Assessing Packer Draft "Needs" as of today

Yada, yada, yada... let's get a guy in the middle that can read/diagnose plays and actually tackle/make plays.  Can Borland do that?  

 

This size-speed thing that's constantly put out by the experts is stupid.  Can the guy play football?  That's all that matters. 

No idea where Borland is on TT's board or who he'll pick, but he needs to hit paydirt. Between the injuries and poor choices the last several defensive drafts haven't been productive.

AJ Hawk can play football.

I can play football too, just not at an NFL level.

 

I agree with you, but the question for me is less about IF we should take him and more about WHEN we should take him. Have to consider everything when you're making a big investment.

Packers "need" a WR?

 

"Brandin Cooks is a speed merchant. He's 5'9" and three-quarters and 190. Is a big-time explosive playmaker. Kelvin Benjamin, are you kidding? I mean this guy is built like Jimmy Graham. He's 6'5", 240. He's a receiver, but he's a tight end body-type. He's going to be a real good value. Davante Adams from Fresno State is a 6'1", 212 pound guy. You've got a number of guys (to choose from)."

Abbre-deris

*clap clap, clap-clap-clap*

Allen Robinson from Penn St is another receiver that fits the Packer receiver mold I think. One common trait in their WR picks is that they all are polished route runners and have really good hands. They don't seem to get stuck on speed, they want reliable targets. Robinson fits that mold and can be had in the 2nd or 3rd even.

I like Abber cadaver deris....but I think he is this years Ryan Swope

He might not be a first rounder but I'd like to see TT snag him up at some point. Maybe trade into the early 2nd round. He's got a lot of range and has experiencing covering man-to-man. My only hesitation would be injury concern. He had foot surgery earlier this month. 

Maybe Hageman doesn't take as many plays off as some think?

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/artic...k-dt-metrics-10?pg=1

 

Very interesting article comparing the top 4 DTs in this class: Aaron Donald (Pitt), Timmy Jernigan (FSU), Rashede Hageman (Minnesota) and Will Sutton (Arizona St.). It looks at pressures/knockdowns/sacks per play, impact on the run game per play, range of where tackles were made, and where they lined up most often. 

- It’s likely that Hageman saw the least total run snaps among the entire DT class given the rotations from Minnesota. However, his supposed ‘lack of effort’ still did not show up, racking up a solid 11 [Effective Tackle] rate.

 

If not a top S, Ryan Shazier, perhaps?

Shazier could be special:  http://packerupdate.net/?p=31868

Could Shazier play ILB? I've seen a few sites wondering if he could play safety? He's about the same size as Keuchly. The comments in the link correctly call out Shazier is roughly the same size as Willis and Bowman. Bowman played some hybrid OLB at Penn State. Bowman might be the best ILB in football. 

 

Agree he'd be tough to pass up based on his potential versatility. Nothing wrong with stocking the roster with pure raw talent. 

I'm weary of Shazier as a 34 ILB. He's super athletic, good instincts, and seems to be solid in coverage, but is he physical enough for what 34 ILBs need to be? I'm not sure he is. We have 2 finesse players at ILB right now and while I think Shazier will be a quality LB in the NFL, I'm not sure he is the kind of LB that would make this D better. While their size may be similar, I don't see the Bowman comparisons when I watch Shazier.

I'm weary of this never ending winter. However I could be leery (or leary) of Shazier without more info on him. Just sayin.

You're absolutely right Grammar Nazi. I'm weary of sounding dumb!

To me, Shazier is a 4-3 WLB who moves to the middle in nickel. He's quick, rangey, can drop and tackle but I don't think he's stout enough to play inside on early downs.

I agree that Shazier doesn't fit the prototypical 3-4 ILB mold, but I think the team has made it quite apparent this offseason that they're not going to be locked into arbitrary body types. If they walk the walk come September, the defense will feature it's best football players in a scheme that supports them.

 

Even if that ends up being all talk, I think he'd be fine as the ILB in the nickel package which truly is the base at this point.

I will not be surprised if Shazier is the pick. From a mock yesterday.

Round 1: Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State

In the 3/4 the Packers have started Nick Barnett, Brandon Chillar, Desmond Bishop, and Brad Jones have all started games at inside linebacker next to AJ Hawk. The Packers made a significant investment in Jones last off season hoping he was the long-term solution, but after a sub-par season in 2013, Jones does not appear to be the answer.

 

It may take some time to adjust to playing in a 3-4 defense, but once he is able to adapt, Shazier could be exactly what the Packers need in the middle of their defense. Shazier has the speed and athleticism to cover tight ends and running backs, and has the power and instincts to make plays in the backfield. Shazier had 144 tackles, 23.5 tackles for a loss, and 7 sacks last season.

I was told was the clear choice

Looks like he's about ready to punch somebody's knee.

If he fell forward he wouldn't convert a 3rd and 1. Not interested.

Give him Sylvester Stallone's shoes and he will.

 

Or even a new hairdo.

I don't know if he's big enough to start in a 3-4, but it sure would be nice to have an ILB fast enough to chase down QBs and cover receivers. 

 

One could be wary of this statement...

Is this like a hary ass?

You could eat peanuts off the top of his head.

The DR. is in

With Tramon in a contract year Uncle Ted may be more interested in a CB to step up a year from now than a safety.

A wise man once said "You can never have too many good CB's"

 

That man is Al Davis talking to Ron Wolf

Why did you spell crazy w-i-s-e?

Kirwan's latest mock

 

Would rather have the kid from Bama at ILB...thumper and fast. Willis-like.

Mosley highlights

A month ago it looked like Mosley, Dix, and Ebron would be long gone by 21 and that Pryor should still be available. 15 days later Ebron, Dix, Mosely, and Pryor selected in that order and all gone before 21.

 

Now it looks like Ebron, Dix, Pryor gone before 21 and Mosley dropping to late 1st / early second round....

 

I get it that this is a reflection of sports hacks writing and re-writing mock nonsense for the sake of covering all their bases and that most GM's made their mind up about Mosley long ago. Mosley at 21 seems like a tremendous amount of value.

 

If he's available I'd jump all over him unless Moss / Capers / MM / or TT think they can mold Shazier into an even better ILB.

I wouldn't mind either Shazier or Mosley at 21, honestly.

 

Mosley seems to be better at "sifting through the trash", shedding blocks and finding the ball carrier. Shazier seems a better athlete and is faster and would probably be better in coverage. Both of them have injury concerns. 

My brother Joe says Mosely is the pick...so you can put your mind at ease.

 

This guy once accurately predicted 24 of 32 draft picks, including trades! So, I'd say Mosely to GB is all but guaranteed.

 

I do hope we can pick up Beau Allen at the right time.

UDFA would be the right time