DE Mike Neal· Page 5 · PACKERSHOME

mi_keys
Senior Member

15 years ago

The Packers seemed to think that with a better D-Line they could improve both the D-Line and Linebacker positions because of how they affect each other on the field.

"djcubez" wrote:

When I stopped to think about the Mike Neal pick this is what I came up on. He seems to be a pass rushing DT so maybe he can turn into a 3-4 defensive end that generates pass rush himself or eats up so many blockers that the blitzing linebackers become more effective. I still wanted an OLB and I'm happy to see they're taking a look at I think 3 so far from the UDFA pool, but Neal might prove to be--at least from the media and fan point of view--the less obvious way of improving our pass rush. At least I hope so.

Born and bred a cheesehead

Dulak
Veteran Member

15 years ago

#42

The Packers seemed to think that with a better D-Line they could improve both the D-Line and Linebacker positions because of how they affect each other on the field.

"mi_keys" wrote:

"djcubez" wrote:

thats exactly the way he is described ... a 3-4 DE and powerful at the point of attack (if I remember correctly). Should be cool to see him work. Can mix it up with our regulars.

Pack93z
Select Member

15 years ago

#43

I watch a ton of Big Ten football.. yeah Wisconsin.. anyway.. over the past couple years got to see this kid play a couple of times.

First thing that comes to mind... is that he flashed strong play at times.. second thought.. he often disappeared for great lengths of time.

In one word.. inconsistent. I understand the pick.. I like the pick.. but he has some work to do. IMO.

"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"

MassPackersFan
Member

15 years ago

#44

I hate how everyone keeps saying we needed a CB and OLB in this draft. While I see the need at CB we have Blackmon, Harris and Lee coming off of IR with Bush, Woodson, Bell, Underwood and Williams already on the roster. 8 CB's is pretty good competition for TC, although another young CB wouldn't have hurt.

OLB is more pressing. The Packers seemed to think that with a better D-Line they could improve both the D-Line and Linebacker positions because of how they affect each other on the field.

"djcubez" wrote:

When people bitch about the Neal pick and say we needed OLB, ask them to check when the next 3-4 OLB was drafted after our 2nd.

PackerTraxx
Senior Member

15 years ago

#45

If Neal is good enough to get into the rotation at DE, which is what we drafted him as/for, it will pay huge dividends by allowing Pickett and Raji to alternate and keep each other fresh. If he is a better pass rusher than what we already have, it will be "frosting on the cake".

Why is Jerry Kramer not in the Hall of Fame?

Greg C.
Registered

15 years ago

#46

Considering that both Mike Montgomery and Darius Wynn were in the rotation last year, I'm hoping that Neal is a significant upgrade. And I do remember Wynn showing some flashes in the preseason last year, so he may be a player to look out for in 2010. Neal could push Jenkins and Jolly too, if he's good.

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Pack93z
Select Member

15 years ago

#47

Logged for possible future reference. ;)

http://profootball.scout.com/2/966788.html?refid=400

Worst Second Round Pick

Mike Neal, DT, Purdue (drafted by Green Bay, 56th overall)

The selection of Mike Neal in the second round was surprising. I understand that the Green Bay Packers preferred a defensive lineman who could play the three-technique, rather than a nose tackle like Alabamas Terrence Cody, who was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the ensuing pick. But to take Neal, a player that was considered at best a fourth round pick, in the second frame was a reach. Personally, I would have rather seen the Packers select a prototypical 3-4 defensive end like Arkansas States Alex Carrington, who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the third round, 72nd overall.

"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"

Rockmolder
Honored Member

15 years ago

#48

Torrell Troup, Montario Hardesty.... We'll see how Neal stacks up to them in 3 years. One is a NT who the Bills reached for. Big time. The other is an injury prone RB for the Browns.

The problem is, this was a potential pick. This can go either way. Real boom or bust. I like the pick, even if he doesn't work out, because we're in a position that we can take players like this on the d-line. I can imagine that you don't like the player, but I don't see why this was such horrible a pick.

Greg C.
Registered

15 years ago

#49

I did a little google research for the heck of it:

Alex Carrington draft projections:

Sideline Scouting: 3rd round
College Football News: 3rd round
NFL Football Picks: fringe 2nd rounder
The RX Forum: mid-2nd to early 3rd round
RookieDraft.com: 3rd/4th round
Consensus Draft Services: 7th round (!)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 3rd round

Mike Neal draft projections:

Sideline Scouting: 4th round
College Football News: 4th round
RookieDraft.com: 5th round
Sports Illustrated: 4th round
Consensus Draft Services: 5th round

Okay, that's enough for now. The bottom line is that there will be a whole lot of "I told you so's if Neal does not work out.

The best I can say in Ted Thompson's defense is that players who switch positions from college to pro tend to get underrated in draft projections. In this case, the writers were mostly looking at Neal's value as a DT rather than as a 3-4 DE.

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Nonstopdrivel
Preferred Member

14 years ago

#50

From another board :

Let me preface this by saying I have no credible evidence, other than reading what his coaches have said, and watching old film. With all that being said I think that Neal will all have us saying "Who the FU**K was Jolly? by the end of the season.

He isn't a flashy stats guy, he didn't rack-up a ton of tackles in college @ Purdue because teams almost always ran plays away from him. What he did do was dominate entire sides of the line. His big wrap from scouts was that he faded way too much late in games. He started as a legit. late 1st. rounder, but fell because of the "fading" tag put on him. It wasn't till a few weeks before the draft that his coach came-out and told reporters to look at video and check his snap counts....the kid played virtually every down switching back and forth between DT & DE, usually facing double teams while all along starting on special teams as well.

A crazy game was against Michigan St. He hardly got any tackles himself, but look at him collapsing his side of the line with consistent double teams and ridiculously blatant holding by the offensive lineman. There are two plays that stand-out where he is literally "dragging" O-linemen holding on to the back of his jersey for dear life. I think he'll definatley make an impact sooner than later.

"pjschultze30" wrote:

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