**Editors Note ~ As this story was going to press Green Bay GM Ted Thompson had just announced the signing of FA RB Cedric Benson. The Packer RB corps has been decimated by early season injuries resulting in HC Mike MccCarthy cutting down his practice times on multiple occasions. RB James Starks is listed as ‘week to week’ with turf toe, RB Alex Green remains on a strict snap count as he attempts to come back from major knee reconstructive surgery, RB Brandon Saine has a hamstring issue, FB John Kuhn also sprained an ankle to go along with UDFA Du’uane Bennett also has been injured. While the Benson signing is big news it deserves its own coverage but we would be remiss in not including the news in this week’s article. Under the new CBA Benson will not suit up nor play in this week's preseason game vs. Cleveland. Also the shoulder injury sustained by rookie CB Casey Hayward will have him sidelined for 3 weeks in a separate announcement. Rookie DE Mike Daniels is expected to return to the lineup this week.**Ed.

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THE PACK'S 2012 DRAFT CLASS

As the rookies take the field and dominate the speculation as to how far this years Green Bay Packers will go it is essential to remember that Green Bay is a ‘draft and develop’ philosophy team. GM Ted Thompson and Head Coach Mike McCarthy work in tandem in getting a player in, teaching him for a year and keeping him off the field, letting him adjust and by the 2nd year seeing some playing time in the hopes that by year 3 – 4 the tree bears fruit. Unless a player comes in with the ability of a Clay Matthews or B.J. Raji or Bryan Bulaga the Packers are in no hurry to rush the young ‘uns along.

But last year the Packers fell way short in the playoffs after steamrolling the regular season. The pass rush went MIA and Ted Thompson went shopping for talent. The future IS now.

The 2012 Draft in the NFL saw Packers GM Ted Thompson shed his penurious style, check into a nearby phone booth and emerge as the NFL’s version of Monte Hall as the Packers aggressively made deal after deal as they made astatement in the ’12 draft.

TT has a well-deserved reputation for holding his draft picks in such high regards that he will deal them only under the threat of physical harm. That is not to say he never makes a deal; after snagging B.J. Raji 3 years ago Trader Ted moved up paying a stiff price to grab a USC LB named Clay Matthews III. Okay, so it was a shaky pick and Packer Nation is still waiting for the return on investment… oh, wait – that was A.J. Hawk taken at #5 before that.

In this year’s draft the Packers went aggressively after some targeted choices and made it pretty clear with the picks. There’s nothing wrong with the offense and the guys we have on defense are gonna be fighting for every job, because we’re importing a ton of talent to fix the pass rush.

1 – Nick Perry/ OLB/ USC - At #28 the Pack grabbed another USC alum to become the bookend running mate to CM3 in Nick Perry. Perry was primarily a DE who fell into the OLB slot on occasion and showed quickness in getting to the QB in college and now has to adjust to the pros. The hot word was that GB had their eyes set on OLB Shea McClellin, but after the Bears grabbed him GB snagged Perry. Questions arise as to Perry’s ability to adjust to and make plays consistently as he shifts full time to the LOLB position, but simply putting a presence on the field will allow Dom Capers to move Matthews back to his better spot on the right side. Perry also shed some pounds and has looked quick in camp; how well he does against the live competition remains to be seen. He’ll start immediately… but can he produce immediately?

Round 2 (TRADE UP) – Jerel Worthy/ DT/ Mich. St. - Trader Ted went to work in the 2^nd round. After Penn State DT Devon Still was snagged Ted moved up immediately to grab Michigan State DT Jerel Worthy in trading up to get him. All along the choice for Green Bay was either Still or Worthy and Ted was not about to let the high motor Worthy fall any further. Worthy is exceptionally quick for a big man, can stuff the run and has the ability to both occupy space and yet free himself to get to the QB. While he will stick the reps will fall to the reborn B.J. Raji who has come to camp leaner and in the best shape of his 3 year career. Worthy had been projected by many as a first round pick and will see more time as the season progresses. Worthy has made Super Bowl hero Howard Green expendable and is a great pick and one that fills an immediate need. Thompson has the uncanny ability to find value as players fall in the draft and has grabbed a gem here with Worthy.

Round 2 (TRADE UP)– Casey Hayward/ CB/ Vanderbilt – The ball hawking Hayward was lauded as a great pick as TT trade back into the 2^nd round to grab him. While not the fastest player on the field Hayward does possess great closing speed and has great field vision that allows him to track the ball and the receiver. Hayward also has the nose in the dirt mentality and is not afraid to get in and lay a body on an opponent. Tackling, or the lack of it, was a consistent black eye on the Packers D last year. Whether Hayward’s frame will hold up to the punishing NFL players is another story, but so far Hayward has been a pleasant surprise in camp and, if he stays healthy, could shove Sam Shields to the side as Shields’ tackling skills have regressed to the point of non-existence. The way Hayward is practicing and playing will make it tough to keep him on the bench this year. As 2^nd year man Davon House improves all of a sudden GB’s CB’s don’t look as thin as they did last year. The downside to Hayward is that the entire Vandy secondary gave up yards by the bunches last year. Since that was GB’s M.O. as well it is something that he’ll have to leave behind.

4^th Round – Mike Daniels/ DE/ Iowa – Anyone see a pattern here? With the 4^th round compensatory pick TT grabbed another high motor pass rusher in Iowa DE Mike Daniels. While a tad smallish at 291 lbs. the 6’ 1” Daniels is a high intensity player in the under the radar Aaron Kampman mold. He needs some weight but is a terrific between the gaps rusher. He takes few plays off and that will be necessary as his size will put him at a distinct disadvantage against some of the beef the NFL will throw at him. Daniels overachieved in college and with the Packers already importing Danny Muir (FA/Indy), Anthony Hargrove (FA/ Seattle) and Philip Merling (FA/ Miami) he will be pushed hard. Given the paucity of pass rushers in camp Daniels could crack the 53 man lineup.

4^th Round – Jerron MacMillian/ S/ Maine – All MacMillian did was jump higher and run faster than any other S in the pre-draft combine. Thompson hand his staff have shown a nose for finding talent and MacMillian could fill a role down the line. MacMillian is a hard hitter who can play center field but will also get lost in double moves and can occasionally get torched on a deep ball. While MacMillian is fast, he is straight line fast and his quickness is wanting. He makes up for it by being an above average to very good run stuffer. He’ll need to make the hyper leap to the NFL pace, but he could be Nick Collins 2.0 in a couple years. Incumbent S Charlie Peprah’s surprise release may just secure a roster spot for him, and his need to immediately contribute will be mitigated by the shift of Charles Woodson into the S slot opposite Morgan Burnett. Moving Woodson is good news for MacMillian. It means he’ll have time to develop without being pressed into service too soon.

5^th Round – Terrell Manning/LB/ North Carolina St. – So to all the critics who say Ted Thompson never trades a draft pick – shaddup fer once and fer all. Trader Ted, knowing he still as 2 compensatory picks left in the 7^th round fire sales his remaining picks to move up to select Manning. While a bit of a head scratcher as the Pack is deep ant LB, especially on the inside, this pick may have a more ominous undertone. Manning is a very good coverage LB and runs well with any TE and can keep pace with a back out of the backfield. He is also a tremendous athlete but is limited in size at a lighter than listed 235 lbs. He lacks the physicality to be intimidating but makes up for it with supreme confidence (he called himself among the best LB’s in the draft after being taken). He will be a good addition to the special teams and will be primarily a weak side ILB… meaning a message has been sent to the salary-bloated A. J. Hawk… time to live up to your dollars as Desmond Bishop, D.J. Smith, Manning, and camp surprise FA Dezman Mozes are all gunning for your job – at a much lower price tag.

7^th Round (Compensatory) – Andrew Datko/ T/ Florida St. – An on the surface value pick that is very suspect looking at this point. Datko has the skill set, speed, and size (6’6”/ 315 lbs.) to play T in the NFL he was hampered due to a serous shoulder injury. After the Justin Harrell fiasco from a couple years ago Ted took a reach on a kid who has practice squad written all over him but has a huge upside. This draft was one of the weakest draft classes in OT’s in recent memory. Datko says his shoulder is 100%, but has been victim of one horrible outing after the next to date. It has been obvious he needs time in the weight room – a lot of time – and time adjusting to the speed of the NFL – a lot of time. When protecting Aaron Rodgers are the first 7 priorities of anyone even remotely interested on the O Line, Datko has a long way to go. Still, at 7 it was hardly a wasted pick and the downside is at least it was a 7th, not a 1^st round pick – just ask Justin Harrell. The upside is IF Datko can catch up and IF Datko can catch on and IF Datko can get stronger… if, if, if. He could make the PS. Or easily be the first cut.

7^th Round B.J. Coleman/ QB/Tennessee-Chatanooga – The overzealous in green and gold glasses will be seeing some déjà vu here. Athletic, good ol’ southern boy, big arm, gunslinger type but put that one to bed. The Ol’ Gunslinger himself, Brett Favre has a better shot of playing in the NFL right now than Coleman. Okay, Coleman HAS a big arm. And he did play at a small school. But stop the comparisons now. His footwork is just this side of the Statue of Liberty. In a word – awful. He has no pro-game type of footwork yet, so this is an ideal spot for him to be in. He could be another Matt Flynn by going through the famed GB QB ‘school’. He has the size and arm and can hit a receiver but he will need a good year or more correcting the bad habits in his footwork. He’s still way to slow getting away from center. Picture a guy being sacked before he can hand the ball off and you get Coleman right now. He also tippy-taps too much in the pocket and leads out with the wrong foot from the shotgun. However, with  Mike McCarthy teaching the class Coleman may look like a bona fide NFLer in a couple years.

Green Bay is, after all, draft and develop.

Ted has done his job well. Give this draft a solid B+ to A-. There look to be few from this draft who won’t stick with the big club and as many as 3 or 4 could see playing time immediately.

NEXT: Uh Oh… The Sudden Rash of Injuries