No. 32 Pick in 2011 Reader Mock: Packers on the Clock

[Walter]

Voting for the No. 31 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Who will be the pick?

Results and some comments will be posted here.


http://walterfootball.com/draft2011reader.php


1. Panthers - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
2. Broncos - Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
3. Bills - Cam Newton, QB, Bengals
4. Bengals - A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
5. Cardinals - Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
6. Browns - Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
7. 49ers - Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
8. Titans - Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
9. Cowboys - Tyron Smith, OT, USC
10. Redskins - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
11. Texans - Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina
12. Vikings - Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
13. Lions - Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
14. Rams - Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
15. Dolphins - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
16. Jaguars - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
17. Patriots - Cameron Jordan, DE/DT, California
18. Chargers - J.J. Watt, DE/DT, Wisconsin
19. Giants - Mike Pouncey, G, Florida
20. Buccaneers - Justin Houston, DE, Georgia
21. Chiefs - Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor
22. Colts - Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
23. Eagles - Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
24. Saints - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
25. Seahawks - Jake Locker, QB, Washington
26. Ravens - Cameron Heyward, DE/DT, Ohio State
27. Falcons - Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
28. Patriots - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
29. Bears - Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
30. Jets - Muhammad Wilkerson, DE/DT, Temple


Akeem Ayers
Jonathan Baldwin
Randall Cobb
Ben Ijalana
Brooks Reed
Kyle Rudolph
Jabaal Sheard
Torrey Smith
Danny Watkins
Titus Young

[vikingsteve26]

Voted Ben Ijalana. Tough picks here... GB still needs offensive line help. Too bad Watkins is 27. I considered Rudolph. Finley keeps getting hurt.

[BobLoblaw]

The top 5-techs went fast or I would have gone in that direction. They don't really have a lot of other needs, so they might as well go BPA, who is probably Ayers at the moment.

[Finnegans Wake]

Bookended Clay Matthews with Matthews Lite (Reed).

[Tom]

As a Packer fan, I've been thinking a lot about this pick. I've been hoping Ijalana would be available here, and he's my top choice. But if these are the choices, Thompson is going to think long and hard about Ayers, and less so Reed. But he will not draft Watkins, Sheard of Rudolph.

Ijalana has the potential to be a tackle of the future. With Ijalana, Wells, Sitton, and Bulaga, the Packers would have their line set at 4 of 5 positions for at least the next few years. It doesn't matter whether Ijalana or Bulaga is on which side, the Packers spread out their receivers most of the time, leaving both LT and RT on the outside without help. McCarthy has said they basically look for two LT types, and the longer Bulaga stays on the right the less they want to move him. If Clifton has an injury, which I think is likely, Ijalana gives them a capable backup to stick in. Clifton had to sit out a series or two in the playoffs because of his knees, they can't be relied on much longer. Even if Ijalana doesn't make it as a tackle, the Packers have been looking for a solid LG prospect for years, trying to put Spitz and Bulaga there instead of Colledge. This year, they'll try Lang and McDonald. Ijalana could get a shot too, maybe learning the ropes before moving outside.

Having a reliable line is a bigger need than replacing the committee structure at OLB. It's not pretty, but Zombo is good against the run, Walden can blitz, and Jones has shown some talent when healthy. I'll admit it's a need, but after the atrocious Barbre experiment, the Packers should play it safe at tackle. I don't think they expect Lang to be a tackle prospect anymore, so there's no effective backup.

But if they do go OLB, I bet it's Ayers. He could have gone higher, and Thompson loves to grab falling prospects. Not only can he rush the passer, he can move back in coverage a bit. He has a versatility Capers can take advantage of. Reed has the blond mullet (which would look cool, 3 of 4 linebackers would look like marauding barbarians), but on tape is one dimensional. I know he's been a workout warrior shooting up the board, but I think he's a reach here. Sheard has character issues, and the Packers don't want any part of that. Especially after Jolly couldn't quit the purple drank.

Watkins is 27. Yes, the Packers are built to win now, but 27 is 82 in Thompson years. Youth is highly valued to him, and he'd much rather get a raw 20 year old than a proven 27 year old. It's why he never signs veterans. The Packers are not taking Watkins. And like I said, they've got two LG prospects they want to try out. They've been trying to find a spot for Lang for a couple years, and are really high on McDonald. I don't think they consider LG a high draft need.

Rudolph is redundant. Yes, Finley has been injured. But Rodgers loves the guy, and hypes him constantly. He wants Finley, not another TE to throw to. The Packers already kept four TE's on the roster, and another TE/LB in Havner. Spending a first rounder on yet another is ridiculous. Quarless deserves at least one more year behind Finley to learn.

It also won't be Torrey Smith. After all the butterfingers action the Packers have gone through at the end of last season, the last player they need is Torrey McBabyhands. McCarthy said weeks ago that he never made a place in his offense for a small, quick receiver, and that affected the return game. That makes me think they'll look for a Cobb or Jerrel Jernigan type if the go receiver and surprise people.

So it comes down to Ijalana or Ayers. Ijalana moves the OL from one injury away from disaster to being solid, deep, and young. All qualities Thompson can't get enough of. OLB is deep, and they might hope one of the committee will develop, either Zombo, Walden, or Jones. The Packers have the luxury of not needing another starter right away, but Ijalana would likely see play time sometime in the second half of the season. Better him than anyone else.

[Phatal]

The Green Bay Packers forfeit their pick because they don't have any major needs from the games I saw (playoffs). RB is a need somewhat, but they get Grant back. I don't know what to do with this pick.

[BroncosCon]

I voted Watkins because I believe he's BPA and he has the makeup that Ted likes.

[Matt24]

Being a die hard Packer fan, having Ayers and Reed both be available at 32 would be pretty sweet.

The Packers have shown interest in both prospects by bringing in Reed for a personal workout and Ted Thompson attending Ayers pro day. Both seem like TT guys. Ayers has that college production, versatility, athleticism (to some extent) and great character. Reed has the burst, speed, high mototr, good character, and the Clay-like comparisons only bolster his case as the Packers 1st round selection. I feel like the Packers would be happy with either one if they were their choice, but as to which one they are higher on, I reeally couldn't say. My best bet would be that TT would choose Ayers over Reed if they were both available, just a gut feeling. So my vote went to Ayers. I don't think that both of them will make to 32, and which ever one is left is who TT will choose.

[cheezhead3644]

With these players left available the value clearly lies with the Rush Linebackers. Although picking an OL in this draft is inevitable given the circumstances, the two on the board don't have the value that the Rush LBs do, and we all know how TT drafts based upon value. I think the value argument can also carry over to the other positions left on the board as well.

Given the above are true, only two remain: Brooks Reed and Akeem Ayers.

I would first like to say that the Packer D would be retarded good, if either OLB develops to be half the players Mathews is. Imagine how another player opposite Mathews would boost his performance even further. Everyone also knows that a good pass rush makes the rest of the Defense better. A better pass rush also solves the secondary issues, in many cases.

Now Between Reed and Ayers. I choose Reed. Not because he looks like Mathews, like everyone is saying, but because he has some of the same skills that Mathews has. He had the fastest 10 yard split of every defensive end at the combine giving him that extra quick first step that allows him to get around OT's on the arc. He is ten pounds heavier than Ayers, faster (4.66 - 4.80), and stronger (30 - 18 on the bench). Reed has everything needed to become and effective pass rusher in the NFL.

Brooks Reed: Arizona

[pheltzbahr]

Ted adds another OL builing block. Ijalana is versatile enough where you can plug him in where you need him. Gotta keep Rodgers upright and healthy. Scary how few true needs this team has.

[Classic Silver and Black]

After the Johnny Jolly fiasco, a tech 5 DE is probably Green Bay's main need. Unfortunately there's no such a player available here that can be worth a late first round pick.
Their offence is gonna be OK with all the injured players coming back healthy. So I think at No 32 the Packers will call a pass rusher to complement Clay Matthews.
Of the 3 possible candidates mentioned in this poll/draft, Jabaal Sheard is a pure power rusher who is a much better fit as a DE in a 4 men front, while Akeem Ayers is an all around linebacker, very versatile but with a higher value as a 4-3 SAM or WILL linebacker.
This leaves Brooks Reed as the only name that perfectly matches a need and the pick value.