Packers: Two for one to start draft 
By JASON WILDE

GREEN BAY Ted Thompson is more interested in doing what he thinks will make the Green Bay Packers a consistent winner than he is in winning any popularity contests. That much should be clear to everyone even his legion of detractors after the way last summers Brett Favre saga played out.

That said, the Packers fifth-year general managers performance on the first day of the 2009 NFL Draft Saturday when he took Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji at No. 9 and traded up to take USC linebacker Clay Matthews at No. 26 should go over pretty well in Packer Nation.

In fact, after two years of being booed by the fans gathered inside the Lambeau Field atrium for the teams draft party for picking disappointing defensive tackle Justin Harrell 16th overall in 2007 and trading out of the first round last year to take wide receiver Jordy Nelson in the second Thompson actually heard something surprising after picking Raji around 4 oclock.


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Theyre getting soft, Thompson joked. It really doesnt matter because Ive got thick enough skin to realize that (the booing) is fine. What matters is all of the work our staff puts in, all of the miles that our scouts travel, and then you come down to, can you get a good player? We think we were able to get a good player and he should help our team.

They then got another one a couple of hours later in Matthews, who worked his way up from walk-on to scholarship player to starter to first-round draft pick in five years at USC and could start immediately at right outside linebacker in the teams new 3-4 scheme under veteran coordinator Dom Capers.

The two selections sent a clear message much like the January firing of virtually the entire defensive staff and shift to the 3-4 that Thompson believes the teams 6-10 finish in 2008 was largely the result of its defensive deficiencies.

To get Matthews, the Packers gave the New England Patriots their second-round pick (No. 41) and both of their third-round picks their own (No. 73) and the pick they received from the New York Jets for Favre (No. 83). They also got a fifth-round pick, No. 162, back from the Patriots, but the deal marked just the second time in 412 drafts as Packers GM that Thompson traded up in the draft, compared to 13 trades backward.

By trading up to get Matthews the son of ex-NFL linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. and nephew of Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, Thompsons former Houston Oilers teammate the Packers exercised two first-round selections for the first time since 1993, when Ron Wolf took Clemson linebacker Wayne Simmons and Alabama safety George Teague.

And both picks should help immediately at vital positions in the new scheme nose tackle and right outside linebacker.

Those are two very large pieces, said outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene, who played in Capers scheme in Pittsburgh and Carolina. The 3-4 defense, you really have to have that center cog, that nose who is a beast in the middle that can command a double-team. And a 3-4 defense relies on the outside backers to bring the heat on the QB, to make things happen. The outside backers are the fuel that makes the engine go.

Asked if Matthews could start immediately opposite left outside linebacker Aaron Kampman, Greene replied, It is realistic. Anythings possible. Hes a rookie and hes going to have a lot to absorb, but Im excited to have him. When I was talking to him, it was clear hes a man on a mission. I think everybody knows his genealogy and his bloodlines. But listening to him, he wants to stand on his own and be considered a great player in his own right.

Raji could start immediately, too, although Ryan Pickett is atop the depth chart at nose tackle for the time being. Adding Raji could allow Pickett to play end on some downs, given the Packers only have Cullen Jenkins, Johnny Jolly and Harrell at end.

I think what (picking Raji) does is give us great flexibility. Because I think Ryan Pickett can play any one of the three positions, just like I think Raji can play any one of the three positions, Capers said. To me, its where everything starts on defense your ability to stop the run. If you cant stop the run, its going to be a long day.

Having watched all three top-rated offensive tackles Baylors Jason Smith, Alabamas Andre Smith and Virginias Eugene Monroe come off the board among the first eight picks, Thompson couldve selected tumbling Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree, considered by some the best player in the draft. They also fielded calls with trade offers but did not seriously consider any of them.

That changed with Matthews, whom Thompson felt was worth the high price of trading up. But after making 43 solid-but-unspectacular picks in his first four drafts, Thompson said he didnt feel the need to do something flashy. He just did what he thought was necessary.

Im not concerned about the splash. There were some guys that we were eyeballing, Raji and Clay. We didnt know how to go about (getting them). We didnt know how things were going to fall, said Thompson, who has six picks (No. 109, 145, 162, 182, 187 and 218) to work with today.

I didnt anticipate doing all that we did today. Thats just the way the thing worked.