The great unknowns.

[Rastak]

Because you don't mess with a guy whose name is Breno Giacomini.

I thought that was guys named "Leroy Brown" or "Jim" or something like that!

Actually you don't mess with either. One will re-arrange your face.....the other will give you a kiss and the next day you'll be riddled with bullets.

[Joemailman]

If McCarthy doesn't start Breno, he will be sleeping with the fishes.

[red]

i liked what i saw of him early last season before he got hurt

Really? I'm not trying to be a wise guy or anything. It's just that I thought in the limited opportunities he had last year he looked a little lost. Certainly something that experience can overcome, so I have hope, but its due to his reported potential and not anything I saw last year.

Maybe I'm forgetting something or a particular game???

yeah, i might have been preseason, but i know i remember thinking a few times that the kid had potential

[Lurker64]

Maybe I'm forgetting something or a particular game???

The thing about Lee is that you look at him, and you see all the physical tools you would want in an NFL corner, but he does look a little (a lot) lost at times, out there. Seems to me a similar thing happened to him in college, where he finally put it together for his senior year. I think he's just not a quick study. With good coaching, he should be fine. With great coaching, he could be outstanding.

[packer4life]

As far as the TE position goes, I am very intrigued as to the potential Finley has to bust out and catch around 40 balls next year. He may need another year, but I wouldn't be surprised if this kid goes off with a season of NFL coaching under his belt.

That damn fade route, with all its lack of success last year, good be more successful. Clearly, he showed enough in practice for the team to trust him on 3rd and short (when gains are most imp). He flopped in many of those chances last year - look for that to change.

If he becomes a real threat, the sky is the limit for our offense. Takes a lot of pressure off of Driver/Jennings, and can open up the running game as teams may not trust a backer on him.

[wist43]

Re: The great unknowns.

Of all the recent draft classes, we probably learned less about the 2008 class in their first year than any other class in their first year. Only Nelson played enough to get any feel for him at all. Yet, on several occasions TT has professed his belief that it will turn out to be a very good class. Recently he said he still expects it to produce a lot of starters in the near future. He has made these statements when he didn't have to, when he could have said much less. I know it can all be a smokescreen, and privately he might be kicking himself for some of the selections, but I still look forward the the second year for each of them.

Which of the following will be household names for Packer fans in 2012?

Nelson
Brohm
Lee
Finley
Thompson
Sitton
Giacomini
Flynn
Swain

I like the draft in general, at least in terms of players; but again, it smacks of TT's "win some day" approach.

Is Nelson Drivers replacement??? I like Finley and Thompson, but the Thompson pick is now wasted, as I see him as strictly a 4-3 End, same as Kampman.

Also like Sitton... Lee has bust written all over him.

[Waldo]

I don't know why you don't think Thompson can succeed at OLB, I have him rated higher at 3-4 OLB than as a 4-3 DE. His movement ability, agility, and quickness translates very well to OLB, and he had a great deal of coverage experience at Wake, backpedaling is not new to him. I was surprised that we took him, when we did I thought that we might be migrating to a hybrid D, since he is a stout elephant LB, not as explosive as some of the studs, but good against the run on the edges and good in coverage drops. Rushing the passer is definitely the weakest part of his game, but the tools are there. I like him a great deal at SOLB, but not as much at WOLB.

[Lurker64]

I agree with Waldo that at the time the Thompson pick was curious, since it looked like they were taking a guy who was born to play 3-4 OLB and we were trying to shoehorn him into a 4-3 DE just because he had some physical ability. But now, the pick makes a lot of sense. I mean, he was a read and react DE who played in coverage a lot at Wake. What part of that doesn't scream "3-4 OLB"?

Thompson is closer to a "pure 3-4 OLB" than a "pure 4-3 DE", especially since last year's campaign doesn't highly recommend him at DE.

[texaspackerbacker]

Your typical negativity, wist.

Around here, everybody who ever set foot on the practice field is a household name. If the standard is who will have a decent career in the NFL, probably with the Packers, then I'd say all of those on the list except maybe Swain.

If the standard is starting or more accurately, playing in the regular rotation next season, Sitton, Thompson, and Nelson. I don't think Finley is quite ready to start of split time 50/50 with Donald Lee. I wouldn't be surprised to see Patrick Lee move ahead of Blackmon as the 4th Corner. And Giacomino might start, but I'd say is less than 50/50 at OT.

Waldo, I'm surprised you see pass rush as the weakest part of Thompson's game. I would think that would be his strength.

[Patler]

Around here, everybody who ever set foot on the practice field is a household name. If the standard is who will have a decent career in the NFL, probably with the Packers, then I'd say all of those on the list except maybe Swain.

If the standard is starting or more accurately, playing in the regular rotation next season, Sitton, Thompson, and Nelson. I don't think Finley is quite ready to start of split time 50/50 with Donald Lee. I wouldn't be surprised to see Patrick Lee move ahead of Blackmon as the 4th Corner. And Giacomino might start, but I'd say is less than 50/50 at OT.

Waldo, I'm surprised you see pass rush as the weakest part of Thompson's game. I would think that would be his strength.

Tex;
You need to read more carefully! Your questions were answered in my original post

Anyone on the practice field may be a household name, but many fans also forget quite quickly all those players who come and go, but never make an impact, The Rats may remember them for years, but not all fans do. That is why I asked who would be a household name in 2012. Those who wash out this year or next will no longer be household names in 2012.

As to whether "the standard is starting or more accurately, playing in the regular rotation next season" see again my reference to 2012.. What I was getting at is which and how many of the 2008 draft class will be around and contributing in the 5th season after they were drafted. I picked 2012 because rookie contracts will be up, and they will have been renewed or let go. Will 2008 really be one of the nucleus years around which the team is built, or will it provide just a player or two for the long term?

[KYPack]

I don't know why you don't think Thompson can succeed at OLB, I have him rated higher at 3-4 OLB than as a 4-3 DE. His movement ability, agility, and quickness translates very well to OLB, and he had a great deal of coverage experience at Wake, backpedaling is not new to him. I was surprised that we took him, when we did I thought that we might be migrating to a hybrid D, since he is a stout elephant LB, not as explosive as some of the studs, but good against the run on the edges and good in coverage drops. Rushing the passer is definitely the weakest part of his game, but the tools are there. I like him a great deal at SOLB, but not as much at WOLB.

I really like Thompson. For a good bit of the season, I was really down on him. He wasn't ready to be an NFL RDE in 4-3 and I didn't think much of his play.

Then around the 10th game, he made a play on ST that popped my eyes out. A return man broke one and was basically gone. Thompson (the player, not the GM) came from nowhere and made a saving tackle, showing unreal speed for a down lineman. The guy is talented. Our staff hasn't been the greatest for developing potential. Let's see if this new D staff can take guys like Thompson and refine their skills and make 'em stars for us.

[wist43]

I like Thompson... he showed some ability last year. He looks like Kampman; similar builds, playing styles.

I see them both as a strictly 4-3 Ends... Silverstein wrote an article a week or so ago, saying the same thing. Just see both of those guys as being far too stiff and unathletic in space to function at OLB.

Kampman is great as 4-3 End, and I think Thompson can be good there too... both of them will be wasted as OLB's.

I agree with Silverstein about 1/2 the time now... rarely agreed with him in the past as I saw him as too much of homer - he seems to be seeing the pig w/o lipstick these days

[bobblehead]

My expectations for THIS year are:

Sitton will lock down the RG spot and make it his bitch. The kid is nasty and there is no keeping him out of the lineup another year.

Finley will become a huge contributor in the passing game...particularly in the red zone where the fade to finley will become a staple. He probably won't be able to run block though.

Nelson will show some more flashes but not get enough opportunities....he and others are still a year away for a myriad of reasons.

[sharpe1027]

I like Thompson... he showed some ability last year. He looks like Kampman; similar builds, playing styles.

I see them both as a strictly 4-3 Ends... Silverstein wrote an article a week or so ago, saying the same thing. Just see both of those guys as being far too stiff and unathletic in space to function at OLB.

Kampman is great as 4-3 End, and I think Thompson can be good there too... both of them will be wasted as OLB's.

I agree with Silverstein about 1/2 the time now... rarely agreed with him in the past as I saw him as too much of homer - he seems to be seeing the pig w/o lipstick these days

I don't really agree. In fact, I think you have it backward. Just because they were playing in a 4-3 doesn't mean that is the best fit for them. I see them as two guys that weren't particularly suited for playing 4-3 end but their athletic ability and/or work-ethic allowed them to succeed as a 4-3 end.

I am willing to admit that I don't know for sure, but I think that you tend to overstate your position. Stepping back, don't you think that claiming that they will be wasted at OLB is a bit much. You realize it calls out everyone who was presenting facts and arguments to the contrary. Perhaps if explain why you see them as stiff and not-athletic? If not, I think that others have presented pretty solid analysis (supported with facts) to the contrary.

[sharpe1027]

My expectations for THIS year are:

Sitton will lock down the RG spot and make it his bitch. The kid is nasty and there is no keeping him out of the lineup another year.

Finley will become a huge contributor in the passing game...particularly in the red zone where the fade to finley will become a staple. He probably won't be able to run block though.

Nelson will show some more flashes but not get enough opportunities....he and others are still a year away for a myriad of reasons.

I agree on all accounts.

I would add that I think Nelson is a very good #3, but a very average #2. Unfortunately, I do not see him making a huge jump in production from this point on. I was unimpressed with his ability to get separation and his flashes were not that spectacular, IMHO. I hope I am wrong on him.