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National Football League
Draft King Mailbag
December 14, 2006
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
Reader feedback is always welcomed here at DraftKing.com. Send your thoughts to me at LouPickney@gmail.com.
From: Patrick Teoli
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Dec 13, 2006 10:18 AM
Subject: Mock draft
Hey Lou,
I've been following the Packers for a bit. The Packers would need a good draft and free agent signings to become a 500 team. I think the Packers holes are DT's, SS, FS, TE, WR and maybe get a corner/DB for depth since they might lose Al Harris in FA.
Now comparing all of their needs, I think that Tom Zbikowski is their best choice. The Packers stink against the pass and have been beaten up because of it. He can also help against the run and give Mike McCarthy some blitz packages to put in his arsenal, which he would love to do. PLUS Zbikowski gives them better milage since he returns punts relieving Charles Woodson of that duty.
The WR, TE and DT depth is decent, the Packers can wait until the 2nd and 3rd round to make other picks. With that they should be able to sign a big DT to help against the run. If in 2008 their draft is successful, they are a playoff team again WITH BRETT FAVRE.
Lou: The Packers have been trying to grow patiently, adding youth via the draft and avoiding high-priced free agents.
Along with the holes you mentioned, RB is a major concern for the Packers, with it being entirely possible that Ahman Green won't return next season. Without a running game, it will be difficult for the offense to get on track in 2007. See San Francisco for evidence of what a good RB can mean for an offense.
The team lost a high caliber WR when it traded Javon Walker to Denver, with Donald Driver taking the #1 role and quietly putting up strong numbers this year. The Packers built for the future in the most recent draft, with the hope that at least one of the three wide receivers that the team drafted in the first four rounds of the 2006 Draft (Greg Jennings, Cory Rodgers, and Will Blackmon) would become a strong performer.
Typically it takes three years for WRs to begin reaching their full potential, so 2007 might be used as a gain experience/build toward 2008 season, particularly if Aaron Rodgers finally takes the helm at QB. I would be very surprised if Brett Favre returned for another season, let alone come back for 2008, but only Favre knows on that. It would be an awkward situation if the Packers had to force him out, and I hope it doesn't come to that.
As for the Packers defense, Green Bay has actually passed for more yards than its opponents through 13 games. Where I see the problem is against the running game, where Green Bay has been outrushed and giving up 4.1 yards per carry. Two important factors to stopping the run are at positions you mentioned: DT and S. I think a guy like LSU SS LaRon Landry, an excellent cover man who hits hard, would be excellent. Zbikowski would be a nice choice as well, as he would be a natural punt/kick returner. There may be value at safety in the second round, though, which might lead Green Bay to go for a guy like Ohio State DT Quinn Pitcock if he's on the board when the Packers draft in round one.
From: Jason German
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Dec 13, 2006 9:48 PM
Subject: Mock draft
Where do you see the steelers goin in the first round? They don't have a glareing need but do have small holes to fill. The secondary could use some work but is solid. Ryan Clark has been solid and even though Ike Taylor is in the dog house they payed him too much money to give up on him. They need a power back but there isn't one worth taking in the first round and Davenport may be able to assume that role.
Every year there is a player who is tabbed as early 1st round to day 1 pick who falls out of the draft (Ernest Shazor). Who do you think has the potential to slip that far?
Lou: The Steelers are a hard team to read as far as the draft goes, since they lack any glaring holes. When in doubt, going for the best player available can be a good way to go, though angling toward a CB wouldn't hurt. The Steelers did use a second rounder in 2005 on Bryant McFadden, so that might not be where they look. But if a player like Reggie Nelson ended up in that secondary, it could help make that defense even stronger and deeper, particularly with Nelson having the flexibility to play corner or safety.
Guys fall every year for a variety of reasons. Besides Florida DT Marcus Thomas (with the drug albatross around his neck), I could see someone like Ohio State WR Ted Ginn Jr. dropping because of concerns about his size. He has world-class speed, but with how physical the NFL is and the way other smaller receivers (think Rashaun Woods) have fared, teams might end up being less inclined to go with Ginn than the public thinks. Then again, Ginn has another year of eligibility at Ohio State, so there's no guarantee he'll come out. Another is Michigan State QB Drew Stanton. His stock has been dropping, and this is a very competitive year for QBs. If guys like LSU QB JaMarcus Russell come out, it could send guys like Stanton further down the draft board.
From: jpchumley@wfeca.net
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Dec 14, 2006 5:38 AM
Subject: 2007 Draft
With the trouble the Bengals have with bad character players it would seem unlikely they would draft MarcusThomas who was suspended from the Florida program at least twice.
Lou: Oh, I thought it was a rule that Cincinnati had to pick up "problem character" guys. Though the reality of what Thomas did vs. the physical abuse and violent crimes that other players have committed through the years really doesn't match up at all, but that's another debate for another time.
Point taken, though, about the "character issue" problem that has drawn Bengals ridicule and scorn from a wide variety of circles. With eight Bengals having been arrested this calendar year (which does *NOT* mean guilt, but innocent until proven guilty doesn't exist in the mind of some who criticize pro athletes) it does seem like they might take someone who didn't have discipline issues in college.
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