I know its early (NFL Draft talk)

[SugarRay34]

Was just browsing around nfldraftcountdown and had to take a look at their mock. They have the Cleveland pick(that Dallas got, but many thought we should have made that trade) taking Darren McFadden at 3. I dont think Browns will end up at 3 they already have a couple of unexpected wins.

But they have the Packers picking 28th and taking none other than Steve Slaton. Although he hasnt done much against the good defenses this year Slaton is still explosive and would love to have him in the backfield More big play ability than any back on our team right now. We would have to look at RB right now. If we do slip up though and get a teen pick. I would take a hard look at Malcolm Jenkins. Hes the perfect corner for this system. Plays physical bump and run at tOSU right now and is a shutdown corner. Harris is looking injury prone and is getting older but Jenkins could come in and be a great nickel back first couple years then take over for Woodson or Harris.

Like I said I know its early but NFL Draft is great to talk about. Had just a great thread and conversation last year.

[ReasonablySober]

The Ravens have a better chance at picking three than the Browns do.

[xTitan]

If I am the Packers I look DB or OL with a later first round pick as it stands....they really need to groom a new DB and with Blackmons problems he can be counted on.....the OL scares me quite a bit right now...they are high on Barbre but this is a position you might explore in free agency.

[El Duderino]

If there ever was a question about whether Thompson will focus on a need or position come the first round of the draft,the last draft answered it with a big fat no.

Outside of QB/FB/P/K and maybe DT,i wouldn't be surprised by any position Ted drafted first.

CB/OT/RB/TE and maybe guard all look like positions that a high quality young player would be nice to have.

[ReasonablySober]

If there ever was a question about whether Thompson will focus on a need or position come the first round of the draft,the last draft answered it with a big fat no.

Huh?

RB was out. Lynch was gone and there wasn't another player there with a first round grade.

The year before he found an All-Rookie WR late in round two. Did he have any reason to think he couldn't this time around, especially with the enormous depth in the class? It looks like he's got another All-Rookie performer.

He drafted three starting guards in '06. Wells was given an extension and you still had Tauscher and Clifton. OL was out.

I would have liked an OLB to replace Poppinga but there wasn't a standout, you-take-him-if-he's-there, type player.

DE was maybe the most loaded position on the team. Forget that.

He wasn't going to draft a starter at CB with Harris and Woodson. He won't this year either and maybe even the next unless both starters go really down hill.

There were only three positions needing a big time upgrade with good players available. DT, S and TE.

Not that I think what this guy says is gospel by any stretch of the imagination, but here's what Scott Wright wrote after the draft:

In round one the Packers passed on offensive playmakers such as Greg Olsen and Robert Meachem and instead opted for Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell, who most felt would come off the board late in round one. In the days leading up to the draft Harrell had clearly emerged as one of the Top 3 players at his position and a sure-fire first round pick but nobody thought he'd go #16 overall and grabbing him there was a pretty questionable move by Green Bay. Had he stayed healthy all year long Harrell could have very easily emerged as a Top 10-15 overall type of prospect but he missed all but two games of his senior campaign with a ruptured biceps tendon which normally would have a negative effect a players draft stock. With Cullen Jenkins being moved to defensive end there is no doubt that Green Bay needed someone to team with Ryan Pickett on the interior so if healthy Harrell should be able to contribute early on, however he was a bit of a reach where they took him and in my opinion the team would have been far better served by providing Brett Favre with an offensive playmaker as they try and make one last playoff push.

Last April it was Pickett and...?

Looking back, tight end doesn't look like such a big need, and we all have seen how our WR situation has turned out.

A top notch DT was certainly a need. Unfortunately Harrell hasn't shown why he was considered a first round value.

[El Duderino]

Come on DB

Going into the draft,at DT the Packers had

Pickett as their run stuffing tackle and Cole as another solid space eater

Corey Williams an inside rushing tackle that also isn't terrible vs the run.

Jenkins was planned all along to be an inside rusher on passing downs

Jolley has turned out better than i'm sure they expected by his second season,but i'm assuming they saw things to make them think he had potential to help.

The year before he found an All-Rookie WR late in round two. Did he have any reason to think he couldn't this time around, especially with the enormous depth in the class? It looks like he's got another All-Rookie performer.

He had every reason to assume he'd find an All-Rookie WR in the third round?As if it's that simple just because he did so the year before?

At WR last year,things were a mess after Jennings got hurt.Depth at the position was very poor,slow footed Ruvell Martin was suddenly the starting WR and guys picked off the street like Holiday was the No.3 WR.Sure Jones playing well as a rookie has helped alot,but it's not like Ted knew for sure he was going to take Jones in round three and that he'd turn out so well so fast.

He drafted three starting guards in '06. Wells was given an extension and you still had Tauscher and Clifton. OL was out.

You may not agree with me,but i was more concerned about OT than DT going into last years draft.Clifton is a fine player,but his body has gone through his share of injuries and plenty of battles.Not only was i fine with the team taking a tackle early for grooming purposes when Clifton is done,also just for depth now if he got hurt and had to miss a chunk of time.Seeing Colledge get destroyed at LT didn't exactly inspire confidence in me that he is cut out for that position.

DE was maybe the most loaded position on the team. Forget that.

Pass rushers are like corners,you never have to many of them.With that said,high quality ones that aren't huge liabilities vs the run in a 4-3 defense are generally gone in the top 5-10 picks.

He wasn't going to draft a starter at CB with Harris and Woodson. He won't this year either and maybe even the next unless both starters go really down hill.

You say he wasn't for sure going to draft a CB because we had Woodson/Harris,i don't buy that at all.The No.3 CB position on the Packers last season was largely a black hole and was one injury to Harris/Woodson away from being a total trainwreck.They desperately needed an upgrade.Plus,if a young CB can play,he'll see the field alot as a rookie on most teams given all multiple WR sets offenses run.This doesn't even account for the fact of wanting quality depth in case either Woodson/Harris got hurt and the fact that Harris is no youngster.

This offseason Bush improved alot and Blackmon was healthy until now,but at draft time,CB depth was a huge concern of mine and higher than DT.

The TE situation looked bleak as hell coming into this year.Now Lee has played well and Franks rebounded,but i don't believe for a second that the team wasn't very worried that the TE situation could have ended up being pretty horrible.As a caveat,i do know that teams rarely take a TE in the top 15 unless the guy is projected to be a special player and Olsen was thought to be a terrible blocker.


I think Thompson took Harrell simply because he felt the guy was the best player available on his board and as an added bonus also that DL is very high on the importance scale vs other positions.For myself at least,i thought DT was on the lower end of needs for this team going into last years draft and was the only reason i had any reservations about the pick.I didn't really complain about the choice though because IMO the far biggest key to any first round choice isn't if it fills a higher need,it's if the guy drafted can play.Good football players find a way to get on the field and contribute even if a team has other good players at the position.It's really only busts in the first round that hurts teams.

If Harrell eventually shows that he can play at a high level,it was a good choice.If he doesn't,it was a bad choice by Ted.That's the only criteria i use for judging a high draft pick because very little else matters,no team complains about having to many quality players at a position.

[ReasonablySober]

Come on DB

Going into the draft,at DT the Packers had

Pickett as their run stuffing tackle and Cole as another solid space eater

Corey Williams an inside rushing tackle that also isn't terrible vs the run.

Jenkins was planned all along to be an inside rusher on passing downs

Jolley has turned out better than i'm sure they expected by his second season,but i'm assuming they saw things to make them think he had potential to help.

The year before he found an All-Rookie WR late in round two. Did he have any reason to think he couldn't this time around, especially with the enormous depth in the class? It looks like he's got another All-Rookie performer.

He had every reason to assume he'd find an All-Rookie WR in the third round?As if it's that simple just because he did so the year before?

At WR last year,things were a mess after Jennings got hurt.Depth at the position was very poor,slow footed Ruvell Martin was suddenly the starting WR and guys picked off the street like Holiday was the No.3 WR.Sure Jones playing well as a rookie has helped alot,but it's not like Ted knew for sure he was going to take Jones in round three and that he'd turn out so well so fast.

He drafted three starting guards in '06. Wells was given an extension and you still had Tauscher and Clifton. OL was out.

You may not agree with me,but i was more concerned about OT than DT going into last years draft.Clifton is a fine player,but his body has gone through his share of injuries and plenty of battles.Not only was i fine with the team taking a tackle early for grooming purposes when Clifton is done,also just for depth now if he got hurt and had to miss a chunk of time.Seeing Colledge get destroyed at LT didn't exactly inspire confidence in me that he is cut out for that position.

DE was maybe the most loaded position on the team. Forget that.

Pass rushers are like corners,you never have to many of them.With that said,high quality ones that aren't huge liabilities vs the run in a 4-3 defense are generally gone in the top 5-10 picks.

He wasn't going to draft a starter at CB with Harris and Woodson. He won't this year either and maybe even the next unless both starters go really down hill.

You say he wasn't for sure going to draft a CB because we had Woodson/Harris,i don't buy that at all.The No.3 CB position on the Packers last season was largely a black hole and was one injury to Harris/Woodson away from being a total trainwreck.They desperately needed an upgrade.Plus,if a young CB can play,he'll see the field alot as a rookie on most teams given all multiple WR sets offenses run.This doesn't even account for the fact of wanting quality depth in case either Woodson/Harris got hurt and the fact that Harris is no youngster.

This offseason Bush improved alot and Blackmon was healthy until now,but at draft time,CB depth was a huge concern of mine and higher than DT.

The TE situation looked bleak as hell coming into this year.Now Lee has played well and Franks rebounded,but i don't believe for a second that the team wasn't very worried that the TE situation could have ended up being pretty horrible.As a caveat,i do know that teams rarely take a TE in the top 15 unless the guy is projected to be a special player and Olsen was thought to be a terrible blocker.


I think Thompson took Harrell simply because he felt the guy was the best player available on his board and as an added bonus also that DL is very high on the importance scale vs other positions.For myself at least,i thought DT was on the lower end of needs for this team going into last years draft and was the only reason i had any reservations about the pick.I didn't really complain about the choice though because IMO the far biggest key to any first round choice isn't if it fills a higher need,it's if the guy drafted can play.Good football players find a way to get on the field and contribute even if a team has other good players at the position.It's really only busts in the first round that hurts teams.

If Harrell eventually shows that he can play at a high level,it was a good choice.If he doesn't,it was a bad choice by Ted.That's the only criteria i use for judging a high draft pick because very little else matters,no team complains about having to many quality players at a position.

Last April, at what positions could you look at and say we needed to replace an existing starter with a legit talent. I think, unless you're talking about QB, you want a guy that's going to come in and start right off the bat. WR may be the only other position where you don't expect immediate returns.

Last April, I think you look at the following positions:

TE - Terrible production out of this spot last year

DT - Our best was getting moved to DE. Even if Jenkins moves inside on passing downs with Corey Williams, you still need a good one for 1st and 2nd downs.

OLB - Obviously not as pressing, but if a great one was available I think Poppinga could be replaced.

SS - Manuel was awful and there was nothing behind him.

At #16, these were legit options for those positions in my opinion:

In the order I would have taken them:

1 - Reggie Nelson
2 - Michael Griffin
3 - Greg Olsen
4 - Alan Branch
5 - Justin Harrell
6 - Brandon Meriweather
6 - Paul Pozluzny
7 - Jon Beason

As many suspected, Reggie Nelson is a free safety. He's fast and rangy and more of a hitter than a tackler.

Michael Griffin right now is playing nickleback. Not too surprising; he was a CB for a lot of his tenure at Texas.

Greg Olson was injured and is now backing up Clark.

Alan Branch isn't seeing the field.

Meriweather is backing up Thomas in NE, though he sees the field often as a CB.

Puz and Beason both looked great in the preseason. Beason is off to a nice start and Puz is hurt.

As it's turned out, our TE situation doesn't look bad at all, really. Donald Lee is finally showing he can be relied on as a pass catcher and is only 27. He's got more than a few years left. Bubba's having his best season in two years.

Also, Bigby is looking like he'll be our SS for years to come. Fast, very athletic, can cover and a good hitter.

Now, I have no idea if Thompson anticipated those three guys playing so well, and that's why he didn't take Olsen or Meriweather. I doubt it. Maybe he just didn't like them as prospects.

Or maybe he thought that DT needed a big upgrade. Jenkins and Williams are pass rushers, not run stoppers at DT. Jolly never saw the field last year; I doubt he anticipated Jolly stepping up like he has.

If you look at how Green Bay has been vulnerable on the ground this season, I think that we STILL need to find that big, hole-plugging, run-stuffing DT. The fact that they're asking Harrell to put on so much weight means they're hoping he can be that guy.

[El Duderino]

Last April, at what positions could you look at and say we needed to replace an existing starter with a legit talent. I think, unless you're talking about QB, you want a guy that's going to come in and start right off the bat. WR may be the only other position where you don't expect immediate returns.

I can't read Thompson's mind,but from what i've seen of him,he doesn't pick first round choices largely based on the guy playing a position that would allow him to come in and start right away if he had a good camp.I think Thompson chooses a guy based on who he feels will be best long term.

As it's turned out, our TE situation doesn't look bad at all, really. Donald Lee is finally showing he can be relied on as a pass catcher and is only 27. He's got more than a few years left. Bubba's having his best season in two years.

Also, Bigby is looking like he'll be our SS for years to come. Fast, very athletic, can cover and a good hitter.

Now, I have no idea if Thompson anticipated those three guys playing so well, and that's why he didn't take Olsen or Meriweather. I doubt it. Maybe he just didn't like them as prospects.

No doubt these are things we as fans have no clue about heading into a draft.What the front office and coaching staff feels about younger guys that may have not played alot the season before,but might have looked good and improving in practice.Guys like Bush and Bigby being prime examples.

Or maybe he thought that DT needed a big upgrade. Jenkins and Williams are pass rushers, not run stoppers at DT. Jolly never saw the field last year; I doubt he anticipated Jolly stepping up like he has.

If you look at how Green Bay has been vulnerable on the ground this season, I think that we STILL need to find that big, hole-plugging, run-stuffing DT. The fact that they're asking Harrell to put on so much weight means they're hoping he can be that guy.

I wouldn't just blame our DT's for some struggles stopping the run this year.I watched the Viking game over and on the 50 yard run by Peterson and a few other of his runs where he gained nice yards,the defensive line generally held their ground.Peterson made a great cut back on that long run and found a hole a LB should have been in,but overran the play.Then he made Bigby look silly grasping at air who was in position to stop the run for no gain..On a 10 yard run the dline stuffed the play,but Peterson broke a tackle and then beat either Hawk/Barnett around the corner.I remember watching all those runs again by Peterson and thinking to myself,if that was Brandon Jackson or Wynn,they gain maybe 50 yards at best on the 10-12 carries,not the 115 Peterson gained.The long run by the Giants back came on a down where KGB was in the game and in typical KGB fashion,he pass rushed way outside and the back had a free ride outside.

Back to Harrell,i don't know what exactly attracted Thompson to him.Did he view Harrell as a future just run plugger?Does Harrell have any pash rush skills?Does the defense want two big run pluggers inside on 1st/2nd down that can't rush the passer much at all?

Hopefully it's just a weight/conditioning issue with Harrell now and once he's ready,the kid shows why we drafted him.I never watched him play in college so all i have to go by were the preseason games where he looked unimpressive.He might play Sunday and i'll be thrilled if he looks good,hell , i'll take him looking just decent at this point.

[ReasonablySober]

I don't think Harrell was ever considered a real pass rushing DT in the mold of a Warren Sapp or Kevin Carter. His fellow Tennessee alum, John Henderson, was often brought up as a comparison.

If you ever wanted to know anything about Harrell, check out this amazing link.