Training Camp

Tramon, he gone if the ole crap continues. If that shoulder isn't ready don't even pass him on physical.

Sure training camp is always competitive but this year will see a larger turnover in roster than in previous.

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando Wolf:
Sure training camp is always competitive but this year will see a larger turnover in roster than in previous.

May be the wave of the future. Pile up as many draft picks as you can, bring in a regiment of talented players each year, and see who wants the payday more. The more young, cheap guys you can get, the more higher-paid veterans you can toss overboard to pay for the top talent.

We may be entering an era where teams divide their rosters into basically three tiers - the upper level core players who you build your team around, a middle tier of solid contributors, and a third level of hungry, talented young guys pushing the middle tier for roster spots.

The upper tier are the guys on their third contracts, and those are the guys who command the biggest share of your salary cap. Those are the guys you're going to pay whatever you need to pay them, because those are the gusy who carry your team on their backs.

The middle tier is made up of guys on their second contracts - solid players, guys in their mid-20s who have proven themselves and are just hitting their primes, and are making several million a year, but not really breaking the bank yet.

And the third tier are the draft choices and UFDAs you bring in every year to see if they can take a job away from the mid-level veterans, who can step in and perform at a similar level - but for the price of a rookie contract. The more of those guys you can find every spring and summer, the more room you have to keep guys like Rodgers and Matthews, or sign a free agent if you have a hole to fill.

I think we're going to see teams becoming more and more ruthless about cutting vets in their second contract, and training camps could become much, much more competitive. Guys who had a little bit of breathing room or benefit of the doubt a few years ago suddenly find that their job is hanging on every single snap in August.

I know, it's always been that way to a degree, but I really wonder if we're going to see more and more of that over the next few years as the contracts for the elite players continue to become more and more outrageous. If you've got an Aaron Rodgers and a Clay Matthews on your payroll, you can't afford to wait on someone to hit their stride or recover from that nagging ankle injury. If there's a 22-year old kid in camp who can do almost the same job for 7 bucks an hour, you keep him and dump the 3-year vet.

If that's the direction the league is going, I think we've got the right guy driving the bus. That's kind of the model the Patriots have been using for years now, but I think TT drafts a lot better than BB. If that's the new model, I think we're well-positioned to dominate for the foreseeable future.

Great post SD and I agree about having 3 tiers of players forming the roster. It really makes a lot of sense in this age of the salary cap and free agency.

Unfortunately Hawk seems to be the exception when it comes to being replaced/challenged by a younger player who could be just as effective at a fraction of his salary. Crosby would be the other name that comes to mind for getting a "pass" on performance results vs salary. For some reason TT seems to have a soft spot for them.

quote:

Originally posted by Salmon Dave:
May be the wave of the future. Pile up as many draft picks as you can, bring in a regiment of talented players each year, and see who wants the payday more. The more young, cheap guys you can get, the more higher-paid veterans you can toss overboard to pay for the top talent.

One of the biggest differences between what Sherman did as GM vs TT. IIRC, Sherman averaged about 6-7 draft picks per draft. TT is something like 11-12.

Bottom line, the more darts you have throwing at the board the better the chances something sticks. And another thing w/ TT. You will never see this team "age out" and then have to rebuild. He consistently has among the youngest rosters in the league.

I think it depends on the opportunities the draft class presents. If the whole draft board is wide take as many as you can get your hands on. If there are definitive drop offs get the best talent available and be done with it. For this year TT seems to have seen a good opportunity to increase the overall competition and let the play on the field sort it out. In other years it might not be the best strategy.

This draft also tells just how unhappy they were with the group of RBs last year and it's not just about Starks. If you feel good about Green stepping up there should be no need for two high quality RBs.

quote:

Originally posted by packerboi:

One of the biggest differences between what Sherman did as GM vs TT. IIRC, Sherman averaged about 6-7 draft picks per draft. TT is something like 11-12.

Bottom line, the more darts you have throwing at the board the better the chances something sticks.

Sure doesn't hurt that TT is so much better at throwing darts.

2 Dlineman
2 olineman
2 RB's
2 LBers
2 WR's


....only thing we didn't address was safety.

Iowa kid.

Doesn't count.

I know it's only Iowa, but still, it's a 4-year school. He may have learned to count somehow during those 4 years.

quote:

Originally posted by FLPACKER:
2 Dlineman
2 olineman
2 RB's
2 LBers
2 WR's


....only thing we didn't address was safety.

As Henry noted they did, but they didn't address P, K, LS, QB, TE, or Strength and Conditioning Coach.

quote:

Originally posted by FLPACKER:
2 Dlineman
2 olineman
2 RB's
2 LBers
2 WR's

Mayock or someone on NFL Network mentioned this is one of the latest trends also...picking 2 of a position of need. The Bears kinda did the same thing without as many picks and that's when the discussion came up that this is a trend of NFL GMs.

quote:

If that shoulder isn't ready don't even pass him on physical.

does nerve damage show up in a physical? is the only way to know by having him slam into a blocking sled? it's a tough one but I don't want a CB on the field who can't tackle. and he obviously shied away from it last year.

quote:

Originally posted by Schaap:

Mayock or someone on NFL Network mentioned this is one of the latest trends also...picking 2 of a position of need.

The Packers did it first going all the way back to 2006, the rest of the league ( except pete prisco) is catching up with that strategy

In 2006, they took jennings early, came back for Cory Rodgers
in 2007 they took james Jones early, came back and took Clowney
in 2008 they took Jordy Nelson early, came back with Brett Swain

And that's just the WR position. If you go back and look, you'll see a pattern of taking a high pick at a position early and adding another one late...

hedging bets is a wise move especially if its a position that needs bolstering
Then they'll bring in an UDFA at that spot and let the best man win

quote:

Originally posted by Satori:

quote:

Originally posted by Schaap:

Mayock or someone on NFL Network mentioned this is one of the latest trends also...picking 2 of a position of need.

The Packers did it first going all the way back to 2006, the rest of the league ( except pete prisco) is catching up with that strategy

In 2006, they took jennings early, came back for Cory Rodgers
in 2007 they took james Jones early, came back and took Clowney
in 2008 they took Jordy Nelson early, came back with Brett Swain

And that's just the WR position. If you go back and look, you'll see a pattern of taking a high pick at a position early and adding another one late...

hedging bets is a wise move especially if its a position that needs bolstering
Then they'll bring in an UDFA at that spot and let the best man win

Another great example is

2nd round, 2008 Brian Brohm
7th round, 2008 Matt Flynn

That list looks more like an argument for NOT doubleing up on a position. Flynn is the only second guy that worked out.

hindsight is often much clearer than foresight