Green Bay Packers 2013 defensive draft needs
To say the Green Bay Packers defense is terrible based on one Playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers is shortsighted, but the Packers’ defense is their weakest link. You don’t think of the Packers as a shutdown defense, but the 2013 NFL draft will offer tons of possibilities for the Packers to work toward getting back to that type of defense.
Or at the very least a playmaking defense, because the Packers went from 31 interceptions in 2011 to 18 in 2012. And most of that drop in production resulted from Charles Woodson’s decline.
The Packers 2013 defensive draft needs are as follows: S, OLB, DE and CB. How do the Packers address these needs is simple, because you don’t have to use the 26th pick on a safety.
Analysts are pounding the table for the Pack to draft a Jonathan Cyprien or even Matt Elam, but I would suggest the Packers wait till the second round to draft David Amerson of N.C. State. The reason is because Amerson has the ball skills needed to make up for the loss of Charles Woodson.
Amerson was a turnover machine at N.C. State with 13 interceptions in 2011, and 5 interceptions in 2012 with a drop in production only because teams stopped throwing in his direction as much. He is a questionable cornerback, but I’m willing to say with his ball skills can become an All-Star free safety.
Amerson has the skill set to be a special player and he will be available in the second round. He’s the best playmaker out of all the safeties and cornerbacks in the 2013 draft. That’s exactly why he needs to be one of the main targets for the Packers in 2013.
The next position that needs help is outside linebacker. Clay Matthews is of course your stud, but the Packers haven’t been able to find a consistent pass rusher on the other side.
However the player I would suggest the Packers pursue in 2013 is Corey Lemonier of Auburn. Lemonier is an undersized player as a 4-3 defensive end, but his pure pass rush ability as a 3-4 outside linebacker can make the Packers front seven dominant.
Lemonier is a highly athletic player with a tremendous motor, and was the best pass rusher in the SEC in 2012. Just look at his tape against Luke Joeckel who is widely considered the consensus top left tackle prospect in the 2013 NFL draft.
If the Packers loss out on Lemonier, then a Sio Moore or Brandon Jenkins are a major consideration, but Lemonier is another player I consider who has special ability.
3-4 defensive end is considered a need, because 33-year-old Ryan Pickett isn’t going to last forever. That’s where I see the 26th pick being used on is at defensive end.
The top players’ worth consideration is a debate between Johnathan Hankins, Sylvester Williams, Datone Jones and Margus Hunt. Williams or Hankins would be a splitting image of Ryan Pickett.
They have the same size and interior quickness for the position that can play now or develop a bit before eventually replacing Pickett. Jones and Hunt on the other hand are physical specimens.
I like Jones and Hunt, because they have enough versatility to be used in various positions on the line. The only issue with Jones is fit, because he is better suited as a 4-3 defensive end.
Hunt is just a very raw football player without much experience with football, because he’s originally from Estonia. However being a novice to football isn’t such a bad thing, because he won’t have to unlearn too many bad techniques.
You can build Hunt on the ground up, and the sky is the limit for Hunt. Which he could probably touch the sky too as he’s 6’8.
The last need on defense is nickel cornerback. We live in a passing league, and you can never have enough nickel cornerbacks.
The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions are going to sling it in 2013. That’s why nickel corner is a need in 2013.
My favorites are Leon McFadden, Jordan Poyer, B.W. Webb, Robert Alford and Tyrann Mathieu.
I like McFadden because of his cover corner ability, but like Poyer, Webb, Alford and Mathieu because of their ball skills. Mathieu is the biggest playmaker out of the group, but he comes with drug issues.
That’s why I’d rather go with a Poyer, Webb and Alford before getting Mathieu. The Packers simply have to get more playmakers in the 2013 draft on defense.
However the possibilities are endless. I think targeting defensive line in the first, safety in the second, outside linebacker in the third and cornerback in the fourth round should make for a solid draft class.
The offense has gone through some doldrums, but getting turnovers on defense will help the offense get through its identity issues. However a defense that can turn the ball over is the key to another Super Bowl run, and that needs to be the focus for the Packers in the 2013 draft.
James Cobern is a Featured Journalist for TPF and can be contacted at JCobern@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com.
Please do me a favor if you don’t follow the Packers don’t write about them!!! Woodsons decline? How about the fact he was on IR and didn’t play just about all season. Or the fact we get 3 starting caliber Linebackers off of injured reserve like our starting middle LB or Smith who proved he could start after Bishop got hurt or maybe just maybe you would factor in our FIRST ROUND PICK from last season Nick Perry who got put on IR also or maybe the young guy Dezman Moses who played pretty good after all the others got injured!!!!!!!!! However I do agree we need a 3-4 defensive end and also agree with safety is a small need!!! Why in the world do we need a corner? depth? We have two starters and Williams will probably go to back up!!!!!! then after that what we really need is offensive line and a running back…..
You’re absolutely right. A cornerback who had to move to safety and missed 9 games, because he was injured and is 36 years old is not a player on decline. Perry has a lot to prove before you go making him the next Clay Matthews. Moses is a backup that you are overrating to make a point. And your point about injuries makes the point of this article. The depth isn’t there on defense. Injured players have a high probability of becoming re-injured versus not being injured again. Your overvaluing people, and the point of this article was to show the players the Packers should pursue. The Packers are not going to focus only on defense or offense. They are going to take the best players available. Perry hasn’t proven anything yet. Until he does, bringing in competition for his job will make the team better. And showing off okay backups is not a good argument.
not in agreement with this author.packers have 4 good corners if shields is tendered and he should. tramon was ok ,shields stepped up his play in the 2nd half,heyward suprised and i thought house was on track to get the 3rd or even 2nd corner spot until he hurt his shoulder early on.packers need to address the rb position in the draft and on day 1 of the draft i mean! i cant believe this guy didnt list it as a need cuz it was rather glaring the entire year!packers need to be better than ” just showing the run to keep defenses honest”.If i was a D coordinator and had the choice of rodgers carving up my D all day or taking the risk of green or starks busting one for 9 yards?! Easy choice cuz packers run blocking is weak, green doesnt look like he has the speed, explosion,or vision to shoot through the run holes that last a second and starks never is healthy.I like harris but he is only a change of pace back.not into signing some other teams old scraps either.just like benson or jackson , he may be alright but he is on the downside of his career and at that point the tread is worn and injuries ensue.
Offensive Line I think is the biggest concern. Nearly the entire draft last year went to defense and according to the article the defense declined. We drafted some good guys, some showed in their first year they are good but a lot needs to be proven yet. Maybe our run game is so poor not because of the RB’s but the offensive line. We were severely depleted at the end of the season, EDS helped save us especially after Saturday was benched, but our depth or even first string for that matter for OL is the biggest weakness IMO. I say we need TWO, good OL men in the draft, and after that focus on the 3-4 defensive needs. Lets get one great DE to compliment Matthews and get some good depth for MLB and the front line. Probably time to look at replacing Hawk.