

One, I've seen him play a few times. And two, he's easy to eliminate because he's not a nose tackle. Early in his career? Yes. Now? No.

[xTitan]

Raji was moved from nose tackle to DT thise year with Brace manning the nose spot and doing it extremely well. I know many won't like to hear it but this may be the perfect draft to trade down for a slightly lower #1 and another #2 because Brace is probably the best NT in the draft and will probably be available in the second round and you could also pick up a quality LB, DL, OT, or DB.

[ReasonablySober]

Despite the abnormally large number of impact juniors that stayed in school, I might be OK with a move down if Brown is off the board. Not too far, though.

[LUKE23]

You can't take Raji at 9, obviously. And his sack numbers are irrelevant because he's not going to be getting any if he's playing NT in a 3-4, the job of the NT is to hold the point of attack and that is it. Raji is not any better than Pickett is next year, and we have more pressing needs by far (see pass rush).

As soon as McCoy went back to school, DT isn't even a thought in my mind, barring a trade down. I want an impact pass rusher at 9, preferrably Brown. Pickett is 330 and with an offseason could get to 340 if he wanted to.

[LUKE23]

Despite the abnormally large number of impact juniors that stayed in school, I might be OK with a move down if Brown is off the board. Not too far, though.

If both Brown and Maualuga are off the board, I agree.

[Ill-yasova]

You can't take Raji at 9, obviously. And his sack numbers are irrelevant because he's not going to be getting any if he's playing NT in a 3-4, the job of the NT is to hold the point of attack and that is it. Raji is not any better than Pickett is next year, and we have more pressing needs by far (see pass rush).

As soon as McCoy went back to school, DT isn't even a thought in my mind, barring a trade down. I want an impact pass rusher at 9, preferrably Brown. Pickett is 330 and with an offseason could get to 340 if he wanted to.

I just wasn't impressed at all with Pickett last year. He was a disaster in short yardage situations and did a terrible job keeping lineman off of our LBs. he had a very hard time standing his ground at the point of attack. Did you see how many tackles he made this season four or five yards downfield? That's because he was already down there. Did you ever have faith in the Packers to stop a 3rd and 2 or a 4th and 1? He will face constant double teams in the 3-4, and he had a hard enough time with one-on-ones. I agree a pass rusher is important, but if our DTs are as innefective as they were last year the run defense will suffer greatly and Hawk and Barnett are in for another long season in the middle.

[LUKE23]

Well, I think Pickett looked worse than he was because we had Jenkins down and Jolly really regressed after a good 2007. We basically had two good DL healthy last year and playing. I think Pickett is actually MORE suited for a 3-4 NT, because his athleticism is declining and his biggest asset at this point his his size.

I would probably draft a NT in round 2 or with one of the 3rds as well, but I think Pickett is better as a 3-4 NT than a 4-3 DT.

[Ill-yasova]

Well, I think Pickett looked worse than he was because we had Jenkins down and Jolly really regressed after a good 2007. We basically had two good DL healthy last year and playing. I think Pickett is actually MORE suited for a 3-4 NT, because his athleticism is declining and his biggest asset at this point his his size.

I would probably draft a NT in round 2 or with one of the 3rds as well, but I think Pickett is better as a 3-4 NT than a 4-3 DT.

I'm ok with a second or third rounder. Terrance Taylor? And oh yeah, it feels weird to be talking to you about anything other than Mike Conley .

[eagle13]

Raji was moved from nose tackle to DT thise year with Brace manning the nose spot and doing it extremely well. I know many won't like to hear it but this may be the perfect draft to trade down for a slightly lower #1 and another #2 because Brace is probably the best NT in the draft and will probably be available in the second round and you could also pick up a quality LB, DL, OT, or DB.

I agree with you. The change to 3-4 changes approach to draft alot.
Do not want a LB at #9 (never did) and now with 3-4 do not want a DE. And if you & DB say there isn't a NT worthy of #9 I believe you. So either elite OT at #9 (doubtful) or trade down as you say.

Never minded trade down in 1st round. Its the trade downs in subseqent rounds that will bother me this year. we don't need quantity - we need quality and once your into 2nd round you should either take your pick or trade up IMHO.

[Sauce Boss]

Yeah this draft isnt as exactly deep and talented as years past. I'd like a trade down by TT this year actually. If not I think I want an OT at 9 and the NT in the second or third if there is an able body, this Brace guy sounds good. I also wouldn't mind a ILB since i think Barnett isnt exactly perfect for the system (he is like a WLB and MLB's in the 3-4 are generally bigger and we need a good one next to Hawk).

[Lippo]

Ziggy Hood is really starting to impress me, maybe he can play a 3-4 DE, and can be had late 2nd/early 3rd

[ReasonablySober]

This is a fine draft class. Not as good as it could have been, but I wouldn't be opposed to moving down some spots if Brown is off the board.

[automatic44]

Well, I think Pickett looked worse than he was because we had Jenkins down and Jolly really regressed after a good 2007. We basically had two good DL healthy last year and playing. I think Pickett is actually MORE suited for a 3-4 NT, because his athleticism is declining and his biggest asset at this point his his size.

I agree with you. I think Pickett took too much blame for our poor run D. Jolly wasn't the same player he was in 2007, Jenkins was gone, Harrell didn't do anything, and Williams was traded. We didn't have a 5 man rotation at tackle to keep guys fresh like we had the previous two season. As a result, Pickett ended up playing a lot more snaps than he probably should have, and it looked like it began to take a toll on him. In a 3-4, he would be asked to do what he does best, take up space and eat blockers.

[Wade-A-Holic]

Ziggy Hood is really starting to impress me, maybe he can play a 3-4 DE, and can be had late 2nd/early 3rd

I've liked Hood for a while, but he's not a fit to be a 3-4 end. He's a one gap, penetrating type DT who will do well in a 4-3 next to a bigger tackle or in a Cover 2 where he can use his quickness.