2019 Green Bay Packers draft preview and predictions

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Im just bumping this so the discussion on Gary doesnt eat pages after pages for NFL news.

 

I get it that 10games is awfully early for declaring a bust. It's a bust though imo in relation to his draft pick, what was available, and as Adam pointed out, using the choice with the FA signings making Gary a future project. Theres just so many players picked below him having big impacts (like Jenkins&Savage)

 

So 10 games is too early to call him a bust but it isn’t because he was the 12th pick? Who would you have picked instead that would have been worth that spot in your mind? Or what would Gary need to do so far for you not to call him a bust?

 

Every year there are lower draft picks or UDA’s who make big impacts and outplay higher drafted players - doesn’t make the higher draft pick a bust after less than a season worth of games.

 

Don’t take this as me saying I wanted Gary at #12... I just don’t think you can make that type of judgement

 

When I watch the Packer games, I keep an eye out for Gary and I cant think of the last time currently where he showed up in A single play. I have to remind myself he's wearing #52. Lancaster makes a play or two noticeably in about every game of late. The feelings towards Gary being a bust is seeing opponents having a rookie picked after him contributing or making plays in the game.

Fant was probably my go to on any trade lower. Risner was too. Burns was still there if you were committed to drafting an edge/LB hybrid. Haskins was near being picked. Just sliding back a few spots, you could have still had Gary or the other 3 who've been more productive. Plus the pick or picks you'd have received if for the 2019 draft to use. Devin Bush was an exciting player that I liked the most but drafted 2spots ahead of us. I really have the feeling he was the pick and in the span leading from Bush's selection to the Packers selection of Gary. That Gunst couldnt pull off a trade within that window.

 

Sternberger if he can get a few targets and catches his way down the stretch I will probably not care so much on Gary. I've noticed Jace on the field blocking in a number of snaps lately. TE is something missing for Rodgers for awhile now. I'll feel less hurt on the Fant vs Gary miss.

 

Edit add. Also one last thing on Gary. The Packers drafted him as a LB. You know freakish speed. Has he made a single play outside the pocket? Just another confusing disappointment of what his role is.

 

Believing that there was a trade there to be had to move down from #12 is a seriously flawed assumptive leap. That is some hardcore barstool GMing right there. Reading this makes me throw you into the group with the rest of the fans who complained about the pick. You didn't like it and understand it then, so you are searching out every avenue to back up that thought and prove yourself "right". You're just piling more bad takes onto your initial one now, in my opinion.

 

I'm by no means saying that Gary is going to end up being a stud. But continuing to beat the "he's a bust" drum 10 games into his career, and using flimsy logic (he's a OLB that isn't making plays outside the pocket???) isn't helping that argument. At all.

[areacodes]

Im just bumping this so the discussion on Gary doesnt eat pages after pages for NFL news.

 

I get it that 10games is awfully early for declaring a bust. It's a bust though imo in relation to his draft pick, what was available, and as Adam pointed out, using the choice with the FA signings making Gary a future project. Theres just so many players picked below him having big impacts (like Jenkins&Savage)

 

So 10 games is too early to call him a bust but it isn’t because he was the 12th pick? Who would you have picked instead that would have been worth that spot in your mind? Or what would Gary need to do so far for you not to call him a bust?

 

Every year there are lower draft picks or UDA’s who make big impacts and outplay higher drafted players - doesn’t make the higher draft pick a bust after less than a season worth of games.

 

Don’t take this as me saying I wanted Gary at #12... I just don’t think you can make that type of judgement

 

When I watch the Packer games, I keep an eye out for Gary and I cant think of the last time currently where he showed up in A single play. I have to remind myself he's wearing #52. Lancaster makes a play or two noticeably in about every game of late. The feelings towards Gary being a bust is seeing opponents having a rookie picked after him contributing or making plays in the game.

Fant was probably my go to on any trade lower. Risner was too. Burns was still there if you were committed to drafting an edge/LB hybrid. Haskins was near being picked. Just sliding back a few spots, you could have still had Gary or the other 3 who've been more productive. Plus the pick or picks you'd have received if for the 2019 draft to use. Devin Bush was an exciting player that I liked the most but drafted 2spots ahead of us. I really have the feeling he was the pick and in the span leading from Bush's selection to the Packers selection of Gary. That Gunst couldnt pull off a trade within that window.

 

Sternberger if he can get a few targets and catches his way down the stretch I will probably not care so much on Gary. I've noticed Jace on the field blocking in a number of snaps lately. TE is something missing for Rodgers for awhile now. I'll feel less hurt on the Fant vs Gary miss.

 

Edit add. Also one last thing on Gary. The Packers drafted him as a LB. You know freakish speed. Has he made a single play outside the pocket? Just another confusing disappointment of what his role is.

 

So, it is just a feeling and the eye test?

 

When you look at the amount of plays that Gary has been in for compared to a Brian Burns and their production - it is pretty similar. Burns has 3.5 more sacks, 4 more total tackles, 2 TFLs and 9 more QB hits to go with his fumble return for a TD (which is just as much, if not more, luck as skill) but has played 357 plays to Gary’s 160. Based on the numbers, Gary’s production would probably be better or at least equal if he had more playing time.

 

Are you happy with Jimmy Graham’s production this year? Because that is essentially what Fant has done. Who’s to say the offense wouldn’t be different if he was here instead of Denver and he’ll be more valuable over time but he’s essentially Jimmy Graham production-wise right now.

 

If you want to argue the pick should have been used on other players because of need, I don’t necessarily disagree but that wouldn’t be on Gary and should have no impact on him being a bust after 10 games.

[brewcrewdue80]

The eye test is the feeling. I watch for him like I said #52 and I not seen production. Where is he? What is he doing? And then to argue the results in snaps played by Burns and stretch out Gary's numbers to that snap total don't jive for me. You moved a guy from DE to LB and Im wondering if the reason hes not getting the snaps is because hes not worthy of them.

 

Joey. Outside the pocket. Chasing down a RB or reading and disrupting a screen. Hustle plays for a Freak Athlete. Just give me something. Something to notice you are even on the field. Lancaster & Fackrell do with their talents. My draft opinions aside, I consider him a bust because I hope so hard that a 1st rd 1st choice pick is special. What has it been since Matthews/Raji? For Defense?

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

The eye test is the feeling. I watch for him like I said #52 and I not seen production. Where is he? What is he doing? And then to argue the results in snaps played by Burns and stretch out Gary's numbers to that snap total don't jive for me. You moved a guy from DE to LB and Im wondering if the reason hes not getting the snaps is because hes not worthy of them.

 

Joey. Outside the pocket. Chasing down a RB or reading and disrupting a screen. Hustle plays for a Freak Athlete. Just give me something. Something to notice you are even on the field. Lancaster & Fackrell do with their talents. My draft opinions aside, I consider him a bust because I hope so hard that a 1st rd 1st choice pick is special. What has it been since Matthews/Raji? For Defense?

 

He's not getting snaps because there are three guys ahead of him playing very good football right now. If you want to say he isn't playing up to your expectations, fine. But declaring him a bust 10 games into his pro career is a major, major over-reach in my opinion. If we get to the end of the 2020 season and Gary hasn't yet shown anything, then you have a case. Now? No way.

 

It isn't like the Packers haven't gotten talent on defense, though. Kenny Clark have been very good, and Alexander, while inconsistent, has also shown the ability to be a high-end corner.

[areacodes]

The eye test is the feeling. I watch for him like I said #52 and I not seen production. Where is he? What is he doing? And then to argue the results in snaps played by Burns and stretch out Gary's numbers to that snap total don't jive for me. You moved a guy from DE to LB and Im wondering if the reason hes not getting the snaps is because hes not worthy of them.

 

Joey. Outside the pocket. Chasing down a RB or reading and disrupting a screen. Hustle plays for a Freak Athlete. Just give me something. Something to notice you are even on the field. Lancaster & Fackrell do with their talents. My draft opinions aside, I consider him a bust because I hope so hard that a 1st rd 1st choice pick is special. What has it been since Matthews/Raji? For Defense?

 

Extrapolating his stats out doesn’t jive for you because it goes against your argument. You assumed that Burns has been more productive but that is partially because he’s played over 200 more snaps than Gary. And as Joey points out, a big reason why Gary isn’t playing more is due to the health and production of the players in front of him.

[LouisEly]

When I watch the Packer games, I keep an eye out for Gary and I cant think of the last time currently where he showed up in A single play.

Edit add. Also one last thing on Gary. The Packers drafted him as a LB. You know freakish speed. Has he made a single play outside the pocket? Just another confusing disappointment of what his role is.

The reason you don't see him show up much is because he isn't playing a lot of snaps. He only played 16 of their 64 defensive snaps last week. The reason he isn't playing a lot of snaps is because he is playing behind the Smiths, who are fourth and seventh in the league in sacks. He's also playing fewer snaps than Fackrell; before the criticisms of Fackrell come out, Fackrell is their coverage OLB, and last year Fackrell led the league in sacks per 100 pass rush attempts - he drops back in coverage a lot more than you think.

 

I think Gary has been lining up on the interior on passing downs the last few games, which gives him fewer opportunities to make plays, but the main reason is because he isn't getting a lot of snaps because of how good the Smiths have been. And that's a good problem to have.

[brewcrewdue80]

When I watch the Packer games, I keep an eye out for Gary and I cant think of the last time currently where he showed up in A single play.

Edit add. Also one last thing on Gary. The Packers drafted him as a LB. You know freakish speed. Has he made a single play outside the pocket? Just another confusing disappointment of what his role is.

The reason you don't see him show up much is because he isn't playing a lot of snaps. He only played 16 of their 64 defensive snaps last week. The reason he isn't playing a lot of snaps is because he is playing behind the Smiths, who are fourth and seventh in the league in sacks. He's also playing fewer snaps than Fackrell; before the criticisms of Fackrell come out, Fackrell is their coverage OLB, and last year Fackrell led the league in sacks per 100 pass rush attempts - he drops back in coverage a lot more than you think.

 

I think Gary has been lining up on the interior on passing downs the last few games, which gives him fewer opportunities to make plays, but the main reason is because he isn't getting a lot of snaps because of how good the Smiths have been. And that's a good problem to have.

 

Thats fair enough.

[LouisEly]

UDFAs (* indicates priority or possible late round pick):

Eric Dungy, QB, Syracuse

Darmarea Crockett, RB, Missouri*

Johnathan Thomas, RB, Penn State

James O’Hagan, C, Buffalo

Wes Martin, G, Indiana*

Cody Conway, OT, Syracuse

Jeff Smith, WR, Boston College*

Andrew Beck, TE, Texas*

The Packers have signed Cody Conway to the practice squad.

[HiAndTight]

 

Believing that there was a trade there to be had to move down from #12 is a seriously flawed assumptive leap. That is some hardcore barstool GMing right there. Reading this makes me throw you into the group with the rest of the fans who complained about the pick. You didn't like it and understand it then, so you are searching out every avenue to back up that thought and prove yourself "right". You're just piling more bad takes onto your initial one now, in my opinion.

 

I'm by no means saying that Gary is going to end up being a stud. But continuing to beat the "he's a bust" drum 10 games into his career, and using flimsy logic (he's a OLB that isn't making plays outside the pocket???) isn't helping that argument. At all.

 

 

It also seems strange that we're questioning why he....as a 21 year old isn't getting as much out of Lancaster and Fackrell. And it's such a subjective argument...basically, those two guys are working harder and Gary isn't...Gary isn't making hustle plays. If you didn't like that pick, that's what you're going to see. You're not going to see the play where he came from the opposite side of the field and chased down a back on a screen play.

 

I don't know how good he'll be. I hope he ends up closer to Brandon Graham(Slow start to his career became a very good player) than Jamal Reynolds, but there's almost no way to know right now.

[LouisEly]

On 4/7/2019 at 12:16 PM, LouisEly said:

If he’s still available: Justin Hollins, OLB, Oregon – a bit of a poor-man’s Montez Sweat, Hollins has length (6’5”) and athleticism (4.50 40) as well as versatile production (14.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 7 pass breakups). What Hollins excels at perhaps the most is generating turnovers – he was 2nd in the nation with five forced fumbles and is known for going for the football and mastering the strip sack. Going into the season Jelks was the bigger name at Oregon, but Hollins far outplayed him.

The Packers have claimed Justin Hollins off of waivers.

Forgot about this one too:

UDFAs (* indicates priority or possible late round pick):

Micah Abernathy, S, Tennessee*

Not a bad year.  Struggled a bit on days 1-2 but did pretty well with the UDFAs - Conway, Bolton, Abernathy, and Ramsey.