Edge, Defensive Line & Linebackers - WOW!

The athletes were flying around the field today!  And, the Packers could pick 2-3 of these young players to instantly improve their defense!!!!  I will point out 3 or each position below!

Edge Rushers (24 players)
1 - Josh Allen, 6'5" - 262 lbs
Kentucky - 40 yds - 4.63 & Bench Press - 28 & Broad Jump - 118 inches
2 - Brian Burns, 6'5" - 249 lbs
Florida St. - 40 yds - 4.53 & Bench Press - x & Broad Jump - 129 inches
3 - Ben Banogu, 6'3" - 250 lbs
TCU - 40 yds - 4.62 & Bench Press - 23 & Broad Jump - 134 inches


Defensive Linemen(33 Players)
1 - Dexter Lawrence, 6'4" - 344 lbs
Clemson - 40 yds - 5.05 & Bench Press - 36 & Broad Jump - x
2 - Rashan Gary, 6'4 - 277 lbs
Michigan - 40 yds - 4.58 & Bench Press - 26 & Broad Jump - 120 inches
3 - Quinnen Williams, 6'3" - 303 lbs
Alabama - 40 yds - 4.83 & Bench Press - x & Broad Jump - 112 inches

Linebackers(37 Players)
1 - Sione Takitaki, 6'1" - 238 lbs
BYU - 40 yds - 4.63 & Bench Press - 24 & Broad Jump - 125 inches
2 - Devin White, 6'0' - 237 lbs
LSU - 40 yds - 4.42 & Bench Press - 22 & Broad Jump - 118 inches
3 - Gary Johnson, 6'0" - 226 lbs
Texas - 40 yds - 4.43 & Bench Press - 16 & Broad Jump - 121 inches

Remember, Packers have 10 draft picks.  I would take 2 Edge, 1 DL, & 2 LB's!

Time will tell!  Again, emphasis needs to be at least 2 of these 10 draft picks must HIT!!!!

NFL Combine - Place Kickers, Special Teams, Offensive Line & Running Backs

Here we go:  Speed, Strength, Agility, Effort, Body Language, Hands, Explosiveness, ............

What do YOU see as you watch the NFL Combine?

Running Backs
Miles Sanders - Penn State

Season: 2018: Earned the program's 26th individual 1,000-yard rusing season (2018)...Is the 16th 1,000-yard rusher in program history... Has the 14th-most rushing yards in a PSU single season. 2016: Owns the Penn State season record with 33 kickoff returns in 2016, passing former teammate Grant Haley’s mark of 32 from 2014...Ranks No. 2 on the school season list with 688 kickoff return yards in 2016 behind Chaz Powell (733 yards; 2011).

Game: Became the 28th player in program history to rush for 200 yards against Illinois (9/21)...One of six players in program history (nine occasions) to rush for 200 yards and three touchdowns in a game.

Ryquell Armsted - Temple
Maxwell Player of the Week (Houston) ... Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week (Houston) ... AAC Offensive Player of the Week (Houston) ... CFPA National Performer of the Week (Houston) ... Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week (Houston) ... College Sports Madness National Offensive Player of the Week (Houston)  ... ESPN Helmet Sticker (Houston) ... Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll (Tulsa) ... AAC Honor Roll (Tulsa, Boston College) ... Temple Athletics Student Athlete of the Month (September) ... Temple Athletics Student Athlete of the Week (Tulsa, Houston) ... APEX Predator Offensive Player of the Game (Buffalo, Tulsa, Boston College, Houston) ... #theSTANDARD Player of the Week (UCF, Houston) ... Doak Walker Award Watch List ... 2017 - APEX Predator Offensive Player of the Week (Army) ... #the STANDARD Player of the Game (Houston, UConn, Army, Tulsa) ... Doak Walker Award Watch List ... 2016- All-American Athletic Conference Third Team (Phil Steele) ... AAC Honor Roll (SMU, USF) ... Offensive Production Player of the Week (SMU, USF) ... Offensive Effort Player of the Week (UCF) ... OwlSports.com Under Armour Student Athlete of the Week (SMU, USF)

Devin Singletary - Florida Atlantic
 2/2/19: Singletary averaged 5.2 yards per carry in 2018 for 1,348 yards with 22 touchdowns. He notched six receptions for 36 yards.

8/28/18: Team sources told me that Singletary graded out as having first- through fourth-round potential per the advance scouts. According to NFL teams' preseason data provided by team sources, Singletary checks in at 5-foot-7, 199 pounds. He also has 29.83-inch arms, 8.75-inch hands, and a wingspan of 69.38 inches. He is said to run the 40 in 4.58 seconds.

The short, thick back has good speed with impressive feet, balance and vision. In 2017, Singletary averaged 6.5 yards per carry for 1,796 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also had 18 receptions for 185 yards and one score. In 2016, Singletary averaged 6.7 yards per carry for 1,021 yards with 12 scores to go with 26 receptions for 163 yards in his freshman season.

Read more: http://walterfootball.com/draft2019RB.php#ixzz5gyIlSbi7

Offensive Line
Jonah Williams - Alabama - 6'5" - 301 lbs
Secured the starting right tackle spot as a freshman before moving to the left side in his sophomore campaign ... started all 29 games during his tenure in Tuscaloosa ... regarded as one of the top offensive linemen in the conference and nationally ... earned second team All-America honors from the AFCA while being named a third-team selection by the Associated Press ... chosen as a first team All-SEC player by both the Associated Press and the conference coaches ... selected as a second team preseason All-American by four outlets ... received midseason All-America honors from USA Today and the Associated Press ... and named to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List ... finished with 22 knockdown blocks on the season and an average grade of  86.7 percent ... surrendered just 2.5 sacks and eight pressures in 831 offensive snaps while committing just two mental errors and only missing 10 assignments (98.6 percent success rate) ... anchored the left side of an offensive line that was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award ... led an offensive line that ranked second in the SEC 

David Edwards - Wisconsin - 6'7" - 315 lbs
2018 Season: Earned third letter, starting 10 games at right tackle ... missed final 3 games of season due to injury ... key to rushing attack that led the Big Ten and ranked No. 6 nationally, averaging 273.4 yards per game … helped Badgers average 6.2 yards per rushing attempt, the fourth-best mark nationally … blocked for Doak Walker Award winner and unanimous first-team All-American Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for 2,194 yards to lead the nation in rushing

2017 Season: Earned second letter, starting all 14 games at right tackle … helped pave the way for Doak Walker Award finalist Jonathan Taylor, who set FBS freshman rushing record with 1,977 yards … unit allowed just 1.5 sacks per game to lead the Big Ten … Badgers finished season ranked second in Big Ten in rushing offense (222.9 yards per game) and third in total offense (415.0 ypg)

Jackson Barton - Utah - 6'7" - 308 lbs
Four-year letterman and two-year starter was first-team All-Pac-12 as a senior … Preparing for his second season as the starting left tackle … played in all 53 games since his redshirt freshman year including appearances on the line in 44 games with 29 starts.
2018–First-team All-Pac-12 … started all 14 games at left tackle … led the offensive line with 779 plays (stats were not kept for the last three games) … team-high nine cuts … season-high 84 plays and a cut against USC … three cuts against Stanford.
2017–Started all 13 games at left tackle … 825 plays ranked second on the offensive line (offensive line stats were not kept for the last two games) … team-high eight cuts … career-high three cuts vs. BYU.

Names to watch!  

Looks like a lot of talent on day #1 of the NFL Combine!

2019 NFL Combine

The time has come to begin to seriously look at our incoming college players!

The NFL website info, (Click Here!)

The workout schedule.

Tentative Combine workout schedule: 
» Friday, Mar 1: PK, ST, OL, RB 
» Saturday, Mar 2: QB, WO, TE 
» Sunday, Mar 3: DL, LB 
» Monday, Mar 4: DB 

Now, Packer needs?

1 - Any possible GREAT player!  For year I have been saying (along with other experts!), the Packers need a draft choice that is a difference maker!  A sure All-Pro!  Ted Thompson had VERY poor draft choices in his last few years!  The new GM, Brian Gutekunst, has one year under his belt!  So, what will the packers do with their 10 draft picks!!!!!

2 - Positions of Interest - Edge Rusher - Safety - Tight End - Offensive Line

3 - BEST player available?  This is why players are ranked on the Big Boards!  The Combine allows interviews, comparing strength & speed, how does a player move on drills.  Comparing what teams have on college game tape, with on the field drills is always interesting!

So, how about some names:

Let's do our ABC's!  26 players, by their last name to watch!!!!

A(15 players) - Allen, Josh - Edge Rusher - Kentucky
B(38 players)  - Bosa, Nick - Defensive Line - Ohio State
C(17 players) -  Calhoun, Shaq - Offensive Line - Mississippi St.
D(18players) -  Delter, Michael - Offensive Line - Wisconsin
E(6 players) -   Edwards, TJ - Linebacker - Wisconsin
F(11 players) -  Fant, Noah - Tight End - Iowa
G(20 players) - Gary, Rashan - Defensive Line - Michigan
H(31 players) - Abram, Jonathan - Safety - Mississippi
I(3 players) - Isabella, Andy - Wide Receiver - Massachusetts
J(27 players) - Joseph, Vosean - Linebacker - Florida
K(3 players) - Kingsley, Keke - Defensive Line - Texas A&M -
L(13 players) - Lawrence, Dexter - Defensive Line - Clemson
M(25 players) - Mullen, Trayvon - Cornerback - Clemson
N(3 players) - Nauta, Issac - Tight End - Georgia
O(7 players) - Oliver, Ed - Offensive Line - Houston
P(11 players) - Polite, Jachai - Edge Rusher - Florida
Q(0 players) - NONE
R(10 players) - Renfrow, Hunter - Wide Receiver - Clemcon
S(30 players) - Smith, Irv - Tight End - Alabama
T(14 players) - Thornhill, Juan - Safety - Virginia
U(1 player) - Udoh, Oli - Offensive Line - Elon
V(1 players) - Van Ginkel, Andrew - Linebacker - Wisconsin
W(31 players) - Wilson, Mack - Linebacker - Alabama
X(1 player) - Ximines, Oshane - Edge Rusher - Old Dominion
Y(1 player) - Ya-Sin, Rock - Cornerback - Temple
Z(0 players) - NONE

All right! Let the homework assignment begin!!!

Packers.................Pick wisely!!!!

After The Packer Roster, Next Is the Packer Offense, Defense, And Special Teams!

OK, all the free agents are signed, draft choices are in, and the 53 man roster is ready to roll! What will the offense, defense & special teams look like???

What has the average fan been saying the Packers MUST do?  As, we scream at the TV!!!!!

Special Teams
Wow!  Crosby has been above average.  Punting has been VERY average, if not below!  Return game has been BELOW average!  And, cover teams have been average.  NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!


Defense

If, there has been on obvious issue since the Packer Super Bowl win, NOT GAME CHANGERS!!!  The talent has been BELOW average.  We stayed with Dom for a long time & I think he tried!  Last year, the new guy Pettine, did the same thing last year!!  WE NEED 2-3 difference makers!!  One on the defensive line, one linebacker, one safety!  I think Alexander at corner may be the real deal!  Clark, on the defensive line is developing into a good one!  We still NEED a safety!

Offense

The last 2 years Aaron is starting to take some crap!  Was it McCathy's crappy play calling?  Lack of players playing?  Cobb, always injured!  Eddie Lacy, starting great, then eating himself out of the NFL!  An offensive line that is ALWAYS banged up!  Never having a Tight End to give Aaron security blanket!  After losing Driver, Jones, Nelson at wide receiver, no replacement!!! 

And back to McCarthy!  NO, NONE, NADA, creativity!!!!!!  Not even the old screen pass or draw play!!!!!  Wide receivers over the middle of the field!!!!  A real running game, with a REAL running back!!!

Wow!  My Packer Buddy Dream!!!

1 - A creative Offense!
2 - An Attacking Defense, creating turnovers!
3 - And, a special team, that is SPECIAL!!!!  Scoring TD's, creating fumbles!

Packer Plan of Attack for Building For 2019 Season?

OK, let's dream.  This Packer Buddy is NOW the GM.  What is my game plan?  My plan involves 4 strategies for building the roster:

1 - Packer Players presently Under Contract

2 - Packer Free Agents

3 - League Free Agents

4 - Possible Draft Picks

Here we go:

#1 - Packer Players presently Under Contract

I will keep it simple, last name & positions: (59 active players)
(3)QB's - Rodgers, Kizer, Boyle
(5)RB -  Jones, Williams, Bibbs, Carson, Coleman
(2)FB - Vitale, Johnson
(7)WR - Adams, Davis, Moore, Valdes-Scantling, St. Brown, Lazard, Redding
(2)TE - Graham, Baylis
(10)OL - Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Linsley, Taylor, Spriggs, Madison, Light, Siragusa, Coyle, de Beer
(6)CB - Williams. Alexander, King, Jackson, Brown, Redmond
(5)S - Jones, Greene, Jamerson, Matthews, Thompson
(3)ILB - Martinez, Morrison, Crawford
(5)OLB - Perry, Fackrell, Burks, Donnerson, Shelson
(8)DL - Daniels, Clark, Lowry, Adams, Simon, Lancaster, Looney, Cotton
(3)ST - Crosby(K), Bradley(LS), Scott(P)

To me, this a weak roster & many of these players are expendable!  So, much of this discussion will center around a salary cap hit!  For example, Perry at outside linebacker would be VERY difficult to cut, that would be a very large salary cut hit for someone not playing!

#2 - Packer Free Agents (20 free agents)

(0)QB's -
(0)RB - 
(0)FB -
(3)WR -Cobb, Allison, Kumerow
(3)TE -Lewis, Kendricks, Tonyan
(4)OL -Bell, Patrick, McCray, Pankey
(2)CB -House, Breeland
(3)S -Pleasant, Campbell, Brice
(1)ILB -Ryan
(1)OLB -  Matthews
(3)DL - Wilkerson, Gilbert, Brown
(0)ST -

The reality is, no one on this list is REALLY NEEDED!  Sure, we have some tears to shed with Matthews & Cobb.  BUT, they are making too much MONEY for the production we are getting!

 #3 - League Free Agents - My Choices! (Name/Age/Team)

QB's -(Fitzpatrick/36/Bucs), (Shaub/38/Falcons)
RB - (Coleman/26/Falcons), (Yeldon/25/Jags)
FB -
WR - (Humphries/26/Bucs), (Patterson/28/Patriots)
TE -(Eifert/28/Bengals), (Cook/32/Raiders)
OL -(Safford/30/Rams), (Williams/27/Panthers), (Miller/26/Bills)
CB -(Darby/25/Eagles), (Nelson/26/Chiefs)
S - (Thomas/30/Seahawks), (Amos,25/Bears), (Collins/25/Giants)
ILB -(Hicks/26/Eagles), Mosley/26/Ravens), (Perryman/25/Chargers)
OLB - (Ford/28/Chiefs), (Smith/26/Redskins), (Wright/30/Seahawks)
DL - (Lawrence/27/Cowboys), (Richardson/28/Vikings), (Flowers/25/Patriots)
ST -

First, we NEED game changers on defense!  Will will EVER have a dominate pass rusher???  And, we NEED help at safety!  Last year, 2018 was crazy.  First we let Morgan Burnett walk & then we get rid of Ha Ha Clinton Dixx early in the season!  On offense, a good & healthy offensive lineman would be good!  And, last, but not least, a veteran back-up quarterback!  Difficult to watch Rodgers go down & the QB is terrible!!!!!

#4 - Possible Draft Picks

QB's -(Lock, Missouri), (Jones/Duke)
RB - (Montgomery/ Iowa St), (Snell/Kentucky)
FB -
WR - (Harman/NC State), (Ridley/Georgia)
TE -(Hockenson/Iowa), (Lawrence/Clemson), (Smith/Stanford)
OL -(Ford/Okla), (McCoy/Texas&A&M)
CB -(Mullen/Clemson), (Johnson/Kentucky)
S -(Thornhill/Virginia), (Bell/Fresno St)
ILB -(Wilson/Alabama), (Pratt/ NC St), (Edwards/Wisconsin)
OLB - (Sweat/Miss St), (Ferguson/Lou Tech), (Jackson/Miami)
DL -(Gary/Mich), (Tillery/Notre Dame), (Granderson/Wyoming)
ST -

This list needs work!  Watching the upcoming combine will probably change my list!!!

So, General Manager Albright is READY!!!!

It Is February 18, 2019 - What Does The Packer Program Look Like?

Here we are, February 18, 2019 - What Does THAT Mean To Packer Fans??

Important Dates:

February 19—First day for clubs to designate franchise or transition players.

February 26-March 4—NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Indiana. Top draft prospects work out for scouts and coaches, and interview with teams’ top decision makers in another important part of the pre-draft process.

March 5, 1 p.m. PT—Deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players.

March 11-13—Teams are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents when the new league year begins on March 13.

March 13, 1 p.m. PT—New league year begins. This marks the deadline for submitting qualifying offers to restricted free agents with expiring contracts. It is also the start of free agency when 2018 contracts expire and free agents can officially sign with new teams. Teams must also be under the 2019 salary cap by this time.

March 24-27—Annual League Meetings, Phoenix, Arizona.

April 15—Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workouts programs (teams that changed head coaches in the offseason can start on April 1).

April 19—Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 25-27—2019 NFL Draft, Nashville, Tennessee. Currently the Seahawks hold four picks in the 2019 draft having earlier traded three picks to acquire players, sending their second-round pick to Houston as part of the trade for Duane Brown, their sixth-rounder to Green Bay for Brett Hundley and their seventh to Oakland for Shalom Luani.

May 3-6 or May 10-13—Teams can hold post-draft rookie minicamps on one of these weekends.

July 15, 1 p.m. PT—Deadline for a team that designated a franchise player to sign that player to a multi-year contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract prior to the 2019 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club’s last regular season game.

Late July—Training camp begins.

August 31, 1 p.m. PT—Teams must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players.

September 1—Teams may establish a 10-player practice squad.

September 5, 8-9—Regular season Week 1.

Next, Packer Roster:
63 Players

3 Quarterbacks
8 Wide Receivers
12 Offensive Linemen
4 Running Backs
5 Tight Ends
1 Fullback
33 Offensive Players

7 Defensive Linemen
9 Linebackers
6 Cornerbacks
5 Safeties
27 Defensive Players

1 Punter
1 Long Snapper
1 Kicker
3 Specialists

Free Agents: 21 Players
Salary Cap Space: $34,166,842

Packers 2019 Draft Picks:

Round 1 (No. 12 overall)

Round 1 (trade from Saints)

Round 2 (No. 44)

Round 3 (No. 76) 

Round 4 (No. 108)

Round 4 (No. 112 from Redskins)

Round 5 (No. 140)

Round 6 (No. 172)

Round 6 (No. 182 from Seahawks)

Round 7 (No. 204)


Now, what I think is exciting, that is 5 TOP college players in first 108 picks!

More Packer Analysis to come!!!

Back From Vacation & Back To Packer Football!

Wife & I were cruising!  A drive from good old Pennsylvania to Florida!  A visit with my brother & his wife!  And, a cruise out of Miami!  And, the Packers are even in Honduras, Belize & Mexico!

 

 Whenever you travel, no matter where you go, American sports travel too!  As we all know, current NFL management is looking out side the box - London, Mexico?  Time will tell if that is a smart move, right now, Green Bay is good enough for me!  Although, the Packer Buddies do like to hit the road for Packer road games!

So, as of February 2019, where are the Packers?

Coaching Staff taking shape:

Head Coach: Matt LaFleur

Offensive Coordinator: Nathaniel Hackett

Defensive Coordinator:Mike Pettine

Quarterback Coach: Luke Getsy

Tight Ends Coach: Justin Outten

Running Backs Coach: Ben Sirmans

Offensive Line Coach: Adam Stenavich

Wide Receivers Coach: Alvis Whitted

Asst. Offensive Line Coach: Luke Butkus

Defensive Line Coach: Jerry Montgomery

Inside Linebacker Coach: Kirk Olvadotti

Outside Linebacker Coach: Mike Smith

Defensive Back Coach: Jason Simmons

Asst. Defensive Back Coach: Ryan Downard

Defensive Quality Control Coach: Wendel Davis

Defensive Quality Control Coach: Christian Parker

Special Teams Coach: Shawn Mennenga

Asst. Special Teams Coach: Maurice Drayton

Special Teams Quality Control Coach:Rayna Stewart

Lot of new names!  But, some old blood!

How about, Luke Butkus, nephew of Dick Butkus!

Nathaniel Hacket, another son of a coach (NOT A SWEAR WORD!).

A lot of unknowns, but change is in the air!

Oh yes, my wife enjoyed our cruise!  I think she still ranks a cruise a little higher
than a Packer Game!