Jake Ryan, 2015 Fourth Round Pick

[Carolina_Packer]

I don't know why, but I think he will be just fine in GB. (Maybe we will find out once and for all if my endorsement is the kiss-of-death only for O-linemen, or if it is more broadly applicable.)

+1
Let's give the kid a chance. Even if he doesn't wow with his physicality or athleticism, he might have enough. Plus, if his key and diagnose ability on plays is good, he might be able to out-think the opposing offense to make up for any short-comings.

[red]

Not really. Almost all of the rankings that I saw had Randall higher.

CBS had Randall at #37 and Anthony at #72.
Scouts Inc. had Randall #38 and Anthony at #50.
USA Today had Randall #36 and Anthony at #43.
Kiper had Randall at #31 and Anthony at #57.
McGinn had Randall mocked going #20 and Anthony not in the first round.

yeah, when you look at "big boards" he's usually ranked higher the anthony. however guys like kendricks and perryman were also usually ranked higher then randall

i looked at mocks more then big boads, and many if not most of the mocks i saw had anthony going before randall

also, it wasn't until the last week before the draft that randall started to shoot up big boards, i wonder what the reasons for that was? what changed?

[Fritz]

I'll bet he was good at getting his teammates lined up correctly too.



from http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/po...gan-linebacker

I'm not sure how coming to meetings with a boner is, as 3irty1 used the phrase, "boner-worthy" for fans.

But I do hope the guy ends up being a really good player.

We shall see. We get all freaked out because a guy isn't on Mel Kiper's radar, or because Todd McShay tells us that ILB is GB's biggest need. But I think TT has a good, really good, track record compared to other GM's, and as Bob McGinn pointed out, the talking heads on the networks are not scouts.

So we read their blurbs on the top players, we study maybe sixty or a hundred players (a very generous estimate) by watching YouTube videos and maybe looking up info, and then we go ballistic when TT doesn't draft the known names we fancy are the best players.

Sure, it's fun to guess and put the opinions out there, but this vitriolic judgment of some posters is clearly about more than the draft picks no one, not even TT or Hoody Genius or John Schneider, can be certain of.

[Patler]

also, it wasn't until the last week before the draft that randall started to shoot up big boards, i wonder what the reasons for that was? what changed?

I read one article that said teams have had him there for a long time, it just took a while for the media (what we see) to catch on.

[pbmax]

also, it wasn't until the last week before the draft that randall started to shoot up big boards, i wonder what the reasons for that was? what changed?

That's been mentioned before. Rocketing up the draft boards is draft-nik speak for we just found out teams like this player much more than we do. Teams don't begin to put their board together until a month to go before the draft. Any talk about a board in Jan/Feb/most of March is baloney.

[red]

gotcha, makes sense

although, i should note that anthony was also shooting up those big boards, just not as much as randall

and he did end up going 32. so him going 30 wouldn't really be a reach then

[pbmax]

I'm not sure how coming to meetings with a boner is, as 3irty1 used the phrase, "boner-worthy" for fans.

I am just stunned there is still a market for this kind of tale.

Wilde* often remarks that he likes telling engaging stories about the players and teams more than X and Os. But he has also learned that he doesn't really know any of the players at all (after seemingly good guys turned out to be less than pristine - Sharper for example).

He hasn't connected the dots between the two and realize that much of what passes for coverage is inanity and less consequential than cotton candy.


*Its a Demovsky story but Wilde has talked about this before

[mraynrand]

ILB was a position of need for draft/FA, but where does ILB rank on overall position importance, particularly on the Packers? I'd say it's pretty low; that's why TT isn't gonna reach at all, and is comfortable drafting an ILB later in the draft.

Quick internet search:

Bleacherreport
15: OLB
14: Run stopping DE
13: OG
12: ILB*
11: RB
10: OC
9: DT, run stopping
8: WR
7: Cornerback
6: TE
5: Safety
4: OT
3: Inside pass rusher
2: Edge pass rusher
1: QB


*

"The Prototypes: Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers; Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks

Traditionally, the middle linebacker has been the heart, mind and soul of a defense. Frequently the roughest, toughest player on the field, the middle linebacker was trusted with the most important job: getting to the ball-carrier.

Fending off a fullback or pulling guard and stuffing the running back 10 times a game or more takes a special combination of size, speed, grit, instincts and thirst for violence. Often called the quarterback of the defense, to this day, the middle linebacker usually relays the play calls from the sideline to the huddle.

Now, though, if all a player can do is stop the run between the tackles, he comes off the field in passing situations—and most situations are passing situations.

Today's middle linebacker has to have the size, power and attitude to stop the run when called upon, but it's more important to have the athleticism to cover the middle of the field—whether in man-to-man against running backs or patrolling the middle of the field in zone coverage.

Players that excel at both, like Patrick Willis, are rare and valuable indeed. For most teams, though, inside linebackers who are "good enough" tacklers and very good in coverage are sufficient and plentiful."

I like how they list inside and outside pass rush separately. So if you think about it, by scheme they will generate inside rush without having to necessarily draft it at ILB using a high pick (on a guy, esp in this draft, who might not have those pass rush qualities). You would like to have more than Clay Matthews as your inside AND outside pass rusher; thus the pick up last off season of Peppers. I am assuming someone else will need to step up in those roles this year.

[3irty1]

I'm not sure how coming to meetings with a boner is, as 3irty1 used the phrase, "boner-worthy" for fans.

But I do hope the guy ends up being a really good player.

We shall see. We get all freaked out because a guy isn't on Mel Kiper's radar, or because Todd McShay tells us that ILB is GB's biggest need. But I think TT has a good, really good, track record compared to other GM's, and as Bob McGinn pointed out, the talking heads on the networks are not scouts.

So we read their blurbs on the top players, we study maybe sixty or a hundred players (a very generous estimate) by watching YouTube videos and maybe looking up info, and then we go ballistic when TT doesn't draft the known names we fancy are the best players.

Sure, it's fun to guess and put the opinions out there, but this vitriolic judgment of some posters is clearly about more than the draft picks no one, not even TT or Hoody Genius or John Schneider, can be certain of.

If we care what Kiper thought we'd be excited as hell; he compared Ryan to Dick Butkus when he was drafted.

[3irty1]

ILB was a position of need for draft/FA, but where does ILB rank on overall position importance, particularly on the Packers? I'd say it's pretty low; that's why TT isn't gonna reach at all, and is comfortable drafting an ILB later in the draft.

Quick internet search:

Bleacherreport
15: OLB
14: Run stopping DE
13: OG
12: ILB*
11: RB
10: OC
9: DT, run stopping
8: WR
7: Cornerback
6: TE
5: Safety
4: OT
3: Inside pass rusher
2: Edge pass rusher
1: QB


*


I like how they list inside and outside pass rush separately. So if you think about it, by scheme they will generate inside rush without having to necessarily draft it at ILB using a high pick (on a guy, esp in this draft, who might not have those pass rush qualities). You would like to have more than Clay Matthews as your inside AND outside pass rusher; thus the pick up last off season of Peppers. I am assuming someone else will need to step up in those roles this year.

I'm pretty sure by inside pass rush they are talking about interior defensive lineman who can rush the passer.

[mraynrand]

I am just stunned there is still a market for this kind of tale.

Hang on a second. It's just an endorsement from Greg Mattison, a Michigan defensive assistant with NFL chops. Sure, it's a fluff piece, but it's not Lori Nickel Lifetime Channel stuff about how nice he is with his best girl and their volunteer opportunities. It's just an endorsement article, but there's a fact in there (move to the inside to keep him on the field) and a quote from Eliot Wolf. Thin gruel, but not worthless.

[mraynrand]

I'm pretty sure by inside pass rush they are talking about interior defensive lineman who can rush the passer.

I didn't read it carefully, but you're right:

The Prototypes: Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions; J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

It's been said many times that the shortest path to the quarterback is a straight line. As anchoring against the inside run becomes less and less of a priority, explosive 300-pounders are being lined up inside and unleashed.

This revolution in approach is forcing offenses to reevaluate everything about how they protect the quarterback. Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer admitted to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune that the Bears were thinking about Ndamukong Suh lining up "over the right guard" when they drafted a right guard in the first round.

Whether they line up over the guard in a 4-3 defense or between the guard and tackle as a 3-4 end like 2012 AP Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, these rare athletes force offenses to account for their disruptive power.

I would include pressure from the ILB in a category of "Inside pass rusher" but that's just me

[mraynrand]

If we care what Kiper thought we'd be excited as hell; he compared Ryan to Dick Butkus when he was drafted.

How did Kiper know what Butkus did when he was drafted?

[3irty1]

How did Kiper know what Butkus did when he was drafted?

Let me rephrase: When the Ryan pick was announced on TV, Kiper compared Ryan to Dick Butkus.

[mraynrand]

Let me rephrase: When the Ryan pick was announced on TV, Kiper compared Ryan to Dick Butkus.

favorably?