ROUND 4 PICK 121 - LB CARL BRADFORD (ARIZONA STATE)

He was an all-star pass rusher at ASU, it would have been idiotic NOT to try him outside first.

There is no other way to know if he can beat NFL OT's

Many teams try a guy at the high-value spot (OLB) and then move to the lower value spot (ILB).

 

They do the same thing on the OL, and that drives you batschit crazy too.

Its just a part of the development process and and the coaches want film for evaluation:

Is he doing it rong ? OR

He's doing it right, but just doesn't have the athleticism to pull it off  ? 

Are his shortcomings mental, physical, coachable ? Does he need to bulk up ?

He may or may not suck, but they are just getting tape on everything

Then the non-mensa coaching staff has something to look at over the offseason

 

They should have enough tape on Jamari Lattimore by the end of next year to figure out he sucks and begin the Bradford experience.

Its a Packer tradition:

 

Vic S'oto

Dezman Moses

Danny Lansannah

Cyril Obiozor

DJ Smith

Robert Francios

Tracy White

Spencer Havner

Abdul Hodge

Roy Manning

Diyral Briggs

Matt Wilhelm

Ricky Elmore

Poppinga

Zombo

Terrel Manning

 

They must be doing something wrong. All the players other teams sign become Probowlers.

The one that amazed me was Paris Lenon,  he stayed in the league several years with Detroit and AZ -

and he still sucked - too small.  but he was able to hang around far longer than I ever thought possible.

The Packers like Carl Bradford more than you do

 

Interesting read on reddit

I still think they take an ILB early in the draft.  Bradford didn't crack the active list in 2014.  Can you really count on him to be the primary backup/potential starter in 2015?  I wouldn't think so.

I see CB as the bigger need after the departures of Tramon and House. I'd be really surprised if they took an ILB in the 1st.

By early in the draft, I mean rounds 1-4, preferably by end of day 2.  I don't necessarily disagree with you, I hope a good CB is there in round 1.

I knew you didn't necessarily mean 1st round. I think that has been the conventional thinking of a lot of Packer fans, though.

 

2nd round seems a likely spot to pick an inside backer by my estimation.

the first or second second round pick?

second second or third third, but not the third sixth or the first fifth

Yes...if you like what you saw in practice.

Disagree, boss.

The GBP Reddit is a great place to hang if you enjoy reading about how what Bert did wasn't that bad and how the Vikings became someone's 2nd favorite team after they signed Jennings.

I don't dislike Bradford, but expectations should be low for him. I think it's odd how some people think an ILB is either just a less athletic OLB  or bulky OLB. It's so much more than that, so much of the position is about instincts and being able to diagnose plays in a split second. Hawk and Brad Jones were failures because they had terrible instincts and constantly misdiagnosed plays. It wasn't about their athleticism, slower players than Hawk have been successful at ILB, they just couldn't read and react fast enough and didn't have the instincts. Maybe Carl Bradford has the instincts, we haven't truly seen enough of him to know that. He might be a good ILB, but anyone who thinks he will succeed at ILB based solely on his height/weight/speed and some write up from a pre-draft site is setting themselves up for failure.

All I know is this is the last time I ever throw my weight (all 250 pounds worth) behind a 4th rounder. I'm making the Icon look like freaking Satori with my track record.

Bradford may have the size to play ILB, but we need SPEED at one or both positions. Something he apparently doesn't have...

 

Now that's saying something.

 

Gaolline, I just thought it was an interesting take rather than the normal doom & gloom where Bradford is concerned. Over the top? Yeah probably, but I'm willing to give the guy a shot this year. Are you?

Fifth third.  Bank on it.

I am out with Packiderm in the fanciest dive bar in the zip code before we head to the Sabres game, but I have a list of the poor fools I have suffered, and once it's properly updated and earmarked, it shall be shared for your analysis/rightful mocking.

So much jumpy!

 

Honestly, if they think Barrington and Bradford are a good combo as far as thumpers I could see Uncle Ted looking in the mid rounds for more athletic ILB/Safety types as part of the overall substitution package.

 

Part of me thinks more and more that unless there is "the guy" that TT covets in the first round, we won't see ILB until mid rounds.

My biggest concern with Barrington/Bradford isn't ability. It's Winston Moss. 

Overcome your coaching?

Never question coaching. Just tune it out. As needed. 

IMO Hawk had instincts but no athletic ability.  He was timid, not because he couldn't diagnose a play in time (called coach on the field by many), because he knew he couldn't make up for a single misstep.

 

Joenes had athletic ability but no football awareness.

I have returned to my humble internet abode! Kiss the ring, for I have stories to tell and neighbors to annoy!

 

But first, my well proven track record of the Rusty Curse:

 

2002 - My first draft. Marques Anderson was my boy. I think I was justified for about half a season, and then it just went downhill from there.

 

2003 - My easily influenced, bandwagon teenage self was all in with Kenny Peterson because WOO OHIO STATE!!! This guy failed to beat out Cletidus Hunt, as I recall.

 

2004 - BJ Sander. I just so wanted to believe....

 

2005 - I didn't really have a favorite from this draft. I just didn't understand why they'd take Rodgers.

 

2006 - I was ecstatic with drafting Hawk and was convinced Daryn Colledge was bound to be a regular Pro Bowler. Moving on...

 

2007 - Aaron Rouse had such a great story. Dad was in jail, so that would surely get him pissed off, and he was 6'4!! Great physical attributes always translate to a star player, right?

 

2008 - I was mad they drafted Jordy Nelson.

 

2009 - Actually a good year for me. T.J. Lang was my blue-chip prospect and he's been pretty darn good so for.

 

2010 - James Starks who to be fair has had a decent career. Just wasn't the franchise back I was hoping for out of my local boy. Also, I was high on Neal and that took a while

 

2011 - So many...Alex Green, Derek Sherrod, D.J. Williams, Ryan Taylor, Lawrence Guy, Ricky Elmore...my head hurts.

 

2012 - McMillain. SMALL SCHOOL = SCRAPPY COMEBACK STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 (You should see me during March Madness. I'm one intolerable North Dakota State fan)

 

2013 - Tretter, but he still has a chance to when that stupid fat drunk Linzzzzley breaks his neck after falling out of the rafters he wakes up in the day after July 4.

 

2014 - Bradford. See this thread.

 

So.....um, does Minnesota have any front office openings? 

so perryman should be our pick.

He was just cheerleading with no evidence. Most of the doom and gloom surrounding this kid is just as clueless.

Thanks Fedya. 

Even though we've never been photographed in a room together, I assure you that antooo and I are two different people.  I for one am funny.

Looking?

That's hitting below the belt Goalline.

Yeah, pretty low even for me.

Bvan wishes he could look like me.

That is probably the funniest thing you've ever said.

 

Good call: The blind squirrel found his nuts

I've watched Carl Bradford play for years at ASU, and I believe he is going to do some very special things for us at ILB. His style of play is very similar to Matthews' and I think both of them will start in the middle this year. Those two inside will be very, very good for the GB defense. 

 

Will have to to wait and see, but I feel pretty good about Bradford becoming a top ILB in the NFL.

 

His head was reeling last year with the jump to the NFL and the complexity of Dom's D. That true redshirt year will help him immensely. I guarantee they wanted him to sit and learn the scheme, learn how to make the calls. I do suspect that's been their plan for him. 

 

Just wait. You'll see. This kid plays with fire, and he is fully capable in the middle. Tackles, sacks, coverage, PDs, INTs, FFs, with great instincts for the game. It will be good to have all of that again in the middle. 

 

Bradford was the #4 ranked LB overall in the 2014 draft by draftscout. The 51st ranked player regardless of position, out of more than 2000 players.