It will be a Left Tackle

[Pacopete4]

A lot of talk about LT, but Clifton sure didn't look that bad this year!!! He still played at a high level for a lot of the season, and even if he isn't a great run blocker (never has been) he's still pretty darn good at keeping his DE off the QB's back.

I'm not sure a lot of people would disagree with you there but at some point you need a backup plan. If there is a stud that can be that guy for the next 10+ years at #9 I think you have to take em. Whether its next year or the year after, Clifton is going to fall apart completely at some point

[Joemailman]

If Tauscher doesn't return, a rookie OT might have a chance to start at RT this year. Besides, 2009 is the last year on Clifton's contract.

[Pacopete4]

If Tauscher doesn't return, a rookie OT might have a chance to start at RT this year. Besides, 2009 is the last year on Clifton's contract.

very good point, totally forgot about that.


Anyone know what tausch is looking at trying to get this season?

[bobblehead]

If Tauscher doesn't return, a rookie OT might have a chance to start at RT this year. Besides, 2009 is the last year on Clifton's contract.

very good point, totally forgot about that.


Anyone know what tausch is looking at trying to get this season?

College had a really good game at RT in the last game of the season and they seem to be searching for a spot for him. He has the talent to play tackle instead of guard which is what got me on this line of thought.

A quick google search has led me to this article from 2002.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_10_226/ai_83794037

All anyone in need of a left tackle has to do is select one in the first round of the draft. As cows come from farms, left tackles come from first rounds. Last season, 20 of the league's 31 starting left tackles--64.5 percent--were first-round picks.

Its a very good article....hell, when a friend and myself did a betting website I could have written something similar.

[LL2]

Re: It will be a Left Tackle

I have given a lot of thought to this draft and read everyones insights and I realize our D sucked it up and is transforming this year, but I am concluding we will take a LT for our first pick. We may trade up or down slightly but I am convinced of this.

In the NFL the most important position...the position historically manned by the most top 5 draft picks is QB. Next in line I'm pretty sure is LT. Complete DE's are probably pretty close, but the list of good LT's coming in round 3 or later is probably smaller than most positions. Regardless, it is probably the most important single position on the field next to QB.

Clifton is getting old and as much as I liked College at LT, its not a position to gamble with. This draft is probably deeper at LT than any I remember recently. My guess is that at #9 there will be a LT available that would have been a top 5 pick in other drafts. (comparable to D'Brickshaw Ferguson)

I remember Ron Wolf struggling to get us a LT for the first few years of his regime (Michels, Verba). I just don't see TT passing up the chance to get the heir to Clifton when he is available.

I certainly think you make a good point. Some may argue that the next most important position, regardless of the side of the ball, is cornerback. No matter what I'd be more than happy if TT took care of a position on either the DL or OL.

[wist43]

They need help everywhere... cept maybe WR.

TT will pick his BPA without regard to position, and without regard to whether the player can help the team now or not.

For those of you expecting an impact player that will come in and contribute right away... you're probably setting yourself up for disappointment.

[texaspackerbacker]

They need help everywhere... cept maybe WR.

TT will pick his BPA without regard to position, and without regard to whether the player can help the team now or not.

For those of you expecting an impact player that will come in and contribute right away... you're probably setting yourself up for disappointment.

Doom and Gloom! A big No Way to that!

The Packers are at very least, adequate everywhere and will be cutting quality players at several positions.

[Pacopete4]

They need help everywhere... cept maybe WR.

TT will pick his BPA without regard to position, and without regard to whether the player can help the team now or not.

For those of you expecting an impact player that will come in and contribute right away... you're probably setting yourself up for disappointment.

Doom and Gloom! A big No Way to that!

The Packers are at very least, adequate everywhere and will be cutting quality players at several positions.

Name a position outside QB and WR and CB that we don't need an upgrade oh and K I guess too

[Partial]

I really don't think its going to be a left tackle. I suspect they take a good hard look at Jenkins or Raji, preferably Jenkins or Maualuga.

Jenkins would be a really nice, safe pick. He's going to be a good player in the NFL no doubt.

[Waldo]

With Colledge, Sitton, Spitz, and Barbre, they are pretty solid at OG. If they move guys elsewhere (Colledge to LT/RT, Spitz to C, Sitton/Barbre to RT) they could use some more, but if they are adding exterior T's to address the T needs, they are set at G.

[Waldo]

I really don't think its going to be a left tackle. I suspect they take a good hard look at Jenkins or Raji, preferably Jenkins or Maualuga.

Jenkins would be a really nice, safe pick. He's going to be a good player in the NFL no doubt.

With Jenkins the fact that we will have a $25M+ secondary cannot be ignored. That would make it the most expensive position group by a long shot, it already is an expensive position group. If we are going to allocate megabucks to a position group, IMO the lines are the place to do it. Last time we had one of the most expensive DL's in the NFL, we won the Super Bowl, last time we had one of the most expensive OL's in the NFL, Green was a monster and Favre was rarely touched.

When we (and many other) teams won the superbowl, our corners were all cheapies on rookie contracts, and none ever went to a pro bowl. Every penny spent on a CB is a penny not spent on lineman (3-4 OLB's are essentially lineman).

[Lurker64]

Name a position outside QB and WR and CB that we don't need an upgrade oh and K I guess too

ILB (Hawk and Barnett), FB (Hall and Kuhn), QB (Rodgers, Flynn, Brohm), RB(Grant, Jackson, Wynn, and Lumpkin). Plus it's arguable to say about the OL. Colledge played well enough at RT last year that if Tauscher leaves, we can install him at RT and not worry much. Spitz and Sitton inside are fine, though Spitz may not shine until he replaces Wells inside. Definitely the safety spot manned by Nick Collins doesn't need to be improved, as he's one of the better safeties in the league.

I really wouldn't say that most positions are as significant of needs as: LT (Clifton doesn't have much left, looks like, and Giacomini is a question mark), NT (Nothing behind Pickett), DE (Harrell's a walking tease, and Jenkins is frequently injured, Jolly has legal trouble), and CB (Our guys, as the common knowledge goes, are good but old). The OLB slots may or may not be a need, the brilliant defensive coaches we have will know that better than you or I do.

Keep in mind, before you argue that RB really is a need, "We can upgrade at this position" is different than "we have a need at this position." You can (unless you have the best guy in the league) upgrade at pretty much every position. Pretty much every team in the league except the Colts would upgrade at QB if they replaced the guy they have with Manning. Pretty much every team in the league except the Vikings would upgrade at RB if they had Peterson at RB. That doesn't, however, mean that 31 teams have a need at QB and RB.

[Partial]

Name a position outside QB and WR and CB that we don't need an upgrade oh and K I guess too

ILB (Hawk and Barnett), FB (Hall and Kuhn), QB (Rodgers, Flynn, Brohm), RB(Grant, Jackson, Wynn, and Lumpkin). Plus it's arguable to say about the OL. Colledge played well enough at RT last year that if Tauscher leaves, we can install him at RT and not worry much. Spitz and Sitton inside are fine, though Spitz may not shine until he replaces Wells inside. Definitely the safety spot manned by Nick Collins doesn't need to be improved, as he's one of the better safeties in the league.

I really wouldn't say that most positions are as significant of needs as: LT (Clifton doesn't have much left, looks like, and Giacomini is a question mark), NT (Nothing behind Pickett), DE (Harrell's a walking tease, and Jenkins is frequently injured, Jolly has legal trouble), and CB (Our guys, as the common knowledge goes, are good but old). The OLB slots may or may not be a need, the brilliant defensive coaches we have will know that better than you or I do.

Keep in mind, before you argue that RB really is a need, "We can upgrade at this position" is different than "we have a need at this position." You can (unless you have the best guy in the league) upgrade at pretty much every position. Pretty much every team in the league except the Colts would upgrade at QB if they replaced the guy they have with Manning. Pretty much every team in the league except the Vikings would upgrade at RB if they had Peterson at RB. That doesn't, however, mean that 31 teams have a need at QB and RB.

ILB? Hawk last year played below average imo. Is it safe to count on him? Is it safe to count on an undersized Barnett coming off an ACL tear to play and be successful inside? Jonathan Vilma, a very similiar player imo, struggled big time inside in the 3-4.

QB could use an upgrade but because of the youth of the position won't receive one.

If they move Colledge to RT, who plays guard? The offensive line has a lot of potential and not as much production as we'd like. Hopefully someone can step up from that group big time.

There are holes at every position but WR imo. The DL is going to need a lot of new personnel for the scheme change. Possibly time to try and trade Barnett for a 2nd or 3rd.

[3irty1]

Name a position outside QB and WR and CB that we don't need an upgrade oh and K I guess too

ILB (Hawk and Barnett), FB (Hall and Kuhn), QB (Rodgers, Flynn, Brohm), RB(Grant, Jackson, Wynn, and Lumpkin). Plus it's arguable to say about the OL. Colledge played well enough at RT last year that if Tauscher leaves, we can install him at RT and not worry much. Spitz and Sitton inside are fine, though Spitz may not shine until he replaces Wells inside. Definitely the safety spot manned by Nick Collins doesn't need to be improved, as he's one of the better safeties in the league.

I really wouldn't say that most positions are as significant of needs as: LT (Clifton doesn't have much left, looks like, and Giacomini is a question mark), NT (Nothing behind Pickett), DE (Harrell's a walking tease, and Jenkins is frequently injured, Jolly has legal trouble), and CB (Our guys, as the common knowledge goes, are good but old). The OLB slots may or may not be a need, the brilliant defensive coaches we have will know that better than you or I do.

Keep in mind, before you argue that RB really is a need, "We can upgrade at this position" is different than "we have a need at this position." You can (unless you have the best guy in the league) upgrade at pretty much every position. Pretty much every team in the league except the Colts would upgrade at QB if they replaced the guy they have with Manning. Pretty much every team in the league except the Vikings would upgrade at RB if they had Peterson at RB. That doesn't, however, mean that 31 teams have a need at QB and RB.

ILB? Hawk last year played below average imo. Is it safe to count on him? Is it safe to count on an undersized Barnett coming off an ACL tear to play and be successful inside? Jonathan Vilma, a very similiar player imo, struggled big time inside in the 3-4.

QB could use an upgrade but because of the youth of the position won't receive one.

If they move Colledge to RT, who plays guard? The offensive line has a lot of potential and not as much production as we'd like. Hopefully someone can step up from that group big time.

There are holes at every position but WR imo. The DL is going to need a lot of new personnel for the scheme change. Possibly time to try and trade Barnett for a 2nd or 3rd.

I have a hard time seeing the Packers not starting Barnett and Hawk in the middle. Hawk and really all the linebackers had a disappointing season last year but I'm not sure he was any worse in the middle than he was earlier in the season outside.

Also I'm not sure I would say that Vilma struggled "Big Time" by the switch to a 3-4. He simply follow up his insane year in 2005 with merely a good year after the switch in 2006. Barnett needs to be given a chance to recover and play for us.

[bobblehead]

Re: It will be a Left Tackle

I have given a lot of thought to this draft and read everyones insights and I realize our D sucked it up and is transforming this year, but I am concluding we will take a LT for our first pick. We may trade up or down slightly but I am convinced of this.

In the NFL the most important position...the position historically manned by the most top 5 draft picks is QB. Next in line I'm pretty sure is LT. Complete DE's are probably pretty close, but the list of good LT's coming in round 3 or later is probably smaller than most positions. Regardless, it is probably the most important single position on the field next to QB.

Clifton is getting old and as much as I liked College at LT, its not a position to gamble with. This draft is probably deeper at LT than any I remember recently. My guess is that at #9 there will be a LT available that would have been a top 5 pick in other drafts. (comparable to D'Brickshaw Ferguson)

I remember Ron Wolf struggling to get us a LT for the first few years of his regime (Michels, Verba). I just don't see TT passing up the chance to get the heir to Clifton when he is available.

I certainly think you make a good point. Some may argue that the next most important position, regardless of the side of the ball, is cornerback. No matter what I'd be more than happy if TT took care of a position on either the DL or OL.

I think LT is the second most important for several reasons, but I guess a better point would be that quality LT's are VERY hard to come by. The skill set is very unique as it needs such a combination of size, strenght, athletisism, ect. I once saw Jonathon Ogden standing next to Mike Flannigan...talk about an eye opener, Flanny looked like a kid. A team without a quality LT has very little chance to cover the hole as well, most other positions can be somewhat worked around, but if you are weak on the QB's blind side.....look out.