Second-year tight end has a chance to contribute in 2012
With Andrew Quarless (knee) not expected back until at least Halloween, the Packers will need one of their young tight ends to emerge as Jermichael Finley‘s backup. And while D.J. Williams and Tom Crabtree will certainly be in the mix, the feeling here is that Ryan Taylor will ultimately win the job. I was impressed by the former North Carolina star before he ever donned a Green Bay uniform, and he did nothing last summer to dampen my enthusiasm. Taylor has good size (6’3, 255) and deceptive athleticism. And since he’s still learning to play the position after spending the bulk of his college career at linebacker, he’s only scratched the surface of his potential.
Ted Thompson was very economical when it came to signing undrafted free agents last month. According to Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel, the Packers general manager spent $51,500 on 15 rookies – or about $3,400 per player. Under terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, Green Bay could’ve spent up to $75,000. Offensive lineman Tommie Draheim received the biggest signing bonus ($8,500) and three other players (Sean Richardson, Jaymes Brooks and Marc Tyler) got $5,000. Conversely, the Saints spent $30,000 on Appalachian State running back Travaris Cadet. Different strokes for different folks, but based on past history, something tells me Thompson will wind up getting more bang for the buck.
One of ESPN’s “experts” opined that Terrell Manning would’ve gone at least two rounds higher had he stayed in school and entered the draft a year from now. That’s probably true. The former North Carolina State star certainly didn’t play like a fifth-round pick last season. He posted 76 unassisted tackles (including an ACC leading 14.5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, 5 pass breakups, 3 interceptions and 4 forced fumbles in 11 starts. So why were over 160 prospects selected ahead of Manning? The biggest reason is a lack of ideal size and speed. He’s a little light (237 pounds) for the inside and a little slow (4.74) for the outside. What he is, however, is a good football player. It wouldn’t be a shock to see him push A.J. Hawk for playing time this summer and then push the veteran right out the door next offseason.
Mike McCarthy has put together an interesting offensive staff. He has a former tight ends coach (Ben McAdoo) working with the quarterbacks, a former quarterbacks coach (Alex Van Pelt) working with the running backs, a former running backs coach (Jerry Fontenot) working with the tight ends and another former running backs coach (Edgar Bennett) working with the wide receivers. And oh yeah, offensive assistant John Rushing worked with defensive backs for seven years at Utah State before joining the Packers. Is it just a matter of time before we see offensive line coach James Campen instructing a young quarterback on how to properly move his feet in the pocket?
Andrew Datko has the potential to be a starting tackle in the National Football League. That’s my opinion after watching a few Florida State games from early last season. The first of Green Bay’s two seventh-round picks impressed the heck out of me – even though he was playing with a badly injured left shoulder that would require surgery less than a month later. If not for the uncertainty over his shoulder, Datko almost certainly would’ve been among the first 100 players drafted. He’s a student of the game who understands angles, leverage and positioning. I think he has a chance to be a better pro than Marshall Newhouse, but only if his shoulder holds up. And that’s a big if.
These truly are Ted Thompson’s Packers. Of the 90 players on the roster, 89 were acquired by the current general manager. Only wide receiver Donald Driver was here prior to 2005 and his future with the organization is tenuous. Here are some more interesting numbers. Of the 90 players, only 15 have ever worn another professional uniform. And of those 15, only 8 played in a game for a team other than Green Bay. Thompson and McCarthy talk all the time about developing young players, and what better way to develop a young player than to get him straight out of college?
Taylor is probably next on the list but Crabtree is a monster blocker. What people will forget is how good Quarless is at doing everything. He will be missed (two TE sets) until another guy can step it up.
Players make their biggest jump between their 1st and 2nd years so I look forward to seeing the improvement in Taylor and Williams. Though I like Taylor as a more traditional TE and feel his ceiling is high I’m more interested to see how MM moves DJ around to create mismatches.
If Hawk doesn’t slim down to increase his speed and agility he’ll be replaced on passing downs by either Smith, Manning, or Lattimore. W/ his salary cap # I can’t see him being cut this year and a trade is unlikely. Bishop was also exposed by athletic TE’s so he may come out depending on the opposition.
MM joked during the draft that Dr Pat promised Datko’s shoulder will be okay. If true, what a steal…can you say Mark Tauscher.
Ryan Taylor acquitted himself well last year. He’s a scrapper and his best football may lie ahead. DJ Williams is the guy I expected to dazzle us last year with some great catches and run after the catch. I’m not sure why it didn’t happen but maybe w Quarless out, he will get his chance to shine. He looked great catching the ball in college.
Music to my ears department:
“It wouldn’t be a shock to see him push A.J. Hawk for playing time this summer and then push the veteran right out the door next offseason.”
As you know, my opinion is that the Pack may as well be playing with 10 men when Hawk is in the game. He has one admirer left in the world. Unfortunately for Packer fans, that guy is the Pack’s GM. You have to question Winston Moss. He has been handed two #1 draft picks: Nick Barnett and AJ Hawk. Both disappointed. Plus, he was the guy that told Bishop straight out to leave the team if he expected to ever start for the Pack with Hawk and Barnett in town. His friendship with MM goes back a long ways. I wish somebody would hire him away from us. It’s been rumored for a while but I always ask myself, why would anyone want him? What has he ever done as a coach?
I think with a full off season we’re going to see why Williams won the Mackey Award in college and the Packers drafted him. IMO I see M.M. devising some formations where we’ll see Finley and Williams on the field and used much like New England uses Gronk and Hernandez. I remember watching a preseason game last year, and Rich Gannon telling the T.V. viewers about watching Williams in practice catching anything and everything. I look for D.J. Williams to emerge as yet another weapon for the Packers!
FSU alum here who watches every Noles football game, and I can say for sure if Datko hadn’t had his shoulder injuries, he would have been a 2nd round pick at worst. Ponder rarely had to worry about his blindside when Datko was actually healthy, allowing just 2 sacks in the final 15 games he played at FSU. Unlike Clifton for the past decade, Datko is also a very impressive run blocker. As previously stated, the biggest question is if he can keep the shoulder healthy, and if he does, watch out…
Another excellent article. Thanks Michael. In line with your Thompson roster analysis, I just realized they have only four players on it over 30: Driver (37), Saturday (36), Woodson (35) and Pickett (32). That’s it. To me, that’s impressive. Guessing it’s the league-low. Not even a player who’s 31 or 30. Next closest are all 29: Kuhn, Peprah and Tramon Williams. In a young man’s league, and considering our roster has been Super Bowl-competitive the last couple of years, it’s just another reflection of how great a job Thompson has done. And to boot, analyze those over 30 players: Driver likely gone. If not, he’s likely the #5 receiver, already replaced by Jennings, Nelson, Jones and Cobb. We know Saturday is a one, maybe two year starter. Guessing our future center will be our #1 or #2 pick next year — unless Genus shocks us all. Woodson’s replacements already on the roster in Shields, House and now Heyward. At 32, Pickett could have another two or three years left in him. Yet his replacement should be Neal, and may still be. If not, and assuming no Genus-like surprise (e.g. Lawrence Guy), that’s the other position I see for our #1 or #2 next year. Assuming we resign our pending free agents (a good bet based on history), at this point in time what else likely would be a high need a year from now — other than C and (maybe, depending on Neal) DE? A better S prospect than McMillian? A better back-up QB prospect than Harrell, Coleman or Hill? A better (and younger) back-up NT than Muir? Better back-up OLBs than Walden, Zombo, Jones, Lattimore and So’oto? Better back-up G than Dominguez or Dietrich-Smith? Point being, I don’t think, on paper, our roster has ever been in better shape, both presently and for the long-term. Thanks Ted!
Excellent work Michael. And as usual, my man Steve is a fountain of Packer knowledge.
Thanks for your analysis, always enjoy reading it (even when I do not agree with it- which is rare). I agree completely about Ryan Taylor, he seems to be Mike McCarthy’s type of player, bet he will be starter in 2 years.
What do you think of Sherrod’s chances of returning this year healthy enought to play effectively ? Thanks
I think Sherrod will be ready for the start of the season, but not being able to participate in OTAs and minicamps will definitely slow his progress.