Kiper 2009 draft grade review

Ayt · Post #1 » by **Ayt** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:58 pm

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/ ... id=4764103

Green Bay Packers (Spring grade: A)
I said I loved what this team did with the first two picks, and I'll stand by that. They moved to a 3-4, grabbed two players in B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews that fit Dom Capers' system and have made huge gains. Matthews is a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate. Brad Jones is a steal in the seventh round. On the whole, four big-time contributors out of one draft on a playoff-caliber team is a lot.
Current grade: A

We got the highest current grade. Not sure who the 4th rookie he mentioned is when he only named 3 but whatever.

Balls2TheWalls · Post #2 » by **Balls2TheWalls** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:01 pm

You could argue Quinn Johnson.

Captain Erv · Post #3 » by **Captain Erv** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:06 pm

Ayt wrote:http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/insider/news/story?id=4764103

Green Bay Packers (Spring grade: A)
I said I loved what this team did with the first two picks, and I'll stand by that. They moved to a 3-4, grabbed two players in B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews that fit Dom Capers' system and have made huge gains. Matthews is a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate. Brad Jones is a steal in the seventh round. On the whole, four big-time contributors out of one draft on a playoff-caliber team is a lot.
Current grade: A

We got the highest current grade. Not sure who the 4th rookie he mentioned is when he only named 3 but whatever.

Probably Lang or Johnson.

Newz · Post #4 » by **Newz** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:13 pm

TT domination!

chuckleslove · Post #5 » by **chuckleslove** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:15 pm

I was with Mel in the spring, I was very happy after the draft and I'm still somewhat shocked that TT moved up in the draft but I couldn't be happier with Clay Matthews obviously. I thought he was going to be good but I didn't know he was going to be this good, this quick. Can you call a guy in the first round a steal? If so I think we got one

Ayt · Post #6 » by **Ayt** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:19 pm

I really loved this draft back in April, but it looks incredible right now. I'm high on Wynn as a developmental DE (reminds me a ton of a young Cullen), Lang looks rock solid wherever he might end up, Johnson may have a solid future, and Jones came out of nowhere as a 7th rounder. We don't really know what we have in Underwood except a guy with a lot of physical tools.

McGinn (I think it is him) has talked a lot about needing blue chip players to really have a great team. TT appears to have gotten one in Matthews this year and one in FInley last year. Raji may get there once he's fully healthy and has snaps under his belt. AR is obviously one, as is Collins and probably Jennings.

We have some high end talent. We just need to shore up a couple spots, which is true of most every team.

Ayt · Post #7 » by **Ayt** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:20 pm

chuckleslove wrote:I was with Mel in the spring, I was very happy after the draft and I'm still somewhat shocked that TT moved up in the draft but I couldn't be happier with Clay Matthews obviously. I thought he was going to be good but I didn't know he was going to be this good, this quick. Can you call a guy in the first round a steal? If so I think we got one

Considering how much he gave up and the fact Matthews could end up being a top 5 player from this draft, he's a huge steal. That move took serious balls because they must have had Clay ranked extremely high to give up what they did.

xTitan · Post #8 » by **xTitan** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:47 pm

I believe the 4th guy is TJ Lang, I would have confidence in him right now if he were forced to have to start. On the negative side, I have zero faith in Underwood, has all the measurables but is simpley to stupid to ever get it, the DB's coach (Whitt) has said he has not improved or picked up on the defense at all this season and that really hurts because the Packers could have put him on the practice squad, kept Lee active, and be leaps and bounds better than they currently are. To bad Underwood didn't inherit any smarts from daddy Blair.

trwi7 · Post #9 » by **trwi7** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:51 pm

xTitan wrote:simpley to stupid

nyckid414 · Post #10 » by **nyckid414** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 1:38 am

SO far so good. I would like to see more out of Raji. Injuries slowed him down a bit but Im happy with his progress the last month...

BucksRuleAll22 · Post #11 » by **BucksRuleAll22** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:48 am

Mathews is a home run, but Raji over Crabtree is still the stupidest move in the draft.

Ryan5UW · Post #12 » by **Ryan5UW** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 3:39 pm

BucksRuleAll22 wrote:Mathews is a home run, but Raji over Crabtree is still the stupidest move in the draft.

You think taking Raji over Crabtree is worse than taking Heyward-Bay over him?

PkrsBcksGphsMqt · Post #13 » by **PkrsBcksGphsMqt** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 3:52 pm

BucksRuleAll22 wrote:Mathews is a home run, but Raji over Crabtree is still the stupidest move in the draft.

Child Please...

Newz · Post #14 » by **Newz** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 3:58 pm

I would still rather have BJ Raji than Michael Crabtree.

1. Our offense doesn't need him.
2. Defensive linemen rarely dominate in their first season.
3. Raji has the tools to become a dominant 3-4 lineman.
4. Raji has looked very good at certain times this season.

Post #15 » by **Wade-A-Holic** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:21 pm

Newz wrote:I would still rather have BJ Raji than Michael Crabtree.

1. Our offense doesn't need him.
2. Defensive linemen rarely dominate in their first season.
3. Raji has the tools to become a dominant 3-4 lineman.
4. Raji has looked very good at certain times this season.

To be fair, receivers rarely dominate in their first season either, and Crabtree has been pretty good. "Stupidest" move in the draft? We'll see.

PkrsBcksGphsMqt · Post #16 » by **PkrsBcksGphsMqt** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:28 pm

I'd also argue that the "smartest" move in the draft could easily be the Matthews trade or even the Brad Jones pick in the 7th round.

Ryan5UW · Post #17 » by **Ryan5UW** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:45 pm

Wade-A-Holic wrote:To be fair, receivers rarely dominate in their first season either, and Crabtree has been pretty good. "Stupidest" move in the draft? We'll see.

I agree. I guess my point was I think he's just wanting to complain about TT. There's no way you can call picking Raji over Crabtree the stupidest move of the draft when Oakland took a different guy at the same position as Crabtree before him. How would picking Raji over Crabtree be worse than picking Heyward-Bey over Crabtree? Some people just want to bitch about everything I guess.

LarryHarris · Post #18 » by **LarryHarris** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 8:34 pm

I like Raji over Crabtree... I think Raji will be very good at a position where it is harder to find studs than WR. The Packers already had a strong WR core, and would have ended up dealing with that same Crabtree mess... happy we have BJ...

El Duderino · Post #19 » by **El Duderino** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 7:03 am

LarryHarris wrote:I like Raji over Crabtree... I think Raji will be very good at a position where it is harder to find studs than WR. The Packers already had a strong WR core, and would have ended up dealing with that same Crabtree mess... happy we have BJ...

I've been a bit underwhelmed by what i've seen from Raji so far, but to be fair to him, he had a nagging ankle injury and what he's asked to do in this scheme will often be stuff that won't show up in highlight reels as would a WR. Hopefully Raji is healthy all next year and his natural mix of great power mixed with some athletic ability for such a huge man allows him to shine more.

Post #20 » by **ReasonablySober** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 7:55 am

I've been watching Matthews and Jones for the most part, but in the remaining weeks I'll make a more concerted effort to watch Raji. I haven't seen him get blown off the line or make an obvious mistake all season. I've seen him make some eye-popping stops. Raji is playing D-Line in a 3-4. The only way these guys stand out is if they're being gashed against the run, and nobody is running against GB (2nd in the NFL).

Right now I'm absolutely loving both first rounders.