Packers chat with Pete Dougherty
Thursday, March 15 transcript
3rd & 7 37yd
3rd & 7 37yd
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OK, let's get this going. It's definitely a possibility, but maybe they're waiting to see what happens in the draft and free agency before making that kind of move. They very well might be able to fill that spot among the three you mention but it's not a given, so they might be waiting to see if they sign anyone or who they draft before doing anything. They don't need the cap space right now. Bulaga is insurance, though fairly expensive insurance. Right tackle is a pretty important position though.
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I looked it up yesterday, I believe at the combine his height was 5-8 1/2. So signing him would violate their 5-10 1/2 minimum for DBs, and by a lot. That said, he's a playmaker and I too wonder if he'd be worth signing. If I were them I'd look at him primarily as a slot corner, that's where he seems to impact games the most. I don't know whether the 5-8 1/2 is a deal breaker for them. You don't want to make many exceptions, but occasionally you have to consider it.
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In the end, this as much as anything might be a deal where two teams got rid of players they didn't want around anymore for whatever reason. But McCarthy must see something Kizer that he thinks he can work with and develop or else they could have asked for different compensation. Agreed on the TO issue, it's a big red flag. Kizer does have a really strong arm and he's a big guy (I think close to 230) and good athlete, so there's ability there. But his 4-8 record his last season at ND and 0-15 last year make you wonder what's up. Obviously those turnovers are killers.
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Saw a tweet yesterday I think from Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee that the Packers asked Nelson to take a huge pay cut and he declined. Can't blame him for that. There might be no news on either Cobb or Matthews. The Packers might not ask, because if you do you have to be willing to cut the guy if he says no. They might not be willing to do that.
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I still have to think he's going to sign at least one CB in free agency who will be a starter (that's including nickel back as a starter). So no, I don't think they're going to have to take a cover guy at 14, though it's obviously a real possibility. Let's not forget pass rush either, they need a really good rusher something fierce. The latest reports have them showing interest in former Colts CB Rasheen Melvin as a FA.
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Hi Pete. Talking WRs, how high are the Packers on WR Michael Clark? Could you envision Clark becoming the No. 3 receiver behind Adams and Cobb? And speaking of Cobb, any indication that the Packers asked him to take a pay cut or extend his contract to alleviate his cap hit this year? Thanks.
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I think they're pretty high on him, that's why they elevated him to the 53 late last year. Allison is the front-runner for the No. 3, but yeah, I'd think Clark will be in the running. He'll have to improve a lot, become more refined and catch the ball better in traffic. But he has an uncommon trait. He's 6-6 or close to it and even in camp last year as a raw undrafted rookie who began his college career playing basketball he was really good at going up and getting the ball on deep throws and in the red zone.
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It would be expensive, though moving up in the fourth and fifth rounds with the Randall trade helps a little for ammo, I think that was Tom's point. These things aren't cut and dried because it depends on the team doing the trade and the other offers they have, but I'd think that fourth rounder would move them up two spots, maybe three at the most. It probably would cost a third-rounder to get in the top 10. If for some reason Chubbs from NC State would still be available around seven or so, that would have get their attention. But it seems pretty doubtful he'd make it that far. Maybe Derwin James at around 10 if they think he can be a really good slot guy, or Fitzpatrick from Alabama. Maybe Edmunds the DE/OLB, or Ward? Not sure if they're worth the extra cost of moving up though.
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Assuming they sign a CB in free agency, I don't think they're approach to the draft will have to have changed. They're greatest needs still be pass rusher and cover man. After that, they still need a young WR and young TE, and someone who can compete for the starting job at RG and maybe RT. Maybe I'll think differently in a couple weeks, but I still think with the first pick they take a pass rusher or cover man unless they think there's a WR/TE on the board who's going to be special.
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I'm a guy who is pretty happy with the past 25 years. The Pack has won a ton of games and was always in the hunt. I've never felt free agents were a miracle cure. In general, they tend to be bottom-of-the-roster guys, head cases, or on the downside of their careers. In fact, the two recent signees seem to fit the last two categories. Are we on the path to salary cap hell? Where we shell out big money to overpriced guys and, three years from now, need to release a bunch of players to get under the cap and end up 4-12?
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So far they haven't done anything to put future caps in peril. They're still on course for pay as you go. That's part of what cutting Nelson was about. We'll have to see what they do over the next couple weeks, but Gutekunst said at his press conference the other night after cutting Nelson that the Packers are in business to compete for the title every year, not just one year. That suggests he's not going to do anything to put them in a potential cap-hell situation. That's probably why they got out of the bidding for the CBs who already signed, especially Trumaine Johnson at $15M.
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Hi Pete, I like the Jimmy Graham move, but I must admit I'm a bit skeptical. I love the Mo Wilkerson move. He was a top DL 3-4 years ago, lost his drive and motivation with the big contract and disappeared. I'm confident Pettine will bring out the best in him again. With him, Daniels, Clark, Lowrey, and Adams (hopefully) the Packers might have their best DL since the 90"s, maybe the 60's. Am I being too optimistic or do you agree this might be a historical Packers DL?
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Wilkerson looks to me like a good signing -- not expensive ($5M plus incentives) considering his talent. But I don't know that he, Daniels and Clark will play together very much. But that's a lot of talent with those three guys. And Lowry is a solid player too. I really don't have much feel for what they have in M. Adams at this point.
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No personal stories, but I'll say this. I never saw a guy improve so much year after year after year as him. By the end of his second season I thought he just didn't quite have it and was going to be a mediocre player. But he kept improving and improving and improving until he blew out his knee. That suggests not just that he was a hard worker but that he had a lot of talent too.
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