THE draft thread (2013 version)

[Fritz]

No doubt we are just blathering here. I'm aware of that, well aware that I thought the Clay Matthews and Nick Collins picks were horrible. I respect other opinions when there's actual reasoning behind it. I just get irked when people throw logic out the door and twist everything so it fits with their pre-determined notions.

As I have said before, Wist's constant negativity irritates me, but then again he and I aren't in disagreement over what the Packers' needs are, and in fact we often like some of the same players.

[3irty1]

I like the Perry pick last year. If healthy, I think the guy is going to surprise this year. For a guy so raw at OLB and little minicamp/training camp to master the position, he was impressing me before his injury. My prediction is that the Packers rank in the top 5 in sacks again this year, but they will be a little more balanced. Meaning they'll have Matthews amongst the league leaders, but Perry and Jones will chip in around 7-8 sacks each.

I too love the Perry pick last year. He's got what you can't teach and knocking him for his coverage is like knocking a running back for his blocking. That guy is here to rush the passer and set the edge and he can be a complete badass at that. It was also our biggest need for each and every year since we've been a 3-4 and its still one of the top needs. Not sure how you hate a guy with infinite potential at premium position of need.

[Fritz]

Wow, VaGeno Smith saying he's not going to show up tomorrow and Saturday.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/26/geno-smith-says-he-wont-be-back-on-friday/

Not exactly exhibiting mental toughness there. Have to think that'll cost him.

He should show up with bells on tomorrow - literally. Have some fun with it, instead he's pouting. Are you allowed to be a diva before you're even picked?

Fixed.

[pbmax]

Let's face it, our defense is a cluster fuck of question marks.

Perry?
Worthy?
Datone Jones?
a 2nd safety?

We have a talented new DE who looks more ready to be on a 3-man line than he is ready to be one of only 2 guys on a 2-man line. We have no clue how these pieces are going to fit together. We might not know until sometime into next season. I have a hard time, a really hard time, envisioning this guy playing next to Raji on a 2-man line with 5 friggin DB's on the field. That is asking to get beat down, IMO.

I guess if you're playing Perry at OLB, you have a little extra size with a guy whos more like a DE than he is an OLB. I just hate having an OLB on the field who can't cover and all Perry has shown is that he can't cover.

The 2 man line is for passing situations and pass rush is his specialty. He doesn't need to start at DE in the 3-4 until he gains some technique and possibly some weight. He will be fine as a regular in the nickel and dime pass rush and an backup DE in base. He is a replacement for Worthy this year, with a bigger frame and much hope for the future.

Unlike the picks last year that seemed to be odd fits, he is easy to envision as a starter in base.

[pbmax]

Give him a break! He is a college kid. He can't afford actual frames for his fake glasses!

UPDATE! Someone related to me by marriage says this is very common among the youngsters. Bust out the lens from the movie glasses and wear them. She is not sure but I think its a LeBron thing.

I'm happy for Ziggy Ansah getting drafted so high: maybe now he can afford some real glasses instead of those that came with his TV.

[Fritz]

I'm still scratching my head a little over the Worthy pick, although I liked it at the time. I liked it because he was quick and could get penetration (well, in college), but as I read more about being assignment- and gap-sure he didn't seem to fit, particularly with his lack of height.

Maybe he'll end up being a third down pass rush specialist, although he didn't show me jack in his limited audition as a rook.

[Zool]

I'm still scratching my head a little over the Worthy pick, although I liked it at the time. I liked it because he was quick and could get penetration (well, in college), but as I read more about being assignment- and gap-sure he didn't seem to fit, particularly with his lack of height.

Maybe he'll end up being a third down pass rush specialist, although he didn't show me jack in his limited audition as a rook.

Wasn't he leading the DLine in snaps before going down with injury? Wasn't that limited last year just didn't show a lot as a rookie. Hopefully we'll find out what he's all about in 2014.

[run pMc]

Why give up so much to get a guy like Patterson when you could go after someone more underrated, but same body type, physicality like Da'Rick Rogers?

Unlike Patterson, Rogers managed to get himself kicked out of a lenient Tennessee program. The kid has serious talent -- he schooled some good CB's -- but he has serious issues and no sane Gm is gonna touch him in R1. R3-4 he'll get the tires kicked.

I was ambivalent about the Nick Perry pick. The comments about wanting to play 4-3 DE and then the backtracking worried me, the stories of a hot and cold motor worried me, and the conversion from DE to OLB still worries me. All that said, he's a helluva physical talent and if Kevin Greene can get the lightbulb to go on he'll be fantastic. Even if that never truly happens he'll still be good for 8 sacks and help Clay get 14+. That's better than Walden, who had his moments. God forbid Clay have hammy issues again, but if he did I feel better about Perry rushing the passer than Walden.

I thought the Worthy pick was good value (some had him as a late R1 pick) but felt he was a little miscast -- where do you play him? He's short for a 3-4 DE, and a bit light at DT. He relied on quicks and had a lot to learn about pass-rushing in the pros. As an inside rusher I could see him spelling the early down DT's, but he was (and likely always be) purely a sub-package guy.

The Daniels pick concerned me because he's really short for a DT. I like that he has a good motor and nasty attitude, and he's ok for taking a enough snaps to give the starters a breather, but if McGinn has a leg to stand on re: the "too soft/small" argument, it's with Worthy and especially Daniels being too short. What do you do with this guy when it's snowing in December and AP is getting the ball? I worry about Daniels getting engulfed by 6-4 OL.

Sadly, the Jones pick also supports McGinn's argument -- Jones is 6-4, and compared to Worthy/Daniels has that little bit of extra height/length as well as body type to play a more prototypical 3-4 DE...which we need. Taller DL block the QB's vision and passing lanes, and if we have to face shorter QBs like D.Brees or R.Wilson that can't hurt. I think the Jones pick makes sense and will help the defense.
Worthy will go on PUP and Jones will take his place.

[Joemailman]

Worthy decided to lose a bunch of weight last year and went from 308 to 280. Whatever weight the Packers want him at, he needs to get stronger. Whether he can do that while rehabbing an ACL, I don't know. 2013 will probably be a lost year for him.

[rbaloha1]

Worthy decided to lose a bunch of weight last year and went from 308 to 280. Whatever weight the Packers want him at, he needs to get stronger. Whether he can do that while rehabbing an ACL, I don't know. 2013 will probably be a lost year for him.

also needs to understand leverage.

[Guiness]

I was watching the TV shots of him as the draft progressed today. His body language was SO NEGATIVE that I said to myself that if I was GM there was no chance in hell that I would want that ahole on my team. I read something earlier that he would never be a leader or positive influence in the locker room, and from what I saw , sounds correct.

Looks like his agent got him on the phone and said "Get your fuckin' ass down there!"

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/26/geno-smith-will-attend-the-draft-tonight-after-all/

[denverYooper]

There goes Cyprien.

[OS PA]

Here goes my boy to Tennessee. Poor kid won't do anything with Locker throwing to him though. Justin Hunter could be a great one.

[wist43]

Worthy decided to lose a bunch of weight last year and went from 308 to 280. Whatever weight the Packers want him at, he needs to get stronger. Whether he can do that while rehabbing an ACL, I don't know. 2013 will probably be a lost year for him.

Losing the weight really hurt him... why draft the guy that high if you're going to project him to a position that you're going to ask him to lose 30 lbs for??

So the Packers take Raji in the 1st round, play him out of position, and wear him down until his quickness is completely negated and he is then an average player; then they turn around and take Worthy in the 2nd round and screw around with him until he's almost useless; now we've drafted another tweener that Capers is surely going to screw around with.

I give a lot of the players on defense a pass b/c they're having to play under Capers.

I think our defense would improve immediately upon Capers being fired. There was some grumbling in the locker room about his stupidity after the Niner game, but I think MM has a pretty tight grip on the locker room, so everyone bites their tongue.

[Guiness]

How far to Smith and Lacy fall? 5 picks into the second round, they're still on the board.

Tim Krumrie making the pick!