Speaking Of Rookies…
By Aaron Nagler on Dec 23, 2009 with 10 Comments
…how about Thompson’s 2009 draft class?
Great overview here from Rob Reischel of Packer Plus (Hat tip: Brian over at Railbird). I know I’ve seen one or two posts around the blogosphere about how this class has the potential to be Thompson’s best, and I would tend to agree. What gets me so excited is how much better this class can get over time. Matthews, Raji and Jones are already contributing at a high level but they are still only rookies. The fact that all of them can and will improve should make Packer fans excited about the future. Add in T.J. Lang, who I truly think is the answer at right tackle, and you have an absolute knockout of a draft class right there. Any contributions the team ends up getting from Johnson, Wynn and Underwood will only add to this class’Â notoriety.
The knock on Thompson has always been, and will always be, that he doesn’t spend in free agency (though who knows how that practice and/or perception might change once there’s no salary cap) and that if that is the way he’s going to operate, then he needs to hit on a large majority of his picks.
He sure seems to have knocked it out of the park this year.
Filed Under: NFL Draft • Ted Thompson
“The knock on Thompson has always been, and will always be, that he doesn’t spend in free agency (though who knows how that practice and/or perception might change once there’s no salary cap) and that if that is the way he’s going to operate, then he needs to hit on a large majority of his picks.”
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Precisely. Since 2002, ALL of Steelers’ first round picks are key starters. Not true for Thompson.
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I’m not bashing anyone, and I believe that the draft is clearly the best way to build a contender, mainly because of cap management and locker room ambient. But you have to hit in a very high rate, something that has not happened so far.
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I don’t think the Packers are in a bad road. Quite the opposite. But after 5 years, this team should have less holes than it does.
Now what holes would you say we have? You talking about corners? Pittsburgh as far as I know has had one defensive player injured in their secondary (albeit a stud) and their entire season has fallen apart. Clearly their roster as not as strong as people would like to think, because the 2nd string guy got eaten up by Rodgers on Sunday just as he has all year.
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We’re on our what, 5th cornerback playing out there due to injuries? The D has still managed to play well even with two key starters being injured and most of our backups being on IR. That’s a solid roster all the way through.
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What other position could you be talking about? We have oodles and oodles of LBs, Collins and Bigby are solid (Collins Pro-Bowl caliber), and we have one of the best D lines in the league. Offensively we’ve obviously got a problem with the OL but at the same time they have played tremendously these last few weeks against good Ds, so who knows what that’s about. Obviously that’s an area you want to look at For the perimeter we need a true replacement for DD so another WR would be good, sure. TEs are very good with the potential to be elite. RBs are solid but certainly could use a real spell for Grant. And QB we’re set for another 50 years.
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Is that really a lot of holes?
Agreed. Although the player I’m most excited about is Matthews. He’s a rookie and he’s playing like a veteran. How many rookies do you know who can strip Adrian Peterson in the middle of a play and run it back. I’m having a hard time choosing between that play and the play when he chased Stafford in circles for the sack as my favorite Packers defensive play this year.
This is the kinda of draft class that could keep the Packers in the playoffs for the next few years.
Agreed RockinRodgers. In the next 2 years, if TT can add a Left Tackle, another D Line for rotation purposes, 2 CB’s (one to start, and one Nickelback), a Safety, and a punter, we should be set for YEARS.
(I know that seems like a lot right now, but over the course of 2 drafts it’s not out of the question.)
Dont look to free agency this offseason, because I’m pretty confident the Packers will be in the “Final 8!” so they cant sign anyone until they lose someone. All the outcry for re-signing guys is way too premature.
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This is a great draft class, CM3 seems to be pulling away from the pack for the DROY award.
Mel Kiper agrees – grades the Packer 2009 draft at an ‘A’.
http://bit.ly/4qNkB9
Mel Kiper agrees, grades Pack 2009 draft an A
http://bit.ly/4qNkB9
this draft class reminds me of a clip that could be seen on the future on some type of TOP 10 DRAFT CLASS show on the NFL network…
PackersRS is spot on. TT doesn’t hit often enough or long enough when he does, which means he’s a bit behind the top tier of GMs. Yes, even the best make mistakes; however, they don’t make as many and they also get more out of their hits. I’ll concede that the Hawk pick is a hit in a way because he’s been a starter, yet it’s hard to say that the Hawk pick was a hit in the same way as the Adrian Peterson pick was. (If you want to argue that i am cherry picking, it’s true, i am. If you want the best team, you want the best picks and the best players. That’s my standard.) I’d say that OL hole is pretty serious. Note also that it’s the Wolf picks that have shored up the OL. Without Clifton & Tauscher, the line was a complete disaster.