 |
| The Offseason Was So Busy I Really Need a Vacation |
The Murphy/Thompson Regime drafted seven players, signed two free agents, released 10 and one retired, which according to my Southern Illinois math means they lost two players in the final summation.
 |
| Blake Martinez, Trevor Davis, Jared Abbrederis, Kyle Murphy |
Drafted:
1-27 DT Kenny Clark (5.9 grade)
2-48 OT Jason Spriggs (5.8)
3-88 LB Kyler Frackrell (5.8)
4-131 LB Blake Martinez (5.3)
4-137 DE Dean Lowry (5.2)
5-163 WR Trevor Davis (4.9)
6-200 T Kyle Murphy (5.2)
 |
| Jared Cook Before Foot Surgery |
1. TE Jared Cook (Rams) - age 29
2. OLB Lerentee McCray (Broncos) - age 25
Subtractions:
1. QB Scott Tolzien (UFA>Colts>2 yr. $3.5m)
2. CB Casey Hayward (UFA>Chargers>3 yr. $15.3m)
3. OLB Andy Mulumba (RFA>Chiefs>1 yr. $620,000)
4. NT B.J. Raji (RETIRED)
5. LS Brett Goode (Did Not re-sign)
6. WR James Jones (Did Not re-sign)
7. FB John Kuhn (Did Not re-sign)
8. OLB Mike Neal (Did Not re-sign)
9. TE Andrew Quarless (Did Not re-sign)
10. S Sean Richardson (Did Not re-sign)
11. ILB Nate Palmer (WAIVED>Titans>1 yr. $675,000)
Thompson got one at 5-9 and two at 5.8, but the rest are 5.3 or worse and one 4.9. However, the TITs will tell you that all the draftnicks who do that for a living are wrong and Thompson is right. There are none so blind as those who will not see.
The two free agents Thompson signed were mediocre at best. Tight end Jared Cook was unwanted by the Rams and not just a salary cap move. He has a history of drops and lack of focus, so I guess he is the Jermichael Finley replacement this year.
The signing of Lerentee McCray is a total mystery on two levels. He is an outside linebacker and while the Packers have lost two outside linebackers (Mulumba and Neal), but they already have gained two outside linebackers to replacement them.
Can you guess who they are boys and girls? Hint: They are both No. 1 draft picks. Still no clue? One is a singer and an actor. The other is new husband and father. I knew you'd get it. Clay Matthews and Datone Jones, who has converted from defensive end to outside linebacker. In addition, Thompson re-signed (another mystery) another No. 1 draft pick outside linebacker Nick Perry, who has been injured every season he's been with the Packers.
The other level is a need at inside linebacker and that level has two levels. Level One is only one of last year's starting inside linebackers is back and that is last year's No. 4-129 draft pick Jake Ryan, who has a total of 14 games under his belt and only five as a starter. The other starter was the singer and actor who is moving back outside and last year' s game one starter next to Matthews - Nate Palmer - was waived during the off-season.
Level Two is as mysterious if not more. The Broncos lost two linebackers. One who wanted to sign with the Packers and would have given them a good deal and the other was the one Thompson signed.
Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan (An energetic player with great instincts, Trevathan has a knack for getting to the ball and showcasing his skills as an explosive tackler) was waiting for a call from Thompson, but it never came. He signed with the Bears. Thanks right. The G.. D..n Bears. Instead Thompson signs an outside linebacker who will probably be cut and drafted an outside linebacker (Frackrell). Let's see how the TITs explain that one.
With Ryan, Sam Barrington (2013 No. 7-232) from the injured reserve list, Joe Thomas (2014 undrafted free agent) one year removed from the waiver wire and practice squad and the failed 2014 No. 4-121 Carl Bradford from the practice squad. Thompson added only this year's No. 4-131 Blake Martinez.
For one of the most important positions on a defense that gives up big plays up the middle on a consistent basis Thompson has an injured No. 7, three No. 4's and an undrafted free agent and yet he goes and signs another outside linebacker. I guess the TITs don't care about inside linebacker since Thompson doesn't. However I am worried.
The hated Chicago Bears are coming off a good first season under Coach John Fox. Jay Cutler is more the quarterback than he has ever been since he arrived from Denver, but he will have to deal with a new offensive coordinator after Adam Gase left to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The progress Cutler made last year might be reversed with the new man. That is the big question mark for the Bears this season.
The second big question mark is at running back. Matt Forte was let go and he is now a Jet. His replacement is last year's No. 4 draft pick Jeremy Langford. Forte had his worse season (898 yards rushing) after three straight 1,000 yard seasons. Langford gained 537 yards rushing, but only 3.6 per carry.
The last time the Bears had to choose between two running backs was the year after losing in the 2006 Super Bowl. They decided to keep two-year running back Cedric Benson and let two-time 1,000 yard rusher 7th-year running back Thomas Jones go to the - now get this - the Jets. You can't make this stuff up. Jones had three straight 1,000 yard seasons for the Jets while Benson lasted just one more season with the Bears (674 yards) before going to the Bengals where he eventually has three straight 1,000 yard seasons. But that was Lovie Smith making the decisions and this is John Fox. We'll see how it all works out this time.
While Murphy and Thompson have twiddled their thumbs the Bears brought in two new starting inside linebackers (Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman from the Colts), a new starting left defensive end (Akiem Hicks from the Patriots), a new right tackle (Bobby Massie from the Cardinals) and a new left guard (No. 2-25 Cody Whitehair) to go with a questionable new running back and a very questionable old quarterback.
 |
| Matt Forte Went the Favre Route to the Big Apple |
Drafted:
1-9 OLB Leonard Floyd (6.5 grade)
2-25 G Cody Whitehair (6.1)
3-72 DT Jonathan Bullard (6.0)
4-113 ILB Nick Kwiatkoski (5.1)
4-124 S Deon Bush (5.2)
4-127 CB Deondre' Hall (5.4)
5-150 RB Jordan Howard (6.1)
6-185 FS DeAndre Houston-Caron (5.5)
7-230 WR Daniel Braverman (5.4)
Free Agent Signings:
1. ILB Danny Trevathan (Broncos) - age 26
2. RT Bobby Massie (Cardinals) - 26
3. ILB Jerrell Freeman (Colts) - 30
4. DE Akiem Hicks (Patriots) - 26
5. QB Brian Hoyer (Texans) - 30
6. G Ted Larson (Cardinals) - 29
7. G Manuel Ramirez (Lions) - 33
8. FS Omar Bolton (Broncos) - 27 > (Terminated contract)
9. TE Tony Moeaki (Falcons) - 29
10. LS Aaron Brewer (Broncos) - 26
11. LT Nate Chandler (Panthers) - 27
 |
| Danny Trevathan Took Rejection to Chi-Town |
1. RB Matt Forte (UFA>Jets)
2. DE Jarvis Jenkins (UFA>Jets)
3. OT Jermon Bushrod (UFA>Dolphins)
4. ILB LaRoy Reynolds (UFA>Falcons)
5. LB Shea McClelllin (UFA>Patriots)
6. TE Martellus Bennett (Trade>Patriots)
7. S Ryan Mundy (Did Not re-sign)
8. CB Alan Ball (Did Not re-sign)
9. G Patrick Omameh (Did Not re-sign)
10. C Will Montgomery (Did Not re-sign)
11. G Vladimir Ducasse (Did Not re-sign)
12. S Sherrod Martin (Did Not re-sign)
The Vikings are the defending North champions and tweaked their lineup with what they feel are the final pieces to keep them on top. Their No. 1 pick wide receiver Laquon Treadwell is expected to start, their No. 2 pick Mackensie Alexander is expected to start at nickel back and free agent Alex Boone (49ers) is their new right guard.
 |
| Laquan is the New Randy Moss |
Drafted:
1-23 WR Laquon Treadwell (6.2)
2-54 CB Mackensie Alexander (5.9)
4-121 OT Willie Beavers (5.4)
5-160 OLB Kentrell Brothers (5.5)
6-180 WR Moritz Boehringer (5.4)
6-188 TE David Morgan (5.1)
7-227 OLB Stephen Weatherly (5.3)
7-244 S Jayron Kearse (5.3)
 |
| Alex Boone in the Boonies Meeting His Goonies |
1. G Alex Boone (49ers) - 29
2. OLB Emmanuel Lamur (Bengals) - 27
3. RT Andre Smith (Bengals) - 29
4. FS Michael Griffin (Titans) - 31
5. TE Brian Leonhardt (49ers) - 26
6. LB Travis Lewis (Lions) -
Subtractions:
1. WR Mike Wallace (Released>Ravens)
2. OL Austin Wentworth (Released)
3. S Robert Blanton (UFA>Bills)
4. CB Josh Robinson (UFA>Bucs)
The Lions should be an afterthought this season with the Packers mainly battling the Bears the second place and maybe the Vikings for first, but not the Lions for last place.
 |
| Calvin Has Left The Building |
 |
| MiniTron Marvin Jones |
 |
| #86 Adam Fuehne |
Drafted:
1-16 OT Taylor Decker (5.9)
2-46 DT A'Shawn Robinson (6.3)
3-95 C Graham Glasgow (5.5)
4-111 SS Miles Killebrew (5.6)
5-151 G Joe Dahl (5.5)
5-169 LB Antwione Williams (5.2)
6-191QB Jake Rudock (5.2)
6-202 DT Anthony Zettel (5.2)
6-210 LS Jimmy Landes (4.7)
7-236 RB Dwayne Washington (5.1)
Free Agent Signings:
1. WR Marvin Jones (Bengals) - 26
2. CB Johnson Bademosi (Browns) - 26
3. FS Tavon Wilson (Patriots) - 26
4. DT Stefan Charles (Bills) - 28
5. FS Rafael Bush (Saints) - 29
6. DE Wallace Gilberry (Bengals) - 31
7. WR Andre Caldwell (Broncos) - 31
8. WR Jeremy Kerley (Jets) - 27
9. RB Steven Ridley (Jets) - 27
10. G Geoff Schwartz (Giants) - 30
11. CB Darrin Walls (Jets) - 28
12. WR Andre Roberts (Redskins) - 28
Subtractions:
1. WR Calvin Johnson (Retired)
2. SS James Ihedigbo (Released)
Well that catches you guys up on the comings and gongs around the North Division. Now let the games begin. The Packers open the preseason Sunday August 7th against the Colts at the Hall of Fame Game. For those of you who live in Chicago, Minneapolis and Detroit that is 13 days away.
No comments:
Post a Comment