POWIP Piece of Work In Progress – Former Abode of Dan Collins

The Packers’ First Three Rounds

Teams without many gaps really can afford to pursue a best player available policy. As a general rule, it's a good idea to have your offensive line taken care of when you've got a franchise quarterback, or before you go drafting a young quarterback who doesn't have the luxury of waiting a couple of years before starting.

The year the Pack picked Aaron Rodgers, most teams had Alex Smith as the clear top QB coming into the draft. When Rodgers fell to the Packers, GM Ted Thompson and Coach Mike McCarthy said that he was the number one QB on their board. Most people thought that they were touting their new prospect, but it's become clear in the past few years that they were probably being earnest.

Last year they drafted OT Bryan Bulaga, who played very well for them at the end of the season when it counted the most, and after they had to shift around the offensive line after a spate of mid-season injuries. Rodgers completed passes all over the field to make up for the lack of production at RB after Ryan Grant missed almost the whole season with an ankle injury. Late in the year, James Starks provided some burst and allowed them to play ball control after they had gotten a lead, and took some of the pressure off the defense, who hadn't been getting much rest when the quick-strike passing game was all of the offense.

Offensive linemen need a little more seasoning, as a general rule, than their counterparts on the defensive side of the ball. A good offensive lineman can contribute for 10 years, but a couple of those are likely to be formative. That's another reason you draft there before the need gets acute. You can go to the defensive side thereafter and expect a first year DE with ability to have an impact early in his career. I don't follow college football very closely, so I've not really watched Sherrod play, but when Thompson says that the Packers had him rated a few notches higher than the 6th-ranked OT in the draft, I'm ready to believe him.

Randall Cobb shouldn't have fallen so far in the second round, IMO. It's true that at that size, 190 lbs, he couldn't be an every down back, nor does he have the speed to be a number one WR, but the Packers use so many four and five receiver sets that they'll find uses for him. He began his career as a QB, so he can throw on the run, and he's also held snaps for field goals, which adds a dimension that opponents will have to be aware of. He's got good vision, good hands, and they're sure to try him out on punt and kickoff returns. Reportedly a great locker room guy, who runs disciplined routes.

The third guy is an RB from Hawaii, Alex Green, originally from Portland. Great burst and collects the ball quickly on short routes. The knock is that he runs too upright, but he hits the hole awfully quickly. I don't think that he's got a problem with vision, having watched some of his video. He's 6'0", 225 lbs, and ran a 4.45 forty at the Combine. He's got size and power, and can be physical. He tends to run at people, and he will have to learn to wait for his blockers and to secure the ball. What he does have, though, you can't teach. He's got good hands for receiving and though it's true that he runs a little upright he makes himself small at the point of attack and hits the hole so fast defenders at the line have almost no time to react. He's at speed at a step and a half and will give opposing special teams players fits if he goes downfield on kick coverage. Where he'd be an absolute monster though, if the Packers decide to make it a bigger part of their repertoire and he can learn to let things develop in front of him, in the screen and the draw. He has the power and physicality to block, so I hope Edgar Bennett is able to develop that.

I'm sure that the Packers would have liked a shot at LeShoure in the 2nd round, but I'm pretty happy with Randall Cobb. There were other backs ranked more highly on other boards than where the Packers got Green (and I was pretty sure that they were going to go for a DE), but one thing I've learned over the past several years is that Ted Thompson is much better at grading and picking players than I am.

I just hope the owners and players get it together ASAP.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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