I agree with wpr about the assumption thing, and I will add that if two out of the four assumptions mentioned by Dulak come true, the Packers should be okay at CB this year.

I would've liked if Ted had drafted a CB, but I got the impression that this draft did not really break toward our immediate needs, with the exception of Bulaga in the first round.

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Dunno if these were posted elsewhere, but THIS is why we didn't need a corner!

[youtube]YhR35OycE08[/youtube]

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I was a little scared for a second when he fell. Good video, but I don't think that's why we didn't draft a CB, as Harris has maybe 3 years left in his tank, of which I believe are best suited as a Nickel back.

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To quote (Sir) Charles Woodson, "Al don't do nickel".

In all honesty, I think we've had unbelievably tremendous fortune in having Charles Woodson. Al Harris does not to nickel CB - for an example of what happens when Al is forced to play Nickel, please see the Cowboys game on 07.

Having someone versatile as Woodson, and even Tramon, means we can make Al the #3 CB but keep him to covering the outside when he does go in there.

I don't ever see Al being a traditional nickel CB and always lining up in the slot because it doesn't suit his game of press / man-to-man coverage. But again, the versatility afforded to us by having C-Wood and Tramon is a huge benefit that makes us need not worry about what to do with Al should he be #3 on the depth-chart.

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To quote Al Harris when questioned about how many more years he has left in him, "I'm more than willing to play nickel to extend my career, but right now I'm still a top 2 corner."


Edit, Al also responded strongly when questioned if he could play zone coverage. His response was he could play any scheme if asked. Implying he hadn't been asked to play zone coverage previously.

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You can still use Al Harris as your No. 3 corner and I think that's what zero means. When he comes in the game, move either Woodson or Williams inside.

I personally like Brandon Underwood's talent a lot, but Patrick Lee might be the most important corner on this team. If he's healthy and develops, he'll help a ton.

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The addition of the ball hawking Burnett should also add something to our defensive backfield. He and Collins in the middle might mean the CBs have to help out a little less inside

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We have a number of "ifs". If Woody stays healthy, if Harris comes back healthy, if Lee comes back healthy and more polished, if Underwood develops as hoped, if Blackmon stays healthy, and if Shields proves to be a diamond in the rough - if these things happen CB would be a position of strength next years.

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For most teams the CB position is determined by the development of players that continue to grow into the position. Very few teams have no form of "if" when it comes to CB because it generally takes longer for them to develope and trust on the field.

While we can count a number of "if's" is it not true the rest of the North has more "if's" than we do when it comes to CB?

Where most positions will see the added experience factor kick in and the benefits show in a higher quality of play the CB position is one more like with fingers crossed HOPING that's what happens.

That position is so critical a coach can't just put a CB out there knowing they are probably going to make mistakes like a receiver or RB or Linemen might make. A CB mistake means TD the other way.

The staff obviously feels pretty good with the information they have that guys like Lee and Underwood have the tools to be good CB's and because they haven't broken into what is a pretty solid group of CB's and gotten a lot of PT doesn't mean we should be looking elsewhere for talent. Last year would have been a perfect opportunity for Lee to step up with the injury to Harris and as luck has it he was already down for the year.

I think this year he shows why he was a second round pick.

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I may have sounded critical in my above post. I sure did not mean it that way, in fact, just the opposite. Woody is the key, if he stays healthy and 3 or 4 of the other ifs work out we should be pretty strong. Again, this is if Tramon can stay healthy. LOL Man, I can't wait for training camp to start.

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