Zero2Cool
14 years ago
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Green Bay Given a choice among the players Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson drafted in 2009, you probably would have put your money on defensive lineman B.J. Raji having the biggest impact right away.

Big, strong and quick, Raji, the ninth pick overall, was primed to beef up the Packers' front three.

But Raji missed two weeks of training camp because of a contract dispute and then in the final exhibition game suffered an ankle injury that affected him most of the season. Meanwhile, linebackers Clay Matthews and Brad Jones sped into starting jobs, Jones' the result of a season-ending injury to Aaron Kampman.

Matthews was the gem, overcoming an injury in training camp to lead the team in sacks with 10 and finish third in defensive rookie of the year voting.

Fast forward a year and the playoff-hopeful Packers aren't begging for rookie help anywhere. They would love to have a player develop like Matthews did or mature the way Jones did, but opportunity is what allowed both of them to advance.

This year, there may not be much opportunity.

If there were a line on the 2010 class, offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga would be the favorite, given he's the first-round pick.

But is he really the favorite? He starts his career behind veterans Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, who for the past decade have held down the two tackle positions. Bulaga probably will be Clifton's backup, but he wouldn't be the first rookie lineman to spend the year on the bench if things went badly in camp.

"There's a lot I need to work on," Bulaga admitted at the team's rookie orientation camp last week. "Obviously, this new coaching style, coaching ideas; it's a new scheme. There are things you need to adapt to, change to. You're going to face ups and downs."

Bulaga comes from the University of Iowa well-coached, even-tempered and steeped in Midwestern work ethic. That gives him a chance, along with this bit of recent history: 11 of the 14 tackles taken in the first round over the last three years started the majority of their team's games in their first season.

But he has to get a chance first.

Almost every newcomer will have his work cut out to win a starting job when competition begins May 17, the start of organized team activities.

If you had to pick one position at which there might be an opening it would be strong safety. Veteran Atari Bigby won't give up that position, but considering he has missed 12 games over the past two seasons due to injury and played hurt in a handful more, third-round pick Morgan Burnett is closer to the launch pad than the others.

Burnett had 14 interceptions in three seasons at Georgia Tech but like all rookies comes to the Packers with questions about his ability to play at the NFL level. Burnett would be the first rookie to be the designated starter at safety since Nick Collins in 2005.

Another year of college would have better prepared Burnett for the pros, but he elected to come out early. Thompson thought enough of him that he traded up from his spot in the third round to grab him.

"I have to come in and show what I can do, show that I was a great pick," the 6-1 , 208-pound Burnett said. "I have to work hard, train hard and not get laid back, prove I'm a good safety."

Another place where rookies are known to make early contributions is the offensive backfield. When it comes to being a running back, you either can hit the hole or you can't. The biggest adjustment is pass protection.

Sixth-round pick James Starks missed his senior year due to shoulder surgery, but as a two-time 1,000-yard rusher at Buffalo, he's not new to the game. The league is full of young, complimentary backs who rev up in their rookie seasons, but most were coming off strong senior seasons.

Starks isn't.

"I'm on a mission," he said. "I'm going to prove everybody wrong. Those that doubted me, here I come."

The toughest spot for a rookie to make any waves this year will be the defensive line. Raji may not even come back as a starter, depending on the outcome of a felony drug case against end Johnny Jolly. If Raji can't start, how are second-round pick Mike Neal and seventh-round pick C.J. Wilson going to get time?

Based on personnel and the way injuries depleted the position, Thompson probably will keep an additional lineman on the roster. Neal and Wilson are immensely strong run-stuffers who fit the 3-4 mold and could make the rotation.

But it's difficult to play on the defensive line as a rookie. Raji and Jarius Wynn weren't big factors last year, Jolly didn't play much in '06 and Mike Montgomery played sparingly in '05. First-round pick Vonnie Holliday in 1998 was the last draft pick to be a full-time starter on the defensive line.

"I'll find out more about this defense and what I need to work on," Neal said. "There are probably a gazillion things you have to correct before they'll let you on the field."

As for tight end Andrew Quarless and offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse, patience would be recommended for both. Then again, odds tend to change quickly once the season starts.

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Greg C.
14 years ago
The safety, Burnett, is the only rookie who has a clear opportunity to win a starting job and therefore make a big impact. After that, it's probably the TE, Quarless, as Donald Lee is not worth the money he is scheduled to make this season. That means Quarless could become the #2 guy.

I am also very interested to see how the new RB looks. And Bulaga could get the call at any time, with both starting tackles being old and banged up. Hopefully the D-linemen will provide quality depth at the position, which we did not have last year.
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Zero2Cool (1h) : Packers did not activate the fifth-year options for linebacker Quay Walker, with the goal of signing him to a contract extension.
Zero2Cool (2h) : Matthew Golden spoke with Randall Cobb before draft. Looked like chance encounter.
packerfanoutwest (6h) : from a head left turn?
packerfanoutwest (6h) : someone drunk?
Zero2Cool (8h) : Unlikely.
dfosterf (30-Apr) : How long until Jeff Sperbeck's family sues John Elway ?
Zero2Cool (30-Apr) : Packers are exercising the fifth-year option on DT Devonte Wyatt, locking in a guaranteed $12.9M for the 2026 season.
beast (30-Apr) : Sounds like P Luke Elzinga has a rookie try out opportunity from the Titans
dfosterf (30-Apr) : Luke Elzinga Punter Oklahoma stil unsigned. Green Bay has been mentioned as good fit
beast (30-Apr) : The Packers re-signed three exclusive rights free agents WR Melton, P Whelan and RB Wilson.
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : February 5, 2002 (age 23) ok no. packers.com is wrong
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : Micah Robinson is only 19??
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : 6 first rounders on Packers defense now
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : LB Isaiah Simmons. Signed. Called it!!! Oh yeah!
Martha Careful (29-Apr) : ty bboystyle...fat fingers
bboystyle (29-Apr) : Tom*
Martha Careful (28-Apr) : RIP Packer Safety Tim Brown
beast (27-Apr) : Yeah, but also some of the wording suggestions Jax only pranked called the QB, not the others... and if he had an open spreadsheet & 3 calls
beast (27-Apr) : Thank goodness he's not leaving the Turtle in the Red Tide
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Cowboys 1st round pick Tyler Booker will indeed be bringing his pet turtle to Dallas with him
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : that contained all prospects info and contact
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : beast, according the Falcons statement Jax came across it on an ipad. If I had to guess, probably an open spread sheet or something
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Simmons put up an emoji with cheese.
beast (27-Apr) : Not sure anyone is interested in Isaiah Simmons... Collin Oliver might of taken his potential slot
beast (27-Apr) : I'm going with Jax Ulbrich is not telling the whole truth... he accidentally came across it? Why would a defensive coordinator have a QB #?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : He's not that great, but final piece of the script.\
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : If we add Isaiah Simmons, book your Super Bowl tickets
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Colts 1st round TE Tyler Warren also got prank called, was that Jax Ulbrich as well?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Jax Ulbrich, Jeff Ulbrich’s son, released an apology for his role in the Shedeur Sanders prank call.
Martha Careful (27-Apr) : apparently he did not participate in practice or play on the east west shrine game nor the NFL combine. The kid was a mediocre spoiled brat
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Yeah that one that was a super wounded duck that Sanders supporters are highlighting to prove a point
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Shough is the guy who missed guys at combine isn't he?
beast (27-Apr) : It's not official until I'm dead! I have a chance still! (Not really)
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matt LaFleur says Jaire Alexander is participating in #Packers offseason program, which has been conducted virtually during this first week
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : ✅ ...
buckeyepackfan (26-Apr) : Check
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matthew Golden cahanged 81 to 22??
TheKanataThrilla (26-Apr) : Sam Howell to Vikings...guess no Aaron
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : 1 round 7 min, with one extra minute if there is a trade. 2nd round 4 minutes, 3rd -3, 2 thereafter IMO
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Agree
dfosterf (26-Apr) : Great idea imo
dfosterf (26-Apr) : 1st round to 7 minutes with one extension
dfosterf (26-Apr) : NFL comissioner wants to shorten the 2st
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : @jalenreagors They’re discussing if Sheduer can go back to college on NFL Network LMFAOOOOO
beast (26-Apr) : Great point Martha
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