Has anyone seen USA Today's NFL Draft Preview in print?
They really show they don't know what they are doing.
I found a few bits of the info online.
1st they tell us that GB's needs are DE, DT and OT.
Team Needs
1. Defensive end: The switch to the 3-4 puts top pass rusher Aaron Kampman in a new role at outside linebacker. That leaves Cullen Jenkins, who is returning from a season-ending pectoral injury, and converted tackle Johnny Jolly to man the end spots. An upgrade can be had with the No. 9 pick in the draft, whether it's a robust end who fits the new scheme or an undersized pass rusher who can move to linebacker.
2. Defensive tackle: Given the change in philosophy, the Packers will need a stout nose tackle to line up over center and occupy multiple blockers. Incumbent Ryan Pickett gets the nod, but durability is a concern. Plus, Green Bay has next to nothing in reserve.
3. Offensive tackle: Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher have been the reliable bookends on the left and right sides, respectively, since their rookie season in 2000. The end of the line for them is near, and possibly this year for Tauscher, a free agent who needs the offseason to recover from knee surgery. Clifton also has been slowed by knee problems. The Packers like the young prospects on the roster, but adding another wouldn't hurt.
OK I can live with their assesment. So who do they pick in their print addition?
Everette Brown? He is available. Nope.
So is Tyson Jackson, Aaron Maybin and Peria Jerry. None of them.
They went with GB's 3rd "need" an OT and selected Andre Smith even though he has been more than a little troubled. In their rankings he is the 15 best player over all. The 11th best player according to their chart is another OT, Michael Oher but GB can't have him even though he is still one the board.
Under the OT section Smith is called the "biggest risk". In his profile they more or less say that he is good at run blocking but never talk about pass blocking which makes me wonder how good of a pass blocker he really is. I would think that a West Coast Offense would want someone who is a decent pass blocker. Under his weakness they talk about all the trouble Smith has had at the end of last season. His Poor-Questionable performance at the Combine. He faces questions about he weight, work ethic and maturity.
I just can't see Ted wanting someone like that on the team. Certainly not when the player is a little bit of a reach, filling a lesser "need" and there is another player at that same position who ranks higher.
In the 2nd round GB should select a player for the DL, right? wrong. Now GB will pick up a CB. Another Smith. This time it is Alphonso Smith.
I looked at the players that they still had on the board. DE Michael Johnson and DT Ron Brace would still be available. According to to their experts Alphonso is the best player available so I understand why they would select him but when you read his bio he is short and would have toruble with larger receivers. They feel he is best suited for a zone defense. Doesn't sound much like a player that Ted has been known to draft.
It seems to me that they had a guy must be a Bears fan putitng this all toghter. :whipitgood:
While they imply that these selections were a consensus it seems more likely to be the work of 1 person, Nate Davis. It is amazing how similar the print addition of the mock draft and Davis' online selections are. there are only a few minor changes. (Giving Denver the Bears pick being the most obvious.)
When you look at the choices that they made on their website only Davis actually thought GB would take Andre Smith. 6 out of the 8 selected a DL for GB with Orakpo still being available 3 times.
USA Today Mock Draft After looking it over I wish I wouldn't have wasted the $5 for the paper.