Packer Draft 2016 - Day 3

Day 3 of the NFL Draft, the Packers choose:

4a - Blake Martinez, ILB - Stanford - 6'1" - 237 lbs
Comments:  Tough young man, with a nose for the football.  Film work show a very disciplined player that maintains his angles and is good against the run & pass.  4.71 in the 40 yard dash & is physically strong.  The quickness may be suspect.

Fits my 3 sport athlete profile - football, basketball & volleyball in high school.  And of course Stanford, passes the intelligence test - majored in engineering. Stanford Bio - click here

4b - Dean Lowry, DE - Northwestern - 6'5" - 296 lbs
Another academic school?  Do you see a trend here?  Are the Packers looking for "intelligent" football players?  Maybe the new playbook will be in Latin this year?  Or, the play calling will be
from the old WWII code of the Navajo Indians?

Lowry, a good 3-4 fit defensive end.  Coaches love him, (another trend?) and plays with his hair
on fire.  A good tackler, and WE NEED good tacklers!  Interesting stat, had more tackles for losses
than Joey Bosa!  Downside?  Short Arms, does not always pick up the ball, and speed may be questionable.

5 - Trevor Davis, WR - California - 6'1" - 188 lbs
A receiver with speed, check out his combine workout - click here.

Looks smooth!  Catches the ball!  Cuts well!  And, looks fast!

Found this scouting report - click here.  My favorite part, was this:

"What earned him 2015 preseason All-American nods as a kick returner, though, was his record-setting game against Washington State.

In that game, Davis returned two straight kickoffs for touchdowns, one for 100 yards, and another for 98, helping the Bears to a 60-59 win in Pullman."

Like that!  Special team help & a receiver with speed!

6 - Kyle Murphy, OT - Stanford - 6'6" - 305 lbs

Another kid from the west - of the Packs 7 picks - 5 from the west!  A trend?  No SEC players?

Has the size & build for the NFL.  In the Senior Bowl week, he seemed to play to game better than the drill work during the week!  Like any lower draft pick, lack the athletic ability of higher choices.
Will probably be moved to guard to start the year.
Scouting Report on Kyle Murphy - click here!

Pick #4, an inside linebacker.  Question is, is this enough to make a difference?
Pick #5, a defensive end, we need defensive line help.  Question is, does he press the QB?
Pick #6, a wide receiver with speed. Question is, can he beat out the receivers already on the roster?
Pick #7, an offensive tackle.  With free agents next year on the offensive line, is he good enough?

Here we go - get ready!

Blake Martinez

Dean Lowry

Trevor Davis

Kyle Murphy

Packer Draft 2016 - Day 2

The NFL Draft is always interesting!  Here are a few observations:

1 - 3 days?  The one thing that will destroy the game of football is greed.  And stretching this out for 3 days is a great example of greed!

2 - Analysis - we need have a show a year later showing how much these experts DO NOT KNOW!
One thing that is not measured is the size of the heart, the determination of a young man when things are on the line and DO they really love the game of football!  Time will tell!

3 - Some teams draft for the present, some draft & develop.  The Packers DO draft & develop, will go into detail later!

4 - Drafting in NOT easy!

First, a look at our new Packers!

Round 2 pick - Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana - 6'6" - 301 lbs (click here for NFL.com stats)

First thing you notice, size!  He looks like an NFL Tackle!  Next thing, speed, fastest 40 yd time at
the combine!  He passing the workout test, Click Here to see some combine footage!

A look at his college web page, found this, Click here for college information!

  "also a basketball, lacrosse and track and field standout "

If you follow my blog, you know I love athletes that participate in multiple sports!

I like the pick and with all the offensive line free agents next year - we NEED him!

Round 3 pick - Kyler Mackrell, OLB, Utah State - 6'5" - 245 lbs

Again, the eye test!  He LOOKS like an athlete!  And, does he have a BIG upside?  What did he do at  the combine?  To see his 40 yard dash at the combine, click here!

Wow!  I would have made him a high hurdler!  Now, will he be a football player?  In the NFL?

Isn't that the question!  Looks like the plan is to make him an edge rusher & another piece to the Dom Capers defensive puzzle.  He looks like a Peppers replacement & we hope he listens to everything Peppers says!

He is not a young one, 25 years old, married, with a 2 year old daughter!  So, he comes to the Packers with some maturity and recovered from an ACL injury!!  Click here to read more of his background!

And guess what?

 "It’s been a long journey from Mesa (Ariz.) High School to the NFL for Fackrell. A three-sport athlete, he lettered in basketball and volleyball in addition to playing linebacker, quarterback and receiver in high school."

I'm happy! An athlete!

Day 2, we filled some needs, how good we filled the needs, to be determined!

Packers #1 Pick - Kenny Clark, UCLA, DT

OK, the pick is in:

Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA - 6'3" - 314 lbs.

The first thing I always do is try to find a little background information, who is Kenny Clark?

Wow!  First, an interesting story about Kenny Clarks father, Click Here!

OK, Kenny Clark the person has overcome a lot to get to last night's NFL Draft!  At age 21, his life has NOT been easy!

What does Ted say: (Click here)

Some Key Points: (Ted being Ted!)

Kenny Clark was team captain!
Other teams wanted to trade this pick.
Natural athlete - flexibility - weighs 315, doe not look it!
Was a wrestler!  This was important! - Leverage!
Game tapes - hand use - leverage - strong base - 5 flat in 40 - great workout for us
Call to move draft pick - took a few calls
Ted, "Don't want to jinx yourself"

I will say it again, Ted Thompson is an amazing interview!

Kenny Clark's UCLA Bio (Click Here)

Good numbers & good leadership!  Had a great career at UCLA & will join 2 Packers with
UCLA roots - Datone Jones & Brent Huntley.

John Breech from CBS Sports, gives the Packers a B+ grade (Click Here to read)

And, as this article reads, he is VERY young!  Clark will turn 21 this October during the season!

Looks like a good one.  Only time will tell how good!

Less Than 24 Hours, And The Packers Take . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Green Bay Packers Select with their first pick of the 2016 Draft . . . . . . .

Linebacker, Reggie Ragland, Alabama

or,

The Green Bay Packers Select with their first pick of the 2016 Draft . . . . . . .

Defensive Tackle, A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama

or,

The Green Bay Packers Select with their first pick of the 2016 Draft . . . . . . .

Linebacker, Tyler Matakevich, Temple

or,

The Green Bay Packers Select with their first pick of the 2016 Draft . . . . . . .

Defensive End, Shall Lawson,  Clemson

or,

The Green Bay Packers Select with their first pick of the 2016 Draft . . . . . . .

Offensive Tackle, Jack Conklin, Michigan State

or,

The Green Bay Packers Select with their first pick of the 2016 Draft . . . . . . .

Defensive Tackle, Jarran Reed, Alabama,

or,

The Green Bay Packers Select with their first pick of the 2016 Draft . . . . . . .

All the players from Alabama

or

The Green Bay Packers Select with their first pick of the 2016 Draft . . . . . . .

Defensive End, Reggie White, Tennessee (I wish)

What do you think?  And Predictions?  Will Ted Thompson stay awake till the Pack drafts?

Stay Tuned!!!!

NFL Draft 2016, Packers Build For The Season!

Taking a break from the Roster!  I will finish the Defense, after the draft!  First, 2 days to get ready!

Here we go....... First, our friend & DYNAMIC speaker, Ted Thompson.

I always feel sorry for Ted when I hear him speak, take a listen....

Ted Thompson latest interview! (Click Here)

Wow!  But, he is making BIG money, so, I'm not that sorry!

Hope Ted reads this Blog!

Needs:

1 - Inside Linebacker
2 - Defensive Tackle
3 - Offensive Tackle
4 - Wide Receiver (with speed!)
5 - Tight End

What draft Picks do we have as of today?
Round      Round #    Overall #
1              27              27
2              26              57
3              25              88
4              27              125
4              33              131 (comp.)
4              39              137 (comp.)
5              26              163
6              25              200
7              27              248


That is 9 new players!  Let's begin with round 1 - Ted NEEDS to hit a Home Run!  We have had a lot of success in the draft, but our #1 NEEDS to be a good one!

So, how do you like the list?  Going back to 2005 Rodgers & Matthews, All Pro Types!

Hawk, Raji, Bulaga, Clinton-Dix, starters, #1 should be starters!

Perry, Jones, Randall, becoming starters?

Harrell & Sherrod, swing and miss!

Not bad, but again, #1, must be a player!

Thompson has done a good job, but we measure success in Super Bowls, and we have 1!  But with Aaron Rodgers, we need 2, 3, or 4.  I think this year is BIG!!!  We need some people to help Aaron the next 3-4 years!!!

And, at tight end, Jared Cook may help!  Jordy is back, and MAYBE Montgomery will be back!  We have a lot of offensive lineman that are free agents NEXT year!  SO, my priory (TED are you reading this?)

1 - Inside linebacker
2 - Pass Rush Help
3 - Offensive Line Starter, for NEXT year (Back-up this year!)

Of the 9 draft picks, 6-7 would be these people!!!

Building The 2016 Packer Roster - Wide Receivers

Wide Receivers?  What a year last year - 2015!

Jordy Nelson goes down!

We pick up James Jones!

Randall Cobb gets hurt - Shoulder!

Davonte Adams gets hurt - Anke!

Ty Montgomery gets hurt - Ankle!

And as we mentioned previously, Eddie Lacy - fat, Tight Ends - Quarless not helping, Rodgers can't stretch the middle, offensive line hurt - they all take turn!  And what was deceiving, we started the season with 6 straight wins, and BAM!

So, our present roster?
Jordy Nelson
Randall Cobb
Davonte Adams
Ty Montgomery
Jeff Janis
Jared Abbrederis
James Jones - a free agent
Ed Williams
James Johnson

That is 9 wide receivers for 5-6 spots on the roster, last year we had 5 on the 53 man roster.

Looks like no need to draft wide receiver, BUT if Montgomery does not come around, drafting a speed receiver is what I would do!  Examples:

Corey Coleman 5'11" - 194 - Baylor - 40 yd - 4.40
Josh Doctson 6'2" - 202 - TCU - 40 yd. - 4.43
Sterling Shepard 5'10" - 194 - Oklahoma - 4.43

If we learned anything last year, the Pack MUST stretch the field.  Jordy can do that!  Janis, showed in the last game he can do that!  We NEED to stretch the field for Cobb, Adams, Cook, Richard Rodgers, etc.!

Packers 2016 Regular Season Schedule

Well, my break is over, my son and his family are back in Hawaii (And 2 beautiful grand daughters), and it is time to get back to my Packer Blog!!

Here is the schedule!

First the BYE week!  Early!  How can we sell this?  

1 - Because the Pack is in the Hall of Fame Game for pre-season, their pre-season is long!  First, pre-season game against Colts is Aug 7 - so, practice will begin at the end of July!  That is 8-9 weeks to the bye week and 13 weeks after the bye week.  Plus, between week 7 & 8, the Pack will get a little break, because of the Thursday night game.

2 - After the BYE week, the Pack has 3 straight home games!  Home Cooking heals the body!

The Bye week is what it is!  So, these are professionals, "suck it up" and play each week one game at a time!  The military men serving duty overseas DO NOT get BYE weeks!

Season begins on the road for two weeks - Week 1 Jacksonville & week 2 our beloved Vikings!  Jacksonville will be improved!  And the game may be in heat!  But again, the NFL is not for babies!  Vikings, in their NEW Stadium! What a great present, BEATING the Vikings in their new pad! And, The Lions for our first home game in week 3!!  Without Calvin Johnson!  That is two division games!  We NEED to win the first two division games!  Week 4 - as discussed BYE Week!

Now, after the BYE week - Home - Home - Home - Away  Giants, Cowboys, Bears, & Falcons!  The Giants will be interesting, new coach (an ex-Packer coach!)  Giants spent a lot of money on new players & have those explosive receivers!!!  Should be a shoot out!!!  The Cowboys again, at home in week 6!  It seems like we have been playing the Cowboys every year at home!  The Cowboys, will be dangerous as usual, and ALWAYS bring DRAMA!  Week 7 - "Da Bears!"  WE OWE THEM A LOSS!  The Packer Buddies were there last year, Thursday Night, Thanksgiving, Brett Favre tribute and the Pack with the ball 1st & Goal to win it ..... and we LOST!  YIKES!  And then, week 8, finally back on the road against the Falcons!  Hope, by this time, the Falcons are in their mid-year slump!!!

Half way home!

Next four games - Home - Away - Away - Away!  On the road!!!  This, I think, is the key to the 2016 season!!!  Colts home, with a healthy Andrew Luck!   I think, another shoot out!  And then on the road - Week 10 - Titans - Week 11 - Redskins - Week 11 - Eagles!  As I said, this stretch we will see how good the Packers will be in 2016!   Titans, young and hungry!  Redskins want revenge for the playoff loss last year!  And Eagles, lot of changes, and probably another Drama game in Philly!  Always drama in Philly!

And the last 5 weeks of the season - Home - Home - Away - Home - Away.  Two home games, week 13 - Texans.  JJ Watt meets Aaron Rodgers.  We hope the only touch is a handshake after the game!  Week 14 - Seattle Seahawks role into town!  GET LOUD LAMBEAU!!!!  Week 15 Away - Bears.  It never gets old beating the Bears!!!  Week 16 - Home - versus the Vikings!  This may be for the division title again!!  Let's get that back in Green Bay!!!  And last, away game,  the Lions in week 17!!  

Other interesting facts:

Pack will play 3 late Sunday Night Games!

September 18, AWAY,  against the Vikings

October 9, HOME, against the Giants

November 20, AWAY, against the Redskins

The Pack will play 1 Monday Night Game

November 28, AWAY, against the Eagles

One Thursday Night Game

October 20, HOME, against the Bears!

My early prediction?

Pack goes 11 wins & 5 losses 

and 

wins the NFC North Division!!!

Prospects

OK, I've been on break!  Time to get back into it!  But before I tackle the roster, the Packer Website has been analyzing PROSPECTS.  Take you time & click on each one and see what you think!  Here is the list so far:

Prospects

4/1/16,  CoreyColeman,  WR,  Baylor

3/31/16,  BlakeMartinez,  ILB,  Stanford

3/31/16,  Jason Fanaika,  DE ,  Utah

3/30/16,  Kyle Murphy,  OT,  Stanford

3/30/16 ,  JaredGoff,  QB ,  California

3/29/16,  Joshua Garnett,  G ,  Stanford

3/28/16 ,  Javon Hargrave ,  DT,  SC State

3/26/16,  Beau Sandland,  TE,  Montana St

3/25/16,  James Cowser,  OLB,  Utah

3/24/16,  Noah Spence,  OLB/DE ,  EKU 

3/23/16,  Carson Wentz ,  QB,  N. Dakota

3/22/16,  Cole Turner ,  OT ,  Harvard 

3/21/16,  Miles Killebrew,   S ,  S. Utah

3/19/16 , Joe Haeg,  OT,  N. Dakota St.

3/18/16,  Ben Braunecker,  TE,  Harvard

3/17/16 ,  Joel Stave,  QB,  Wisconsin

3/16/16,  Jack Conklin,  OT ,  Michigan St 

                          

3/15/16 ,  Tyler Marz,  OT ,  Wisconsin

3/14/16,  Nick Vannett,  TE,  Ohio St.

3/12/16,  Connor Cook,  QB,  Michigan St.

3/11/16,  Jordan Howard,  RB,  Indiana

3/10/16 ,  Joe Schubert,  LB,  Wisconsin

First, I would eliminate the QB's.  All the others are open.  Out of the offensive lineman, Harvard's Cole Turner intrigues me!  First, smart - Harvard.  Second, versatile, all NFL teams need that.  The Tight Ends, with the signing of Jared Cook, not a big priority.  Beau Sandland would be interesting in rounds 5 or 6!  Not a lot of D-lineman, but the kid from SC State looks like a possible keeper - VERY athletic - basketball, and was a running back!!!  And Noah Spence, if he is beyond the drug problems, would be a steal!!!

So, who would you pick????