Packers select USC DE/OLB Nick Perry At Pick #28 Round One 2012 Draft

[Old School]

Not being a football expert, I have the luxery of anticipating good things from Perry who TT felt comfortable sitting at 28 and taking. I'm not so sure the GM's who were running around with their hair on fire making trades are any smarter than TT. I'll watch with interest where we go in the remaining rounds.

I also have a life away from football, so I'm looking forward to rooting for the Pack to play winning football without losing any sleep.

[Packers4Glory]

I don't care who they picked at OLB, they will be better than the garbage we tossed on the field last yr opposite Clay.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I also have a life away from football, so I'm looking forward to rooting for the Pack to play winning football without losing any sleep.

Pfffft... Freak.

[Bossman641]

Watching Perry's highlight tape I was surprised. Given his bench numbers, I was expecting to see him utilize the bull rush quite a bit and see a Woodley-type player. Instead, I saw him trying to get to the edge. I'm not a scout (nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn last night), I'm just hoping Perry is reckless and physical enough to set the edge and push the pocket.

In TT I trust.

[wist43]

I can't tell if your being serious or not. Perry was not only filled a need but was one of the best players left.

Well, take heart Brandon - I can't tell if I'm being serious or not either... jacked up on some serious painkillers. Feelin a bit like Jeffrey Lebowski actually... probably need to drop in on my condition, to see what my condition is in

[Harlan Huckleby]

STRENGTHS: Perry is a quick, flexible athlete with sharp burst off the snap

I was just feeling evil.

[wist43]

Perry looks more athletic than Upshaw on tape, and the combine more than verified that. Perry wanting to play 4-3 DE doesn't appear to be much of a problem.

If they were more complete, they'd go much higher? Convenient. You could have said that about any guy we drafted.

I don't see that at all... I thought Upshaw was much more athletic. Problem with Upshaw is lack of height, short arms, and small hands.

I'm not gonna go all-in on knocking Perry, I just see some reasons to be cautious. He really is not a physical guy, he looks like a "run around" guy; I don't like how he redirects; and I'm not sold on him space.

As Capers said though, "... we'll find a way use him". So as long as they "coach him up"; and make an effort to scheme to his strengths, I can certainly see this pick working out.

[Lurker64]

I don't see that at all... I thought Upshaw was much more athletic. Problem with Upshaw is lack of height, short arms, and small hands

Upshaw is actually a very marginal athlete. Of the OLB candidates who went in the first (Ingram, McClellin, Mercilus, Perry) Upshaw is easily the worst athlete. He's just a very good football player with excellent instincts. The question about Upshaw is whether his instincts and football acumen can get him around blocks.

There's also some big time character reds on Upshaw and TT pretty much always spends first round picks on high character guys. (c.f. http://twitter.com/RobRang/status/195899576614535168 )

I'm not gonna go all-in on knocking Perry, I just see some reasons to be cautious. He really is not a physical guy, he looks like a "run around" guy; I don't like how he redirects; and I'm not sold on him space.

As Capers said though, "... we'll find a way use him". So as long as they "coach him up"; and make an effort to scheme to his strengths, I can certainly see this pick working out.

Immediately Perry probably comes off the bench in passing situations and gets told to get after the QB, like Aldon Smith in SF last year. Long term, he projects to OLB as the #1 pass rushing option (the guy who rushes the most) because he's much better in that role than in the #2 role. That means Matthews is going to rush less, but we honestly rush two OLBs pretty much every time we play nickel anyway (which is a lot.) Plus, dropping Matthews more gives the answer to "who's going to run with TEs."

[mraynrand]

Immediately Perry probably comes off the bench in passing situations and gets told to get after the QB, like Aldon Smith in SF last year. Long term, he projects to OLB as the #1 pass rushing option (the guy who rushes the most) because he's much better in that role than in the #2 role. That means Matthews is going to rush less, but we honestly rush two OLBs pretty much every time we play nickel anyway (which is a lot.) Plus, dropping Matthews more gives the answer to "who's going to run with TEs."

Good analysis. Last year when Matthews shut down Pettigrew you kind of had the sense that the Packers needed that complimentary guy because you could see the coverage skill of Matthews, knew that was a huge strength, and also knew that when he rushed the passer he was routinely double-teamed and sometimes triple-teamed. It begged the question: is it easier to get a good cover guy or a good pass rush guy to stand up on the other side? Perry is the Packer's answer to that question.

[sharpe1027]

I was just feeling evil.

I hate you.

[Lurker64]

Good analysis. Last year when Matthews shut down Pettigrew you kind of had the sense that the Packers needed that complimentary guy because you could see the coverage skill of Matthews, knew that was a huge strength, and also knew that when he rushed the passer he was routinely double-teamed and sometimes triple-teamed. It begged the question: is it easier to get a good cover guy or a good pass rush guy to stand up on the other side? Perry is the Packer's answer to that question.

Matthews is a rare 4-position linebacker in this defense. He literally makes any other OLB option work if the other guy is actually a competent football player. That being said, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Packers run some sets with Matthews, Perry, and Brad Jones on the field. That gives you 2 LBs who excel in coverage, and 2 LBs who can get after the passer.

[ND72]

I have liked Perry for a long time, just wavered when I started seeing McClellin on tape. Perry is crazy athletic. I think he starts day 1 and never looks back. Many people said they didn't think Matthews would transition well to pass coverage, but he's become pretty good I think in his zones. I also love this...for WEEKS, many scouts and experts said Perry was a perfect fit for a 3-4 OLB, especially Green Bay. Now this morning, oh he should have gone to a 4-3 team and been a DE.

Perry's gonna be a good one, I really think we drafted a solid player and person.

[3irty1]

Perry has as much upside as anyone in this draft and fits very much in with Ted's style of drafting defense.

On the defensive side of the ball Ted is secretly pretty much the same as Al Davis. Since Ted came to town we have been drafting elite athletes to sprinkle all over our defense. Ted is fine with taking a raw talent with top measurables and throwing them into the fire. This was the case with Collins, Shields, Matthews, and Raji. I won't count Hawk or Burnett because they were relatively pro-ready. Perry is going to fit into that category of a player we are willing to take some lumps with while he figures out the little things.

My issue with Perry is that he put up 35 reps on the bench press. Watching him play you'd never have thought he could do that. You'd think he would be a guy who could not just go around you but also set you up with leverage which is not something he really ever does. From day 1 that speed rush is going to do well for us but he needs to round out the rest of his game if he's going to be a 10+ sack guy in the NFL. Having Greene and Clay around should certainly help. I'm very excited for Perry's future with us. Tons of untapped potential.

[Smidgeon]

My issue with Perry is that he put up 35 reps on the bench press. Watching him play you'd never have thought he could do that. You'd think he would be a guy who could not just go around you but also set you up with leverage which is not something he really ever does. From day 1 that speed rush is going to do well for us but he needs to round out the rest of his game if he's going to be a 10+ sack guy in the NFL. Having Greene and Clay around should certainly help. I'm very excited for Perry's future with us. Tons of untapped potential.

To your point, if going around a guy while rushing was effective, maybe he just never felt the need to build an effective counter-move. He will have to in the pros. It's why productive NFL players are better than they were in college: they continue to grow and develop their craft.

[woodbuck27]

Yup. TT went with less issues in Perry over Upshaw.

No, I haven't studied the draft enough... and Perry was one of those guys I didn't look at much b/c he seemed pretty adamant about wanting to play DE; out of which he could only play that in a 4-3.

I thought he was less athletic than Upshaw, but Upshaw has warts too... not saying I wanted Upshaw there either. If they were more complete, "can't miss" prospects they would have gone much higher. So? cross our fingers and hope he fills that pass rushing roll of the edge.

Yes. TT went with less ?'s in Perry over Upshaw. I felt his choice might be S Harrison Smith (but was he a perfect fit for us?) that Minny absolutely stole with IMO the smartest manouevering in this draft. The Vikings are looking sweet in this off season and should be well on their way to getting it going again.