Draft talk time- C.J. Spiiler

[Brandon494]

I don't see TT picking Spiller or Best.

1) We're a passing team.

2) If TT picked one to fill a "Percy Harvin"-type role, I believe we'd wind up with a poor man's Percy Harvin. Do either of them have receiver's hands?

3) If Spiller is really as good as Harvin, how could other teams (like Seattle, Miami) pass him by?

4) How could the Packers pass on pass rush guys like Sergio Kindle, Everson Griffen and Brandon Graham to get him if he's still available at #23?

1) Yes we are a passing team which is more of a reason why we need a recieving threat out of the backfield.

2) Spiller has great hands for a running back and could line up in the slot for us. I'm sure he doesn't run routes as well as Harvin but could be used in the same role, especially as a kick returner.

3) Miami has Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams at RB and I think #6 and #14 picks are too high for Seattle to pick Spiller.

4) Because Spiller is a multi-threat player who can play special teams, catch passes out of the backfield, and has homerun speed which are all things we need. Also think we well be bringing back Kampman which would make it more unlikely to use a 1st rounder on a pass rusher.

I've heard of scouts say he could be the next Chris Johnson. I don't know about that but I think he could be a Leon Washington type player for us.

[Joemailman]

CBS has 2 mock drafts. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock

One has Spiller going to Seattle at #14. The other has Spiller dropping to # 28. Personally, I think Seattle would take him. They desperately need some explosiveness in that offense. If he slips by Seattle, there could be some teams looking to trade up to grab him. I don't think he'll fall to #28.

[Bretsky]

CBS has 2 mock drafts. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock

One has Spiller going to Seattle at #14. The other has Spiller dropping to # 28. Personally, I think Seattle would take him. They desperately need some explosiveness in that offense. If he slips by Seattle, there could be some teams looking to trade up to grab him. I don't think he'll fall to #28.

Maybe Teddy can pick up an extra draft pick to trade down and use it to draft McCluster

[Lurker64]

CBS has 2 mock drafts. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock

One has Spiller going to Seattle at #14. The other has Spiller dropping to # 28. Personally, I think Seattle would take him. They desperately need some explosiveness in that offense. If he slips by Seattle, there could be some teams looking to trade up to grab him. I don't think he'll fall to #28.

Maybe Teddy can pick up an extra draft pick to trade down and use it to draft McCluster

I'd like to see McCluster in Green and Gold, but I really don't see him going in the first two rounds. He'll probably go in the fourth, but someone who is totally in love with him might grab him in the third.

[mission]

CBS has 2 mock drafts. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock

One has Spiller going to Seattle at #14. The other has Spiller dropping to # 28. Personally, I think Seattle would take him. They desperately need some explosiveness in that offense. If he slips by Seattle, there could be some teams looking to trade up to grab him. I don't think he'll fall to #28.

Maybe Teddy can pick up an extra draft pick to trade down and use it to draft McCluster

I'd like to see McCluster in Green and Gold, but I really don't see him going in the first two rounds. He'll probably go in the fourth, but someone who is totally in love with him might grab him in the third.

This is exactly what I'm thinking. I'd hate to reach for him in the 2nd (especially if he impresses at combine) but I could see it happening with another team... early 3rd even.

[Brandon494]

You guys do realize McCluster is 20 pounds lighter than Darren Sproles and Gary Wolfe who I believe are the two smallest RBs in the league. He does have major talent but I'm not sure if he could take the punishment of the NFL.

[Maxie the Taxi]

I don't see TT picking Spiller or Best.

1) We're a passing team.

2) If TT picked one to fill a "Percy Harvin"-type role, I believe we'd wind up with a poor man's Percy Harvin. Do either of them have receiver's hands?

3) If Spiller is really as good as Harvin, how could other teams (like Seattle, Miami) pass him by?

4) How could the Packers pass on pass rush guys like Sergio Kindle, Everson Griffen and Brandon Graham to get him if he's still available at #23?

1) Yes we are a passing team which is more of a reason why we need a recieving threat out of the backfield.

2) Spiller has great hands for a running back and could line up in the slot for us. I'm sure he doesn't run routes as well as Harvin but could be used in the same role, especially as a kick returner.

3) Miami has Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams at RB and I think #6 and #14 picks are too high for Seattle to pick Spiller.

4) Because Spiller is a multi-threat player who can play special teams, catch passes out of the backfield, and has homerun speed which are all things we need. Also think we well be bringing back Kampman which would make it more unlikely to use a 1st rounder on a pass rusher.

I've heard of scouts say he could be the next Chris Johnson. I don't know about that but I think he could be a Leon Washington type player for us.

All good arguments. If there were a way to draft Spiller and at the same time fill our other needs, I wouldn't mind having him on the team and I might draft him if I were TT. The problem is TT is drafting and I don't think TT will draft a running back that high. Just my opinion.

Look at 2006, a strong year for running backs, TT didn't pick a RB, though he could have had Laurence Maroney, DeAngelo Williams, Joseph Addai, LenDale White, Maurice Jones-Drew, Brian Calhoun, Jerious Norwood, Leon Washington, or Jerome Harrison.

Look at 2007, a strong year for RB's. He could have traded up 4 picks and got Marshawn Lynch. He passed on Chris Henry, waiting until the 31st pick in the 2nd round to get Brandon Jackson. By the way, most mock drafts in 2007 had the Packers drafting Marshawn Lynch.

Look at 2008, a very, very strong year for RB's. TT passed on Felix Jones (arguably a player very similar to Spiller), Rashard Mendenhall, Chris Jones (arguably a player Spiller can only hope to be), Matt Forte and Ray Rice. In fact, he didn't even pick a running back that year. His first pick was Jordy Nelson. Arguably that was like picking Jordan Shipley over Spiller.

Last year he didn't pick a RB either.

For those of us who hung on our seats waiting for TT to pick a RB with talent, these were some very, very frustrating years!

This year I think is another strong year for running backs, but -- if TT decides to pick a RB -- I see him passing on Spiller and Best and waiting to pick up a guy like Ryan Mathews or Montario Hardesty. If he waits too long, though, he'll be shit out of luck.

If I were a betting man, I'd bet on TT taking a WR like Damian Williams or Shipley over Spiller or any of the big name RB's. Why? Because TT and McStubby like guys who are good receivers first and good runners second.

[Maxie the Taxi]

You guys do realize McCluster is 20 pounds lighter than Darren Sproles and Gary Wolfe who I believe are the two smallest RBs in the league. He does have major talent but I'm not sure if he could take the punishment of the NFL.

I agree with you, no chance the Pack takes McCluster.

[mission]

You guys do realize McCluster is 20 pounds lighter than Darren Sproles and Gary Wolfe who I believe are the two smallest RBs in the league. He does have major talent but I'm not sure if he could take the punishment of the NFL.

I agree with you, no chance the Pack takes McCluster.

Oops, I just kind of responded to this in the other thread.

4th round or up, I'd be fine with... not sure it's a TT pick tho...

[Lurker64]

You guys do realize McCluster is 20 pounds lighter than Darren Sproles and Gary Wolfe who I believe are the two smallest RBs in the league. He does have major talent but I'm not sure if he could take the punishment of the NFL.

However, McCluster was a starting tailback (not a WR or kick returner) out of the I-Formation, in the SEC, with 109 and 181 touches running the ball over the past two years (compare 194, 141 for Jahvid Best; 116, 216 for C.J. Spiller; or say 18, 188 for the last two years of Brandon Jackson's college career).

He's tiny, but he's shown (to my satisfaction, at least) that he's not going to be a guy who has to be limited to 5 touches a game. A guy with 225 touches at RB over 13 games in the SEC probably isn't a huge injury risk.

[Maxie the Taxi]

These are all great players, no doubt. The problem I have is TT's mindset. (And, to the extent he has influence, McStubby's mindset.)

When has TT ever picked a guy like Spiller, or McCluster, or Jones, or Antonio Brown? We used to call these guys scatbacks in the old days.

Maybe he'll break with habit, but I don't see it.

[Brandon494]

You guys do realize McCluster is 20 pounds lighter than Darren Sproles and Gary Wolfe who I believe are the two smallest RBs in the league. He does have major talent but I'm not sure if he could take the punishment of the NFL.

However, McCluster was a starting tailback (not a WR or kick returner) out of the I-Formation, in the SEC, with 109 and 181 touches running the ball over the past two years (compare 194, 141 for Jahvid Best; 116, 216 for C.J. Spiller; or say 18, 188 for the last two years of Brandon Jackson's college career).

He's tiny, but he's shown (to my satisfaction, at least) that he's not going to be a guy who has to be limited to 5 touches a game. A guy with 225 touches at RB over 13 games in the SEC probably isn't a huge injury risk.

The kid has talent and a 160 pound RB might work in the college football, BUT as good as the SEC is, its still not the NFL. He would be a huge liabilty as a blocker as well. I wouldnt mind drafting in the 3rd or 4th round mainly as a return man but 2nd round is alittle too high for me.

[Brandon494]

These are all great players, no doubt. The problem I have is TT's mindset. (And, to the extent he has influence, McStubby's mindset.)

When has TT ever picked a guy like Spiller, or McCluster, or Jones, or Antonio Brown? We used to call these guys scatbacks in the old days.

Maybe he'll break with habit, but I don't see it.

Hey, he broke one of his habits last draft by trading up to select Clay Matthews so anything is possible.

[RashanGary]

Bryan Buluga round 1
Kyle Wilson round 2

Superbowl here we come!!

[Maxie the Taxi]

Bryan Buluga round 1
Kyle Wilson round 2

Superbowl here we come!!

I could actually live with that draft. If Bulaga is as good as advertised though, he'll never last to the 23rd pick.