AllGreenBayPackers.Com

Packers CB Casey Hayward

Packers cornerback Casey Hayward was the 62nd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, but he was among most impactful defensive backs in football last season.

According to Pro Football Focus, opposing quarterbacks had a collective passer rating of 31.1 when throwing at Hayward. And among cornerbacks who played at least 50 percent of their team’s defensive snaps, Hayward came in at No. 3 in the league, sandwiched between Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield.

The rookie went from being buried on the depth chart early in the season–Hayward played just three snaps in the season opener against the 49ers—to being, perhaps, the most irreplaceable part of the secondary.

When veteran Charles Woodson suffered a broken collarbone in Week 7, Hayward’s presence became increasingly important. From Week 7 to Week 14, Hayward played 88.5 percent of the Packers’ defensive snaps.

Coming into the season, Woodson was expected to play safety in the base and bump up to slot cornerback in the nickel. But when Hayward emerged as the team’s most reliable turnover creator, playing primarily in the slot, Woodson’s role was drastically reduced by the time he returned for the playoffs.

This offseason, the Packers decided to cut ties with Woodson, who was set to count nearly $10 million against the salary cap. Woodson, 36, remained a fan favorite at the time of his release, but the presence of a promising young talent in Hayward made the move easier to swallow.  Read more... (1267 words + 1 image, estimated 5:04 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

Three recent Packers draft picks talked about their selection by the Packers, their talents and how they fit.

Nate Palmer, 6th round pick, OLB Illinois State

J.C. Tretter, 4th round pick, OL, Cornell

Datone Jones, 1st round pick, DE, UCLA

Follow Jersey Al:

          Follow @JerseyAlGBP           Add to Circleson

Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.

——————

---- Get AddToAny

Packers RB DuJuan Harris – Forgotten Man?

It was only a month before the NFL draft that Mike McCarthy was singing the praises of DuJuan Harris:

“Oh he’s going to play for us next season. That’s his responsibility if he wants to be the starter…  Once he got ready, I felt great about the way DuJuan finished the season. Looking forward to having him for an offseason and look for good things for him.”

March was a good month for Harris. You couldn’t go two clicks of the mouse without finding a feature on Harris. JSOnline did a feature piece on him and what he was doing to prepare this offseason. Our own Adam Czech posed the question, “Real Deal or Flavor of the Month?”

And then the draft happened.

The Packers added not one, but two dynamic running backs in the first four rounds of the draft. Before a down has been played, Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin are already being described as the “Thunder and Lightning” tandem the Packers haven’t seen since Hornung and Taylor.

Rob Reischel of JSOnline.com wrote a fine piece the other day titled, “There’s a Storm Brewing in Packers Backfield.” It was a well-written and informative piece, but I had one problem with it; there wasn’t even a mention of DuJuan Harris. He’s suddenly the Rodney Dangerfield of the Packers’ backfield.  Read more... (540 words + 3 images, estimated 2:10 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

Packers RB Johnathan Franklin

Much has been made over the Packers’ running game in recent years, and this year’s draft class proves that upgrading the ground game is a top priority headed into 2013.

No, the Packers may not have landed the No. 1 running back in the draft — last Giovani Bernard mention — but they may have gotten Nos. 2 and 3.

Bernard was the first back off the board, going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the 37th pick. Former Michigan State power back Le’Veon Bell went to the Steelers at No. 48, and the Denver Broncos drafted Montee Ball ten picks later.

Prior to the draft, Eddie Lacy was expected by most to be the first back off the board. NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock had Lacy as the 18th-best player in the draft.

But then draft day happened, and the Packers grabbed him with the second-to-last pick in round two.

As Bob McGinn put it, the Packers almost reluctantly turn in the card for the former Alabama standout when he was still on the board at No. 61. Most draft analysts loved the pick. Everyone (Mayock, Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Matt Miller) had Lacy as the top running back in the draft, and the Packers — a team that lacked a running game — stole him with a late second-rond pick.  Read more... (845 words + 1 image, estimated 3:23 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

On the Waterfornt – Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando in “On the Waterfront:” You don’t understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let’s face it.

One thing about getting so heavily involved in research for the NFL draft is that you get emotionally attached to certain players. You call them “my guys” or “my sleepers” or “my late round steals.” As the draft unfolds, these players are always on your radar. As the Packers pick approaches,’ you’re eagerly hoping and praying they will still be available so the Packers can take “your guy” and justify your belief in how “perfect” he is for the Packers.

The reality of the situation is, these two separate worlds (NFL GM reality & Draftnik Fantasy) only occasionally intersect to deliver what you want. This year’s draft was worse than usual for this draftnik. The previous two years, the Packers drafted several of “my guys.” Derek Sherrod, Randall Cobb, Lawrence Guy, Nick Perry, Casey Hayward, BJ Coleman. In all, it was a pretty good haul. This year I got Datone Jones and Johnathan Franklin (but not where I expected him) and then no other player remotely on my radar.

But it’s not my loss, it’s theirs. They could have been Packers. They coulda had class. They coulda been contenders. They coulda been somebody, instead of bums, which is what they are, let’s face it.  Read more... (715 words + 3 images, estimated 2:52 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

Kevin Dorsey, WR, Maryland

With their seventh round pick (224th overall) in the 2013 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers select Kevin Dorsey, a WR from Maryland.

PLAYER DETAILS: 
Kevin Dorsey
WR
Maryland
6’2″/207 lbs

CAREER NOTES:

(from CBSSports.com)

A talented fifth-year player who served as the No. 1 receiver for his final two seasons … an intelligent, polished receiver with excellent size and soft hands … a preseason All-ACC selection … fourth team preseason all-conference pick by Phil Steele … has overcome foot injuries to become a productive performer … played in 47 career games with 23 starts … voted one of four team captains at the end of the spring.

PRO DAY:

40-yd.: 4.47s … bench: 17 reps … vertical: 38″ … broad: 10’10″ … shuttle: 4.28s … 3-cone: 7.08s

SCOUTING REPORT:

(from NationalFootballPost.com)

Strengths:

• Initial quickness and smooth start from LOS lets him get down field quickly.
• Plants foot well on slant routes.
• Good hands and awareness to make plays on the ball.

Weaknesses:

• Does not get much separation.
• Unwillingness to block on run plays.
• Sometimes rounded out his routes – not crisp.

COMMENTARY:

The Packers have now selected two OL, two RBs, and Dorsey makes the second WR. He and the newly acquired Charles Johnson will definitely be battling for a spot on the roster, but it’s interesting to note that they both share a similar height and weight. Johnson’s Pro Day numbers were a little better than Dorsey’s, though. He’ll definitely need to work on his route running if he wants to make it in the Packers offense.  Read more... (308 words + 1 image, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

Charles Johnson, WR, Grand Valley St.

With their seventh round pick (216th overall) in the 2013 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers select Charles Johnson, a WR from Grand Valley St.

PLAYER DETAILS: 
Charles Johnson
WR
Grand Valley St.
6’2″/215 lbs

CAREER NOTES:

(from NFLDraftScout.com)

Johnson does have a red flag, having bounced around between different schools. He initially went to Eastern Kentucky, where he was suspended. He then attended Antelope Valley Community College (Calif.) in 2008, took a season off in 2009, and was at Grand Valley State starting in 2010. On the basis of his strong pro-day workout, Johnson could be selected as high as the fifth round in the 2013 NFL Draft.

(from Grand Valley St. sports profile)

2011: D2Football.com Honorable Mention All-American…Don Hansen’s Super Region 3 third-team…First-Team All-GLIAC…GVSU Offensive Skill Player of the Year…Caught 56 passes for 1,030 yards and 15 TDs…1,030 yards ranks fifth all-time for a single-season at GVSU, while his 15 TD catches is fourth…His 93.6 yards per game receiving was third in the GLIAC and 17th nationally…Ranked 10th in the GLIAC in receptions per game (5.09)…Averaged 18.4 yards per catch…Caught a TD pass in 9-of-11 games…Broke the 100-yard receiving mark five times…Caught six passes for 161 yards and one TD at Hillsdale (9/10), including a long TD reception of 71 yards…Hauled in eight passes for 158 yards and two TDs at Northern Michigan (10/8)…Recorded six receptions for 144 yards and two TDs vs. Ferris State (10/22)…Pulled down five receptions for 103 yards and three TDs at Northwood (11/5).
 Read more... (441 words + 1 image, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny