Quote Originally Posted by Teamcheez1 View Post
A lot of you have a generally bad attitude about the draft. I notice that none of you are being considered for a GM or scout position in the NFL.
I mentioned in another thread I was disappointed in Mark Tauscher's lack of knowledge about the Packers' draft. Maybe he's busy covering other stuff, I dunno.

But last night I listened to Mike Wahle on his "Block Party" podcast as he broke down some of the Packers' draft class. I learned a lot and was quite impressed with Wahle's seeming ability to break down the players' strengths and weaknesses. He didn't cover all the picks, but of those he did discuss, this is a kind of general summary of the players he liked, from most to least:

Jacob Monk - his favorite in the draft. Wahle said a few years ago he kept seeing tape on this one offensive lineman and he couldn't figure out why scouts didn't have him rated much higher, and couldn't figure out why he lasted until the fourth round. That was Zach Tom. Wahle has a similar feeling about Monk. He thinks, if Monk fixes some footwork and hand placement issues, he's going to be the starting center for this team in two or three years. Says he's got crazy-good bend, good hips, and his problems are all fixable.

Javon Bullard - Wahle loves this guy and thinks he can do it all. He thinks this guy CAN play deep as well as box. The only reservation he has is the size - he's concerned about whether Bullard can hold up at his size. But he loves this guy and thinks he's going to start sooner rather than later, and will develop into a really good player.

Marshawn Lloyd - Wahle liked this pick quite a bit. He thinks this guy is a change-of-pace back in a thick frame. He thinks Lloyd's fumble problems are an issue but a fixable one, and that this guy will be pushing AJ Dillon this summer for the spot. Loves his shiftiness and ability to break tackles, thinks he can develop as a receiver. Wahle likes the Lloyd pick.

Jordan Morgan - Wahle said nothing stands out on tape as far as one, specific physical ability, but that the guy does everything pretty well. He mentioned the guy, like Monk, has good bend and good hips, but that his footwork and ESPECIALLY his hand placement both need help. Lots of help. He thinks the guy will play and start in the NFL, but he actually thinks Monk may see the field before Morgan does. He thinks IF Morgan's going to play this season, it would have to be at guard. Wahle also laughs off the "short arms" stuff. Unless a guy has stupidly, stupidly short arms, Wahle thinks that whole "short arms" thing is just something analysts who don't know shit say to make it sound like they do. He said, and I'm paraphrasing, that no NFL defender goes into a game saying "Geez, I can't wait to abuse that offensive lineman because of his short arms." So he likes Morgan, likes his bend and his hips and his ability to move, but thinks he's got a lot of work to do to become an NFL starting tackle.

Edgerrin Cooper - He points out that the guy's over-aggressiveness can really cost him, that he can mis-diagnose sometimes and was used in an odd way, at least in the film Wahle watched - the Alabama / A & M game, in which Cooper was sent on blitzes constantly, and struggled at times to get home. However, he loves, loves, loves the attack mentality, the desire to meet the opposing back behind the line of scrimmage, the violence of the tackling. He thinks the flaws can be corrected, and if they are, this guy will be really good. HOWEVER, Wahle is really, really leery of 230 lb linebackers. He just doesn't think they can hold up. That's the biggest drawback he sees for Cooper - the weight.

Ty'Ron Hopper - like many of us, this pick was a head-scratcher for Wahle. He loves the guy's hitting ability and his down-hill approach, but says he's super raw. The biggest issue he has - just like he has with Cooper - is the weight. He thinks linebackers at 230 are just too light to take on blocks effectively.

Those were all the players I remember Wahle commenting upon. All in all, he was super, super jacked about Jacob Monk, and really really liked Bullard as well. Second tier, but guys he still really likes, are Lloyd, Cooper, and maybe Morgan. Dennis Hopper - a mystery pick.