British
14 years ago
Bedard reposted this from last year. He said not much had changed apart from Schneider now being with Seattle.

Worth a read.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/38195514.html 

SENIOR BOWL: How the Packers go about their business
By Greg A. Bedard of the Journal Sentinel
Jan. 22, 2009

Mobile, Ala. - So what exactly do the Green Bay Packers do during an event like the Senior Bowl?

Here's a little glimpse at how general manager Ted Thompson disperses his troops. Some of this was told to me by members of the Packers, some of it is from observation, and some it is from chats with various people who are familiar with how the Packers operate.

Theres nothing groundbreaking here. Im not giving away any secrets. Its just interesting to watch an NFL franchise operate as they attempt to secure the building blocks for the franchise.

OVERVIEW

Every team deals with these all-star games differently. Some bring their entire football operations staff, coaches included. Most would fall into that category because their coaches have some input into personnel decisions. The Minnesota Vikings are a prime example of that. The entire Winter Park contingent is here.

Some teams only bring their personnel people. The Packers are one of those teams. The teams that just played in the conference championship games are also not here.

Most teams stay at the Renaissance Hotel where the Senior Bowl is based. Its very convenient because if you have a suite upstairs, you can grab a player from the lobby and talk to them in private if you choose.

The Vikings, like the Cowboys, Panthers and others, are staying down the street but they reserved conference rooms downstairs at the Renaissance. So they would send gophers to get the players and bring them to the conference room. The Vikings had just a huge conference room with multiple tables and chairs. It was quite an operation, like a factory.

Some teams talk to the players just in the lobby. They'll try to conjure up a meeting place in the corner so they can sit down and chat. Some just do it up against a wall in a corner.

From Sunday through Wednesday, players are constantly shuttled between teams from about 5-11 p.m. Most teams have standard questionnaires they ask the players. Then there are usually follow-up interviews.

DEALING WITH THE PLAYERS

The Packers, its easy to tell, know what theyre doing. And while Thompson certainly calls the shots, it seems that he defers a lot in these types of venues to John Dorsey, the director of college scouting. Dorsey pretty much takes the ball and runs with it.

Dorseys very wired in. He moves quickly between agents, players, scouts, etc. Its not unusual to see Dorsey ragging on some no-name offensive lineman for a boneheaded mistake he made during the season. Dorseys very good at his job.

When it comes to talking to the players, the Packers hit the ground running on Sunday when they get into town. They get most of their questionnaires done that day. Any they missed, the Packers clean up on Monday.

All that talk you hear about whether the Packers talked to this person or that one? Well, dont listen to it. The Packers talk to just about every single player at these events, at least for questionnaires. And when it comes to the combine, sometimes the Packers dont even talk to players they really like - to throw other teams off.

When the questionnaires are out of the way, Dorsey, Thompson, directors of football operations Reggie McKenzie and John Schneider, along with assistant director of college scouting Shaun Herock and others get together to see where there are gaps in the information. Are there red flags that need to be asked about? Injuries? Questionable family background that needs to be asked about?

The Packers take that list and put it together with the players they just want to know more about because they fit what the Packers are looking for. That can range anywhere from 30 to 50 players.

Some players are summoned upstairs where apparently Thompson, Herock and Schneider meet with them - because they werent seen much in the lobby -- along with the scout from their area.

But for other players, Dorsey purposely has someone re-interview those players in the hallway, in the gym, while their eating, coming off the practice field and possibly while theyre washing their hands in the bathroom. Why? Because Dorsey wants to see how those players think on their feet. So many times these players have their agents in their ears on the way to interviews that they come off pre-programmed. The Packers want to catch them off guard. See how they take to a little razzing. Is that person their kind of player? Thats what this whole process is all about.

AT THE FIELD

The Packers are also pretty methodical when it comes to how they scout players live. Thompson is very big on seeing a prospect in person. Like I said in a previous post, thats why he spends so much time on the road. Not every general manager does that.

Both the North and South practiced at the same time at different venues on Monday. So all the Packers got split up. That doesnt matter to them. The Packers have different people watching different positions. They split up the responsibilities. So while Thompson was watching the North defensive linemen and South linebackers like a hawk this week, somebody else was paying just as close attention to the rest of the positions.

Most of the Packers scout at field level although a few watch from the stands. I would say 70 percent of teams scout from the stands.

On Wednesday, for the final padded practices, the entire Packers contingent watches from the stands. Thats where they all compare notes and double check things.

On Thursday, the Packers were one of the few teams to still have their entire personnel department in town for the practices in shells. The group was much more relaxed during both practices. It appeared much of their work was already done, although Thompson and Dorsey watched the first part of the practice together at field level.

Once that final practice concluded, the Packers left town and headed back to Green Bay, where theyll crunch their reports hard before the scouting combine starts on Feb. 19.

And then it starts all over again.


UserPostedImage
go.pack.go.
14 years ago
I'm really happy that they are all so dedicated to what they do. This is what we need in a GM and his staff.
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (4h) : doubt he wants to face the speedsters
beast (4h) : Dolphins offense can be explosive... I wonder if we'll have Alexander back
Zero2Cool (5h) : No Doubs could be issue Thursday
Mucky Tundra (10h) : Bears. Santos. Blocked FG
Zero2Cool (21h) : Bears. Vikings. OT
Mucky Tundra (21h) : Thems the breaks I guess
Mucky Tundra (21h) : Two players out and Williams had an injury designation this week but Oladapo is a healthy scratch
Zero2Cool (22h) : Packers inactives vs 49ers: • CB Jaire Alexander • S Kitan Oladapo • LB Edgerrin Cooper • OL Jacob Monk
TheKanataThrilla (24-Nov) : Aaron Jones with a costly red zone fumble
Zero2Cool (24-Nov) : When we trade Malik for a 1st rounder, we'll need a new QB2.
packerfanoutwest (23-Nov) : Report: Aaron Rodgers wants to play in 2025, but not for the Jets
beast (23-Nov) : That's what I told the Police officer about my speed when he pulled me over
packerfanoutwest (23-Nov) : NFL told Bears that Packers’ blocked field goal was legal
packerfanoutwest (22-Nov) : 49ers are underdogs at Packers, ending streak of 36 straight games as favorites
Zero2Cool (22-Nov) : 49ers might be down their QB, DL, TE and LT?
packerfanoutwest (22-Nov) : Jaire Alexander says he has a torn PCL
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : Even with the context it's ... what?
Mucky Tundra (20-Nov) : Matt LaFleur without context: “I don’t wanna pat you on the butt and you poop in my hand.”
beast (20-Nov) : We brought in a former Packers OL coach to help evaluate OL as a scout
beast (20-Nov) : Jets have been pretty good at picking DL
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He landed good players thanks to high draft slot. He isn't good.
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He can shove his knowledge up his ass. He knows nothing.
beast (20-Nov) : More knowledge, just like bring in the Jets head coach
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : What? Why? Huh?
beast (19-Nov) : I wonder if the Packers might to try to bring Douglas in through Milt Hendrickson/Ravens connections
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : The Jets fired Joe Douglas, per sources
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Jets are a mess......
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Pretty sure Jets fired their scouting staff and just pluck former Packers.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Jets sign Anders Carlson to their 53.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : When you cycle the weeks, the total over remains for season. But you get your W/L for that selected week. Confusing.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the totals are accurate..nrvrtmind
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : I don't follow what you are saying. The totals are not the same as last week.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : ok so then wht are the totals the same as last week?
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : NFL Pick'em is auto updated when NFL Scores tab is clicked
Martha Careful (19-Nov) : The offense was OK. Let's not forget the Bear defense is very very good.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Who updates the leaderboard on NFLPickem?
beast (19-Nov) : Has the Packers offense been worse since the former Jets coach joined the Packers?
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Offense gets his ass in gear, this could be good.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Backup QB helped with three wins. Special Teams contributed to three wins.
bboystyle (18-Nov) : Lions played outside thats why. They scored 16 and 17 in the only 2 outside games this year
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : The rest of the NFL is catching up to Packers ... kicking is an issue throughout league
packerfanoutwest (18-Nov) : Packers DL Kenny Clark: We knew 'we were going to block' Bears' game-winning field goal attempt
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Lions seem to be throttling everyone, but only (only) got 24 lol maybe the rain is why
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Packers vs Lions game doesn't seem so bad.
beast (18-Nov) : Dennis Green "They are what we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!"
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : comment of the day Z2Cool "Bears better than we want to admit. Packers worse than we think. It's facts."
Mucky Tundra (17-Nov) : my worst case scenario: Bears fix their oline and get a coach like Johnson from the Lions and his scheme
Zero2Cool (17-Nov) : Bears get OL fixed amd we might have a problem
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 12:00 PM
Vikings
Saturday, Jan 4 @ 11:00 PM
BEARS
Recent Topics
46m / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

2h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

17h / Green Bay Packers Talk / buckeyepackfan

23h / Green Bay Packers Talk / buckeyepackfan

24-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

23-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

23-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

21-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

21-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

21-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

20-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

20-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

19-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

19-Nov / Featured Content / Zero2Cool

Copyright © 2006 - 2024 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.