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PACKERS OFF-SEASON
by Jonathon Zenk <[email protected]>
The Green Bay Packers have started out the 2005 off-season on the right foot. Kevin Harlan first stripped Mike Sherman of his general manager duties and hired Ted Thompson from the Seattle Seahawks to take over the role. Then, the Packers demoted defensive coordinator Bob Slowik to defensive backs coach to take over for the fired Kurt Schottenheimer, who promptly signs on as the defensive backs coach for the St. Louis Rams. I feel sorry for them! Then, Slowik signed on with another NFL team as the defensive backs coach. Recently, the Packers lost wide receivers coach Ray Sherman to the Tennessee Titans. Then, Green Bay hired former Packer running back Edgar Bennett as their running backs coach. Then, their defensive line coach got hired somewhere else. The Packers hired former Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Jim Bates to run the Packers defense. Then, last Tuesday, Bates brought over some friends from Miami. Green Bay hired Bob Sanders and Robert Nunn as defensive assistants to coordinator Bates. Then, on Friday, Green Bay hired former Nebraska Cornhusker quarterback Turner Gill to be the director of player personal and offensive assistant. Personally, I hope the Packers hire former Packer great Leroy Butler to be their defensive backs coach. Although, this off-season has been great so far.
I think the Packers should release both of last year's starting safeties and probably Michael Hawthorne as well. I wouldn't be surprised if the Packers cut ties with defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt. Green Bay may re-sign tight end Bubba Franks, but will only be able to re-sign one of their guards, whether it is Marco Rivera or Mike Wahle. I wouldn't be surprised if the Packers try to trade Wahle. He is technically not a free agent, but his cap number is too big for the Packers to keep him. I will look for the Packers to sign a veteran safety to help with the poor pass defense. Then, draft a few more safeties to strengthen the defensive backfield. I see Green Bay going after Edgerton Hartwell, Kendrell Bell, or a Jeremiah Trotter and move Nick Barnett to outside where he was in college at Oregon State. Green Bay will also try and restructure the contract of wide receiver Javon Walker.
The Packers have three picks in the first two rounds. These picks should be defensive. Maybe a defensive end, inside linebacker, a safety. An end because they had a terrible pass rush last year, an inside linebacker purely for depth, and a coverage safety because they need a safety to start opposite of the veteran (Sammy Knight, Donavon Darius).
Here is who I think the Packers should draft in the first round:
1) Matt Roth-DE-Iowa. Roth may be undersized, but during Senior Bowl practices, nobody could block him. Gbaja-Biamila and Roth could be a deadly combination of pass rushers to a team that lacked just that last season in having one of the worst sack totals in the league.
2a) Earnest Shazor-S-Michigan. Shazor will step right in and start along side the veteran who they bring in. He is a good cover safety who can't be worse than the stiffs they had in the defensive backfield last season with Darren Sharper and Mark Roman. You can expect this kind of pick from Jim Bates because he needs some ammo as he led the Dolphins to second in the NFL last season in pass defense.
2b)Michael Boley-OLB-Southern Miss. The Packers load are starting to load up the depth at linebacker. They desperately need some as they will only return three linebackers from last year as Navies, Marshall, and Lenon are all gone because they are terrible. Now, they will start fresh with Barnett, Diggs, veteran (Bell, Hartwell, Trotter), Boley, and they draft Ruud in round 3). I expect a fast and very good group of linebackers in 2005.
3) Barrett Ruud-ILB-Nebraska. The Packers need to draft depth at the linebacker position. Steve Josue will most likely be the only backup linebacker on their roster because they most likely won't re-sign Torrance Marshall or Paris Lenon because they aren't any good.
4) Josh Bullocks-S-Nebraska. Since Michael Hawthorne will likely get cut, they'll need some depth to backup Shazor and the veteran. Bullucks will join Barrett Ruud as the other Nebraska player to be drafted by the Green Bay Packers.
5) Cedric Houston-RB-Tennessee. If Green Bay loses Najeh Davenport, they'll need a replacement at running back. Although, Davenport could get the middle tender, so if some team signs him, they owe Green Bay their first rounder. If Davenport gets re-signed, however you can then forget this pick.
6) Joel Dreesen-TE-Colorado State. If Franks doesn't get re-signed, you can expect Green Bay to take a tight end much earlier in the draft or maybe in free agency. If Bubba Franks re-signs, they'll need depth since David Martin is a free agent.
PACKERS OFF-SEASON
by Jonathon Zenk <[email protected]>
The Green Bay Packers have started out the 2005 off-season on the right foot. Kevin Harlan first stripped Mike Sherman of his general manager duties and hired Ted Thompson from the Seattle Seahawks to take over the role. Then, the Packers demoted defensive coordinator Bob Slowik to defensive backs coach to take over for the fired Kurt Schottenheimer, who promptly signs on as the defensive backs coach for the St. Louis Rams. I feel sorry for them! Then, Slowik signed on with another NFL team as the defensive backs coach. Recently, the Packers lost wide receivers coach Ray Sherman to the Tennessee Titans. Then, Green Bay hired former Packer running back Edgar Bennett as their running backs coach. Then, their defensive line coach got hired somewhere else. The Packers hired former Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Jim Bates to run the Packers defense. Then, last Tuesday, Bates brought over some friends from Miami. Green Bay hired Bob Sanders and Robert Nunn as defensive assistants to coordinator Bates. Then, on Friday, Green Bay hired former Nebraska Cornhusker quarterback Turner Gill to be the director of player personal and offensive assistant. Personally, I hope the Packers hire former Packer great Leroy Butler to be their defensive backs coach. Although, this off-season has been great so far.
I think the Packers should release both of last year's starting safeties and probably Michael Hawthorne as well. I wouldn't be surprised if the Packers cut ties with defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt. Green Bay may re-sign tight end Bubba Franks, but will only be able to re-sign one of their guards, whether it is Marco Rivera or Mike Wahle. I wouldn't be surprised if the Packers try to trade Wahle. He is technically not a free agent, but his cap number is too big for the Packers to keep him. I will look for the Packers to sign a veteran safety to help with the poor pass defense. Then, draft a few more safeties to strengthen the defensive backfield. I see Green Bay going after Edgerton Hartwell, Kendrell Bell, or a Jeremiah Trotter and move Nick Barnett to outside where he was in college at Oregon State. Green Bay will also try and restructure the contract of wide receiver Javon Walker.
The Packers have three picks in the first two rounds. These picks should be defensive. Maybe a defensive end, inside linebacker, a safety. An end because they had a terrible pass rush last year, an inside linebacker purely for depth, and a coverage safety because they need a safety to start opposite of the veteran (Sammy Knight, Donavon Darius).
Here is who I think the Packers should draft in the first round:
1) Matt Roth-DE-Iowa. Roth may be undersized, but during Senior Bowl practices, nobody could block him. Gbaja-Biamila and Roth could be a deadly combination of pass rushers to a team that lacked just that last season in having one of the worst sack totals in the league.
2a) Earnest Shazor-S-Michigan. Shazor will step right in and start along side the veteran who they bring in. He is a good cover safety who can't be worse than the stiffs they had in the defensive backfield last season with Darren Sharper and Mark Roman. You can expect this kind of pick from Jim Bates because he needs some ammo as he led the Dolphins to second in the NFL last season in pass defense.
2b)Michael Boley-OLB-Southern Miss. The Packers load are starting to load up the depth at linebacker. They desperately need some as they will only return three linebackers from last year as Navies, Marshall, and Lenon are all gone because they are terrible. Now, they will start fresh with Barnett, Diggs, veteran (Bell, Hartwell, Trotter), Boley, and they draft Ruud in round 3). I expect a fast and very good group of linebackers in 2005.
3) Barrett Ruud-ILB-Nebraska. The Packers need to draft depth at the linebacker position. Steve Josue will most likely be the only backup linebacker on their roster because they most likely won't re-sign Torrance Marshall or Paris Lenon because they aren't any good.
4) Josh Bullocks-S-Nebraska. Since Michael Hawthorne will likely get cut, they'll need some depth to backup Shazor and the veteran. Bullucks will join Barrett Ruud as the other Nebraska player to be drafted by the Green Bay Packers.
5) Cedric Houston-RB-Tennessee. If Green Bay loses Najeh Davenport, they'll need a replacement at running back. Although, Davenport could get the middle tender, so if some team signs him, they owe Green Bay their first rounder. If Davenport gets re-signed, however you can then forget this pick.
6) Joel Dreesen-TE-Colorado State. If Franks doesn't get re-signed, you can expect Green Bay to take a tight end much earlier in the draft or maybe in free agency. If Bubba Franks re-signs, they'll need depth since David Martin is a free agent.