woodbuck27
04-27-2007, 03:08 PM
http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070427/PKR01/704270586/1989
Posted April 27, 2007
NFL draft preview: Defense is no secondary issue
Safety would fill immediate void while cornerback would solve a long-term need
By Pete Dougherty
pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com
All signs from his first two-plus years as Green Bay's general manager suggest Ted Thompson is trying to build a defensive-oriented team for the post-Brett Favre Packers and the cold climate of Northeastern Wisconsin.
That could lead to a second straight season of drafting a defensive player in the first round. Last year, it was linebacker A.J. Hawk taken fifth overall. This year, it could be one of a handful of defensive linemen, or perhaps a defensive back, most likely a cornerback but perhaps a safety.
This year's cornerback class lacks an elite performer, and if one goes among the top 10 picks, it probably will be based more on need than ability. But there's a chance one of the top two cornerback prospects in a generally weak group will be available when the Packers select at No. 16.
"I think the better athletes now are playing receiver, not defensive back," the college scouting director for an NFC team said.
"That's why you better have a good pass rush, or else you can't cover anybody."
Another scout said: "Upper-end talent and depth, it's not great at corner (this year)."
The Packers don't have an opening for a starting cornerback with the return of veterans Al Harris and Charles Woodson, but they need a No. 3 corner for nickel and dime personnel, which combined they use usually about half a game.
Plus, Harris (32) and Woodson (30) are old enough where there's no knowing how much longer they'll remain starting-caliber players. So, the Packers are ripe for a young prospect to play as the No. 3 cornerback and eventually take over one of the starting jobs.
The top cornerbacks in this draft on many teams' boards are Michigan's Leon Hall and Pittsburgh's Darrelle Revis. For most of the offseason, Hall appeared the more likely to get selected first, but Revis' offseason workouts make it a close call.
Scouts appear split on whether Hall or Revis will be off the board first on Saturday.
"I think (Revis) has more potential," the scouting director for an AFC team said. "Hall may be more consistent right now."
Hall might be the most ready-made of the cornerbacks as a three-year starter and extremely sound and mature player. He doesn't play quite as fast as his surprising 40-yard dash time of 4.40 seconds at the NFL scouting combine suggests, but he has natural cover ability. At 5-11ΒΌ and 193 pounds, Hall plays physically enough to hold up in bump-and-run coverage.
"He's safe," a general manager for one team said.
"He'll never be a Pro Bowl player, but he's a good player and he'll make all the plays he's supposed to. He'll be you're No. 2 (corner) for eight years, and you're going to love him as a person and as a player."
Revis rated high on some teams' lists by early in the offseason, but as a junior entry, he made a name for himself by running the 40 in 4.39 seconds at his campus workout. He could go ahead of Hall, and both could be gone by the Packers' selection at No. 16.
"I don't think he'll be there (at 16)," another GM said.
"I know some people think he's the best (cornerback), but there's a little bit of a hit-or-miss factor there."
Another cornerback who might be a first-round selection is Texas' Aaron Ross, though on many draft boards he's a prospect for the bottom third of the round.
There are three or four safeties who could get drafted in the first round:
LSU's LaRon Landry, Florida's Reggie Nelson, Miami's Brandon Meriweather and Texas' Michael Griffin.
Landry is one of the top players in this draft and probably will be a top-eight pick.
Nelson and Meriweather generally are considered a cut above Griffin, but at least some scouts think even those two shouldn't be considered until the final third of the first round at the earliest and would be reaches at No. 16.
The Packers are looking for a safety who can beat out Manuel for a starting spot, and if they don't select one in the first round, there's a good chance a second-rounder or maybe even a third-rounder could win that job.
Once scout predicted Nelson, Meriweather and Griffin will be good starters in the NFL. The same could be true of Oregon State's Sabby Piscitelli, a likely second-round prospect.
"It just depends if they can beat out the guy you have," the scout said.
"They have to kind of fit you. It takes those guys a year or two to get going. It's hard to walk in because things happen really, really quick (on the field)."
Posted April 27, 2007
NFL draft preview: Defense is no secondary issue
Safety would fill immediate void while cornerback would solve a long-term need
By Pete Dougherty
pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com
All signs from his first two-plus years as Green Bay's general manager suggest Ted Thompson is trying to build a defensive-oriented team for the post-Brett Favre Packers and the cold climate of Northeastern Wisconsin.
That could lead to a second straight season of drafting a defensive player in the first round. Last year, it was linebacker A.J. Hawk taken fifth overall. This year, it could be one of a handful of defensive linemen, or perhaps a defensive back, most likely a cornerback but perhaps a safety.
This year's cornerback class lacks an elite performer, and if one goes among the top 10 picks, it probably will be based more on need than ability. But there's a chance one of the top two cornerback prospects in a generally weak group will be available when the Packers select at No. 16.
"I think the better athletes now are playing receiver, not defensive back," the college scouting director for an NFC team said.
"That's why you better have a good pass rush, or else you can't cover anybody."
Another scout said: "Upper-end talent and depth, it's not great at corner (this year)."
The Packers don't have an opening for a starting cornerback with the return of veterans Al Harris and Charles Woodson, but they need a No. 3 corner for nickel and dime personnel, which combined they use usually about half a game.
Plus, Harris (32) and Woodson (30) are old enough where there's no knowing how much longer they'll remain starting-caliber players. So, the Packers are ripe for a young prospect to play as the No. 3 cornerback and eventually take over one of the starting jobs.
The top cornerbacks in this draft on many teams' boards are Michigan's Leon Hall and Pittsburgh's Darrelle Revis. For most of the offseason, Hall appeared the more likely to get selected first, but Revis' offseason workouts make it a close call.
Scouts appear split on whether Hall or Revis will be off the board first on Saturday.
"I think (Revis) has more potential," the scouting director for an AFC team said. "Hall may be more consistent right now."
Hall might be the most ready-made of the cornerbacks as a three-year starter and extremely sound and mature player. He doesn't play quite as fast as his surprising 40-yard dash time of 4.40 seconds at the NFL scouting combine suggests, but he has natural cover ability. At 5-11ΒΌ and 193 pounds, Hall plays physically enough to hold up in bump-and-run coverage.
"He's safe," a general manager for one team said.
"He'll never be a Pro Bowl player, but he's a good player and he'll make all the plays he's supposed to. He'll be you're No. 2 (corner) for eight years, and you're going to love him as a person and as a player."
Revis rated high on some teams' lists by early in the offseason, but as a junior entry, he made a name for himself by running the 40 in 4.39 seconds at his campus workout. He could go ahead of Hall, and both could be gone by the Packers' selection at No. 16.
"I don't think he'll be there (at 16)," another GM said.
"I know some people think he's the best (cornerback), but there's a little bit of a hit-or-miss factor there."
Another cornerback who might be a first-round selection is Texas' Aaron Ross, though on many draft boards he's a prospect for the bottom third of the round.
There are three or four safeties who could get drafted in the first round:
LSU's LaRon Landry, Florida's Reggie Nelson, Miami's Brandon Meriweather and Texas' Michael Griffin.
Landry is one of the top players in this draft and probably will be a top-eight pick.
Nelson and Meriweather generally are considered a cut above Griffin, but at least some scouts think even those two shouldn't be considered until the final third of the first round at the earliest and would be reaches at No. 16.
The Packers are looking for a safety who can beat out Manuel for a starting spot, and if they don't select one in the first round, there's a good chance a second-rounder or maybe even a third-rounder could win that job.
Once scout predicted Nelson, Meriweather and Griffin will be good starters in the NFL. The same could be true of Oregon State's Sabby Piscitelli, a likely second-round prospect.
"It just depends if they can beat out the guy you have," the scout said.
"They have to kind of fit you. It takes those guys a year or two to get going. It's hard to walk in because things happen really, really quick (on the field)."