Brad Jones and Jarius Wynn might be late-round draft picks, but they have one distinct edge over most of their Green Bay Packers teammates: They were selected specifically to play in the new 3-4 defense.[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20090501&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=90501150&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=180&Border=0[/img_r]

Unlike first-rounders B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews, who also were drafted to fill roles in the front seven of the 3-4 scheme., Jones and Wynn arent expected to start right away and arent even shoo-ins to make the roster. Nevertheless, the Packers scouts saw something that suggested they could be part of the roster turnover that inevitably will accompany the dramatic change in scheme over the next two or three years.

The 3-4 scheme is as much in my view, as part of the vision, about player acquisition and about defense, coach Mike McCarthy said Friday.

Wynn, a defensive end from Georgia, and Jones, an outside linebacker from Colorado, have the general skill set 3-4 teams look for at their respective positions, but not the eye-catching attributes of the higher-round picks. They made their first appearance in Packers uniforms Friday at the teams opening practice of rookie-orientation camp

Wynn at 6-foot-2 5/8 and 275 pounds is a little small for a 3-4 defensive end, but the Packers think he has the frame to hold more weight comfortably.

Jones, 6-3 and 238, also is a just a touch on the light side for his position but said he adds weight easily if necessary, though the Packers have not said anything about that yet. More importantly, he had something of a breakout season last year playing the role of a 3-4 outside linebacker for Colorado last season, even though the scheme officially was a 4-3. He said he rushed the passer both from a standing position and three-point stance, and also had extensive responsibilities in pass coverage, depending on the defensive call.

It seems like its an ideal circumstance really, Jones said of being drafted by the Packers. I cant tell you how much Im excited to be in this circumstance where theyre switching over a 3-4 and they chose me, a guy whos familiar with the 3-4 and did that in college, to come play.

Though many 3-4 teams use high draft picks to fill the key playmaker roles at outside linebacker in the 3-4, they also take their shots in later rounds for backups and developmental prospects. Like all positions the failure rate is higher in the later rounds than early, but 3-4 teams also have uncovered some good players by taking those shots. [img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20090501&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=90501150&Ref=V1&Profile=1058&MaxW=180&Border=0[/img_r]

The best known is Pittsburghs James Harrison, who signed with the Steelers as an undrafted rookie out of Kent State in 2002, was released three times, but kept working and improving until last year he was named the NFLs defensive player of the year for the Super Bowl champions.

Another developmental outside linebacker who became a playmaker was Adalius Thomas, a sixth-round selection by Baltimore in 2000. He became a starter in 2002, and his production increased to the point that in 2007 he hit the free-agent market and signed a deal with New England that paid him $22 million the first two years.

Others who are starters or top backups as 3-4 outside linebackers are Clevelands David Bowens (fifth-rounder, starter) and Alex Hall (backup); Baltimores Jarrett Johnson (fourth-rounder, projected starter) and Antwan Barnes (fourth-rounder, backup); and Miamis Cameron Wake (undrafted CFL signee, projected starter) and Charlie Anderson (sixth-rounder, backup).

Jones was a three-year starter at Colorado who put up pedestrian numbers his first two years, but then in his expanded hybrid role as a senior had 78 tackles, including 14 for a loss, and seven sacks. The school also credited him with 14 quarterback hurries. He wasnt invited to the NFL scouting combine but helped himself this spring when he ran in the 40-yard dash in about 4.60 seconds at his campus workout.

His best chance to make a mark this season will be on special teams, which he played all four seasons at Colorado even though he was starter most of that time. McCarthy repeatedly has preached that switching to the 3-4 will improve the Packers special-teams play because more linebackers will be on the roster, and Jones is the kind of player hes talking about.

So Jones will get every chance to make this team as a seventh-round pick. But as far as becoming a real player?

Its all going to come down to hard work, he said. How hard do I want to work? How hard do I want to work in the weight room? Studying and learning the defense? And how hard do I want every play to make something happen?

The Packers drafted Wynn to play the lowest-profile and to some degree grunt position in the 3-4, defensive end. In the new schemes defensive ends primarily are two-gappers, that is, they play head-up over the tackles and try to occupy them so the linebackers can make tackles in the running game.

Wynn played both defensive end and tackle last year (three sacks, six hurries) and had the frame and power to convince the Packers he could play end in the 3-4. Teams using the 3-4 generally want their defensive ends to weigh anywhere from 290 pounds to 320 pounds, and the Packers might want Wynn to get that big in the future. But for now theyve told him to get in the 280 range, which is only about five pounds more than his current weight.

Wynn was a junior-college transfer whose time at a two-year school appeared to be of immense help. Rather than attend a conventional junior college, he went to Georgia Military College in Milledgville, Ga. The cadets had to abide by a rigid and full daily schedule that ran from formation at 5:45 a.m. to taps at 11 p.m.

His two years there still show. When meeting with reporters in the Packers locker room Friday he stood straight, looked each questioner directly in the eyes, and included sir or maam in his answers.

(The school) taught me a lot of discipline, respect, honor, he said. Just hard work