Packers Select OT Derek Sherrod with 1st Round Pick
The Green Bay Packers stayed right at #32 and landed a first round talent in OT Derek Sherrod of Mississippi St. The 6'5, 321 pound lineman should bring quality depth to the OT position that was needed, as Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are aging.
Sherrod has good size, is quick (5.28 40-yard dash), has great footwork, is a
great pass protector, and shows the ability to be an effective driving run blocker that can get to the second level of linebackers fairly well. Scouts believe he needs to improve his lower-body strength and play less tall at times, in addition to needing more of a mean streak in the running game.
great pass protector, and shows the ability to be an effective driving run blocker that can get to the second level of linebackers fairly well. Scouts believe he needs to improve his lower-body strength and play less tall at times, in addition to needing more of a mean streak in the running game.
However, with first rounder Bryan Bulaga last year, the Pack seemingly is set for the future at the tackle position. Sherrod's value was right where Green Bay selected him and is a safe pick, giving the Packers a great start to the 2011 NFL Draft. Green Bay's next pick is at #64 of the second round.
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Cobb & Green Selected in 2nd and 3rd Rounds
With their first pick, the Pack selected WR Randall Cobb of Kentucky. He's a 5'10, 195-pound player who has done it all - catch, throw, run, and return at Kentucky and is comfortable playing out of the slot. Green Bay wanted to go out and get a guy who could return kicks and it looks like they've done that. I'm not exactly sure how Cobb fits into the Packers offensive system, but I'm sure Ted Thompson has a plan on how to use his versatility.
With their last pick, Green Bay took RB Alex Green of Hawaii. Though it's hard to read how he will do in the pros because of the spread offense in which they ran, but he appears to have the speed (4.53) to go with his 6'0, 225-pound frame. He also has WR-type hands out of the backfield and supposedly has experience returning kicks. Tall, upright runner comparable to what the Packers have in Ryan Grant and James Starks, will this spell the end for Grant, who is a free agent next season, or Brandon Jackson, who is a free agent this year.
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House and Williams Go To Packers in Rounds 4 & 5
The Green Bay Packers selected CB Davon House of New Mexico St. in the fourth round. House (6'0, 197) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds and had a vertical jump of 33 1/2 inches, while starting 43 of 49 games for the Aggies in his career. He had 11 interceptions in college and has experience in press and zone coverage to help Green Bay. He says he has modeled his game after Charles Woodson and was impressed with Tramon Williams and watched him throughout this past season.
With their fifth round selection, the Packers could have ended up getting the steal of the draft in TE DJ Williams of Arkansas. Williams (6-2, 245) became a main target of QB Ryan Mallett and caught 152 passes for 1,855 yards (12.2 average) and 10 TDs in his Arkansas career. He posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.61 seconds and projects as a H-back at the NFL level with a lack of great height. However, Williams has the ability to block and is a dangerous receiver, leading me to believe that the Packers will find a way to involve him in their offense.
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6th Round Picks
With their first 6th round pick, the Packers selected OG Caleb Schlauderaff of Utah, a physical and nasty lineman who ran a similar zone blocking scheme in college and projects to help the Packers in run blocking formations. He views himself as a starter and was a 3rd Team All-American as a senior for the Utes. Schlauderaff is a developmental prospect that could end up becoming a versatile interior lineman for the Pack, even if just a backup.
Their second 6th round pick was DJ Smith, a 5-10, 236-pound linebacker from Appalachian St. Smith will most likely be tried as a middle backer in the Packers 3-4 scheme. He had 525 tackles, which ranks 2nd in school history to former Cowboys Pro Bowler Dexter Coakley. Smith ran a 4.74 at the Combine, but says he plays faster than that time. His size is a concern, but Packers GM Ted Thompson believes that Smith's shorter, but not smaller - that he plays bigger than he is. Smith is also a developmental player and may be a long shot to make the team, but if Nick Barnett is released, could make the team as a 4th MLB and fill-in OLB who may also play special teams.
Green Bay's final sixth round pick was OLB Ricky Elmore of Arizona. Elmore (6-4, 256) played DE at Arizona, but translates well to OLB in the 3-4. Elmore is a productive, relentless, blue-collar defensive player who had 25 1/2 sacks in his college career and has worked with Clay Matthews Sr. on developing his linebacking technique. Played with Brooks Reed, a second round pick of the Houston Texans and actually had more production, which led Thompson to pick Elmore despite his 4.84 speed, which did not seem to be of much concern.
"Motor, effort, heart, passion," outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene said. "He has all the things I preach."
Of all the sixth round picks this season, I really believe Elmore will become a solid pick for the Packers and has the ability to develop into a starter alongside Clay Matthews if he works hard and can become a linebacker. Great potential and has great effort, which will give him the opportunity to make an impact.
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Final Picks of the 2011 Packer Draft
With the first of their two 7th round selections, the Packers took North Carolina FB/TE Ryan Taylor, who was a mainstay on the Tar Heel special teams units (4 Special Teams MVP awards for NC). Taylor had 36 catches for 330 yards and 2 TDs when he played his first action at TE. Taylor may not make the final roster, but is a great candidate to make the practice squad because of his ability to play the special teams positions and be a fill-in at both FB and TE at some point.
The last Packer pick was Arizona St. DE Lawrence Guy. However, Guy was projected as a possible 3rd round pick and is a perfect fit to play the 3-4 defensive end position. It was Guy's interviews that turned teams off, but the potential is there for him to become a contributor for the Packers defense from day one, since Cullen Jenkins almost surely will be departing during free agency and Johnny Jolly is a long shot to be back on the squad next year. Guy could be another Thompson steal.
