Draft 2019 : The Reasoning BEHIND Your Preferences

[Joemailman]

You actually think Allison can excel in the slot ?

Do head coaches ever sugar coat things when they perhaps don't have all of the talent pieces on the roster ?

I see no reason he would publicly say a player can do things that he feels the player can't do. Why should we assume Allison can't play in the slot?

[Joemailman]

https://www.packers.com/news/packers...en-in-the-slot

Yet, neither LaFleur nor General Manager Brian Gutekunst is of the opinion the Packers’ next slot receiver must have the same makeup and measurables as the 5-foot-10, 192-pound Cobb.

“Any receiver it starts with their ability to separate, that’s one thing we’re always looking for,” said LaFleur at this week’s NFL Annual Meetings. “But I think a slot, especially with what we want to do, has to have some good instincts, and really you want a smart player that you can call choice routes with and it takes smart players to do that.”


LaFleur has learned slot receivers come in all shapes and sizes during his decade in the league. Mohamed Sanu (6-2, 210) was a dynamic force in the middle of the field in Atlanta when LaFleur was an assistant for the Falcons in 2015-16.

As the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, LaFleur led the NFL’s highest-scoring offense with 6-foot-2, 208-pound Cooper Kupp lining up in the slot. The rookie third-round pick caught 62 passes for 869 yards and five touchdowns.

Last year in Tennessee, LaFleur had big plans for 6-foot-2, 248-pound Delanie Walker in the middle of the field before they needed to be shelved when the four-time Pro Bowler suffered a significant leg injury in the opener.

Over the past three years, the Packers have filled their receiving corps with tall and lengthy prospects Geronimo Allison (6-3, 202), Equanimeous St. Brown (6-5, 214), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (6-4, 206), J’Mon Moore (6-3, 205) and former UW-Whitewater standout Jake Kumerow (6-4, 209).

Speaking with reporters at this week’s NFL Annual Meetings, LaFleur singled out Allison as a versatile receiver with “a lot of flexibility to play inside or outside.” Gutekunst added the overriding similarity of successful slot receivers is skill and durability.

Allison has always been a quick study and someone Rodgers likes to throw to when he's in there. I'm not surprised LaFleur thinks he can play in the slot.

[pbmax]

Why do you think he's lying?

Because he did not say Allison would be an excellent or prototypical guy in the slot.

He first says Adams will play some there, which is fine. move him around, and make him harder to cover. Then he suggests Allison. So is he the second choice? This sounds like slot by committee which it might be for a year or two. You can't guarantee finding the slot guy you like in any one given year. It basically sounds like draft dissembling to me.

But I also don't buy Justin's explanation. Allison is not quick, though he is a good route runner and Rodgers does trust him. He could do the slot, but he is not really built for it. I don't think he present a matchup challenge at the position.

[pbmax]

https://www.packers.com/news/packers...en-in-the-slot



Allison has always been a quick study and someone Rodgers likes to throw to when he's in there. I'm not surprised LaFleur thinks he can play in the slot.

If its option routes from the slot, then I could see this making more sense. I had no idea Kumerow was 6' 4". That sounds ridiculous.

Back to Adams as the first mentioned guy, Adams excels at getting clean breaks off the line with an array of fake steps and stutters. If you were to run a traditional slot package for him, there might be an issue of timing. But it its option routes, then maybe that is not a concern. Still seems a bit of a waste having your best take off guy get moved around to open him up. Adams is one of the best at it.

[Bretsky]

I see no reason he would publicly say a player can do things that he feels the player can't do.

Haven't we witnessed coaching building up players to be better than they are in the past ? Maybe the sugarcoating is a motivational attempt...maybe not.....but we'd saw these statements plenty in the past

[pbmax]

I see no reason he would publicly say a player can do things that he feels the player can't do. Why should we assume Allison can't play in the slot?

Nick Macdonald?

Actually Joe, I think your baseline contention is false. Coaches ALL THE TIME project players into spots that they ultimately fail at. Remember Jarett Boykin as a starting WR?

That said, your story from packers.com seems to suggest they are indeed going to try some different things at slot. However, its still not clear if this is ideal or just the situation they find themselves in. The Cooper Cupp comparison is a good example of it working well.

But the Packers have also played Jordy Nelson in the slot, and that was obviously not their first choice.

I still feel like this is draft dissembling. All the following are true:

1. If after the draft all we have at slot is Adams, Allison, Kumerow and MVS, then Adams and Allison get first shot.
2. If we draft a player with a specific skill set, then all bets are off
3. If we draft a monster TE who is a true pass catching threat, all bets in the slot are off
4. If we draft a couple of developmental slot guys, we'll see what happens, but we need a reliable target first over specific physical traits.

[Joemailman]

Nick Macdonald?

Actually Joe, I think your baseline contention is false. Coaches ALL THE TIME project players into spots that they ultimately fail at. Remember Jarett Boykin as a starting WR?

That said, your story from packers.com seems to suggest they are indeed going to try some different things at slot. However, its still not clear if this is ideal or just the situation they find themselves in. The Cooper Cupp comparison is a good example of it working well.

But the Packers have also played Jordy Nelson in the slot, and that was obviously not their first choice.

I still feel like this is draft dissembling. All the following are true:

1. If after the draft all we have at slot is Adams, Allison, Kumerow and MVS, then Adams and Allison get first shot.
2. If we draft a player with a specific skill set, then all bets are off
3. If we draft a monster TE who is a true pass catching threat, all bets in the slot are off
4. If we draft a couple of developmental slot guys, we'll see what happens, but we need a reliable target first over specific physical traits.

Yeah, I misread what Bretsky was saying. I agree that coaches often make player projections that don't work out. Actually, I don't think we'll see a situation where one their top WR's is the main slot guy. I think we'll see most, if not all of their WR's playing the slot at times. I don't think you'll see Gutey using a high draft pick on a guy who is considered to be mainly a slot guy.

[The Shadow]

Having an M. Brown or Andy Isabella in the slot would totally freak out opposing Defensive Coordinators.

[wist43]

Having an M. Brown or Andy Isabella in the slot would totally freak out opposing Defensive Coordinators.

I really like Brown... if they think he can stay healthy - I'd definitely go after him.

Lot of buzz about NKeal Harry though... so they may try to go after him at 30, maybe even move up to make sure they get him.

[run pMc]

I really like Brown... if they think he can stay healthy - I'd definitely go after him.

Lot of buzz about NKeal Harry though... so they may try to go after him at 30, maybe even move up to make sure they get him.

I hope the NKeal Harry talk is a smokescreen...I wouldn't want him unless he falls very far. From what I've read he's a contested ball expert, which tells me he doesn't do a great job of separating from college CBs. He'll have a lot of trouble in the pros in that case, and we saw last year that Rodgers won't throw to guys unless they are wide open while glowing neon and orange with sirens flashing.

Brown is a dynamic player, but I don't know how you can expect him to stay healthy for a full season at under 170 pounds. He'll get knocked into the next decade going over the middle, which is essential for a slot WR. That, plus there are other bigger speedsters with YAC abliity who can play the slot and be drafted later.

[Joemailman]

I hope the NKeal Harry talk is a smokescreen...I wouldn't want him unless he falls very far. From what I've read he's a contested ball expert, which tells me he doesn't do a great job of separating from college CBs. He'll have a lot of trouble in the pros in that case, and we saw last year that Rodgers won't throw to guys unless they are wide open while glowing neon and orange with sirens flashing.

You know who else was a contested ball expert? Davante Adams. When Derek Carr really needed a completion, he would throw the ball up to Adams and let him go get it. And in fact, the scouting reports on Harry make him sound a lot like Adams.

https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/nkeal-harry

N'Keal Harry projects favorably as a prototypical X-receiver in the NFL. Harry's size, contested catch ability and skills defeating press coverage combine to offer an impressive package of traits, especially when considering the versatility Harry brings to an offense as a RAC receiver, deep threat and as a red-zone target. Harry may require some time to further develop but he has dominant traits.

[pbmax]

I hope the NKeal Harry talk is a smokescreen...I wouldn't want him unless he falls very far. From what I've read he's a contested ball expert, which tells me he doesn't do a great job of separating from college CBs. He'll have a lot of trouble in the pros in that case, and we saw last year that Rodgers won't throw to guys unless they are wide open while glowing neon and orange with sirens flashing.

In the extended offense, I think this is true. He is waiting for something to break big.

But c'mon. Ever see him pass to James Jones (2016)? Pass to Davante Adams on a sideline route? How about jump balls to Graham. Anything to post-surgery Jordy? Hell, he even threw them to Cobb on occasion. He will not do this every down and I think sometimes he is too careful, but never throwing to anyone covered is too broad a statement.

[texaspackerbacker]

Nkeal Harry runs a 40 between 4.5 and 4.6. He's the same size as Valdez-Scantling. Why would we waste a high draft pick for basically less than what we have right now?

Talk of getting this kid Brown or Isabella as a slot receiver? I wouldn't be opposed to getting a pint-sized speed demon late in the draft, but basically, they would just be slightly faster but unproven and smaller versions of Randall Cobb. I have said before, you don't necessarily need a midget as a slot receiver. I'd rather see a big guy with at least fair speed like Adams or Allison or maybe St. Brown there. The big drawback to slants and other quick routes is DBs jumping the route. That's a whole lot more likely with some 5'9 guy than with a 6'3 or 6'5 receiver.

Bottom line is we have at least six very good wideouts now. We absolutely don't need to use a high or even mid draft pick for another.

[Fritz]

The closer we get to the draft, the more people seem to focus on need instead of talent.

Let's just let Gutekunst draft the absolutely most talented and dedicated football players he can, and if we have seven wide receivers but only three safeties on the roster at the end of the draft, that will sort itself out later.

[pbmax]

The closer we get to the draft, the more people seem to focus on need instead of talent.

Let's just let Gutekunst draft the absolutely most talented and dedicated football players he can, and if we have seven wide receivers but only three safeties on the roster at the end of the draft, that will sort itself out later.

CBS has a mock with the Packers trading both first round picks to the Bucs for Quinnen Williams.