2014 Green Bay Packers 7 Round Mock Draft

[smuggler]

Last year the Cowboys traded 18 to SF for a 31 and a 74. That's about what Brandon had the Browns giving up for our 21. Seems about right. If we wanted their 26 overall, we'd probably get their 4th rounder (#83 - from Pittsburgh) instead of their #71.

The Packers come out way ahead on the Harvard chart either way, in case anyone cares about that.

[Carolina_Packer]

Our Defense doesn't want an impact DT. Look at Raji. Dude has the skills to be a pass disrupter but instead they ask him to be a hole plugger. They don't want DT's who have the ability to close the pocket. They wan't DT's that will hold the line for the run defense. And for that, all you need is some 350 # fatty. We can pick up two of those in the undrafted range.

I don't doubt that TT can pick up talent anywhere. I think you greatly discount the skill set and talent needed to be a plugger to say you can find an undrafted fatty to do the job. I'm sure they drafted Raji at #9 overall because they thought he cold both provide some pass rush and be a plugger as you described. His problem wasn't that he was "mis-cast", he either wasn't talented enough to be a hold the point of attack guy, which means Green Bay missed on their projection of him, or he was good at in his first years and then lost production later, which means his skills are deteriorating. You'd think if you draft a guy #9 overall that he could be both a plugger and provide some pass rush. It just wasn't consistent enough.

It may not be a glamorous job, but it's important. Look at how exposed our defense gets when people like Raji can't hold the point of attack. We need run stuffers. It's all predicated on stopping the run and winning the down and distance battle. Otherwise, the defense is on their heels consistently. So, whether it's some "undrafted fatty" or a first round draft pick, what I hope for the Packers is that they fix the leaky defensive line so that their linebackers can shine. The pluggers/point of attack holders are the catalyst for the 3-4.

[Smeefers]

I don't doubt that TT can pick up talent anywhere. I think you greatly discount the skill set and talent needed to be a plugger to say you can find an undrafted fatty to do the job. I'm sure they drafted Raji at #9 overall because they thought he cold both provide some pass rush and be a plugger as you described. His problem wasn't that he was "mis-cast", he either wasn't talented enough to be a hold the point of attack guy, which means Green Bay missed on their projection of him, or he was good at in his first years and then lost production later, which means his skills are deteriorating. You'd think if you draft a guy #9 overall that he could be both a plugger and provide some pass rush. It just wasn't consistent enough.

It may not be a glamorous job, but it's important. Look at how exposed our defense gets when people like Raji can't hold the point of attack. We need run stuffers. It's all predicated on stopping the run and winning the down and distance battle. Otherwise, the defense is on their heels consistently. So, whether it's some "undrafted fatty" or a first round draft pick, what I hope for the Packers is that they fix the leaky defensive line so that their linebackers can shine. The pluggers/point of attack holders are the catalyst for the 3-4.

I did discount the skill set. Sorry. I get depressed this time of year because everyone talks about the guys TT might go out and pick up but in reality... well.. we all know that he's not getting anyone and that makes me sad. This is going to be the first time in a long time where I think the pack won't be able to sustain the loss we'll incur at free agency and we'll actually get worse. I agree with everything you said. It sounds like something I would say actually.

[wist43]

I don't doubt that TT can pick up talent anywhere. I think you greatly discount the skill set and talent needed to be a plugger to say you can find an undrafted fatty to do the job. I'm sure they drafted Raji at #9 overall because they thought he cold both provide some pass rush and be a plugger as you described. His problem wasn't that he was "mis-cast", he either wasn't talented enough to be a hold the point of attack guy, which means Green Bay missed on their projection of him, or he was good at in his first years and then lost production later, which means his skills are deteriorating. You'd think if you draft a guy #9 overall that he could be both a plugger and provide some pass rush. It just wasn't consistent enough.

It may not be a glamorous job, but it's important. Look at how exposed our defense gets when people like Raji can't hold the point of attack. We need run stuffers. It's all predicated on stopping the run and winning the down and distance battle. Otherwise, the defense is on their heels consistently. So, whether it's some "undrafted fatty" or a first round draft pick, what I hope for the Packers is that they fix the leaky defensive line so that their linebackers can shine. The pluggers/point of attack holders are the catalyst for the 3-4.

The Packers have invested a ton of high draft picks and money in the front seven - of course we rarely play seven in the front, so it's really the front six.

Raji, Perry, Jones, Matthews, and Hawk were all 1st round picks; Worthy and Neal were 2nd's; Daniels was a 4th; Pickett was a former #1; and they thru wasted $millions at Brad Jones.

That's 10 players who were high draft picks or overpaid playing in our defensive front - and yet we're garbage, and have been for 3 years running.

I'm not the only one pointing out that, with the exception of Matthews, all of those guys have been misused - especially Raji. I said a couple of years ago that if I were Raji, I'd just play out my contract and beat a hasty trail out of town as soon as I could.

Everyone knew when Raji came out that he wasn't a 2-gap player. His strength was penetration, and on the move, he was a load and difference maker who had to be accounted for. After his second year, Capers stopped using him that way, and his career tanked. His career tanked, and our defense tanked.

Either TT sucks at evaluating defensive talent - and I do think the Packers as an organization are dismal evaluators of defensive talent - or Capers is a complete idiot... which he obviously is.

I put almost all of the blame on Capers. I'm happy for Raji that he is leaving for greener pastures - as I'm happy for Mike Neal and Sam Shields. All 3 of those players should get pretty decent contracts and be much more productive with other teams.

[Carolina_Packer]

I did discount the skill set. Sorry. I get depressed this time of year because everyone talks about the guys TT might go out and pick up but in reality... well.. we all know that he's not getting anyone and that makes me sad. This is going to be the first time in a long time where I think the pack won't be able to sustain the loss we'll incur at free agency and we'll actually get worse. I agree with everything you said. It sounds like something I would say actually.

It's all good. We as Packer fans all want the same thing. I think we want proof that the team is trying to move toward improving the short-comings, the most obvious being defense. It will be interesting to see what they do. I would love nothing better than to have less complaining about the defense.

[red]

Our Defense doesn't want an impact DT. Look at Raji. Dude has the skills to be a pass disrupter but instead they ask him to be a hole plugger. They don't want DT's who have the ability to close the pocket. They wan't DT's that will hold the line for the run defense. And for that, all you need is some 350 # fatty. We can pick up two of those in the undrafted range.

thats what i've been saying. i don't know about undrafted range, but mid to later rounds at least

look at our best 3-4 guys over the years

pickett, was a first round pick, but not for us, infact he was a considered a bust in st louis before moving here
cullen jenkins- undrafted
jolly- 6th round
boyd- 5th round
cj wilson- 7th round
mike daniels- 4th round

guys who haven't done so well or haven't shown mush yet on the d-line

raji- top 10 pick
neal- 2nd round
worthy- 2nd round
datone- 1st round

[Carolina_Packer]

The Packers have invested a ton of high draft picks and money in the front seven - of course we rarely play seven in the front, so it's really the front six.

Raji, Perry, Jones, Matthews, and Hawk were all 1st round picks; Worthy and Neal were 2nd's; Daniels was a 4th; Pickett was a former #1; and they thru wasted $millions at Brad Jones.

That's 10 players who were high draft picks or overpaid playing in our defensive front - and yet we're garbage, and have been for 3 years running.

I'm not the only one pointing out that, with the exception of Matthews, all of those guys have been misused - especially Raji. I said a couple of years ago that if I were Raji, I'd just play out my contract and beat a hasty trail out of town as soon as I could.

Everyone knew when Raji came out that he wasn't a 2-gap player. His strength was penetration, and on the move, he was a load and difference maker who had to be accounted for. After his second year, Capers stopped using him that way, and his career tanked. His career tanked, and our defense tanked.

Either TT sucks at evaluating defensive talent - and I do think the Packers as an organization are dismal evaluators of defensive talent - or Capers is a complete idiot... which he obviously is.

I put almost all of the blame on Capers. I'm happy for Raji that he is leaving for greener pastures - as I'm happy for Mike Neal and Sam Shields. All 3 of those players should get pretty decent contracts and be much more productive with other teams.

We're all frustrated by the lack of bottom line success with the defense. You've been pretty consistent in blaming Capers for most of the Packers defensive woes. Time will tell if the players you predict will leave are so talented that once they can show their ability outside of Capers system that they will show how much more productive they could be.

I don't know if you agree, but I also look at what the players bring to the table. If a player is so good, then their talent will not hide in a system. Their talent will not hide in one on one battles. Good players "overcome" or transcend scheme. Average or system players may depend on it. To me, if some of these guy were so good, it would show out more consistently in one on one, or open field. That you can't lay at the feet of Capers.

It does no good to blame Capers anyway. They are obviously choosing to stick with him, not seeing him as the problem. I'm sure he feels the pressure. Anyone choosing to do what they do for a living must have a lot of pride in doing a good job. Blaming never really fixed anything. That said, I think the patience for bottom line success is shorter with each passing year, and next year may be his last if the Packers don't make strides, healthy or not. I hope he can finally take what TT brings him, has brought him, leaves him with, and can shape it into a competitive defense to complement our offense.

[pbmax]

It seems obvious now, but hasn't always been, McCarthy is the ideal coordinator to work with Ted and draft and develop. When Ted pans out a future All-Pro in the seventh, you don't know what specialty the kid will have. M3 tends to plug him in and adjust on the fly.

Capers on the other hand is a product of the unique Steelers structure, where the personnel guys, while in charge of the draft, are not in charge of the kind of player they are looking for or the choice of coach. The odd structure of their personnel front office (they had never had a GM until Colbert got a promotion in the last two years) and battles between HCs and VP of Personnel types were features, not bugs.

So this year we might finally see whether McCarthy can teach Capers to Be Like Mike and use all available talent, even if that means lining up with 7 LBs on the field.

[bobblehead]

thats what i've been saying. i don't know about undrafted range, but mid to later rounds at least

look at our best 3-4 guys over the years

pickett, was a first round pick, but not for us, infact he was a considered a bust in st louis before moving here
cullen jenkins- undrafted
jolly- 6th round
boyd- 5th round
cj wilson- 7th round
mike daniels- 4th round

guys who haven't done so well or haven't shown mush yet on the d-line

raji- top 10 pick
neal- 2nd round
worthy- 2nd round
datone- 1st round

When you list Wilson (who barely suited up) as a "best" guy and you list Raji (who plays a ton of snaps) as "haven't done so well" you lose a lot of credibility.

[bobblehead]

It seems obvious now, but hasn't always been, McCarthy is the ideal coordinator to work with Ted and draft and develop. When Ted pans out a future All-Pro in the seventh, you don't know what specialty the kid will have. M3 tends to plug him in and adjust on the fly.

Capers on the other hand is a product of the unique Steelers structure, where the personnel guys, while in charge of the draft, are not in charge of the kind of player they are looking for or the choice of coach. The odd structure of their personnel front office (they had never had a GM until Colbert got a promotion in the last two years) and battles between HCs and VP of Personnel types were features, not bugs.

So this year we might finally see whether McCarthy can teach Capers to Be Like Mike and use all available talent, even if that means lining up with 7 LBs on the field.

I am starting to question Dom's committment/work ethic. His history of starting out gangbusters then stinking up the joint screams complacency.

[pbmax]

I am starting to question Dom's committment/work ethic. His history of starting out gangbusters then stinking up the joint screams complacency.

I really don't think Capers record after a couple of years is that anomalous. That's opponent familiarity and film.

Later situations where he has succeeded probably have as much to do with player acquisition than work ethic. Like LeBeau, he has a scheme and wants to use it. And if it requires complex and tiny adjustments, he prefers that to alterations in scheme. So LeBeau and he prefer vets, but only LeBeau gets them.

But I do not mean to sell the adjustment he needs to make short. To change to a multiple player substitution scheme (more differentiated than base/nickel/dime) is a big step and maybe something he is not built to do.

[wist43]

I don't know if you agree, but I also look at what the players bring to the table. If a player is so good, then their talent will not hide in a system. Their talent will not hide in one on one battles. Good players "overcome" or transcend scheme. Average or system players may depend on it. To me, if some of these guy were so good, it would show out more consistently in one on one, or open field. That you can't lay at the feet of Capers.

That's absolutely not true.

The things asked of 3-4 personnel are far different than the things that are asked of 4-3 personnel.

Raji is the perfect example of that. Raji's natural position is a 3T in a 4-3 front, where his primary responsibility is 1 gap. If the defensive call is primarily designed to stop the run, his responsibility is still 1 gap. If the defensive call is a pass defense, his responsibility is 1-gap in conjunction with whatever stunt responsibilities he might have.

In a standard 3-4, Raji would okay at DE, but it would be a waste of his talent to play him there; and at NT he is a fish out of water b/c he simply is not a 2-gap player. He is not a 2-gap player, and everyone knew it when he was drafted.

Yet Capers has been not only using him as a 2-gap player, he has been using him as a 2-gap player in that idiotic 2-4!!! You might as well say that the 2 fat guys on the field each have 2 1/2 gaps, b/c no one else in the front six can take on blocks, shed, and get to the ball.

Then there is Perry. He didn't want to play OLB from the git-go, and said so before the draft - yet TT takes him anyway, and they immediately say they're going to play him at OLB. That experiment has not worked at all!!!

So instead of recognizing what Perry's strength is, and what Raji's strength is, and what Daniel's strength is, and what Datone Jones's strength is, etc; and using them accordingly, Capers keeps trying to shove those square pegs into round holes - and the results have been both dismal and predicatable.

Yes, it is Capers fault!!!

It does no good to blame Capers anyway. They are obviously choosing to stick with him, not seeing him as the problem. I'm sure he feels the pressure. Anyone choosing to do what they do for a living must have a lot of pride in doing a good job. Blaming never really fixed anything. That said, I think the patience for bottom line success is shorter with each passing year, and next year may be his last if the Packers don't make strides, healthy or not. I hope he can finally take what TT brings him, has brought him, leaves him with, and can shape it into a competitive defense to complement our offense.

I like a lot of the players in our defensive front - but as is obvious they are not a good fit for a 3-4.

Therein it is incumbent upon the DC to design a scheme that takes advantage of their strengths, and minimizes their weaknesses - Capers not only does not do that, he does the exact opposite of that, i.e. he plays them to their weaknesses!!!

The results have been awful for 3 years running - yet, the fault is not Capers, and he should not be held accountable??

[pbmax]

Capers does play Raji in a 3 tech in a front that is a 4-3 Under with an OLB at the wide DE position. Problem was not solved except maybe for part of 2011.

Raji was single blocked all year and rarely got off the block.

So you are not asking Capers to play a 4-3 (he is) and you are not asking for him to 1 gap Raji (he does a significant period of time, there are quotes from both Trgo and Raji on this). You are asking him to allow a Jet rush up the field on every down. You want to play a D like the Vikings did with Doleman and Millard. Please review Adrian Peterson's year in 2012 versus the Packers to see how Jetting up the field went.

Raji does one thing well and it doesn't fit the D. Why alter the D for one player who has ONE skill? Matthews would be out of place in a true 4-3 and he is a more valuable player.

[red]

When you list Wilson (who barely suited up) as a "best" guy and you list Raji (who plays a ton of snaps) as "haven't done so well" you lose a lot of credibility.

and the one who barely played was almost as productive as the one that played every snap.

most people can't wait for Raji to get his fat worthless ass out of town. wilson is one i wouldn't mind bringing back

fine take wilson out if you want. what about the rest?

raji played almost every snap for us, but was still not one of out top 3 or 4 linemen this year, and he wasn't last year either. i absolutely feel raji should be the the disappointments category, because he was out most disappointing lineman by far

[smuggler]

I'm doing a mock draft (as the Packers) on another FB site I frequent, and I'm possibly getting 30/94 and a 6th for our 21. What do you guys think about that? Seems pretty fair, but I'm not 100%.