Packers Draft

[wist43]

+1

Salary Cap baby. Can't have starters all through the roster, including the back up positions, this isn't MLB, and the Pack is not the Yankees.

The problem is that we don't have starters that are starters.

As for having backups that are starter capable - the Niners have that luxury. There were reports that the Packers had interest in Ricky Jean-Francios who signed with the Colts for 4 years, $22 million. Ricky Jean-Francios is a very good player who couldn't even crack SF's starting lineup - in Green Bay he would have been arguably our best DL along with Raji. Instead, we have CJ Wilson starting, and Capers playing all kinds of gimmicks.

What is TT looking for with all these spitball picks if not starters?? The list of spitball picks is a mess - hindsight is 20/20, but I would think TT should be able to analyze what's come before, and adjust his approach. We need starters, not more camp fodder.

[3irty1]

You're right... easy to change lanes on the fly - tryin to get some breakfast together here

As for the "versatility" debate, I don't consider those guys versatile - they are where they should be. I don't mind projecting a guy from college to the pros if the reason is that he was miscast in college, or for whatever reason was playing in a scheme that doesn't translate well to what the pro team does.

That said, I consider Lang to be an average to slightly below average starter, and should always have been viewed as a guard; Sitton is guard, period; and Bulaga is a OT, period. The Packers love to move guys around just for the hell of it, but it never works out. Although they've been doing much less of this lately.

We don't even have a true center on the roster. Everyone points to the upgrade of EDS over Saturday (one of the very few vets TT has brought in); but Saturday took himself out of the lineup b/c he knew his body was done - he couldn't play effectively, and did the right thing and benched himself.

Schwenke was available, Jones was available - draft a guy, and forget about the position for 4-5 years. Now we're right back where we started - the 32nd ranked LT and center.

If you think protecting your $100 million investment with low end players is a good idea, then you shouldn't mind watching Graham Harrell sooner rather than later. 51 sacks?? It's just a matter of time.

I get it and that probably would have happened if EDS weren't on the roster, or maybe I just can't bring to nitpick about the center spot when there is a crisis at left tackle. EDS is just better than Newhouse at a position that is far less important. EDS is nowhere near the worst starting center in the league and ranking him as such is cutting Newhouse more slack than he deserves.

[3irty1]

The problem is that we don't have starters that are starters.

As for having backups that are starter capable - the Niners have that luxury. There were reports that the Packers had interest in Ricky Jean-Francios who signed with the Colts for 4 years, $22 million. Ricky Jean-Francios is a very good player who couldn't even crack SF's starting lineup - in Green Bay he would have been arguably our best DL along with Raji. Instead, we have CJ Wilson starting, and Capers playing all kinds of gimmicks.

What is TT looking for with all these spitball picks if not starters?? The list of spitball picks is a mess - hindsight is 20/20, but I would think TT should be able to analyze what's come before, and adjust his approach. We need starters, not more camp fodder.

We have no idea how good San Fransisco's backups are because they've barely had to use them. They were one of the healthiest teams in football last year. As for Ricky, he sure didn't look like a starter in place of Justin Smith while the 49ers were getting their shit pushed in by the Seahawks towards the end of the year. Funny that you like him so much though. He was a 7th round pick!

[run pMc]

We have no idea how good San Fransisco's backups are because they've barely had to use them. They were one of the healthiest teams in football last year. As for Ricky, he sure didn't look like a starter in place of Justin Smith while the 49ers were getting their shit pushed in by the Seahawks towards the end of the year. Funny that you like him so much though. He was a 7th round pick!

SF didn't substitute much. IIRC, they had the lowest number of rookie snaps in the league...so either they weren't ready, provided terrible depth, or the starters were just that good. When Justin Smith got hurt Aldon Smith and the defense looked mortal.

Schwenke was available, Jones was available - draft a guy, and forget about the position for 4-5 years. Now we're right back where we started - the 32nd ranked LT and center.

I agree they need to protect Rodgers, and 51 sacks is way too many. Rodgers did his line no favors by holding the ball too long, this after having the alarm clock in TC. I think calling EDS and Newhouse the 32 ranked LT and C is exaggerating. There were a couple of other teams that were tirefires at OL (Arizona and Chicago come to mind) last year. TT drafts at OL every year, he's drafted Sherrod and Bulaga in R1; he brought in Saturday last year because (although running on fumes) he was the best player available once Wells -- who was hurt most of the year -- jumped ship. It's not like TT ignores the OL.

That said, I was hoping he'd take Schwenke but TEN grabbed him first. For all the talk about Barrett Jones, there are a lot of people who think he will have a lot of trouble with bull rushers and strength on the NFL level. Look, the Bears drafted Kyle Long at #20 and got roasted for it. I have to think TT didn't think there was a better player available when he was on the clock, and it Bahktiari wasn't considered a reach. Tretter and Patrick Lewis will push EDS and learn to play C at the pro level...many centers come in as UDFA or low round picks and go on to have long careers. (Scott Wells, Jeff Saturday.) It's not a position where teams usually draft high.

Look at it this way: if you have 22 starters, and only your R1-3 picks ever became starters, you'd be replacing them about every 7 years. That's what GB got out of Greg Jennings and Charles Woodson.

[pbmax]

Saturday did not take himself out of the lineup. Collingsworth made that up.

[rbaloha1]

We have no idea how good San Fransisco's backups are because they've barely had to use them. They were one of the healthiest teams in football last year. As for Ricky, he sure didn't look like a starter in place of Justin Smith while the 49ers were getting their shit pushed in by the Seahawks towards the end of the year. Funny that you like him so much though. He was a 7th round pick!

Who cares about 7th round pick. Ricky was a good player along Soapoaga. Wish both were Packers.

[Gunakor]

That could be said for every single position on the team.

But we could have done something to address this issue at this position. EDS > Tretter is far worse for us than, say, Schwenke > EDS. Can we agree on that? I would hope so.

So then, what did we get for the picks we accumulated for trading out of the 3rd round that should justify the strategy? Camp bodies. Maybe one of the WR's will pan out as the next Brett Swain. Maybe. The point is, we could have had a legit starter at a position we don't have a legit starter at, and we didn't get one. I didn't like the move, and I don't like what we have afterwards.

EDS is a backup. He's starting because we didn't find someone better. We could have, we should have, and we didn't. That's the crux of the argument.

[woodbuck27]

Originally Posted by King Friday

** "Then why did Deuce McAllister average 21 carries a game for McCarthy over 3 years in New Orleans?

McCarthy is all about BALANCE in his offense. The issue is that the talent at RB given to him by Thompson over the last 2-3 years has been PATHETIC. No one in their right mind would run very often with the crap backs we were trotting out there. When Cedric Benson comes in and looks like Jim Brown compared to everyone else, you know your RBs suck balls." King Friday

** This big time. Pugger

WOW! Comparisons of Cedric Benson >>>Jim Brown. That's heavy. Must be another Jim Brown.

TT finally came through with some help at RB. I truly believe we have some talent this time. When TT saw the value in Johnathan Franklin just sitting there he made a move. That's IMO where it's at Packer fans. See it and go for it >>>trade UP >>>!!

TT 'only' had 4-5 position priority needs (including RB) and those could have been filled with Rd. 1-5 Picks. Take the Eddie Lacy pick away and substitute with a priority need pick at #55 (screw the 49ers). Use pick #88 and again screw the 49ers. Let the 49ers be 'on their own' without Green Bay Packer help.

That's simple common sense.

Back to reality and what it was >>> hopefully will be.

It's actually amazing to me that he puled off both Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin. Solid value picks. These two RB's ranked #1 and #2 by Draft Scouts. Many analysts had Johnathan Franklin ranked down as the 7th best RB... whatever.

Now we wait and hope to see. The Aaron Rodgers led offense can sure benefit with a 30% improvement in our running game. That running game will keep Aaron Rodgers off his duff alot more too. Help to keep him from getting his bell rung, and protect TT's investment.

If we lose Aaron Rodgers you all know which direction up 'shit creek' we'll be pointed. On that note...with all those picks >>> no QB drafted? That's puzzling. I'll add that to my list. LOL

I have to look to see if TT is bringing in a prospect as a UFA at QB.

So where we are now at RB:

I really liked DuJuan Harris. I hope there's a place for him in our stable of RB's. That fella has so much heart.

That Packers may go with four RB's ( Lacy, Franklin, Harris and Green ). Those are my initial thought choices. If James Starks can somehow get fired up and stay healthy. It will be interesting between AJ Green, James Starks and DuJuan 'Big Man' Harris.

GO PACK GO !

[HarveyWallbangers]

So then, what did we get for the picks we accumulated for trading out of the 3rd round that should justify the strategy? Camp bodies. Maybe one of the WR's will pan out as the next Brett Swain. Maybe. The point is, we could have had a legit starter at a position we don't have a legit starter at, and we didn't get one. I didn't like the move, and I don't like what we have afterwards.

Or maybe Charles Johnson turns into the next Donald Driver or Marques Colston. The talent is certainly intriguing:

[RashanGary]

I get it and that probably would have happened if EDS weren't on the roster, or maybe I just can't bring to nitpick about the center spot when there is a crisis at left tackle. EDS is just better than Newhouse at a position that is far less important. EDS is nowhere near the worst starting center in the league and ranking him as such is cutting Newhouse more slack than he deserves.

This is idiotic

[Gunakor]

Or maybe Charles Johnson turns into the next Donald Driver or Marques Colston. The talent is certainly intriguing

It's possible. Anything is possible.

Schwenke would have become the top center immediately, whereas Johnson - even if he is the next DD or Colston - might become the #3 WR in a year or two. This isn't denying the potential we got in the seventh, it's pointing out the greater talent at a position of greater need that we passed up on in the third. And nobody has yet to provide a good reason why it was a good idea to do so. I try to have an open mind about it but the logic isn't there.

Seriously, is anyone happy about starting the season with EDS at center and Johnson on the sidelines except when we go 4 wide? It didn't have to be that way. But that's the way it's turned out. The draft is over now, so now is the time for us to be asking these questions. It's a good debate. I just don't see the logic to support what Ted did.

[3irty1]

But we could have done something to address this issue at this position. EDS > Tretter is far worse for us than, say, Schwenke > EDS. Can we agree on that? I would hope so.

So then, what did we get for the picks we accumulated for trading out of the 3rd round that should justify the strategy? Camp bodies. Maybe one of the WR's will pan out as the next Brett Swain. Maybe. The point is, we could have had a legit starter at a position we don't have a legit starter at, and we didn't get one. I didn't like the move, and I don't like what we have afterwards.

EDS is a backup. He's starting because we didn't find someone better. We could have, we should have, and we didn't. That's the crux of the argument.

Can't say I know much at all about how Tretter will do if placed at center actually. Its pure speculation by me so far that that's even what he was drafted for. I've also heard Bakhtiari can play center and McCarthy just said Lang can play center. Seems like there are lots of good options even if none of them are our personal draft crushes.

[3irty1]

This is idiotic

That's one way to disagree with me.

[MadtownPacker]

Dammit is it a fool moon tonight?

[Guiness]

Or maybe Charles Johnson turns into the next Donald Driver or Marques Colston. The talent is certainly intriguing:

6'2" 215lb, and he looks thicker than that in the video. Very thick lower body!