One Exec "Packers Have Much Work To Do"

[ND72]

You don't pass on Aaron Rodgers to grab Louis Costillo (the next defensive player in the draft). Sure, if you have 3 guys who rate out the same and one of em happens to be defense, that's the one you pick, but if Trent Richardson fell to us, would you guys really say we should have picked defense? What about Micheal Floyd?

This year I don't think it's going to be a problem, every mock draft I look at has 25 defense first round talent to 7 offense first round talent and 4 of those offensive guys are going in the top 10. What sucks about that is there's going to be maybe 4 or 5 pro bowl defensive players out of that bunch and that's it. I hope the guy we pick is at least a decent contributer.

You draft for the future, not for the now. It's how you stay good.

This also depends on what Thompson's board looks like. I still remember when we took Nick Collins, NO clue who the hell he was, and the ESPN people kept saying big mistake, Collins is a 4th round talent...then Thompson said Collins was his top 2nd round talent on his board. That worked out ok. I think it's fun to me listening to all these guys on NFL and ESPN talk about top talent, and so on, when each team, each GM, and each coach will view guys completely different. Some people say Nick Perry won't fit into a 3-4 defense, Thompson might think the exact same thing, therefore might not view him as a 1st round value or a pick to choose from.

[Scott Campbell]

I still remember when we took Nick Collins, NO clue who the hell he was, and the ESPN people kept saying big mistake, Collins is a 4th round talent..

I had to look up Bethune-Cookman just to see what state it was in.

[ND72]

I had to look up Bethune-Cookman just to see what state it was in.

Makes 2 of us. Although my Bethune-Cookman mini helmet signed by Collins is pretty sweet...

[Smeefers]

I heard on the radio that a big reason we took Nick is because he looked just like LeRoy Butler coming out of College. Boy did they hit that one on the head.

[ThunderDan]

That's exactly what the Packers did in 2010. Miraculously IMO put it together.

They looked 'dead in the water' after the Lions win over our team. Low and behold somehow the team got a win and another win and locker room morale went up (I imagine MM speech's and DD speechs and CW speeches helped).

No way.

They looked like a team who's starting quarterback went down for the game and the backup who got no reps during the week couldn't lead the team. Against a team who was playing it's "Super Bowl" against the Pack that day. The defense stoned DET all day long. If Jennings doesn't drop the bomb from Rodgers in the first half the Pack win anyway with Flynn playing like crap.

The next week we went to NE as a heavy underdog with Flynn starting and lost 31-27 because of a kick off return by a lineman for 60 plus yards.

The reality was the Packers had it turned around by week 7 in 2010. They finished the year 7-3 and should have been 9-1 heading into the playoffs. Then they extended their play for 4 more weeks and won the Super Bowl.

There was no "magic" or "luck" in 2010 other than overcoming injuries. 2010 was a great team that played excellent for the last 14 weeks of the season.

[ThunderDan]

PS- They extended that streak for another 13 games in 2011 before they lost to KC.

[Fritz]

This also depends on what Thompson's board looks like. I still remember when we took Nick Collins, NO clue who the hell he was, and the ESPN people kept saying big mistake, Collins is a 4th round talent...then Thompson said Collins was his top 2nd round talent on his board. That worked out ok. I think it's fun to me listening to all these guys on NFL and ESPN talk about top talent, and so on, when each team, each GM, and each coach will view guys completely different. Some people say Nick Perry won't fit into a 3-4 defense, Thompson might think the exact same thing, therefore might not view him as a 1st round value or a pick to choose from.

I agree here. Part of Thompson's skill, I think, is his ability to trust his evaluations and those of his scouts. I get a feeling other GM's get swayed some by outside opinion. So Ted develops his board his way, which I'm guessing is probably rather different than most other boards. That's why he surprises us. Collins is a great example. Would you have the balls to grab him in the second round when he's rated by the so-called experts as a fourth rounder? Would you grab Jennings and pass on Chad Jackson, who was rated much higher?

And yes, other GM's "reach" sometimes, too - but Ted's reaches often work out better than others' reaches. Heck, he mentioned that his board had Clay Matthews as a top-ten player, and the Pack almost chose him with that #10 pick.

The things that often aggravate us about Ted - his refusal to say much at all, his bland statements - these cover up his genius, which is simply his ability to evaluate talent combined with a belief in that ability, unswayed by outside opinions (opinions outside the organization, I mean. I hear he very much trusts his scouts).

[Scott Campbell]

No way.

They looked like a team who's starting quarterback went down for the game and the backup who got no reps during the week couldn't lead the team. Against a team who was playing it's "Super Bowl" against the Pack that day. The defense stoned DET all day long. If Jennings doesn't drop the bomb from Rodgers in the first half the Pack win anyway with Flynn playing like crap.

The next week we went to NE as a heavy underdog with Flynn starting and lost 31-27 because of a kick off return by a lineman for 60 plus yards.

The reality was the Packers had it turned around by week 7 in 2010. They finished the year 7-3 and should have been 9-1 heading into the playoffs. Then they extended their play for 4 more weeks and won the Super Bowl.

There was no "magic" or "luck" in 2010 other than overcoming injuries. 2010 was a great team that played excellent for the last 14 weeks of the season.

He just says that to diminish the accomplishment, because he hates Ted.

[ND72]

I agree here. Part of Thompson's skill, I think, is his ability to trust his evaluations and those of his scouts. I get a feeling other GM's get swayed some by outside opinion. So Ted develops his board his way, which I'm guessing is probably rather different than most other boards. That's why he surprises us. Collins is a great example. Would you have the balls to grab him in the second round when he's rated by the so-called experts as a fourth rounder? Would you grab Jennings and pass on Chad Jackson, who was rated much higher?

And yes, other GM's "reach" sometimes, too - but Ted's reaches often work out better than others' reaches. Heck, he mentioned that his board had Clay Matthews as a top-ten player, and the Pack almost chose him with that #10 pick.

The things that often aggravate us about Ted - his refusal to say much at all, his bland statements - these cover up his genius, which is simply his ability to evaluate talent combined with a belief in that ability, unswayed by outside opinions (opinions outside the organization, I mean. I hear he very much trusts his scouts).

What I wouldn't give to be a fly in that room...but Thompson probably makes sure they're all dead also.

I think I remember Thompson saying Raji was rated as the #4 player on his board and Clay was like #7 or something like that. Which is why I'm looking at tomorrow, and if there is a guy he knows he wants, I won't be shocked if he moves up to get him. I think we are fully at that point. Not reaching for a guy, but getting a guy he wants because it fits.

[Scott Campbell]

I get a feeling other GM's get swayed some by outside opinion.

And outside opinion includes fan sentiment.

[ND72]

And outside opinion includes fan sentiment.

Except Cam Cameron...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN3H6Gc3_SE

[Fritz]

Yes, I think to some extent that's true. I think that's partly why the Jest got Tebow.

As for TT reaching up to grab, I'm guessing - just guessing - that since he's loaded up later in the draft (three fourths, three sevenths), he'll move up, not necessarily from the #28 spot, but maybe from the late fourth to the early fourth, or the late third to the earlier third, giving up that one fourth he can trade, and giving up a fifth, or a sixth, and/or a seventh. The value of those picks might not move him far in the first or second round, but they might in the third or later, if TT sees a guy he really likes sitting out there in the mid-third or mid-fourth round.

I don't think TT will give up the second or third round picks to move up. This appears to be a fairly deep draft, and those rounds are gold in a deep draft. Besides, he needs another safety now.

[Smidgeon]

What I wouldn't give to be a fly in that room...but Thompson probably makes sure they're all dead also.

I think I remember Thompson saying Raji was rated as the #4 player on his board and Clay was like #7 or something like that. Which is why I'm looking at tomorrow, and if there is a guy he knows he wants, I won't be shocked if he moves up to get him. I think we are fully at that point. Not reaching for a guy, but getting a guy he wants because it fits.

I really can't imagine that Thompson admitted that. That level of glasnost seems to go against his modus operandi.

[Pugger]

Yes, I think to some extent that's true. I think that's partly why the Jest got Tebow.

As for TT reaching up to grab, I'm guessing - just guessing - that since he's loaded up later in the draft (three fourths, three sevenths), he'll move up, not necessarily from the #28 spot, but maybe from the late fourth to the early fourth, or the late third to the earlier third, giving up that one fourth he can trade, and giving up a fifth, or a sixth, and/or a seventh. The value of those picks might not move him far in the first or second round, but they might in the third or later, if TT sees a guy he really likes sitting out there in the mid-third or mid-fourth round.

I don't think TT will give up the second or third round picks to move up. This appears to be a fairly deep draft, and those rounds are gold in a deep draft. Besides, he needs another safety now.

[wist43]

So your complaint is that TT doesn't draft enough front 7 players in the the fourth round?

Lurker, I remembered this disparaging eye poke of yours... the answer is yes, I do want more 3rd and 4th rd picks in the front seven.

The result of answering yes??

2012 NFL Draft, 4th round, Pick #132
Mike Daniels, DT, Iowa
6'1, 291 lbs
Primary role: Inside pass rush, rotation and sub package at DE.
Comment: If healthy, this guy will instantly upgrade our interior pass rush; and that alone will help every other struggling soul on that defense.

There, now was that so hard??