First Round Pick 2019, Rashan Gary

[Deputy Nutz]

I am not a Clay Matthews fan by any means and think he is the most overrated Packer of all time, but since the Packers have switched to an odd front he has been the gold standard for OLB in Green Bay. Matthews Ran a 4.67 forty, 23 reps in the bench, 35.5" vertical, a 6.90 three cone, and a 4.18 short shuttle all at 6'3" 240 pounds.

Compare Matthews numbers to Gary's and I would think people will see him more favorably as an outside linebacker. Gary ran a 4.58 forty, he had 26 reps in the bench, 38" vertical, and a 4.29 short shuttle, all at 6'5" 275 pounds.

Matthews was considered a one year wonder in college with mixed results. Some even considered him a work out warrior.

Rashan Gary much like Matthews will have a transition to OLB, but I think it will make him a better football player because he can run and cover a lot of field. I saw him run all over the field and chase as a defensive lineman. I think another comparison I can make is that they both had to improve their instincts and vision.

At the end of the draft the Packers job is to select the best football players and athletes with the most potential to better their football teams. Stats from college don't carry over to the NFL. Its fun to get so worked up about the draft, I do but it's not make or break for me who a team selects 4 months before the first game. I have an interest in scouting these players and how and where they are drafted.

If I was the GM of the Packers I would have most likely passed on Gary because of the shoulder issue, but the board really didn't play out the way I would have liked. I would have ended up taking an offensive tackle, or I would have tried to trade out of the pick. If the Packers didn't like the trade values I understand why they made the pick at 12.

[gbgary]

gary's supposedly versatile. hope he can stay healthy.

[Harlan Huckleby]

gary's supposedly versatile. hope he can stay healthy.

He has the frame to bulk up and play OT.


Don't like the pick and not letting this go.

[Tony Oday]

Where do our new Edge rushers fit after this draft? I personally would like one of them to play ILB, that would be great to have an athletic hard hitting ILB that can stay with TE.

If Lions Fans don't like him I think we may have a future Hall of Famer.

[Harlan Huckleby]

The defensive emphasis has a rebuilding smell to it. Maybe that is appropriate. The Packers needed to be an offensive juggernaut to win in recent years. How many seasons does Arod have left?

Change is bad.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Clay Matthews had 5.5 sacks in college.

[mraynrand]

The defensive emphasis has a rebuilding smell to it. Maybe that is appropriate. The Packers needed to be an offensive juggernaut to win in recent years. How many seasons does Arod have left?

Change is bad.

I dunno, the combination of veterans and a couple of draft picks has the feel of a reconstruction they expect to be ready this year.

What was bad on defense last year? Pass rush, Safeties, cover LB. Check, check, and ?

Should be a solid defense.

[Guiness]

Here are some clips, both positive and negative. Helps sort the critique out a bit.

https://twitter.com/RossUglem/status...83195144421377

One thing I notice in those clips is that he is often the last DL out of his stance. Time and again the rest of the DL are up and moving before he fires out. NFL offensive linemen will smoother him if that doesn't get fixed.

[wist43]

They said they're going to start Gary at LB... which is all well and good, except that Gary is a one-trick pony when it comes to pass rush, and he doesn't have the speed to threaten the edge.

He has no pass rush moves, no technique. NFL Tackles are.gonna swallow him up.

Pettine going to have to use him like Terrell Suggs, i.e. standing up and threatening gaps out of 3-3 and 2-4/5 alignments - which is what I've been wanting to see done for a while now.

That said, it still doesn't mitigate the fact that Gary really can't win much on his own.

Pettine may be able to get production out of him by scheming, but the point of being the 12th overall pick is - that should be able to win one-on-ones on his own; and Gary can't win those on his own.

[RashanGary]

One thing I like about Gary, I get the sense he’s a good person. The kind of good person who’s not taking performance enhancers. He’s just legitimately 280 lbs and jumps 38” That’s rare. Plus he played at a school and position where stats don’t blow up. I don’t think he’s scratched the surface of his potential yet.

[Bretsky]

Gary and a QB may have been the most popular poll choices for players to avoid

Gooter takes him and we try to find justifications.

Gary needs to be a Pro Bowler at pick 12; that is how I judge the quality of this pick going forward. We see guys all the time with elite talent who produce like Devin Bush. And then we see guys all the time with elite talent who underproduce. Up to this point Gary looks like Tarzan but his produces like Shary

Fritz to me is the best source in here; and it's a pretty dam bad sign that the Michigan fan freaks chuckle at our pick.

I'd go to bat for all my Dam Badgers. I want guys like D'Cota Dixon, Van Gengel, and David Edwards and others playing for GB

I'll miss those peckerheads. Michigan fans seem happy to see this guy go.

I hope Gooter is smarter than all of us and Gary becomes an all pro. That is how I'm measuring this pick

I hope Savage does too. I love Savage, but I'm not giving up two fourth round picks to move up when there are so many safeties and we have so many dam needs. But as a player, I love Savage.

[Fritz]

You know the apocalypse is upon us when Wist and I are in rock-solid agreement.

[Bretsky]

Wist was way the hell TOO happy the past couple months

I missed the Wist I used to know; he made me seem like a homer

Now my Wist is back; and you are right behind him ))))

[Fritz]

This is a shift for me; I usually preach patience. And really, we don't know. Not even the GM's truly know, though I suppose they have access to more and maybe better info than we do as fans.

But I feel strongly that the flags on Rashan Gary were such that Gutekunst should've known better. I truly, truly don't understand what makes him think Pettine and company can somehow get the production out of this dude that no one at Michigan ever could. Not that I think Michigan is the greatest college program - it's not, and I don't think Harbaugh is much of a coach there - but they have had success coaching up defensive players in the past. But they couldn't get it done with Gary. And he's the kind of guy who is not a 100% eat/sleep/dream football. I believe he will not end up playing in a lot of games due to injuries, perceived or otherwise.

I'm feeling down about the Packers' future now. But I will buck up - why not, as I don't really know. I'm just a fan, spouting off. Though it is kinda fun.

[pbmax]

One thing I notice in those clips is that he is often the last DL out of his stance. Time and again the rest of the DL are up and moving before he fires out. NFL offensive linemen will smoother him if that doesn't get fixed.

Yep, that was the second thing that stood out to me. I don't know what he is watching out there.

First thing was the lack of a finishing step or bend around a corner. He's going need something. He has the quickness/speed to get the corner, but not the last move.