PACKERS ONLY A+ DRAFT - THE SPORTING NEWS

[Rastak]

Do you know much about the Hicks (oline philly) guy the Vikings traded for?"

I guess he's started a bunch of games for Philly and can play either gaurd or tackle.Cook can play gaurd and center.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I know all about Hicks. He didn't. I told him that I wouldn't be surprised to see him start for the Vikings. He's better at OG than OT. He'll likely start if Marcus Johnson can handle RT. He's no world beater, and he's probably a guy a team will always looking to upgrade on, but I think he's better than what they have. Personally, I think that trade was the second best move they made on draft day--after drafting Greenway. I think Griffin was a solid pick. I had him late 2nd/early 3rd, but he's a solid player. I think Edwards was a solid pick for where they got him. I thought Cook was a reach. I like Jackson's potential, but I'm not sure he was worth two 3rd round picks. I think it will take 2-3 years before he's ready to play. I guess we'll see what kind of QB guru Childress really is.

[Rastak]

I know all about Hicks. He didn't. I told him that I wouldn't be surprised to see him start for the Vikings. He's better at OG than OT. He'll likely start if Marcus Johnson can handle RT. He's no world beater, and he's probably a guy a team will always looking to upgrade on, but I think he's better than what they have. Personally, I think that trade was the second best move they made on draft day--after drafting Greenway. I think Griffin was a solid pick. I had him late 2nd/early 3rd, but he's a solid player. I think Edwards was a solid pick for where they got him. I thought Cook was a reach. I like Jackson's potential, but I'm not sure he was worth two 3rd round picks. I think it will take 2-3 years before he's ready to play. I guess we'll see what kind of QB guru Childress really is.

Yup, we'll know in a couple of years.....

[HarveyWallbangers]

As much as I worry about the Packers passing on Demetrius Williams and Jason Avant for Cory Rodgers, Reggie McNeal and Bruce Gradkowski for Ingle Martin, and Greg Eslinger for Tony Moll, the Vikings had a few of those also. They passed on QB Charlie Whitehurst for Tarvaris Jackson (and gave up a 3rd round pick to do it), Chris Chester for Ryan Cook, Mark Anderson for Ray Edwards, Ashton Youbouty and Richard Marshall for Cedric Griffin, and Marcus Hudson for Greg Blue. We'll see. I guess all teams did similar things, so I'm not going to get too down on specific picks. I just hope the whole body of work turns out well for the Packers.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Draft Judgements: Favre gets his gold watch early
By Clark Judge

Brett Favre, this one's for you.

Forget about parting gifts for the lame-duck quarterback. The Green Bay Packers just delivered what Favre needs most in a season expected to be his last.

Green Bay was one of the weekend's big winners in a draft that can't help but benefit Favre this year and the club for the long haul. There were guards. There was a tackle. Wide receivers. Return specialists. A pass rusher.

And there was A.J. Hawk.

In short, it was one of the best drafts in years for Green Bay, and I haven't even mentioned the team's acquisition of free-agent cornerback Charles Woodson. Anyway, it's about time the Pack knocked one out of the park.

Now the question: Is it in time to send Favre out a winner?

We'll have to wait on that one. But if you're Favre, who now is on the clock, you're grateful the club sent in the cavalry. Favre said he didn't want to end his career with last year's disappointing results, and this draft virtually assures that won't happen.

That doesn't mean I anticipate Green Bay challenging for the top of the NFC North. I don't. But I also don't anticipate Favre having to carry this team again.

And here's why:

* Hawk becomes an immediate starter. Not only was he the best linebacker in the draft, he might've been the best defender in it, too -- and, yes, I'm counting No. 1 pick Mario Williams.

* Guard Daryn Colledge is a prospective starter. He was the starting left tackle at Boise State, where he was named the team's Outstanding Offensive Lineman last season. What you like about Colledge is that he's mean, tough and strong -- setting several school weightlifting records. He's also durable, starting 51 games at Boise.

* Greg Jennings was the fourth-best wide receiver in this draft. So he played at Western Michigan. He produced, with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and a school-record 238 receptions. Oh, yeah, he also caught 39 scoring passes -- breaking the previous Western Michigan record by 12 TDs. Essentially, he replaces Javon Walker, traded for a second-round pick.

* Linebacker Abdul Hodge was a steal at the 67th position. The guy was so good last year that he shared team MVP honors with Chad Greenway, taken with the 17th pick. Not only did Hodge lead the Hawkeyes in tackles in each of the last three years, he averaged a conference-best 13.2 tackles a game last season.

* Wide receiver Cory Rodgers moonlights as a return specialist, leading the WAC last year with a 30.3-yard average on kickoff returns. If you think you're going to return a lot of kicks, you might as well find someone who's competent. The Pack just did.

* It did again when it found Boston College cornerback Will Blackmon in the fourth round. Blackmon adds depth to the secondary, but he's more likely to have an impact on punt and kickoff returns. In 2004 he became the first player in school history to return both for TDs in the same season, and his 2,803 career yards in kickoff returns were only 120 yards short of the NCAA record. Blackmon and Woodson will lobby coach Mike McCarthy for time in the huddle with Favre. Each has experience at wide receiver, with Blackmon switching from corner to wide receiver his senior year.

And that was just the beginning. Green Bay also added offensive lineman Tony Moll. A productive quarterback to sit behind Favre and Aaron Rodgers. A couple of defensive linemen. And a safety.

Brett Favre may be winding down, but the Packers? Maybe, just maybe, they're getting started again.

[Charles Woodson]

Espn's take

Green Bay Packers: GRADE: B
I gave Green Bay an A after the first day. The Packers had a lot of picks (12), and some were definitely reaches. Linebacker A.J. Hawk, their first-round pick at No. 5, will give the Packers a much-needed face on defense. Offensive tackle Daryn Colledge needs to get stronger and become a better run-blocker. I really like WR Greg Jennings, LB Abdul Hodge and C Jason Spitz. Will Blackmon was both a wide receiver and cornerback at Boston College, but reportedly he will get a chance to play corner initially.

[HarveyWallbangers]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cr-nfcgrades050106&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Green Bay Packers

High marks – The mass of the class is fantastic – 13 total picks, including five in the top 75. Linebackers A.J. Hawk and Abdul Hodge should be a great tandem for years to come. Tackle Daryn Colledge and center Jason Spitz should eventually develop into starters. Greg Jennings and Cory Rodgers add depth to the receiving crew and should provide what Terrence Murphy would have if he hadn't been injured. Cornerback/wide receiver Will Blackmon offers flexibility and can also be a return specialist. Defensive tackle Johnny Jolly was a great value selection in the sixth round.

Low marks – The Packers started strong, but dropped off with some reaching in Rounds 5 through 7. Two big ones came in the fifth round: Quarterback Ingle Martin was a seventh-round choice on many boards, and tackle Tony Moll was expected to be an undrafted free agent.

Final grade: A

Minnesota Vikings

High marks – Cedric Griffin is a good addition to the cornerbacks and should be able to step into the nickel role as a rookie. In the future, he could develop into a top-notch player who pushes for the No. 2 cornerback job. Chad Greenway is a good productive outside linebacker who should solidify the position opposite Ben Leber.

Low marks – There were too many major reaches in the second round. Tackle/center Ryan Cook offers some flexibility, but most teams had him going in the fourth or fifth. Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson might have the best arm in the draft, but he was widely thought to be a fourth-rounder at best.

Final grade: C

[mngolf19]

Of course, PA likes the Vikings draft. He works for them.


I love Paul Allen, but he and Puffy are homers.

I realize you know that, but others on here my not.

Your right Harv, PA is a homer on stuff like that. Not that he won't rip them either, but I don't think of him as any kind of judge.

[mngolf19]

What!

The Packers have never gotten that kind of respect in a draft grade! Now they have me worrying. When the "experts" say something good about the Packers it creates a paradigmatic shift that unnerves me.

They did name our two best defensive picks, but I like Darryn Colledge, too. He will be a star on the offensive line.

Swede, are you qualified to use words like paradigmatic?

[Guiness]

Another team I thought had a very good draft (again) was Philly. They got three smokin' linemen in Bunkley, Justice and Jean-Gilles. The last 2 went lower then generally projected.

You've got to like Arizona's luck. I can just see ol' Denny's face when he realized Leinart was falling to him. HOLY F@#$#@$!!! must've rung out in their war room when Oakland, Buffalo and Detroit, all with QB needs passed him over

I'll have to look through the another analysis'. What's being said about the paradigmatic shift Houston made in taking Mario?

[swede]

What!

The Packers have never gotten that kind of respect in a draft grade! Now they have me worrying. When the "experts" say something good about the Packers it creates a paradigmatic shift that unnerves me.

They did name our two best defensive picks, but I like Darryn Colledge, too. He will be a star on the offensive line.

Swede, are you qualified to use words like paradigmatic?

Sorry. That was a typo. I meant "pile of dog-mating shit".

[mraynrand]

"That doesn't mean I anticipate Green Bay challenging for the top of the NFC North. I don't. But I also don't anticipate Favre having to carry this team again. "

---

Why not? On paper, do the Vikings and Lions look much better? The Bears had a charmed season last year and still don't look to have any offense. yes they have a decent defense, but the Packers moved the ball all over the field on them last season. Sure, if the Packers are multiply injured like last year, they're going to struggle, and they have to overcome the loss of two wideouts, but just looking at the NFC North and the competition that the Packers face, it seems like 8-8 might be competetive in the NFC north.

[mngolf19]

Why not? On paper, do the Vikings and Lions look much better? The Bears had a charmed season last year and still don't look to have any offense. yes they have a decent defense, but the Packers moved the ball all over the field on them last season. Sure, if the Packers are multiply injured like last year, they're going to struggle, and they have to overcome the loss of two wideouts, but just looking at the NFC North and the competition that the Packers face, it seems like 8-8 might be competetive in the NFC north.

I would say on paper (doesn't mean much) that yes the Vikes and Bears do look better than the Pack. But divisional games can always go either way as they are very emotional. I know the Bears are inconsistent on winning, the Vikes have a new coach which can go either way. Pack has a new coach which can go either way but I would expect them to do better than last year. And the Lions have a new coach and if he can make improvements despite Millen they don't have a bad team.

[BooHoo]

Most forum posters must be happy, the pack got their man in Hawk. As far as the draft goes, I do not take any stock in what the "experts" say about whether a team did a good job or bad job in the draft. They are paid to make statements about how the teams did. These are only opinions that really don't mean much except gets the "experts" their next pay check. The real judge will be how many of the pciks are still around at the end of the season and how they performed during the year.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think the talent level on the Vikings and Packers is much closer than Viking fans seem to think. This was a team with two new OGs, that lost their top 3 RBs, 3 of their top 5 wideouts, and their top TE for good chunks of the season. It's a team that lost more close games than any team in recent memory (5 by three points or less). It was a team that was young.

Minnesota 9-7-0 PF: 306 PA: 344
Green Bay 4-12-0 PF: 298 PA: 344

QB Brett Favre or Brad Johnson?
RB Ahman Green or Chester Taylor?
FB William Henderson or Tony Richardson?
WR Donald Driver or Koren Robinson?
WR Rod Gardner or Travis Taylor?
TE Bubba Franks or Jermaine Wiggins?
LT Chad Clifton or Bryant McKinnie?
LG Junius Coston or Steve Hutchinson?
OC Scott Wells or Matt Birk?
RG Daryn Colledge or Artis Hicks?
RT Mark Tauscher or Marcus Johnson?

DE Aaron Kampman or Erasmus James?
DE KGB or Kenechi Udeze?
DT Ryan Pickett or Pat Williams?
DT Colin Cole or Kevin Williams?
LB Nick Barnett or E.J. Henderson?
LB A.J. Hawk or Chad Greenway?
LB Ben Taylor or Ben Leber?
CB Charles Woodson or Antoine Winfield?
CB Al Harris or Fred Smoot?
S Nick Collins or Darren Sharper?
S Marquand Manuel or Tank Williams?

To me, that's maybe 7-5 to the Packer with the rest being relatively even. Minnesota does have a couple of more stars. Talent level is a lot closer than Viking fans think. That's okay. Let them be unaware. Actually, neither lineup is overly impressive. The division is weak.