Cleft Crusty: Post Family Night Practice Mock Chat

[Deputy Nutz]

Crusty, How good will Sims be when he will suffer his 5th concussion in week three and miss 3 games because of it?

[MadtownPacker]

Hey Cleft,

Pack fan in Cali here, I got two questions.

1. Do you see the Packers going .500 or better in 2006?

2. Are you drunk when you answer these questions?

[b bulldog]

That was his red flag. Cromartie and Simms will be boom or bust picks.

[mraynrand]

Crusty, How good will Sims be when he will suffer his 5th concussion in week three and miss 3 games because of it?

Have you stepped into your temporal transporter again Dr. Testicles? How is it that you are privvy to the future? Miami didn't have the same linemen that Detroit has to protect the LB. Matt Millen knows what he's doing. Sims was clearly the LB pick of the draft. Sure, Sims couls suffer more concussions, but I could drop dead from a massive MI any moment. That doesn't mean I start missing my deadlines or that I stop responding to you know-nothings.

[Fosco33]

CC -

It's tough being a travelling Packer fan - everywhere I go for my job I talk football with my coworkers. I may be sipping on the Kool Aid but I think the Packers have a shot at a surprise year with the biggest upside on our Defense. Its really early - but are you more surprised by Hawk/Hodge or Jennings/Driver duos?

Hawk was invisible tonight. It could be it was the black sleeves that covered up his blanched arms, but it was more likely that he didn't have a single tackle. Also, he was sent to blitz from the end position on at least two occassions and was stoned. I'm thinking the Packers are looking greedily at Detroit's Sims at this point. They could have traded down, picked up a high number one and drafted the best LB in the draft. Edit: Hodge looks solid in interior run support. He seems to have good instincts 'filling the hole.'

Jennings is smooth as polished stone and Driver is what he is - a decent NFL starter. But if you expect Jennings to catch more than 4-5 TDs and 20-30 passes all year, you're living in a fool's paradise. Enjoy the Koolaid, but keep it to a glass a week.

Well, there wasn't a question in your response - so I'll respond w/ my own answer.

You're right - Hawk wasn't a shine out tonight but Hodge has the biggest upside. I was surprised by this guy. Driver had some good catches and a TD and I think Jennings will surprize you w/ at least 40 catches and 6 TDs or more this year... In the end will Hodge be a better pickup (in terms of ROI of their salaries for good defensive plays) than Hawk OR could Jennings be a star in this league (maybe not this year but within the next three years) on the level of a top WR (Walker of the future)?

[mraynrand]

Hey Cleft,

Pack fan in Cali here, I got two questions.

1. Do you see the Packers going .500 or better in 2006?

2. Are you drunk when you answer these questions?

The stronger liklihood is that you're drunk thinking there's a possibility that the Packers might win 8 games. The Packers will be lucky to be competive in 8 games given the roster they have. without Favre, that number could drop to 2. And if you looked at Favre tonight, there's really not much to look forward to this season at all. I never drink on the job, but I often get blindingly drunk at home to forget the pointless questions I have to answer just ot collect a paycheck from the JS.

[woodbuck27]

Wondering Cleft - if Boerigter's height advantage showed up Carroll on that TD pass from Aaron Rodgers, or was it, a perfectly to well thrown ball?

That was a good ball, thrown into his body. Carroll had tight coverage, but the ball had zip. The earlier play was a high pass on a go route up the sidelines. Carroll had perfect coverage. Boerichter even gave Carroll a bit of a push and couldn't haul it in.

It's all good then. Nice to see Boe get something done.

Great reporting Cleft ! Your the BEST.

HOLD THE FAITH - GO Packers in 2006 !

[mraynrand]

Well, there wasn't a question in your response - so I'll respond w/ my own answer.

You're right - Hawk wasn't a shine out tonight but Hodge has the biggest upside. I was surprised by this guy. Driver had some good catches and a TD and I think Jennings will surprize you w/ at least 40 catches and 6 TDs or more this year... In the end will Hodge be a better pickup (in terms of ROI of their salaries for good defensive plays) than Hawk OR could Jennings be a star in this league (maybe not this year but within the next three years) on the level of a top WR (Walker of the future)?

I won't be surprised by anything Jennings does. I just objectively watch the game and report. I don't care one way or the other. I take no enjoyment from success or failure on the part of any Packer, only in getting my story to the presses.
And what possible difference do salaries make? The NFL doesn't give you extra yards for having a low-priced player play well, or take away yards and points for having a great player stink up the joint. If they did, every team that Alvin Harper played on after Dallas would have never won a game. Come to think of it, maybe they didn't

[Fosco33]

Well, there wasn't a question in your response - so I'll respond w/ my own answer.

You're right - Hawk wasn't a shine out tonight but Hodge has the biggest upside. I was surprised by this guy. Driver had some good catches and a TD and I think Jennings will surprize you w/ at least 40 catches and 6 TDs or more this year... In the end will Hodge be a better pickup (in terms of ROI of their salaries for good defensive plays) than Hawk OR could Jennings be a star in this league (maybe not this year but within the next three years) on the level of a top WR (Walker of the future)?

I won't be surprised by anything Jennings does. I just objectively watch the game and report. I don't care one way or the other. I take no enjoyment from success or failure on the part of any Packer, only in getting my story to the presses.
And what possible difference do salaries make? The NFL doesn't give you extra yards for having a low-priced player play well, or take away yards and points for having a great player stink up the joint. If they did, every team that Alvin Harper played on after Dallas would have never won a game. Come to think of it, maybe they didn't

Hodge and Jennings could be the steal of the draft at their positions, respectively - making this a good potential draft but that final call is years away. Salaries do matter though - we got a value pick w/ Hodge instead of paying a FA more money to play linebacker (Arrington). That's a good sign for the Packers. You can put that in the presses

[woodbuck27]

Well, there wasn't a question in your response - so I'll respond w/ my own answer.

You're right - Hawk wasn't a shine out tonight but Hodge has the biggest upside. I was surprised by this guy. Driver had some good catches and a TD and I think Jennings will surprize you w/ at least 40 catches and 6 TDs or more this year... In the end will Hodge be a better pickup (in terms of ROI of their salaries for good defensive plays) than Hawk OR could Jennings be a star in this league (maybe not this year but within the next three years) on the level of a top WR (Walker of the future)?

I won't be surprised by anything Jennings does. I just objectively watch the game and report. I don't care one way or the other. I take no enjoyment from success or failure on the part of any Packer, only in getting my story to the presses.
And what possible difference do salaries make? The NFL doesn't give you extra yards for having a low-priced player play well, or take away yards and points for having a great player stink up the joint. If they did, every team that Alvin Harper played on after Dallas would have never won a game. Come to think of it, maybe they didn't

That's a job for Statistic Man.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I don't think bulldog gets the Sims joke/satire.

[woodbuck27]

I don't think bulldog gets the Sims joke/satire.

Harvey your giving up. Get up off the DAM mat. Gut check time.

[mraynrand]

Hodge and Jennings could be the steal of the draft at their positions, respectively - making this a good potential draft but that final call is years away. Salaries do matter though - we got a value pick w/ Hodge instead of paying a FA more money to play linebacker (Arrington). That's a good sign for the Packers. You can put that in the presses

Obviously, it's too early to tell. Hodge filled the hole very nicely tonight and showed some good instincts. And if you're looking for anything to be optimistic about, it doesn't hurt to look at Jennings. But I dispute the claim that Jennings would be a steal at his position. he was in the top 5 receivers picked and he was picked high in the second round. There's nothing to suggest he'll be a breakaway talent at WR, just a solid starter. You should be able to get a solid starter at WR without much difficulty anywhere from rounds 2-5.

[b bulldog]

I guess I'm missing something in regards to Sims. I'm pretty slow so an explanation might help

[mraynrand]

I don't think bulldog gets the Sims joke/satire.

Nice to see an old school Brewers fan on the chat. This is no joke Harvey. Matt Millen stocked the cupboard full in Detroit this offseason. The conventional wisdom is that you build a great defense down the middle, and Millen put Sims in the MLB position with the outstanding safety from Nebraska, to go with a D-line that reminds one of the old doomsday defense of old. Coupled with a great selcetion in the third round of a RB with sky is the limit talent, Millen's prowess as GM is shining through.