So they go 4-3 looks?

Yep, and Yep. We need another blue collar Kampman. my belief was GB was going to pick Skronski until he was nabbed two picks earlier. We all saw what happened to JSN, ESPN blew off the hamy issues--i'm just glad Balt took Flowers one pick ahead of the Queens as they'd have gotten Flowers to go with Jefferson. Still plenty of fine players left, 42 and 45 are both key...let's see if GB is targeting a player and will trade up to get him earlier in the second. Plenty of good TE's and O/T's. Also, all the safeties!! GPG

Aaron Kampman—that’s exactly who I said—but he’s bigger and better.
Go Packers!!

I'm glad you said Aaron Kampmann and not Don Davey!
I'll hold back my opinion about the new Lock Ness Monster. I have to trust Gutey and his team.
I was hoping for NSmith out of Georgia though.
GPG!
GGG!

What an enjoyable morning it has been in Texas!! A beautiful day, even though a storm is predicted. And I've been enjoying the coffee and reading everything I can about Van Ness, and after everything.....I like this guy. I should have been able to predict this, but I was just so wrapped up in improving the offense that I couldn't see the merit in drafting a guy like this in the first.

BUT.....it confirms the organization's values. Don't take offensive skill position players in the first round, except for QB. Draft defenders in the first round. And as Gutekunst said today, they prioritize the pass rush.

I wanted them to abandon 20 years of a strategy that has worked pretty well because I thought we should make an exception because it was Love's first year, and because we needed to improve the offense. I give Gutekunst credit for standing firm and not making exceptions. This gives us protection against injury and flexibility in dealing with PSmith's future on the team.

XXXXXXXXXX

The 20 year strategy also has featured a belief that we can draft good WRs on Day Two of the draft. Hoping massively for Tillman and Rice today.

yes on Barry. that's an issue IMHO

Lphill, that is sooo funny!
🤣🤣🤣

Unfortunate, but still funny!

Once we have 11 first round picks starting on defense Barry will coach them up to a top 18 defense.

I notice that JSN is still on the board...

JSN is dynamic, but a slot WR who had hamstring issues that kept him out for all but 3 games. I think they made the right choice in building the trenches. WR & TE in the 2nd round!!!

Nick....I agree with so much of what you say , but this Barry-bashing isn't warranted, IMO.

7 first rounders. Stokes lost for the season. Gary for half the season. Wyatt played very little. Walker played a lot and made his share of rookie mistakes.
Alexander and Clark are top players at their positions. And Savage, despite inexplicably only playing 1 snap in two different games, still finished 6th in total defensive snaps in a secondary that led the league in fewest completions allowed, was 3rd in interceptions, 6th in pressure % (despite losing Gary for half the season). We're not an easy team to pass against.

You don't like the fact that we gave up 5.0 yards per attempt because like most people, you'd rather see teams throw on us for 7.0 yards per attempt. I think that ESPECIALLY when you're playing a good QB who gets 10+yards per attempt on a good day, you're way ahead to let teams grind the ball on the ground until you get to the redzone. Especially if you can put enough points on the board that the other team CAN'T just hand it off every time.

I would urge you, and some of the other calmer heads here, to reexamine your opinion of the defense.

I read a report that the Steelers want him.

NE traded back after we took Van Ness.

I felt Belichick wanted him. Said when we made the AR trade with the pick swap 15 to 13 that it was all about Lucas Van Ness.

Belichick would have snapped him up.

He’s right in the range I expected. One of less than 5 picks that I would have considered at 13 without feeling I had to trade down if I could, and the other one was Murphy. They obviously preferred Van Ness. Looks like we stole a March in the pats with that little jump to 13.

If they like Van Ness that much, the marriage with need means I have to put aside my wish for another pick, which was strong. We dodged some bullets tonight and got a good one. Now let’s get Washington and some offense tomorrow.

The reason Pats traded back was because Van Ness was gone.

N E had him in on visit and when we picked him n e traded out to Steelers who picked jets tackle kinda ironic

You mean a draft project like Gary?

exactly....AR knew this is the way Gutes operates, now Love will learn..

They draft upside. It takes vision, which most fans dont share. Most picks are ridiculed at the time then loved when they turn the corner. Seen this same story repeatedly.

You need to find a different team to follow or at least start taking meds for your depression.

IOWA's head coach doesnt start players in front of Seniors. No matter how good they are. Van Ess played over 1000 snaps, trust me he is basically a starter.

Gary is a freak and a generational talent. You dont get a shot at those guys maybe once every 5 years or so.

"White sophomore"?

So what are they supposed to do? Just ignore the defense? Contrary to popular opinion, Barry wasnt the only thing wrong with the D. The players didnt play great either. Gute has to keep trying. Just saying screw it isnt an option.

Van Ness will be here longer than Barry unless Barry proved you (and me) wrong.

Stockholder, this might be the reason....

Nolan Smith ER/LB Georgia
by Drew Boylhart • March 17, 2023
STRENGTHS
Nolan is a very athletic Edge Rusher. He has done a solid job at that position for his college team. He has quick feet and is very fast, faster than most receivers and cornerbacks in this draft. He has excellent size and overall athleticism to play more than one position in the front seven of a team’s defense. Nolan was not on many teams’ “Have to have him” radar until he hit the combine and worked out and showed everyone that maybe…just maybe he has been playing out of position for Georgia. It makes you wonder why?

CONCERNS
I think it’s a red flag when a player with this much athleticism, size, and flat-out speed is not playing off the line of scrimmage where a team can take full advantage of his God Given talents all over the field. Then he slipped up in an interview and suggested that he struggled to learn the concepts when playing off the ball. So, they put him on the line of scrimmage to make it easier for him to learn. I guess that’s why he plays with so much hesitation and not to his God Given Talent off the snap of the ball. He’s an honest person.

BOTTOM LINE: 2.33
There is no doubt that Nolan has been playing out of position. He is an off the line of scrimmage linebacker and he good be one of the best. When he drops in coverage you see the athleticism and it makes you drool with envy. I hope once he gets into the NFL and coaches spend time with Nolan that he will break out as a pure linebacker. He can become a good edge rusher but he has to start playing more to his talents and not thinking so much. His college coaches have set the base for Nolan and put him on the field and although Nolan still struggled to play up to his athletic talent at least he has learned. I don’t know how long it will be before Nolan can impact at a pure linebacker position, but I do understand that he should be worth the wait of his first contract to find out. BTW, don’t tell me workouts and the combine don’t matter. I don’t care how nice a kid Nolan is in interviews, until he worked out, no one thought of him as a potential 1st Round draft pick, no one.

Not only that I read that he really takes care of his body and knows how to deal with minor injuries so they don’t become muscle tears and pulls.

I watched "Poirot" and slid into "Morse" to avoid the Inane chatter with a carnival sideshow to be underwhelmed once again with the reach for another tweener. Nobody wanted to trade up with Gutedkunst? I still prefer Felix.

Sporting News:
13. Green Bay Packers (from Jets): Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

Grade: C
There’s no doubt Van Ness has first-round upside with his raw pass-rush skills, standing out with his explosiveness and relentless in getting after the quarterback. But he’s also a bit of a project with limited experience for a team that had more pressing offensive needs at wide receiver, tight end and tackle to boost new young starting quarterback Jordan Love.

Achtung! And Broderick Jones goes with the next pick to the power running Steelers. So he rates Nijman on the same scale as Jones?

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Patriots): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

Grade: A+
The Steelers nailed this first draft pick for GM Omar Khan. They realized that with Johnson, Wright and Skoronski off the board, they had to jump the Jets to get the other surefire first-round tackle. Jones has a pleasing combination of strength and quickness to both help second-year QB Kenny Pickett big-time as a major upgrade over Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle and get downfield in run blocking for third-year running back Najee Harris.

Easily my favorite comment from you, SH. Tip of the cap, sir.

Smith is a 4:3 guy if you want him to have a shot at starting, which any first rounder should be picked to do. Sometimes you just have to say great player, but not a fit. That’s the price we pay for LaFleur and Barry. Choices …

I did a little survey on where he was projected to go.

Reuter, over on CBS, PFF, and Draftek all had him going at 14 or earlier. WalterFootball and a few others had him in the 20-25 range. The HuddleReport had him at 15.

Gutekunst clearly stated, and has shown, that he prioritizes pass rush. This will help.

This is exactly what I saw. A 3rd round reach like every Packer First round defensive player. There is no third round curse, we just pick ours in the first.
I'm at my breaking point with the FO with first rounders. They have a plan they stick to that has netted them a mediocre defense after 12 years. It does not work!
This kid is a JAG who tests well. I'm ready to get some football players who flash on the screen, especially at 13.

Does he go five tech for the Lowry experience?

Athlon ranked Lucas Van Ness the #20 player overall in their Top 100 Players, and the #3 DE behind Will Anderson Jr. and Tyree Wilson. Published pre Combine.

Ranked #10 Overall in Duane Brugler’s Top 100 Players listing.
49 Pressures and 9 sacks last year.

According to PFF LVN was better v. run than most EDGE players in his class.

Blocked 2 punts last year v. Iowa St.

19.5 TFL and 13.5 sacks in 2 years of play.

“NFL.com had him at 26”. Yes, that is one source, the consensus had him at 15. I think using the average of 30+ is better than one source. The man put on 50lbs of muscle in 2.5 years and still runs a 4.58 with top end 10 and 20 yd, a great 7 cone. The metrics show he has quick feet. He could put on more or take some off without losing much it seems. I’m not saying he is going to be great, but it easy to cherry pick information to support your opinion.

Lucas Van Ness only played for 2 years.

In 2021 he had 378 B Gap snaps. In 2022 he had 155 B Gap snaps, and 242 Outside Tackle snaps.

Quite frankly, this is exactly the kind of player we needed at DE. A great, versatile 3-5T, with big production numbers to prove his worth, and a ton of untapped upside. Huge ceiling.

what did you say about Rashan Gary? Can you be honest?

Rodgers got traded for a bag of chips. Who cares?

People said the same about Gary. Every year with this same silly outrage over receivers. If you want to pick your toy, buy a happy meal.

Murphy had some sort of bone problem.
Anyone else hear that?
(Hamstring problem prevented him from working out
at the pro day.)

I have heard this exact sentiment for 10 years and where are we? With a mediocre defense and an offense that a 4 time MVP couldn't produce with. Wake up people.....seriously.

Just a helpful tip,

All you have to do is say "Van Ness cleared only 17 bench press reps, placing him 24th amongst Edge players tested at the combine."

You, sir, need an editor.

Fortunately strength can be worked on. Most times athletic ability cannot. The Packers are not in any hurry next year.

He has 34" arms. Ever bench press with 34" arms?

I benched 275lbs as a 5'9" 185lb QB as a Senior in HS, but my arms were only 28 .5" too. Granted, I threw 110 lb alfalfa bales all summer from the time I was 11 - 12 years old, so I was pretty stout to begin with, but you get my point.

I could probably come close to 10 reps right now of 225 at 61 years old, but my arms are still only 28,5" long which makes it a lot easier to bench. OTs on my college team hated I could bench more than some of them because their arms were so long. I found it hilarious.

And where was he on all the other metrics?

You’re clogging the toilet. Had to scroll for two minutes to get through this.

Van Ness may be a little low on the number of bench presses, but he is big and fast. It's possible for a player to get stronger and increase the number of times he can bench press, but it's unlikely that a player will become taller and faster. I think our first round draft choice will excel.

If Van Ness sees the field in 2023. They must anticipate Gary showing up around Deer Hunting? Gonzalez has made Big Bad Bill very happy. The best CB in this draft. He will have him in the Pro bowl, soon.

You know....as the selection of LVN sinks in a little more after a nights sleep I easily see him within a couple years of being that 8 to 11 sack season guy. Never going to be a top sack guy but a guy with steady production. If he can become very good at stopping the run, and holding the edge, combined with staying healthy and on the field this was a very solid pick. If the Packers pick-up Rashan's contract the Packers should be very well set at the starters at Edge (not back-ups) for the next 4-5 years.

I had hopes of the Packers drafting Mazi Smith on the DL in round 2, but he went much higher than I anticipated. With the TE, WR, & Safety needs remaining I'm thinking a top NT might not be in the cards this year, as the first DL pick may take place in round 4 - 5. We shall see but I sure hope Johnathan Ford had an incredible jump this offseason.

Clay Mathews was not a starter in college.

I'll admit Van Ness caught me somewhat by surprise. I was not surprised by the selection of an Edge in round 1. I was only surprised that Van Ness was the selection. Not because he isn't a good player but because I felt he was rated a little lower than #13. I am still shocked the Packers did not take Broderick Jones.

Second round going to be interesting! Do they stay put or do they move up in round 2? I'm guessing they select a TE in round 2 but the problem is I see a run at the TE position. The other 2nd round pick likely between a DL, and a WR. Who will still be available at #42 & #45?

Tucker, Washington, Musgrave, Mims, Tillman, AT Perry, Rice?, Mingo Don't see how they get out of round 2 without one WR.