ESPN's new mock

[Deputy Nutz]

I would prefer to see them get Keith Rivers if he's available, but I not going to complain about Rodgers-Cromartie either.

Where would you play another 225 pound linebacker? He is too small to play the strongside in this scheme. You almost have to be a defensive end. Poppinga is about 250.

His scouting notes concerning size, strength, playing style all make him sound just like Ernie Sims who was also 225lbs when he came out. You can increase a player's weight and size with appropriate training. Can you teach the already heavy enough player the necessary instincts to be a tackling monster that plays with an attitude, delivers sledgehammer type hits, and has a non-stop motor like Sims and Rivers seem to be? Not so easy to put all of the onus just on size, I think. Rivers is the same height as Hawk, Rivers has the room to gain weight without sacrificing much speed. Not saying he's perfect for us, just that you don't have to pidgeon hole a LB because of his college playing weight, they all beef up if they have to when they transition. A 6' 5" Urlacher started at 220 out of college as a safety, gradually put on 40 lbs in first few years. Draft talent, attitude, and instincts ahead of weight--in my opinion the scale is the easiest trait to influence.

You take all this athletic ability stick him on the field at SLB for two years, watch him get his ass kicked because he has to continually go against the tight end, then a lead blocker and then make the play? Urlacher was tried at SLB when he was a rookie and got benched because he was too small. They moved him to middle where he was protected and he became an All Pro. You need size to play on the line of scrimmage and fill gaps. The SLB is in a position to force everything back to the backside so the MLB can make plays. If the Packers needed a weakside linebacker I think Rivers would be your man, but the Packers spent a 5th pick two years ago on Hawk, and although he was been slightly above average, the Packers still have a 5th pick in the draft invested in the WLB position. Lastly, if Rivers is or was projected to go in the last half of the round how could you compare his talent to Urlachers or think he has the skills to play ahead of Hawk? Unless the predraft scouts are missing something on him which they might be since his Senior Bowl performances, he just isn't good enough then to consider moving Hawk to the SLB, or good enough to wait for him to put on 25 pounds.

[run pMc]

Based on what I've read about him & his play in the Senior Bowl, I'd be very happy with D.Cromartie. He'd apprentice well under Al and Woodson and push Blackmon, J.Bush, and Tramon to play better.

TT will surprise; but I don't think he'll trade up for a punter.

I think the combine will have a lot to say about mock drafts, and the actual draft will look much different.

[twoseven]

I would prefer to see them get Keith Rivers if he's available, but I not going to complain about Rodgers-Cromartie either.

Where would you play another 225 pound linebacker? He is too small to play the strongside in this scheme. You almost have to be a defensive end. Poppinga is about 250.

His scouting notes concerning size, strength, playing style all make him sound just like Ernie Sims who was also 225lbs when he came out. You can increase a player's weight and size with appropriate training. Can you teach the already heavy enough player the necessary instincts to be a tackling monster that plays with an attitude, delivers sledgehammer type hits, and has a non-stop motor like Sims and Rivers seem to be? Not so easy to put all of the onus just on size, I think. Rivers is the same height as Hawk, Rivers has the room to gain weight without sacrificing much speed. Not saying he's perfect for us, just that you don't have to pidgeon hole a LB because of his college playing weight, they all beef up if they have to when they transition. A 6' 5" Urlacher started at 220 out of college as a safety, gradually put on 40 lbs in first few years. Draft talent, attitude, and instincts ahead of weight--in my opinion the scale is the easiest trait to influence.

You take all this athletic ability stick him on the field at SLB for two years, watch him get his ass kicked because he has to continually go against the tight end, then a lead blocker and then make the play? Urlacher was tried at SLB when he was a rookie and got benched because he was too small. They moved him to middle where he was protected and he became an All Pro. You need size to play on the line of scrimmage and fill gaps. The SLB is in a position to force everything back to the backside so the MLB can make plays. If the Packers needed a weakside linebacker I think Rivers would be your man, but the Packers spent a 5th pick two years ago on Hawk, and although he was been slightly above average, the Packers still have a 5th pick in the draft invested in the WLB position. Lastly, if Rivers is or was projected to go in the last half of the round how could you compare his talent to Urlachers or think he has the skills to play ahead of Hawk? Unless the predraft scouts are missing something on him which they might be since his Senior Bowl performances, he just isn't good enough then to consider moving Hawk to the SLB, or good enough to wait for him to put on 25 pounds.

Not saying he's perfect for us, just that you don't have to pidgeon hole a LB because of his college playing weight, they all beef up if they have to when they transition.

I simply implied that Rivers should be more than capable of getting his weight up to 235-240, eventually 250 if need be, shouldn't take more than a year, two tops. When that happens and he still has all of the other intangibles, I think you have a machine at LB.

Thank you for pointing out that Urlacher rode pine until he was ready, are you saying a guy like Rivers couldn't do this? I also wasn't under the impression that we were drafting a starter with the 30th pick, are we? Our first round pick might have to ride pine until he is ready, but when he is that time he spent maturing may pay off big. I know we'd never do something like that..Harrel..but I don't think it is the worst idea in the world.

[Deputy Nutz]

I will put it this way, if he is available at the 30th pick, then the Packers should take him because he is probably the best overall player. He will most likely not make an impact if he is not on of the three best linebackers on the roster, which most likely would be due to size and lack of position on the Green Bay Packers starting defense.

[twoseven]

I will put it this way, if he is available at the 30th pick, then the Packers should take him because he is probably the best overall player. He will most likely not make an impact if he is not on of the three best linebackers on the roster, which most likely would be due to size and lack of position on the Green Bay Packers starting defense.

CB, LB, DL, RB..none of what we will see at 30 is going to be good enough to make much of an impact next season outside of special teams or nickel/dime pkgs. If they do, bonus. I too don't think Rivers will be there, but if TT is thinking about trading up for a tempting talent that slides a few spots closer to 30, you never know. As much as I want impact from the first round, that #30 won't be good enough to start is expected and appreciated, we don't suck anymore.

[lcbj68c]

Needs: CB, OT, S, TE, PT

I must be having a mind fart. For the life of me, I can't figure out what that PT position is? Wouldn't punter be just P by itself?

[BallHawk]

I don't like hyphenated last names. Keep him out of Green Bay.

KGB has worked out well...we can call him DRC.

Something about having him named after a war-torn country in Central Africa doesn't have the same ring to it as the secret police for a Communist country.

[Deputy Nutz]

I will put it this way, if he is available at the 30th pick, then the Packers should take him because he is probably the best overall player. He will most likely not make an impact if he is not on of the three best linebackers on the roster, which most likely would be due to size and lack of position on the Green Bay Packers starting defense.

CB, LB, DL, RB..none of what we will see at 30 is going to be good enough to make much of an impact next season outside of special teams or nickel/dime pkgs. If they do, bonus. I too don't think Rivers will be there, but if TT is thinking about trading up for a tempting talent that slides a few spots closer to 30, you never know. As much as I want impact from the first round, that #30 won't be good enough to start is expected and appreciated, we don't suck anymore.

Yep. I wouldn't mind trading the pick, I would take a 2nd and a 3rd. Probably get a 2nd, 4th, and maybe a 7th.

[KYPack]

[Yep. I wouldn't mind trading the pick, I would take a 2nd and a 3rd. Probably get a 2nd, 4th, and maybe a 7th.

I know what ya mean Nutz, but things are changing. Thompson has done turned over the roster now.

We now need a few quality rooks instead of a whole slew of guys.

I know it's against TT's religion, but does anybody think he might try to move up to get a couple quality players?

[Joemailman]

I'd like to see him go after Faneca, and then get a good CB in the draft, which he can probably get by staying where he is in the 1st round.

[RashanGary]

I'm curious about a guy like Joe Flacco maybe in the 2nd round. He's got the size/arm to warrant higher consideration, but his small school spread experience seems to be keeping him out of first round consideration.

Everything I read, the guy needs to adjust to taking drops and work on his fundementals a little. He'd be perfect for MM's quarterback school. I'm not saying to "give up" on Rodgers but at the same time, I'd love it if we had two good options to sift through after Favre retires rather than one.

We'll see how it goes. It all depends on who TT has rated where and as we've found out over the last couple years, it's rarely conventional. He'll take the best guy. Who is that? Nobody knows.

[Bretsky]

[Yep. I wouldn't mind trading the pick, I would take a 2nd and a 3rd. Probably get a 2nd, 4th, and maybe a 7th.

I know what ya mean Nutz, but things are changing. Thompson has done turned over the roster now.

We now need a few quality rooks instead of a whole slew of guys.

I know it's against TT's religion, but does anybody think he might try to move up to get a couple quality players?

no

[MJZiggy]

You guys can be so stubborn. He told you exactly what he was going to do.

[RashanGary]

There are plenty of players that we'd be well served to replace with good up and comers. . . . .


Colin Cole / Corey Williams at DT

Montgomery and KGB at DE

I'd be OK with a young TE to replace Bubba

Poppinga, Bishop and White at LB

Frank Walker, Peprah, Collins, Blackmon if he can't stay healthy and Bush in the secondary could be upgraded pretty easily.

We don't have anybody as the #3 QB

Anywhere on the OL could be addressed and it would help

I wouldn't complain if we had another really good RB

Ruvell Martin, Koren Robinson or Carlyl Holiday don't seem untouchable to me.

I'm sort of OK with the FB situation

I'm OK with the K and P

I'm OK with Davis for another year if he shows up in good shape and ready to rumble.


Mostly though, we could use guys at every position. Nothing wrong with adding competition for camp. May the cream rise to the top and would you really want it any other way considering "moving up to get what you want" has no more likelyhood of succeeding than staying where you're at and stayign true to your board. Only difference is you have less chances to hit.

[Deputy Nutz]

I'm curious about a guy like Joe Flacco maybe in the 2nd round. He's got the size/arm to warrant higher consideration, but his small school spread experience seems to be keeping him out of first round consideration.

Everything I read, the guy needs to adjust to taking drops and work on his fundementals a little. He'd be perfect for MM's quarterback school. I'm not saying to "give up" on Rodgers but at the same time, I'd love it if we had two good options to sift through after Favre retires rather than one.

We'll see how it goes. It all depends on who TT has rated where and as we've found out over the last couple years, it's rarely conventional. He'll take the best guy. Who is that? Nobody knows.

From everything I heard from the Senior Bowl, the guy struggled. The guy looks big but really sort of slow looking, methodical release, slow drops.