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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.

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I've gone crazy!

Unless you were asleep at the switch, or were abducted by aliens, it was hard for PACKERS fans to not notice that the team’s 2012 DRAFT effort had a very different flavor to it this year. WHITEY flipped positions around 3 times and has a new nickname: TRADER TED. It just so happened that the team needed Defense and almost every time the team Picked the Best Available Athlete on their Board it was a defender. They seemed to get more than their share of players who had a higher Draft value than the spot at which they took them.  But let’s slow down the train a bit and look at items individually for a couple of minutes.

It may seem hard to believe, but this was THOMPSON’s 8th DRAFT as the PACKERS head man. Where does the time go? In the previous 7 Drafts WHITEY traded “up” 3 times. In this DRAFT alone he traded up 3 times under the new personna TRADER TED. Having 12 Picks in his quiver emboldened him, I believe, to move up to secure players they had highly rated, but who he felt would not still be there when their next turn came around. And because the entire organization felt such a strong need to bolster the defensive troops he was trading up to get valued defenders as his top priority. So, even though it may look like the Best Available theory went out the window, I think this effort was just a variation on a theme so to speak. And to all of you PACKERS fans who have been screaming since the Play-Off loss to the GIANTS about needing to fix he Defense… you should be very happy right now.  Read more... (1329 words + 1 image, estimated 5:19 mins reading time)

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2012 NFL Draft

Here’s my quick list of players the Packers will be and should be targeting on day three of the 2012 NFL Draft:

Offensive Center:
Ben Jones
Philip Blake
*Quinton Saulsberry (C/G)

Offensive Tackle:
Jeff Adams
*Matt Mccants
Nate Potter
Tom Compton

Running Back:
Chris Polk
*Robert Turbin
Terrance Ganaway
*Michael Smith

Quarterback:
*B.J. Coleman
Kirk Cousins
Ryan Lindley
*Austin Davis
Kellen Moore

Safety:
*Christian Thompson
Duke Ihenacho
Markelle Martin
*Winston Guy
Micah Pellerin

Cornerback:
Josh Norman
Coryell Judie
*Robert Blanton (CB/S)
*Chris Greenwood

Inside Linebackers:
*Terrell Manning
*James-Michael Johnson
Najee Goode

Outside Linebackers:
Jacquies Smith
*Braylon Broughton
Ryan Davis
Miles Burris
Desman Moses

Defensive Line:
Marcus Foston
Hebron Fangupo
*Nicholas Jean-Baptiste
Malik Jackson
Josh Chapman
*Damon Harrison

*  My favorites

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.

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As the Packers draft analyst for DraftTek.com, I’ve done at least 20 mock drafts over the last 6 months. They’re not entirely mine, however, as the actual picks are made by computer. I get to input needs information, and can try to “grab” certain players or “lockout” players from contention.

Analysts for the other 31 teams all do the same thing. What results is the closest thing to a real draft simulation (they don’t call it a mock) I’ve seen anywhere. It ‘s quite unique and if you are not familiar with it, you really should check them out.

What’s even cooler is that on draft day, the “simulation” is updated within minutes of when each pick is selected. So, as the Packers are up at #28, it will re-run the simulation, eliminating the 27 other players already picked from contention for the Packers pick. Isn’t that rather amazing?

Well anyway, on to my personal mock draft, totaly devoid of any sense of reality and pure guesswork at it’s best:

2012 Packers Mock Draft

Round 1 (#28):  Shea McClellin, OLB Boise State – I’ve finally come around to the inevitable. If McClellin is there, the Packers will take him. I say I’ve come around because I’m not still not convinced McClellin is a first round player, but I so want OLB help that I’ll gladly take McClellin here. Problem is New England wants him also, and guess where they pick – just before the Packers. Alternates: Kevin Zeitler, Lavonte David  Read more... (746 words + 2 images, estimated 2:59 mins reading time)

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S Janzen Jackson, McNeese State

Green Bay Packers 2012 NFL draft prospect profile: Janzen Jackson, McNeese State

Player information:

• Janzen Jackson, S/CB, McNeese State
• 5-foot-11, 188 lbs.
• Impressive athlete who transferred out of Tennessee after run-ins with the law and a clash with new coaching staff.

NFL Combine:

• 4.64 40-yard dash
• 4.15 20-yard shuttle
• 6.90 3-cone drill
• 125″ broad jump
• 36.5″ vertical jump
• 9 bench press reps

News & Notes:

A five-star recruit and one of the more heavily recruited players coming out of high school…Started in the second game of his freshman year at Tennessee and went on to start nine more in 2009…As a sophomore, led Tennessee with five interceptions…Was only Volunteer to earn All-SEC honors in 2010 as a second-teamer…Numerous character concerns, including an arrest for armed robbery and charges of substance abuse…Left UT in the spring of 2011, was welcomed back by coach Derek Dooley in July and then dismissed at the end of August…Transferred to McNeese State, in his hometown, where he started at both cornerback and safety. Intercepted three passes…Might be in the hybrid cornerback/safety mold at the next level…Red flags will knock Jackson down many boards…Far from “Packers People”—would be interesting to see if GM Ted Thompson even has him on his board—but talent and ability to play a hybrid role (i.e. Charles Woodson) makes him an intriguing prospect for Green Bay.

What they’re saying about him:  Read more... (568 words + 1 image, estimated 2:16 mins reading time)

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South Carolina CB Stephon Gilmore

Green Bay Packers draft prospect profile: CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

Player information:

• Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
• 6-foot-0, 190 lbs
• Social sciences economics major and Detroit, Michigan native.

NFL Combine:

• 4.40 40yd dash
• 3.94 20yd shuttle
• 11.15 60yd shuttle
• 6.61 3-cone drill
• 123″ broad jump
• 36.0″ vertical jump
• 15 bench press reps

News & Notes:

South Carolina’s “Mr. Football” in 2008 as a game-breaking quarterback, Gilmore was recruited by Steve Spurrier to be a defensive back for the Gamecocks. That move paid off almost immediately. Gilmore started every game his freshman year, notching one interception and three sacks while earning Freshman All-American honors. By the time he was done with his junior season, Gilmore had registered 40 straight starts and was a first-team All-SEC and third-team All-American selection. Touted as a team leader with size (6’1″) and physicality, Gilmore is widely considered one of the draft’s top-5 cornerbacks. Compares to Charles Woodson.

What they’re saying about him:

Wes Bunting (National Football Post):  ”Is a “plus” sized corner with good quickness and fluidity. Needs to clean up his footwork in off/zone concepts, but has skill set to play near the line, check receivers and turn and run. Should be able to fight for a starting role during his rookie year in more of a zone scheme.”  Read more... (483 words + 1 image, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)

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USC DE/OLB Nick Perry

Green Bay Packers draft prospect profile: DE Nick Perry, USC

Player information:

• Nick Perry, DE USC
• 6-foot-3, 271 lbs
• Social sciences economics major and Detroit, Michigan native.

NFL Combine:

• 4.64 40yd dash
• 4.66 20 yard shuttle
• 7.25 3-cone drill
• 124″ broad jump
• 38.5″ vertical jump
• 35 bench press reps

News & Notes:

A five-star recruit out of Detroit, Perry spurned his homestate Wolverines and Spartans to join Pete Carroll at USC. He made an immediate impact with the Trojans, notching eight sacks in a reserve role his freshman season. As a junior, Perry led the Pac-12 in sacks with 9.5. That performance gave Perry the momentum he needed to declare for the 2012 NFL draft, where he is likely to be a first-round pick. He has indicated that he’d rather play with his hand in the dirt as a 4-3 defensive end, but his pure athleticism gives him a shot at being an impact 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL.

What they’re saying about him:

Wes Bunting (National Football Post): “Exhibits the first step to be a threat off the edge, however struggles to drop his pad level when flattening out. Plus, he doesn’t have much of a counter to his game at this point. Nevertheless, has some obvious talent and is a guy you would expect to start as a rush backer in a 34 scheme and be a productive threat off the edge.”  Read more... (526 words + 1 image, estimated 2:06 mins reading time)

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