Our 2006 Draft in Review.

[woodbuck27]

This thread is produced from info available at another site. I take no credit for it as it is a re-production. I felt it would be a good idea for posterity, to have it available as a review on OUR site. Also, personally I appreciated it's value as comprehensive info.


Our Draft in Review.

With The 5th Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

A.J. Hawk - OLB, 6-1, 247, Ohio State

Hawk was a very enjoyable player to grade, because he is consistently around the ball and makes a ton of plays. He was the leader of Ohio State's defense, and consistently stepped up and made the big play when the team needed it most. He is a thickly built linebacker with the rare acceleration, playing speed and closing ability that few linebackers have...

NFL.Com Draft Profile


Regarded by many as the best defensive player in college football, the two-time All-American was a model of consistency throughout his Buckeyes career. He led the team in tackles in each of his three seasons as a starter... Recipient of the Lombardi Trophy and named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by the league's media...

Packers.Com Draft Bio


With The 36th Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Traded to New England
For 2 selections, the 52nd and 75th picks overall.


With The 37th Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Acquired from Denver for WR Javon Walker
Traded to Atlanta with the 139th pick
For 3 selections, the 47th, 93rd, and 148th picks overall.


With The 47th Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Daryn Colledge - OT, 6-4, 298, Boise State

Colledge is a very good athlete with the quick feet to get off the ball and set to block fast. He has the rare ability to get through to the second level in a flash, can deliver a good initial blow to the linebacker, and has the athletic ability to maintain out in space...

NFL.Com Draft Profile


One of the strongest Broncos in the weight room, setting school records in the power clean (438 pounds set in spring 2005), hang clean (464 pounds set in spring 2005), and back squat (665 pounds set in spring of 2005)...Also holds strength record on the offensive line in the vertical jump (35.5 inches in spring 2004)...

Packers.Com Draft Bio



With The 52nd Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Greg Jennings - WR, 5-11, 196, Western Michigan

He is one of the few players at the position with no glaring weaknesses. He is a very good athlete with the foot quickness, balance and agility to make plays once he has the ball in his hands...

NFL.Com Draft Profile

Despite becoming only the eleventh player in NCAA Division 1-A history to gain over 1,000 yards receiving three times in a career, this versatile athlete toiled in relative anonymity throughout his collegiate career. Still, when you look at his production as a Bronco, you can see that he ranks with the nation's elite...

Packers.Com Draft Bio




With The 67th Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Abdul Hodge - ILB, 6-0, 235, Iowa

Hodge is a very good athlete with all the physical tools you could ask for -- very quick feet, excellent acceleration, top playing speed and an explosive closing burst to ball. He consistently reads and reacts to the play quickly, and he has the speed to take advantage of his instincts and make big plays. He is very tough and aggressive...

NFL.Com Draft Profile


College's version of Baltimore's Ray Lewis, Abdul has been a sensational leader for the Hawkeyes since stepping into the starting lineup as a sophomore. He teamed with outside linebacker Chad Greenway to give Iowa the best tackle tandem in the collegiate ranks...

Packers.Com Draft Bio



With The 75th Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Jason Spitz - C/G, 6-3, 304, Louisville

Spitz is a quick-footed center who can get through to the second level quickly when he is uncovered and can seal-block the linebacker out of the play. He shows the quickness and toughness to make aggressive wham/trap blocks on the fill linebacker and can pull around the offensive tackle to seal the outside...

NFL.Com Draft Profile

Spitz is a versatile and physical athlete who can play both guard positions, in addition to having experience at center. An intelligent lineman who recognizes coverages and has great field awareness...

Packers.Com Draft Bio




With The 93rd Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Traded to St. Louis
For 2 selections, the 109th and 183rd picks overall.




Packer Draft Summary - Day One...

So is Quantity better than Quality? GM Ted Thompson ended up doing the obvious choice with the Packers 5th pick in the 1st round, he took A.J. Hawk the LB from Ohio State. Should turn out to be a great choice for years to come. GM Ted Thompson also worked out a trade with Denver for Javon Walker, trading him for the 37th pick in draft. Here's where the big question comes in, the Packers had just traded the 36th pick in the draft to New England for picks #52 and #75, then they took the recently acquired 37th pick and the Packers 139th pick and traded it to Atlanta for picks #47, #93 and #148. More picks are handy to have, but wouldn't you have rather had the players you would get with #36 and #37. So as usual, our GM goes all trade-happy to generate more picks but ends up passing on quality players to get those extra picks.

The Players that we did actually pick on the 1st day of the NFL Draft will probably do well for the Packers. There's not really any questions about AJ Hawk, oh perhaps that he isn't really a Middle Linebacker, but we've been successfully using Nick Barnett in that capacity. Both Daryn Colledge T/G and Jason Spitz G/C were drafted to beef up the interior of the Packers Offensive Line, hopefully they can adapt as it looks like the Packers have plans to play these guys in different positions then where they started in college. WR Greg Jennings looks to be a decent receiver with some return-skills, at 5-11, not as big of a WR as we've been lead to believe that Coach Mike McCarthy wants. LB Abdul Hodge, another Big-10 player big-effort player for our defense.

Once again, GM Ted Thompson has taken his original 7 draft picks and turned them into 11 draft picks. But will this trade-frenzy on Day 1 of the draft deliver for the Packers this year?


Day Two of the DRAFT


With The 104th Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Cory Rodgers - WR, 6-0, 187, Texas Christian

Rodgers is a junior who came out early for the draft. On film, he is clearly a talented receiver/returner with the talent to become a productive impact receiver in the NFL. He has good height for a receiver and has the jumping ability and hands to get up and pluck the high passes easily...

NFL.Com Draft Profile

Cory is a dynamic return specialist who is also a player than needs to be accounted for by the defense every time he lines up on the field. Whether it is catching, running or returning the ball, Rodgers has proven to be one of the more electrifying players in the college game...

Packers.Com Draft Bio


With The 109th Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Traded to Philadelphia
For 2 selections, the 115th and 185th picks overall.



With The 115th Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Will Blackmon - WR/CB, 6-0, 199, Boston College

Blackmon made the switch from cornerback to wide receiver in 2005, and he is best suited to play receiver in the NFL. He has the size and strength you like in a receiver and plays surprisingly stronger than even his good size says he should...

NFL.Com Draft Profile


Already an established cornerback, Will made a bold move late in his career when he shifted to wide receiver as a senior. Known for his blazing speed and game-breaking ability as a return specialist, Blackmon sacrificed personal success for that of the team when he moved to the depleted receiving corps...

Packers.Com Draft Bio



With The 148th Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Ingle Martin - QB, 6-2, 219, Furman

Martin is a very athletic quarterback who has consistently shown the ability to avoid pressure/sacks, buy second chances and make plays on the move... became their starting quarterback (and starting punter) and carried their offense on his back...

NFL.Com Draft Profile


Martin also established new Furman single season standards for passing yards (2,959), passing touchdowns (22), total offense (3,193), and touchdown responsibilities (25), while recording the third-best punting average in school history (43.2) in 2005...

Packers.Com Draft Bio




With The 165th Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Tony Moll - T/G, 6-4, 300, Nevada

He is athletic, but undersized. Green Bay must put weight on him. He has good strength.

NFL.Com Draft Profile


Was switched to offensive line in the spring and is expected to make an impact as a starting tackle in 2005. Started two games in 2004 as the second tight end and played in all 12. Caught five balls for 40 yards and two touchdowns...

Packers.Com Draft Bio



With The 183rd Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Johnny Jolly - DT, 6-3, 310, Texas A&M

Jolly is a good athlete with the quick feet, size and strength that are ideal for a strong defensive tackle at the point of attack. He does a good job of staying focused to burst off the ball at the snap and can shoot gaps to get into the backfield consistently

NFL.Com Draft Profile


Highly regarded by the younger players, who looked up to Johnny because of his competitive nature. A durable athlete, he started his final 35 games for the Aggies. His hard work in the training room earned him Aggie Elite status...

Packers.Com Draft Bio


With The 185th Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Tyrone Culver - FS, 6-0, 195, Fresno State

A solid football player...

NFL.Com Draft Profile

A key contributor while leading the secondary the last two years, the four-time Academic All-Western Athletic Conference has the quickness needed to cover any receiver on deep routes. He called the secondary adjustments for the team and was labeled a "coach on the field" by the staff because of his field smarts and ball anticipation ability...

Packers.Com Draft Bio




With The 253rd Pick In The Draft...
The Green Bay Packers Select:

Dave Tollefson - DE, 6-4, 263, Northwest Missouri State

Tollefson (6-4¼, 265) ran well at his Pro Day (4.75) and has some pass-rush skills thanks to his speed.

NFL.Com Draft Profile

Tollefson is a vastly underrated talent who had a banner senior season that he capped by excelling in the 2006 Hula Bowl in front of a national audience. Spent three years away from the game due to shoulder and foot injuries, in addition to joining the work force. He went on to set the Bearcats' season-record for quarterback sacks and fell just short of the school's career-record...

Packers.Com Draft Bio




Sunday, April 30, 2006

Packer Draft Summary - Day Two...

Woah! Nothing like throwing trades within trades within trades around like
some kind of "Tribble's Gone Wild" video. When we saw Mr. Critic Robert Lalasz throwing the "Trouble With Tribbles" phrase around too at his Nietzsche or Nitschke? blog, we thought that was a rather adequate phrase to sum up GM Ted Thompson's "let's out do last year" by instituting 5 trades along with Javon Walker for 5 additional Picks in this years NFL Draft. Crazy! But will this year's quantity override any kind of decent quality? This might be a prime example of overdoing the trade-down all the time to gather more picks. Perhaps that's way over-doing it.

Let's take a look at what we did end up with this tribble-reproducing quantity of players, we finally took A.J. Hawk who has big upside and who can immediatley step in as one the starting LB's. We now have 2 WR's, Greg Jennings and Cory Rodgers, who are also Kick/Punt Returners, a WR Will Blackmon who can play Cornerback, an OT Daryn Colledge who can play Guard, a G Jason Spitz who can play Center, a QB Ingle Martin who can also Punt, (watch out BJ Sander) and then some later rounders, OT Tony Moll, DT Johnny Jolly, FS Tyrone Culver and DE Dave Tollefson who'll be fighting for roster spots during training camp. Hmmmm...

All in all, GM Ted Thompson may have done OK with this draft, beside

All in all, GM Ted Thompson may have done OK with this draft, beside AJ Hawk there isn't anyone who stands out. I'm waiting to be proven wrong, I know you can't evaluate this draft so soon but at first glance it does appear to be just a little light-weight as far as drafts go. Maybe you just stand with the picks you have. Imagine which players we could have had (LB Thomas Howard and WR Chad Jackson, for example) at #36 and #37 instead of dropping to #47 and #52. One should never substitute quantity for quality, one should always be searching for the proper balance between the two. The question is? Does Ted's draft this year, have the proper balance?

[Brandon494]

I don't agree what they said about Blackmon being better off at WR. I guarntee that if he would had stayed at CB his senior year at BC he would have been taken in the late 1st to early 2nd round.

[red]

I don't agree what they said about Blackmon being better off at WR. I guarntee that if he would had stayed at CB his senior year at BC he would have been taken in the late 1st to early 2nd round.

i agree, everything i've seen says blackmon might have been the #1 cb taken if he had stayed there. i haven't seen anybody say he is a better WR, well, until now

[The Leaper]

All I can say is that every time I look at that first day's haul, I get more and more impressed. Thompson had a tremendous day one this year.

[woodbuck27]

All I can say is that every time I look at that first day's haul, I get more and more impressed. Thompson had a tremendous day one this year.

Here's the way I see it after selecting AJ Hawk with the #5 pick overall.

We traded Javon Walker to Denver for the #37 pick and we owned the #36 pick and some people felt that TT should have used his picks there and taken the quality players available.Instead he elected to tradedown both picks #36 to N.E. and #37 to Atlanta for more selections lower in the draft.

WHY? Isn't quality better than quantity?

Looking at what actually happened:

@ #36 New England picked WR Chad Jackson, **
@ #37 Atlanta picked CB Jimmy Williams , ++ . . . . and
the pick @ #38 was an OLB - Thomas Howard , ## selected by Oakland.

** We selected WR Greg Jennings @ #52 and he was considered NFL ready and 'in fact' is showing us alot to us so far and may even challenge to start opposite WR Donald Driver.

++ we didn't need to go with a CB as we were going to sign an experienced CB in FA , vet. CB Charles Woodson.

## We selected an OLB, AJ Hawk @ #5 and elected to pick a ILB, Abdul Hodge early in the 3rd rd. @ pick #67.

So, in WR Greg Jennings we secured a solid prospect @ WR and the picks @ #5, OLB AJ Hawk and #67, ILB Abdul Hodge bolstered OUR need at LBer.

On top of this, TT has picks #47 and #75 to select 'at need' on OUR OL. TT selected T/G Daryn Colledge and G/C Jason Spitz with these picks respectively.

Indeed I feel anytime you get 5 picks in the first 75 players selected that is big, but when you fill real needs, that is HUGE.

TT had a BIG Day indeed, on the first day of the 2006 Draft.

[woodbuck27]

We are really in serious bad shape in the middle of OUR OL and TT is addressing that, or at least attempting to do so with first day draft picks Colledge and Spitz, and bringing in C Wayne Lucier who started 20 games with NYG in 2003-04. Wayne Lucier was a 7th Rd. draft choice, 249th overall in 2003.

Wayne Lucier
C | (6-3, 301, 5.2) | COLORADO
By Pro Football Weekly

Notes: Name pronounced "Loo-sear." High school football and basketball player who also was a weight man. Went to Northwestern to play for Gary Barnett and later followed him to Colorado. Started once at Northwestern at tight end and six times at offensive guard in 1998. Caught one pass for four yards. Started every game at right guard in '99. Mandatory-transfer redshirt in 2000. Lucier started every game at center in '01. Was an All-Big 12 guard last year and got some All-America notice.

Positives: Very smart, versatile player with a great work ethic and motor. Quick into blocks and gets good fits. Has a feel for blocking angles and positioning his body. Gets the most out of his ability. Good on the second level and gets to linebackers.

Negatives: Lacks great natural size and play strength and will really struggle with size in line, unless he plays low with exceptional leverage. Gets bull-rushed and pushed back too much. Is not overly athletic and will struggle to adjust on the second level at times. Doesn't long-snap.

Summary: An all-out, all-the-time college player who gets the most out of his ability. A true achiever.

Below are OUR Rushing stat's behind OUR OL in 2005:

SEASON TEAM OFFENSIVE LINE STATS ( Green Bay Packers)
Team Rush = 398 ; Yds = 1352; Avg = 3.4;
Left = 67; LYd = 203; LAv = 3.0
Middle = 77; MYd = 167; MAv = 2.2;
Right = 69; RYd = 238; RAv = 3.4;
Sck = 27

[The Leaper]

Indeed I feel anytime you get 5 picks in the first 75 players selected that is big, but when you fill real needs, that is HUGE.

TT had a BIG Day indeed, on the first day of the 2006 Draft.

I completely agree. Those trades happened BECAUSE there were "name" players left available at that point that other teams were willing to move up for. Using those trades to pick up quality players at need positions (OL, WR) and grab a value pick at LB who is going to be viewed as a real steal in a couple years IMO was an excellent move.

Anytime you can increase your picks on the first day of the draft, you do it unless there is a player who is a perfect fit for your team and is very worthy of the pick...like Hawk at #5.

Those first five picks were as solid as you are going to find to address the immediate needs of this football team...and all those players look to be strong talents. Anyone critical of Thompson's ability to draft...considering his record in Seattle and what he has done here...is fooling themselves.

[wist43]

The only thing that brings this draft down is trading Walker... absolutely hate that deal - never should have traded him.

That aside, I liked the draft on paper. Jennings looks to be a polished receiver, Colledge should start at LG, and Hodge was a steal in the 3rd round.

Last year, the Packers had eleven picks and only got a contribution from one player (Collins)... if the Packers are going to show any improvement this year, those 2nd year players need to step up and get on the field and produce - as do some of the rookies.

Hawk and Colledge are pencilled in as starters... Jennings and Hodge should see the field quite a bit as well; so, things are looking good for the rookie class.

[Harlan Huckleby]

One of the strongest Broncos in the weight room, setting school records in the power clean (438 pounds set in spring 2005), hang clean (464 pounds set in spring 2005), and back squat (665 pounds set in spring of 2005)...Also holds strength record on the offensive line in the vertical jump (35.5 inches in spring 2004)...

Huh, how come I keep reading that Colledge may not be strong enough as a rookie?

Well, I suppose because he is "only" about 300 pounds.

[The Leaper]

Lucier sounds like a guy who fits the zone blocking scheme to a T. Any kid who is smart, fundamentally sound, and knows how to get to the second level is what you are looking for in a OL prospect.

[woodbuck27]

Lucier sounds like a guy who fits the zone blocking scheme to a T. Any kid who is smart, fundamentally sound, and knows how to get to the second level is what you are looking for in a OL prospect.

I havn't read alot on him to date. All the talk so far on debth at "C" is Scott Wells, penciled in at #1 followed by #2 Chris White.

Wayne Lucier 6-4 315 lbs. and 26 years old is bigger than both Wells @ 6-2 and 304 lbs. ( 25 yrs. old ) and Chris White the smallest at 6-2 and 285 ibs. ( but only 23 yrs. old ).

[the_idle_threat]

One of the strongest Broncos in the weight room, setting school records in the power clean (438 pounds set in spring 2005), hang clean (464 pounds set in spring 2005), and back squat (665 pounds set in spring of 2005)...Also holds strength record on the offensive line in the vertical jump (35.5 inches in spring 2004)...

Huh, how come I keep reading that Colledge may not be strong enough as a rookie?

Well, I suppose because he is "only" about 300 pounds.

From what I've read, there are concerns about his upper body strength ... e.g. bench press

That being said, I think it's a non-issue. Strength can be added very easily with a good workout program. Meanwhile, he's athletic and quick, and those things cannot be so easliy improved.

[Harlan Huckleby]

From what I've read, there are concerns about his upper body strength ... e.g. bench press

But this article just said he's a record-setting weight lifter! You can't tell me guy does power cleans without strong shoulders! As Dr. Henry Lee said in the OJ trial, "Something wrong here."

It goes back to my other rant about how summertime profiles and camp reports on players mean very little.

[Bretsky]

From what I've read, there are concerns about his upper body strength ... e.g. bench press

But this article just said he's a record-setting weight lifter! You can't tell me guy does power cleans without strong shoulders! As Dr. Henry Lee said in the OJ trial, "Something wrong here."

It goes back to my other rant about how summertime profiles and camp reports on players mean very little.


Honestly, I can't remember which is was, but all the scouting reports concern over DC was he wasn't strong enough in upper OR lower body. Can't remember which one though, but I'd concur I read the same reports

[packerpete]

From what I've read, there are concerns about his upper body strength ... e.g. bench press

But this article just said he's a record-setting weight lifter! You can't tell me guy does power cleans without strong shoulders! As Dr. Henry Lee said in the OJ trial, "Something wrong here."

It goes back to my other rant about how summertime profiles and camp reports on players mean very little.


Honestly, I can't remember which is was, but all the scouting reports concern over DC was he wasn't strong enough in upper OR lower body. Can't remember which one though, but I'd concur I read the same reports

strength in upper body, as measured by bench press reps.

The bench press has always seemed incredibly stupid to me. The pushing motion you use to bench press doesnt mean a GD thing in most strength applications.

Colledge is a very strong man, he will be fine. when he needs to do Victoria's secret push-up bra advertising, he can go and bench press until his tits are suitable. Thats about the value of over-doing the bench press.

[woodbuck27]

From what I've read, there are concerns about his upper body strength ... e.g. bench press

But this article just said he's a record-setting weight lifter! You can't tell me guy does power cleans without strong shoulders! As Dr. Henry Lee said in the OJ trial, "Something wrong here."

It goes back to my other rant about how summertime profiles and camp reports on players mean very little.


Honestly, I can't remember which is was, but all the scouting reports concern over DC was he wasn't strong enough in upper OR lower body. Can't remember which one though, but I'd concur I read the same reports

Here is a Scouting Report on Darryn Colledge

Pros: Nimble senior tackle bulked up from 235 pounds as a freshman. He is an intense athlete with good movement and the size and intangibles to be an early pro starter. In pass protection, he shows very good hand use and fine footwork with the wingspan to push rushers wide of the pocket. As a drive blocker, he gets into defenders quickly with the ability to move them off the line consistently. Over his career he increased his strength significantly with several school records. He has an aggressive attitude that will flash nastiness. Has the ability to retain his blocks and finish strong. He moves well in traffic and displays the ability to block on the second level. He maintains sound positioning consistently, getting good use of his frame, long arms and good functional strength.

Cons: He needs some work on his technique to keep his pads down and get full use of his big, strong frame. He needs to prove he can better handle the bull rush against top defenders. His level of competition is a concern after having a huge physical advantage in the WAC.

Numbers: At the Combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 5.04 seconds and did 21 reps of the 225-pound bench press. He had a 32.5" vertical jump and a 9’2âà ¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚ broad jump. His three-cone drill was among the best.

[the_idle_threat]

From what I've read, there are concerns about his upper body strength ... e.g. bench press

But this article just said he's a record-setting weight lifter! You can't tell me guy does power cleans without strong shoulders! As Dr. Henry Lee said in the OJ trial, "Something wrong here."

It goes back to my other rant about how summertime profiles and camp reports on players mean very little.

Basically, you are correct that the profiles which labeled him "weak" were off base, but he is relatively weak in the bench press, and that is the only strength test measured at the combine. 300 pound linemen are supposed to do somewhere between 20 and 30 reps of 225 lbs on the bench ... anything under 20 is considered very weak, and anything above 30 is outstanding. Colledge came in at the low end with 21 reps at the combine and 22 reps at his pro day, according to NFL.com. This led to the conclusion in some circles that he had "weak playing strength."

Now, my point is this: he obviously paid more attention to other lifts when he worked out in college, given his achievements in the cleans (which are technique lifts that require time and repetition to learn) and the squat. Both types of lifts target primarily the back and legs, and focus on explosiveness. These are probably the reason he has such "amazing knee bend" as Cliff Christl keeps mentioning in his OTA blog. If Colledge puts in even half the effort on the bench, which focuses on the chest and triceps, then he will be plenty strong in no time. (Note that none of these lifts primarily target the shoulders.) Thus it is a non-issue. Which means we basically agree.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I just hope the fricker can play against NFL talent.

The thing that concerns me the most is that he played against - Mountain Conference? What conference was that? - lesser players in college.

Damn, those defensive tackles at Minnesota are strong and quick. Maybe they'll make a fool out of him!

Well, he's practicing against big boys in camp this summer. But it's not the same as game conditions. It's really a lot to ask a rookie to start in the offensive line.

[woodbuck27]

I just hope the fricker can play against NFL talent.

The thing that concerns me the most is that he played against - Mountain Conference? What conference was that? - lesser players in college.

Damn, those defensive tackles at Minnesota are strong and quick. Maybe they'll make a fool out of him!

Well, he's practicing against big boys in camp this summer. But it's not the same as game conditions. It's really a lot to ask a rookie to start in the offensive line.

Well HH, if you compare OUR situation on the OL today, with what it was before the draft and having the additions of a 2nd Rd. pick, (Darryn Colledge) and 3rd rounder (Jason Spitz), all I can offer is sort of a Yogi-ism.

We're OK now because, before the draft we had nothin', then we added somethin', which is better than nothin'.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I wish they would have picked-up a vet for one of the guard positions. Well, this has already been mentioned many times.

[woodbuck27]

I wish they would have picked-up a vet for one of the guard positions. Well, this has already been mentioned many times.

Yes and so many recognize this area as OUR greatest weakness.

Running the new ZBS means the window of opportunity to add the vet @ guard is narrowing and that is a real concern. The June 1 cuts gave out little at any position, and there's little remaining in FA.

TT will have to either make a trade and that's not his style, or wait for a TC cut and locate a really good option at guard in the new scheme via that route. Are we today going with a wish and a prayer approach, despite all the downplaying, that this scheme is not to hard to learn and that the lineman work together?

We'll see.

[BooHoo]

I wish they would have picked-up a vet for one of the guard positions. Well, this has already been mentioned many times.

My feelings as well. We had the cap money. Evidently, TT felt there was no one available at the right price. I would feel more comfortable beginning the year with a proven vet at guard. Now it is wait and see if the rooks and 2nd year players will play. The same approach as last year (which didn't work out that well).

[Harlan Huckleby]

Hell, bring back Ruegamer. I suppose he signed somewhere. They almost need a guy just for leadership purposes.

[packerpete]

Hell, bring back Ruegamer. I suppose he signed somewhere. They almost need a guy just for leadership purposes.

Reuggie is in NY Giant camp

[The Leaper]

Now it is wait and see if the rooks and 2nd year players will play. The same approach as last year (which didn't work out that well).

Well, this year's rookie crop was selected higher in the draft than guys taken last year...so that SHOULD mean they are more ready to contribute in year one.

There is no need to bring in veterans. This team isn't challenging for a title right now...so figuring out whether or not the kids can play is paramount. Bringing in veterans only inhibits the development of the young guys who need to gain experience. I admit, it is a scary prospect...but it is really the only one that makes sense at this point. If a couple kids pan out, then this team is set to make a very quick recovery.

[woodbuck27]

"Bringing in veterans only inhibits the development of the young guys who need to gain experience. I admit, it is a scary prospect...but it is really the only one that makes sense at this point. If a couple kids pan out, then this team is set to make a very quick recovery." The Leaper

Yes, I think you hit the nail on the head with that assessment 'The Leaper'.

TT is going to use this as more his assesment season, then expect any real positive results. This is only year two of his PLAN that may be 5-7 seasons in duration. He doesn't speak to us about that. What exactly his plan is, as to be open about that, certainly may not be a wise choice.

TT plays his cards close to his chest, and is in my observation guarded in his personality. That isn't a criticism.Yet that does have a tendency to make some nervous. He is what he is. I sense as fans, we have to develop patience with TT's PLAN.

TT is a team development specialist - the guy to choose the pieces of the puzzle for the coaching staff to work with - get game ready. He himself is in the development process as an NFL GM. In all honesty I expect, learning as he goes.

Imagine what this team would be today, if Brett Favre had said good bye.

[woodbuck27]

For the complete picture . Other off season moves by the Packers.


Packers report: Strategy and personnel June 10, 2006


FRANCHISE PLAYER
None.

TRANSITION PLAYER
None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers): S Todd Franz; NT Grady Jackson; WR Andrae Thurman.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
None.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED: OT Kevin Barry; DT Colin Cole; DL Cullen Jenkins; RB Najeh Davenport; LS Rob Davis; WR Rod Gardner; RB Ahman Green; FB William Henderson; CB Jason Horton; DE Aaron Kampman; DL Kenny Peterson.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED
DT Kenderick Allen; WR Marc Boerigter; PK Billy Cundiff; S Marquand Manuel; NT Ryan Pickett; LB Ben Taylor; LB Tracy White; CB Charles Woodson.

PLAYERS LOST
WR/KR Antonio Chatman; LB Na'il Diggs; RB Tony Fisher; C Mike Flanagan; LB Paris Lenon; PK Ryan Longwell; WR Terrence Murphy; QB Craig Nall; G/C Grey Ruegamer; LB Robert Thomas; WR Javon Walker; DT Donnell Washington.

Copyright (C) 2006 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

[woodbuck27]

Materal taken from an article appeared on Football Outsiders, in which Tim Murray, an analyst, graphed every NFL starter in 2005 and in which round he was drafted, to determine which round produces the most players at each position.

In essence, skill positions like QB, WR, RB, and OT show very top-heavy graphs, with 40 percent or more of the starters selected in round 1, and around 60 percent of starters at each of these positions from either rounds 1 or 2.

Meanwhile, other positions (such as LB), show far more even distribution curves. At both ILB and OLB, only around 40 percent of all starters were from rounds 1 and 2. Fewer than 50 percent of TEs were from rounds 1 and 2.

Here are Murray’s conclusions most pertinent to GBP Draft 2006:


Address your needs at "Top-Heavy" positions first and foremost, particularly QB, DT, and DE.

Spend late-round picks and undrafted free agent bonuses to collect prospects on offensive line, one dimensional defensive tackles, fullbacks, and special teams. A few of these will work out, and allow you to use your more valuable resources elsewhere.

Linebacker is a position where there never seems to be a shortage of talent. I’m not saying there are 6-foot-2, 230 pound guys that can run a 4.5 on every street corner in America, but there seem to be 10 to 20 in every draft class. The elite guys are set apart by instinct, desire, and hard work. That’s not always easy to identify, so there will be some bargains late in the draft and even some that don’t get drafted. The gifted guys who were extremely productive at the big time programs are the ones that go early and seldom disappoint, so there’s no reason not use an early pick to fill a need at linebacker – just don’t do it at the expense of filling a need at a top heavy position.

“Flatâ� �‚¬Â histograms are found at guard, fullback, and special teams. These are the positions where starters have been found with similar success in all rounds of the draft as well as via undrafted free agents. These are the positions where teams would clearly be better off filing needs with a training camp battle royale of sixth and seventh round picks and UFAs.

(The Planet Theory, in case you don’t know, is recently deceased and longtime Giants GM George Young’s way of describing a freak of nature ) —as in, there are only one or two of these specimens on the planet at any one time, so you have to draft them early. Thus Mario Wiliams went #1 overall.

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned about Murray’s analysis is that it’s as much a portrait of a social phenomenon—fo otball people value certain positions and types of athletes more, therefore they tend to pick and play those athletes more readily.

In fact, TT behaved exactly as Murray recommends—ho lding a camp battle for guard last year on the assumption that it takes merely a brain stem to play the position, which turned out not to be the case under Sherman and Beightol.

The blowback from that thinking was catastrophic. Brett Favre without two decent guards played to a lower QB rating than Joey Harrington.

Does the picking of OT/G Darryn Colledge and later C/G Jason Spitz = lesson learned?

At the #5 pick, TT may have elected to choose Matt Leinart. I’m not saying Hawk was a bad pick—there are a number of reasons to pick him. But if he turns out to be even merely a very good player, it might still be a chance lost, especially since very good LBs are far more common than QBs or even - 'a special TE' such as Vernon Davis.

When Favre retires — we still just have Rodgers, still at his level of development. So wasn't QB still a need?

[woodbuck27]

Go to this link if you want all the good stuff - 'the dits' on all OUR draft picks,including complete profiles and an overview on each selection:

http://joe.bowman.net/

[Fritz]

One issue people are forgetting is that having higher draft picks does not ensure successful draft picks. By having more picks you've got more chances to find talent. If you made a team out of one year's first round draft, say 1999, here's what some of your team would be:

QB: Tim Couch
RB: Edgerrin James
WR: Torry Holt
WR: David Boston
T: John Tait
T: Luke Pettitgout
G. Damien Woody
G: Matt Stinchcomb

DE: Javon Kearse
DE: Ebenezer Ekuban
DT: Anthony McFarland
DT: Reggie McGrew\
CB: Champ Bailey
CB: Chris McAllister
LB: Chris Claiborne
LB: Andy Katzenmoyer
and your free safety....Antuan Edwards

So how enamoured would you be with that team???

[woodbuck27]

One issue people are forgetting is that having higher draft picks does not ensure successful draft picks. By having more picks you've got more chances to find talent. If you made a team out of one year's first round draft, say 1999, here's what some of your team would be:

QB: Tim Couch
RB: Edgerrin James
WR: Torry Holt
WR: David Boston
T: John Tait
T: Luke Pettitgout
G. Damien Woody
G: Matt Stinchcomb

DE: Javon Kearse
DE: Ebenezer Ekuban
DT: Anthony McFarland
DT: Reggie McGrew\
CB: Champ Bailey
CB: Chris McAllister
LB: Chris Claiborne
LB: Andy Katzenmoyer
and your free safety....Antuan Edwards

So how enamoured would you be with that team???

I do understand your point but I'd be pretty satisfied with the folowing eight players on my 53-man.

RB Edgerrin James; WR Tory Holt; G Damien Woody; DE Jevon Kearse ; DE Ebenezer Ekuban; DT Anthony McFarland; CB Champ Bailey; and CB Chris McAllister. These have been decent players and 'support the average's' expected.

[The Leaper]

I think value based drafting, such as is common in fantasy football, is what works best for the first 100 players. You assign players to value tiers...not in a straight line. Then you can make a decision from a pool of players, choosing the one who seems to have the best combination of talent and fit for your team.

Claiming that there are specific positions that should never be drafted in a given round is ridiculous to me. While there are some positions where higher talent brings greater reward...the bottom line is an elite player at ANY POSITION can greatly enhance the team as a whole. No position is that lacking in value that you can assume low round picks will cut mustard.

[Partial]

My guess is how GMs do it is they assign each player a numeric value which corresponds to how good a prospect the player is. I think they place a value on the highest player at their positions of need. I believe they take the difference of the two values then, and if the number is smaller then a set criteria (say 5) then they draft the player for need. If its not, then they draft the best player available.

REAL WORLD EXAMPLE -

New Orleans -
Reggie Bush 99
AJ Hawk 93

99 - 93 = 6

The saints biggest need was linebacker. They were desperate for one in fact, but Reggie Bush was such a good value at their selection spot (he beat the set criteria which I defined as 5 points) that they couldn't pass him up.


Now lets take a look at the Texans.

Reggie Bush - 99
Mario Williams - 97
DeBrickshaw Ferguson - 96

The texans biggest need was OL and DL. They have a pro-bowl caliber runner, so with that first pick in the draft they were hoping a player would come along where the difference between him and reggie bush in their player values is close to zero AND plays a position that fills their needs.

Since 99 - 97 = 2, which is very close to zero and did not meet the set criteria (5 points difference) in order to draft him.

Clear as mud?

[woodbuck27]

Four Downs: NFC North
6/13/2006

Best player available analysis by Sean McCormick

Remainder of Four Downs by Michael David Smith

(Ed. note: For this round of Four Downs, we?re pleased to present Sean McCormick’s “Best Player Available” analysis for each division, along with the usual gang commenting on other moves by each team before and since the draft. The reasoning behind BPA analysis is explained in this article. Each player drafted is listed along with his position on four different independent draft boards and the Best Player Available according to each of those boards. Please note that two of these boards only ranked 100 players.)

Chicago Bears

Pick Player Player Rankings **Best Player"s Available

42 DB Danieal Manning 52, 60, 71, 100 ** RB LenDale White (2), OT Eric Winston, DB Ashton Youboty

57 DB Devin Hester 79, 98, 106, UR ** DB Richard Marshall (2), OT Eric Winston, DB Ashton Youboty

73 DT Dusty Dvoracek 82, 95, 97, 111 ** G Max Jean-Gilles, DB Ko Simpson, DT Gabe Watson, DB Darnell Bing

120 LB Jamar Williams 154, UR, UR, UR ** OT Jonathan Scott, DB DeMario Minter, DE Mark Anderson, DT Babtunde Oshinowo

159 DE Mark Anderson 45, 53, 81, 91 ** DT Babtunde Oshinowo (3), DE Mark Anderson

195 FB JD Runnels UR, UR, UR, UR ** DT Rod Wright (2), DE Stanley McClover, RB Andre Hall

200 G Tyler Reed UR, UR, UR, UR ** DT Rod Wright (2), DE Stanley McClover, RB Andre Hall

There may not be a team in the league with a more curious draft than Chicago's.

After a season that saw the Bears field one of the best defenses in the league and an offense that huffed and puffed to cross midfield, general manager Jerry Angelo took defensive players with his first five picks. What is more confusing is that it wasn't a case of Chicago simply taking a best player available approach, as the players they took were for the most part not all that highly rated. If anything, the draft seems to have been informed by Chicago?s playoff meltdown, when their defense was completely incapable of even slowing down Steve Smith.

Chicago traded out of the first round and then used both of their second round picks to address the secondary. Danieal Manning is an athletic safety with good coverage skills, but he played his college ball at Abilene Christian, which is a long way away from the NFC North. Manning will need time to adjust to the step up in competition, but with a roster full of safeties who aren't ideally suited for a Cover-2 scheme, the team will be tempted to press him into early service.

Devin Hester played his college ball at NFL-factory Miami, but he?s not ready to contribute immediately, either. He bounced back and forth between wide receiver and cornerback without ever excelling at either, and his lack of reps at corner has hindered his development. He?s another player with a high potential to bust, and none of the boards considered him worthy of a second-round pick. At least he should help the Bears improve their punt returns, because unlike Bobby Wade he can hold onto the ball most of the time.

Dusty Dvoracek and Jamar Williams were drafted to add depth along the front seven. Dvoracek had some alcohol-related problems at Oklahoma, but he?s a tough football player who has the speed to get into the backfield and be disruptive. He?s an excellent fit in a one-gap system, and it?s not a surprise to see the Bears placing a high value on him. Williams is dangerously slow for an undersized linebacker, and it?s hard to envision him challenging for playing time.

Chicago's best pick was Alabama defensive end Mark Anderson. Anderson doesn't have the explosive speed that you would expect for a 260-pound end, but he gets off the snap quickly, reads and reacts well, and shows a decent closing burst. He'll contribute immediately in a rotation and has the chance to become a quality starter once he adds some bulk.

Recent Free Agent News

The big news in Chicago has been the lack of news: The Bears figured that there's no reason to make big changes when you've just won your division, so they'll go into 2006 with all 22 starters from 2005 projected to start again. The only notable free-agent additions to the team were cornerback Ricky Manning and quarterback Brian Griese, both of whom are currently projected as backups.

But the lack of free agents doesn't mean the Bears haven't engaged in contract negotiations this off-season. Two of last year's most important players, running back Thomas Jones and linebacker Lance Briggs, expressed frustration with their contract situations and threatened to skip the team's mandatory veteran mini-camp last weekend, although both did attend camp. Jones thinks (rightly) that it's ridiculous that Cedric Benson, last year's first-round pick, makes significantly more money than he does despite significantly less production.

But that's a beef he ought to take up with his union, which has agreed to a system that pays unproven rookies more than proven veterans. Briggs is on the last year of his rookie contract, and when you've gone from a third-round pick to one of the best linebackers in the league, you're going to be underpaid. He thinks (rightly) that he won't get to test the market when his contract expires because the Bears will put the franchise tag on him. But that's a beef he ought to take up with his union, which has agreed to a system that restricts the movements of free agents who get the franchise tag.

Undrafted Free Agents of Note

Chicago fans were disappointed that the Bears went with defense and ignored their need for a tight end in the draft, so they're hoping one of the two undrafted free agent tight ends they picked up, Tim Day of Oregon and Cooper Wallace of Auburn, can catch on. If they could combine Day and Wallace into one player, they?d have something: Day is a good receiving threat but doesn?t block as well as a 256-pounder should, while Wallace blocks well but doesn?t have great speed or hands.

The undrafted free agent who has the best chance of making the team is Ohio State kicker Josh Huston. Incumbent kicker Robbie Gould, a rookie last season, doesn?t have a strong enough leg: He made only three of eight field goals from beyond 40 yards (with a long of 45), and he had only one touchback in 54 kickoffs. Huston is a good kickoff man and could take Gould?s job with a strong preseason.

Detroit Lions

Pick Player Player Rankings ** Best Player Available

9 LB Ernie Sims 12, 12, 14, 14 **QB Matt Leinart (4)

40 DB Daniel Bullocks 39, 43, 43, 57 ** RB LenDale White (2), OT Eric Winston, DB Ashton Youboty

74 RB Brian Calhoun 52, 59, 67, 77 ** G Max Jean-Gilles, DB Ko Simpson, DT Gabe Watson, DB Darnell Bing

141 OT Jonathan Scott 71, 90, 93, UR ** OT Jonathan Scott, DB DeMario Minter, DE Mark Anderson, DT Babatunde Oshinowo

179 DB Dee McCann 264, UR, UR, UR ** DT Babatunde Oshinowo (3), RB Andre Hall

217 OG Fred Matua 86, 119, UR, UR ** DT Rod Wright (2), DE Stanley McClover, RB Andre Hall

247 LB Anthony Cannon UR, UR, UR, UR ** RB Andre Hall (2), DB Anwar Phillips (2)

For anyone looking to dispute the validity of a best player available approach to drafting, exhibit A would undoubtedly be Matt Millen. The Lions embattled GM has put together several well-regarded drafts, but they haven't added up to a competitive team. Indeed, of the group of Shaun Rogers, Kalimba Edwards, Dominic Raiola, Boss Bailey, Kevin Jones, Ted Lehman and Mike Williams? ALL players who were considered excellent value when they were selected'only Rogers has been an unqualified success. The rest of the players have either been inconsistent, injury-prone, or simply terrible.

Perhaps Millen was a bit gun-shy after the Mike Williams pick blew up in his face last year, because Millen wanted no part of the consensus best player on the board, USC quarterback Matt Leinart. Instead of scooping up a franchise quarterback that simply dropped to him, Millen stuck to his pre-draft plan, opting for linebacker Ernie Sims. New coach Rod Marinelli is installing a Cover-2 defense, and Sims is a ferocious hitter and excellent pass defender who will fit the scheme well. But the fact remains that linebacker is a position group that can successfully be addressed at almost any point in the draft, while elite quarterbacks are almost the exclusive province of the top of the first round.

While Millen has been alert to value at other positions, his failure to quickly repair the Joey Harrington mistake meant that Detroit passed on Byron Leftwich, Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers when each was among the best players available. Now he's passed on Leinart in favor of a tandem of Jon Kitna and Josh McCown. It looks bad now, and it's probably going to look even worse in three or four years.

Millen has strongly preferred players from big time programs during his tenure, and he stayed true to form throughout the draft. Daniel Bullocks showed good speed and burst while he was at Nebraska, and he is a perfect fit in a two-deep zone system. He's already penciled in with the first unit. Brian Calhoun was good value on three of the boards, and he figures to see immediate action as a third down back. Calhoun is an undersized back in the mold of Warrick Dunn, but he has the ability to step in and start should Kevin Jones continue to struggle.

Millen has particularly favored Texas players, so it was no surprise to see him end Jonathan Scott's slide in the fifth round. Scott fits the profile for a Longhorn lineman — he has great measureables, but his technique and his effort leave much to be desired. Mike Martz and offensive line coach Larry Beightol have a lot of work to do before Scott is ready to contribute, but the pick may well pay dividends down the road. There were several corners with notably higher grades available when Detroit took Dee McCann. McCann isn't fast, but he's a decent in man coverage and has special teams value.

Recent Free Agent News

The Lions overpaid for Ross Verba, giving the 32-year-old former Packers and Browns guard $4 million for this season. Verba was once a good player, but he missed all of 2003 with an injury and all of 2005 waiting to find a team that would give him the kind of contract he thought he deserved. After a full season off, that team finally emerged, but the Lions got a player with an awful lot of rust. Good move for Verba, bad move for Detroit.

If the rumor mill is to be believed, defensive tackle Marcus Bell may soon become a free agent. The Lions were docked two days of team activities after a player complained that new coach Rod Marinelli was violating league rules against contact at off-season practices, and Bell is widely reported to be the player who blew the whistle. Marinelli might just decide Bell isn't his type of player and ship him out, but the funny thing is, Bell is his type of player, at least if you go by what he does on the field. As a backup in Detroit the last two years, Bell has had exactly the ability to use his hands in fighting off blocks that Marinelli says he likes in defensive linemen. Bell's linemate, James Hall, is the team's union representative, which means he was responsible for taking Bell's complaints about practice up the union's chain of command. Hall issued one of those noncommittal statements on the team's Web site that people issue when they know they're supposed to say something but don't want to say anything. The full text of the statement was:

“Irrespective of what you may have heard or what has been reported, since the arrival of Coach Marinelli and his staff, the player’s commitment to his vision for a winning organization has been tangibly demonstrated through extraordinary levels of participation, effort and energy devoted to his offseason program.

“I have been with this franchise my entire seven-year career and can tell you the level of player participation and dedication to our off-season program has been unprecedented. We look forward, as a team, to continuing to work with Coach and his staff to build the kind of championship caliber franchise the city of Detroit and its fans deserve.”

Undrafted Free Agents of Note

The most intriguing undrafted free agent the Lions signed was guard Frank Davis, who was born in New York but raised in Panama, then earned a scholarship to play football at South Florida when his Panamanian team attended a summer camp in Tampa. Davis is a 326-pound guard who isn't ready to play right away, but he has promise as a long-term prospect.

Green Bay Packers

Pick Player Player Rankings ** Best Player Available
5 LB A.J. Hawk 4, 4, 5, 6 ** LB A.J. Hawk (2), QB Matt Leinart, TE Vernon Davis **

47 OT Daryn Colledge 44, 55, 60, 64 ** DB Richard Marshall (2), OT Eric Winston, DB Ashton Youboty **

52 WR Greg Jennings 62, 63, 69, 73 ** DB Richard Marshall (2), OT Eric Winston, DB Ashton Youboty **

67 LB Abdul Hodge 38, 51, 54, 72 ** DB Ashton Youboty (3), TE Leonard Pope **

75 G Jason Spitz 96, 129, UR, UR ** G Max Jean-Gilles, DB Ko Simpson, DT Gabe Watson, DB Darnell Bing **

104 WR Corey Rodgers 197, 300, UR, UR ** DT Gabe Watson (3), DB Ko Simpson **

115 DB Will Blackmon 66, 118, UR, UR ** OT Jonathan Scott, DB DeMario Minter, DE Mark Anderson, DT Babatunde Oshinowo **

148 QB Ingle Martin 284, UR, UR, UR ** DT Babtunde Oshinowo (2), DB DeMario Minter, DE Mark Anderson **

165 OT Tony Moll UR, UR, UR, UR ** DT Babatunde Oshinowo (3), RB Andre Hall **

183 DT Johnny Jolly 179, 204, UR, UR ** DT Rod Wright (2), DE Stanley McClover, RB Andre Hall **

185 DB Tyrone Culver UR, UR, UR, UR ** DT Rod Wright (2), DE Stanley McClover, RB Andre Hall **

253 DE Dave Tollefson UR, UR, UR, UR ** RB Andre Hall (2), DB Anwar Phillips **

Green Bay did a lot of moving and shaking, pulling off four draft-day trades that ultimately gave the team 12 picks to work with. With a roster full of holes, the Packers were content to split the picks evenly between offense and defense. They started the rebuilding process by adding one of the sure things of the draft, Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk. It's rare for a linebacker to go in the top five, but Hawk is a complete player who can handle all three linebacker positions and never has to come off the field. For now Green Bay plans to play Hawk at both outside positions; in particular,he will play on the strong side for passing downs, where his coverage skills will help the Packers defend the tight end better than they did in 2005.

The Packers added another highly touted Big Ten linebacker later in the first day when they snagged Iowa's Abdul Hodge. Hodge is strictly an inside player, as he lacks the lateral quickness to play in space. He's a hard-hitter and an excellent blitzer, and he led Iowa in tackles in each of the past three seasons.

It wouldn't be surprising to see the team shift Nick Barnett to the weak side and promote Hodge to the middle linebacker spot at some point this season.

At least one board thought highly of Will Blackmon, but he's far from a finished product. Blackmon split his time between corner and receiver at Boston College, and while he is a good athlete, he may not have the quickness or the technique to stay with NFL receivers. His transition to the NFL will also be slowed by a broken foot from his first minicamp; he could miss part of training camp or even the season.

Other second day defensive selections included Texas A&M defensive tackle Johnny Jolly, Fresno State safety Tyrone Culver and Northwest Missouri State defensive end Dave Tollefson. Of the group only Jolly stands out as being even moderate value.

Green Bay took the first step towards rebuilding its once-dominant offensive line with the second-round selection of Daryn Colledge. Colledge played left tackle at Boise State, but the Packers are going to slide him inside and play him at guard. Colledge has the necessary athleticism to pull and trap, and he should represent a major upgrade along the interior line. Louisville's Jason Spitz will also be playing guard.

The Packers also addressed the skill positions. After trading Javon Walker to Denver, a move that left them very thin in the receiving corps, they added two rookies in Greg Jennings and Corey Rodgers. Jennings is a player who was moving up the draft boards late, so it was no real surprise to see him taken by the middle of the second round.

In the fourth round, Green Bay reached for Rodgers, who has suspect hands and needs to add weight.

Furman quarterback Ingle Martin made a name for himself at the combine, where he threw the ball as well as anyone. The Packers have a long and impressive history of developing quarterbacks, and Martin has all the tools to succeed at the pro level. He'll probably spend a year or two in NFL Europe getting reacquainted with playing from under center.

Recent Free Agent News

Can Charles Woodson play at a high level for a full season? No one doubts Woodson?s athletic ability, but the Packers gave him more than $10 million for this season alone. If he works hard enough to earn that money, he and Al Harris could become the best pair of corners in the league. But it's more likely that Woodson is going to show his trademark inconsistency, leading the Packers? front office to say, ?We paid $10 million for this??

Jon Ryan, who led the CFL in punting last season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, has been a pleasant surprise to the Packers this off-season, and he appears to have a leg up on incumbent starter B.J. Sander, who has never lived up to the promise that led the Packers to choose him in the third round of the 2004 draft.

All aspects of special teams caused problems for the Packers last season, so scouting Canada, where the kicking game plays a greater role, was a wise move.

Undrafted Free Agents of Note

Appalachian State defensive end Jason Hunter doesn't have a prayer of standing up against the NFL's toughest tackles on running plays, but he's a quick edge rusher who just might have enough speed to catch on as a special teamer and a third-and-long role player. Those are exactly the type of players that training camps are made for. He'll have a few months to prove he belongs.

Minnesota Vikings

Pick Player Player Rankings Best Player Available

17 LB Chad Greenway 17, 18, 20, 20 ** OT Winston Justice (3), DB Jimmy Williams

48 DB Cedric Griffin 55, 57, 60, 75 ** DB Richard Marshall (2), OT Eric Winston, DB Ashton Youboty

51 C Ryan Cook 99, 169, UR, UR ** DB Richard Marshall (2), OT Eric Winston, DB Ashton Youboty

64 QB Tavaris Jackson 226, 250, UR, UR ** OT Eric Winston (2), TE Leonard Pope, DB Ashton Youboty

127 DE Ray Edwards 82, 84, 107, 117 ** OT Jonathan Scott, DB DeMario Minter, DE Mark Anderson, DT Babatunde Oshinowo

149 DB Greg Blue 88, 145, UR, UR ** DT Babatunde Oshinowo (2), DB DeMario Minter, DE Mark Anderson

It's generally not a good sign when a team fires its personnel director right after the draft, and Vikings fans are right to be concerned about the quality of the 2006 draft haul.

Minnesota started off well enough, taking Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway with the 17th pick. Greenway saw his stock fluctuate in the postseason due to poor workouts that left scouts questioning his functional strength, but he was moving back up late as teams went back to the tape and watched him fly all over the field. Greenway has excellent cover skills, and he should provide an immediate lift for a Minnesota defense that had all kinds of trouble covering tight ends and running backs last year.

It's in the second round where Minnesota's draft started to come apart. The second round is the most cost-effective section of the draft, producing starting-caliber players at moderate cost, and the Vikings had three second-round picks to work with thanks to the Daunte Culpepper trade and a draft-day trade with Pittsburgh.

Texas cornerback Cedric Griffin was a decent selection, although there were several corners with notably higher grades still available. Griffin is a bigger corner who excels in zone coverage, but he doesn't have the recovery speed to handle smaller, quicker receivers. Griffin might ultimately be better suited for safety, but the Vikings will give him every chance to play on the outside.

Three picks later, the team selected jumbo-sized New Mexico center Ryan Cook. Cook is built more like an offensive tackle than a center, and he can probably play at guard or right tackle in a pinch. He's not a good athlete, however, and he's a long way from being ready to assume a starting job. Players like Cook tend to go in the fourth or fifth round, and that's where all the draft boards projected him.

While Cook might be considered a reach, the selection of quarterback Tavaris Jackson was more of a lunge. Minnesota traded away two third-round picks so they could move up and grab the Alabama State passer. There was a fair amount of buzz about Jackson as a sleeper prospect, someone who would make a team very happy on the second day, but absolutely no one expected Jackson to come off the board before the likes of Brodie Croyle or Charlie Whitehurst.

Minnesota fell into the classic trap of assuming that the other teams shared their evaluation, and they acted on that assumption. Jackson is a raw prospect who will need a lot of work on his throwing motion and his footwork, but Vikings fans who just watched the team trade Daunte Culpepper for a second-rounder are going to have high expectations.

Minnesota recovered somewhat with their final two picks, as both Ray Edwards and Greg Blue were excellent value.

Edwards is a bit of an enigma — he had a great start to his career at Purdue, but he never really developed, and a poor attitude got him benched midway through his junior season. He has day one measureables, and he has the chance to develop into a rotational lineman. Blue was a big hitter who missed a lot of tackles at Georgia. Blue had a terrible time in coverage during Senior Bowl week, and it looks like the Vikings will work him exclusively at strong safety.

Recent Free Agent News

There hasn't been any news of the Vikings signing a free agent quarterback, and it appears that there won't be. That means the Vikings are happy to go into the season with Brad Johnson as the starter, Mike McMahon as the backup, and Tarvaris Jackson as the rookie third-stringer. It's hard to understand why the Vikings would be content to have such completely unproven players backing up the 37-year-old and injury-prone Johnson, but apparently they are.

Undrafted Free Agents of Note

When the Vikings signed Texas Tech running back Taurean Henderson, they added exactly the type of player new head coach Brad Childress loves for his offense. Henderson is a very versatile receiver who did a little of everything in Texas Tech's pass-wacky offense. Much like Brian Westbrook did for Childress in Philadelphia, Henderson might take a handoff on one play, catch a short pass out of the backfield on the next, pick up a blitz after that, and then line up in the slot and go long. All undrafted free agents are long shots to make the team, but Henderson finds himself in a better situation than most.

Minnesota made a highly unusual move when it acquired Eagles receiver Billy McMullen for undrafted free agent Hank Baskett. Childress obviously wants to import players who learned his offense in Philly, having previously acquired McMahon and offensive lineman Artis Hicks. Childress has worked with McMullen and presumably saw something he liked, so to get him in exchange for a rookie who didn't even cost the team a draft pick is gravy.

posted 6-13-2006 at 7:53 AM by Michael David Smith || Four Downs ||