Packer Moves in the Off-season

[Rick]

Given Thompsons resistance to free agency The Pack needs Offensive line help and a running back in the draft.

If you agree who would you like to see the Pack pick-up?

If not what do you think the Pack needs and who should they go after?

[klecker]

"Given Thompsons resistance to free agency The Pack needs Offensive line help and a running back in the draft."

Agree with that. They also need more depth in the defensive back field. They did a good job of taking what they had for players and running the 3-4. Now they just need to fill some holes. Need to get another outside LB to help take some preassure of Matthews.

Over all the offense is in pretty good shape at skilled postions. A good speady little back to complement Grant would give them a nice twist. Shore up that o line, they are good to go.

However with the current CBA issues this off season, the free agent market is going to be a little dry. Read that like some 200 players wont even hit the market. Each team will have up to three franchise tags. Then You gotta throw in the "final eight plan". Greenbay losing in the playoffs helped them out on this one.

Not sure who will even be avalible yet. So on that,

1. oline

2. db's

3. outside LB

4. dline

5. rb

klecker

[zepman]

I was bored the other night and looked thru some mock draft stuff...almost everyone had the Packers taking Bulaga(OT), from Iowa in the first.

A guy like Joe McNight would be the right type of back for GB too.

[mrklean]

i saw one mock draft that had them taking a saftey first, if they dont draft o-line there nuts unless they plan on picking up someone or trading, but when was the last time the packers traded??

[CJH]

There will be very limited free agency this year unless a new deal is signed with the players union. I expect them to resign Taushcher (OT), Clifton (OT), and Picket (NT) for sure. I expect Kampman to be gone, unless they can get him at a discount due to his knee injury (that should limit other teams interest anyway). Collins (S) will be a restricted FA, so they will match any offer on him. There have a few more restricted FA, but only Colledge (G) and Bigby (S) are starters, and both had down years. Pack is solid at the skilled positions on O, and D Line and middle Linebackers on D.

Draft Needs:

1) OT

2) Pass Rushing OLB (has more impact than a CB)

3) CB

4) RB/Kick Returner

5) Safety

Thompson will take the best available player of these positions. (IE: OLB may come before OT, etc....) Should be a decent draft with all of the underclassmen coming out, which helps the Pack out with lower picks.

[zamboni]

i saw one mock draft that had them taking a saftey first, if they dont draft o-line there nuts unless they plan on picking up someone or trading, but when was the last time the packers traded??

Why is there even mock drafts right now? The combines still weeks away

[mrklean]

haha dude they have had mock drafts out for like 2 months its just another way to mess with you pretty much. I remember the year AP was in the draft a few drafts had the packers taking AP HAHA

[zepman]

If you look hard enough you will already find mocks for the 2011 year too.

[kitchy]

I have not analyzed this at all so this is all gut feel. It seems the Pack were lacking in the following:

O line could use some shoring up. They definatley improved throughout the year but still need work.

The non-blitzing pass rush seems to suck pretty bad. The DBs are pretty good but when you give the QB all day to throw they'll find an open guy.

Was it just me or couldn't the Pack get the ball past the 20 yard line on a kick return?

Multi-purpose guys are invaluable. Need that Reggie Bush, Percy Harvin, Ray Rice kind of guy. Oh yea, throw Josh Cribbs in that mix also.

[CJH]

The rumor mill has them trying to trade for Josh Cribbs, since he is in a contract dispute with the Browns. I don't believe any of the rumors, but you never know, a few do seem to come true.....

[FISHINGURU]

Cribbs would be a nice addition to any team, hopefully the packers don't get him lol.

[Bowfin]

Herchel Walker - I hear he's in great shape and only 47

[mrklean]

cribbs would be sweet to have but it wont happen no way

[zepman]

Why not?

[Rick]

One word...Thompson

[Jim Uran]

Boy Rick you are a stellar cheeshead!!!!!

[FISHINGURU]

Boy Rick you are a stellar cheeshead!!!!!

You can say that again

[mrklean]

rick you said it best thompson wont go out and get him but he did suprise me when he go woodson and paid all that money for him, but i still dont think its gonna happen. After they lost to tampa bay they were calling for his head and wanted him out

[CJH]

After they lost to tampa bay they were calling for his head and wanted him out

And those are all whispers now. With the solid season they had and the emergence of Rogers, most people have swung back on his side. Especially after trading up and drafting Clay Mathews.

[rayguy]

McKinny is headed your way.

[mrklean]

HAHA

[SkunkedAgain]

That's not even a funny joke.

All of the Thompson bashing started early in his Green Bay stint when he let Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle go. Fans hated him for it, even though letting Rivera go was the right move. Wahle had a few good seasons after that but was due big money. Thompson's has put good emphasis on drafting O-linemen in his time, but has failed to bring in even average free agents at that position. The real culprit for the O-line problems is Mike Sherman. In his three years as GM, he only drafted three linemen -- two in the sixth round and one in the seventh. The only lineman to play was Scott Wells. So essentially for 3 years, the Packers neglected the O-line and that's why we've got two aged veterans and a bunch of younger players. Wells is the only O-lineman in his prime. Thompson has followed the proper framework to draft good players but hasn't recongized the need to bring in free agents to compensate for Sherman's neglect.

[splakeshaker]

That's not even a funny joke.

All of the Thompson bashing started early in his Green Bay stint when he let Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle go. Fans hated him for it, even though letting Rivera go was the right move. Wahle had a few good seasons after that but was due big money. Thompson's has put good emphasis on drafting O-linemen in his time, but has failed to bring in even average free agents at that position. The real culprit for the O-line problems is Mike Sherman. In his three years as GM, he only drafted three linemen -- two in the sixth round and one in the seventh. The only lineman to play was Scott Wells. So essentially for 3 years, the Packers neglected the O-line and that's why we've got two aged veterans and a bunch of younger players. Wells is the only O-lineman in his prime. Thompson has followed the proper framework to draft good players but hasn't recongized the need to bring in free agents to compensate for Sherman's neglect.

I agree with the Sherman comments but Ted has had his guys in there like Colledge and Spitz since 06. They should have adequate experience by now to be playing better. Scott Wells has been in there a while. Cliffy is a long time vet. IMO it's just that right tackle position that lacked experience until Taucher came back. Granted, they did shore some of it up but the are far from stellar and they cost us some games early on. I don't know if it's personnel or the system of the OL, but something needs big improvement on that part.

I think we need to trade Kampman for an experienced 3-4 LB. He belongs in the 4-3 and deserves to be that guy with his hand on the ground. That trade would be good for both the team and Kampman. Love the guy but it's not a good fit for either party.

Corner back and Safety is where I would like to see a move in the offseason. We need higher quality depth in the secondary. With Thompson's passion for rookies and unwillingness to pay big free agent money it really bit us in the backside in the end. We had guys were that playing playoff football that either didn't or hardly played in the regular season or the NFL. When injuries hit ya I think we should be at least a little better prepared for it.

I don't think running back is a weakness. I think that argument goes on the OL more.

Most definitely need a backup QB worth a darn.

[CJH]

Wells is the only O-lineman in his prime. Thompson has followed the proper framework to draft good players but hasn't recongized the need to bring in free agents to compensate for Sherman's neglect.

I will agree with you on the lack of free agents, especially for LT, the most important OL position, where Clifton isn't capable of going an entire season without getting hurt and not practicing.

However I will disagree with you on the young lineman. Spitz (2nd yr) graded out as the best lineman this year, with Wells the second best. Also Remember that Colledge (3rd year) graded out as their best lineman last year and for whatever reason took a step back this year. Spitz got hurt right away, so you can't really say much about him. Lang is a future starter, either at RT or guard, depending on roster moves, and held his own backing up Clifton at LT this year as rookie.

So, I think that TT in his few year here has started to add quality young depth, it just takes some time. As you mentioned, Sherman left the cupboard bare. I agree with you that he should have brought in veteran tackles and it probably cost a game or two. Rogers got the ball out much quicker (they switched to more 3 step drops from 5 & 7) the second half of the season, which helped the OL significantly.

[CJH]

I think we need to trade Kampman for an experienced 3-4 LB. He belongs in the 4-3 and deserves to be that guy with his hand on the ground. That trade would be good for both the team and Kampman. Love the guy but it's not a good fit for either party.

Kampman is a free agent. So unless they slap the franchise tag on him, they won't be trading him. That won't happen, because the opposing teams would have to give up too much and pay him too much after major knee surgery.

I agree that he isn't a good fit for the 3-4. I think he's not only been a good player but seems like a solid team mate who stays out of trouble and works hard. Either they will resign him cheap as a pass rush specialist or they will let him walk. Not much else they can do. If he does walk, they will have that $$ available for other areas.

It will be interesting to see how he and Harris both come back from major knee surgeries, as neither one is a young buck anymore.