Since our last mock, three weeks ago, there have been a handful of trades/signings that have caused this third mock to change. But more than anything, the array of pro days and increased overall chatter amongst “insiders” (which we at OBOD are definitely not) [...]]]> Two mock drafts down, two more to go until draft day (15 days from now!!).

Since our last mock, three weeks ago, there have been a handful of trades/signings that have caused this third mock to change. But more than anything, the array of pro days and increased overall chatter amongst “insiders” (which we at OBOD are definitely not) has had the biggest effect on this new mock.

What does it look like now? Well, let’s find out, shall we?

(By the way, the “Ocean’s Thirteen” reference is strictly a joke. I can guarantee this mock will not be as bad as that film. God help me if I’m wrong.)

1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma. Monday’s release of Marc Bulger, coupled with Bradford’s very good pro day showing last week, make the likelihood that he goes to the Rams exponentially greater. They clearly need a guy and, while my doubts about Bradford remain, he’s the best of the bunch and a pick St. Louis can sell to its fans.

2. Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska. Truth be told, I think the Lions would love to trade out of this spot. But I’m just not sure anyone will want this pick badly enough to make a move. In the event Detroit hangs on to the pick, Suh has to be the guy. He’s equally good against the run and the pass and would give the Lions a genuine difference-maker in the front seven, something head coach Jim Schwartz desperately needs.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma. I’ve had the Bucs going with Eric Berry in my first two mocks. This time around, I think McCoy will be pick. The Bucs, much like Detroit, need an impact player along the line as they only recorded 28 sacks last season (tied for 26th in the league). McCoy isn’t quite as good against the run as Suh is, but his pass rush skills will allow him to make an immediate difference.

4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State. Sunday’s trade for Donovan McNabb eliminates any speculation that Washington will select Jimmy Clausen. That trade also leaves the ‘Skins with just one pick in the first three rounds and you have to think they’d love to trade down. Like the Lions, though, I doubt they find much interest. In that case, they’ll go with Okung, the best o-lineman in the draft and someone who can help cover McNabb right away.

5. Kansas City Chiefs – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee. People seem to be cooling on Berry a little bit, and I’m not sure why. Forget about all the postseason workout stuff and just put on the tape. This kid’s a star in the making. Works out well for the Chiefs, then, as they need secondary help – particularly at safety – in a major way. In five years, we very well could be looking at Berry as the best player to come out of this draft.

6. Seattle Seahawks – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa. While questions initially existed as to how high Bulaga’s ceiling really is, he seems to be gaining momentum in recent weeks. His size (6-feet, 6-inches, 312 pounds) and the recent track record of former Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year winners (Jake Long, Joe Thomas) likely have a lot do to with this. Plus, Peter King reported in his “Monday Morning Quarterback” column this week that Seattle GM John Schneider – remember him? – loves Bulaga. Makes too much sense not to happen.

7. Cleveland Browns – Earl Thomas, S, Texas. Another change from my first two mock drafts comes in this spot, where I originally had the Brownies going with Florida corner Joe Haden. But last week’s trade for former Eagle Sheldon Brown crosses corner off Cleveland’s list of needs. The Browns will still look to upgrade their secondary, one of the worst in football in 2009, but will do so with Thomas. A bit undersized (5-feet, 10-inches, just under 200 pounds), Thomas makes up for it with dynamic playmaking skills and excellent speed.

8. Oakland Raiders – Jason Pierre-Paul, OLB, South Florida. Crazy Al loves measurables. Pierre-Paul has measurables (6-feet, 6-inches, 265 pounds, amazing speed). Crazy Al loves Pierre-Paul. Done and done.

9. Buffalo Bills – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame. Where Clausen lands is quickly becoming one of the big stories surrounding this year’s draft. Some think he could go top five, while others have him a bit lower. Put me in the latter group as I still think Buffalo is his likely destination. As I’ve said before, the Bills need hope of some kind, any kind. As of now, they have nothing. While my doubts about Clausen are even bigger than those of Bradford, he’ll definitely provide some hope.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State. I’ve said all along this is where Bryant goes and I’m sticking to it. The Jags need a big-time threat in the passing game. And Bryant, despite some character issues (mainly listening to Deion Sanders), is the closest thing to a big-time wideout in this draft. He’s not overly fast, but is big and tough with very good hands. Could be an immediate impact player for Jacksonville.

11. Denver Broncos (from Bears) - Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama. No movement here, either. McClain is by far the best ILB in this draft and a perfect fit for the 3-4 scheme that Denver runs (it’s the scheme he played in at Alabama). With a (presumably) healthy Jamal Williams eating up space in front of him, McClain should be able to punish ballcarriers for quite some time in Denver.

12. Miami Dolphins – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee. Same position, different play for this pick as I originally had Miami going with UCLA’s Brian Price. I’ve got the Dolphins going with Williams this time, though, as he’s more of a prototypical 3-4 nose tackle. He’s got the size (325 pounds) and strength to be a force at the position, good because Jason Ferguson is old (35) and will miss the first eight games of the year (performance-enhancing drugs).

13. San Francisco 49ers – Joe Haden, CB, Florida. The 49ers will be doing cartwheels on draft night if Haden is indeed here, and I think he will be. His slight fall isn’t caused by anything he’s done (or hasn’t done), but rather because the teams above San Fran don’t really need a corner that badly. Haden is the best corner in this draft and should contribute right away.

14. Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos) – C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson. Spiller seems to be rising in the eyes of some “insiders”, but really, I doubt he goes before this spot. That doesn’t mean he’s lacking potential to be very, very good, because he isn’t. I just don’t think anyone else will look running back before here. That’s a good thing indeed for the Seahawks as Spiller could be Bush 2.0 for Pete Carroll. With Bulaga and Spiller in the fold, Seattle’s offense should be much better next season.

15. New York Giants – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma. As I’ve stated previously, I have it on good authority – and by “good authority”, I mean my good friend/Giants superfan Matt Anderson – that Big Blue would love to snag McClain with this pick. I’m not sure he’ll be there, though, and if New York can’t get him, it will go with Williams. He’s got solid upside and would provide an instant upgrade at right tackle – his likely spot in the pros.

16. Tennessee Titans – Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas. The Titans struggled getting to the quarterback last season, their first without Fat Albert. That area looks to be even weaker now with Kyle Vanden Bosch’s departure to Detroit. In order to boost it back up, Tennessee will look to Kindle. At 255 pounds, you can forget about Kindle playing defensive end in the NFL. But as an outside linebacker, he brings much to the table, mainly his relentless nature and instinctive knack for getting to the QB.

 17. San Francisco 49ers (from Panthers) – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers. My previous mock had Davis to the Niners with the 13th pick. I still think this is where he ends up, though he’ll have to wait a little bit longer now. Davis’ solid pro day showing put some of the doubts surrounding him to rest, but questions about his work ethic and weight still remain. He’s got potential to be very, very good – if he can get with a coach that stays on him at all times. Enter Mike Singletary.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho. I still can’t believe the Steelers won it all two seasons ago with such a weak offensive line. That group wasn’t a whole lot better last season, either, and Pittsburgh must improve up front if it hopes to get back into serious AFC contention. Iupati could definitely help that cause. A 6-feet, 5-inch, 330 pound beast, Iupati is a throwback type of lineman. No zone blocking schemes for this guy – he just wants to maul.

19. Atlanta Falcons – Derrick Morgan, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech. I had Morgan going to Atlanta in my original mock. After a quick detour for our second mock, he’s back in Atlanta this time. Morgan is perhaps the best all-around defensive end in this draft. He’s solid against the run and a terror as a pass-rusher (12 sacks, two forced fumbles last season). His addition will be a big boost to Atlanta’s defense and should put the Falcons solidly back in playoff contention next season.

20. Houston Texans – Brian Price, DT, UCLA. Same position, different player for Houston this time around, as I previously had the Texans going with Penn State’s Jared Odrick. With Price still on the board, though, he’s likely the guy. He’s a hair better against the run than is Odrick, with equal pass-rushing skills. Houston hit a home run by taking a Pac-10 defensive player last season (USC’s Brian Cushing), so why not do it again?

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida. Toughness is lacking for the Bengals’ offense. That changes significantly with the addition of Pouncey, a physical, nasty lineman. He’s also intelligent, athletic and incredibly versatile (having played both guard and center for a big-time program). The Bengals could also look for another playmaker on offense here, but Pouncey is too good to pass up. They can grab a wideout in round two.

22. New England Patriots – Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan. Again, little change at this spot. New England still needs to improve its pass rush and Graham will give the Pats the best chance to do that. He’s an incredibly smart player who never stops coming at you and just knows how to get the job done (averaging nine sacks a year over his last three seasons at Michigan). The Hoodie has never been scared off by tweeners and I doubt that changes now. He’ll love this guy.

23. Green Bay Packers – Charles Brown, OT, USC. As usual, I’ll go a little longer here as this is a Packers blog. First, as draft night nears, I’m becoming more and more certain that Ted Thompson will trade out of this spot. The Packers have a few holes to fill, and if Thompson can pick up a couple more selections in the first few rounds, he can pretty much fill them all. He can not do so if he hangs on to this pick. As for the idea of taking an outside linebacker here, I’d say it’s certainly possible. But Brad Jones has a lot of potential and I think the Packers will wait on that spot. Hence, if they keep the pick, they’ll have to go with a tackle and Brown is the best left on the board. Again, yes, he’s got weight left to put on, but his pass protection skills are already very good. He could be the guy for a long, long time. This team can not wait any longer to find its left tackle of the future and history shows you have the best chance of getting Pro Bowl talent at that position in round one.

24. Philadelphia Eagles – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State. While trading Brown filled Cleveland’s void for a corner, it opened a void at that spot for the Eagles. Wilson has excellent ball skills, can play both man and zone and is an excellent return man. He’d look good opposite Asante Samuel. Philly is flush with picks after its two trades and can address its need for a pass rusher in the second round.

25. Baltimore Ravens – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma. Baltimore’s trade for Anquan Boldin originally had me thinking it would look defense with this pick. Then I remembered just how inconsistent/ineffective Todd Heap really was last season and changed my mind. Gresham has some concerns due to his knee injury from last season, but when you look at him on tape, it’s clear he can be a big-time playmaker. You can never give a young quarterback too many of those, right?

26. Arizona Cardinals – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland. My first two mock drafts have had the Cards going defense, specifically outside linebacker. The recent addition of Joey Porter crosses that off the list, though, and I now believe Arizona will look to upgrade along the line. Campbell certainly has his share of question marks, but his upside is too much to pass on here. If anyone can get the most out of this guy, it’s Russ Grimm.

27. Dallas Cowboys – Taylor Mays, S, USC. Having recently cut Flozell Adams, it’s a good bet the Cowboys will be looking for his replacement at this spot. Unfortunately for them, the top six tackles are already gone. That being the case, Dallas will look to replace Ken Hamlin – also recently released – with Mays. Mays projects as a strong safety in the pros. In fact, he’s so big (230 pounds) and such a good tackler/hitter, some have suggested he could be moved to outside linebacker eventually. Either way, he’s got good value for Dallas here.

28. San Diego Chargers – Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State. My first two mocks have had the Bolts going with Alabama’s Terrence Cody. This time around, though, I think Matthews is the pick. San Diego needs a presence in the run game, something Darren Sproles just doesn’t provide. Matthews is a good combination of power and speed and his lack of pass-catching skills wouldn’t be a problem with Sproles in the fold.

29. New York Jets – Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri. The Jets are moving in the right direction, offensively, provided Mark Sanchez continues to develop. The defense is pretty damn good, too, but could use one more player, particularly another outside linebacker. Weatherspoon should quickly become a favorite of Rex Ryan’s. He’s a hard-hitting, hard-working linebacker who knows how to play the run and blitz the quarterback.

30. Minnesota Vikings – Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama. I still think Minnesota wants to snag a corner with this pick, but I don’t think there’s anyone left on the board worth taking this high. The Vikes will then turn their focus to the d-line. The possibility of dual four-game suspensions for Pat and Kevin Williams, plus Pat’s age (38 in October), make upgrading that spot a priority. Cody has some issues (weight, focus, etc.), but if he’s reigned in, he could become a dominant run-stuffer in the pros. Minnesota looks for a back to compliment Adrian Peterson in round two.

31. Indianapolis Colts – Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State. The Colts will likely hope one of the top six tackles fall to this spot (previously, I had them going with Campbell, for example) as Charlie Johnson just isn’t the long-term guy at that spot. Since they are all gone, however, Indy will look to solidify itself at d-tackle instead. The Colts need to get an impact player between Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Odrick has decent size (306 pounds), recorded seven sacks last season and should help take some heat off those two.

32. New Orleans Saints – Carlos Dunlap, DE/DT, Florida. The recent release of Charles Grant leaves a void along the d-line for the defending champs (still feels weird writing that about the Saints). Dunlap lacks motivation at times – and has an unfortunate DUI arrest – but he’s also a monster talent. He recorded nine sacks in each of the past two seasons and, if New Orleans can keep a fire under him, it could end up with great value here.

One final note: This will be my last solo mock before the draft. Our final mock will be a three-man super mock, featuring Adam, Gene and myself. We’re going to run that the day before the draft, so stay tuned. It should be a lot of fun and will hopefully sound nothing like Asia (they were a super-group from the 80s…damn you kids).

-Chris Lempesis

(Plus, as you likely know, we LOVE doing mock drafts.)

Most of the “big fish” free agents have signed their respective deals and, as a result, some teams’ draft plans have changed. Our new mock has [...]]]> Now that we are roughly 12 days into free agency, it seemed like the perfect time to run an updated mock draft.

(Plus, as you likely know, we LOVE doing mock drafts.)

Most of the “big fish” free agents have signed their respective deals and, as a result, some teams’ draft plans have changed. Our new mock has certainly taken those moves into account as there are some major changes from our first mock.

What are those changes? Well, let’s find out, shall we?

1. St. Louis Rams -  Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma. The biggest jump in this current mock belongs to Bradford (whom I previously had going to Buffalo at No. 9). Why the sudden rise? Well, from everything I’ve read, it just sounds like the St. Louis brass rather likes Bradford. Plus, it’s a lot easier to sell the selection of a quarterback No. 1 overall than it is a defensive tackle. I have my doubts about Bradford, but from a business standpoint, I can see where St. Louis is coming from.

2. Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska. By signing Kyle Vanden Bosch and trading for Corey Williams, Detroit is definitely putting an emphasis on getting to the quarterback more. Those were both decent moves, but neither of those guys is a game-changer. Suh, on the other hand, surely could be. He’ll be NFL-ready from day one and could be head coach Jim Schwartz’s Haynesworth 2.0.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee. While there is change with the top two picks, this song remains the same. In five years, Berry could very well end up the best defensive player to come out of this draft. Athletic, fast and rangy, he’s the type of do-it-all player who could make an impact on Tampa Bay’s defense right away. His playmaking numbers dipped a bit last season (just two picks as opposed to 12 combined in the two years previous), but don’t let that fool you. This kid’s for real.

4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State. Many analysts seem to think the ‘Skins will jump at Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen if he’s here. I disagree. New head coach Mike Shanahan has already said he wants Jason Campbell back. He’ll use 2010 to evaluate Campbell and see if he is, in fact, the future at quarterback. He’ll also give Campbell some added protection. Enter Okung, the most complete – and best – lineman in the draft.

5. Kansas City Chiefs – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma. My previous mock had the Chiefs going with Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain as Okung, McCoy and Suh were all already gone. This time around, McCoy is available and I can’t see how Kansas City passes on him. He’s not overly big (just 295 pounds), but has explosive pass rushing abilities. Sure, the Chiefs whiffed on Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson didn’t do much as a rookie, but if they just keep taking d-tackles, one of them will hit, right? Maybe?

6. Seattle Seahawks – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa. A replacement must be found for 35-year old Walter Jones. Originally, I had Rutgers’ Anthony Davis as that guy. But Davis’ weight issues and shaky combine (his character has come into question) make Bulaga the pick now. Some questions exist as to how high Bulaga’s ceiling really is. But the 6-feet, 6-inch, 312 pound Bulaga was also voted Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year last season. A couple of recent winners of that award, Jake Long and Joe Thomas, have done pretty well in the pros and Bulaga should follow suit.

7. Cleveland Browns – Joe Haden, CB, Florida. Another pick that has not changed since our first mock. The Brownies still need secondary help in a major way as they finished 29th in passing yards allowed per game (a whopping 244.7). Haden is, hands down, the best corner in the draft. He’s physical, aggressive and extremely fast and the Browns will jump at him here. Mike Holmgren will find his future quarterback later in the draft.

8. Oakland Raiders – Jason Pierre-Paul, OLB, South Florida. Yet another pick that has not changed, although this one is for different reasons, the biggest being I just do not want to climb into Al Davis’ head and try to figure out what he’s going to do. I’m just not man enough for that mission. I know he loves measureables and Pierre-Paul has those in abundance (6-feet, 6-inches, 265 pounds and lightening fast). Pierre-Paul could team with Kameron Wimbley, recently acquired from Cleveland, at OLB for the Raiders.

9. Buffalo Bills – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame. As they can no longer get Bradford here, the Bills will jump at Clausen. Why? Brian Brohm, Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick, that’s why. That’s the quarterback group for the Bills as of now. None of those three bring any hope for the future, if you’re a Bills fan. And, as I said previously, that’s what Buffalo needs to give its fans here – some hope. Quite frankly, I have major doubts about Clausen as a pro, but I don’t doubt he’ll be the pick.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State. Everyone had the Jags going defensive end here before they signed Aaron Kampman. I always thought they’d go with Bryant and, well, I still do. Simply put, Jacksonville hasn’t had a gamebreaking receiving threat since the days of Jimmy Smith. Well, those days are long gone. Bryant is an athletic, tough wideout with very good hands who could loosen the strain on Maurice Jones-Drew.

11. Denver Broncos – Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama. Previously, I had Clausen going here. But, by acquiring Brady Quinn from Cleveland last weekend, Denver is no longer in the market for a quarterback (which is good because if things play out like I think, it couldn’t get one here anyways). The Jamal Williams signing beefs up the Broncos’ d-line, but they still have holes in the second level. McClain can remedy that as he is an absolute beast, particularly in stuffing the run.

12. Miami Dolphins – Brian Price, DT, UCLA. Nose tackle was a position of need for the Dolphins before 35-year old Jason Ferguson was suspended for the first eight games of the season (performance-enhancing drugs). Now, of course, it’s even more so, and I still think Price is the guy here. Price is similar in size – Ferguson’s 310 pounds and Price is 300 – and the Pac 10 Defensive Player of the Year also has the explosion to get into the backfield on passing downs. He’ll open things up for newly acquired ILB Karlos Dansby.

13. San Francisco 49ers – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers. Yes, the issues surrounding Davis aren’t necessarily good. But he’s also a 6-feet, 6-inch, 325 pound monster who is looked at by many as the best pass protecting lineman in the draft. In other words, his equally large upside will prevent him from falling as far as some analysts think. Plus, something tells me Mike Singletary can keep this guy in line. Just a hunch. 

14. Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos) – C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson. With the combine Spiller had, Pete Carroll and Co. will be doing backflips if he’s still available here. A dual threat back, Spiller could be Pete’s new Reggie Bush (hopefully, minus the whole Kardashian thing). By nabbing Bulaga and Spiller, the Seahawks will have cleared up two of their biggest issues (offensive line and a lack of gamebreakers).

15. New York Giants – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee. After chatting with my good friend (and huge Giants fan) Matt Anderson, I’m convinced New York will attempt to move up if it feels it’s in danger of losing McClain. But, since I’m not going to predict any trades here, I’ll stick with Big Blue selecting Williams. New York’s d-line wasn’t as good as many (myself included) thought it would be before last season. At 325 pounds and strong as a bull, Williams could go a long way towards fixing that.

16. Tennessee Titans – Derrick Morgan, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech. Originally, I had the Titans addressing some of their needs along the o-line with Idaho’s Mike Iupati. But after losing Vanden Bosch, I now think Tennessee turns to the defensive front, where it struggled last season without Fat Albert. At 275 pounds, Morgan is right on the fence as far as where he can play in the pros (depending on whether or not he adds weight). With 12 sacks and two forced fumbles last season, Morgan could replace Vanden Bosch in a major way.

17. San Francisco 49ers (from Panthers) – Earl Thomas, S, Texas. Having already upgraded at o-line with Davis, the Niners now turn their focus to finding a big-time playmaking safety in the secondary. Thomas’ size (5-feet, 10-inches, just under 200 pounds) isn’t exactly what you’d like at that position. But his numbers (63 tackles, eight interceptions last season) and speed definitely are. By taking Davis and Thomas, the Niners would walk away with a very nice first round haul.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho. Previously, Maryland’s Bruce Campbell was the pick here. But there are some fairly significant question marks on Campbell – like, if he’s so good, why did he receive no votes for All ACC-First Team last season? - and I think he’ll drop a good deal as a result. Still, the Steelers need o-line help badly. The 6-feet, 5-inch, 330 pound Iupati has the strength to be able to play, and flourish, right away. He could end up being very. very good. A typical Steeler pick.

19. Atlanta Falcons – Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas. With Morgan – the player I previously had them taking – off the board, the Falcons will turn to Kindle. At 255 pounds, he’ll play outside linebacker in Atlanta’s 4-3 scheme and he should be very good at that spot. He’s got great athleticism, knows how to get to the quarterback and could be for the Falcons what Brian Orakpo was for the ‘Skins last season.

20. Houston Texans – Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State. I’m not sensing much change at this spot for Houston. As usual, the Texans are set, offensively. Again, as usual, their defense still needs more work if they are to finally get over the top and into the playoffs. Last year’s first rounder, linebacker Brian Cushing, was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, but the team still needs one or two more pieces. Odrick (306 pounds with seven sacks last year) could very well be the nose tackle to open things up for Mario Williams and Amobi Okoye.

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida. Believe it or not, I actually left the Bengals off my first mock draft. I’m not sure how that happened, but if you’re a Bengals fan reading this, I am very sorry. Anyways, Cincinnati has major needs on the offensive line, particularly at center and guard. Lucky for them, Pouncey can play either of those spots in the pros. He’s also intelligent and plays with a mean streak that the Bengals’ offense sorely lacks.

22. New England Patriots – Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan. The Pats did not, as some expected, end up with Julius Peppers. They also cut Adalius Thomas, making outside linebacker a huge priority. Truth be told, I think Kindle will be a better pro, but Graham is not a bad consolation prize at all. Over his last three seasons at Michigan, Graham averaged over nine sacks a season, with ever-improving tackle numbers. He’s got short arms, yes, but he’s also a hard-worker who comes at you on every play. The Hoodie will love this guy.

23. Green Bay Packers – Charles Brown, OT, USC. Since this is a Packers’ blog, I’ll go a little more in-depth here. The re-signings of Chad Clifton/Mark Tauscher, at first, had me thinking Ted Thompson might go in a different direction with this pick (i.e., defense). But when I thought about it more, I still think the team has to nab a left tackle of the future. Clifton could break down at any minute and, while we all love T.J. Lang, I’m beginning to think he’s strictly a right tackle. The Packers need someone who can step in if Clifton goes down (which you know he will, if only for a game or two at a time). At just 290 pounds, Brown must bulk up a bit before he’s game ready. But his athleticism and NFL-ready pass protection skills would cover him if forced to play right away. He’s got a ton of upside and could protect Aaron Rodgers’ blindside for the next decade. At some point, this move has to be made. Why not here?

24. Philadelphia Eagles – Everson Griffen, DE, USC. Having whiffed on Kampman and Julius Peppers, the Eagles look to the draft to find their pass rushing end of the future. Previously, I had them going to Graham, but since he’s no longer available, they’ll go with Griffen. Not always the most motivated player, Griffen is still blessed with great athleticism and pass rushing skills. If the Eagles can keep a fire under his butt, he should be a productive player.

25. Baltimore Ravens – Carlos Dunlap, DT, Florida. Baltimore’s trade for wide receiver Anquan Boldin took care of its need for a big-time playmaker not named Ray Rice. That being the case, the Ravens will focus on d-line with this pick. Kelly Gregg is still very good, but will turn 34 during the season and the team needs to find a player to team up with Haloti Ngata for the future. There are some questions surrounding Dunlap (lack of motivation and a DUI arrest in particular). But he’s also had nine sacks in each of the past two seasons.

26. Arizona Cardinals – Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, TCU. Having lost Dansby, you could argue that the Cards should go inside linebacker here. But since there are no real ILBs worth taking at this spot, they’ll stick with Hughes (whom I had them taking in our original mock). Clark Haggans and Chike Okeafor are both aging and merely decent and, with 26 sacks over his final two years at TCU, Hughes has shown a knack for getting to the quarterback.

27. Dallas Cowboys – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma. Again, I’m sticking with what worked the first time here. Flozell Adams, for all the hype and money, just isn’t very consistent in pass protection. Plus, he’s getting older, so the team needs to upgrade there for the future. Williams would have gone much higher if not for his subpar 2009 season, but he still has a lot of tools and could be a good pro, if he regains his 2008 form.

28. San Diego Chargers – Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama. In our first mock, I said this pick “could be surprising” considering the Bolts, at that point, still had Jamal Williams. Seeing as though Williams got cut (and signed with Denver), this pick is no longer a shock. In fact, it makes a lot of sense. San Diego needs its next Williams and “Mount Cody” could be just that, provided he stays motivated and keeps his weight down. Remember, Cody dominated for long stretches in the toughest conference in the country.

29. New York Jets – Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri. The names change (previously I had Clemson’s Ricky Sapp here), but the position remains the same. Like I said before, it’s time for New York to just suck it up and admit that Vernon Gholston is a bust and find someone else to go opposite Calvin Pace at OLB. Weatherspoon is not the biggest linebacker, at just 245 pounds, but like his good buddy Clay Matthews, he’s an intense, non-stop player who is good in mulitple facets. He was a leader for Mizzou’s defense and you can never have too many of those.

30. Minnesota Vikings – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State. With the Williams sisters still on trial (and possible facing four-game suspensions), Minnesota could very well look d-tackle here. But with all of the first-round tackles already gone, the Vikings turn their attention to cornerback. Good idea as Antoine Winfield is getting older and Cedric Griffin could miss the first six weeks due to his torn ACL. Wilson is a bit small at 5-feet, 9-inches, but is an aggressive, playmaking corner.

31. Indianapolis Colts – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland. Charlie Johnson was serviceable at left tackle last season, but is far from the long-term solution there. As I previously mentioned, there are some big questions surrounding Campbell. But he is also a freak, physically (6-feet, 7-inches, 310 pounds, with a sub-4.8 40 time). In fact, some think he’s got the most upside of any lineman in the draft. After a year of learning, he could protect Peyton Manning’s blindside for the rest of Manning’s career.

32. New Orleans Saints – Taylor Mays, S, USC. Darren Sharper’s knee injury/contract demands place his future in New Orleans in doubt. The team needs someone who can play right away in the event Sharper walks and that player could be Mays. Before last season, it would have been unthinkable to have him this low. But a bad 2009 season (just one interception) and doubts about his ceiling land him here. Still, Mays brings great value at this spot.

-Chris Lempesis

(Okay, maybe we haven’t “covered the hell” out of it. But we’ve been good….solid….decent. Yeah, let’s stick with that – decent.)

But what about the rest of the NFL? [...]]]> So far, we at OBOD have covered the hell out of free agency as it relates to the Green Bay Packers and the rest of the NFC North.

(Okay, maybe we haven’t “covered the hell” out of it. But we’ve been good….solid….decent. Yeah, let’s stick with that – decent.)

But what about the rest of the NFL? After all, there has been activity outside of the division and, with it being Monday morning and all, it seems like a good time to expand our horizons and look at some of the other notable moves made. Some of these, of course, have Packers-related repercussions and we’ll mention them, as needed.

1. Cardinals taking big steps back – After watching Kurt Warner retire awhile back, the Cardinals lost three more key players this past weekend. Arizona finally rid themselves of Anquan Boldin, trading the somewhat malcontent receiver and a fifth round pick this year to the Baltimore Ravens for third and fourth round picks this year. Boldin might have been a pain in the butt, but he’s also an elite talent who is as tough as they come. Steve Breaston is decent, but Boldin he is absolutely not (love this move for the Ravens, by the way, as Boldin finally gives them the big-time wideout they seemingly have never had). Another big loss comes in the form of middle linebacker Karlos Dansby – I remember seeing him do something big a couple of months ago, but I can’t remember what - signing with the Miami Dolphins (five years, $43 million with $22 mil guaranteed). Dansby, while not an elite ‘backer, is very good and was a great fit for that defense. The Cards also lost safety Antrel Rolle to the New York Giants (five years, $37 million with $15 mil guaranteed, more on that in a bit). It’s true that they replaced Rolle by trading a fourth round pick this year and a seventh next year to the New York Jets for safety Kerry Rhodes and that Rhodes is a good player. But Rolle was on the up and knew this scheme. It will take Rhodes time to learn it. Those moves, combined with Matt “Chubby Girls and Beer Bongs” Leinart now at quarterback, lead me to believe the NFC West is an open race. Well, unless you’re the Rams.
2. The champs also appear to be losing some steam – The New Orleans Saints were dealt a considerable blow on defense as linebacker Scott Fujita signed a three year, $14 million deal with the Cleveland Browns. Fujita, while not a great player, was a very solid presence, both on and off the field. Things could get even worse if safety Darren Sharper bolts for another team (the Miami Dolphins, perhaps?). Sharper is 34, but is coming off of one of his best seasons yet and could still be a very good player for at least another year or two as he is a great fit in Gregg Williams’ scheme. The Saints seem to be making a push to get Sharper back, but they need to do more. If he leaves, that defense isn’t as good and they could go back to where they were a couple of years ago (i.e., a .500 team that wins eight games 45-41 and loses eight games by that same score). Right now, the Cards are definitely not as good as they were last year and the Saints could be heading that way, opening the door for other NFC teams….like maybe the Packers?
3. Two contracts shed a light on how much the Packers will have to pay Collins and Pickett – If you thought Nick Collins was going to want big-time dough before, you have to think that tenfold now when you see the deal Rolle got – the richest ever for a safety. In two years of playing free safety – he’d been a corner, previously – Rolle recorded 139 tackles, five interceptions, 13 passes defended and 1.5 sacks (with a Pro Bowl appearance in 2009). Collins, over the past two years – playing in two different schemes – recorded 104 tackles, 13 interceptions, 28 passes defended and one sack (with two Pro Bowl appearances). Collins pretty much crushes Rolle in the key playmaking categories and, as a result, you have to think he will want much more than Rolle got. If Rolle is getting an average of over $7 million per, Collins likely will aim for the $8-$10 million-a-year range and, at this point, it’s hard to blame him. Thanks, New York. As for Ryan Pickett, you can now use the contract given to New England’s Vince Wilfork - five years, $40 million with $25 million in guaranteed money - as a barometer of sorts. Age-wise, the two are fairly similar (Pickett turns 31 in October while Wilfork turns 29 in November). And while Pickett is not in the same class as Wilfork, a truly elite 3-4 nose tackle, he’s not that far off and provides great value to Green Bay’s defense. If Wilfork got an average of $8 million per, it’s likely going to take $5 or $6 million on average to lock up Pickett.
4. Cromartie deal not a slam dunk for the Jets – Many seem to be applauding the New York Jets for trading a third round pick in next year’s draft to San Diego for cornerback Antonio Cromartie. Those people have said that Cromartie’s pairing with Darrelle Revis (the second best corner in the game) gives the Jets the best corner tandem in football. While I disagree with them on that - Charles Woodson and Al Harris/Tramon Williams, anyone? – I’ll stick to the trade in this post. Here’s what Cromartie is: A guy who had one truly amazing season (2007, in which he recorded 10 picks) and two average ones since (five picks of the past two years combined). He’s also still griping about a new contract – even though he’s only been decent as of late – and has fathered seven children in five different states. I know Rex Ryan has a devil-may-care attitude about players with questionable character, just like his old man, but I also know that you don’t see too many Antonio Cromarties on championship teams. So glad the Packers didn’t pursue this guy.
5. Bad trends building for Big Ben – Okay, so this one doesn’t have anything to do with free agency. But the accusations of sexual assault against Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Georgia was one of the biggest NFL stories of the weekend. Now I have no idea whether or not the guy is guilty or not. In the end, that’s not up to me to decide, anyways. What I do know, though, is that a nasty trend is forming with him. This is the second time such accusations have been lobbed his way, remember. He beat the criminal charges, stemming from an incident in Nevada awhile back, and he may well beat these. But leaders – true leaders – simply do not put themselves in these spots. Can you ever see Joe Montana allowing himself to be put in such a spot in a million years? Or even a guy like Aaron Rodgers? Not a chance in hell. Sure, he’s won two Super Bowls and he’ll never have to pay for a drink in Pittsburgh again. But if you want to be truly great, Ben, and not be remembered simply as “the guy who kept getting accused of sexual assault”, you must stop allowing yourself to get caught in these situations. Okay, I’ll jump off my soapbox now.

-Chris Lempesis

It was all set up.

One of, if not the, greatest non-Super Bowl playoff wins for the Green Bay Packers was about to happen.

Then, in the blink of an eye, a snap of the finger, there was the mob of red jerseys celebrating in the endzone.

Huh? What? How?

Once again, we found out sea changes happen just [...]]]> It was all there.

It was all set up.

One of, if not the, greatest non-Super Bowl playoff wins for the Green Bay Packers was about to happen.

Then, in the blink of an eye, a snap of the finger, there was the mob of red jerseys celebrating in the endzone.

Huh? What? How?

Once again, we found out sea changes happen just that quickly in the postseason. Once again, one happened Sunday.

And once again Green Bay was on the losing end.

Karlos Dansby’s 17-yard touchdown in overtime, off an Aaron Rodgers fumble, gave the Arizona Cardinals a 51-45 win, ending the Packers’ season. Green Bay finishes with an 11-6 record.

It had been an epic display of grit from the youthful Packers up until that point. Trailing 31-10 early in the second half -  and having trailed 17-0 earlier in the game – Green Bay powered back. The offense became unstoppable, scoring 35 points in the final two quarters (21 in the fourth alone).

Then, when it seemed like it just wouldn’t be enough, Neil Rackers whiffed on a 34-yard field goal with 14 seconds left.

Well, sure, that was great. But you knew they wouldn’t win the coin toss. Then, though, they did. They did win the coin toss! Tails never fails!!

Green Bay was a lock to go down the field and put the winning points on the board. Arizona’s defense hadn’t stopped the Packers in hours. And this time, we didn’t have a turnover-prone quarterback.

But there was the back-breaking turnover. The jerseys change but the results are the same, apparently.

As brilliant as Rodgers was for much of the game (28-of-42, a team-record 422 yards, four touchdowns, one interception), the two mistakes he made came at perhaps the two worst times to make them. His foolish interception, on the first play from scrimmage, led to a 7-0 Cardinals lead. That got the crowd fully into the game and gave a shot of life to Arizona, as a team. And as much as you might want to blame the offensive line for the sack that led to Rodgers’ fumble in overtime, the fault really lies with the young signal-caller.

He held on to the ball far too long – again – and when he was hit, he failed to hang on – again. Rodgers truly has the skills to become an elite quarterback in the league. Honestly, I think he’s pretty close right now. But he still waits for plays to develop longer than allowed at times and he needs to develop better ball security when he gets hit. At this point, those are about the only two things holding him back and it’s a damn shame they both came to light on the game-ending play.

(Please note: If you are a parent, spouse, family member or friend of anyone involved with the Packers’ defense, you should probably stop reading…now)

Of course, Rodgers and Co. were the only thing keeping Green Bay in the game. The defense wasn’t doing a damn thing, that’s for sure.

Where was the group of hard-charging, quarterback-bashing, turnover-forcing animals we’d gotten so used to seeing as the season progressed? Did they even get on the plane?

The performance of Green Bay’s defense was an out-and-out joke. They generated zero pressure on Kurt Warner, couldn’t cover the middle of the field and forced a putrid five third downs (oh yeah, Arizona converted three of them). They couldn’t tackle and, at times, looked like they weren’t even trying to tackle, instead going for ball strips on countless plays. The ball strip approach, by the way, worked exactly once – on Charles Woodson’s strip of Larry Fitzgerald in the second quarter. But yet they kept at it. Not really sure why.

As bad as all that was, the worst aspect of the atrocious performance was that the league’s second-ranked run defense was shredded to the tune of 156 yards. No pressure in the run gaps and no containment of any kind. A unit that shut down Ray Rice, Frank Gore and Adrian Peterson (twice!) couldn’t stop “Beanie” Wells and Tim Hightower? Are you KIDDING me?

Warner, even without the injured Anquan Boldin, was brilliant, no question (29-of-33, 379 yards, five touchdowns, no inteceptions). If there’s any doubt he’s a Hall-of-Famer, it died Sunday. And the receivers/backs found the open spaces and ran tough. Tip your hat to them for that. But Green Bay’s paper tiger defense made it a whole hell of a lot easier for them, time and time again.

We’re left with no other option than to think that there are some major weaknesses on this defense, weaknesses that must be addressed in the offseason.

As mighty as the offense was, there are holes on that unit, as well. Daryn Colledge, for example.

We will discuss how the Packers should address these deficencies in the days and weeks ahead. For now, though, none of that matters.

All that matters is that a brilliant, but ultimately wasted, comeback means we have to chalk up another playoff heartbreaker on our collective resume. Owens’ catch in ‘99. Losing at Lambeau for the first time in ‘03. Fourth-and-26 in ‘04. Favre’s OT interception in ‘08.

And now, losing the highest-scoring playoff game in NFL history.

What a long, cold offseason it looks to be.

-Chris Lempesis

The Arizona Cardinals could have quite a few more.

From the fine folks at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Packers’ safety/special teams ace Derrick Martin (ankle) missed practice Friday. Friday practices are usually the best indicator of whether or not a [...]]]> The Green Bay Packers only appear to have one player in danger of missing Sunday’s wild card game.

The Arizona Cardinals could have quite a few more.

From the fine folks at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Packers’ safety/special teams ace Derrick Martin (ankle) missed practice Friday. Friday practices are usually the best indicator of whether or not a player will be able to suit up that week, so Martin’s absence could equal the loss of Green Bay’s best special teams player.

For the Cardinals, wideout Anquan Boldin (knee/ankle) once again did not practice. The team is trying everything short of bringing in a faith healer to cure Boldin’s injuries. He’ll likely be a game-time decision. Even if he plays, it won’t be the same Boldin.

Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee), defensive end Calais Campbell (thumb), free safety Antrel Rolle (thigh) and guard Deuce Lutui (back) all went full but are all still being listed as questionable. Again, even if they play, it’s likely none will be near 100 percent.

Good news for the Packers, indeed.

Dude, we’re Tweeting now!

We at OBOD made a big decision recently: We decided to join the rest of the world on Twitter.

Thursday night, our Twitter page went up. If you’re on there, make sure to add us and we’ll add you back. We’ll be updating that thing pretty consistently throughout the weekend (and beyond), especially during the game Sunday. We’ll also update it whenever a new post goes up on our site. Plus, we might throw a few loosely Packers-related items up there from time-to-time.

Quite honestly, even we’re not completely sure what we will and will not be Tweeting about.

Yeah, that’s going to be fun right there.

-Chris Lempesis

This will be a three-part series in which we at OBOD examine all three phases of the Cardinals – and, maybe, shed some light on how the Green [...]]]> Since this is, oh, I don’t know, playoff week and all (65 hours and counting until kickoff!), we figured we’d take a closer look at the Arizona Cardinals.

This will be a three-part series in which we at OBOD examine all three phases of the Cardinals – and, maybe, shed some light on how the Green Bay Packers could attack those phases come Sunday.

And since the Cardinals are known for their explosive offense, that seems like a good place to start:

Quarterback

At the age of 38, Kurt Warner is still getting it done. This season, he completed just over 66 percent of his passes for 3,753 yards, 26 touchdowns and just 14 picks. He had some lingering health issues after suffering a blow to the head awhile back, but will be 100 percent for Sunday. Warner is not the most mobile of quarterbacks, instead surviving on his grit, knowledge of the game and extremely quick release (one of the quickest of the past 15 years or so, in my mind). At times throughout his career, Warner has been a turnover machine, particularly when facing heat. Pressuring Warner is perhaps the biggest key to victory for Green Bay on Sunday as it would allow the turnover-heavy Packers’ defense to do its thing.

Running Back

Much has been written about the fact that the running game is not a huge part of the Cardinals’ offense. This is true – Arizona finished 28th in rushing yards per game (93.4 per) - but like all teams, it’s played a huge part in Arizona’s successes. The Cards did not top 100 yards on the ground in any of their six losses - but they did in seven of their 10 wins.

The Cardinals employ a two-back system featuring rookie Chris “Beanie” Wells (176 carries, 793 yards, 4.5 yards per attempt, seven touchdowns) and Tim Hightower (143 carries, 598 yards, 4.2 yards per attempt, eight touchdowns).

While the quick, shifty Hightower is not a bad back, Wells clearly has more upside as he is both explosive and punishing. Arizona favored Wells more down the stretch – 13.6 carries per for “Beanie” over the last five games of the regular season as opposed to just six per for Hightower – and it’s likely to be that way Sunday. The Packers must get numerous defenders around Wells to keep him from breaking tackles and using his explosiveness at the second level.

Wide receiver/tight end

Clearly the gem area of the Cardinals’ offense. If Larry Fitzgerald (97 catches, 1,092 yards, 13 touchdowns) isn’t the game’s best receiver, he’s no worse than second (behind Houston’s Andre Johnson). Fitzgerald can do it all; he’s fast, has great hands and can outjump just about anyone. More over, Fitzgerald has been around long enough now to develop a veteran’s sense of the game. Those All-Pro instincts compliment a tireless work ethic. It’s a good thing Green Bay has Charles Woodson because Fitzgerald can embarass even the best of corners. Woodson will have to play his best game of the year Sunday as we all remember the now-legendary postseason Fitzgerald had last year.

Anquan Boldin’s knee/ankle injury could keep him out of the game Sunday. Gimpy or not, if Boldin (84 catches, 1,024 yards, four touchdowns) plays, he is nearly as lethal as Fitzgerald. Boldin’s strengths are more run-after-the-catch based than Fitzgerald’s as he is fully capable of taking a seven-yard curl route 80 yards to the house. Being physical with him is a dangerous, yet necessary, game for Tramon Williams on Sunday.

On most teams, the quick Steve Breaston (55 catches, 712 yards, three touchdowns) is a No. 2 receiver, which shows Arizona’s true depth. Our pal Jarrett Bush likely draws Breaston as his assignment Sunday and you have to think the Cards will target him numerous times.

Early Doucet (17 catches, 214 yards, one touchdown) and Jeheme Urban (18 catches, 186 yards, no touchdowns) round out Arizona’s receiving corps and provide decent depth at the No. 4 and No. 5 spots.

Ben Patrick is Arizona’s top pass-catching tight end, although he does not provide much of a threat (12 catches, 146 yards, two touchdowns).

Offensive line

Overall, the unit is solid. They finished tied for sixth in least sacks allowed with just 26. 

The right side of the line is particularly strong with the massive pair of right guard Deuce Lutui (6-feet, 4-inches, 338 pounds) and right tackle Levi Brown (6-feet, 5-inches, 324 pounds).

Center Lyle Sendlein (6-feet, 3-inches, 305 pounds) and left guard Reggie Wells (6-feet, 4-inches, 312 pounds) have both started every game this season and, for the most part, are solid.

If there’s one spot the Packers figure to attack, it’s at left tackle. Veteran Jeremy Bridges (6-feet, 4-inches, 326 pounds), listed as a guard, is filling the void at the position left by another veteran, Mike Gandy. After starting 11 of the first 12 games, Gandy went on injured reserve Dec. 23 as a result of a sports hernia. Bridges doesn’t have a ton of experience at the spot. As such, he could be a player to target Sunday.

-Chris Lempesis

I hated the whole bag boy-to-Super Bowl winning quarterback angle (too Disney, I thought). I hated his goody-goody “Jesus freak” (the words I used then, not now) image. I hated that he seemingly never made any mistakes, on or off the field.

Then again, I [...]]]> True story: When I was 18 years old, I hated Kurt Warner.

I hated the whole bag boy-to-Super Bowl winning quarterback angle (too Disney, I thought). I hated his goody-goody “Jesus freak” (the words I used then, not now) image. I hated that he seemingly never made any mistakes, on or off the field.

Then again, I loved Limp Bizkit and the $1 menu at Hardees when I was 18 years old.

My point being: What the hell did I know?

Roughly 10 years after Warner first came on the national scene, I’ve changed my tune 180 degrees and now think it’s fair to say that Warner is pretty much everything a franchise quarterback should be, on and off the field.

He’s never complained – not once. Not when idiotic St. Louis Rams head coach Mike Martz felt it was time to switch from Warner to Marc Bulger. Not when the New York Giants decided to push him aside in favor of Eli Manning. And not even when the Arizona Cardinals did, basically, everything they could to ensure Matt “Chubby Girls and Beer Bongs” Leinart (Google the photos, I’m not lying) would take over the reigns as starter.

Has his wife, Brenda, complained? Well, yes she has. But we all know we can’t control what the women in our lives do. You can’t put that on him.

He’s stuck up for his teammates. When wide receiver Anquan Boldin was trying – heck, he still is – to get a new contract, there was Warner publicly saying he thought Boldin should be rewarded for his play. He didn’t throw Boldin under the bus like some quarterbacks would have (hint, hint).

He’s tough. Really, it’s the most underrated part of his game. Throughout his career, Warner’s suffered countless injuries. It’s been written about enough, so I won’t list them all here. Some have been fairly severe and have caused him to miss time, yes, but they’ve never broken him. Can’t say the same for a lot of quarterbacks. 

Off the field, Warner walks the walk, unlike some athletes who have foundations but likely do little with them. He seems to really understand that his position allows him to help others and he’s done that, time and again. Again, I’m not going to list all his charitable work here, but look it up if you’d like – you will be blown away, I promise. 

His faith is what guides him and he is going to share it with all who will listen. He doesn’t care that his message is often looked at by some as “uncool.” He does it because he honestly seems to believe it could help some people out. Maybe I don’t agree with everything he has to say in that area – and maybe you don’t, either – but you can’t deny that you respect him for it. In an age where strip clubs and guns are the two guiding lights in the lives of many athletes, Warner’s outlook is a refreshing (and needed) change of pace.

He provides the perfect blueprint for the quarterback opposite him Sunday – Aaron Rodgers.

Granted, Rodgers is doing pretty well on his own – how he handled the events of summer 2008 continues to amaze me – but Rodgers has, we hope, many years ahead of him in the spotlight. There will be high highs and low lows, to be sure, and I’m not necessarily saying Rodgers needs to become overly religious or anything like that. Those are decisions only he can make.

I’m simply saying that whenever success or trouble comes Rodgers’ way, if he’s looking for a guide on how to handle it, the one currently being written by Warner is a pretty good place to start.

-Chris Lempesis

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Ryan Pickett (hamstring) and Brandon Chillar (back) were both were full participants. That’s a very good thing because both will need to play major roles Sunday. 

Derrick Martin (ankle) tested his injury [...]]]> Give the early nod in the injury battle to the Green Bay Packers as they had, essentially, everyone back at practice Wednesday.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Ryan Pickett (hamstring) and Brandon Chillar (back) were both were full participants. That’s a very good thing because both will need to play major roles Sunday. 

Derrick Martin (ankle) tested his injury out and said he should be ready to rock come kickoff. As we’ve said before, he’s probably Green Bay’s best special teams player so it’d be nice to have him back.

Things aren’t going so well for Arizona.

From the Arizona Republic:

All three of its players dealing with somewhat major injuries – wideout Anquan Boldin (knee/ankle), cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee) and defensive end Calais Campbell (thumb) – missed practice.

As of now, it sounds like Campbell will be able to go – in a somewhat less effective role because of his cast. It sounds like it will be much tougher for Boldin and Rodgers-Cromartie, though, particularly Boldin.

Another injury I forgot to mention earlier was the brusied thigh plaguing Cards’ free safety Antrel Rolle. He missed the game last Sunday and once again did not practice Wednesday.

Once again, we at OBOD will do our best to keep you updated on these injuries as the week progresses.

-Chris Lempesis

Then I remembered: The Green Bay Packers are in the playoffs.

No time for lighthearted fare this week. It’s time to buckle down and focus on the game at hand (roughly 111 hours away…and counting!). Besides, I’m already too nervous to write anything humerous.

That being [...]]]> I thought about writing some sort of lighthearted post in this space.

Then I remembered: The Green Bay Packers are in the playoffs.

No time for lighthearted fare this week. It’s time to buckle down and focus on the game at hand (roughly 111 hours away…and counting!). Besides, I’m already too nervous to write anything humerous.

That being the case, I’ve decided to kick off OBOD’s wild card coverage with a look at the injuries affecting the Packers and the Arizona Cardinals. Each team has three key injuries at the moment. Consider this your first look as we’ll do our best to keep you updated on the respective situations of these players as the week progresses.

Please note: I’m not including Charles Woodson’s shoulder injury on this list. I really don’t think the injury is at all serious and I can guarantee Woody will be locked and loaded come 3:30 p.m. Lambeau time on Sunday.

Arizona Cardinals

1. Anquan Boldin, WR – Boldin provides a big, physical, run-after-the-catch balance to the Cards’ passing attack. In 15 games, he recorded 84 catches for 1,024 yards and four touchdowns. He’s a No. 1 receiver on more than two-thirds of the teams in the league, so obviously his knee/ankle injury, suffered in the third quarter Sunday, could be a huge blow to Arizona’s overall chances this week. ESPN’s Adam Schefter Tweeted on Monday that Arizona isn’t optimistic he’ll be able to go after the results of his MRI. The Cards need him on the field to keep the Packers from entirely focusing on Larry Fitzgerald, though, so I have a feeling Boldin will suit up, at the very least in a decoy-type role.
2. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB – Rodgers-Cromartie – man, was I hoping the Pack could get him in the ‘08 draft – has come on big-time in his sophomore season, recording six interceptions and an astounding 25 passes defended. Surely Cards’ fans were gasping for air when he had to be carted off the field in the first quarter Sunday. Apparently, though, the injury is just a bruised kneecap (as we football fans know, carts usually equal season over). Still, if he’s hampered even slightly by the injury, it’s almost a guarantee that the Packers will target him because of the speed of their wideouts.
3. Calais Campbell, DE – Another high ‘08 pick (taken in the second round), Campbell has really emerged in his second season, recording seven sacks (tied for the team lead) as an end in Arizona’s 3-4 scheme. The early talk is that Campbell’s fractured thumb might require surgery this week, although the team is optimistic he’ll be able to play with a cast. Casts can affect how an end gets off the blocks, though, so even if Campbell is a go, you have to think he won’t be as effective as he would normally. That’s a big plus for Green Bay’s offensive line as it can focus a little more on Darnell Dockett now.

Green Bay Packers

1. Ryan Pickett, NT – Playing in a contract year, Pickett has been outstanding this season for Green Bay. He’s a key cog in the NFL’s No. 1 rushing defense and has shown an increased ability to rush the passer at times. His hamstring injury, suffered in the Monday night win over Baltimore in week 13, wasn’t originally thought to be too serious. But Pickett missed three of the last four regular season games (only playing sparringly in the loss to Pittsburgh) as the team desperately tries to get him ready for the postseason. The Packers need Pickett on the field in order to ensure a four-man rotation at defensive line. Otherwise, the remaining three linemen could wear down quickly if Arizona can control the clock.
2. Brandon Chillar, ILB – Chillar is crucial in the Packers’ nickel defense as he, along with Nick Barnett, is one of the team’s best cover linebackers. Chillar becomes even more critical when you consider just how much the Cardinals like to throw the ball. Bank on the Packers operating out of nickel sets for much of the game Sunday, which means Chillar’s back spasms, which have bothered him throughout the season, need to be cleared up. Green Bay rested him for the game last Sunday, so hopefully Chillar will be good to go. Otherwise, we could see more A.J. Hawk in passing situations. Which, as we all know, isn’t really a good thing at all.
3. Derrick Martin, ST – Martin is listed as a cornerback/safety, yes, but we all know his real impact has come on special teams. In short, the guy’s been a demon there. Starting field position is so huge in playoff games and Martin could be a key player in ensuring the Cards have to drive as far as possible for points. His ankle injury, suffered against Seattle two weeks ago, is thought by some to be fairly significant. Hopefully, Green Bay’s training staff can work some magic on it and get Martin back.

-Chris Lempesis

But what they showed should make the defending NFC Champs mighty nervous.

Without giving it all away, the Packers were still able to earn a dominating 33-7 road win over the Cardinals in the regular season finale for both squads. The Packers, who [...]]]> The Green Bay Packers didn’t show the Arizona Cardinals everything they could do Sunday.

But what they showed should make the defending NFC Champs mighty nervous.

Without giving it all away, the Packers were still able to earn a dominating 33-7 road win over the Cardinals in the regular season finale for both squads. The Packers, who finished the regular season 11-5, now turn their focus to next week’s wild card matchup, once again against Arizona. 

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Lambeau Time next Sunday.

Offensively, Green Bay didn’t do much more than it normally does. Donald Driver wasn’t quarterbacking some weird version of the wildcat offense or anything. Nor were the Packers simply calling for dive plays or five-yard out routes.

Green Bay ran some multiple-receiver sets, some short-yardage packages and its usual array of run plays. What the Packers did while running them, though, is an entirely different story. Simply put, they dominated Arizona’s defense.

Aaron Rodgers (why can’t he be in the MVP race if Judas is? Can someone answer me that, please?) picked Arizona apart, completing 21-of-26 passes for 235 yards and a score (no interceptions). Playing behind an increasingly improved offensive line, he continues to throw with a newfound confidence. If the old saying is true that a team goes as far as its quarterback takes them, the Packers could be in for a nice little run here.

The receivers attacked Arizona’s secondary and Ryan Grant (11 carries, 51 yards and a touchdown in just one half of football) is running harder than I’ve ever seen him run. Please, Mike – don’t forget about Grant come next Sunday.

Yes, the Cardinals weren’t blitzing a ton (that’ll change next week) and they might not have played with much fire (Minnesota’s win earlier in the day pretty much locked them into the No. 4 spot so they had little to play for).

But with the way Green Bay came at them Sunday, it’ll be up to them to up their level of play come next weekend. Because Green Bay’s will stay the same, if not improve.

Things bode just as well for the Packers’ defense. It’s true that Kurt Warner only played the first quarter. But he was the only player, really for the entire Cardinals team, to get pulled extremely early.

Against Arizona’s starting offensive line, Green Bay generated pressure without blitzing more than a handful of times. Once Dom Capers jacks up the pressure gage next Sunday, Warner will feel the heat, quick release or not.

The Cardinals didn’t really try to run the ball. But when they did, they got nothing.

And the most exciting thing to come out of the defensive performance? The Packers showed they can indeed cover Arizona’s lethal receiving corps. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, before he got hurt (a possible knee/ankle sprain, something to keep an eye on in the week ahead), were blanketed for much of the afternoon.

Charles Woodson (if he isn’t Defensive Player of the Year, they should just stop handing out the award), Tramon Williams and Atari Bigby all came up with picks. Again, if those guys could do that with little blitzing, imagine what they could do if Warner has to throw quicker than he’d like.

These things come together to form a picture of a team that cared, a team that wanted to win Sunday. The Packers know they’ve got a great deal of momentum at the perfect time. More than that, this team seems to understand – believe it or not, some don’t – that you don’t get those two things at the same time very often. They were intent on keeping that going.

The Cardinals played things differently. They knew they were at home next week against the Packers no matter what. No point in killing yourself over a “meaningless” game. That vibe radiated off their entire team Sunday.

The problem with that, though, is that Arizona will now have to try to flip the switch in a very short amount of time. To go from not caring to caring is a big step in the NFL, especially in the postseason. The Cardinals did it last season, yes, but it’s hard to imagine they could do it again.

Luckily for the Packers, they don’t have such concerns.

The light turned on for them a long time ago. And it sure doesn’t seem like they plan on letting anyone turning it off.

-Chris Lempesis