Five Free Agents the Packers Should Sign

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NFL Free Agency starts in three weeks, but this date has not really mattered to fans since Ted Thompson has become the General Manager.  The Green Bay Packers are a draft and develop team, plain and simple.  However, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network broke the story that the Packers were going to spend in free agency and spend big.  The latest news has the Packers signing up to five free agents to revamp their limp noodle defense.  The defensive line, linebacking core and secondary all need upgrades. 

Photo: Jersey Al's Packer Blog

Let me clear a few things up for Packers fans.  The Packers are not going to sign Jimmy Graham.  They will not be signing Jarius Byrd.  The franchise tag will be used on several of the top free agents available.  So, let’s take a look at five options the Packers can realistically add to their team through free agency.

Re-sign Sam Shields

Priority number one is resigning Sammy.  He has continued to grow each of the last four seasons and had his best season in 2013.  Tramon Williams had a bounce back second half of the season in 2013, so locking up Shields on the other side makes sense.  He will not come cheaply, especially since Drew Rosenhaus is his agent.  I do not expect the Packers to use the franchise tag on Shields, however I am expecting a deal to come before free agency begins.

Sign a safety: TJ Ward or Donte Whitner

TJ Ward may be franchised, so I will not spend a lot of time on him.  If he is not tagged, the Packers should take a look at pairing up the 27 year old to form a stronger back end of the secondary.  Whitner is a 28 year old safety that has played for the 49ers and has his best statistical year in 2013.  Whitner has always been known for his run stopping ability, but his coverage was always a liability.  Everything changed this year when he partnered with Eric Reid.  Whitner turned a corner with his coverage and would be a welcome addition to the Packers secondary. *Note- There has been internal Packers discussion about moving Micah Hyde to safety.

Sign OLB Jason Worilds

The Packers have been looking for a complimentary OLB to pair with Clay Matthews for a while.  Nick Perry has shown some flashes, however he has not been able to stay healthy.  Enter Jason Worilds.  The fifth year player out  of Pitt would fit perfectly across from Matthews.  Worilds broke out this year, with 8.0 sacks and ended up starting for Pittsburgh the second half of the season.  The Packers are not giving up on Perry, just being realistic by bringing in some talent far superior to anything previously on the roster.

Sign DT Jason Hatcher

You may have noticed B.J. Raji has not appeared on this list.  The Packers need someone who can make a difference in the middle.  Raji seems to have lost that and paying him eight million dollars a year is insane.  Here comes Hatcher from the Cowboys.  The Cowboys are in salary cap hell, so they are letting Hatcher go.  The 32 year old will be a great veteran addition to the young defensive line.  Hatcher had a career year with 11.0 sacks.  Do not expect 11 sacks next year, but maybe 6 or 7 from the DT. Anything  would be a huge improvement over Raji’s goose egg this year. The signing of Hatcher would be a good start, but the Packers should still draft a DT in the 1st or 2nd round of the upcoming draft.   Several mock drafts have the Packers linked to Notre Dame’s Louis Nix III and Minnesota’s Rashede Hageman as 1st round picks.

Sign a DE: Lamarr Houston/Corey Wooten/Julius Peppers

Things get a little murky here.  It is difficult to imagine the Packers signing a very high profile free agent like Houston.  If he is not franchised, the Raiders have over $60 million in cap space to resign the defensive end.  The 6’3”, 300 pound defensive end is exactly the player the Packers need to solidify the defensive line.  At 26 years old, he would be a great long tern fit if the Packers are willing to spend big.

It is much more likely the Packers will spend less and try to get some bang for their buck.  I give you Corey Wooten and Julius Peppers.  The Packers are raiding the Chicago Bears closet.  At 6’6’’, Wooten is the tall, athletic end Dom Capers is looking for.  2010 and 2011 were injury riddled seasons for Wooten, but he broke out with 7.0 sacks in 2012.  In 2013, the Bears were depleted at DT, so they moved him inside.  His sack total dipped to 3.5, but he was being a team player.  Wooten could be a bargain this year in free agency.

Peppers is most likely a cap casualty.  He has an $18.18 million cap hit this year.  He is 34 years old, but still has a little something left in the tank.  A 6’7’’ defensive end that only has to play on passing downs would be quite the fit.  There have a been a few rumors of Peppers heading back to Carolina on the cheap, but why not the Packers?

The Packers have plenty of holes and hopefully free agency will help fill a few and the draft will take care of the rest.  I still am a little skeptical of Thompson really hitting free agency hard, but the draft alone will not fix the Packers defense.  I did not address a few of the other free agents the Packers have, so let me hit those quickly.  I think Evan Dietrich-Smith is gone, with JC Tretter the most likely to fill in.  I am not sure anyone is going to pay James Jones the money he wants, but I do believe he will sign with the New York Giants to reunite with new offensive coordinator McAdoo.  I also believe Finley will be with another team next season and I fully expect the Packers to address the TE position in the draft.  I still have a gut feeling that Brandon Bostick will be a really good TE in a year or two.

Packers fans can finally look forward to free agency, but do not expect this trend to continue every year.  This has the feeling of a one night stand between Ted Thompson and the free agent market.


Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

-Steve Perhach

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Packers, Brewers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live in-game commentary, breaking news, rumors, previews, and post game discussion. Follow the entire writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin

2014 Green Bay Packers First Round Draft Preview

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Who do Ted Thompson and the Packers scouting staff have their eyes on?

It's Super Bowl week and the NFL draft is still four months away. But college football's post season scouting showcase games are complete so now seems like a good time to become familiar with potential Packer draft targets. To begin with we'll look at players that could be on the board in the first round. Organized within a descending order from positions of need, these players are most likely to be wearing Green and Gold on draft day(or at least should be). Quick aside - I just can't bring myself to look at tight ends in the first round. There are too many other defensive positions that need impact players.

The following list comes with the qualifier always noted with Ted Thompson drafts; the best player available is almost always selected over reaching for a player at a position of need. 

Position of Need: Safety

Packers need improved safety play to avoid plays like this

The lack of production from the safety position in 2013 has been rehashed endlessly since the end of the season. Zero turnovers and only five passes defensed are pretty strong supporting evidence that change of some kind is needed. However, the Packers extended Morgan Burnett last summer to the tune of 4 years and $25 million dollars, $8.25 million guaranteed. $8 million is a lot of money to give up on a player quickly, especially for the traditionally reluctant to give up on homegrown talent Thompson. Someone to play along side of Burnett is a must going into 2014, whether through the draft or free agency. The unfortunate truth for the Packers is this draft lacking high end talent at safety.

HaHa Clinton-Dix 6-1 210 lbs Alabama

Clinton-Dix is really the only sure fire first round pick at safety in this year's class. He continues the recent trend from Alabama of defensive backs taken day one of the draft following the footsteps of Mark Barron(#7-2012) and Dee Millner(#9-2013). Clinton-Dix is big and rangy, he breaks on the ball well and shows natural ability to make big plays. The only real knock was his two game suspension this past season taking a loan from an assistant coach. However, barring a complete no show at the combine, Clinton-Dix is unlikely to available when the Packers pick at 21.

Calvin Pryor 6-2 208 lbs Louisville

Like Clinton-Dix, Pryor is an early entrant to the NFL draft leaving Louisville after his junior season. Pryor is a big physical player and his more than comfortable coming up to make plays near the line of scrimmage. In coverage Pryor played a lot of deep zone where he used his speed and big hitting to control the back end of the defense. He was not asked to play much man to man coverage in college. Lack of man coverage combined with lesser competition in the American Athletic Conference are the biggest factors holding Pryor back from a definite first round grade. Pryor figures to be around when the Packers make their first round selection, but whether he grades out high enough will largely depend on his Combine performance.

Tre Boston 6-1 205 lbs North Carolina

The reports on Boston are mixed, some view him as a second or third round pick, while others have him lower. His career production at North Carolina cannot be dismissed though. He had 13 interceptions, three forced fumbles and 20 passes broken up. All the areas the Packers are desperate to improve. Boston also spent time at corner and has the top end speed and coverage skills necessary to play safety in today's pass happy NFL. That being said, Boston will most likely not be called with the Packer's pick at 21. He will remain on the radar though after spending some time with Ted Thompson at the East-West Shrine Bowl earlier in January.

Position of Need: Defensive Line

BJ Raji, Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly are all free agents. Raji seems interested playing in a different scheme capable of showcasing his pass rushing prowess. He turned down an $8 million a year offer from Green Bay prior to last season and after this year's disappointing performance isn't likely to be given that kind of offer from Ted Thompson again. Pickett and Jolly are both on the wrong side of 30 and Jolly is in progress of rehabbing a significant neck injury. It seems fair to assume bolstering the D-line has to be the second on the list of priorities during the off season.

Ra'Shede Hageman 6-6 311 lbs Minnesota

Hageman might be the pick to rejuvenate an older defensive line

Hageman has all the measurable NFL scouts look for in defensive linemen. He has the size and strength to play on the interior of the line as well as the foot speed and explosiveness to attack quarterbacks from the edge. The biggest knock on Hageman is similar for a lot of college defensive lineman; he lacked consistent high level effort from on every play. But his size and versatility will be coveted on draft day, and he seems likely to be around when the Packers are on the clock in the first round. Unless someone drops unexpectedly from the top of the draft, don’t be surprised if Thompson pulls the trigger on Hageman.

Aaron Donald DT 6-0 285 lbs Pittsburgh

Dodson was one of the dominant players at the Senior Bowl and has positioned himself to move into the first round despite lacking ideal size. He had a terrific regular season as well. He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Defensive Player of the Year), Chuck Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year), Outland Trophy (Outstanding Interior Lineman) and Lombardi Award (Outstanding Lineman). Bottom line, Donald is a good football player. The Packers have shown their willingness to gamble on undersized lineman. Mike Daniels was also considered smaller for his position and ended up being one of the most consistent defensive players for Green Bay in 2013. The question for Thompson will be whether a line with two undersized players can hold up in a division with Adrian Peterson, Matt Forte and Reggie Bush.

Louis Nix NT 6-3 340 lbs Notre Dame

Nix fits the mold of the pro typical 3-4 nose tackle. With a mammoth frame, he uses his body well, plays with the strength and leverage needed to occupy double teams and hold the point of attack along the line. At times he even displayed explosiveness to rush the passer for the interior of the line. Nix recently had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee. Considering the recent struggles the Packers have had with injuries, they may want to avoid taking someone already in the middle of rehabbing.

Position of Need: Linebacker

Clay Matthews is locked in at one outside linebacker spot. The other three positions could all improve. Nick Perry has been inconsistent throughout his two years but has battled injuries so it’s probably too early to give up on him. AJ Hawk and Brad Jones are average at best. Dom Caper’s 3-4 scheme relies heavily on a dynamic linebacker core to make plays in the run and pass game. Really the only consistent playmaker the Packers have is Matthews, which was underscored after Matthews missed time and the defense struggled to stop anyone one.

Mosely would be an impact player from day one.

CJ Mosely ILB 6-2 235 lbs Alabama

Mosely is the cream of the crop for linebackers in this draft class. He is a two time first team All American and All-SEC player. Mosely has great instincts reading gaps and diagnosing plays in the run game. But also excels with speed and fluidity in the pass game. Mosely would be an immediate starter at ILB and would team nicely with AJ Hawk. If he falls to the Packers at 21, he will be the pick, hands down.

Dee Ford OLB 6-2 238 lbs Auburn

Ford has vaulted into the conversation as potential first round pick after he dominated at the Senior Bowl. He was largely un-blockable all week during practice and registered two sacks and a pass deflection during the game. Ford is rumored to run in the 4.4 second range in the 40 yard dash. If he can show that speed at the Combine in Febraury, he will absolutely be able to make the transition from college defensive end to NFL outside linebacker. Thompson has been on the record saying he wants the Packers defense to improve in speed and athleticism and Ford clearly fits the bill.

  

Trent Murphy OLB 6-6 261 lbs Stanford

Murphy is another who played defensive end in college and looks to move to OLB at the next level. Last season he led the country in sacks with 15 and finished second (to Aaron Donald) in tackles for loss with 24.5. He has great instincts and quickness as a pass rusher off the edge. At the Senior Bowl, Murphy showed enough athletic ability that pass coverage should not be a major issue. He is on the fringe of being drafted in the first round and could use a big performance at the Combine to solidify that status. If not, Murphy might be someone the Packers look to steal with their second round pick. 

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Neal Olson

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Packers, Brewers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live in-game commentary, breaking news, rumors, previews, and post game discussion. Follow the entire writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin

Packers Mid-Season 7 Round Mock Draft

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Round 1 - Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech

This wouldn't have been my pick a few months ago. But, with the latest developments to Jermichael Finley's severe injury and questionable future as a football player not just on the Green Bay Packers, but in the National Footwritten, ague, this is a wise choice for Green Bay.

Jace Amaro (right), a junior at Texas Tech, was the highest ranked player out of high school to ever commit to the Red Raiders in team history. He's got a tall figure. A bit bulky, but has room to put on muscle. Runs great routes and has smooth maneuvers when going for extra yards. He breaks tackles with his motoring skills. All around, a great tight end prospect the Packers will be looking at on draft day.

Note: You'll find dirt on Jace Amaro from 2012. Jace and a teammate were arrested for reportedly making a purchase on a debit card without having the consent of the card holder to do so. From what I dug up, it was a teammates card. I don't think this is a red flag at all, considering other teams/players in the news in the recent years.

As far as injuries, in his sophomore year he was hit pretty hard in the midsection where he broke a rib and had his spleen punctured. He missed three weeks and was in the hospital on bed rest during that time. This past week he suffered an injury to his chest by Baylor safety Ahmad Dixon.

Coincidentally, Ahmad Dixon is my second round pick.

Round 2 - Ahmad Dixon, S, Baylor

Ahmad Dixon is a projected second/third round pick, but he may be the best strong safety prospect in next year's draft. I think as the season carries on, Dixon's stock will rise into possibly even a Top 32 prospect. Dixon has speed and youth. By youth, i nean room to mature and grow. He's extremely fast running down field, which helps prevent the deep ball game a lot of quarterbacks like to mix in every now and then. He also is very aware of running games and will get involved in those contact plays as well.

At Baylor, during his sophomore and junior years, he played the strong safety position. This year, though, he has been playing a "hybrid" safety/linebacker position. Dixon still runs a 4.5 40 and will be drafted as a safety. With the Packers' defensive backs not impressing, especially M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian, they need to draft a defensive back early this draft.

Dixon would probably be a Top 32 pick already had it not been for his arrest for a misdemeanor assault back in September. He allegedly attacked a man he believed had broken into his home. Not sure the exact story, but this wasn't at a bar or a nightclub where Dixon shouldn't have been. Not defending anything that happened, but it could have been a worse situation.

Round 3 - Michael Sam, DE/OLB, Missouri
 

Listed as a defensive end in college, he is much more projectable as a pass rushing outside linebacker. But, for what it's worth, I'll analyze both scenarios. First off, who is he and why such a high pick for someone you haven't heard of? As of the time this article was written, Michael Sam is tied with Vic Beasley for the most sacks this season with 10. He has a total of 16 tackles for losses, 1 forced fumble that he returned for a touchdown, and 24 solo tackles with 8 assisted.

As an outside linebacker, Sam would back up Clay Matthews and Nick Perry to provide a nice, well rested cycle of pass rushers that still has steam in the 4th quarter. Pass rush is still a part of the game the Packers need to improve on. There was a decline in pass rush after the Super Bowl season when we went from 47 sacks in 2010, to 29 sacks in 2011, then back up to 46 in 2012, and now through seven games the defense has 23 sacks. To keep things at consistent production, providing the depth necessary to continue to rush the quarterback is a great idea here.

As a defensive end, it seems we are at the tail end of the C.J. Wilson experience. We drafted Datone Jones in last year's draft and now this year if we take another defensive lineman it could mark the end of it. Wilson just isn't getting playing time over Raji, Daniels, Pickett, Jolly, and Jones. With the line aging overall, Sam can provide youth to replenish what we're losing to time.

He's majoring in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.

Round 4 - Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin

A.J. Hawk isn't getting any younger. However, as of late, that hasn't really shown in his play. In the absence of Clay Matthews with his broken thumb, Hawk has really stepped it up for the Packers. Nonetheless, when Matthews was around, Hawk seemed to be lost at times. Adding depth at inside linebacker, just like outside, is a very good idea heading into May's draft.

The term "football player" gets thrown around a lot in evaluations. To me, no one personifies that better than Chris Borland of Wisconsin.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) October 31, 2013

Chris Borland is not your typical linebacker. Not at 5'11". However, the intensity Borland brings to the field every game makes up for his size. Borland has a knack for being involved in every play, every tackle. The numbers he has put up since a true freshman at Wisconsin is astonishing. Going into this Saturday's game Borland has 362 career tackles, over 50 tackles for loss, 13 forced fumbles, 15 sacks, and 3 interceptions.

Borland's instincts, mental preparation, and passion outweigh his smaller stature. His involvement on every play makes him an elite linebacker that can prevent a run game, attack the quarterback, and cause turnovers. I would love to see the Packers start day three of the draft with Chris Borland, the hometown kid.

If I were to not to go with Borland just because he's a Badger, I'm still really high on Max Bullough, ILB, Michigan State from a month or so ago.

Round 5 - Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech

Logan Thomas is getting Cam Newton comparisons, which is a big comparison to throw out there. In a draft full of quarterbacks going in the first round, Logan will likely slip under the radar while Bridgewater, Manziel and Mariota are in the spotlight. Oh yeah, and don't forget Hundley, Carr, Mettenberger, Boyd, McCarron, and Murray too. My point is that not every team needs a QB, so the likelihood of Thomas falling here is great.

If you watched the Virginia Tech/Miami game from this past week, you know the kind of impact player Thomas is. He's 6-6, 254 pounds and runs a 4.6 40. It's a good investment for the Packers to draft a back up quarterback, at least to put in development. I'm totally fine with either Tolzien or Flynn backing up Rodgers next year and then having Thomas on the practice squad. 

Round 6 - Dri Archer, RB/WR, Kent State 



Meet the fastest player in this draft class. Dri Archer may be only 5-8, 178 pounds, but he's a speed demon. He's been clocked at running a 40 yard dash at 4.37. The Packers need to address the kick returning hole the team as after Jeremy Ross was cut and Johnathan Franklin struggled. Archer is a perfect example of a Devin Hester type player. Strictly on the team to return punts and kick offs. But, also, available to be a deep threat for Aaron Rodgers. Nothing else to really say here. It's a smart pick for the sixth round.

Round 7 - Carrington Byndom, CB, Texas

With the injuries to Sam Shields and Casey Hayward and the decline in productivity in Tramon Williams this year as well as the mediocre play by Davon House, the Packers need to figure out things at the corner back position. Now, I will defend the corner backs a bit because of our lack of pass rush and all of our other issues on defense, but we give up big plays to wide receivers on the first plays of the game all the way to the last plays of game.

Byndom would be a great steal for the Packers in the seventh round here. He's a solid defender. He's very lean, which could haunt him against guys like Calvin Johnson and co., but his quickness and athleticism counter the size deficiency nicely. He has room to put on some weight, but at a 4.5 40 time, I'm not sure how much more bulk he'd want to put on. He's a standard six feet tall, so at least there's that.

CBS's Rob Rang wrote this little excerpt about Carrington...

Byndom's lean frame allowed him to be pushed around by some of the bigger, more physical receivers in the conference, but his agility and hand-eye coordination quickly established him as a cornerback to think twice about challenging.

--Rob Rang

As far as what Green Bay would be looking for in the undrafted free agent side of things, I would expect a good amount of offensive and defensive linemen signed. Also, probably a fullback, another tight end, and a few wide receivers and linebackers too.

I'll have another Mock Draft for the Packers after the Super Bowl in late January if not sooner. Until then, Go Pack Go!

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

- Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live, in-game commentary, breaking news, previews and post game discussions. Follow the entire Wisconsin Sports Blog writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin.

Packers Early 7 Round Mock Draft

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The Packers are coming off their much needed bye week. After a 1-2 start, this bye couldn't have come at a better time. As dry as it is right now for Wisconsin sports, I thought I'd concoct the first installment of NFL Draft prospects for the Packers going into the 2014 NFL Draft. I think it's very important to get familiar with potential prospects for your pro sports teams, which is why I do these. These are purely based on blatant needs the Packers will be looking for in the draft and how these players could fall to them. (I recommend that if you're going to watch the videos that you enlarge them to full screen to really watch the featured player.)

Round 1 - Cyril Richardson, G/OT, Baylor

Depending on the Packers draft position, this would be the logical choice as our first round pick. Cyril Richardson could go in the Top 15, but he could also go late in the first round. I've seen him scattered all around draft boards. Richardson can play both guard and tackle on the offensive line. As we've seen so blatantly this year and in years past, Aaron Rodgers needs to be protected a heckuva lot more than he does. It seems every year the line suffers a huge injury that bumps somebody into a position on the line they are experienced at. This year = prime example. Bryan Bulaga gets hurt, insert rookie right tackle David Bahktiari at left tackle. I'm probably in the minority, but the only offensive lineman I trust to protect Aaron Rodgers in Josh Sitton. I want to get on the TJ Lang club, but too often I see him being lost. Now, maybe its him getting used to the new position this year (went from left guard to right guard)? Who knows.

Focusing on Cyril, this is a big boy. He knows how to protect a quarterback. The highlight video shows that. Richardson is 6'5", 340 pounds. He's a mammoth of a man and a true force. At Baylor, he was their starting left tackle for some guy named Robert Griffin III. After RG3 was drafted, Richardson shifted to left guard. He excels at both positions. For his size, he's very light on his feet. Guard, in my opinion, is his natural position.

Round 2 - Josh Huff, WR, Oregon

A little back story on why I see a wide receiver coming off the board so early for the Packers...

James Jones - Free Agent in 2014
Jermichael Finley - Free Agent in 2014
Jordy Nelson - Free Agent in 2015
Randall Cobb - Free Agent in 2015

See where I'm going with this? We all know how Ted operates. We all know that those four individuals won't all be Packers come 2015. We are going to have to replenish the targets that the gun shoots at. Catch my drift? Josh Huff may not have the elite speed, but is one of the most physical and tough wide receivers in this draft class. Rob Rang from NFLDraftScout.com wrote this up on him...

"...a difficult match up for cornerbacks. Huff uses his body well to shield defenders from the ball and he is a strong runner after the catch, demonstrating the balance and leg-drive to spin and run through arm tackles. Huff is not a future No. 1 target in the NFL, but his size and strength should make him an effective complementary wideout capable of contributing early in his pro career."

I did say he doesn't have elite speed. However, he still runs a 4.48 40 yard dash. That is definitely enough to qualify as a kick returner, something the Packers also need dearly. The team values Randall Cobb too much as a wide receiver to risk injury and having him return kicks for us anymore. It is unfortunate that the Jeremy Ross experiment didn't pan out, but it's back to the drawing board. Maybe Reggie Dunn will give us a spark.

Round 3 - Bennett Jackson, CB, Notre Dame

Bennett Jackson is like sap on your hands after you touch a pine tree. He's like duct tape. He's a leech. He's one of the best defensive backs and the Packers could really use the depth. The most unique attribute about Jackson is that he's a former wide receiver. That being said, you could assume that he strives so well at corner because he knows the ins and outs of the position he's defending.

Last year for the Fighting Irish he recording 65 tackles (3rd best on the team) and 4 interceptions. Through the first five games of this season, he has accumulated 31 tackles, 1 sack and 1 interception that turned into a pick-six for Bennett.

Round 4 - Max Bullough, ILB, Michigan State

Max is a firecracker. He's calls the shots on defense. Players have compared him to Matt Wilhelm, who you might remember from the Packers 2010 Super Bowl XLV Championship team.

The Packers have an acceptable inside linebacker core, but every year it is lacking one major piece to the puzzle. That, my friends, is the pass rush. Clay Matthews can't do it all. Max has a knack for being physical and being a major presence in slowing a run game down.What he has in strength he lacks in speed. You don't want him in pass coverage, but it's something he can improve on during his senior year.

Speaking of the run defense, Max Bullough's #1 run defense in the country has given up a total of 229 rushing yards over the last 4 games. That averages out to be 57.25 yards per game. Absolutely mind blowing.

(I think you'll all like the next inside linebacker I feature in 2.0)

Round 5 - Boseko Lokombo, OLB, Oregon



With the shadows of Kiko Alonso and Michael Clay gone, meet Boseko Lokombo. Coming into this season, he's accounted for 39 total tackles (26 solo tackles), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble. He also has 4 defensive touchdowns on his resume. Lokombo will likely be a finalist for the 2013 Butkus Award.

Main reason for drafting him - security blanket in case Nick Perry doesn't live up to his potential. You can never have too much depth at linebacker on a football team in my opinion.

Here's an interesting note on Boseko that I came upon - Back in May of this year he was selected in the CFL draft to the B.C. Lions. He is obviously continuing his college career and still is 100% focused on the NFL, but by being drafted by the CFL as a redshirt junior gives him something to fall back on in case the NFL doesn't work out. Basically, the CFL can draft red shirt juniors and can wait to sign them until their college careers are over with. Also, if they choose to go to the NFL instead, they can still be signed by the team they were drafted by after their NFL career.

Round 6 - Jacob Pederson, TE, Wisconsin



Probably not the first Badger you thought I'd feature in one of these. In any event, Pederson addresses a huge hole for the Packers. The Packers just don't have a legitimate tight end behind Jermichael Finley, and that shows whenever Finley doesn't play. You don't realize how important Finley is until he's gone. Well, not anymore.

Jacob Pederson is pretty much Jermichael Finley in another body. They both are 6'5". They both weight 240. They both are play-makers and game changers. For the most part, they have good hands. They are both pivotal. The thing I really like about Pederson is that he isn't afraid to throw a block. Like I mentioned above with the offensive line, any extra help and protection the team can give Aaron Rodgers the better.

Round 7 - Jimmie Ward, SS, Northern Illinois 

The last time the Packers drafted someone from Northern Illinois was in 1994. LeShon Johnson was a running back for the Pack for two years. Unless your name is Michael Turner, you aren't really known for playing at NUI. Until you meet Jimmie Ward.

Ward has potential to be a stud. He plays the strong safety position extremely well. He's a lock down kind of player. He's always in the middle of plays either tackling breaking up passes. Ward is known as one of the locker room leaders and voices of the team. Coaching staff has nothing but great things to say about him. He's currently playing through a serious injury on his left hand/wrist area. It has been in a cast for a few weeks now.

The Packers need serious help in the secondary. Not saying we lack the talent now, because we don't. we have a few regular starters beat up and hurt right now, and much like the offensive line, we have guys subbing in at positions they aren't used to which turns into disasters. Ward would be a great option late in the draft to address this particular issue and if anything provide depth and competition.

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

- Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live, in-game commentary, breaking news, previews and post game discussions. Follow the entire Wisconsin Sports Blog writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin.

Week 3 Reaction: Packers v. Bengals

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It is amazing to hear some of the blow back from the Packers loss last Sunday.  Twitter has blown up asking, no, demanding Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson be fired.  “Mike McCarthy can’t call plays” and “Ted Thompson can’t build a team” are phrases bouncing all over the place.  Packer Nation, take a deep breath.  Let’s dive a little deeper into the game.

First of all, the play-calling is not to blame.  Mike McCarthy obviously called for Johnathan Franklin to fumble on 4th and 1 (insert eye roll).  The play calling is not to blame, the Green Bay Packers did not get the luck of the bounce and that play helped decide the outcome of the game.  The final 4th down play should have been effective, it was the left tackle who did not complete his assignment.  Bakhtiari should have taken Michael Johnson to the ground with his block, however he missed his block and Johnson was able to block the pass.  Again, not play selection, execution was the issue.

Aaron Rodgers needs to be better.  The Packers are going as far as Rodgers takes them, plain and simple.  Aaron Rodgers has spoiled Packers fans with amazing play since he has become the starter.  Fans really need to appreciate the level he plays at day in and day out.  All that being said, Rodgers had a sub standard game and the Packers cannot afford sub standard.  The first interception was not Rodgers fault.  James Jones needs to finish running his route and he just gave up.  The second interception was on Rodgers.  That throw needs to be put in a spot where only Cobb can catch the ball or it will go out of bounds.  Rodgers needs to lead the team to victory, but the blame should not be put squarely on Rodgers shoulders.  The team needs to execute and finish the game strong.

Photo: acmepackingcompany.com

The Packers need to be able to take advantage when they get good field position.  The game was not lost when Franklin fumbled, it was lost during four series in the 1st and 2nd quarters.  Four consecutive series the Packers had amazing field position: GB 42, CIN 26, CIN 37 and CIN 21.  The Packers wound up with a grand total of six points from those possessions.  If this team is going to make a run at the postseason, the team needs to be held accountable for it’s execution, or lack there of.

Finally, some good news, the bye week has arrived!  When the Packers schedule came out, many fans were outraged by the week 4 bye.  Fast forward to present day and the bye week could not come at a more perfect time.  The list of injuries is a mile long, now add Finley with a concussion, Starks with a knee and Matthews with a hamstring.  The Packers should be able to get healthy and start to make a run.  Morgan Burnett and Casey Hayward should be back to shore up a depleted secondary.  The running game will have a version of Thunder and Lightning with Lacy and Franklin.  Good things are coming Packer fans!  The Packers will regret letting this game slip through their fingers, but this is not the end of the season. 

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

- Steve Perhach (@Stevie2Westside)

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live, in-game commentary, breaking news, previews and post game discussions. Follow the entire Wisconsin Sports Blog writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, @TABrown23, and @10iskristin.

Breaking Packers

In honor of Breaking Bad’s return this week(great show – check it out) and to help alleviate the doldrums of training camp, and just maybe to help forget the middling preseason performance against the Cardinals, it’s time to breakdown the Packers offseason and training camp thus far using some memorable quotes from Breaking Bad’s first five seasons. It should go without saying but consider this the spoiler alert disclaimer.

“You are a wealthy man now. One must learn to be rich. To be poor, anyone can manage” – Gus Fring

Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews both signed enormous contract extensions during the offseason. For Rodgers it was his second big contract, while for Matthews this was his first big deal after his expiring rookie contract. Rodgers deal made him the highest paid player in NFL history yet remains cap friendly for the Packers. Considering the importance of quarterback and how amazing Rodgers has been through 5 seasons, it’s possible Rodgers is still underpaid (as much as $54 million can be considered underpaid). Matthews on the other hand became the highest paid linebacker in the league and has been one of the more feared pass rushers in the game. However the deal for Matthews becomes tricky considering his injury history. Matthews has battled hamstring problems since his rookie year and while he has only missed 5 games over four seasons, a player that relies on so much explosive power needs to be healthy to be effective. At $13.5 million a year, Matthews must remain an All Pro caliber player or the Packers will quickly find themselves unable to justify that much money for a non-impact player.

“Yeah b**ch!” – Jesse Pinkman

Jesse Pinkman’s explicit catch phrase goes to Tramon Williams. Young defensive backs Davon House and Micah Hyde have been playing well in training camp. They have started to push for playing time while Williams recovered from injury. Williams has yet to return to form of the 2010 season and watched as Thompson drafted four defensive backs in the past three drafts. But House and Hyde both struggled against the Cardinals in preseason action, getting beat on deep balls and not inspiring much confidence either are ready for every down responsibilities. Williams has to feel more at ease that he can jump right back into the #1 corner spot once his knee is full go.

“Some straight like you…he’s just gonna break bad?” - Jesse Pinkman

During his time in Green Bay, Greg Jennings seemed like a standup guy. He embraced the community and never said anything remotely inflammatory. Cut to this past offseason when at seemingly every opportunity Jennings took jabs at the Packers organization and former players. Jennings is cut from the same interview cloth as Brett Favre. He always gives answers without any consideration to political correctness or how his comments may be construed. Even still, his laments about his ex-team are bizarre and confusing. I’m not sure at what point he will heed the advice of Vikings coach Leslie Frazier who advised “That’s not how we do things” but it seems at least for now, discretion is not the better part of valor for Greg Jennings.

“I am not in danger. I am the danger” – Walter White

After disappointing back to back playoff exists, as well as the infatuation with read option offenses, the Packers have seem to fallen out of favor as a Super Bowl contender by most ‘experts’. In preseason power polls by various outlets the Packers rank anywhere from 5th – 8th and are a consensus fourth in the NFC behind the 49ers, Seahawks and Falcons. Perhaps subdued expectations are just want the doctored ordered for this team with questions on the offensive line and everywhere on defensive. But make no mistake, the Packers are one of half a dozen serious Super Bowl contending teams and to overlook them would be dangerous.

Photo: Deadspin - Braun with bodybuilding bros

“Yeah Mr. White! Yeah science!” - Jesse Pinkman

This one is for Wisconsin sports fans. A summer filled with a disastrous Brewer season and PED scandal of franchise player Ryan Braun does not make for fond memories. Much like Jesse is happy to be saved by Walter’s chemistry, Wisconsin sports fans are saved by football and the Green Bay Packers. Everything takes a back seat during football season in Wisconsin. People are decked out in green and gold, radio stations are blasting Packer centric cover songs and the mood is decidedly more cheerful. This one is quite simple…yeah football!

“You asked if I was in the meth business or the money business? Neither. I’m in the empire business”  - Walter White

One of the show’s defining moments demonstrating Walter’s mentality when it comes to his illegal activities goes to Ted Thompson. Almost from the onset of taking over as GM, Thompson has made several crucial choices, most notably opting for unproven Aaron Rodgers over icon Brett Favre. While not all of his decisions have worked out, Thompson has positioned the Packers to be a completive force in the NFL and perennial playoff fixture.  Remember for every not resigning Cullen Jenkins or not trading for Marshawn Lynch, Thompson does not mortgage the future to realize immediate success. So rest easy Packer fans, you are witnessing a football empire.

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

- Neal Olson (@olewr7)

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live, in-game commentary, breaking news, previews and post game discussions. Follow the entire Wisconsin Sports Blog writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @SMahon2Go, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, @TABrown23, and @10iskristin.

Packers Nation, Take a Deep Breath

This offseason has gone exactly as Ted Thompson had planned.  Maybe not to the t, but pretty close.  Draft and develop.  Draft and develop.  No matter how many times TT comes out and says this, Packers fans erupt in madness when NFL Free Agency opens every offseason.  The fans are frustrated by the lack of free agents signed by the Packers and letting some of their own players get away for modest prices.  He let Charles Woodson go?!  He wouldn’t pay Greg Jennings?!  Fans were enraged, calling for his head.  Let’s take a step back and look at what TT HAS done for the Packers.

He does not overspend on players.  The NFL salary cap is a delicate issue and TT knows how to play with it.  He let Charles Woodson walk because as valuable as Woodson is, he is not worth the $10 million cap hit.  So many teams go out into free agency to fill needs and end up over paying (Hello, Colts and Erik Walden).  In the long run, the Packers are much better off, paying their own players who perform, which is exactly what TT does.  Aaron Rodgers is due the largest contract in NFL history and contracts for Matthews and Raji are not far behind.  TT is trying to put together as much cap space as possible for players he KNOWS will contribute.

You have no idea who this is.

He knows how to draft.  Every GM has a few misses in the draft, but let’s focus on the positives for a minute.  Aaron Rodgers (best pick yet) Greg Jennings, James Jones, Randall Cobb, Jermichael Finley, Casey Heyward, Bryan Bulaga, James Starks, BJ Raji, Clay Matthews, TJ Lang, Brad Jones, Josh Sitton, Desmond Bishop, Mason Crosby, AJ Hawk, Daryn Colledge, Nick Collins.  All big impact players and he drafted countless other role players that fit well in the Packers scheme. Don’t forget about all of the undrafted rookies he signs that turn into talents such as Frank Zombo, Sam Shields, Don Barclay, Dezman Moses, to name a few.  The man flat out drafts well and this is why the Packers have been so good since he took over in 2005.

He puts a winning team on the field.  TT has a knack for finding talent and putting the team possible out there to represent the green and gold.  Since 2005 (the year TT took over GM) the Packers are 78-50, tied for 5th best in the NFL.  Now, if 2005 is taken out (team was 4-12) because that wasn’t really TT’s team on the field and start in 2006, the Packers are 74-38, second to only the New England Patriots.  Throw in a Super Bowl victory, three division titles and five playoff appearances in TT’s tenure, Packers fans don’t have much to complain about.

Packers fans need to take a deep breath and have some faith.  TT knows what he is doing.  Barring a major injury, the Packers should win the NFC North again and be in the playoffs.  All Packers fans should be ecstatic that TT is their GM.  It could be a lot worse, since 2006, the St. Louis Rams are 30-81-1. The Packers don’t sign free agents, get used to it! 

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Steve Perhach (@Stevie2Westside)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @SMahon2Go @ryan_937, @Mik3_Schu, @jheldred, @B_Toom_3, @olewr7, and @Stevie2Westside. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)

What Ted Thompson Could Do With Four Million Dollars

It's been one of those weeks if you are a Green Bay Packers fan. It's been another "Ted Thompson" free agency period that we have become so accustom to where Ted sits back and doesn't pounce on any big free agents. It's a sign of confidence that I highly admire in Thompson. My own philosophy is that teams that are desperate are the one's who feverishly sign as many free agents as possible and break the banks and salary caps. Ted has an extraordinary amount of trust in his homegrown talent and is hesitant to sign free agents year after year.

This piece I have put together does not insist that I think Ted Thompson should go out and get free agents, nor do I think he will. This is simply to take a look at what is left out there that (in the case Ted does open up his check book and spend a little) could help the Packers in areas where they wouldn't have to waste a draft pick on. Heading into the draft, Our biggest needs are offensive line, defensive line, safety, and linebacker.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers are sitting around 22 million in cap room. (Was at 18.7 million until today when A.J. Hawk's pay cut was announced that he went from 7.05 million to 3.6 million) Ideally, the Packers would end up spending that on extensions for Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews. Also, with the draft approaching, teams usually spend about 5-6 million on their draft picks. With that said, it is expected that the Packers could continue cutting some players on the roster. One move that Green Bay could take a look at is cutting Tramon Williams, who is set to make just under a down payment on a house of 6 million dollars in 2013. He's 30 years old which isn't terrible for a defensive back. His number declined in from 2011 to 2012. It has been rumored that he may have to compete for a starting spot heading into trainings camp this year. The possibility is definitely there.

So, going with that and a few other cuts (Marshall Newhouse, for example), let's say Ted Thompson has a good 10 million dollars sitting on his desk staring him in his eyes. 5 million for free agency, the other 5 million for draft picks. What kind of talent is out there that Ted could get the most for his money? Basically, TT is Macklemore and free agency is his thrift shop. Let's see how Ted could pop some tags.

Ted Thompson on his offseason vacation enjoying a soft drink with two locals.

Rashad Jennings - RB - Age: 27 - 2012 salary: $574,612
Ted's 2013 Contract Offer: 2 Years, $1,500,000 ($250,000 signing bonus) 

Rashad Jennings spent most of his 2012 backing up Jaguars star running back Maurice Jones-Drew until MJD was injured and Jacksonville went with a running back by committee for the rest of the season. Jennings saw more touches, but not as many as scouts would have liked to see to see Jennings' full potential. It's worth noting that the Jaguars had the second worst record in the NFL last year, thus gave up on their season quite early. Rashad is a big, power runner which would compliment the Packers' speedy DuJuan Harris really well. He's a great blocker and a great pass catcher. He can also break for big runs at straight speed as well as break through arm tackles like it's nothing. His durability is a question, but so was Cedric Benson's and we ended up signing him last year. Speaking of Benson, Ted paid under a million dollars for Cedric so I can't imagine he wants to spend more than that on another runner. The upside for Rashad Jennings and the Packers is far to great to ignore.

Danario Alexander - WR - Age: 24 - 2012 salary: $490,000
Ted's 2013 Contract Offer: 4 Years, $4,000,000 ($1,000,000 guaranteed)

Alexander caught everything last year, including Champ Bailey

Where do I begin here? Let's get the negatives out of the way first I suppose. He's had five knee surgeries during his football career, starting when he played for Missouri. Last year in November, Alexander was asked on how his knees feel and commented that "My left knee felt just like my right knee...No thought goes into how it feels, and no effort is spent trying to baby it. Same with the hamstring. After everything I’ve dealt with, I consider myself blessed to feel this way." Shortly after this interview with San Diego Union-Tribune, Danario had one of the best two-month stretches by any wide receiver in recent memory. In November to December, Alexander racked in 37 catches for 657 yards and 7 touchdowns. He definitely shined in a very lackluster Chargers offense. He finished the season with the highest per-play efficiency rankings among receivers for many analysts. So essentially, if he can pass your team's physical inspection, he sound be a nice, cheap steal in this free agent class. The Packers need for him is obvious. Greg Jennings went to the Vikings. Donald Driver retired. The Packers need depth at wide receiver as James Jones' contract is set to expire after this season and Jordy Nelson's the next after. Alexander could be a legit deep threat for Aaron Rodgers, which could add yet to the already elite arsenal for our offense.

Sebastian Vollmer - OT - Age: 28 - 2012 salary: $650,000
Ted's 2013 Contract Offer: 2 Years, $2,000,000 ($650,000 guaranteed)

Here is Vollmer ripping Chris Long's head off.

By now you should all know I'm not a fan of Marshall Newhouse. But, if you didn't, well now you do. Bryan Bulaga is going to get a look at left tackle during training camp, which puts a partial void at the right tackle position. I like Don Barclay, don't get me wrong. However, I know our track record with offensive linemen and injuries so in my eyes the extra depth can always help. Sebastian Vollmer is six-foot-eight, three hundred thirty pounds. He bounced back from an injury in 2011 and had an outstanding season in 2012 for the Patriots. He's very good at both run and pass blocking. Vollmer is quite versatile as he can play both left and right tackle. Ted wouldn't have to spend much on Vollmer, and giving him a look would be very smart if they want to keep Aaron Rodgers around for a while. Eric Winston is another free agent offensive tackle on the market, but would likely require a contract where he would be making a few million dollars a year, which is something Ted wants to avoid as he doesn't like big gambles and "all-ins" for free agents.

Michael Hoomanawanui - TE - Age: 24 - 2012 salary: $540,000
Ted's 2013 Contract Offer: 3 Years, $1,900,000 ($700,000 guaranteed)

We lost Tom Crabtree to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which was poor management by the Packers for not tendering him. But, it's water under the bridge now. The Packers have four other tight ends, with Jermichael Finley at the top of the depth chart. Then you have the injured Andrew Quarless, the unproven D.J. Williams, and Ryan Taylor who has caught one pass for 11 yards in 3 NFL seasons. Hoomanawanui was 3rd in command with the Patriots last year under Gronkowski and Hernandez. Hoomanawanui is a much better blocker than Crabtree, is a better offensive threat than Crabtree, and has a way cooler name than Crabtee. I say Ted grabs him, just so I can see all of the Packer fans attempt to spell his name on social media outlets.(especially since "traitor" was so difficult).

With these four signings, Ted Thompson just spent $3,633,000 with just over 6 million to use for draft picks. Now these would be perfect scenarios, however they aren't at all farfetched. The Packers might take the high road and focus strictly on the draft to patch their holes, but I wouldn't be surprised if we brought in one or two players to help our needs.

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @SMahon2Go @ryan_937, @Mik3_Schu, @jheldred, @B_Toom_3, and @olewr7. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)

Packers Needs By Position: Defense/Special Teams

Yesterday, I looked at the Packers’ needs on offense. Today, I’ll look at the defense and special teams. Let’s go.

Defensive End

•   Mike Neal
•   Mike Daniels
•   Jerel Worthy
•   CJ Wilson

Neal, Daniels, and Worthy are all in the same boat; young players that have shown flashes of dominance but can’t maintain a high level of play over the course of a game. Neal has been around longer and has had more injury issues as well as a suspension, so he’s probably on thinner ice than the other two. Wilson is a solid run defender but doesn’t bring much in the pass rush department. An upgrade would be useful here.

Free agency doesn’t offer much, and certainly not in the 3-4 end category. The team brought in Chris Canty (who’d likely be an end in the Packers’ system) for a visit, but he’s pretty average and they haven’t offered a deal yet. Mike Devito, Richard Seymour, and Ricky Jean Francois would be fits, and Israel Idonije and Jonathan Fanene could probably handle a transition to the 3-4. I’ve always liked Trevor Scott and Matt Shaughnessy but they’re both too undersized for the scheme. All four of the current ends are Ted Thompson draft picks, and it seems likely he’d address the position that way, though a reunion with Cullen Jenkins would have been nice, however he signed with the Giants today. Oh well.
Need: High

Defensive Tackle

•   Ryan Pickett
•   BJ Raji
•   Jordan Miller

Pickett is still useful but is well past his prime. Raji is their best lineman but hasn’t quite been the dominant force they need him to be. After a tremendous 2010, BJ’s performance has dropped off the last two seasons. Miller hasn’t seen any regular season snaps and is likely a non-factor.

There are some free agents with 3-4 mileage but the team isn’t going to replace Raji or Pickett, unless the team decides it’s time to cut Pickett. Isaac Sopoaga is a pretty good player and can play tackle or end, he’d be a hell of a fit but will have a high price tag. A rookie to groom behind Raji and Pickett seems like a probable thing that will happen.
Need: Low

Inside Linebacker

•   Desmond Bishop
•   DJ Smith
•   AJ Hawk
•   Brad Jones (FA)
•   Rob Francois
•   Terrell Manning
•   Micah Johnson

What A.J. Hawk thinks of your run game.

Bishop and Smith should probably be the starters if healthy. Both are coming off knee injuries so that’s not a given. Hawk is an average player who’s a cut candidate because of his price tag. He played well during the Super Bowl run but has had a rough couple of years since. Jones (who’s a free agent) has always been more of a 4-3 OLB type than a 3-4 ILB but performed admirably when forced into action. Ideally, he’s a backup. Francois is a good special teamer who has played well when given defensive snaps but was passed over last year for some reason when injuries happened. The reluctance to play him was rather puzzling. Manning hasn’t been able to get on the field since being drafted.

Free agency won’t be a thing. Not much out there to begin with. Probably a couple draftees/UFAs for competition and depth but unless Bishop and Smith are slow to recover I don’t see a major move happening.
Need: Medium

Outside Linebacker

•   Clay Matthews
•   Nick Perry
•   Frank Zombo (RFA)
•   Erik Walden (FA)
•   Dezman Moses
•   Jamari Lattimore

Eat your hearts out, literally.

Matthews kicks balls, metaphorically speaking. Everyone else......much less so, both literally and figuratively. Perry was drafted to be a bookend to Clay but sustained an ACL injury and missed most of the season, meaning the awful backups had to play. Walden has the occasional big game but overall was pretty bad and was an absolute disaster in the playoff loss to the 49ers, contributing to the defeat in a big way. He has no grasp of what contain is. Fortunately, he’s a free agent. Moses and Zombo play hard but aren’t good enough to be any more than backups. Lattimore isn’t anything to get excited about.

Even with Perry around the team can’t put itself in the same position it was in last year, especially considering Matthews isn’t exactly an ironman either. This seems like a position where free agency may be necessary. Paul Kruger is a hot (and probably expensive) free agent name but Shaun Phillips and Connor Barwin are solid players that can take some pressure off of Matthews. As is the theme, the draft is an option but with Perry around they already have a young prospect with starting potential. Either way depth is an absolute necessity.
Need: High

Cornerback

•   Tramon Williams
•   Sam Shields (RFA)
•   Casey Hayward
•   Davon House
•   Jarrett Bush
•   James Nixon

Williams has been average at best the last two seasons, and that’s kind. He’s not the aggressive playmaker he was, and isn’t physical in coverage anymore. He’s already been told he has to compete for a starting job, and rightfully so. Hayward had fantastic rookie season, and House showed promise after basically redshirting the previous year. Shields was also excellent despite some missed time and eased some concerns after a sluggish 2011. Bush is the special teams ace that shouldn’t see many defensive snaps.
 
The team has their five corners. Moving on....
Need: Low

Safety

•   Morgan Burnett
•   MD Jennings
•   Jerron McMillian
•   Sean Richardson
•   Chaz Powell

Like cornerback, there’s some promise here. Jennings and McMillian both showed some flashes, Burnett looked solid and was probably underrated amid the 2011 defensive disaster. All three could use a little work in run support, and Burnett at times seems hesitant to make plays on the ball. The team seems to like Richardson, who was a college teammate of Hayward’s. He could see a bump in playing time much like Jennings did in 2012. Jarrett Bush can also fill in here, though once again that’s far from optimal. Overall, none of these guys look like a star, but at worst they should be average players going forward.

While adding a free agent seems extremely unlikely, it’s a terrific class. It wouldn’t be outlandish for the team to bring in a veteran for depth or look to add a playmaker in the wake of Charles Woodson’s departure, but there’s better ways to spend cap space. Spending a draft pick here seems iffy unless it’s a best-player-available scenario.
Need: Low-ish

Kicker

•   Mason Crosby

Well all know Crosby had a bad year. In fact, 2011 was Crosby’s only actual good year, and he was bad enough in 2012 to even it out. His accuracy will probably never be great, but his leg cannon is a weapon on kickoffs and he’s still a threat to make a field goal from any distance.

Of the free agents, Steven Hauschka is the only guy I even remotely like, and his skill set isn’t all that dissimilar from Crosby. They won’t sign a FA anyways, it’s far more likely they bring in a camp body just to provide competition. They’re financially committed to Mason, so I doubt a change happens.
Need: Medium

Punter

•   Tim Masthay

Masthay is really, really good. Seriously, you guys.
Need: Nope

Long Snapper

•   Brett Goode

Most of you probably didn’t even know who the Packers’ long snapper is, which is as good a thing as you can say about a long snapper.
Need: Does anyone ever need a new long snapper?

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Jerry Eldred (@jheldred)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @SMahon2Go @ryan_937, @Mik3_Schu, @jheldred, @B_Toom_3, and @olewr7. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)

Packers Needs By Position: Offense

With NFL free agency and the draft nearing, I decided to look at the Packers’ roster and break down where
upgrades are needed, and how big those needs are. While GM Ted Thompson doesn’t use free agency as a
primary way of acquiring players, he’s shown a willingness to fill significant needs with free agents for the right
price (Charles Woodson, Ryan Pickett, Cedric Benson, Jeff Saturday). With mock drafts being plentiful this
time of year, I didn’t include any specific prospects that the Packers may target, as Thompson drafts are a little
unpredictable and he’s the kind of GM that prefers to draft the best player available. So without further ado, let’s
break down the offense.

Quarterback

•   Aaron Rodgers
•   Graham Harrell
•   BJ Coleman

The Packers are clearly set at the top at this position. Fans wring their hands at the thought of Harrell having to
see time if Rodgers is hurt, but frankly we don’t really know what he is. There’s not really much information to
be gleaned from a handful of preseason performances (some good, some bad) and scant regular season
snaps. No one knows Harrell better than the team, and they’ve been committed to him as the backup. That
pretty much tells me all I need to know. Coleman is a strong­-armed project who’ll need to make some big
strides to even make the regular season roster, much less usurp Harrell.

Could they upgrade at backup QB? Sure. But I don’t think the upgrade is really worth paying someone like Matt
Cassel or Jason Campbell a few million dollars when the money could be better spent extending Rodgers or
Raji. They could hypothetically draft someone, but they spent a pick on Coleman in 2012 and they have more
pressing needs elsewhere. Need: Low

Aaron Rodgers and a sandwich.

Running Back

•   Alex Green
•   DeJuan Harris
•   James Starks
•   Cedric Benson (FA)
•   Ryan Grant (FA)
•   Brandon Saine

It feels like this position has been a black hole forever. All of these guys have shown at least glimpses at some
point, but it’s hard to commit to any of them. Benson and Grant are probably gone, and rightfully so. Saine is
redundant with Green around, and Starks looks like he’s regressed. Harris closed out the season really well,
and is probably a lock to return. Green isn’t great at anything but decent at everything, and the team could do
worse if he’s the third back. Other than those two, I don’t see any of these guys returning.

Steven Jackson and Ahmad Bradshaw are high­ profile free agents, but Jackson has a lot of miles on him and
Bradshaw has chronic foot problems. Reggie Bush is an intriguing option, but is likely to be overpaid and
defines the word “inconsistent”. Rashard Mendenhall and Shonn Greene are awful. Unless DeAngelo Williams
is cut by the Panthers, none of the free agents are either good fits or worth what they’ll be paid. The draft is fairly
deep with talented backs, and I’d rather the team draft a couple guys in the middle round than spend big
bucks on an aging player. Either way, the team needs to at least find someone to platoon with Harris
Need: High

Fullback

•   John Kuhn

Whatever.
Need: Low

Wide Receiver

•   Greg Jennings (FA)
•   Jordy Nelson
•   James Jones
•   Randall Cobb
•   Jarrett Boykin
•   Jeremy Ross
•   Donald Driver (Retired)

The team loses Driver and likely Jennings at the position, but are still pretty much set. That’s not to say they
won’t miss Jennings’ route running and big play ability, but the trio of Nelson, Jones, and Cobb is good enough to get them to the promised land. Boykin is a strange case in that he’s pretty much a late­career version of
Driver; not fast or particularly adept at getting separation, but has great hands, is a willing blocker, and runs
routes well enough. Ross made some big plays as a returner (and on very bad one), and could very well take
over the returning duties from Cobb full­ time.

This is a ludicrously good free agent crop at wide receiver, but short of bringing back Jennings it seems highly
unlikely the Packers will sign anyone. Ted Thompson has a history of bringing in tons of undrafted free agent
types, and I wouldn’t be against using a mid­ to late­ round pick on a receiver. Anything else seems like folly.
Need: Low

Tight End

•   Jermichael Finley
•   Andrew Quarless
•   DJ Williams
•   Ryan Taylor
•   Tom Crabtree
•   Brandon Bostick

Finley is a lightening rod for fan hatred, but in all reality he’s an average tight end. He has some big ­play ability
and can get open, but has bad hands and his blocking is below average. Defenses devote a lot of attention to
him due to his ability, which presents some additional value. There’s been rumors for months that he’ll be cut,
but unless the team finds an upgrade it’s probably a bad idea. None of the backups are starting material.
Crabtree and Williams can block a little but both have awful hands (even worse than Finley, believe it or not).
Quarless can’t stay on the field. Taylor is a great blocker but isn’t much of an athlete. Bostick is alive, I guess.

The free agency class is fairly deep. Jared Cook is going to get paid in a big way. Tony Gonzalez will either
retire or return to Atlanta. Martellus Bennett and Delanie Walker are Jermichael Finley’s spirit brothers. Dallas
Clark is done. Brandon Myers, Dustin Keller, and Fred Davis are all pretty interesting. Davis and Keller are good receivers that have some injury concerns. Myers had a great year in Oakland and is a terrific blocker with good
hands, and due to the free agent depth could be had at a good price. He’s the only guy I’d be willing to actively
pursue, most everyone else is very flawed or will cost too much. Like running back, the draft pool is deep and a
contributor could easily be found in the early­ to mid ­rounds.
Need: Medium

Offensive Tackle

•   Marshall Newhouse
•   Bryan Bulaga
•   Derek Sherrod
•   Andrew Datko
•   Don Barclay
•   Kevin Hughes

This is a hard position to evaluate. Newhouse is pretty average but is cheap and is getting better, if only
marginally so. Bulaga is pretty good (aside from the Seattle nightmare) but is coming off an injury, and Sherrod
is a total wild card who is also recovering from injury. Barclay filled in admirably but has a long way to go as a
pass blocker. Datko is a development guy. None of the starters are bad, but none have shown real dominance
either.

The free agent class has some whoppers. Jake Long, Sebastian Vollmer, Eric Winston, and Andre Smith are
all franchise tackles or close to it. Jermon Bushrod, Phil Loadholt, Sam Baker, Gosder Cherilus, Bryant
McKinnie, and Ryan Harris are solid starters, but if I’m spending money on this position it would have to be a
significant upgrade. Long and Vollmer are intriguing to me and I would fully support spending money on either
one, as both are big upgrades and are young and talented enough to be worth it. Once again, the draft is deep
at tackle and the second and third rounds should be loaded with starting ­level talent. It seems more likely
Thompson will target players in the draft but a splurge on a free agent wouldn’t be an awful plan either.
Need: Medium

Offensive Guard/Center

•   TJ Lang
•   Josh Sitton
•   Evan Dietrich­ Smith
•   Greg Van Roten
•   Garth Gerhart
•   Joe Gibbs (?!)

Unlike offensive tackle, guard and center are both fairly set. Sitton and Lang are both Pro Bowl ­level players,
and Dietrich­ Smith is solid at center. Depth is an issue, though EDS, Lang, and Roten are all versatile players.
The free agent class is decent, but I wouldn’t really consider any of them. Ted generally drafts a couple bodies a
year and was able to find EDS, Barclay, and Roten as UFAs, so that seems like the most likely route to finding
depth. Need: Low

Part 2, defense is being worked on as we speak. Stay tuned for that.

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Jerry Eldred (@jheldred)

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