I like the players mentioned here, but I also like DE Brian Orakpo out of Texas. Overall, not a bad list though.
5 star possibilities
January 24, 2009
Written by Bob Fox - PackerChatters Staff
It's that favorite time of year for many football fans. Yes, just like MLB now has the hot stove part of their off-season, so does the NFL, as the draft gets closer and free agency is on the horizon. The Green Bay Packers are still filling out their coaching staff after several of the coaches, mostly on defensive side of the ball, faced the "firing" squad after Mike McCarthy did his year end evaluations.
The big news that happened after that was the hiring of Dom Capers as the new defensive coordinator, and that means he will be bringing the 3-4 defense with him. It has been a defense that has brought Capers a lot of success, both as a coordinator (Pittsburgh) and as a head coach (Carolina).
McCarthy and Capers are still working to fill out the defensive staff, although linebackers/assistant head coach Winston Moss remains in place and former Carolina Panther defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac was hired yesterday to be defensive line coach. Trgovac was an assistant with the Packers in 1999, along with McCarthy under Ray Rhodes.
John Rushing was also reportedly hired as an offensive quality control coach for Packers. Rushing had been with Utah State as a defensive backs coach. The Packers are conducting more interviews for the other coaching positions as well, including Travis Jones reportedly, for what appears to be either the assistant defensive line job under Trgovac or what is expected to be one of two linebacker positions.
Jones, 36, worked under Capers in Miami for two years. He was the Dolphins' assistant line coach in 2006 and defensive ends coach in '07. He spent '08 as assistant line coach in New Orleans. The Packers were also going to talk with Keith Millard, who was the Oakland Raider defensive line coach the last four years. The hiring of Trgovac as defensive line coach means that Millard will either be an assistant to Trgovac, or some other position if he is hired.
After that is done, the onus will be on General Manager Ted Thompson to provide more talent on the 2009 Packer team, both in free agency and the 2009 NFL draft. Because of the 3-4 defense that the Packers will now be playing, Thompson has to attempt to get players through free agency or the draft that can play in that scheme.
The Packers have other needs as well. The Packers have plenty of room under the cap right now to utilize free agency, but certainly some of it will hopefully be used to give both WR Greg Jennings and S Nick Collins contract extensions.
In terms of the draft, this is the week of the Senior Bowl and all the scouts from each team and also coaches are there for evaluations. Plus we still have the combine next month. A LOT can change before the draft in April, as team needs can be filled through free agency in some cases.
Thompson has been VERY thrifty in free agency historically. He did bring in LB Brandon Chillar last year, which was a good move, and he hit the jackpot in 2006 by bringing in DB Charles Woodson and DT Ryan Pickett. Some would say that based on the VERY disappointing 2008 6-10 season, especially after getting to the NFC championship game the year before, that Thompson needs another jackpot year in free agency.
Bottom line, both Thompson and McCarthy have to be feeling the pressure.
Let us look at the possibilities in both free agency and the draft (1st round). I am giving 5 possible acquisitions in this exercise. A lot will change at free agency really gets moving, plus there is a chance that some of the unrestricted free agents will be given the franchise or transition tag or resigned to a new contract. I will give more precise evaluations of these players as time goes on, but for now I will give a snap shot summation as to why these players make sense.
Possible free agent acquisitions
DE/OLB Terrell Suggs
The Ravens can't keep everyone on the roster in free agency, as besides Suggs, they also have Ray Lewis and Bart Scott as an UFAs. Suggs, as he is proven in Baltimore, can be a force in the 3-4 defense. Suggs had 53 sacks in 6 years in Baltimore, plus showed nice versatility by intercepting 2 passes in 2008, one for a TD.
LB Bart Scott
Scott is another Raven LB that just makes plays on a consistent level. Like Lewis, Scott has a nose for the football and he hits like a runaway train. Scott does have the ability to get to the QB as well, as he had 9.5 sacks in 2006.
S Jim Leonhard
The former Wisconsin Badger and native of Wisconsin finally got a chance to start in Baltimore in 2008, after spending his first few years on the bench in Buffalo and playing special teams. Leonhard had a very solid season in 2008 and a TERRIFIC post-season for the Ravens. With the injury issues that both Atari Bigby and Aaron Rouse have had, Leonhard would make sense. Plus, the Packers would have excellent talent surrounding Leonhard, just like he had in Baltimore.
OT Jordan Gross
Chad Clifton won't be around forever, and he is showing signs that that day might be near. Gross is one of the best LT's in the NFL right now, and he is also very young and he has a LOT of his career in front of him.
DT Julius Peppers
Peppers had one of his best seasons in years in 2008 with 14.5 sacks, and has had 70.5 sacks in 7 seasons. Peppers has also said that he wants to play in a 3-4 defense. With his former defensive coordinator now in Green Bay, and supposedly they had a good relationship, the possibilities are there that Peppers might end up in Green Bay and their new 3-4 defense...if Carolina allows it.
* I'm sure more than a few of you are asking where is DT Albert Haynesworth on my list. Even though Hayneswoth is eligible to be an UFA, I also know the Titans are trying hard to resign him, and I also think the Haynesworth will be play somewhere near his comfort zone, which would be possibly somewhere in the NFC South, if he doesn't resign with Tennessee. But IF he does consider Green Bay, I would certainly like the possibilities, as he can stuff the run AND pressure the passer pretty well.
Possible 1st round draft choices
LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest) 6-3, 248 pounds
With the Packers now running a 3-4 defense, it all starts with the front 7. Curry would be a perfect linebacker in the 3-4 defense, as he has the ability to play inside or outside. Curry is clearly the best LB in the draft, but don't be surprised to see Thompson possibly select one of the trio of linebackers available from USC at some point.
OT Eugene Monroe (Virginia) 6-6, 320 pounds
At some point the Packers need to get a LT for the future as Chad Clifton appears to be on his last legs. Daryn Colledge can also play LT, but he finally looks like he has found a home at LG. Monroe would be an excellent addition with his size, ability and athleticism.
DL B.J. Raji (Boston College) 6-1, 325 pounds
Raji is turning heads at the Senior Bowl in practice. Raji has great penetration skills and he can take on two blockers which will free the second line to make tackles more easily.
DE/OLB Everette Brown (Florida State) 6-4, 250 pounds
Brown would provide the same type of presence that Terrell Suggs provides for the Ravens. He has the size, speed and big motor to have his hand down or play upright.
CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State) 6-1, 201 pounds
Jenkins is clearly the best CB in the draft, and although both Charles Woodson and Al Harris were named to the Pro Bowl, the Packers have to get younger at the position at some point. The jury is still out on Tramon Williams, Will Blackmon, Pat Lee and Jarrett Bush, although Williams has gotten better every year and Blackmon showed improvement in 2008 as well.
5 star possibilities
January 24, 2009
Written by Bob Fox - PackerChatters Staff
It's that favorite time of year for many football fans. Yes, just like MLB now has the hot stove part of their off-season, so does the NFL, as the draft gets closer and free agency is on the horizon. The Green Bay Packers are still filling out their coaching staff after several of the coaches, mostly on defensive side of the ball, faced the "firing" squad after Mike McCarthy did his year end evaluations.
The big news that happened after that was the hiring of Dom Capers as the new defensive coordinator, and that means he will be bringing the 3-4 defense with him. It has been a defense that has brought Capers a lot of success, both as a coordinator (Pittsburgh) and as a head coach (Carolina).
McCarthy and Capers are still working to fill out the defensive staff, although linebackers/assistant head coach Winston Moss remains in place and former Carolina Panther defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac was hired yesterday to be defensive line coach. Trgovac was an assistant with the Packers in 1999, along with McCarthy under Ray Rhodes.
John Rushing was also reportedly hired as an offensive quality control coach for Packers. Rushing had been with Utah State as a defensive backs coach. The Packers are conducting more interviews for the other coaching positions as well, including Travis Jones reportedly, for what appears to be either the assistant defensive line job under Trgovac or what is expected to be one of two linebacker positions.
Jones, 36, worked under Capers in Miami for two years. He was the Dolphins' assistant line coach in 2006 and defensive ends coach in '07. He spent '08 as assistant line coach in New Orleans. The Packers were also going to talk with Keith Millard, who was the Oakland Raider defensive line coach the last four years. The hiring of Trgovac as defensive line coach means that Millard will either be an assistant to Trgovac, or some other position if he is hired.
After that is done, the onus will be on General Manager Ted Thompson to provide more talent on the 2009 Packer team, both in free agency and the 2009 NFL draft. Because of the 3-4 defense that the Packers will now be playing, Thompson has to attempt to get players through free agency or the draft that can play in that scheme.
The Packers have other needs as well. The Packers have plenty of room under the cap right now to utilize free agency, but certainly some of it will hopefully be used to give both WR Greg Jennings and S Nick Collins contract extensions.
In terms of the draft, this is the week of the Senior Bowl and all the scouts from each team and also coaches are there for evaluations. Plus we still have the combine next month. A LOT can change before the draft in April, as team needs can be filled through free agency in some cases.
Thompson has been VERY thrifty in free agency historically. He did bring in LB Brandon Chillar last year, which was a good move, and he hit the jackpot in 2006 by bringing in DB Charles Woodson and DT Ryan Pickett. Some would say that based on the VERY disappointing 2008 6-10 season, especially after getting to the NFC championship game the year before, that Thompson needs another jackpot year in free agency.
Bottom line, both Thompson and McCarthy have to be feeling the pressure.
Let us look at the possibilities in both free agency and the draft (1st round). I am giving 5 possible acquisitions in this exercise. A lot will change at free agency really gets moving, plus there is a chance that some of the unrestricted free agents will be given the franchise or transition tag or resigned to a new contract. I will give more precise evaluations of these players as time goes on, but for now I will give a snap shot summation as to why these players make sense.
Possible free agent acquisitions
DE/OLB Terrell Suggs
The Ravens can't keep everyone on the roster in free agency, as besides Suggs, they also have Ray Lewis and Bart Scott as an UFAs. Suggs, as he is proven in Baltimore, can be a force in the 3-4 defense. Suggs had 53 sacks in 6 years in Baltimore, plus showed nice versatility by intercepting 2 passes in 2008, one for a TD.
LB Bart Scott
Scott is another Raven LB that just makes plays on a consistent level. Like Lewis, Scott has a nose for the football and he hits like a runaway train. Scott does have the ability to get to the QB as well, as he had 9.5 sacks in 2006.
S Jim Leonhard
The former Wisconsin Badger and native of Wisconsin finally got a chance to start in Baltimore in 2008, after spending his first few years on the bench in Buffalo and playing special teams. Leonhard had a very solid season in 2008 and a TERRIFIC post-season for the Ravens. With the injury issues that both Atari Bigby and Aaron Rouse have had, Leonhard would make sense. Plus, the Packers would have excellent talent surrounding Leonhard, just like he had in Baltimore.
OT Jordan Gross
Chad Clifton won't be around forever, and he is showing signs that that day might be near. Gross is one of the best LT's in the NFL right now, and he is also very young and he has a LOT of his career in front of him.
DT Julius Peppers
Peppers had one of his best seasons in years in 2008 with 14.5 sacks, and has had 70.5 sacks in 7 seasons. Peppers has also said that he wants to play in a 3-4 defense. With his former defensive coordinator now in Green Bay, and supposedly they had a good relationship, the possibilities are there that Peppers might end up in Green Bay and their new 3-4 defense...if Carolina allows it.
* I'm sure more than a few of you are asking where is DT Albert Haynesworth on my list. Even though Hayneswoth is eligible to be an UFA, I also know the Titans are trying hard to resign him, and I also think the Haynesworth will be play somewhere near his comfort zone, which would be possibly somewhere in the NFC South, if he doesn't resign with Tennessee. But IF he does consider Green Bay, I would certainly like the possibilities, as he can stuff the run AND pressure the passer pretty well.
Possible 1st round draft choices
LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest) 6-3, 248 pounds
With the Packers now running a 3-4 defense, it all starts with the front 7. Curry would be a perfect linebacker in the 3-4 defense, as he has the ability to play inside or outside. Curry is clearly the best LB in the draft, but don't be surprised to see Thompson possibly select one of the trio of linebackers available from USC at some point.
OT Eugene Monroe (Virginia) 6-6, 320 pounds
At some point the Packers need to get a LT for the future as Chad Clifton appears to be on his last legs. Daryn Colledge can also play LT, but he finally looks like he has found a home at LG. Monroe would be an excellent addition with his size, ability and athleticism.
DL B.J. Raji (Boston College) 6-1, 325 pounds
Raji is turning heads at the Senior Bowl in practice. Raji has great penetration skills and he can take on two blockers which will free the second line to make tackles more easily.
DE/OLB Everette Brown (Florida State) 6-4, 250 pounds
Brown would provide the same type of presence that Terrell Suggs provides for the Ravens. He has the size, speed and big motor to have his hand down or play upright.
CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State) 6-1, 201 pounds
Jenkins is clearly the best CB in the draft, and although both Charles Woodson and Al Harris were named to the Pro Bowl, the Packers have to get younger at the position at some point. The jury is still out on Tramon Williams, Will Blackmon, Pat Lee and Jarrett Bush, although Williams has gotten better every year and Blackmon showed improvement in 2008 as well.