Nonstopdrivel
15 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
Zero2Cool (14h) : Seems some are flocking to BlueSky and leaving Tweeter. I wonder if BlueSky allows embeded lists
beast (12-Nov) : He's a review guy
Zero2Cool (12-Nov) : Jordy Nelson is still in the NFL.
Zero2Cool (11-Nov) : Ok, will do.
wpr (11-Nov) : Kevin, donate it to a local food pantry or whatever she wants to do with it. Thanks
wpr (11-Nov) : Kevin,
Zero2Cool (11-Nov) : Wayne, got your girl scout order.
dfosterf (11-Nov) : I believe Zero was being sarcastic
dfosterf (11-Nov) : Due to that rookie kicker Jake Bates that Zero said "he didn't want anyway". 58 yarder to tie the game, 52 yarder to win it. In fairness,
Mucky Tundra (11-Nov) : Lions escape with a win
Mucky Tundra (11-Nov) : and now Goff looking better
Mucky Tundra (11-Nov) : Goff with ANOTHER INT
Mucky Tundra (11-Nov) : and now Stroud throwing INTs
Mucky Tundra (11-Nov) : Goff having an ATROCIOUS game
wpr (11-Nov) : Happy birthday Corps. Ever faithful. Thanks dfosterf.
Mucky Tundra (10-Nov) : stiff armed by Baker Mayfield for about 5-7 yards and still managed to get a pass off
Mucky Tundra (10-Nov) : Nick Bosa
wpr (8-Nov) : Jets are Packers (L)East
Zero2Cool (8-Nov) : Jets released K Riley Patterson and signed K Anders Carlson to the practice squad.
wpr (8-Nov) : Thanks guys
Mucky Tundra (7-Nov) : Happy Birthday wpr!
Zero2Cool (7-Nov) : Anders Carlson ... released by 49ers
dfosterf (7-Nov) : Happy Birthday!😊😊😊
wpr (7-Nov) : Thanks Kevin.
Zero2Cool (7-Nov) : Happy Birthday, Wayne! 🎉🎂🥳
beast (7-Nov) : Edge Rushers is the same... it's not the 4-3 vs 3-4 change, it's the Hafley's version of the 4-3... as all 32 teams are actually 4-2
Zero2Cool (6-Nov) : OLB to DE and player requests trade. Yet folks say they are same.
beast (5-Nov) : In other news, the Green Bay Packers have signed Zero2Cool to update their website 😋 jk
beast (5-Nov) : Might just re-sign the kicker we got
beast (5-Nov) : Are there any kickers worth drafting next year?
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Preston Smith for Malik Willis
Mucky Tundra (5-Nov) : Getting a 7th rounder from the Stillers
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : At least we get 7th round pick now!! HELLO NEW KICKER
Mucky Tundra (5-Nov) : Steelers getting a premier lockdown corner!
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Packers are trading edge rusher Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers, per sources.
Mucky Tundra (5-Nov) : Preston Smith traded to the Steelers!!!!
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : CB Marshon Lattimore to Commanders
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Bears are sending RB Khalil Herbert to the Bengals, per sources.
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : ZaDarius Smith continues his "north" tour.
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Let the Chiefs trade a 5th for him
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Nearing 30, large contract, nope.
Martha Careful (5-Nov) : any interest in Marshon Lattimore?
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : What does NFL do if they're over cap?
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : They've been able to constantly push it out through extensions, void years etc but they're in the hole by 72 million next year I believe
hardrocker950 (4-Nov) : Seems the Saints are always in cap hell
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : Saints HC job is not an envious one; gonna be in cap hell for 3 years
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : Dennis Allen has now been fired twice mid-season with Derek Carr as his starting QB
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : Kuhn let go
beast (4-Nov) : I wonder if the Packers would have any interest in Z. Smith, probably not
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : Shefter says Browns and Lions will figure out how to get a deal done for Za'Darius Smith..
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