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PACKERS FOOTBALL FRIDAY: Offseason Needs: ILB
AJ Hawk has always been a point of contention for Packers fans. Hawk came in as the team’s first top 5 pick in a very long time and was heralded as the “savior of the defense”. While Hawk has been very durable and one could even say dependable he has not been top 5 pick spectacular. I think what a lot of Packers fans hoped they were getting was their answer to the Bears’ Brian Urlacher. In that respect Hawk hasn’t come close. Splash plays have been few and far between. Hawk has had trouble rushing the passer consistently and causing turnovers has been almost non-existent.
I’ve said on From the Benches and written here a number of times that a player like Hawk can be on a Super Bowl winning defense. He was in 2010. An assignment sure, stable force can be very useful if he’s playing next to a playmaker or a star. Desmond Bishop before his hamstring tear was that player. Brad Jones is not that player. Jones, a converted OLB is a guy that seems like such a great idea. His height (6’3″) makes him a presence in the passing game and his time filling in for Desmond Bishop in 2012 was “adequate” unfortunately Jones is no more than “adequate” either. You can’t have a punishing 3-4 defense if both inside linebackers are average players.
PackersTalk Radio Network MEGASHOW with Andrew Brandt, ESPN Business Analyst
It’s a long offseason, but to thaw the March ice, the Packers Talk Radio Network bring you their second Megashow, with each of our shows offering you a little bit of fresh material in bite-sized portions. Listen and enjoy!
First of all, the Cheesehead Radio crew welcome back former Packers VP, and current ESPN Business analyst and SI MMQB columnist Andrew Brandt into the booth. We ask him some pointed questions about the Packers offseason Free Agent ans Salary Cap machinations, and he delivers as only Andrew can.
Next, the No Huddle Radio gang discuss the combine results and give some insight into some of the prospects that Ted Thompson and the Packers may be eyeing up (and the ones that may have dropped down their charts).
Following that, the From the Benches crew have a conversation about our favorite tight end, Jermichael Finley, and what his prospects are in terms of a comeback.
Finally, Out of the Pocket returns with a a trip into a psychedelic fantasy world in which Ted Thompson signs free agents. WWTTD? Not in this bit!
Listen using the player below or download the podcast from the Packers Talk Radio Network on Itunes.
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Tune in for a great lineup of Packers’s podcasts from the Packers Talk Radio Network, serving up enough weekly podcasts to satisfy the most fervent of Packer fans. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe over at iTunes.
BJ Raji Appears Close to Signing 1 year Deal With Packers
According to an initial report from Bob McGinn, later confirmed and added to by Steven Haywood, BJ Raji appears to be close to signing a one year deal to remain with the Green Bay Packers. Terms were initially reported to be right at $4 million, but Haywood’s addition to the story suggests that the deal could be incentivized and worth up to $6.5 million.
Raji had a down year in 2013, whcih was obviously a contract year. It would appear that part of this return to the Packers is going to include his move back to nose tackle from defensive end. Raji graded out as one of the worst 3-4 DEs in football and has always seemed uncomfortable playing that position. His dominant season in 2010 came as the team’s NT.
It’s being reported that Raji was offered two options, a one year deal and a two year deal. Raji’s choice of the one year deal would make it appear that he understands the opportunity that was lost with his play this season as it pertains to signing a big contract. The deal appears to be a win-win situation for both parties. Raji gets a chance to prove himself as as nose tackle (or a productive player period) and the Packers are only locked into one season at a reasonable amount of money. The deal also pushes the negotiation period an additional season and allows the Packers to negotiate a possible extension for Raji after the cap expands next offseason and after it becomes clearer what the team wants to do with high dollar defenders Morgan Burnett and Tramon Williams.
Will this be the Year the Packers Draft a Badger?
“Badgers? Badgers? We don’t need no stinking Badgers!”
Besides being one of my favorite lines from the 1989, Weird Al classic, UHF, it could also describe Ted Thompson’s attitude on draft day. Thompson has never drafted a Badger and the Packers haven’t drafted a Badger since offensive lineman Bill Ferrario in 2001.
I don’t think Thompson or the Packers intentionally avoid drafting Badgers, I just think the value of a Badger player has never lined up with the Packers’ draft board. But with the amount of Badger prospects that would seemingly fit the Packers scheme and needs, this year could be different.
Although Ted Thompson was not in attendance at the Badgers pro day, Packers’ Director of Pro Personnel, Eliot Wolf was there to represent the Packers.
Here’s a rundown of the top Badger prospects and where they could fit in with the Packers.
Chris Borland – Linebacker, 5’11” 245
The top Badger prospect, Borland doesn’t have the prototypical size and speed you look for in a NFL linebacker and he did not put up great numbers at the combine, but his instincts and toughness will likely make him a second day pick.
The Packers could certainly use help at middle linebacker, and unless they address the position in the first round with either Alabama’s CJ Mosley or Ohio State’s Ryan Shazier, I would think that the Packers would consider Borland if he is still available in the 3rd round.
From the Benches: Free Agent Defection?
On the newest edition of From The Benches, the guys react to the recent news that Sam Shields will be allowed to test the free agent market. Following a good discussion, and some predictions about where Shields will end up the guys move on to their final edition of Free agent primers before continuing their draft series. The guys pick out some of the wide receivers from this year’s deep class that they like, and talk about where the Packers could target some of the players from that position.
The boys go Behind The Bench, in honor of NFL Network’s dynasty week, the guys pick who would make their version of “Packers Mount Rushmore”. To end the show Ryan takes this week’s version of the show’s signature series “You’re gonna want to cut that.”
Listen using the player below or download the podcast from the Packers Talk Radio Network on Itunes.
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From The Benches is the latest podcast from the Packers Talk Radio Network, featuring hosts Jacob Westendorf, Ross Uglem, and Ryan Hillesland.
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The Yearly Revisiting of the NFL Network’s Top 10 Green Bay Packers
In what has become an annual tradition, it is time to revisit the NFL Network’s list of the Top 10 Green Bay Packers of all time.
This year, this program is being featured during “Dynasty Week” which has an entire week of Packers programming scheduled to satisfy the need for football in the off season. With this in mind, now seems to be the perfect time to see if the list is accurate, or needs some revisions.
To refresh everyone’s memory, here is the list as they originally came up with:
10: Jim Taylor
9: Jerry Kramer
8: James Lofton
7: Herb Adderley
6: Paul Hornung
5: Ray Nitschke
4: Reggie White
3: Bart Starr
2: Brett Favre
1: Don Hutson
During last year’s revisit of the list, there were a few players who were worth discussing their inclusion on this list, and should be discussed again.
Although he was injured for half of the 2014 season, Aaron Rodgers’ career stats speak for themselves. Has he warranted a spot in this exclusive list yet?
What about Donald Driver, who retired as the team’s all time leader in receptions and receiving yards?
Dave Robinson entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past year. Does this equal a Top 10 all time ranking for the Packers?
After careful consideration, my revisited list last year featured the removal of James Lofton, and the inclusion of Aaron Rodgers:
A Little Perspective on the Green Bay Packers
If you guys don’t mind, I’m going to climb up here and look down upon you from my high horse. From this high horse, I’m going to plead with you, beg you, emplore you to stop complaining about Ted Thompson until after the draft. Does he make mistakes? Of course he does. Not addressing the safety or ILB position before last season was a clear error. I’m certainly not always right either. I’m right far less often than Thompson is. I had high hopes for ILB prospect Terrell Manning and S prospect Jerron McMillian. He’s certainly not perfect.
With that said, the facts are the facts. What the facts say is that the Green Bay Packers are among the most successful teams in the league during Ted Thompson’s career, despite consistently dealing with more injuries than other franchises. The Packers are the only team in the NFC to have qualified for the playoffs in each of the last 5 seasons. The mighty New England Patriots can match that record in the AFC, not exceed it.
The Patriots play in a very weak division with QB play that has ranged from Thaddeus Lewis to Mark Sanchez, and from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Geno Smith. Only the decidedly average Ryan Tannehill gives anyone hope in that division, and that isn’t saying much. The Packers on the other hand, over the last 5 years have had to deal with the league’s premier running back, Adrian Peterson, it’s premier wide receiver, Calvin Johnson and up until last season Brian Urlacher and the Bears defense. The NFC North is a superior division to the AFC East and the Packers have ruled it.
