Nonstopdrivel
16 years ago

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.


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Fan Shout
wpr (30-May) : It's all good.
beast (30-May) : Yeah, and I enjoyed your comments and just attempted to add to it. Sorry if I did it incorrectly.
wpr (30-May) : Beast I never said Henderson was the salt of the earth. Nor even that he was correct. Just quoting the guy.
Zero2Cool (29-May) : What did you do??
Zero2Cool (29-May) : Whoa
beast (29-May) : OMG the website is now all white, even some white on white text
beast (29-May) : Henderson, who admits to taking cocaine during the Super Bowl against the Steelers, might dislike Bradshaw as he lost two Superbowls to him
wpr (28-May) : Hollywood Henderson said Bradshaw “is so dumb, he couldn't spell 'cat' if you spotted him the C and an A.”
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : Cooper stock=BUY BUY BUY
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : Also notes he’s playing with more confidence.
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : @AndyHermanNFL MLF says there was a time last year where Cooper was at 220 pounds. Now he’s at 240 and still flying around.
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : And don't even get me started on Frank Caliendos "impersonations"
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : I got tired of them being circle jerks with them overlaughing at each others jokes.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : It used to be must watch TV for me. now it's "meh" maybe to hear injury update
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : I haven't watched the pregame shows in years and I don't feel like I've missed a thing
Zero2Cool (28-May) : Love says knee affected him all season, groin injury didn't help matters.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : I used to enjoy him on FOX Pregame. Now it's like a frat party of former Patriots.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : LaFleur on Watson: “Christian is doing outstanding. I would say he’s ahead of schedule.”
Martha Careful (28-May) : Bradshaw is a dumb ass cracker. I am so tired of his "aw shucks" diatribe. He should shrivel up and go away.
buckeyepackfan (28-May) : He wad all butt hurt because Aaron duped the media saying he was immunized.
buckeyepackfan (28-May) : Bradshaw needs to retire. He's been ripping on Rodgers ever since the covid crap. He was all hury
Zero2Cool (28-May) : Terry Bradshaw doesn't want Rodgers in Pittsburgh lol wow
Zero2Cool (27-May) : one day contract, which he also feels is pointless, but if Packers came to him, he would
packerfanoutwest (27-May) : Aaron Rodgers talks possibility of retiring with Packers, just another rumor
dfosterf (27-May) : Go watch 2001
Zero2Cool (26-May) : 1984
dfosterf (26-May) : That movie sent a chill through many. 1968.
dfosterf (26-May) : "Open the pod bay doors, HAL"
buckeyepackfan (25-May) : Haven't we all seen thus movie? It doesn't end well!! Lol
Zero2Cool (25-May) : lol Anthropic’s new AI model turns to blackmail when engineers try to take it offline
dfosterf (25-May) : Claude Opus 4
dfosterf (25-May) : AI system resorts to blackmail when its developers threaten to take it offline
beast (22-May) : Colts Owner Jim Irsay has passed away
Zero2Cool (21-May) : Well, emailing should work now. After not working for almost a year. Oops.
Zero2Cool (21-May) : Brotherly Shove did not get enough votes.
Zero2Cool (20-May) : lol our email hasn't worked in months. 7 pages of unverified users
Zero2Cool (20-May) : MySpace Screaming Lord Byron ... Brett Favre.
Zero2Cool (19-May) : Packers have signed first-round pick Matthew Golden, leaving second-round tackle Anthony Belton as their only unsigned draft pick
beast (19-May) : Supposedly he has to take his image, and name off of it... but otherwise could keep selling wine if he wanted to.
Zero2Cool (19-May) : he giving up his win business?
beast (19-May) : Speaking of Woodson, sounds like he'll be a minority owner (0.1%) of the Browns
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Zero, regarding Woodson, that'd why I find the timing with Williams peculiar
dfosterf (15-May) : Ryan Hall y'all does a great job of tracking thesr
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Fear not!! I planned to do 33mi bike ride tomorrow morning, so ... yeah
Zero2Cool (15-May) : We got some dark clouds and nasty winds right bout now.
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Madison they had hail 4pm.
dfosterf (15-May) : Sure looks like these tornadoes are headed towards Green Bay
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Woodson of Charles fame was reluctant and then loved it. that didn't really come out until post career
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : IE "We bought into the Bears and they let us down, we have no choice to seek alternatives"
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Or that Williams and his family are preparing an exit ramp if they don't like how things are going in a few years
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