Kiper's 'Grade A' DraftAfter his Round 1 mock, Mel assessess

[Brandon494]

Found this on another message board, here is the link if you want to look at some other teams http://life.atlantafalcons.com/topic...-round-1-mock/

If we got Taylor Mays and Ryan Matthews with our first two picks I will be very pleased. Also Ive heard some good things about Vladimir Ducasse from UMASS so I wouldnt mind grabbing him if he is still there in the 2nd round.

Green Bay Packers
Top needs: OT, S, RB, LB, CB
First round (23): S Taylor Mays
Second-round options (56): OT/G Vladimir Ducasse, , OT Selvish Capers, RB Ryan Mathews, RB Joe McKnight,
Third-round options (86): RB Montario Hardesty, LB Patrick Angerer, OT Kyle Calloway, CB Trevard Lindley
Summary: Need meets value in Round 1 when the Packers solve a problem in the secondary by getting the maligned but undeniably talented Taylor Mays, who showed some caution this year both in coverage and as a tackler, but didn't get a lot of help from a very young USC defense. The Packers need to continue to build the offensive line because Aaron Rodgers was under too much pressure this year, but I also think they want to add depth and talent to the RB position. And you never have too many talented LBs in the 3-4 Dom Capers has installed.

[packers11]

Kiper needs help if he thinks we need LB help over CB help...We have way more LB depth than CB depth...

But I do indeed like his first pick... Mays probably wouldn't start but Bigby getting hurt mid-season (as usual) will give Mays his chance to shine...

[Lurker64]

Kiper needs help if he thinks we need LB help over CB help...We have way more LB depth than CB depth...

I would say that need 1A is LT, and need 1B is LOLB. Brad Jones is okay, I guess, but you really want a good tandem of OLBs who can rush the passer.

Keep in mind that next year, adding to our mediocre group of backup CBs behind Williams and Woodson will be Al Harris, Pat Lee, and Will Blackmon.

I would say our primary needs are LT and LOLB, and our secondary needs are RB and S.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Personally, I'd say OT and CB are the biggest needs.

[RashanGary]

Personally, I'd say OT and CB are the biggest needs.

Agreed!!

[rbaloha1]

Taylor Mays = Steve Atwater

[pbmax]

Taylor Mays = Steve Atwater

Not a draftnik. But what I have read of him since the 09 season started is that Pro teams fear that:

Taylor Mays = Roy Williams

[pbmax]

Personally, I'd say OT and CB are the biggest needs.

Agreed!!

Pass rush is as important an upgrade as coverage. Only one guy to fear (Matthews) and one other capable guy (Jenkins). Pash rush needs help.

[rbaloha1]

Taylor Mays = Steve Atwater

Not a draftnik. But what I have read of him since the 09 season started is that Pro teams fear that:

Taylor Mays = Roy Williams

Watch Mays play in 08. The dude had injuries which caused tackling problems in 09. If recovered Mays is a steal for the Packers.

[Lurker64]

I've never seen an injury cause an unwillingness to take a proper angle or tackle with sound fundamentals.

[The Leaper]

Taylor Mays doesn't impress me...he's the same as Bigby and Collins IMO, albeit perhaps a little more talented. He's a big hitting safety who is somewhat of a liability in coverage.

We need some DBs who can COVER somebody. If you want them to play the run, turn them into LBs.

[The Leaper]

I would say that need 1A is LT, and need 1B is LOLB.

We do need another pass rushing OLB...but we can take a flier on an undersized, speed DE in the 4th-6th round for that. We don't need to spend a high round pick on a LB.

[KYPack]

Taylor Mays doesn't impress me...he's the same as Bigby and Collins IMO, albeit perhaps a little more talented. He's a big hitting safety who is somewhat of a liability in coverage.

We need some DBs who can COVER somebody. If you want them to play the run, turn them into LBs.

Yes, Leap. We need a cover guy that can hit. Not a skinny LB trying to cover. Who in your (or anybodies) opinion is the best cover safety in the draft?

[Bossman641]

Taylor Mays doesn't impress me...he's the same as Bigby and Collins IMO, albeit perhaps a little more talented. He's a big hitting safety who is somewhat of a liability in coverage.

We need some DBs who can COVER somebody. If you want them to play the run, turn them into LBs.

This doesn't make sense to me at all. Collins and Bigby have completely different skill sets. If we could get a Collins clone with our 1st round pick I would take that in a second.

[The Leaper]

KY...

Best safety on the board is obviously Berry from Tennessee. The kid is the complete package, and projects to being a Pro Bowl caliber safety down the road. He's a guaranteed top 10 pick, probable top 5 pick.

I really like Morgan Burnett from Georgia Tech. He displayed a good nose for the football in college. He put up some very good numbers over 3 years for GT (235 tackles, 14 INTs) and he has the versatility to really play any DB position at the next level...but he projects best as a coverage safety. He probably would be available at our 2nd round pick.

Other guys I like...Nate Allen from S Florida, Earl Thomas from Texas. Allen is probably a 2nd-3rd round guy...I don't think he is quite as polished as Burnett, but he's a little more athletically gifted. Thomas is a good prospect, but he's a little on the short side (5-10) and I'm not a huge fan of smallish safeties in today's NFL.