PACKER INSIDER- EARLY VIEWS OF TT'S FIRST DRAFT

[Bretsky]

Regarding Murphy, I'm judging the 2005 draft like we didn't have that pick

1. Rodgers
2 Collins
4 Poppinga
4 Underwood
5 Hawkins
5 Coston
7 Whittakeer
7 Campbell
7 Montgomery

I agree Rodgers is the key to final judgement; but right now out of our 9 picks we don't have much to show.

[MJZiggy]

Will Whittaker was a terrible terrible starter....amongst the worst in the NFL

He was a 7th round rookie trying to replace a pro bowl lineman. I'd say those are big shoes for a 7th rounder to handle in his rookie season. Give him a little time and learning and we'll see if he reaches the potential you'd expect out of the bottom of the 7th round.

[Bretsky]

Will Whittaker was a terrible terrible starter....amongst the worst in the NFL

He was a 7th round rookie trying to replace a pro bowl lineman. I'd say those are big shoes for a 7th rounder to handle in his rookie season. Give him a little time and learning and we'll see if he reaches the potential you'd expect out of the bottom of the 7th round.

Calling him one of the worst starters wasn't really a condemnation of Will Whittaker; he did better than we'd expect out of a 7th.

It was a condemnation of Ted Thompson for leaving us in a situation that would necessitate him to start for so many games when he was clearly not ready.

[MJZiggy]

Will Whittaker was a terrible terrible starter....amongst the worst in the NFL

He was a 7th round rookie trying to replace a pro bowl lineman. I'd say those are big shoes for a 7th rounder to handle in his rookie season. Give him a little time and learning and we'll see if he reaches the potential you'd expect out of the bottom of the 7th round.

Calling him one of the worst starters wasn't really a condemnation of Will Whittaker; he did better than we'd expect out of a 7th.

It was a condemnation of Ted Thompson for leaving us in a situation that would necessitate him to start for so many games when he was clearly not ready.

I asked this question some weeks ago and don't know that anyone knew the answer so I will try again: When it became apparent that Wahle was not intending on resigning in GB, who on the free agent market was available to replace him?

[b bulldog]

If Arod can play at an above average level, I would consider it a decent draft. Collins,Montgomery,Murphy and in my opinion, Underwood, will all or would have all become decent players. If Arod doesn't pan out, the organization will be set back three years and TT may be looking for work!

[Deputy Nutz]

Bretsky you have to ask yourself what you expect out of player picked in a certain round. No one could expect Mark Tauscher becoming the player he was when he was select in the 7th round 6 years ago. KGB basically spent his first year on the practice team. Right now on paper it doesn't look like your going to get 6 or 7 starters. Thats asking a lot. Any time a team gets more than two legit starters in a draft, they are or should be pleased.

Right now Collins is the only legit starter from this draft. Rodgers would be consisdered a starter because he is playing behind Favre.

Hawkins was a 5th round pick that was very raw, but ended up in and out of the dime and nickel packages throughout his rookie year, Underwood as well. Montgomery also made it into the defensive line rotation throughout the year. Coston didn't see any playing time last year, but he is in line to compete for a starting position in his second year. Poppinga was a pick that I was scratching my own head when he was selected. I like his personality but he was 26 years old when he was drafted, and what is more telling about Poppinga is that with the selection of both Hawk and Hodge, the Packers might have never figured him as more than a special teams contributor, and a role player.

I have already seen alot of contributions from a number of these players, but at the same time was this because these players deserved their playing time because of their talents, or was it because the Packers roster was so piss poor?

[Rastak]

Will Whittaker was a terrible terrible starter....amongst the worst in the NFL

He was a 7th round rookie trying to replace a pro bowl lineman. I'd say those are big shoes for a 7th rounder to handle in his rookie season. Give him a little time and learning and we'll see if he reaches the potential you'd expect out of the bottom of the 7th round.

Calling him one of the worst starters wasn't really a condemnation of Will Whittaker; he did better than we'd expect out of a 7th.

It was a condemnation of Ted Thompson for leaving us in a situation that would necessitate him to start for so many games when he was clearly not ready.

The NFL allows trades also.

I asked this question some weeks ago and don't know that anyone knew the answer so I will try again: When it became apparent that Wahle was not intending on resigning in GB, who on the free agent market was available to replace him?

[Deputy Nutz]

If I remember correctly, the best guards on the market, and the only top tier guys were Rivera and Wahle. It wasn't the best year to have those guys let go by this franchise.

[MadtownPacker]

There is no way the ARod pick can be held against TT!!! !!! !

With the 24th pick in the draft and needing to find Favre's replacement ARod fell to TT. He HAD to take him. You just knew he was going to GB when he was still there nearing the 20s.

Was it the right pick? We will find out soon enough but I bet most GMs in the same position would have done the same.

This year TT had the 5th pick and with the whole team needing depth went with what everyone seems to agree was the sure thing in Hawk. He could have had many other players including Vernon Davis which could have potentially made ARod look better when his time comes. He would also have not been viewed as running Favre out of town by going with an offensive weapon. If by some longshot Hawk doesnt turn out to be the sure thing everyone thinks then TT will have blown the 2006 draft pick which took a 4-12 season to get. How many more of those can have if he wants to keep his job?

This years draft will define him, not his rookie one.

[Oscar]

Excellent point Mad. I don't feel TT was in the wrong picking up Rodgers. I wanted him to go D like most but he did the right thing IMHO. I think Coston and Hawkins have the best chance of being starters. Montgomery.. Maby. But he has alot of potential as well and can be an adequate back up DE. Training camp just can't get here soon enough.

[MJZiggy]

There is no way the ARod pick can be held against TT!!! !!! !

With the 24th pick in the draft and needing to find Favre's replacement ARod fell to TT. He HAD to take him. You just knew he was going to GB when he was still there nearing the 20s.

Was it the right pick? We will find out soon enough but I bet most GMs in the same position would have done the same.

This year TT had the 5th pick and with the whole team needing depth went with what everyone seems to agree was the sure thing in Hawk. He could have had many other players including Vernon Davis which could have potentially made ARod look better when his time comes. He would also have not been viewed as running Favre out of town by going with an offensive weapon. If by some longshot Hawk doesnt turn out to be the sure thing everyone thinks then TT will have blown the 2006 draft pick which took a 4-12 season to get. How many more of those can have if he wants to keep his job?

This years draft will define him, not his rookie one.

How could he not pick up A-Rod? At the time, his qb was entering his 15th season with the annual discussion of "should I stay or should I go" and was backed up by Nall who for better or worse, was not viewed as the successor to the throne. That leaves you with a need to draft a qb and the guy who is expected to go #1 or #2 conveniently falls to you while you're feeling you need a qb, you kinda have to take him.

[OKC PackerFan]

They don't have to be all starters, some can be serviceable backups for depth.

1. Rodgers - needs more time to develop, serviceable backup a ?, hopefully not needed until Favre retires and becomes a good QB
2 Collins - starter
4 Poppinga - serviceable backup, possibly starter later in the year SLB
4 Underwood - serviceable backup
5 Hawkins - nickle or dime package, serviceable backup
5 Coston - possible starter, serviceable backup
7 Whittakeer - ?
7 Campbell - ?
7 Montgomery - serviceable backup, DE rotation

That draft looks good to me, 2 maybe 3 starters, 5 decent backups with maybe 2 not making the roster. I think Murphy would have been a #2 or #3 WR. That's 7 out of 11 making the roster and contributing.

[Bretsky]

Will Whittaker was a terrible terrible starter....amongst the worst in the NFL

He was a 7th round rookie trying to replace a pro bowl lineman. I'd say those are big shoes for a 7th rounder to handle in his rookie season. Give him a little time and learning and we'll see if he reaches the potential you'd expect out of the bottom of the 7th round.

Calling him one of the worst starters wasn't really a condemnation of Will Whittaker; he did better than we'd expect out of a 7th.

It was a condemnation of Ted Thompson for leaving us in a situation that would necessitate him to start for so many games when he was clearly not ready.

I asked this question some weeks ago and don't know that anyone knew the answer so I will try again: When it became apparent that Wahle was not intending on resigning in GB, who on the free agent market was available to replace him?

MJ,

That's a bit too much to ask of any of us since that was last year. But I do recall them Wahle was fast out of the gate to sign almost immediately with Carolina.

So there were plenty of options for TT to choose from.

B

[Bretsky]

Every year legit QB's become available for the picking so I won't buy into the argument that we had to take Rodgers when using anything that resembles "need" into the argument.

This year....Brees, Culpepper, Griese. All serviceable or above average guys you could try. Also Schwab was on the trading block.

If Rodgers was just too good to pass up you can go with that theory and I won't argue with you and I will hope you are right in the end.

But I don't see it. I didn't see him as the college player some in here did and I'd have went Defense or OL if anybody worthy was not available on defense.

But you guys all know what I'd have done.

I'd have found some sucker like Cleveland (who took Frye) to trade up to #24 so they could have Rodgers, and use the high 2nd Round Pick for Odell Thurman. And you can certainly bash me for that view.

[MJZiggy]

http://www.theredzone.org/2005/freeagents/showposition.asp?Position=OG

Does this list help? I'm not good at linemen from other teams so don't know who on the list TT would have been able to get/afford. I had always assumed he'd get someone last year and had to trust him as I didn't know the personnel available to him.