MY HOE AND PRAYER FOR THE PACKERS FIRST ROUND PICK IN THE NEXT DRAFT

[King Friday]

Yeah, Packers need to strike draft gold and get the Ha Ha equivalent of ILBs this coming year.

We don't even need gold...I'll take silver at this point and run. We don't even have bronze caliber players at ILB at this point.

[Carolina_Packer]

Is there any ILB's that any of you like in this year's draft? http://walterfootball.com/draft2015ILB.php There don't appear to be any C.J. Mosely's or Ryan Shazier's in this draft. I know TT says he sticks to his big board and takes BAP, and I appreciate that. Would you take the best available ILB in the 2015 draft if he was not the best available player on your big board? Of course, if the BAP is a QB with starting potential, do you take him because he's the BAP? You can only logically carry the BAP so far until you discover that it fits your needs as well. The Packers have to get better at ILB, just like they had to get better at safety last off-season.

[pbmax]

I don't want an ILB in the first round unless they are locks.

There are a ton of good ILBs from the mid-rounds.

[mraynrand]

We don't even need gold...I'll take silver at this point and run. We don't even have bronze caliber players at ILB at this point.

That's it - aim low, sweet chariot

[Maxie the Taxi]

Is there any ILB's that any of you like in this year's draft? http://walterfootball.com/draft2015ILB.php There don't appear to be any C.J. Mosely's or Ryan Shazier's in this draft. I know TT says he sticks to his big board and takes BAP, and I appreciate that. Would you take the best available ILB in the 2015 draft if he was not the best available player on your big board? Of course, if the BAP is a QB with starting potential, do you take him because he's the BAP? You can only logically carry the BAP so far until you discover that it fits your needs as well. The Packers have to get better at ILB, just like they had to get better at safety last off-season.

TT talks BAP but I don't think he's married to the concept, especially after the 1st round.

For my money, the best of the better known ILB's is Eric Kendricks.

UCLA's Eric Kendricks is another versatile linebacker prospect that will be available on day two of the NFL draft. He plays inside for UCLA but his skills will allow him to play on the weakside as well. He's active, quick, and instinctive. Kendricks reads the play very quickly and wastes no time flying to the ball carrier. He has very good agility and closing speed, and makes plays sideline to sideline. He's a very good athlete that also shows the ability to cover backs and tight ends down field, and has the awareness to play in zones. At just 6' 230, Kendricks does struggle to get off blocks and can have trouble when teams run directly at him. He will need some protection and defensive linemen that can occupy blockers in front of him to stay inside at the next level, but the skills and intelligence is there to move to the weakside.

But he's projected as a 3rd round choice. I agree with pbmax. We shouldn't waste a top draft choice on an ILB because there are no sure bets. Mid-round talent is available. And then there are guys like Steve Miller in the bargain basement.

[Maxie the Taxi]

One more thing...I think the Packers need a guy like Kendricks because the trend nowadays is speed and quickness, along with sure tackling. One of your ILB has to be able to move quick and fast to speedy RB's and TE's. He needs to be able to keep up with the basketball TE's like Gronk and Graham. The other ILB can be the pounder and run stuffer.

[King Friday]

Kendricks is way too small for me...only a shade over 6 feet. I'm often leery of any Pac-12 defender that has to stack up against the run. That conference often has good pass rushing talents (due to the strong passing games in that conference) but their run defenders are typically weaker than other conferences. Just look at the above average ILBs in today's NFL...you won't find many from the Pac-12.

[King Friday]

One more thing...I think the Packers need a guy like Kendricks because the trend nowadays is speed and quickness, along with sure tackling. One of your ILB has to be able to move quick and fast to speedy RB's and TE's. He needs to be able to keep up with the basketball TE's like Gronk and Graham. The other ILB can be the pounder and run stuffer.

Both inside backers in a 3-4 need to be able to compete against the run. You can't just stick a safety in there and expect to stop a decent running game.

[wist43]

I used to be in the 'anti-smallish ILB' camp, but I think defenses have evolved to some extent and that is less of an issue.

To be sure you still need to be tough and be able to thump inside, but I'll take instincts and toughness over size if the big guy is prone to slow diagnosis and false steps.

Not sure Brian Noble could even play in today's game, and there are examples of studs like Sam Mills who played inside forever. It all comes down to the individual player... would I rather have a beastly sized guy that had top notch instincts and speed?? of course, but those guys are rare.

One thing is for sure, and I think most of us can now agree - Hawk and Jones both need to be gone this offseason.

[Carolina_Packer]

I used to be in the 'anti-smallish ILB' camp, but I think defenses have evolved to some extent and that is less of an issue.

To be sure you still need to be tough and be able to thump inside, but I'll take instincts and toughness over size if the big guy is prone to slow diagnosis and false steps.

Not sure Brian Noble could even play in today's game, and there are examples of studs like Sam Mills who played inside forever. It all comes down to the individual player... would I rather have a beastly sized guy that had top notch instincts and speed?? of course, but those guys are rare.

One thing is for sure, and I think most of us can now agree - Hawk and Jones both need to be gone this offseason.

QFT

[smuggler]

I really like Shawn Oakman, as I've said, but he's going to go well before our pick. A classic Packers pick would be T.J. Clemmings (OT) from Pittsburgh. I'm not convinced that McKinney will be able to cover well enough to really improve our team, and there are no ILBs other than him worth drafting in the first round. Of course, a nice safety or corner *could* fall into our lap, but I doubt it. Clemmings seems like the kind of guy that deserves to go in picks 20-30, but probably drops because he's not a standout at his position and not GREAT or WOW, as the scouts say.

[Striker]

ILB or a TE/big WR would be great. Getting that big possession type across the middle of the field would open things up even more.

They probably should keep stocking OLB too, since there's no real plan behind Peppers and Matthews.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Kendricks is way too small for me...only a shade over 6 feet. I'm often leery of any Pac-12 defender that has to stack up against the run. That conference often has good pass rushing talents (due to the strong passing games in that conference) but their run defenders are typically weaker than other conferences. Just look at the above average ILBs in today's NFL...you won't find many from the Pac-12.

I think you're splitting hairs...

Pro Bowl ILB's for this year are:

Luke Kuechly, Car
6'3" 238 lbs Boston College

Bobby Wagner, Sea
6'0" 241 lbs Utah State

C.J. Mosley, Bal
6'2" 235 lbs Alabama

Lawrence Timmons, Pit
6'1" 234 lbs Florida State

And then there is the guy some acknowledge is the best ILB in the league:

DeAndre Levy, Det
6'2" 235 lbs Wisconsin

Kendricks is 6'0" 230 lbs.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Kendricks is playing right now in the Alamo Bowl on ESPN.

[Maxie the Taxi]

In fact, Eric Kendricks #6 just sacked the QB as I write. Butkus Award winner this year.