January 2009 - Posts

• Packers' meetings with pro prospects grows

  Posted Jan 24 2009, 09:50 PM by Brian Carriveau

  According to today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Green Bay Packers have had meetings with the following players at the Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Alabama this week: Richmond end/linebacker Lawrence Sidbury, Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji and USC linebackers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews.

  All four are top prospects predicted to last no longer than the first day of the draft.

  The USC linebackers are intriguing given that the USC Trojans played at least some 3-4 defensive principles under head coach Pete Carroll.

  Cushing has been given rave reviews this week for his physique and proving that he's not as stiff as some scouts thought he might be. Matthews, meanwhile, has been getting a lot of press about his bloodlines, which include his father Clay, a 3-4 linebacker for the Browns, his Hall of Fame uncle Bruce Matthews and his grandfather, an NFL player back in the '50s.

  The USC linebackers have the big frames that running a 3-4 defense requires. Both stand at 6-3 and over 240 pounds.

  The Packers are showing more than a cursory interest in Sidbury after reportedly meeting with him at both the East/West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl this week.

  He's a defensive end/linebacker tweener that would likely fit in a 3-4 defense.

  "They (the Packers) brought it up last week at the Shrine Game," Sidbury told the Journal Sentinel. "We talked about it again here. Doesn't really matter to me where I play, I just want to play. But, yeah, I wouldn't mind being in a 3-4 at all."

  As for Raji, he seems to be excited to have a chance to play for the Packers.

  "The Packers were asking me where I felt comfortable playing," Raji said. "I definitely can do it. I'd love to do it. I'm their man if they need a nose tackle. Bring it on."

  The list of players having met with the Packers according to Railbird Central includes:

  • B.J. Raji -- defensive tackle, Boston College
  • Clay Matthews -- linebacker, USC
  • Brian Cushing -- linebacker USC
  • Lawrence Sidbury -- linebacker/end, Richmond
  • Eric Kettani -- fullback, Navy
  • Ron Brace -- defensive tackle, Boston College
  • James Davis -- running back, Clemson
  • Mohamed Massquoi -- wide receiver, Georgia
  • Zach Follett -- linebacker, California
  • Cody Brown -- linebacker/end, UConn
  • Darry Beckwith -- linebacker, LSU
  • Hunter Cantwell -- quarterback, Louisville
  • Jared Bronson -- tight end, Central Washington
  • Dan Gay -- tackle, Baylor
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• Future Packer Scott McKillop?

  Posted Jan 24 2009, 12:00 PM by Brian Carriveau

  

  The Green Bay Packers met extensively with Pitt linebacker Scott McKillop during the Senior Bowl practices this week according to TFY Draft's premium content.

  McKillop will be a player to watch during today's Senior Bowl at 6 p.m. CST airing on the NFL Network.

  It's thought by the folks at TFY Draft that McKillop would fit perfectly as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 defensive scheme.

  However, McKillop hasn't exactly been getting rave reviews this week.

  Russ Lande and his team of scouts for the Sporting News thought that McKillop was one of several player whose stock sunk after his performance during the Senior Bowl practices.

  "McKillop struggled athletically, making teams wonder whether he has the talent to be a productive starter," according to Sporting News Today. "He struggled with flexibility, quickness and playing speed -- especially when dropping and moving in coverage."

  The scouts thought McKillop fell from being a third or fourth round prospect to being a sixth or seventh rounder.

  After talking to the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff who are leading the North squad this week, TFY Draft also indicated that the coaches don't think the North's linebackers are any good.

  In any event, McKillop still projects to be drafted no matter what people thought of his performance this week. That alone makes him worth keeping an eye on during the game today.

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• Packers personally scout Kettani

  Posted Jan 24 2009, 08:43 AM by Brian Carriveau

  It was reported in The Capital of Annapolis, Md. that Green Bay Packers director of college scouting John Dorsey personally worked out Navy fullback Eric Kettani.

  Kettani will play in today's Senior Bowl at 5 p.m. CST on the NFL Network after gaining over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in his career at the Naval Academy.

  The Midshipman's measurables are as good as any for a fullback. He's 6-1, 243 lbs, runs an above average 4.59 40-yard dash, has a 32-inch vertical, and benches 395 lbs.

  "Kettani fits all the parameters of the position by NFL standards," Dorsey told The Capital. "He definitely has all the measurables you look for in terms of size, strength and speed."

  Compared to the Packers' current fullbacks, he's one inch taller than both John Kuhn and Korey Hall, just as heavy as Hall and a little bit lighter than Kuhn.

  But even though he's got many things going in his favor, history is working against him. For one thing, DraftDaddy.com indicates that they know of only two fullbacks to have been drafted that have played in the Senior Bowl.

  An even bigger obstacle will be getting around his military obligation to play in the NFL.

  As many fans saw a year ago when the Detroit Lions drafted Army safety Caleb Campbell, the Army amended its rules in July (after Campbell had been drafted) requiring military personnel to fulfill their two years of active duty before applying for release seeing as the country is currently at war.

  Not many teams in the NFL are going to want to take a chance on drafting a player who they know won't be able to play until at least the 2011 season not matter how talented he might be.

  There is a "glimmer of hope," though. With the Obama presidential administration taking over, there is hope that the policy might be changed regarding service duty.

  Given that beacon of light, however small it might be, the Packers (or any other team in the NFL for that matter) might be willing to part with a seventh round, low risk draft choice for such a talented athlete.

  It is being assumed that the Dorsey scouted Kettani a year ago at Navy's pro day workouts even though the article is just coming out now. Colleges usually don't hold their pro days until around March.

  Given Kettani's 40-yard dash time and history of ball carrying at Navy, he has a chance of becoming a fullback/halfback hybrid at the pro level as well. At least it's something to watch for at today's Senior Bowl.

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• Packers scouting Boston College defensive tackles

  Posted Jan 23 2009, 04:08 PM by Brian Carriveau

  During an online chat hosted by PackerChatters.com, New Era Scouting's Luke Paul Chandler indicated that Green Bay is "heavily" scouting a pair of Boston College defensive tackles.

  "Packers scouts have been heavily involved with (B.J.) Raji," wrote Chandler, "and if the draft was tomorrow, I'd bet my money on Raji (is who the Packers select)."

  Raji (pictured) has been hailed as having one of the best weeks of any player at the Senior Bowl practices this week kind of like Sederick Ellis did a year ago.

  Just one example of how disruptive Raji has been this week comes from Pro Football Weekly's Mike Wilkening, "Raji stood out at Wednesday’s North practice. On one play, he blew past California C Alex Mack and caused a fumble. On the next play, he was stymied initially but was able to work free and collapse the pocket, causing Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell to hurriedly check down to a target in the short middle. Later, he beat Oregon State OG Andy Levitre, blowing up yet another running play."

  Even though Raji is displaying major talent, he does have some character issues. He would have been an NFL rookie this past season if he hadn't been ruled academically ineligible after his junior season of college. He was forced to sit the '07 season out and redshirt.

  If scouts can look past that discretion, Raji should be among the top 10 players drafted come April. At 6-1, 334 lbs., it looks like he could easily play the nose tackle in a 3-4 defensive.

  Raji's teammates, Ron Brace, isn't too shabby either. While not quite as highly regarded as Raji, Brace is rated among the top 10 defensive tackles in this year's draft class as well.

  "Brace is someone the Packers have been scouting heavily this week also, but he may not last till (round) three," wrote Chandler in the online chat. "He could be a nice LDE for the Packers."

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• Packers interview Davis, Massaquoi at Senior Bowl

  Posted Jan 23 2009, 08:15 AM by Brian Carriveau

  Thanks to TFY Draft's premium content, Railbird Central has learned the Green Bay Packers have interviewed several prospects during this week's Senior Bowl practices.

  Among the players the Packers have met with this week include Clemson running back James Davis and Georgia wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi.

  Just because the Packers met with certain players doesn't exactly mean they're going to draft them, but this gives you an idea of who the Packers were looking at. Scouts meet with bunches of players as they make their rounds during the All-Star circuit.

  On a related note, the Packers' official website has an article highlighting their scouts as they work during the month of January attending All-Star practices and games.

  Interviews do mean interest, though. Just under a year ago, it was widely reported that the Packers met with and had interest in Texas tight end Jermichael Finley at the NFL Combine. Two months later, the Packers made him their third round draft pick.

  Scott Wright's NFL Draft Countdown has Davis listed as the fourth best running back prospect in this year's draft class while Massaquoi is 11th among wide receivers.

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