Second-round pick Hayward could be the No. 3 cornerback
Ted Thompson watched his defense go from good to historically bad in 12 months and he wasn’t going to sit back and do nothing. Green Bay’s normally conservative GM signed twice-suspended Anthony Hargrove as a free agent in March and then traded up two times in the draft to procure help for his team’s feeble pass rush and leaky secondary. It remains to be seen how these springtime moves play out in the fall, but at least on paper, the defense sure looks a lot better today than it did two months ago.
Here’s my position-by-position look at the post-draft Green Bay Packers:
QUARTERBACK- The Packers needed to draft a rookie to challenge Graham Harrell for the backup job. Seventh-round draft choice B.J. Coleman could be that player if he’s able to make a quick transition from Tennessee-Chattanooga to the National Football League. He has all the physical traits a team looks for in a young quarterback, but his numbers in college were surprisingly pedestrian. I have no idea whether that’s more a reflection on Coleman or on his supporting cast. Either way, his development under coach Mike McCarthy, offensive coordinator Tom Clements and quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo will be fascinating to watch.
RUNNING BACK- Thompson didn’t draft at this position for the fourth time since taking over as GM in 2005. That leaves James Starks, Alex Green and Brandon Saine as the top three entering the first minicamp. It also leaves the door open for Ryan Grant’s return, but only if the former 1,200 yard rusher is willing to accept a deal for around the league minimum. If he’s not, the Packers should be fine without him. Remember, this team won a Super Bowl with John Kuhn and Brandon Jackson combining for nearly 300 carries. Speaking of Kuhn, he’ll return as the starting fullback.
TIGHT END- Even with Andrew Quarless likely to being the regular season on the PUP list, Thompson didn’t draft at this position. Perhaps that’s because he believes D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor are ready to contribute on offense after spending the majority of their rookie seasons on special teams. Williams is the more natural receiver of the two, but Taylor showed better instincts and more toughness last summer. Another young player to keep an eye on is undrafted free agent Eric Flair. The athletic and versatile former Gopher figures to get a look at both tight end and fullback.
WIDE RECEIVER- Based on past history, it was a little surprising that Thompson didn’t draft a wide receiver. Then again, Tori Gurley and Diondre Borel probably have as much potential as any of the wide receivers picked on day 3. The Packers also added a pair of undrafted free agents. Marcus Rivers (Buffalo) and former basketball player turned football star Dale Moss (South Dakota St.) are intriguing prospects. Both measure in at 6’3 and run in the low 4.5s.
OFFENSIVE LINE- Thompson finally drafted an offensive lineman in the seventh round, but Andrew Datko isn’t going to add much-needed depth at guard and center. The former Florida State star is strictly a tackle. Right now, Evan Dietrich-Smith is the No. 1 backup at all three interior positions. He did OK in two starts at right guard last season, but this is the same player that was released by the Packers in September 2010. Second-year men Ray Dominguez and Sampson Genus will also be in the mix. The former is a college tackle who’s still learning to play inside. The latter has plenty of experience inside, but is barely six-feet tall. With such dubious depth, undrafted free agents Jaymes Brooks (Virginia Tech) and Don Barclay (West Virginia) figure to get long looks in the months to come.
DEFENSIVE LINE- If you think you were frustrated watching Jarius Wynn, C.J. Wilson and Mike Neal attempt to rush the quarterback last season, imagine how Thompson felt. Well, you don’t have to imagine. He told you exactly how frustrated he was by drafting two defensive linemen in the first four rounds. Second-round pick Jerel Worthy doesn’t have prototypical size to play end in a 3-4, but he has prototypical power and quickness to rush the QB. Fourth-round pick Mike Daniels doesn’t have prototypical size to play any position in a 3-4, but he also can rush the quarterback. See the pattern? Along with free agent Anthony Hargrove, the inside pass rush should be markedly better in 2012.
LINEBACKER- I may not be the biggest Nick Perry fan in the world, but after complaining for two years about Thompson’s refusal to draft a partner for Clay Matthews, I can’t complain too much. There’s no question the former USC star will make the Packers better at right outside linebacker; just how much better remains to be seen. Perry is a terrific athlete, but he ran hot and cold in college. It’ll be up to assistant coach Kevin Green to keep the heat turned up. Thompson traded up to get Terrell Manning in the fifth round. The former North Carolina State star projects inside. He probably won’t play much in the base defense, but he could be used as a rusher in certain packages. Along with returnees D.J. Smith, Jamari Lattimore and Vic So’oto, the competition at this position should be intense.
DEFENSIVE BACK- Thompson traded up to get Casey Hayward in the second round, and the former Vanderbilt star will be expected to challenge Sam Shields for the No. 3 cornerback job. Hayward doesn’t run nearly as well as Shields, but he’s a better tackler and a more cerebral player. That means an awful lot to coaches who had to watch corners miss tackles and blow assignments week after week in 2011. Last year’s fourth-round pick, Davon House, will also be in the picture. You wouldn’t normally give a rookie from Maine much of a chance to win a starting job, but that’s not the case with Jerron McMillian. The speedy fourth-round pick will be given every opportunity to unseat journeyman Charlie Peprah at safety. Young veterans M.D. Jennings and Anthony Levine will also be in the mix.
SPECIALISTS- The Packers are in very good shape with kicker Mason Crosby, punter Tim Masthay and long snapper Bret Goode. There was no need to draft a specialist, and any undrafted free agents signed will be camp bodies only.
Actually he traded up three times Michael, to get Worthy and Hayward in the second and then Manning in the fifth.
I know, but I was only referring to the trades that resulted in drafting a pass rusher and a defensive back.
And McMillian was a 4th rounder.
If they’re not, heads will certainly roll. There should be heat on all the defensive coaches for what happened last year. I agree TT was a large part of the problem as well i.e., the CJ/Neal debacle, the Hawk resigning debacle and using all his premium 2011 draft picks on offense but too many defensive players from the SB team regressed in 2011 for the coaches not to be partly to blame as well. The defense was a total collapse from all perspectives. Which, of course, highlights just how great #12 is. But that’s another story. Another storyline never mentioned is Capers history of immediately improving defenses where ever he has gone only to watch them implode quickly thereafter.
The only soft spot on offense appears to be where you have been hammering – inside OL depth. Maybe one of these UDFA will make it or maybe a practice squad from last year will make it. Then again, maybe that will be the focus of next year’s draft.
I don’t think heads are going to roll. They were 15-1. No pre season and they suffered signicant injuries in the defensive back field. They made the right decision on CJ, not the same player he was a couple of years ago or last year in Philly. Eagles moved up in the draft to replace him. Same situation with Clifton and Driver this year. There is a time you have to let go. a year too early is better than a year too late. there defense will be better and they will contend again this year.
You have your view and you are welcome to it. Having said that, do you really believe GB could have the worst defense in NFL history in terms of yards given up or any other similarly important metric and TT/MM would not hold the coaching staff accountable? I hope we don’t have to find out but if we do, I certainly hope you would be proven wrong about that.
I guess you’re also not buying my theory that the 2011 Packers are built very similar to the Colts teams with Peyton Manning and great WRs/TEs. That’s OK. Just one man’s opinion.
Do you really believe that the coaching staff should be held accountable for the injuries to Collins, Williams and Neal? Cuz those 3 injuries along w/ letting Jenkins go in FA (right move btw) is what caused the defensive breakdowns! Williams shoulder injury made him a one armed CB, Collins was a Pro Bowl playmaking Safety and Neal was considered the successor to Jenkins pass rushing on the interior! It would assinine to blame the coaches for those injuries and the release of Jenkins!
With the Packers drafting SIX defensive players in a row they better be improved on defense or Capers should go. No excuses, now. I agree with Archie’s take on Hawk, Jenkins and neal all being TT mistakes and certainly the coaches are hamstrung by Thompson’s favoritism and love of AJ.
BUT, Capers can be pretty stubborn himself. He constantly rushed only 2 or 3 players last season and the Packers ended up with the worst pass defense in NFL history.
Will Capers adjust his defense to the skills and talents of Perry, Manning, Worthy and Daniels—none of whom are natural 3/4 players, or to fit the talent and the rest of the league which has long since figured out just how predictable Dominick is? If he doesn’t McCarthy needs to find a new DC, just as all of Dom’s previous empl;oyes have done. TT’s don his job and then some.
I have the sense the Packers are going to do something not done before with a 3-4 defense (at least, to the best of my knowledge). I think they understand no one is going to consistently beat them running the ball. Typically, D-linemen in the 3-4 are asked to eat blockers so the LB can make the plays. It looks to me like they are going to move away from the large prototype 3-4 D-linemen and move to a smaller, faster linemen with pass rush as their primary ability. If the Packers can get consistent hard push up the middle it will wreak havoc for opposing QBs. I think back to the Philly games in the ’10 season when Cullen Jenkins flushed Kolb and Vick and CM3 finished them off.
After watching video of Worthy and Daniels and knowing what Raji can do when he’s not forced to play 90% of the defensive snaps, I’m really excited about the prospects for this D. I realize this is a bold statement in May, but (with all the usual caveats and qualifiers in place) I think we will be looking at a defense that has in the area of 50 sacks next season.
You might be on to something. The selection of J Worthy over D Still suggests they want more pass rush out of their front 3 ala CJ. Even Mike Neal was supposed to be that. Good sized strong DEs that can move inside on nickel packages ala CJ may be the order of the day going forward. We need another one to replace Pickett with. Pick should be a 2 down NT. He doesn’t have a prayer of getting past the LOS.
Flanked by a pair of strong but nimle DEs would help Raji reach his pass rush potential as well. Making Raji a 2 down guy would be a good thing too as he was worn to a frazzle last year. With his short arms he is never going to be a major force in the nickel rush. Save him for what he does best – a two way threat on 1st and 2nd down.