THE draft thread (2013 version)

[King Friday]

As far as Lacy...

I think McCarthy is going to emphasize his abilities foremost in short yardage/goal line situations this year. I can't see him giving Lacy the rock more than 250 times in his rookie year...unless the kid comes out and just blows the doors off from day one. I expect about 200 carries for Lacy...and the ability to pick up 3rd-and-1 on a consistent basis. The backs will still be by committee, although I do believe we'll see the backs get back up over 300 combined carries. That hasn't happened in the last 3 years. Without Jennings and with the potential for the loss of Finley at year end, McCarthy HAS to find a way to get the running game back up to snuff. Lacy will be the key cog in making that happen.

[woodbuck27]

Rodgers, Harris, Kuhn, and Harrell accounted for 125 carries. Benson/Green/Starks accounted for 277 carries.

I don't include Harris with those guys b/c he was mostly a sub-package guy, and either he or Franklin, or a combination of the 2 will still get those carries.

Harvey and I covered this. He thinks Lacy will end up with 250 carries, 4.4 yd avg, 1100 yds, 8 TD's.

I don't see that at all. Green, or whichever back is still going to get carries. And those other backs combined to average only 3.5 yds/carry. Even granting Lacy some increases in production just b/c he's a better back than all those guys - let's say you give him 225 atts, 4.0 yd avg, 900 yds, 6 TD's.

He's still going to have to run behind one of the worst run blocking offensive lines in the league, and has one of the pass happiest play callers in the league in MM.

That's why I didn't want to invest such a high pick in a RB - he's going to have a lower ceiling than his talent would warrant b/c of the offense he is in.

That's why I didn't want to invest such a high pick in a RB - he's going to have a lower ceiling than his talent would warrant b/c of the offense he is in. Wist43

Why help out a team 'the 49ers' by allowing them to trade up 2X; for a watered down pick?

With the Rd. 2 Pick #55 ...Pick a need BPA at SS or 34 OLB. Hold the pick @ RB to Rd. 4 or later.

Use the top three rounds to nail down quality talent to cover need priority.

a) ie 34 Rush DE (got him..Datone Jones in Rd. 1 pick #28).

b) Rd. 2 Pick #55 ... BPA Priority Need a) SS b) 34 OLB c) OL and d) SILB.

Options:

SILB Arthus Brown 6'0" 241; Kansas St.... Grade 90.3

SS DJ Swearinger 5'10" 208; South Carolina... Grade 81.4

OT's Terron Armstead 6'5" 306; Arkansas-Pine Bluff...Grade 84.0 or Dallas Thomas 6'5" 300; Tennessee Grade 82.7

OG's Larry Warford, 6'3" 332; Kentucky ... Grade 88.3; Brian Winters 6'4" 320; Kent St.....Grade 71.1

an **Option for depth on the DL or target DT Brandon Williams in Rd. 3 Pick #88.:

** DT's Bennie Logan 6'2" 309; LSU ... Grade 78.7 or John Jenkins 6'4" 346 Georgia ... Grade 81.3

Big/talented/athletic/hard hitting FS >>>SS TJ McDonald 6'2" 219; USC ... Grade 66.5

SS Shawn Williams 6'0" 213, Georgia ... Grade 74.8.

Well I won't go on. You get the idea.

Frankly I agree so much with Wist43 as he makes entirely good sense. His forecast is ominous.It's difficult for many to imagine it's headed... where... it... is... headed.

I look at it all now and cringe.

Today two players eat up 28.5 % of the packers Salary CAP. Yup less than 4% of the roster enjoys 28.5% of the CAP. Is TT seriously considering adding the third side of 'the Big Triangle'...BJ Raji at 'a conservative' cost of $8 Million$? If so 'that Big triangle' or 5.67% of the Packer Roster will eat up 35% of our CAP.

Let's not forget CB Tramone Williams and TE Jermichael Finley ... wringing 'the Salary Cap Neck' for another 13.62%.

48.6 % of the Packer Salary CAP would belong to 9.43% of the Roster.

If your a young and talented prospect.Would you be over joyed to become a Green Bay Packer? Wouldn't you have concerns?

If your currently on the roster and not one of these 'Big Five'. Would you be perfectly content? Would you be anticipating a long term future as a Green Bay Packer?

The prognosis is that Ted Thompson has to solve this issue. He has to ensure that doing so has this focus focus. A harmonious Green Bay Packer 'Locker Room'. Some sembalance of team morale...team Spirit.

Good Luck Ted Thompson.

Protect the Green Bay Packers Ted.

[denverYooper]

I wonder if they will move Buluga to LT and give one of the rookies at shot at RT? Or Lang to RT and one of the rookies to LG?

I've heard a lot of speculation about Bulaga to LT lately.

[rbaloha1]

I've heard a lot of speculation about Bulaga to LT lately.

That talk exists.

Let the rook win the job if it fails -- move BB.

[smuggler]

Still enjoying wist in meltdown mode. Really hoping you eat crow ASAP dude. (You should hope this, too.)

[Carolina_Packer]

There's another plus that Lacy can bring. The defenses we face will have to account for him. Last season when Benson went down, Indy made a great adjustment in mid-game. They went to a light box with Green in there. With only 6 defenders in the box, Rodgers wasn't as successful throwing vs the Colts from that point on.

If Lacy can keep 7 defenders in the box and keep those LB's honest, his biggest contributions may be reflected in keeping the passing game souped up.

Totally agree. If anyone is on this board complaining that these RB's are not our identity as a team, are missing the point. The team is obviously addressing what they perceive to be a need, and trying to change the balance of the offense. If Lacy and Franklin can make the offense less predictable, create match-up issues, and keep the defense guessing more, isn't that the point?

I think you saw glimpses of what a talented back can do to help the offense with DuJuan Harris's late season/playoff contributions to the run/play action game. I'm not sure how anyone can sit there and argue against the running back picks if it diversifies the Green Bay offense, and possibly makes them that much harder to defend. I don't think anyone thinks we are going to become a run first team, but if you make the other team respect what you can do with the run, then it keeps them off balance, where the offense wants them to be, and that can make Rodgers even scarier to deal with.

The WR Johnson out of Grand Valley State...I think he has a chance to distinguish himself. Watch his pro day and game highlights on YouTube. He's put together. Here's to good health to all the picks and to the returning players.

[MJZiggy]

Some of you ladies need to take your tampons out for a while. Your vaginas need some air. Yeesh. Wist, has it ever occurred to you that TT drafted TWO running backs and a bunch of offensive linemen because he wants to make the running game more prominent? That makes anything that the running game was or was not expected to do BEFORE kinda irrelevant, don't you think? See, when you change the type of personnel you have, you can change what you focus on as a team...

[pbmax]

You're into "WOW" territory with Harvey if you think Lacy will get the rock 273 times.

You're assuming all the carries go to Lacy; that he won't miss any games; that he won't hit the proverbial wall; that our pathetic OL can open holes going up against some pretty damn good defenses; and that McCarthy won't lose his cheat sheet with the running plays on it.

That's a lot of things falling perfectly for your boy to get those numbers.

But that is true of any season and any running back. To get that number of carries, you need to be healthy, have a functional passing game and be competitive in games. If the offense was the Vikings or some other terribly inept passing outfit, Lacy or someone would get 350 carries.

But we have lost the forest for the trees. Absent offensive collapse, Lacy makes the running game better. Platoon or no. Either he gets the carries or someone playing as well or better gets the carries. Its not going to be worse unless other parts fail on the offense. So a second round pick that makes the offense better is well worth the price paid.

[pbmax]

I am going to be curious to see the WR from Maryland. Danny O'Brien left that offense when they switched coaches and went some kind of option deal. The forward passing game took a backseat and then disappeared when injuries hit the QB position.

He might simply have been lost in the shuffle.

[woodbuck27]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--2013-nfl-draft-winners-losers--sam-bradford-fully-equipped--bill-belichick-thinking-too-hard-233525109.html

Jason Cole... Yahoo!

2013 NFL draft winners/losers: Sam Bradford fully equipped; Bill Belichick thinking too hard

"Before anybody cries foul about how the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets were left out of the winners section of this story, read my column from Thursday night. All of those teams had great opening nights of the draft and deserve plenty of praise."

WINNERS !

The St. Louis RAMS: (Read)

The San Francisco 49ers:

The 49ers were particularly impressive this weekend as ** they filled in every major need they had with a safety (Eric Reid) to takeover for departed Dashon Goldson, a defensive lineman (Tank Carradine) to eventually replace Justin Smith, a tight end (Vance McDonald) to replace Delanie Walker and ** a potential star at running back (Marcus Lattimore) to eventually replace Frank Gore, assuming Lattimore returns to health.

The Baltimore Ravens: (Read)

Chicago Bears:

"General manager Phil Emery continued his pragmatic approach to getting the Bears back to contention by getting a couple of really nice prospects to fill vital spots. Offensive lineman Kyle Long helps a unit that has to be on its game to protect deliberate, must-see-it-first quarterback Jay Cutler.

On defense, the Bears picked up linebacker Jon Bostic from Florida to replace Brian Urlacher. Mark this down: In five years, people will be talking about how much better Bostic is than Manti Te'o."

LOSERS:

The Dallas Cowboys: (Read)

New England Patriots: (Read)

Eddie Lacy and all running backs

" For the first time since 1963 (when the NFL had only 14 teams), a running back didn't go in the first round of the draft. Lacy was expected by many to go in the first round and be the first one taken. He ended up going No. 61 overall and was the fourth back to go despite having a stellar career at Alabama.

There are two reasons for that.

The first is specific to Lacy; he is beaten up.

This is a kid who runs hard and runs with power, but has taken more than his share of hits along the way. He's currently nursing a turf toe injury, but he has had other problems since high school.

The second issue is the devaluing of the position.

This is a full-on passing league that features so many wide-open sets with three, four and even five receivers that a running back isn't much more than window dressing. The most telling proof of that is Giovani Bernard, who at 5-foot-10 and all of 205 pounds, was the first back off the board."


Comment woodbuck27:

Ted Thompson invested not just one mid round Pick on RB; but two pics at RB. Including a 2nd Rd. Pick on RB Eddie Lacy!? When Ted Thompson double downed with his 5th Pick on a RB he devalued Eddie Lacy. Again like his general draft philosophy he watered down the overall value of his draft class. He did the same on the OL with his 3rd and 4th picks.

Again none of those picks 2-5 addressed the second and third priority needs on our team...SS and 23 OLB.It gets worse. When TT decided to use a pick he ignore superior talent. Again and worse talent for real need in legitimate BPA prospects on the board.

i.e. What did Ted Thompson and his Scouting Dept. have against *** this prospect among many? While drafting (prospects!?) that wern't on the map of the most highly developed and deserving or close to NFL ready 'REAL' prospects? Sure it's all a crap shoot but come on Packer fans. Can't we avoid that as a lame excuse for an inattention to certain detail? Let's get real in terms of the quality that Ted Thompson neglected in this draft.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/chase-thomas?id=2539314

*** OLB Chase Thomas 6' - 3" 244 lbs; Stanford

He earned honorable mention All-Pac 12 accolades as a linebacker in Fangio's 3-4 scheme by leading Stanford in tackles for loss (11.5) and tying for the lead in sacks (7.5).

His playmaking skills flourished as a junior, garnering All-American and first-team All-Pac 12 honors by increasing his production (17.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks) for the second straight season.

The Stanford program didn't miss a beat after losing Luck to the NFL. Riding the strength of their running game and defense, they lost just one game (in overtime to Notre Dame) and largely shut down many high powered offenses.

Thomas had another year of gaudy production (71 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks) on his way to earning first-team All-Pac 12 honors once again.

How many that were here on this thread yesterday were pulling for this pick?

ILB Kevin Reddick 6'1" 243; North Carolina with a very solid Grade.

Not decent enough for Ted Thompson? Not decent enough when he was a better fit than some others that TT selected? Why Ted?

Not a decent fit for Ted Thompson? He wanted a fella with what? 7 TD pass receptions in 2 seasons Fr. some obscure small College!? Hey any young man must be delighted to get the nod fr. Ted. I'm going to pull for all of them and maybe adopt a favourite for awhile before he gets cut. Is that it.T selects lesser talent that's simply easier to cut as that pick doesn't have 'a snowball in July's' chance of surviving?

No the above two 'real prospects' and candidates to maybe? cover real needs and really possibly? ...ensure an upgrade. Are again in this draft neglected....for TC fodder. Big hopes without any real chance.

That IMO SUCKS! That IMO offers little in terms of integrity and common sense in terms of attaining a very solid draft class.

That refelects rather poorly on Ted Thompson.

What really sucks is that for the likes of Wist43 and I to be correct TT has to be wrong and the Green Bay Packers have to not really get there.

That SUCKS !



PACKERS!

[wist43]

Still enjoying wist in meltdown mode. Really hoping you eat crow ASAP dude. (You should hope this, too.)

Just reading the writing on the wall.

We have a lot of holes, and where we don't have holes, we have average starters. Without Rodgers, we're a sub .500 team; with Rodgers, we're a low level playoff team, but not a real contender.

With respect to the starting lineup, we upgrade 1 position, DE; and slightly improved another, RB. Were we those small upgrades away from overcoming the Niners??

TT ignored holes, and did what TT usually does - throw a million darts at the wall and hope 1 of the bartenders that falls out of the net can play. While he's doing that, the holes on the roster go unfilled.

We're not a 5-11 team, bereft of talent - we have enough talent to compete at the bottom level of the playoffs - how do you take the next step from here?? TT says you draft a bunch of chaff, hope the stars align, and "grow from within". What?? do the Packers meditate everyday, and sing kumbaya?? I say he should move around in the draft to get the approriate value for the pick, and fix the teams obvious defects.

The truth is, TT and MM don't think they're defense is 579 yds and 45 pts worth of bad - they obviously didn't watch the train wreck - and neither did most of you guys apparently.

[woodbuck27]

Some of you ladies need to take your tampons out for a while. Your vaginas need some air. Yeesh. Wist, has it ever occurred to you that TT drafted TWO running backs and a bunch of offensive linemen because he wants to make the running game more prominent? That makes anything that the running game was or was not expected to do BEFORE kinda irrelevant, don't you think? See, when you change the type of personnel you have, you can change what you focus on as a team...

Of course. Don't look at common sense and reason.

Don't sit back and think about the points that Wist43 and I are trying so hard for you and others here to see clearly.

Just insult us MJ. That's all you have. Low life trash posting?

Get real... have some decency and respect. Act like you have half a brain.

Maybe even learn something about football in terms of adding talent to our team. Upgrading our team, so it can better compete with the real players for the Super Bowl.

Arn't we all pulling for the same team here at Packerrats MJ Ziggy? I thought we were!?? I thought we are all basically Packer fans. Are you more qualified than Wist43 or I to see what's happening clearly?

I'll answer that question MJ:

NO!

"Some of you ladies need to take your tampons out for a while. Your vaginas need some air." MJ Ziggy

That's a shitdirt 'insulting to yourself' post ...MJ Ziggy You 'only' reveal yourself in that style of post. Try not to act so pathetic. I feel badly for you.

I might ask you...what do you know about being a Lady? I wouldn't... as I'm sure, there are times when you try really hard to be one.

Lady / man!?

It doesn't matter as a poster here we're on equal ground. So toss down 'shit' and be prepared to back yourself up. Why? Because you open yourself up to just that. An intelligent defense of a decent position.

Can't you post a rebuttal without the indignation, the insult? I'm sure it's somewhere in you.

GO PACK GO!

[KYPack]

Shitdirt?

C'mon moose.

Don't limit the girls to dick jokes.

It's a free country, they can talk about pussy when they see one.

[mission]

I am going to be curious to see the WR from Maryland. Danny O'Brien left that offense when they switched coaches and went some kind of option deal. The forward passing game took a backseat and then disappeared when injuries hit the QB position.

He might simply have been lost in the shuffle.

It got so bad in Maryland that they actually started one of their LBs at QB who played a little QB in high school. It was a catastrophe.

[woodbuck27]

Shitdirt?

C'mon moose.

Don't limit the girls to dick jokes.

It's a free country, they can talk about pussy when they see one.

What does 'pussy' have to do with drafting and Ted Thompson....ahhhhh...now I get it ... Ok.

To be direct:

Did you see 'that poster' on the draft thread when it was all going down yesterday KY?

The poster can't 'with any credibility', spill milk on anyone ...when the poster didn't come for a serving of milk.

I thought we're commenting on the results of TT's draft. Isn't it OK to critique it negatively here without reference to any form of gender bias or anatomical sexual part (s)? Hahahahahahaha.

Hey ...again... the poster I'm referring to here is free to make a fool of herself.

We all do at times.

GO PACKERS !