One Day To Go For NFL Draft - My Predictions!

OK, one day to go!!  Before I predict, I must analyze again!  Let's look one more time at the Ted Thompson Era - the past 10 years:

2014 - 1st Choice - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (S) - Total - 9 - Defense 4 - Offense 5
2013 - 1st Choice - Datone Jones (DE) - Total - 11 - Defense 5 - Offense 6
2012 - 1st Choice - Nick Perry (LB) - Total - 8 - Defense 6 - Offense 2
2011 - 1st Choice -Derrick Sherrod (OL) - Total - 10 - Defense 4 - Offense 6
2010 - 1st Choice - Brian Bulaga (OL) - Total - 7 - Defense 3 - Offense 4
2009 - 1st Choice - BJ Raji (NT) - Total - 8 - Defense 5 - Offense 3
2008 - 1st Choice - Jordy Nelson (WR) - Total - 9 - Defense 2 - Offense 7
2007 - 1st Choice - Justin Harrell (DT) - Total - 11 - Defense 4 - Offense 6 -Special Team 1
2006 - 1st Choice - AJ Hawk (LB) - Total - 11 - Defense 5 - Offense 6
2005 - 1st Choice - Aaron Rogers (QB) - Total - 11 - Defense 6 - Offense 5

Totals - 95 Draft Choices - Defense 44 - Offense 50 - Special Teams 1

Observations?

*** This year the Pack has 9 choices, may trade down to get more picks.

*** Usually equal amount of offense & defense players picked

*** Last four years, first pick defense - this year first pick DEFENSE!

*** This first pick will surprise people.

*** The following positions will be drafted - Cornerback, Defensive Line, Tight End, and
Inside Linebacker, and he always loves Wide Receivers!

First pick - Thursday Night!

To see the Packers Draft History Click Here!

Two Days To Go For The NFL Draft!

It seems that the NFL Network, ESPN and any other sports show have been discussing the NFL draft forever!!!  And Mock Drafts!  Oh Boy!  ENOUGH!  Why do we even have Mock Drafts?  What is more relevant, obvious needs of teams!  And I would love to see previous draft analyzed to see the "GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY"  of NFL general managers!  So, I will use this to judge the past drafts:

GOOD - This draft will build a playoff team & possible Super Bowl Champ!
BAD - This draft will allow the team to play average football, a possible 8 win 8 loss season!
UGLY - This draft will have the fans leaving in the 3rd quarter & TV viewers to watch re-runs!

Let's look at Ted Thompson and the Packers:

2014
1 - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
2 - Davante Adams
3 - Khyri Thorton
3 - Richard Rogers
4 - Carl Bradford
5 - Corey Linsley
5 - Jared Abbrederis
6 - Demetri Goodson
7 - Jeff Janis

GOOD! - New players, but Clinton-Dix, Adams, Linsley & Rogers helping right away!
                    Thorton, Abbrederis & Janis may still help!  This class could be one of the best!

2013
1 - Datone Jones
2 - Eddie Lacy
4 - David Bakhtiari
4 - JC Tretter
4 - Jonathan Franklin
5 - Micah Hyde
5 - Josh Boyd
6 - Nate Palmer
7 - Charles Johnson
7 - Kevin Dorsey
7 - Sam Barrington

GOOD! - Lot of help - Lacy & Bakhitiari BIG time help.  Jones, Tretter, Hyde, Boyd &
                     Barrington making plays.  Shame Franklin was lost for medical reasons!

2012
1 - Nick Perry
2 - Jerel Worthy
2 - Casey Hayward
4 - Mike Daniels
4 - Jerron McMillian
5 - Terrell Manning
7 - Andrew Datko
7 - BJ Coleman

GOOD & BAD - Perry, Hayward & Daniels!  But NO studs! Worthy - disappointment!
                      Daniels has turned into a leader!!!

2011
1 - Derek Sherrod
2 - Randall Cobb
3 - Alex Green
4 - Devon House
5 - DJ Williams
6 - Caleb Schlauderaff
6 - DJ Smith
6 - Ricky Elmore
7 - Ryan Taylor
7 - Lawrence Guy

UGLY - Thank goodness for Cobb!!  Sherrod hard luck injury!  House was great sub and
                could be a good starter, but we lost him. Most players did not help!

2010
1 - Bryan Bulaga
2 - Mike Neal
3 - Morgan Burnett
5 - Andrew Quarless
5 - Marshall Newhouse
6 - James Starks
7 - CJ Wilson

GOOD - players still have an impact today!  Three starters and great subs, two have moved
                   on to other teams!

2009
1 - BJ Raji
1 - Clay Matthews
4 - TJ Lang
5 - Quinn Johnson
5 - Jamon Meredith
6 - Jarius Wynn
6 - Brandon Underwood
7 - Brad Jones

GOOD - Raji, Matthews & Lang a BIG help!  Jones had his chance!  Other players did
                  not stick!

2008
2 - Jordy Nelson
2 - Brian Brohm
2 - Patrick Lee
3 - Jermichael Finley
4 - Jeremy Thompson
4 - Josh Sitton
5 - Breno Giacomini
7 - Matt Flynn
7 - Brett Swain

GOOD - but, too bad Finley was injured.  Nelson a great pick up and ultimate pro!  Flynn had
                 his chance!

2007
1 - Justin Harrell
2 - Brandon Jackson
3 - James Jones
3 - Aaron Rouse
4 - Allen Barbre
5 - David Clowney
6 - Korey Hall
6 - Desmond Bishop
6 - Mason Crosby
7 - DeShawn Wynn
7 - Clark Harris

UGLY - although we got a good receiver & kicker, Jones & Crosby.  Harrell a true BUST!
                 And a lot go NO-names!

2006
1 - AJ Hawk
2 - Daryn Colledge
2 - Greg Jennings
3 - Abdul Hodge
3 - Jason Spitz
4 - Cory Rogers
4 - Will Blackmon
5 - Ingle Martin
5 - Tony Moll
6 - Johnny Jolly
7 - Dave Tollefson

BAD - Hawk & Jennings were players, & Jolly had his ups & downs!  Again, a
              lot of forgettable names on this list!

2005
1 - Aaron Rogers
2 - Nick Collins
2 - Terrence Murphy
4 - Marviel Underwood
4 - Brady Poppinga
5 - Junius Coston
5 - Micael Hawkins
6 - Mike Montgomery
6 - Craig Bragg
7 - Kurt Campbell
7 - Will Whitticker

GOOD - Three words - AARON!!!!  AARON!!!!   AARON!!!!   Miss Nick Collins!

So, what has the past ten years produced?

One Super Bowl
One NFC Championship
Five Division Titles
Playoffs - 7 of 10 years

NOT Bad!!  What will this draft look like & will they help us win Super Bowl 50!!

Packers 2015 Schedule - Let The Planning Begin!

So, we have the 2015 NFL Schedule!  That schedule sets many things in motion!

The television networks dedicate an entire evening to discussing it!

The coaches start to develop a plan for the season!

Players begin plans for the Super Bowl run, making the team, and maybe
getting a few tickets for family & friends!

Team officials begin planning home games festivities, like Thanksgiving night
for the Packers retiring Favre's number!

And fans, season ticket holders are looking at home games, others fans dream
of attending their favorite team for JUST ONE GAME!  And Packer fans, well
we all know they are special!  Some dream for JUST ONE game in their life time!

Here is is:

Lets analyze it!

Bye Week - Week 7

Not bad, not perfect, but will do!  McCarthy like to break up the season into 4 quarters, here is my guess:

Quarter 1 - Proving Something!

at Bears

Home - Seahawks

Home - Chiefs

at 49ers

I love the Bears game one!  It is an away game that we should win!  Cutler always helps, new coaching staff, and a Packer Team with something to prove!

Seattle - Game #2 - WOW!  No need to discuss this!  AND, home opener!

Game #3 - second home game, Chiefs!  The will be well coached, and dangerous!  QB, Smith for 

Chiefs still has something to prove!  Should be a close game, but Packer offense should win it!

Game #4 - Away 49ers!  New coaching staff, new inside linebackers, but a QB that has burned the 

Pack before!  Another game that should have the Packer players focused!!!

Quarter 2 - New Blood!

Home - Rams

Home - Chargers

BYE WEEK

at Broncos

at Panthers

This part of the schedule has a lot of unknowns!  Good home games!  Rams & Chargers will add 

new challenges!  New QB for Rams, good defense!  A wise QB for Chargers, dangerous offense!

Away game at Broncos?  What does Peyton Manning have left in the tank?  And the Panthers?

Which Cam New will show up?

Quarter 3 - Division Time!

Home - Lions

at Vikings

Home - Bears

at Lions

This is VERY interesting!  All conference games!!!  Lions twice!  Lions will NOT have the same

defensive swagger!  But, that offense is ALWAYS dangerous!  Bears, second time around, WHO KNOWS!!!! (AND, retiring Favre jersey!!!!)  Will Cutler still be QB?  And the Vikings?  They scare me the most!  Head Coach 

Zimmer is VERY good.  He know how to play defense!  WOULD LOVE TO WIN ALL FOUR!!

Quarter 4 - Finish Strong!

Home - Cowboys

at Raiders

at Cardinals

Home - Vikings

Two VERY big games!  The Cowboys are the COWBOYS!  Dez Bryant always plays with a chip,

this game the chip will be VERY big!  The Cardinals, away game, will I think, be a battle of playoff teams!  Packer Offense vs. Cardinals Defense!!!  Raiders, will they EVER put it together, I hope not

this week!  And the Vikings, home, still worry me!  (Should of retired Brett jersey this week!  JUST

KIDDING!!!!)

Big TV games?

Game 2 - September 20 - Seahawks - Sunday Night Game - NBC - 8:30 EST

Game 4 - October 4 - 49ers - Sunday - FOX - 4:25 EST

Game 7 - November 2 - Broncos - Sunday Night Game - NBC - 8:30 EST

Game 11 - Novemebr 26 - Bears - Thursday Night Game - NBC - 8:30 EST (Favre Jersey!)

Game 13 - December 13 - Cowboys - Sunday - FOX - 4:25 EST

Game 15 - December 27 - Cardinals - Sunday - FOX - 4:25 EST

We need win at least HALF of these!!!! Home games highlighted!

My predictions will come in August!

Another Last Minute Look At 2015 NFL Draft By Position

Down to 11 days!  For REAL Football fans, the last 3 months have been long!  If you are in the northern part of the country, the weather helps make it longer!!!  Do not worry, April is flying by!  The NFL schedule comes out this week, and the draft follows that!  PLENTY to talk about!  PLENTY to add to the excitement!

The next few blog entries will focus on what I think are Packer needs.  Ted Thompson may disagree, but from my "General Manger Seat", the Inside Linebacker position is top priority!  So, let's look at the latest ranking!

According to Walter Football:

1 - Erik Kendricks, UCLA,  6'0"-232lbs  40 Time - 4.61  Projected Round 1

2 - Benardrick McKinnney, Mississippi State  6'4"-246 lbs  40 Time - 4.66  Projected Rounds 1-2

3 - Denzel Perryman, Miami  5'10"-242 lbs  40 Time - 4.78  Projected Rounds 1-2

4 - Stephone Anthony, Clemson  6'2"-243 lbs  40 Time - 4.56  Projected Rounds 2-3

5 - Paul Dawson  TCU, 6'0"-235 lbs  40 Time - 4.93  Projected Rounds 3-5

6 - Hayes Pullard, USC, 6'0"-240 lbs  40 Time - 4.78  Projected Rounds 3-4

7 - Taiwan Jones, Michigan State, 6'3"-245 lbs  40 Time - 4.95  Projected Rounds 3-4

8 - Mike Hull, Penn State, 6'0"-237 lbs  40 Time - 4.68  Projected Rounds 3-5

The CBS Sports Ranking:

14 Days Till The NFL Draft!

It looks like we are just about where we will be in 14 days, when the NFL Draft is upon us!  Let's take a quick inventory:

1 - Cap Space - $8,858,879.   The past few years the Pack has taken money to the following year.  As of today, my guess?  This number will go to next year.

2 - Team Roster - 66 players - below is my FAMOUS spreadsheet:

Looks close.  Remember the LAST 2-3 YEARS!  Where do we add players!  DEFENSE!

Wouldn't it be nice for the defense to dominate, it the offense is struggling?  Finish a game

STRONG, by shutting down the opposing offense the last 4-5 minutes!

3 - Special Teams - create a top ten Special Team for 2015!

So, here are MY draft needs:

Inside Linebacker

Cornerback

Tight End

Defensive Tackle

And, talent!!!!

John Kuhn Is Back!

Big news today from Packer Land!  The chant - Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhn!

It may be back!

Now, Kuhn still needs to make the team, but chances look good!  Why?

1 - No other fullbacks on the team.

2 - The tight end position is also very thin!

3 - By this fans view, the coaches, and more important, Aaron Rogers, still trust
John Kuhn the MOST!

And if you watch Green Bay local TV, read the Packer website, John Kuhn & his lovely
wife are VERY active in the community!  Green Bay is their home!  Green Bay fans
have a "blue collar" connection with John Kuhn!

Also signing Sean Richardson allows the Packer depth in the defensive secondary & special
teams to stay strong!  And as Coach McCarthy spends more time with special teams, this
should be a bonus!

Packer Defense 2015 - Sam Barrington - "My Defense"?

Leadership!  Aggressiveness!  Toughness!  Crazy Eyes!  Punishing Hits!  Attitude!

Middle Linebacking in the NFL is Talent PLUS Attitude!  Remember.............................

Dick Butkus?

Jack Lambert?

Mike Curtis?

Of Course, Packers, Ray Nitschke?

Sam Barrington??   Who is Sam Barrington?  He is the starting linebacker for the

2015 Green Bay Packers!!  Did you read the latest item about Sam on the NFL website?

Sam Barrington:  Green Bay Packers, "My Defense"!!!

Time will tell, he is saying the right stuff!  Does he have the right stuff?

Sam Barrington - 6'1" - 240 lbs

Sam Barrington - Age 24,third year out of South Florida

Sam Barrington - cousin of defensive tackle Letroy Guion

Sam Barrington - 4 year letter winner in track & field!!  110 Hurdles & Discus!!!  LOVE IT!

                                   (This point is dedicated to my track buddies - Bill & Terry!)

Sam Barrington - Played both ways in high school running back & linebacker

                                  (Gained 1188 yards & had 17 TD's)

Sam Barrington - Father born in Ghana

Sam Barrington - Drafted 2013 in 7th Round

Will Sam Barrington begin to lead this team?  Will Sam Barrington control the inside of the Packer

defense?  Will Sam Barrington help win a Packer Super Bowl?

Sam Barrington

Sam Barrington

Sam Barrington

Sam Barrington

Clock Is Ticking, April 11, 2015, All Is Quiet On The Packer Front

What has happened this past week?  NOT MUCH!

Some interesting articles.....

NFL Website - Who has the best roster in the NFC?

According to this article, the best rosters, .............................  Seattle & Packers!

This is good news!  Have a read & see what you think!  I tend to agree.

The Pack offense - SOLID!  O-line signed and getting better - That is Scary!

Wide Receivers - Signed & better - Nelson, Cobb, & Adams!  Plus I still have a great feeling
about the young guys - Abbrederis, Janis, & White.

Tight Ends - Rogers should be better & Quarrels is solid.

Running backs - Lacy & Starks - awesome 1-2 punch & Neal sounds like good depth.

Of course, a guy named Aaron Rogers!

Defense up & down - better on the line, OK in the secondary, but losing depth.  And missing
one inside linebacker!

Pre-season schedule out - Patriots & Steelers Away, then close with Eagles & Saints at Home!  This
should show the Packers how good or needy we are to begin the season!

And - 18 days till the NFL Draft!!!

A Look At The Packer Roster As Of April 4th, 2015

As a retired math teacher and Compuer Techie, I love computers and what they can do!!  This BLOG is an example!  Also, visually, putting the Packer present Roster in a spreadsheet helps!!!  Have a look!

Click on to Enlarge!

The placing of players is from the Packer Website, so some positions look very slim!  Remember, at DE the Pack uses players like Mike Neal, Nick Perry, & Julius Peppers at linebacker and defensive end!  Several offense linemen are able to play many positions!

Packer draft order as of today:

My color code helps track thins like free agents, new signees, restricted free agents, etc.  As the Pack gets closer to the draft and building a 90 man roster, this visual helps to track team depth!  I LOVE IT!  So, if you are a Packer Nerd like me, I hope this helps bring the Packer Roster Picture into focus!  If not, enjoy my crazy LOVE of the Green Bay Packers!  GO PACK GO!

Four Weeks To The 2015 NFL Draft!

OK, Packer fans!  We are getting VERY close!  Four weeks, that's 28 till we pick!!  So, four weeks out, what do we look at?  First, let's see what we have today!

1 - Free agents?  ONLY NFL team to NOT take a player from another team!  Signed Packers - Cobb, Bulaga, Tolzien, Guion, & Raji.  Restricted free agents given offer - Barclay, Richardson, & Banjo.  The only Packer out their that I would sign - John Kuhn.  Why, Aaron Rogers personal protector & his leadership!  Plus, Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhn!

2 - Defense - Defense - Defense!  The offense is set, maybe a tight end.  But, I think the defense is VERY close.  At safety, Clinto-Dix & Burnett may become one of the best combination in the NFL.  At outside linebacker, I REALLY like Peppers & Matthews, plus Neal & Perry.  And I still have hope for Hubbard & Elliot to blossom!  Nose guard was solidified this week!  Raji & Guion signed.  I still think Raji has something to prove!  And the playing him outside, Capers experiment, is over!  Guion, (STUPID MOVES OVER WE HOPE), had a nice season last year.  The edge players, Jones, Daniels, Boyd, seem to be stepping up, especially Daniels & his leadership!!!  At cornerback, Shield is steady & Hayward & Hyde are getting an opportunity!!!  And, some of the young talent, Glover-Wright & Goodson have a chance!!!  NOW, INSIDE LINEBACKER!!!  INSIDE LINEBACKER!!!!!  Ted Thompson, PICK WISELY!!!!  Also, draft - defensive tackle, cornerback, tight end, & any other talent out there, running back & offensive line.

3 - McCarthy coaching change?  In four weeks the new hat, or should I say HATS, for Coach Mike will begin!  He said he will be involved with all three areas - Special Teams, Defense & Offense!  It begins!!

28 days & counting!!!