TT Predraft Media Conference
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:54 pm
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/ic/blogs/insider/index.shtml
Monday, April 20, 2009
Thompson speaks
Packers GM Ted Thompson will hold his predraft media conference shortly here in the Lambeau Field media auditorium. As I wrote in the roundup this morning, don't expect him to say much ... but whatever he does say, we'll have here.
UPDATE: No breaking news. I did go back and expand his first few answers regarding trading down.
* On trading down: "First and foremost, I thought when we first came here that we needed to build up the core of our team a little bit -- that we were a little short in that regard. So, in order to do that, we started trading down. Trading down, trading up -- it's all a question of supply and demand. If it's your pick (and) there are multiple players that you would like to have at that pick and you don't have any real hard preference ... then sometimes, especially if you're trying to build up your core, then it makes a lot of sense to move back and pick up an extra pick later on."
* At some point, once built core, get to point where doesn't make sense to trade down? "Well, I think so. Yeah. ... At some point, if everything worked perfectly and all your picks worked perfectly and they were all really good players and that sort of thing, then I think after awhile you'd have diminishing returns, sure."
* Are you at that point? "I don't know that we're at that (point). ... I like our team. I've said that before, I continue to say it. I think we have a sound foundation and some core players here. I don't think you can ever get in a position where you stop trying to get better, and I think creating competition for the summer activity and for training camp makes for a better team in the fall."
* On challenging economics of high draft picks? Have heard that for several years. "At the end of the day, nobody's going to pass. Nobody's going to not pick."
* Strategy change with high pick? Different group of players to look at. Little more focused on that group. Focus in on 9 and focus on second pick at 41 ... less focus on guys in between. All about applying resources.
* How does draft board work? Have all positions across a long wall. Offense on left, defense on right. Horizontal lines dividing players by round for each position.
* Go through scenarios? Make sure positions are balanced properly. Easier to balance by position. Start with getting positions right, then make sure rounds match up between players at different positions.
* Less margin for error because not active in free agency? "I haven't thought of it in those terms. ... I think the draft's very important, and it's important" whether you're active in free agency or not.
* If not looking between 9 and 41, that mean not trading? No, just focusing on those spots, "but you work on them all."
* Any position wouldn't touch because not a need? "No." Evaluate players way should be evaluated, despite current makeup of team.
* How many players seen personally this year? Doesn't look at it that way. In fall, went to 23 or 24 schools, and at combine saw everyone. Also been to a few pro days. Collectively, Packers have been at far more than that.
* On predraft visits? Allowed 30, not including area players. Had in about 20.
* Go for certain type of player in lower rounds? "It varies. It kind of depends on where you are." Sometimes go for big guys, because they're hard to find. Sometimes, go for the athlete.
* If two players are equal, rather have senior or junior? All things equal, probably senior, because has one more year experience, in football and in life.
* What measures go through to make sure good player off the field? A lot of things. Starts with area guys doing hard work leading up to January. Interviewing, talking to people from hometowns, etc. Anytime get in front of player, try to get to know people around him. Psychological tests. Everyone makes mistakes; young people are especially prone. "We're trying to predict the future there."
* Use phantom Facebook pages to monitor prospects? "I've never heard of it. If we do it, I'd be shocked. Actually, we don't do it. But I've never even heard of that. Quite frankly, I don't know what a Facebook is. I mean, I understand the theory behind it, but I never get on one, as far as I can tell. Unless I've been on y'all's."
* On fitting guy to 3-4 defensive scheme: "It all comes back to, how good a player is the guy?" Different body types and whatnot, but doesn't affect much.
* Anyone off draft board because of character: Won't talk about this year. "There have been in the past, and there probably will be in the future, guys we'll take off our board."
* What's it take to get to that point? "What we do is we try to make a decision ... it's my call, that is this a good guy or a bad guy?" People make mistakes. "If we think he's a bad guy, then we're not going to mess with him."
* Success rate in getting guys want in rookie free agency? "It's chaos. It's absolute chaos. We think we have a pretty good system." Four guys working, all next to one another. Think done pretty well.
* Difference in scouting small-school guys? Not much. Due diligence on anyone think can play. Those are guys who are brought in for visits, physicals, etc.
* Fifth draft here ... what's your batting average? "This is a 'we' thing. ... I think we've done OK." Not an exact science. Think added lot of core value to team.
* Going into weekend, is there a need you have to have? "No, I don't see it that way. I think there's certain scenarios that you'd rather the thing fall. But I think we've built the team up core-wise where we're not in a position where we have to do anything."
That's about it for now. Nothing about specific prospects, as is his custom.
-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com
