I’m joking, of course.
Any idiot who’s grading 2010 draft classes today is, well, just that. An idiot.
Every team in the NFL is better today than they were at this time last week. Every team in the NFL has added new players to their roster. Grading a team’s draft class before they’ve even played a down in the NFL is a post-draft ritual and also one of the most asinine practices there is.
It’s kind of like speculating on the future of Brett Favre. Pointless.
A draft class can’t realistically be judged for three years, so don’t believe all the bullshit you see out there today.
So, here’s what he can say about the Green Bay Packers’ 2010 draft class.
The Packers filled their biggest need by selecting Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga in the first round. Beyond that, the only other major weakness they addressed was safety, by selecting Georgia Tech’s Morgan Burnett in the third round. Packers’ general manager Ted Thompson completely ignored the team’s two other major holes – outside linebacker and cornerback.
The same team that was torched in a 51-45 playoff loss to Arizona didn’t draft a single cornerback or pass-rushing outside linebacker to bolster its defense. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said the team would improve from within. Thompson seems confident his injured cornerbacks will return to full strength, and he’s not sweating the void at left outside linebacker caused by Aaron Kampman’s departure.
“I understand everybody’s concerned about that position,” Thompson said. “We don’t think it’s quite as dire as everybody else does.”
We shall see. After the Packers get torched by Favre twice in 2010, I may leave a flaming bag of dog shit on your doorstep, Ted.
Perhaps you’ll understand the concern then.
Anyway, Thompson employed the best available player strategy in the draft. Or at least that’s what he says.
The team didn’t address needs at outside linebacker, cornerback and punter. But Thompson said injuries sometimes test depth at unexpected positions, so he’s generally better off picking the best player available.
“It’s a long season,” Thompson said. “And you have to be able to (find players) to maintain and sustain your success. The more guys you can get, the better off you are.”
This is all well and good, but when you’re using the best available player method and pick a guy in the second round you could have picked in the third, fourth or perhaps even the fifth round, well… I want some of the drugs they’re passing around at 1265.
So, like I was saying, the Green Bay Packers grade for the 2010 NFL Draft is an A+.
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I can’t help but be a bit disappointed with the draft but I think people are making too big of a deal over the CB and OLB positions. Al Harris, Pat Lee and Will Blackmon will all be back and even if they aren’t all back to 100% they’ll be better than Bush – that said, this is a make or break season for all 4 of those guys. At OLB Brad Jones was solid last year and we can only expect that he will be improved this year… when GB got torched last year, it was by older or more immobile veteran QBs. We didn’t get an INSIDE rush on those players. Favre, Warner and Big Ben were able to step up in the pocket, usually on three step drops, for the most part nullifying the outside rush brought by Matthews and Jones. To avoid the defensive collapses of last year, inside pressure from the lineman and blitzing ILBs is paramount.
It’s impossible to know which players would be available when. Obviously, 95% of the draft analysts/prognosticators know a LOT less than the personnel departments. And if you just go pick a OLB because you need one. Then a C because you need one. When you could have picked a far superior player at a position of less need … well, then you are officially Jerry Angelo. Congratulations!
They might have reached to get Neal. But they got Burnett in the third when many thought he’d go in the second. If those two picks were flipped probably nobody is protesting. As it is, it worked out the same way.
Favre did not torch the Packers. There is a lot of false rumors being spread lately. The Packer cornerbacks are not that bad either.
I guess Woodson must suck then huh?
The Packers had the 5 rated passing defense of all teams in 2009. Yeah, I guess the CB’s must be bad.
http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?archive=false&conference=null&role=OPP&offensiveStatisticCategory=null&defensiveStatisticCategory=TEAM_PASSING&season=2009&seasonType=REG&tabSeq=2&qualified=true&Submit=Go
you aren’t very smart. we have aj hawk nick barnett clay mathews brandon chillar brady popinga and brandon jones for linebackers. I’m comfortable with any of them on the field. as for corner we have our two vets. we may resign williams. second year underwood. then also we have healthy will blackmon again.
Three years…
We can grade the 2007 Packers draft then.
D+
Games that count people…ranking 5th in overall pass defense is a misnomer. Clearly, anyone watching knows we held shitty JV teams in check and got TORCHED by elite QB’s.
The draft added some interesting DEPTH at certain positions (as it should). The mistake was made in not trading up for Graham out of Michigan (as Philly did) and not filling serious needs with high impact players. I will give kudos to TT for trading up again to snag what appears to be a serviceable Safety to compete with Bigby…but here is a question to ponder – ‘what if Burnett ends up in over his head and lacking in areas where he needs to develop’? We don’t have time to develop players – we need a championship roster and you don’t get one by not signing a key free agent or two to provide solid veteran leadership, accountability and an instant upgrade of your roster.
Pure style.
OK – I admit it – your title made me look. A+… You got me…