Good Homer article for all us homers...

by Guest Tue Aug 26, 2014 4:42 pm

[size=32]Despite misses, Thompson's '12 draft not un-Worthy[/size]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Pete Dougherty, Press-Gazette Media12 a.m. EDT August 14, 2014

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(Photo: Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette Media)

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After the Jerel Worthy trade Tuesday night, Twitter and Green Bay Packers-oriented websites buzzed about general manager Ted Thompson's 2012 draft.
Rightfully so.
It was worth noting that before that class even has begun its third NFL regular season, five of Thompson's eight picks no longer are with the team. On its face, that's alarming, especially for a GM whose personnel philosophy skews as far toward draft-and-develop and anti-free agency as Thompson.
But without context, that high early failure rate means little. And anyone who instantly declares the '12 draft a disaster is wrong.
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The truth is, if you've ever really looked at the history of the draft, you know Thompson's '12 class probably will end up being not bad at all.
That's because it's not the number of picks who are still with the team three or four years later that matters. It's who they are.
In its simplest hypothetical form, if a team has 10 picks and one becomes a Pro Football Hall of Famer, whereas the rest wash out of the league in two years, then that's a good draft. If that Hall of Famer is a pass rusher, it's a home run. And if it's a quarterback, it's a grand slam and then some.
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Now, just to be clear, this isn't saying Thompson's '12 draft has a future Hall of Famer. OK? And we're not suggesting it's a great class or one of Thompson's best. It wasn't and isn't.
But look at who's left from Thompson's eight picks in '12: Mike Daniels, Casey Hayward and Nick Perry. There are a couple players there.
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Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Mike Daniels during training camp practice at Ray Nitschke Field on Friday, Aug. 1, 2014. Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette Media(Photo: Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette Media Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette Media)

Daniels already is one of the Packers' best defensive players — he's the insider pass rusher they projected Worthy to be — and is on his way to very good career, maybe even better.
Hayward's 2013 season was ruined by a recurring hamstring injury, but based on his rookie season and training camp this year, he's their best ballhawk and slot cover man. They definitely missed his ability to play the ball last year.
So that's two players who don't just get on the field regularly; they make plays that help win games. Maybe they're not big difference makers yet, but it's hardly farfetched to think one or maybe even both could be soon.
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Perry, on the other hand, hasn't been the outside pass rusher Thompson projected as a first-round pick, and he's been hurt a lot. But when healthy, he's good enough to justify rotational playing time.
So yeah, Thompson's '12 class has zero depth and seen a majority of its players flame out uncommonly fast. So what? Daniels and Hayward are good enough that it's hardly a disastrous year.
Damn fuckin' straight! One player and one guy the jury is still out on from a whole draft just two years ago--and that's fuckin' the golden bear, bitches! I know Duck and JnC will agree, right buddies? Laughing