DRAFT REVIEW
http://www.mytvisonfire.com/packersnation/
Review of the Green Bay Packers 2007 Draft.
1st roundJustin Harrell, DT, Tennessee
Ted Thompson Press Conference
D-Line gets stronger, Deeper with Harrell
When Justin Harrell was selected by the Packers I was wondering what in the world was Thompson thinking. After researching him more I am pretty happy with the pick. I think Justin Harrell will be a great DT as long as he stays away from injuries. I have heard from several people that he would have been a top 10 pick if he didn’t get hurt in his senior season. Justin Harrell is a dominant run stuffer because of his size and strength. He completed the bench press 27 times with his injured arm not even totally healed. He will be a monster in the midde. I think he could also become a good pass rusher. Along with being a good football player he is a good person. He is a great teammate and will sacrifice himself for the team. With the Justin Harrell pick I am happy with the player but not happy with the position since DT wasn’t one of our biggest needs. Overall a good but surprising pick. Grade B.
2nd Round
Brandon Jackson, RB, Nebraska
Before researching him I knew very little about Brandon Jackson. After researching him I love the pick. Brandon Jackson played in a zone blocking scheme in college so there will be less transition. He has great field vision which is necessary for the zone blocking scheme. He is very shifty, meaning he is good at jukes and cutbacks which is also important for a RB in the zone blocking scheme. Watching highlight films of Brandon Jackson I think he will be a great RB. He looks a lot like Barry Sanders in his shiftyness and deceptive speed. I think Brandon Jackson will surprise everyone and have a huge impact this year. Grade A-
3rd Round
James Jones, WR, San Jose State
I think James Jones is by far Thompson’s worst pick so far. He will be a huge project and I think he will take a couple of years to develop. I would rather have had Randy Moss. James Jones has been jumping up draft boards lately a lot like Greg Jennings last year. After watching a highlight video I feel better about this pick. I think he will be a good position receiver and will be dominant at the jump ball and good in the end zone. I still think we picked him early. Grade: C
Aaron Rouse, S, Virginia Tech
Aaron Rouse is a average prospect. He is a hard hitter and good teammate. He needs to work on his coverage skills though. He will be a monster on special teams and many believe he could take the starting job from Marquand Manuel part way through the season. I know little about ROuse so I can’t really judge him at this point. Grade: C
Day One Grade: B-
Day Two
4th Round
Allen Barbre, OL, Missouri Southern
Overall I think Allen Barbre will be a good Packer. He is a developmental prospect who I believe could become a starter in a couple years. He is strong, athletic, and fast for an offensive weapon. He was so fast he played on kick and punt coverages and actually was pretty good. His speed and athleticism will be perfect for the zone scheme. I think he will replace Chad Clifton when his knees finally give out. A developmental prospect who I believe can start in a couple of years. Grade: B+
5th Round
David Clowney, WR, Virginia Tech
Overall I think Clowney could be a steal of the draft. He has the speed, route running skills, and hands to be a good deep ball threat. He will need time to develop though. This year he will probably be a returner and the occasional target of the deep ball. In a couple of years I believe he will be a good #2 or great #3 receiver. Grade B+
6th Round
Korey Hall, LB (we are switching him to FB), Boise State
Korey Hall was a strange pick. The Packers are planning on switching him to FB. He is also a special teams monster. I think Korey Hall will have to be pretty successful with his new position in order to make the Packers roster. He will deffinently help us in special teams though. This is a questionable draft pick. It will be a good pick if he adjusts well to his position but otherwise it will be a wasted pick. With this pick we will have to wait and see. Grade C-
Desmond Bishop, LB, California
Desmond Bishop was a questionable pick. The Packers are already deep at LB so I don’t know why the Packers needed to draft another one. I think Bishop will have to fight for a spot on this team. From what I have heard he seems a lot like Hodge. He is a run stuffer who isn’t very fast. The only way Bishop plays this year is if one of our starters get hurt. He will most likely play special teams which he excelled at in college. Bishop will have to fight hard in training camp to get a spot on the team but I think he could develop into a good backup in time. Grade C
Mason Crosby, K, Colorado
At this point in the draft the Packers made the right decision. Dave Rayner didn’t do bad last year but we could deffinently improve the position. Mason Crosby was ranked as the best kicker in the draft by most people. Crosby has a really strong leg. He will deffinently get good hangtime on kickoffs. He also has pretty good accuracy. The two concerns with Crosby is that he might not kick as well outside Colorado (many think the altitude helped his kicks), and some think he fails under pressure. Crosby will be in direct competition with Rayner this year. Whoever wins the competition will get the job. I think Crosby could be something special at the kicking position. Round wise I think Crosby will be the steal of our draft. Grade A.
7th Round
Deshawn Wynn, RB, Florida
Deshawn Wynn is a risky pick. He could either be a good power back or he could be a quick cut from the team. In the 7th round you need to take risks like this. Deshawn Wynn made it to the 7th round because he has in the past not listened to his coaches and he is supposedly really lazy. If McCarthy can keep Wynn motivated and listening to him I think he will be a very good pick. He is a power back and the Packers drastically needs one. He will be good in short yardage and goal line situations. He will be a nice compliment to Jackson and Morency. I think Wynn will either be an early cut or he will make a big impact in short yardage and goal line situations. It all depends on if he is willing to be coached and willing to work hard and quit being lazy. If he can we got a steal in the 7th. If he doesn’t we just lost a 7th rounder who rarely turn out. A risky pick but worth it in the 7th round. Grade B
Clark Harris, TE, Rutgers
As one of the last picks in the draft I think Clark Harris was a good pick. Some experts had him going in the 3rd to 4th round range. Clark Harris is a pass catching TE and that is it. His biggest weakness is that he can’t block at all. What the Packers need the most is a pass catching TE so he fits in. He will have to fight for a roster spot with Alcorn, Humphrey, and Lee. Overall a good pick. Grade B
Overall I think Thompson had a good but not great draft. Thompson added many rookies that will eventually help this team. I think Harrell, Jackson, Jones (in time), Rouse, Barbre, Clowney, and Crosby should make the team. I think Harrell and Jackson will have an immediate impact on this team. I think the rest of the picks are more of projects. Most Packer fans are upset that Thompson didn’t address the offense enough and didn’t give Brett enough weapons. I agree to a degree. I think Thompson should have added a WR and TE earlier in the draft. Moss would also have been a good addition. I think Thompson wanted to address the future along with the present with this draft. A lot of his picks are prospects that could turn into very good players if they are given some time to develop. I think some of these rookies will surprise some people. Thompson didn’t make any big moves in order to make a push for the Super Bowl. It would have been nice but we wouldn’t have made the Super Bowl anyway. We are too young. Thompson is building a team which I believe will make a push for the Super Bowl next year. This year I expect the Packers to be close to where they were last year. The Packers will challenge for the playoffs and might actually make them this year. Overall Grade B
