Monday, April 26, 2010
Post Draft Spew Off...
Time to Spew Off and break down the Green Bay Packers 2010 Draft.
You can grade a draft almost immediately, you can grade a team on
how it met it's perceived needs and protected it's long-term goals.
Otherwise, you have to wait for the players to at least put on pads
and participate in training camp to get an idea of whether a rookie
can play at the NFL level.Packers 1st pick was OT Bryan Bulaga from Iowa. OT fit a team need, maybe no longer a 1st round need after the current signings of starters Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. But let's face it, GM Ted Thompson's lower round draft picked O-Linemen have been found wanting... lowlighted by RT Allen Barbre's performance last year. Bulaga, along with 5th round pick Marshall Newhouse of TCU appear to have filled a team need - depth at Tackle with potential to be starters. 2nd Round pick DT Mike Neal came off as a surprise pick, but with the Packers using the 3-4, finding players to excel in that formation is harder to project. Considering the unresolved status of Johnny Jolly (and Justin Harrell) and it really shouldn't surprise anyone that the Packers went this route. Throw 7th rounder C.J. Wilson from East Carolina and the Packers are expecting a stronger rotation from the defensive line this year. Morgan Burnett, the Safety from Georgia Tech, known for his interceptions a ball-hawking skills, was the Packers selection in the 3rd round after the teams only trade this draft. The Packers sent their 86th and 122nd picks to the Philadelphia Eagles for their 71st overall pick. Would it then surprise you that he selected #42 for his jersey number. I really like this pick, the Packers have several CB's coming off injuries that should shake out positively for the rotation, but I couldn't name any other Safety's on the Packers roster after Atari Bigby, Nick Collins and converted CB oft-ridiculed Jarrett Bush. Another major team need was filled.  The other 5th round selection TE Andrew Quarless of Penn State, some issues, but played very well last year and 6th round pick James Starks, the RB from Buffalo who played very well 2 years in a row, then missed last year with a shoulder injury rounds out the Packers 2010 Draft. So what does it mean, why didn't the Packers go after an OLB, CB, or KR which were perceived to be "team needs". It easy to see why, the games last year that the defense allowed big passing number against weren't because of lack of play by the OLB's or the CB's. Injuries played roles in that... but the main reason was no passing rushing presence from the D-Line... put 3 DL's in the game with some pass-rushing ability along with both OLB's Brad Jones and Clay Matthews and opposing teams will have to guess which 4 are rushing. Jordy Nelson with Will Blackmon are great (2nd thought - decent) Kick-off Returners, if the they can get some blocks without penalties called. Will Blackmon and Charles Woodson are great Punt Returners which then leaves... not much reason to waste a draft pick on someone specifically to be a special teams specialist. The Packers: GM Ted Thompson, Head Coach Mike McCarthy and the rest of their Draft Staff did a fine job addressing weak spots on the Packers roster. Now It's Time To Play Some Football!!! BeerKid - Always Pack 4 Life! |
