The Packers rookie camp is in full swing and I thought it would be a good time to examine the roster for the 2105-16 season.
I will start with the defense since General Manager Ted Thompson decided to use its first two picks on defensive backs after letting cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Devon House leave during free agency and special teams ace/cornerback Jarrett Bush remain unsigned.
Let's start with the crux of the matter the cornerback situation. Coach Joe Whitt has six-year veteran Sam Shields returning on the left side, but has to replace Williams on the right side. House was the top reserve off the bench with four-year backup Casey Hayward and two-year Demetri Goodson behind him.
Hayward is an interesting case. He began his career as a second round draft pick and made a big splash intercepting six passes as a rookie mainly from the slot corner spot. His sophomore season was a total loss beginning the season with a hamstring injury that never healed. Last year he was surpassed by House as the top reserve and this year he enters the final year of his rookie contract at a crossroads. He either takes over at right corner or will probably be allowed to try free agency next year.
Goodson was a project when he was drafted in the sixth round after playing football for only two seasons and was active for six games, including the last four, but never took a snap on the defense only playing on special teams. He had five solo tackles with two coming in the final game.
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| Tay Glover-Wright |
Thompson's top pick at the No. 30 spot was Arizona State free safety Damarious Randall, who was drafted to play cornerback. Moving from one position to another make the player a project and normally you don't want your No. 1 pick to be a project, especially at a position that needs an immediate starter.
He was a projected a No. 37 pick and was the top safety on the board. The scouts agreed with Thompson in that he was not a NFL caliber safety because he is undersized for that position and is best position would be cornerback.
The scouting report on Randall reads: Above average speed for the position with transitional quickness and natural footwork. Highly aggressive and plays at full speed at all times. Never gives up on plays and has a knack for chasing down ball carriers downfield from behind. Understands angles and sees things happening quickly. Decisive sideline angles with closing burst to make up ground. Good anticipation to jump routes, reading the quarterback and baiting throws.
Heady awareness and won't fall asleep at the wheel. Adequate ball skills and knows what to do with the ball once he gains possession (six career interceptions, averaging 29.8 yards per return with two touchdowns). Plays bigger than he looks and initiates the action, seeking out contact with a violent mentality to strike through his target. Plays ticked off and sets the tempo. Unselfish team-first type with ideal training habits.
To add injury to insult Randall has gotten off to a bad start having to sit out the Rookie Camp with an ankle injury. The fans and coaches won't be able to see their top draft pick until the fourth week of the off-season conditioning program at the earliest.
Quinten Collins was picked in the second round after being projected as a second or third round selection. He was the fourth ranked safety after playing only football for only one semester at Miami of Ohio after beginning his collegiate career as a four-year starter on the basketball team.
Collins, it seems, is a very remarkable person. He was named 2014 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year after intercepting seven passes and returning one for a touchdown. Being named POTY in his first year of playing football since high school is amazing enough, but it seems he has finally hit his growth spurt. He was listed as being 5-11 and 195 on the scouting reports, but he evidently arrived at the Packer Rookie Camp having grown 2 inches (6-1) and gained eight pounds (203). I hope the Packers had him tested for steroids and he's not another Tony Mandarich.
The scouting reports had this to say about Collins: Four-year basketball player. Seamless transition to football field as a cornerback. Has point guard's foot quickness and hip fluidity. Plays with balance and above-average play strength. Well-built and competitive. Can be a disruptive press-corner. Has NFL-caliber "click-and-close" ability. Good leaper. Attacks the ball and receiver at high point. Good instincts and overlaps to make plays beyond his territory. Ruined hitches and bubble screens his way. Physical and has a strong desire to tackle. Wraps up receivers and throws his body at running backs in open space. Crowds receiver downfield, giving little breathing room. Has recovery quickness and natural anticipatory traits in coverage.
Likely lacks the necessary experience to come in and help right away. Too reliant upon foot quickness. Needs technique work. Outside-in releases get him turned around. Shows gambler tendencies. Always sniffing around on underneath throws and opens himself up to double moves. Will get caught lunging in press coverage. Basketball is his first love. Scouts wonder whether he loves football enough to keep working at it. Must answer questions about his long speed.
An AFC defensive backs coach said: "We are grading him as a safety. He can play cornerback too but he has to be protected a little bit because I don't think he's fast enough. I think he's a 2nd round safety but a 4th round cornerback."
The final analysis was: Rare start-stop-start suddeness. His ability to change gears instantly gives him a chance to develop into a talented cover cornerback. With more work on technique and overall discipline, Rollins has the physical tools to become a very good NFL starter.
In contrast to Randall, Collins got off to a great start to his Packers career in Rookie Camp with the lone interception in the 11-on-11 drills returning it for a touchdown. If you're wondering he picked off rookie quarterback Brett Hundley.
Glover-Wright played at Utah State is bigger or not at 6-0, but is smaller at 175. He went undrafted in 2014 and signed with the Falcons appearing in two games during the pre-season before being cut and signing with the Packers.
Glover-Wright played two years at Eastern Arizona Community College before signing with Utah State where he was back-up his junior year starting one game out of 13 and starting 10 of 14 games his senior year. I couldn't find any scouting report on him.
Thompson has added two more cornerbacks as undrafted rookies in Ladrius Gunter from Miami and Bernard Blake from Colorado State.
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| Ladarius Gunter |
Weaknesses (Nawrocki): Too upright in his pedal and technique and footwork need refinement – does not play with balance in his feet and it negates his transitional quickness. Lacks explosion, burst and closing speed to recover. Limited playing range. Marginal top-end speed to stick with receivers down the field. Drag-down tackler – could stand to be more physical in run support.
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| Bernard Blake |
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| JD Roussel |
I think letting Williams go will turn out to be as big of a mistake as was letting punter Craig Hentrich go was for Ron Wolf. It took years to finally find a punter and while a good punter is a must not having a solid cornerback on a suspect defense will be a disaster.
Nothing Hayward has done so far seems to indicate he is ready to be a full-time outside corner, however I'm guessing Thompson must feel he is because he let Williams and his backup House walk. The best scenario would have been to re-sign Williams so as to allow Randall and Rollins time to grow into the job.
At the end of the day the consensus is that Randall could be an immediate contributor at nickel and Collins needs more experience. So, if Hayward, Goodson or Glover-Wright don't take over for Williams then the Packers are in trouble because neither one will be ready to start.
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