Pack93z
You retired too? .... Not me. I'm in my prime
Pretty nice little article on a shift in thinking for Ted and company... at least for those outside the front office it appears to be a shift in thinking.
I know.. more rehash.. but tis the offseason.
Summed Up
General manager Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers really did some drafting in 2008 that was a bit of a change in philosophy from what we've seen in the past.
There's three things the Packers have done differently than they've done in the past:
These guys in the 2008 draft class aren't special teams players like the 2007 draft class was. That's not to say some of these players won't play special teams. The wide receivers, Jordy Nelson and Brett Swain, look like they can return kicks. And others might be part of some coverage teams. But just look at the 2007 class: Mason Crosby, Korey Hall, Desmond Bishop, and Aaron Rouse were all special teams regulars. Running back Brandon Jackson didn't figure to become a special teams player after beginning the season as the starter, but he became one. And don't doubt that first round draft pick Justin Harrell joins the field goal and extra point block squads this year with those long levers of his now that he's healthy.
These players will be groomed to be future starters. Ted Thompson obviously thinks that Jordy Nelson can be a starter in this league. He won't have to do it right away with Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones in front of him. But Nelson will start someday. Brian Brohm has been hailed as the most starting-ready quarterback in the entire draft class. He too won't have to start right away, but he's only an injury away from seeing the field. Patrick Lee won't have to wait long at cornerback as Al Harris and Charles Woodson are aging veterans. Jermichael Finley (pictured) will be looked upon to be a starter in a couple of seasons if he turns into a viable pass catching threat. The backup defensive ends are KGB and an injury prone Michael Montgomery. Jeremy Thompson already looks to be the most complete defensive end of those three. It's already been said that Josh Sitton will be thrown into the mix at guard. He faces an uphill battle, but he'll be given an opportunity in training camp. Breno Giacomini sits in the same position as Patrick Lee. Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are aging veterans and won't be around too much longer. Matt Flynn and Brett Swain might not be looked to be starters at anytime soon, but it's not as if they couldn't be someday.
The Packers traded up! Ted Thompson must certainly think highly of defensive end Jeremy Thompson if he traded up to nab him. It says a lot about Jeremy Thompson if Ted Thompson decided he was worth trading up for. And the Packers traded up once more too, although it was hard to notice. They traded away a 2008 seventh round pick for a 2009 sixth round pick.
Some of the same techniques stayed in place for Ted Thompson, though. He remained known as the type of general manager who is going to stockpile draft choices. He went into the draft with seven choices and came away with nine. And even though he traded up, he was still willing to move down as he did multiple times in the 2008 draft.
Of course, it's still way too early to judge the effectiveness of this shift in drafting. But it will once again be interesting to watch these players develop.
I know.. more rehash.. but tis the offseason.
Summed Up
General manager Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers really did some drafting in 2008 that was a bit of a change in philosophy from what we've seen in the past.
There's three things the Packers have done differently than they've done in the past:
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These guys in the 2008 draft class aren't special teams players like the 2007 draft class was. That's not to say some of these players won't play special teams. The wide receivers, Jordy Nelson and Brett Swain, look like they can return kicks. And others might be part of some coverage teams. But just look at the 2007 class: Mason Crosby, Korey Hall, Desmond Bishop, and Aaron Rouse were all special teams regulars. Running back Brandon Jackson didn't figure to become a special teams player after beginning the season as the starter, but he became one. And don't doubt that first round draft pick Justin Harrell joins the field goal and extra point block squads this year with those long levers of his now that he's healthy.
You must be logged in to see this image or video!
These players will be groomed to be future starters. Ted Thompson obviously thinks that Jordy Nelson can be a starter in this league. He won't have to do it right away with Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones in front of him. But Nelson will start someday. Brian Brohm has been hailed as the most starting-ready quarterback in the entire draft class. He too won't have to start right away, but he's only an injury away from seeing the field. Patrick Lee won't have to wait long at cornerback as Al Harris and Charles Woodson are aging veterans. Jermichael Finley (pictured) will be looked upon to be a starter in a couple of seasons if he turns into a viable pass catching threat. The backup defensive ends are KGB and an injury prone Michael Montgomery. Jeremy Thompson already looks to be the most complete defensive end of those three. It's already been said that Josh Sitton will be thrown into the mix at guard. He faces an uphill battle, but he'll be given an opportunity in training camp. Breno Giacomini sits in the same position as Patrick Lee. Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are aging veterans and won't be around too much longer. Matt Flynn and Brett Swain might not be looked to be starters at anytime soon, but it's not as if they couldn't be someday.
You must be logged in to see this image or video!
The Packers traded up! Ted Thompson must certainly think highly of defensive end Jeremy Thompson if he traded up to nab him. It says a lot about Jeremy Thompson if Ted Thompson decided he was worth trading up for. And the Packers traded up once more too, although it was hard to notice. They traded away a 2008 seventh round pick for a 2009 sixth round pick.
Some of the same techniques stayed in place for Ted Thompson, though. He remained known as the type of general manager who is going to stockpile draft choices. He went into the draft with seven choices and came away with nine. And even though he traded up, he was still willing to move down as he did multiple times in the 2008 draft.
Of course, it's still way too early to judge the effectiveness of this shift in drafting. But it will once again be interesting to watch these players develop.
