Any chance Colt Brennan goes to the 49ers in the sixth round?
Maybe they’ll go to those old school wing formations with a QB, a fullback, a halfback, and a wingback.
Well, the Lions DO want to pound the ball on the ground this year. Jon Bradley (the 300-pound fullback), Aveion Cason, Tatum Bell, and Brian Calhoun round out the depth chart.
I’m pretty happy about the Josh Johnson pick. He had better passing numbers than Flacco, and ran a 4.4 at the Combine. He might be our starter in two years; he might not be on the roster. It’ll be fun to watch him develop, though.
You know those discussions about Sean Alexander sucking and only being the product of his O Line? And the same thing being said about Larry Johnson?
Kevin FUCKING Smith is nothing more than the product of his offensive line.
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce you to the sole reason Smith was drafted so highly:
I hope you’re kidding. Our line has been absolutely horrible for years. Our old head coach, Mike Kruczek, didn’t believe in recruiting linemen; he was all about skill positions, and figured the big lugs would just wander in by themselves. Mostly, they did - at least just enough to keep us among the top non-affiliated D1 teams.
In 2005 the line was so bad that a couple of friends of mine, brothers who both played on the scout team for two years- considered walking on to take over the starting guard spots. As 27- and 28-year-old graduate students. Who were down over 40lbs each from their playing weights.
This coming season will be the first with genuine blue-chip recruits starting. It took (new coach) George O’Leary a while to start bringing in quality line prospects.
Of course. Sitton was picked by my team (the Packers), so instead of being someone I who wasn’t even on my draft radar, he had to become a super-offensive lineman who was singlehandedly cause Smith to succeed. I have no delusions that Sitton was a one man force for Smith.
And, on another note, Mr. Humpal has been selected. My favorite named guy is gone.
He went to the Chiefs in the 6th.
Washington, actually.
Mike Hart is finally off the board, going to Indy. And Green Bay has now drafted two backups or challengers to Rodgers, picking up Matt Flynn from LSU as well as Brohm.
I think Flynn is just a warm body and Brohm is just a backup and won’t seriously challenge Rodgers. The only other guys on the Packers rosters at QB were a couple of undrafted guys from last year.
I think Indy got an excellent value with Hart. Wasn’t he a surefire first-rounder headed into the season?
Believe so. He’s a good runner for a zone blocking system and a good receiver. He’d make an excellent fit in Denver or Indy.
Speaking of excellent fits, here’s something for you…
I can’t believe I have to root for the Lions this year.
Well, the Packers traded their last 7th round pick to the Saints for a 6th rounder next year, so they are done. Overall, I’m quite happy, even though not a single one of “my guys” was picked. The Packers will rue the day they didn’t seek out my advice!!!
Let’s have a look at their draft:
1-30 The Packers traded out of the first round, moving down 6 spaces to 36, and picking up a 4th Rounder.
Hamlet’s view: Phillip Merling and Brandon Flowers were available, but to be honest neither is a huge draw to me. Merling would have been a good pick, but he’s a better 3-4 end and he doesn’t have the sack production (7 this year) the Packers need on the edge (he’s kinda a Cullen Jenkins guy who we already have). And Flowers was, in my estimation, over-hyped. I would have liked more than just a 4th rounder to move down.
2-36 WR Jordy Nelson, Kansas
Hamlet’s view: Reaching at a position that isn’t a need. You can’t really argue with the production (122 catches, 1,606 yards, 11 touchdowns), but I don’t think he’s the second best WR out there. I would have preferred Limas Sweed, or, even better, not taking a WR with our first pick. John Carlson and Fred Davis were both still available and would have been a better fit. But I do think Nelson will have a good career. It just was too high to take him.
2-56 QB Brian Brohm, Louisville
Hamlet’s View: They got this extra pick for Corey Williams, which was a fantastic off season move. They put the franchise tag on an up and comer (but rotational guy for the Pack) and rather than overpaying him, they get a second round pick for him.
As to this pick, I love it! Our GM tried to move up to grab him, but having him fall in our laps there was no better pick there. I’m not sure he has the arm to be a stud in the NFL, but he’ll make an outstanding backup who can possibly develop into more. As some posters pointed out (after I was bagging on him being taken in the first round), he was one of the top last year, but came back and threw for over 4,000 yards, with a 65.1% completion percentage and an 2.5 to 1 TD to interception ration. Not bad. Plus, he’s nice trade bait if Rodgers works out. Love the pick.
2-60 CB Patrick Lee, Auburn
Hamlet’s view: Another outstanding pick with great value. He’s a top CB and his physical play at the line make him a perfect fit for the Packers defense. And he’ll have two of the best CBs in the game (except for the Giants game) teaching him. I worry about his lack of experience, but he’ll start in the nickel and hopefully grow into an outstanding CB.
3-91 TE Jermichael Finley, Texas
Hamlet’s view: Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Taking Nelson instead of a top TE, in the second round kinda made this a need pick. And although he could be a top tier athlete, he’s raw and immature. I’m not a fan of this pick, but I really hope to be proven wrong. He shoulda stayed in school for another year, but he’s got two kids to feed ( :smack:) Tyvon Branch, one of my guys and an outstanding CB prospect, and Matt McGlynn would have been better selections.
4-102 DE Jeremy Thompson, Wake Forest. Packers give up a late 5th rounder to move up 9 spots.
Hamlet’s Views: Outstanding! TT finally moves up in a draft, and does so to grab the best DE available. Thompson is great at the point of attack, and is as good against the run as the pass. He works hard, is smart, and is still developing. Aside from some durability issues and needs to get to the passer a bit better. But for the fourth round, he’s a gem and should fit well in the Packers defense.
4-113 Traded to move up 9 spots
4-128 Traded to the Rams, who moved up 9 spots and threw in a 7th rounder.
Hamlet’s view: Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad. While moving down 9 spots, the Packers missed out on both Jack Ikegwuono and Tony Hills. I loved Ikegwuono, who is an outstanding CB in press coverage and shut down James Hardy. There are character issues and an pre-workout injury concern, but he’s a late first/top second round talent who could develop into a game changer. And Hills would be a much better choice to develop as a starting NFL tackle. Horrible decision. Grrrrrr.
4-135 OG Josh Sitton (compensatory pick)
Hamlet’s view: Kevin Smith owes all his great stats to this beast, who is better than Alan Faneca and Steve Hutchinson combined. OK maybe not. He wasn’t even on my radar before the draft, but apparently he’s quite versatile and can fill in at G or C. While G is a need, I don’t know enough about this guy to say whether he’ll be any good. I would have preferred Tim Hightower or, even better, Roy Schuening.
5-137 Traded to Minnesota Vikings so they could come up and grab some Booty. The Pack went down 13 spots and picked up the second pick in the 7th round.
Hamlet’s view: Meh. We’re getting down there, so an extra pick or two isn’t bad to fill the roster. TT thinks that having more picks will mean more starters will arise from the picks. I can’t really argue with it.
5-150 OT Breno Giacomini
Hamlet’s view: sigh Dennis Dixon, Josh Johnson, Roy Schuening, Marcus Howard, and Jonathon Goff all still on the board and we select a converted TE who, while having good size and agility, hasn’t shown much and gave up 4 sacks last year. Maybe Brian Brohm has some inside information for the Packers about this guy, but when I see the talent left on the board, I’m pissed. Hopefully he’ll continue to develop and we do need tackles to replace ours as they get older, but this pick gets a thumbs down.
5-162 Given to Jets to move up to 102
6-194 To NY Giants in 2007 trade for RB Ryan Grant.
Hamlet’s view: Words cannot describe what a great move that ended up being. Kudos.
7-209 QB Matt Flynn
Hamlet’s view: With only Rodgers and two undrafted guys from last year on the roster, I’m glad the Pack took two QB’s. Matt will be an outstanding clipboard carrier, but I expect he’ll never develop into a starting QB. Still, a good pick in the 7th, and it fills a need on the roster. May make nice trade bait in a couple years.
7-217 WR Brett Swain
Hamlet’s view: Meh. Maybe they meant to take Luke SWAN and screwed up the last name. With Adarius Bowman and Erin Henderson still available, it was a wasted pick. Maybe he’ll surprise me.
7-237 To New Orleans Saints for 2009 sixth round pick.
Hamlet’s view: Great move. Although I generally like roster filling, there should be some undrafted free agents to fill the roster and the Packers get a 6th rounder next year. Nice move.
Overall: A very good draft that was more frustrating for me by people they DIDN’T select than those they did. But, overall, I really like the way TT drafted again. Getting Brohm and Lee late in the second was outstanding, but a couple of late offensive line picks (which I admit were necessary) had me scratching my head. I really like Jeremy Thompson and I have high hopes for Finley. All told, a very good draft that should have been better. They filled their big needs (DE, QB, CB, and TE) very well. On a scale of one to ten, I’d have to give it a 8. I really love the Brohm pick.
My god. That’s real. That’s scary. Can we throw him back yet?
Actually, as player websites go, it isn’t nearly that bad. He’s not exactly Cicero when it comes to mic time, but he says all the right things.
Usually.
Interesting to note that three Conference USA running backs were taken in the first 65 picks.
That is interesting to note.
I heard an interview with Mr. Smith a week or so ago and he didn’t seem brilliant, but he did seem enthusiastic, which is just fine by me.
To shed a little more light on why the Lions took Dizon.
Feh. I’m not sure why everyone thinks the guy with the headset has to be an MLB. There are plenty of safeties who play all the defensive downs. I doubt Dwight Smith will ever come off the field this season.