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Ranking The Rookies: Nick Perry

Posted by Michael Rodney at 7:53 am 3 Responses »

Feb 042013

Green Bay's first-round pick played in only six games this season

Green Bay’s first-round draft pick played in only six games before going on IR

The Green Bay Packers began the season with 10 rookies on the 53-man roster. That’s a pretty high number – especially for a team than won 15 games the previous year. But GM Ted Thompson didn’t hang on to all those rookies to save money or to make himself look good. He kept them because they could play. In fact, seven have played significant roles in the team’s march to its second straight NFC North title.

I’ll be ranking the rookies – from least productive to most productive – over the next couple of weeks. Here’s #7:

Story of 2012: I actually thought Nick Perry was playing fairly well prior to going on IR with a wrist injury. The former USC star was physical at the point of attack and he was improving as a pass rusher. True, he looked lost in space, but that was to be expected from a rookie who played defensive end in college. Perry is No. 7 on this list because he played in only six games, and he split snaps with Erik Walden in most of them. He probably would’ve been a lot higher had his season not ended in early November.

What to expect in 2013: I expect Perry to make a much bigger impact in 2013. He looks the way a 3-4 outside linebacker is supposed to look, and at times, he played the way a 3-4 outside linebacker is supposed to play. Scouts questioned his intensity, but I didn’t see effort as a major issue – either in camp or during the season. If Perry can expand his repertoire of pass rush moves, he has a chance to be the playmaking partner that Clay Matthews has been missing since he arrived in Green Bay three years ago.

New-Look Defense Bounces Back

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:54 pm 10 Responses »

Sep 152012

Rookie Jerron McMillian was part of a revamped and improved secondary on Thursday

The Bears’ porous offensive line and bewildered quarterback made the Packers’ newly configured defense look like the Steel Curtain on Thursday night. Don’t expect to see that kind of performance every week, but with Jerron McMillian and Casey Hayward in and M.D. Jennings and Jarrett Bush out, you also shouldn’t expect to see too many repeats of what happened versus the 49ers. Look for the D to settle in somewhere in between – and that should be good enough to keep Green Bay atop the NFC North.

Here are 3 thoughts on the defense following the Packers’ 23-10 beat down of the Bears:

1) The pass rush was awesome, but don’t get too excited. After re-watching the first two games, I still see only one player (Clay Matthews) with the ability to consistently win one-on-one battles. And let’s be honest, very few teams are going to let CMIII dominate the way Chicago did. A second threat will have to emerge. It could be top picks Nick Perry or Jerel Worthy, but neither has shown that type of ability yet. Interestingly, the second and third most effective pass rushers against the Bears were probably Mike Daniels and Dezman Moses. Both unheralded rookies deserve more snaps against Seattle next Sunday.

2) I don’t know who was wearing No. 37 in August, but it wasn’t Sam Shields. Fortunately, the real Sam Shields showed up when the calendar flipped to September. The third-year pro from Miami was solid in a limited role versus the 49ers and very good as the starting right corner on Thursday night. Shields has regained the swagger he exhibited as a rookie in 2010. Just as importantly, he’s also showing a willingness to be physical. With Morgan Burnett giving Tramon Williams help over the top against Brandon Marshall, the coaches trusted Shields to handle Chicago’s impressive rookie Alshon Jeffery all by himself. He was up to the challenge. Jeffery caught only 1 pass for 7 yards. Give some credit to the pass rush that didn’t allow Cutler to get the ball down the field, but give most of the credit to Shields. He covered like white on rice and he never allowed his size disadvantage to become an issue.

3) Defending the middle of the field is still going to be a problem. Jay Cutler didn’t have the time, or in some cases, the vision to find open receivers, but they were there most of the night. D.J. Smith was much improved against the run and he showed explosiveness as a blitzer, but his cover skills leave a lot to be desired. The former Appalachian State star lacks the height to cover tight ends and the speed to stay with backs. You can be sure that he’ll be exploited by any QB who’s given the time to find that matchup. I begged coordinator Dom Capers to replace Bush and Jennings. That worked out pretty well. My next suggestion is to replace Smith. Give Robert Francois or Brad Jones a chance. They’re not speedy either, but they’re taller and more fluid. Both players can flip their hips and get good depth in their coverage drops.

Notes On A Preseason Game

Posted by Michael Rodney at 1:35 pm 14 Responses »

Aug 102012

Backup quarterback Graham Harrell directed two scoring drives

The title of this post pays homage to Notes On a Scandal – one of the most underrated movies in recent years (in fact, I should’ve watched it again rather than waste three hours of my life on whatever that mess was on ESPN last night). Anyway, here are five thoughts from Green Bay’s 21-13 loss to San Diego:

1) Graham Harrell is exactly what I thought he was a few months ago. He’s an intelligent and gutsy quarterback who’ll need 15 to 20 plays to move the ball 80 yards down the field. That doesn’t happen very often in the National Football League. His arm strength is improved from a year ago, but it’s still below-average. Quarterbacks without a big arm need to be extremely accurate, and Harrell is simply not a pinpoint passer. He misses too many open targets. Could the Packers win games in the regular season with the former Texas Tech star under center? Put it this way – pray to God we never have to find out.

2) The defensive line is markedly better than it was a year ago. Not only did the team draft a pair of talented players at the position (Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels), but veterans Phillip Merling, Daniel Muir and Anthony Hargrove have been coming on in recent days. The Packers ended last season with two and a half legitimate NFL defensive linemen on the roster (C.J. Wilson was the half). That number has now been more than doubled. Is this the new Fearsome ~~Foursome~~ Threesome? Of course not, but it’s a group that should put at least some pressure on the quarterback and make life a lot easier on the linebackers.

3) Nick Perry is going to get at least eight sacks from his left outside linebacker position. With the talented rookie on one side and perennial Pro Bowler Clay Matthews on the other, opposing QBs are going to be the meat in a lot of Southern Cal sandwiches this season. Perry still has plenty to learn about playing with his hand off the ground, but his power is becoming more and more obvious by the week. He knocked Bryan Bulaga on his ass in practice the other day and he made life difficult at times for Jeromey Clary last night. The guess here is that the really good right tackles will handle Perry this season, but fortunately, there aren’t very many of them on the schedule – or in the league for that matter.

4) The Packers need newly signed Reggie Wells to find the fountain of youth because there isn’t a quality third guard on the roster. Big Ray Dominguez might be that guy, but he’s been out for a few weeks with a badly sprained ankle. Did you notice Evan Dietrich-Smith took all of his snaps at center last night? That’s because he’s been struggling at guard in practice and the coaches are desperately looking for a young player to step up. Sampson Genus, Tommie Draheim, Don Barclay and Greg Van Roten have received plenty of snaps this summer, but none of the four is ready for the majors leagues just yet.

5) As I wrote a few weeks ago, there isn’t a legitimate second safety on the roster. M.D. Jennings has taken all the snaps in the sub-packages for months, but he’s still late to react on even the most basic routes. I’m not saying the second-year player won’t improve over time, but this defense – already with plenty of questions at other positions – can’t afford to wait. Dom Capers needs to find a safety he can rely on, and short of bringing back Charlie Peprah (yikes), moving Jarrett Bush from corner makes the most sense. The 8-year vet can’t play with his back to the receiver, but he’s OK when things unfold in front of him.

3 Questions For Tonight’s Game

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:03 pm 1 Response »

Aug 092012

Graham Harrell begins his first preseason as the Packers’ backup quarterback

The Packers open the preseason tonight at San Diego. Here are 3 questions to ponder while you watch the game:

1) Can backup quarterback Graham Harrell stretch the field vertically?

The former record-setter from Texas Tech is having a decent training camp. He looks much more comfortable in the pocket and his arm is noticeably stronger, but he still does an awful lot of dinking and dunking. The majority of his completions have come within 12 yards of the line of scrimmage. Unless he can drive downfield throws on a line, opposing cornerbacks will squat on routes and make completing any pass very difficult. We’ll start to find out whether he’s capable of keeping a defense honest tonight, as long as the inexperienced second-string offensive line is able to provide adequate protection.

2) Can the rookie pass rushers win one-on-one battles?

Clay Matthews was the only player able to get consistent pressure on the quarterback last season. That prompted general manager Ted Thompson to draft outside linebacker Nick Perry and defensive end Jerel Worthy. Both players have flashed at times in training camp, but Worthy has been the more impressive of the two. He has a quick first step and surprising power. Perry is beginning to come on after a sluggish start. He has all kinds of talent, but the transition from defensive end is seldom easy. How these youngsters fare against an experienced Chargers’ offensive line will be very interesting to watch.

3) Can the impressive long shots take it from practice to the game?

It’s one thing to impress on the practice field, but it’s a whole other thing to impress in a game. Tight end Brandon Bostick, wide receiver Curenski Gilleylen and outside linebacker Dezman Moses will get their chance tonight to prove the big stage isn’t too big for them. Bostick is undersized, but he runs well and seems to have built a nice rapport with the backup quarterbacks. Curkendyl makes at least one impressive catch every day. And Moses has been a headline grabber since the minicamps in the spring. Now’s their chance to start turning what seemed like an impossible dream a few months ago into a reality.

Perry Still Has A Ways To Go

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:29 pm 12 Responses »

Aug 032012

Rookie linebacker Nick Perry is making the difficult transition from defensive end

GREEN BAY- The first thing you notice about rookie Nick Perry is his size. He looks the way a 3-4 outside linebacker is supposed to look. Here are some other things I noticed about the 22-year-old player the Green Bay Packers are counting on to help lead a defensive resurgence this season:

Perry ran a 4.56 in April, and more importantly, he plays to that time. In fact, the former USC star probably covers more ground than any linebacker on the roster – including perennial Pro Bowler Clay Matthews. He chased down backs on a couple of occasions at last night’s practice. Perry also looks pretty solid at the point of attack. He has obvious take-on strength and the strong hands needed to control/disengage. Teams aren’t going to find it nearly as easy to run at the linebacker opposite CMIII this season.

Not surprisingly, the former college defensive end needs to improve in coverage. Besides lacking experience in this part of the game, he’s also a bit stiff in the hips. This will cause him problems against quick backs and tight ends – especially early in his career while he’s still adjusting to the position.

As a pass rusher, Perry also needs some work. Bryan Bulaga handled him with relative ease all night. Part of that is because Bulaga is one of the best right tackles in the league, but part of that is because Perry isn’t really an explosive, quick-twitch athlete. If he’s going to beat good tackles on a consistent basis, he’s going to have to get off the ball quicker and develop secondary moves to go along with his outstanding speed. There’s no question he has the potential to be an effective pass rusher, but he’s not there yet.

It’s very difficult to judge a football player in such a short period of time, but from what I saw of Perry last night, I can’t say I was overly excited or overly disappointed. Upon first glance, he looked better than former first-round draft picks Aaron Rodgers, A.J. Hawk, Justin Harrell and Derek Sherrod. He didn’t look as good as Matthews, B.J. Raji and Bulaga. But it doesn’t really matter what he looks like on the second day of August. It only matters what he looks like in the second week of September. And beyond.

Notes: Dorsey In Line To Be Next GM

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:24 am 7 Responses »

May 262012

Longtime director of college scouting was promoted last week

Longtime director of college scouting received a promotion

John Dorsey was promoted to director of football operations earlier this week. His next promotion should be to general manager. You’ll hear the names Russ Ball, Eliot Wolf, Reggie McKenzie and John Schneider mentioned as possible successors to Ted Thompson, but nobody is more qualified for the top job than Dorsey. The 51-year-old played linebacker for the Packers from 1984 to 1988 and has spent 20 of the past 21 years working in the team’s front office. He has built a strong reputation as a talent evaluator. He’s also been very loyal to the organization. Since returning from a one-year stint with Seattle in 1999, Dorsey has turned down at least three opportunities to interview for GM openings with other teams. If he wants to be Thompson’s eventual successor, the job should be his. He’s earned it and he’d be great at it.

Based on their recent performances, newly signed defensive linemen Daniel Muir and Phillip Merling may not even make the final 53-man roster. The former was released by the worst team in football last season and the latter has recorded a grand total of 7 tackles and 0 sacks in the past 15 games. That said, I like both moves. There’s absolutely no downside to bringing in young veterans. At best, Muir and Merling will blossom under assistant coach Mike Trgovac’s tutelage. At worst, they’ll push young players like C.J. Wilson, Mike Neal and Jarius Wynn to get better. Plus, it’s costing the Packers absolutely nothing. Both players signed one-year contracts that included no guaranteed money.

No player will be more intriguing to watch this season than Sam Shields. After taking the league by storm as a rookie in 2010, the former college wide receiver regressed last season. How far did he fall? Far enough that Jarrett Bush replaced him on early downs in the divisional playoff game against the Giants. Not only was Shields timid (that’s putting it nicely) in run support, but he struggled to defend receivers he should’ve been able to cover in his sleep. He gave up 9 passes of 20 yards or more and 4.5 touchdowns. Most of his problems were due to sloppy technique and a propensity to peek into the backfield. The good news is that those two things are easily correctable. The Packers still have faith in Shields, but unlike last season, they figure to have a legitimate option to replace him in 2012. Second-round draft pick Casey Hayward of Vanderbilt has the intelligence and the instincts to play right away.

Second-year center Sampson Genus received quite a bit of publicity during the rookie orientation camp held earlier this month. The former South Florida star is one of three young players expected to battle for the backup center job. There’s a lot to like about Genus, but he has two things working against him – he’s small (6’0) and slow (5.58). For comparison’s sake, the average center in the NFL stands 6’3 and the top 10 center prospects in April’s draft averaged a 5.28 40. (Heck, NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen ran a 6.1 in a suit and dress shoes). The guess here is that journeyman Evan Dietrich-Smith will spend at least one more season as the backup center. As for Genus, he’ll likely have to beat out undrafted rookie Tommie Draheim of San Diego State for a spot on the practice squad.

Outside linebacker Nick Perry should’ve been born two years earlier. The first-round pick (No. 28 overall) from USC agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $7.5 million a few weeks ago. The deal included a $4 million signing bonus. Not bad money – until you compare it to what the 28th pick in the 2010 draft received. Jared Odrick signed a five-year contract worth $13.1 million with the Dolphins ($7.2 million bonus). Here are the numbers for the other 7 draft choices: defensive end Jerel Worthy (4 years/$3.9M/$1.3SB); Casey Hayward (4/$3.3M/$847K); defensive end Mike Daniels (4/$2.4M/$300K); safety Jerron McMillian (4/$2.4M/$300K); linebacker Terrell Manning (4/$2.3M/$171K); offensive tackle Andrew Datko (4/$2.14M/$46K) and quarterback B.J. Coleman (4/$2.14M/$46K).

Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay and Brett Goode might be the best young trio in the NFL. Crosby, 27, is coming off his finest season. The former Colorado star hit 24 of 28 field goals and finished third in the league with 49 touchbacks. Masthay, 25, set team records for gross (45.6 yards) and net punting average (38.6) in 2011. Goode, 27, hasn’t had more than a handful of bad snaps since joining the Packers four years ago. The fact that many loyal fans don’t know his name is a testament to just how good he’s been. Crosby signed a long-term deal last summer. Look for Masthay and Goode – both underpaid at $540K and $676K respectively – to be extended within the next six months.

Even Packers Have Some Concerns

Posted by Michael Rodney at 7:44 am 10 Responses »

May 222012

Unproven Graham Harrell figures to be the backup QB

The Packers have won 29 games, including a Super Bowl, in the past two seasons. They are also one of the youngest and deepest teams in the league. But that doesn’t mean the defending NFC North champs are without flaws. Here are five areas of concern heading into 2012:

Backup quarterback - While it’s true that most teams would be in big trouble if their starting quarterback got seriously injured, it’s also true that most teams have a more proven backup than Graham Harrell. Maybe the former Texas Tech star will develop into the next Matt Flynn, but I could see him just as easily performing like Caleb Hanie. In fact, I think that’s a more likely scenario. Harrell is a smart player, but his arm strength is extremely limited. Could the Packers win with him at quarterback? Well, Houston did OK with T.J. Yates at the end of last season. Then again, the Texans also had one of the NFL’s best rushing attacks and a very stout defense that gave up just over 17 points per game.

Pass rush - Outside linebacker Clay Matthews was the defense’s only consistent pass rusher last season, and even the three-time Pro Bowler had stretches of ineffectiveness. GM Ted Thompson drafted Nick Perry, Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels in an effort to rectify the problem. And while those three young players should help, it remains to be seen just how much. It’s not like Green Bay added Mario Williams or even Kamerion Wimbley in the offseason. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers needs at least one of the rookies to step up and become an impact pass rusher. A wild card to keep an eye on is fifth-round pick Terrell Manning. The former North Carolina State star has natural blitz ability.

Safeties - After Nick Collins’ neck injury in week 2, Morgan Burnett and Charlie Peprah spent the next 15 games trading off missed tackles and blown assignments. I’ll cut Burnett some slack. He was coming off ACL surgery and he played with a broken hand for months. The former Georgia Tech star should be much improved in ’12, but that’s only wishful thinking at this point. Peprah regressed last season after holding his own in 2010. He really struggled without Collins opposite him and without a consistent pass rush in front of him. He also struggled because offensive coordinators did a better job of taking advantage of his physical limitations. Capers desperately needs Burnett to blossom in his third season and for a young player like Jerron McMillian or Anthony Levine to step in and replace Peprah. Both things could happen, but if they don’t, the last line of defense will be a major problem once again.

Defensive coordinator - The defense had no business being as bad as it was last season – even with the personnel issues. Capers was painfully slow to adjust on a weekly basis. To be honest, he looked like a guy who spent too much time basking in the glow of the Super Bowl win and not enough time figuring out ways to combat offensive coordinators who spent the entire offseason studying how to beat his schemes. This will be a very pivotal season for Capers. His defenses in Carolina, Houston and Miami peaked early and then regressed. We’ll soon find out whether this is a coincidence or a trend. If it’s the latter, Green Bay may be looking for a new DC a lot sooner than expected.

Left tackle - The Packers will have a new player protecting the quarterback’s blind side for the first time since 2000. Chad Clifton is out and either Marshall Newhouse, Derek Sherrod or Andrew Datko is in. All three young players have potential, but none is a proven commodity. Newhouse survived in 13 starts last season, but he wasn’t very good. The former TCU star gave up 10.5 sacks. Sherrod struggled mightily in training camp, but showed improvement later in the regular season. Unfortunately, his progress was halted by a severely broken leg. Datko is a natural pass protector, but he’s also a rookie with a shaky shoulder. The Packers don’t need a stud left tackle since Rodgers has such a quick release and such terrific mobility, but they can’t have a human turnstile at the position either.

Post-Draft Pack Should Be Better On D

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:43 pm 10 Responses »

Apr 302012

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.

Packers Select USC’s Perry At 28

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:10 am 11 Responses »

Apr 272012

Packers draft another USC linebacker in the first round

The Green Bay Packers struck gold when they selected a Southern Cal linebacker Clay Matthews in the first round three years ago. GM Ted Thompson is hoping for a bit of déjà vu with Nick Perry, another extremely athletic ex-Trojan who was picked 28th overall in Thursday’s draft. Perry will be expected to start opposite Matthews in 2012 and provide the second edge rusher that Dom Capers’ defense so desperately lacked last season. The Detroit native led the Pac-12 conference with 9.5 sacks a year ago.

Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw was a more productive player in college, but I can understand why Thompson preferred Perry. He has more potential as a pass rusher. While Upshaw is tougher against the run and more experienced with his hand off the ground, Perry is far more athletic. In fact, he’s about as athletic as any 270-pound front seven player I’ve seen in the past few years. His first step is lightning quick and he flashes the hustle, quick hands and closing speed to cause problems for even the best offensive tackles. Just ask Stanford’s Jonathan Martin, who’s expected to be drafted early in round two. Perry dominated him in a triple overtime game last October.

So why was a player this talented still available at the end of the first round? Because Perry ran hot and cold in college. He would look like a top-10 pick one week and a fifth-rounder the next. That type of inconsistency scares the heck out of general managers, but Thompson obviously isn’t overly concerned. He probably figures that playing alongside veteran leaders Matthews, Ryan Pickett and Charles Woodson and playing for gung-ho assistant coach Kevin Green will be all the motivation Perry needs to fulfill his enormous potential. We’ll soon find out if he’s right.