The Green Bay Packers have had a pretty good season so far, going 6-4. Yes, we lost against the Minnesota Vikings twice, but that team is currently in a different league. A Super Bowl favorite, much like the Saints and Colts. They dropped the ball big time against the Buccaneers (1-9) and lost another game against the Bengals, who are currently 7-3.

The start of the season showed us some positives and negatives about our beloved football team. Our biggest problem became painfully obvious very fast. Pass protection. After passing on tackles and guards on the first day, all the help the Pack got up front was from 4th round pick T.J. Lang and 5th round pick Jamon Meredith. Who was put on the practice squad and nabbed away by the Bills. Duke Preston was also signed, someone who couldnt hold on to a roster spot in Buffalo. Yes, Buffalo. He was cut before the season started.

To make it clear how big an issue this is, Green Bay is on track to get Rodgers sacked 69 times. That's getting scary close to David Carr's 76 sacks. A single season record. And 7 sacks over the Packers all time record.

Of course there are some excuses. Rodgers holds on to the ball too long. Although that's true, hasn't the O-line failed if Rodgers has to run for his life after 2 seconds, regardless of how long he holds the ball after that?

Injuries have been a big part of the problem, as well. They showed us how unprepared we are if Clifton and Tauscher will retire. Or can't walk on the field anymore. Both can happen as soon as next year.

Any bright spots? Sure. Lang, the 4th round rookie who was projected at guard at the start of the season has been (one of the) most impressive guys on the O-line this season at tackle. Right now, it looks like we might've found our RT of the future. He won't be an elite blocker, but he's a good, all-around right tackle. I don't care about the short arms, either.


Furthermore, Sitton has been playing very well at RG, Tauscher appeared to be stabilize the line as soon as the got back in the line-up and Spitz was looking like our long term option at center before he got injured.

Now, on to the future. How will we handle this? I can't imagine Thompson passing up on a first round tackle if he's there. Maybe even trade up to get Donald Brown. One of the more impressive tackles in this draft with a great amount of athleticism. Little bit of a Jason Peters type if you ask me. Both are athletic freaks for their weight and size and both are converted TEs.

But what if we won't trade up? Or Brown will be gone by pick 10, making a trade-up very unlikely? Well, there is always the option of Bryan Bulaga. A solid, but not great tackle. Kind off like buying a second hand car for new-car-money. I guess you don't have a choice when you've dug yourself into the hole that we have at the position, though.

And lastly, trading down. We could easily trade a mid-first round pick for a late first and late second or early second and early third. In that case, we could take one of the best guards on the board and go with a decent tackle with our second pick. Assuming someone will be there, of course.

But that leaves a gap at what is our next big problem. DE/OLB. We've been getting some pressure as of late against the Cowboys and 49ers. Both had O-lines decimated by injuries, though, and I don't know if sacking Alex Smith is something to be that proud of. Especially when he holds the ball too long.

Problem is, we don't have that one OLB that can get pressure on the QB. The Shawn Merriman, Demarcus Ware or James Harrison that a 3-4 needs. Sure, we have Kampman, but despite of what the coaching staff says, it's obvious that he's not an OLB. He's a 4-3 DE. I'm afraid that it'll become painfully obvious just how little he added to this defense now he's out for the year.

Assuming we either trade or release him, we'd need a new body at this position, as well. This injury is not going to get his trade value up, but he should still be worth a third rounder.

That extra third would give us some room to draft a DE (thinking Von Miller, Sergio Kindle or Arthur Jones here) on the first day and still hold on to a pick for a CB.

Yes, CB. With Harris out, I think that we'll struggle a whole lot more in the nickel and dime packages. Take Woodson out as well and you have Jarrett Bush starting. Yes, Jarrett Bush. Starting. And take in mind that that doesn't mean that Woodson will retire, but when cornerbacks hit the wall, they usually hit it hard. We might still use him at safety, but thatd leave a hole at CB. A huge hole.

Now, I know that Tramon Williams will be good enough to be at least our nr. 2 guy, but who else will we put out there? I dont think that Pat Lee will ever be starting material. Especially not in a 3-4 zone scheme. We need to find someone to play opposite of Tramon.

That extra third will come in mighty handy right there. Perrish Cox and/or Kyle Wilson should be available around that pick. They're quite raw, but both have some potential if you're willing to develop either one of them behind a good corner.
Here are some scenarios that I would like, and I think are very plausible, to happen.

The 75th pick is a third rounder for Aaron Kampman. Little premature, maybe even wishful thinking after the injury, but it's one of two outcomes I see as most likely right now. Other would be a release and getting signed somewhere in August.

Scenario 1 We stick with what we have.

[list]

20th OT - Bryan Bulaga

52nd DE/OLB - Von Miller/Sergio Kindle

70th G John Jerry/Mike Johnson

84th CB Perrish Cox (KR, as well)[/list]

Would give us some nice picks on our positions of need, while still getting some depth at the corner position. A safety would be an option, as well, although Id prefer a veteran in the off-season.

Scenario 2 We trade up.

[list]

12th OT - Donald Brown

70th DE/OLB Eric Norwood

84th G John Jerry/Mike Johnson[/list]

One of my favorites. We dont get the cornerback here, but wed get a franchise LT, a good DE/OLB and someone who might be able to slide in at LG immediately, if Colledge struggles yet again.

Scenario 3 We trade down

[list]

29th RB CJ Spiller

52nd OT - Gabe Carimi

61st DE/OLB - Sergio Kindle/Eric Norwood

70th CB Kyle Wilson

84th DE/DT Tyson Aluala/Danthony Smith G John Jerry/Mike Johnson[/list]

This one is pretty interesting. Carimi is not an immediate starter, but he is one hell of a prospect. We'd have to lean on Clifton for yet another year, though. Spiller gets compared to Reggie Bush. He'd be the perfect back to complement Grant.

The 2010 It's quite deep at a lot of positions. Especially the depth at tackle should work in our favour, although the guard pool is a little shallow. Whatever we'll do, this should be one great draft.

I would actually prefer dipping into FA for a LT, going early in the draft for a RT, and letting Lang challange Colledge at the guard spot. I think our best interior 0line would be Lang, Spitz, and Sitton in the middle and go get what we need on the outside.

My thinking is that while Lang could be an adequate RT why put him there if he's really good at the guard spot? We have the money to pay for a LT in the offseason and there will be a solid RT there early regardless of where we pick. The Vikes got Loadholdt in the 2nd and he's done just fine for them.

I don't think your LT can be a rookie unless we just luck out again and there is a freak sitting there that shouldn't be when we pick.

But I think they need to look strongly at the middle of the line like I suggested because the potential is there for a bigger bodied interior along the lines of what the Saints have and I don't see Bree's complaining.

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I thought about that, as well, but who are you going to get who isn't as run down as Clifton, but is better? They don't hit the FA market that often.

Two guys who would fit that description are Jared Gaither and Marcus McNeill, but there's no way that the Ravens and Chargers will actually let those two guys go...

The best T that may be available next year that I can think of are Matt Light and Jammal Brown.

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1st round: OL
2nd round: OL
3rd round: OL
4th round: OL
5th - 7th rounds: OL or something else.

:)

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Smartest thing I've heard in a while. :thumbright:

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I say we need to throw a Safety in there some where in the top four... but other than that a decent mock draft :thumbleft: :magnifyglass:

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Lol, nice.

A safety, but not an OLB, though?

I think this coming draft will be more of the same.. taking more of a BPA approach than anything.. now lets hope that those players fit into a CB/S/OL area.. in the first.

With the high number of RFA/FA we might have dependent on the CBA details.. our needs might reshape themselves well before the draft. IE.. with Pickett and Jolly up.. that could really have an impact on our DLine needs.. the growth of a player like Wynn will be even more vital.

But one thing is for sure.. we will be needing to retool the offensive line.. contract notwithstanding..

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So, from these comments, I get that most of you find safety and corner more of a need than OLB?

I really think that this defense will never be a Pittsburgh-like one with the OLBs we have. Matthews is great, but he's a jack off all trades type. Kampman and Thompson are just not getting there. We need someone who will get in the opponents backfield time after time. Someone who, I think, you can pick up in the second round, because he's a tweener for the 4-3.