Ted Thompson's Tendencies

[Patler]

You have all missed the obvious. TT is fascinated by the middle initial "J"

D.J. Williams
D.J. Smith
C.J. Wilson
B.J. Raji
T.J. Lang
A.J. Hawk

If he drafts a player known by his first two initials, the middle initial is a "J".
He strayed in UDRFA signing M.D. Jennings, but draftees will likely have a "J".

[sharpe1027]

I guess that means we should expect A.J. Jenkins in the 2nd.

[Joemailman]

TT generally reserves private workouts for players he doesn't intend to draft, but may sign after the draft.

Related, is there a list of who the Packers have worked out this year? The only ones I've found are Drew Nowak and Drew Vanderlin.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...rkout-tracker/

Green Bay Packers

*Kent State center Chris Anzevino (3/?).

Miami (Ohio) guard Brandon Brooks (?/?).

Delaware guard/center Gino Gradkowski (4/?).

+Western Michigan defensive tackle Drew Nowak (4/12).

Cincinnati tight end Adrien Robinson (?/?).

Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner (?/?).

[Lurker64]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...rkout-tracker/

Green Bay Packers

*Kent State center Chris Anzevino (3/?).

Miami (Ohio) guard Brandon Brooks (?/?).

Delaware guard/center Gino Gradkowski (4/?).

+Western Michigan defensive tackle Drew Nowak (4/12).

Cincinnati tight end Adrien Robinson (?/?).

Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner (?/?).

They missed at least one really interesting one that I know of.

[Patler]

They missed at least one really interesting one that I know of.

Deleted


Never mind, I can't read, apparently!

[Lurker64]

Deleted


Never mind, I can't read, apparently!

(It was Brandon Hardin, Oregon State CB/FS).

[woodbuck27]

A TT offensive lineman:
above all else can move well. The number one thing he seems to look for is feet. They can be fat guys but they can't have fat guy feet. A lot of his OL were TE's at one point. The next most important things seem to be size and versatility. Many of Ted's lineman can play multiple positions. The next most important thing I'd say is mean-streak. Ted likes a certain attitude out there. He doesn't seem to put a premium on polished use of hands or strength. Rather he seems to be cool with getting good athletes and coaching them into technicians. I'd say the textbook TT offensive lineman looks a lot like TJ Lang.

A TT Quarterback:
Is already a star. Outside of Ingle Martin, Ted has chosen guys who's name you already know. Rodgers, Brohm, Flynn, and even Harrell were stars of prolific programs in college with impressive resumes while none were physical monsters as prospects. Ted may well look for a QB in this draft and the list of guys who fit this description will be short.

A TT Linebacker:
can also move. Ted's defenders in general are typically elite athletes and he seems to put a big emphasis on the numbers. You don't have to have straight line speed necessarily but his guys typically have a ss around 4.20 and a 3-cone around 7 both of which are pretty darn selective. If you are going to rush the passer TT grabs guys who have ELITE 10 yard splits and a vertical of at least 35. The perfect TT outside linebacker probably looks about like Jeremy Thompson but Clay, Brad Jones, and Zombo all fit this mold as well.

A TT DT/DE:
Is fucking STRONG. Harrell and Neal are both weight room freaks but are characterized by insane functional strength as well. Kind of like Suh, they play stronger than they are. Both of his high picks fit this mold. John Jolly, and Ryan Pickett were characterized by gigantic size great hustle, and fantastic instincts. Guys who didn't fit this mold but were instead more of a giant linebacker mold, Cory Williams and Cullen Jenkins are both gone. The perfect TT DE prospect probably looks a lot like Justin Harrell. Elite size and strength, the ability to square up and stuff the run, not a great pass rusher and never will be but definitely a handful. This kind of player who relies on brute strength doesn't seem to ever take plays off or wear down in the 4th quarter and are effective into their mid 30's compared to those that rely on quickness. Unless of course they are glass dolls like Harrell and Neal.

IMO that's sound analysis. Good post.

** I'm now considering the Nick Collins issue and the fact we know that TT and MM are not in favor of him in the Green abd Gold again.The scenario we've been learning about is that it's the Packers intention to move CB Charles Woodson to the Safety spot and QB our 3-4 defensive schemes. I still believe that TT will look for a quality safety as Charles Woodson is getting up there in years.

It seems like 'a lot downhill' after Mark Barron goes off the board to possibly the Seahawks, more likely the Cowboys or Jets.

Question 1. Anyone?

Is there anybody after SS Mark Barron that you like for us at the SAFETY position?


** I see TT's top priorities in this draft as Safety/CB (or DB) , and OLB and DE.

Unless TT goes BPA (Defense) at #28 he might desire to trade down into the top of round two. I cannot see a clear choice as a trading partner. If he cannot trade down with pick#28 then he's pretty much commited to BPA @ #28. That should secure him an OLB or a DE ifn TT thinks BPA 'Defense' .

Maybe? ... TT may reach somewhat?

Question 2.

is this a reach you would make at Pick #28?

Andre Branch, DE, Clemson


** Ted thompson's second round pick at #59 (again) looks like a natural BPA pick. The prospect that shouts at me is:

*** Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut.

Question 3:

Do you like this *** prospect in terms of athletic fit and character?


It's obvious to me that alot of this stuff that we can gleen off of the internet is next to useless in terms of a MOCK and accuracy in tems of what our GM will do April 26-28,2012. Alot of it is just hype and allows for people to be employed and repeat themselves over and over.Thus what's left:

Our scouting team and Ted Thompson.

GO Ted Thompson.

[woodbuck27]

You have all missed the obvious. TT is fascinated by the middle initial "J"

D.J. Williams
D.J. Smith
C.J. Wilson
B.J. Raji
T.J. Lang
A.J. Hawk

If he drafts a player known by his first two initials, the middle initial is a "J".
He strayed in UDRFA signing M.D. Jennings, but draftees will likely have a "J".

Darn Patler ! My MOCK needs work...... again.

[pbmax]

Unless I have missed something, Charles Woodson is not moving to safety. Outside of being there is corner Oakie (which was not used much last year), he is not going there. Woodson, McCarthy and Capers have all said they prefer him at CB.

Woodbuck, have you seen this reported anywhere?

[Cheesehead Craig]

Unless I have missed something, Charles Woodson is not moving to safety. Outside of being there is corner Oakie (which was not used much last year), he is not going there. Woodson, McCarthy and Capers have all said they prefer him at CB.

Woodbuck, have you seen this reported anywhere?

I haven't seen anything outside of speculation by reporters.

[woodbuck27]

Unless I have missed something, Charles Woodson is not moving to safety. Outside of being there is corner Oakie (which was not used much last year), he is not going there. Woodson, McCarthy and Capers have all said they prefer him at CB.

Woodbuck, have you seen this reported anywhere?

Yes I read that just yesterday. I read that 'in fact' the Packers intend on maintaining Charles Woodson at CB. That contradicted stuff I'd read before.

If that's the case this makes a move by TT in the draft for a solid Safety even more likely. I'm including in my analysis 'the FACT' that Nick Collins will never play another snap with the Packers.

I saw a MOCK this morning from 'a solid source' that has Safety Mark Barron falling all the way past 'the Boys' and 'the Jets' to the Pat's at #27.

After reading that MOCK and even imagining it might be true.

I began to reconceive my MOCK draft. That MOCK would feature TT moving ahead of New England to steal S Mark Barron in Round One. That trade up would certainly cost TT his 4th Rd. pick.

With two more compensatory picks he's cool in the fourth round.

If TT can pick to look after the safety spot and take the heat off of Clay Matthews and BJ Raji by getting some improved pass rush (he's alreadty added Anthony Hargrove) and he's needs to ensure some rest for our NT.

Ted Thompson will have gone a long ways towords resoring our 3-4 scheme. If he does that we will see CB Charles Woodson be able to concentrate on playing CB and not all the time guessing what to do. That translates to the rest of our defensive back field as well (see Tramone Williams) and we'll enjoy a much improved more efficient Packer 'D' then the disaster we saw begin with the loss of Nick Collins last season.

I believe it began at Safety and Ted Thompson may well draft to fix it 'as a first move this Draft' at Safety.

Mark Barron. Can TT realistically draft this player?

If there's no sudden change my MOCK will demonstrate a scenario that features picking S Mark Barron.

[run pMc]

12. (?) Ted likes players who fare well at "all-star games" like the Senior Bowl.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Interesting read.

How to build NFL champion franchise in six easy steps

Green Bay Packers GM Ted Thompson has also used the draft as his primary tool for building a championship team. The Packers team that won Super Bowl XLV was built largely with Thompson picks — Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Jordy Nelson, Nick Collins, A.J. Hawk, Daryn Colledge, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Desmond Bishop, Mason Crosby, James Starks, Josh Sitton, B.J. Raji and Bryan Bulaga.

— Best available: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends

But here's the rub—and the most gut-wrenching part for those in charge of personnel: Luck plays a definite part in the process. Not Andrew Luck, but luck as in good fortune.

"Building a team is an imperfect process,'' says Thompson, recognized as one of the best at doing it. "We believe that drafting and developing is the best way to go, particularly in a salary cap-oriented system. However, in the right situations, free agency can really help you. Trades help. Bottom line is, no matter how you do it, sometimes you've got to get lucky."

Thompson isn't just being modest. He's being honest. Every offseason, we think we know which teams improved and which ones didn't. We declare who won big during free agency. We evaluate the draft and listen to experts grade how each team did.

Then the season starts, and we are always surprised.

The Philadelphia Eagles loaded up on big-name talent during free agency in 2011, bringing in Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins and Vince Young, among others. Then the team flopped, finishing 8-8 and out of the playoffs.

Conversely, Reese was roasted last summer. The Giants signed no big-name free agents, made no blockbuster trades. They lost Steve Smith and Kevin Boss during free agency, while the Eagles were making headlines daily.

Yet when the season ended, the Giants were Super Bowl champs.

It's the same story almost every year--yet fans don't seem to get it through their thick skulls.

[mraynrand]

It's the same story almost every year--yet fans don't seem to get it through their thick skulls.

We're kinda stupid that way!

[DonHutson]

As far as first round picks go, you can add the following:

6 of 7 were from a power conference (2 each from Big 10, Pac 12, and SEC) and 7 of 7 were from BCS schools.

In addition to no RB's or WR's, also no DB's, or TE's. 4 of 7 were lineman. Ted's fall back seems to be that there's only so many really big people on the planet, and very few of them are athletic - so if you have a chance to take an athletic big man, you do. I seem to recall that being the logic for Raji over Crabtree and Sherrod over anyone else.

7 of 7 had prototype measurables.

I believe 6 of 7 were highly productive for multiple years in college. I only recall Matthews being a one year starter - could be wrong.

6 of 7 were squeaky clean characters (I recall Raji failing a drug test once at BC). Most have good leadership skills or at least seem to love football (Harrell? Sherrod - jury's out).

Based on all that, guys to keep an eye on would be Upshaw, Worthy, and Konz.