RANKING THE PACKERS TOP DRAFT NEEDS

[texaspackerbacker]

If at all possible, we need a difference maker in the first round - somebody who is star-quality. You could argue we haven't had anything like that since Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews, and maybe Jordy, although it's hard to say how good he would be without Rodgers.

I don't think we need another unproven/unfinished product at Corner. We have quantity now, just not top quality. Same thing at OLB. It's probably not smart to use a #1 on a ILB. What else is there? Pretty much everywhere, we have quantity of decent but not outstanding players. I've never advocated trading up, but if it got us a near sure thing, it might be smart.

[Carolina_Packer]

His first round picks may not always pan out, but one thing about TT is that he will never panic to reach for a need-based player, but will consistently try to get the BAP, or at least look at the value of the pick and who is there to be picked. Late last season, of course the most talked about deficiency was the DB's, however, I think a close second would have to be the pass rush. They were just not getting home like they should have been, either due to injury (Clay's shoulder, Nick the one arm bandit, Elliot), age (Peppers), ability (Jones was mis-cast as an OLB), experience (Fackrell).

If you can't generate a consistent pass rush and move the opposing QB's feet, you could have really good corners who eventually get beat, or lousy ones that get torched. It won't matter.

[pbmax]

Does someone have access to PFF's pass rush grades or team numbers?

Because while I have not seen it in one place, the sense I get from reading the end of season critiques is that the Packers pass rush was pretty good last year. So I don't think pass rush was anywhere close to the same priority as the DBs.

I have worried about the pass rush before. And Matthews was getting nowhere last season. But Perry, Daniels, Peppers and Jones had good years. Free agency losses have exacerbated this with losing Peppers and Jones, but you get Clark probably starting in obvious pass situations, plus a return to health for Matthews and one of Fuckdoggle or Holy Fackrell coming through.

That is a lot of moving parts and Matthews isn't getting younger. But the story of an anemic pass rush from last year that I see pretty often is overblown I believe.

To get the numbers ball rolling, the Packers Adjusted sack rate last year was 6th in the League at 7.2% (includes sacks and intentional groundings) from Football Outsiders. Doesn't measure pressures or hits though.

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/dl

[Pugger]

so you read that same article i did where they talk about the options for replacing lang and the only option they said really works is to draft lamp?

kind of a dumb article imo

for me, theres a reason we drafted spriggs in the second last year, and it wasn't to sit on the bench, they're gonna start him at guard or Rt this year, unless he completely sucks

Spriggs is no guard. I think he was drafted because Bulaga is no spring chicken and last season was the first time Bryan missed only a handful of snaps.

[BZnDallas]

Spriggs is no guard. I think he was drafted because Bulaga is no spring chicken and last season was the first time Bryan missed only a handful of snaps.

I think Demovsky just put out an article that concurs with your thought process Pugger. Said MM told him Spriggs is the possible future LT of this team and doesn't want to take him away from him learning the tackle position. Went on to agree with other s in the forum that Murphy, Patrick, or Barclay could be the fill in, or a draft pick.

[pbmax]

See, the good, honest, earnest and trusting posters here at PackerReason.com are taking Mike's word as his bond. And I probably agree, that Spriggs is not the plan. Now.

But let's say Ted takes a college Tackle who projects to Guard in the 4th and its going to take him a year to get ready, if not more. Barclay could be Barclay from 2015 and Murphy might not make the transition to Guard. Patrick might take a second year jump right to another team if he doesn't improve (see MacDonald, Nick).

The moment Rodgers gets knocked around from the RG spot the third game in a row, in will come Spriggs (unlike the other 4 prospects, he will be active each game) and he will not get mauled.

He probably isn't a guard and wasn't much in the run game last year. But he has a Tackles' ability to grab on and throttle a pass rush. And that means, plan or no, Spriggs is the backup to the backup at RG, no matter what Mike says this offseason and camp.

[pbmax]

Also, if Barclay is Barclay from limited exposure in 2016, then I am even less worried about Guard. It might be fourth on the list.

[QBME]

Barclay is Barclay

Ugh

[BZnDallas]

See, the good, honest, earnest and trusting posters here at PackerReason.com are taking Mike's word as his bond. And I probably agree, that Spriggs is not the plan. Now.

But let's say Ted takes a college Tackle who projects to Guard in the 4th and its going to take him a year to get ready, if not more. Barclay could be Barclay from 2015 and Murphy might not make the transition to Guard. Patrick might take a second year jump right to another team if he doesn't improve (see MacDonald, Nick).

The moment Rodgers gets knocked around from the RG spot the third game in a row, in will come Spriggs (unlike the other 4 prospects, he will be active each game) and he will not get mauled.

He probably isn't a guard and wasn't much in the run game last year. But he has a Tackles' ability to grab on and throttle a pass rush. And that means, plan or no, Spriggs is the backup to the backup at RG, no matter what Mike says this offseason and camp.

Ya gotta take what any of these coaches and GMs say with a grain of salt. I don't necessarily trust them word for word. Anything can happen btwn now and week 1. You have to read btwn the lines with no absolutes. Do I trust MM when he says he wants Spriggs to learn only tackle? Sure, but wants and needs change from day to day.

[Pugger]

Barclay is a serviceable guard but a dreadful tackle.

[bobblehead]

Also, if Barclay is Barclay from limited exposure in 2016, then I am even less worried about Guard. It might be fourth on the list.

I always felt Barclay could play guard better than tackle. Problem is he is an awful tackle and a below average guard.

[Pugger]

If at all possible, we need a difference maker in the first round - somebody who is star-quality. You could argue we haven't had anything like that since Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews, and maybe Jordy, although it's hard to say how good he would be without Rodgers.

I don't think we need another unproven/unfinished product at Corner. We have quantity now, just not top quality. Same thing at OLB. It's probably not smart to use a #1 on a ILB. What else is there? Pretty much everywhere, we have quantity of decent but not outstanding players. I've never advocated trading up, but if it got us a near sure thing, it might be smart.

In 2013 with Rodgers sidelined with a broken collarbone Jordy put up decent numbers.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/11270/jordy-nelson

[gbgary]

I always felt Barclay could play guard better than tackle. Problem is he is an awful tackle and a below average guard.

come oooon...he's gotten better as time has gone along. so did what's his name we all used to rag on. lol...dang it...name is on the tip of my tongue. i hate getting old.

[bobblehead]

come oooon...he's gotten better as time has gone along. so did what's his name we all used to rag on. lol...dang it...name is on the tip of my tongue. i hate getting old.

Barclay is bad. I would bet the is the last option to start at guard. It means all other plans fell through. That being said you know what you are getting. He is not a turnstile. He is a solid back up.