The Offseason Begins

[Deputy Nutz]

Out of the box draft here
1st round, Justin King CB Penn St
2nd round, Jason Jones DE Eastern Michigan
3rd round, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee St
4th round, Shawn Crable OLB Michigan
5th round, Chad Rinehart OT Northern Iowa
6th round, Owen Schmitt FB West Virgina
7th round, Sam Keller QB Nebraska

I know the Packers don't have 6th pick and they would have some conditional picks due to free agent departures. But I thought it was some early fun.

I would love Owen Schmitt. Dude is intense as can be and unlike Poppinga he could be a very effective H-back/TE kind of player. He's probably too big to be the base fullback according to what the scheme calls for.

Poppinga doesn't play offense?

[Partial]

I meant he's an intense dude who can be a good player, unlike Poppinga who is just an intense dude.

[Patler]

28 yds rushing the entire game is horrible, Grant has swarmed by the Giants D, due directly to poor blocking by the guards. .

I would argue that only 13 rushing attempts id horrible. I'm not suggesting the blocking was good, but 7 carries in the first half and 6 in the second is hardly enough to get the running game going, and that was my point. For all his talk, MM has never stuck with the running game if it doesn't produce quite quickly.

[Deputy Nutz]

I meant he's an intense dude who can be a good player, unlike Poppinga who is just an intense dude.

I fallow what you are saying.

[Jerry Tagge]

Out of the box draft here
1st round, Justin King CB Penn St
2nd round, Jason Jones DE Eastern Michigan
3rd round, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee St
4th round, Shawn Crable OLB Michigan
5th round, Chad Rinehart OT Northern Iowa
6th round, Owen Schmitt FB West Virgina
7th round, Sam Keller QB Nebraska

I know the Packers don't have 6th pick and they would have some conditional picks due to free agent departures. But I thought it was some early fun.

I would love Owen Schmitt. Dude is intense as can be and unlike Poppinga he could be a very effective H-back/TE kind of player. He's probably too big to be the base fullback according to what the scheme calls for.

Poppinga doesn't play offense?

Maybe he wants him to be a Mike Vrabel type. LB on defense and plays TE on goal line plays.

Vrabel has more than a few TD's coming in at TE. Unlike Kevin Barry.

[Patler]

the defense was on the field for 40 minutes, of course they got tired. You know how many 3rd down conversions the Pack had the entire game? 1.

The defense has no one to blame but themselves for their dismal performance in the Giants first possession of the first half, and their even more dismal performance in the Giants opening possession of the second half. Combined 26 plays, over 15:00 minutes time of possession, a bushel of penalties and 10 points. The ineffectiveness of the offense had nothing to do with the performance of the defense in either of those drives. They were not ready to start either half on defense.

[Jerry Tagge]

28 yds rushing the entire game is horrible, Grant has swarmed by the Giants D, due directly to poor blocking by the guards. .

I would argue that only 13 rushing attempts id horrible. I'm not suggesting the blocking was good, but 7 carries in the first half and 6 in the second is hardly enough to get the running game going, and that was my point. For all his talk, MM has never stuck with the running game if it doesn't produce quite quickly.

This is what he has in common with Mike Holmgren. He did the same thing.

At least he's not Lindy Infante, who never tried to establish a running game.

[packrulz]

28 yds rushing the entire game is horrible, Grant has swarmed by the Giants D, due directly to poor blocking by the guards. .

I would argue that only 13 rushing attempts id horrible. I'm not suggesting the blocking was good, but 7 carries in the first half and 6 in the second is hardly enough to get the running game going, and that was my point. For all his talk, MM has never stuck with the running game if it doesn't produce quite quickly.

I agree with that, all it takes is one good run to make the Giants D honest and then the play action would work better.

[Partial]

You think Crable will be available in the 4th? I would love to have him. He's a solid Blitzer. How do you think he is in coverage?

[Joemailman]

Crable looks to be best suited as an OLB in a 3-4. He'd almost certainly not be a starter in a 4-3. However, he seems to be a good blitzer, so he might be worth a look in round 4-5. Also the type of guy who could be a special teams ace.

[twoseven]

I would resign Tracy White, Corey Williams, Ruvell Martin, Atari Bigby, John Kuhn, Rob Davis, Colin Cole, Vernand Morency, Ryan Grant and Tory Humphrey.

Even if they don't all make the roster, you might as well let them come in and compete.

I will actually agree with this list, although I wouldn't break the bank on Williams because 2009 is not nearly as friendly to us in terms of overall free agents.

I like Asante Samuels and I hope the Packers give it a legit shot at going after him. I like the youth the Packers have in the secondary, but some like Bush and Williams are just too rough around the edges, and Blackmon can't seem to get over his foot injury.

Nutz, let's say we can sign Samuels, what to do then with Harris/Wood? Any thoughts on trading Harris? I too advocate for AS, but am not sure how to squeeze him in. Your thoughts?

[twoseven]

Rat brethren with big brains, your comments on these FAs please:
(I think they're all unrestricted FAs, could be wrong)

Albert Haynesworth, DT, TENN

Allan Faneca, G, PITT

Asante Samuels, CB, NE

Lance Briggs, OLB, CHI

Marlon Mcree, S, SD

Michael Turner, RB, SD

[HarveyWallbangers]

Albert Haynesworth, DT, TENN

Finally played well in a contract year. I wouldn't pay him what he's going to get paid.

Alan Faneca, G, PITT

He's getting up there in age, but I wouldn't mind the Packers going after him.

Asante Samuels, CB, NE

We aren't going to get a big-name FA corner. Not with Harris and Woodson on the roster. I still think he's partly a system's corner--which means I don't think he'll be as good as he looks in New England if he goes elsewhere.

Lance Briggs, OLB, CHI

I like him, but teams just don't pay third LBs big money. With Barnett and Hawk in Green Bay, a third LB sees the field about 50% of the defensive snaps.

Marlon McCree, S, SD

He's actually been pretty good in San Diego.

Michael Turner, RB, SD

He's going to want a chance to start, and with Grant here, that might not happen.

The only big-name FAs I could see them going after are DE (Jenkins could move inside if they got a guy like Jared Allen), OG, and possibly S. Otherwise, I see them going after prospects (for depth and long-term potential) at RB, TE, DL, LB, CB. I don't expect a big splash to be made in FA--although a guy like Faneca would be intriguing.

[Bretsky]

For gosh sakes get one strong run blocking OG. My expectations are we look for value free agents if any and keep building through the draft. I'm fine by that but I'd like to see some power come in at OG. The Giants manhandled them yesterday.

[twoseven]

For gosh sakes get one strong run blocking OG. My expectations are we look for value free agents if any and keep building through the draft. I'm fine by that but I'd like to see some power come in at OG. The Giants manhandled them yesterday.

Faneca.