NFC

This will be the first in a series of reports where I will be analyzing the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft from a Green Bay Packers perspective. This first article will focus on general needs and a potential strategy to meet those needs.

The NFL mock draft season is upon us, and while I am a contributor to what I consider one of the better NFL draft sites , from my viewpoint, it’s too early to be making predictions about who the Packers will draft.

Of course, it’s still fun to do, but there are still so many other questions to be answered. Will there be a salary cap? Will the Packers be able to re-sign most of their own free agents? Will Ted Thompson dip his toes a bit deeper than usual into the free agent waters? Will Thompson look to trade from a position of depth to fill a need? Can players coming off of IR be counted on for 2010?

So what we will focus on here is exploring the right draft strategy for the Packers. For the purpose of this discussion, we are going to assume the Packers' roster will be very close to how they finished the season, with the addition of Patrick Lee, Will Blackmon, and Jason Spitz coming off of IR. It would take a miracle for Al Harris to be ready in time, and Aaron Kampman’s situation is so up in the air, I’ll leave them out of the equation for now.

The Packers’ needs positions are basically five: OT, CB, OLB, S, RB. The main thing to consider is, will the Packers be drafting to make a run at the Super Bowl THIS year, or will they continue to build long-term depth? I propose that there is a way to do both. Ted Thompson needs to go back to his previous draft day m.o. and TRADE DOWN.

Most draft experts have been reporting a significant drop in talent level after the first 20 players, with a fairly flat plateau of talent over the next 30-40 spots. Drafting at the top of that range is a poor value.

At No. 23, will there be a top-flight impact player like Clay Matthews available at any of the Packers' needs positions? CB Joe Haden will be gone. OTs Okung, Davis, and Bulaga will be gone. S Eric Berry will be gone. The only possibility would be at OLB, with Brandon Graham probably gone, but Ricky Sapp, Sergio Kindle, and Jerry Hughes still available. It’s very likely, however, that one of these players would be still be available 10-20 picks later. So why not address multiple needs?

Possible trade partners could be Tampa Bay, holding picks 35 and 44 or New England, with picks 42, 47, and 53, among others. For example, a trade of the Packers first (No.23) and fifth (No. 150) round picks for Tampa’s second (No. 35) and third (No. 67) is pretty equal value according the the trade charts. That would give the Packers a total of four picks in the second and third rounds (Nos. 35, 56, 67 and 86). That’s an opportunity to pick up four of the best 100 players in the country. Of course, there would have to be someone high on Tampa’s wish list at 23 for them to be interested.

Looking at the Packers' needs, most people would say that left offensive tackle is the most glaring need. The odds are pretty slim, however, of landing a player at No. 23 that can step in and start at LT immediately. If you don’t believe that, I’ve done some research and will present the results in an upcoming article.

So the question is, do the Packers use their No. 1 pick on an OT that may need a year or two of bulking up and seasoning? The answer depends on Chad Clifton. If Clifton is back for another year, then perhaps you can afford to pass on an OT in the first round. That is, unless someone like Bulaga or Davis falls into your lap. Regardless, Selvish Capers, Ciron Black, Jason Fox, and Roger Saffold are all good prospects and one of them will be there for the Packers in round two.

But let’s go back to what the Packers are feeling for 2010. Do they think this is THE year to make a run at the Super Bowl? If it is, then I would first be looking for an impact pass rusher to compliment Clay Matthews. Despite the progress made overall by the defense in 2009, lack of a pass rush against the better quarterbacks was the single factor that most impacted and defined the Packers season.

And in my opinion, that was also the main difference between the Packers and the Super Bowl Champion Saints. In big games against top quarterbacks, the Saints were able to significantly pressure those quarterbacks, throw off their timing, and physically wear them down. The Packers gave some great quarterbacks a mostly free ride and lost games they could have won.

So, while it’s still early, my initial thoughts on strategy would entail re-signing most of the Packers’ own free agents, addressing one of the five needs through free agency, and accumulating 4 picks in rounds two and three to address the other 4 needs.

In most years, this would be a strategy that could fit in nicely with Ted Thompson’s way of thinking, although he rarely admits to drafting for need. In 2009, he reversed course out of necessity. The Packers were switching to a 3-4 defense so the impetus was there to make picks at the two most important 3-4 positions, NT and OLB.

In 2010, the Packers are on the cusp. The transition to a defensive roster of 3-4 style players must continue, and they must find a way to protect the quarterback. There are various other strategies that could address those issues and possibly vault the Packers into the “Big Game.” Much can and will change between now and draft day, but this would be my approach based on what we know right now. Of course, tomorrow is another day…

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You can follow Jersey Al on Facebook and Twitter . Visit Jersey Al's Packers Blog .

Jersey Al Bracco is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com. His articles appear on several sports web sites: NFL Touchdown , Packers Lounge , & Packer Chatters.

1. St. Louis Rams- Jimmy Clausen, Quarterback, Notre Dame

I couldn't care less whether or not people think taking Clausen at No. 1 overall is stupid or not.  Regardless of how you look at it, the Rams need a quarterback.

If they get Michael Vick, St. Louis will still be a terrible team on offense.  With a talented quarterback like Clausen, the Rams are set for years.

They've passed on franchise quarterbacks for years now (Jay Cutler in 2006, Matt Ryan in 2008, and Mark Sanchez in 2009).

2. Detroit Lions- Ndamukong Suh, Defensive Tackle, Nebraska

Detroit will have one of the easiest choices in draft history with this pick.  Ndamukong Suh is the best player available, and arguably the best player in the draft.

The Lions need to give their defense some players that will actually intimidate the offense. What better way to do that than selecting a 6-foot-4, 305-pound beast?

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Gerald McCoy, Defensive Tackle, Oklahoma

Tampa Bay has one of the worst defensive lines in the NFL.  Nobody on that line really is a threat for 10-plus sacks.

Gerald McCoy is a great defensive player, but has been overshadowed by Suh. Nonetheless, he will be a tremendous star on a revamped defense.

4. Washington Redskins- Sam Bradord, Quarterback, Oklahoma

Even if the Redskins hang on to Jason Campbell, Washington will need their quarterback of the future.

Like Mike Shanahan did with Jay Cutler when the Broncos had Jake Plummer, I see him drafting a stud like Bradford in hopes that he can come in after a year to become the star of the offense.

5. Kansas City Chiefs- Russell Okung, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State

Kansas City will have big problems if Branden Albert continues to disappoint on the offensive line.

Scott Pioli invested $63 million in Matt Cassel.  So the wise choice would be to find somebody that can actually keep him on his feet.

6. Seattle Seahawks- Eric Berry, Safety, Tennessee

The Seahawks have recently said they would like to wait to get an offensive tackle in the draft.

While Bruce Campbell or Anthony Davis would be a good pick, Seattle will follow through with their words and not take a tackle.

Eric Berry is being compared to Ed Reed.  Seattle's smartest choice would be to take Berry at No. 6.

7. Cleveland Browns- Joe Haden, Cornerback, Florida

Cleveland needs to focus on defense no matter what in the first round.  Whether it's Derrick Morgan, Joe Haden, Everson Griffen, or Rolando McClain, defense is the key.

Joe Haden is easily the best cornerback in the 2010 draft. He's great at coverage, but is only an average tackler.

8. Oakland Raiders- Bruce Campbell, Offensive Tackle, Maryland

Oakland has many options here, but the best choice would be to go with an offensive tackle that will create lanes for Oakland's running backs.

Bruce Campbell is a massive athlete at 6-foot-7, 315-pounds, but he can still run a 4.9. Al Davis loves speed, as we all know.

9. Buffalo Bills- Anthony Davis, Offensive Tackle, Rutgers

Buffalo traded away Jason Peters for a first-round pick last year, but failed to draft an offensive tackle in the 2009 draft.

If the Bills don't get a solid offensive tackle, there ability to run the ball will be very limited.  Anthony Davis is exactly what the Bills need at pick No. 9.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars- Derrick Morgan, Defensive End, Georgia Tech

Want to know why the Jaguars need to draft a defensive end?

John Henderson led the team in sacks last year, with just three.

Derrick Morgan is something the Jaguars need. Their pass-rush is horrendous.  It's time for that to change.

11. Denver Broncos- Rolando McClain, Inside Linebacker, Alabama

Pat Bowlen has recently stated that he won't be trading Brandon Marshall.  But who knows whether or not Bowlen will follow through with this statement?  Only god knows.

If the Broncos keep Marshall, they will focus on a pressing need on defense: the middle linebacker spot.

Andra Davis was solid in 2009, but he's nearing the end of his career and is very expendable at this point.

12. Miami Dolphins- Brandon Graham, Hybrid linebacker, Michigan

This might be somewhat of a reach for the Dolphins, but if they cut Joey Porter, Miami will need another rush-linebacker.

Brandon Graham has flown up the boards quickly after he won the MVP in the Senior Bowl.

13. San Francisco 49ers- C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Clemson

While running back is not a big need for San Francisco, running back tandems have quickly become the most popular trend in the NFL today.

C.J. Spiller is a home-run-hitter every time he carries the pigskin.  He will take a lot of the pressure off Frank Gore when it comes to running the ball.

14. Seattle Seahawks- Taylor Mays, Safety, USC

With Pete Carroll becoming the new head coach of the Seahawks, the chance of him drafting a former USC Trojan in the first round is very high.

Whether it's Everson Griffen, Damian Williams, or Taylor Mays, Seattle will likely have one of the three.

Seattle's safeties are average at best, so picking a talent like Taylor Mays this early is a great choice.

15. New York Giants- Dan Williams, Defensive Tackle, Tennessee

I had a tough time debating whether or not the Giants would take Dan Williams or Brian Price.  But after serious thought, I picked Williams for a few reasons.

Dan Williams is 30 pounds heavier and will likely be more of a run-stuffing defensive tackle.  Yes, Price is a good tackler, but Williams seems to fit the mould of the Giants system better than Brice.

16. Tennessee Titans- Jason Pierre-Paul, Defensive End, South Florida

Jason Pierre-Paul's stock is higher than ever, but after only one decent season in college I wonder why everybody is so high on him.

The Titans number one priority this off-season will be finding a talented defense end, whether it's through the draft or signing a defensive end like Julius Peppers, Aaron Kampman, Richard Seymour, or Ray Edwards.

17. San Francisco 49ers- Bryan Bulaga, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

With the second of their two first-round picks, San Francisco will look to find a top-flight offensive tackle that can anchor the offensive line for years to come.

Bryan Bulaga is one of the more underrated tackles in the draft, but there is no way that he'll fall out of the top 20 picks.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers- Earl Thomas, Safety, Texas

Although the Steelers claim that they need to hang on to Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh needs a future replacement at safety.

Earl Thomas is far too good for the Steelers to pass up.  With Dan Williams off the board, Pittsburgh goes for the best player available.

19. Atlanta Falcons- Sean Weatherspoon, Outside Linebacker, Missouri

Mike Peterson will turn 34 years old in June.  It's highly unlikely that he will be an impact player on the Falcons defense in 2010.

Sean Weatherspoon could be Peterson's eventual replacement if he retires or doesn't play well.

20. Houston Texans- Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

It'll take a lot for Dez Bryant to fall this far, but with not very many teams looking for a receiver, it could very well end up happening.

Dez Bryant is easily the best receiver, and arguably the most dynamic player in the entire draft.  He will go great with the Texans' stellar offense.

21. Cincinnati Bengals- Arrelious Benn, Wide Receiver, Illinois

Despite the Bengals signing Matt Jones, Cincinnati is still in need of a solid No. 2 receiver across from Chad Ochocinco.  Laveranues Coles will likely be cut over the course of the next few weeks.

Thirty-six-year-old Terrell Owens could very well be a Bengal in 2010.  But Cincinnati will still need a wide receiver for the future.

22. New England Patriots- Jermaine Gresham, Tight End, Oklahoma

Ben Watson is scheduled to be a free agent starting on March 5.  Even though he's spent his whole career with the Patriots, Watson will likely look to go elsewhere.

If this happens, New England will look for a tight end early in the draft.  Jermaine Gresham would be a great fit for the pass-friendly Patriots.

23. Green Bay Packers- Charles Brown, Offensive Tackle, USC

I think I've had the Packers taking Charles Brown for almost 2 months now.  He just seems like the perfect fit for their offensive scheme.

Green Bay's offense line was pathetic this past season.  Aaron Rodgers seemed to be on his back about every third passing play that the Packers attempted.

24. Philadelphia Eagles- Carlos Dunlap, Defensive End, Florida

For years, Andy Reid has been known for drafting defensive and offensive lineman in the first round.

Carlos Dunlap could be a locker room concern if he doesn't get his act together.  He lacks consistent effort, and was recently charged with a DUI.  Not a good start for Dunlap.

25. Baltimore Ravens- Damian Williams, Wide Receiver, USC

The reason why Joe Flacco can't be a top 10 quarterback is because his targets on offense are very average.  It's as simple as that.

If Derrick Mason retires, Flacco will have almost nobody to throw to in 2010.  The Ravens would be foolish to pass on a receiver in the first round.

26. Arizona Cardinals- Trent Williams, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma

The Cardinals could go for a pass-rusher like Jerry Hughes or Sergio Kindle, but with Trent Williams available, Arizona should take him.

Arizona will need to solidify the offensive line if they want to keep Matt Leinart on his feet and give him time to throw the ball.

27. Dallas Cowboys- Mike Iupati, Guard, Idaho

The Cowboys have only selected one offensive lineman in the last 21 years.  But the Cowboys don't have many needs, so they'll go for Mike Iupati.

The top three safeties are off the board, and Dallas doesn't need too much else.  They should just go with one of the best players available.

28. San Diego Chargers- Brian Price, Defensive Lineman, UCLA

I strongly doubt teams will let a talented player like Brian Price fall out of the first round.

Luis Castillo can't seem to stay healthy over the past four seasons, missing 16 in total. Brian Price could be the future defensive tackle for the Chargers.

29. New York Jets- Sergio Kindle, Hybrid Linebacker, Texas

Although he only had six sacks as a senior, Sergio Kindle is still a first-round worthy talent in the draft.

With a strong combine, Kindle could move his way into the top 20 picks.  But where we stands right now, late in the first is where he belongs.

30. Minnesota Vikings- Donovan Warren, Corner back, Michigan

Cedric Griffin recently staid in an interview that he expects to be ready by the season opener in September.

Regardless of whether or not he plays in week 1, Minnesota still needs a corner back. Antoine Winfield won't be around forever.

31. Indianapolis Colts- Everson Griffen, Defensive End, USC

Currently the Colts do not need a defensive end, but with Robert Mathis and and Raheem Brock scheduled to be free agents in 2011, Indianapolis will need a d-end for the future.

Everson Griffen could be a steal here, but lately his stock has started to slip. Nonetheless, he's a solid pick by Bill Polian and the Colts.

32. New Orleans Saints- Jerry Hughes, Hybrid Linebacker, TCU

First off, I would like to congratulate the Saints for winning the Super Bowl last week.

New Orleans obviously doesn't have that many needs, but they could use somebody like Jerry Hughes that can either play at defensive end or outside linebacker.

Hughes is a very talented athlete that can be a force on a defense that is already feared by most teams.

Round one (30): Donovan Warren, Cornerback, Michigan

Minnesota's secondary isn't terrible. But the fact that Cedric Griffin could miss significant time is going to be very detrimental to the Vikings' secondary.

Donovan Warren has started slipping on the boards lately. I would love for somebody as talented as him to fall all the way to the third-to-last pick of the first round.

He has good size at 6', 190 lbs. It's not likely that he will start next season if Griffin is healthy, but he can be an excellent nickel corner until Antoine Winfield retires.

Round two (62): Navorro Bowman, Outside Linebacker, Penn State

As talented as Navorro Bowman is, his off-the-field issues could very well prevent teams from selecting him within the top 50 or 60 picks.

Ben Leber isn't going to cut it as a starter at weak side linebacker for too much longer. Landing a top outside linebacker early is exactly what Minnesota needs.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Bowman actually being a starter when week one rolls around in 2010.

Round three (93): Dan LeFevour, Quarterback, Central Michigan

Regardless of whether or not Brett Favre retires, Minnesota needs to draft a quarterback within the first four rounds of the draft.

Dan LeFevour could easily be the most underrated quarterback in the draft. He has a fairly strong arm and is one of the most accurate quarterbacks to come out.

LeFevour actually reminds me a lot of Favre with his ability to fit the ball wherever he wants it go.

Round four (125): Vince Oghobaase, Defensive Tackle, Duke

Minnesota's defensive line doesn't need a ton of help, but with Fred Evans and Jimmy Kennedy scheduled to be free agents, the Vikings will need a new defensive tackle to replace one or both of those guys.

Vince Oghobaase was a projected first-round pick back in September, but after an average season, Vince is now a third or fourth-round pick at best.

Pat Williams will likely hang it up this offseason or the next, so don't be surprised if you see Vince Oghobaase lining up next to Kevin Williams in 2011.

Round five (157): John Jerry, Offensive Guard, Mississippi

Minnesota's inexperience on the offensive line really hurt its ability to run the ball. Had it not been for having two new starters, Adrian Peterson would have had a much better year.

Anthony Herrera seems very replaceable at right guard. Yes, John Jerry won't start in his rookie year, but he could in his second.

Round six (189): Danny Batten, Defensive End, South Dakota State

Minnesota already has two players from South Dakota on defense (Ben Leber and Chad Greenway). So why not add another?

Danny Batten is a 6'3", 250 lb. hybrid linebacker who runs a 4.68 40-yard dash.  Minnesota lacks depth at defensive end, and if Ray Edwards doesn't resign, it will get even worse.

I don't know much on Batten, but he played at both inside and outside linebacker in his senior season with South Dakota State.

Round seven (221): Chris Brown, Running Back, Oklahoma

To say that Chester Taylor will not resign because he wants to start elsewhere is a ridiculous statement. Taylor will be 31 years old when the 2010 season starts. We all know how running backs start to fade after they hit 30 years old (LaDainian Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook, Jamal Lewis).

Minnesota will likely bring Chester back on a relatively cheap two to three year deal.

Even if they do bring him back, Minnesota needs a third running back. I just do not see Albert Young showing signs of being a capable back on the roster.  But who knows, right?

Rookie free agents to consider:

QB - Rusty Smith, Florida Atlantic

At 6'5", Rusty Smith has great size. He could be a decent practice squad addition for Minnesota.

RB - Stafon Johnson, USC

Like Minnesota did last year with Ian Johnson, the Vikings could go after another known name like Stafon Johnson.

TE - Mickey Shuler, Penn State

Primarily a blocking tight end. Jimmy Kleinsasser won't be around forever to block for Minnesota.

OT - Thomas Welch, Vanderbilt

Minnesota usually goes out and grabs two to three offensive lineman rookie free agents.  They will do it again this year.

C - Chris Hall, Texas

Read the description above.

DE - Aaron Morgan, Louisiana Monroe

A good nickel pass rusher. Would be a solid addition to the roster in certain situations.

OLB - Ryan Stamper, Florida

Wracked up 77 tackles, 5.5 tfl, and 2.5 sacks last season.

CB - Chris Chancellor, Clemson

The younger brother of Kam Chancellor broke up eight passes in his senior season.

P- Scott Ravanesi, Southern Illinois

Led the MVC with a punting average of 43.3 yards per punt.

The New Orleans Saints are one victory away from justifying my NFL-Football-Preview">preseason prediction that they would win the Super Bowl.

Unfortunately for them (and my reputation), the Indianapolis Colts stand in the way of their potential coronation.

I have to admit that I'm a bit conflicted about picking a winner for this game. My heart tells me to take the Saints, but my head says the Colts are the better team.

Judging by what I've seen and read the past couple weeks, I think my personal waffling is a bit of a microcosm of what the rest of the nation is currently feeling. New Orleans is clearly the sentimental favorite, while the consensus of the so-called experts is pretty solidly that Indianapolis will prevail.

When you really get down to it and examine both teams, there's little mystery to why this is the case.

In what has been a decidedly unpredictable season, the one consistent factor this year has been the Colts' and Saints' positions atop the league standings.

From the very outset, right up to the fast approaching Super Bowl Sunday, both teams have been staring at everyone else through the rear-view mirror. That's pretty much where most of the similarities end though.

In fact, this game and its contrasting styles represents a Hollywood cliche come to life. It's the puncher vs. the boxer, the half court offense vs. the fast break press, the home run hitter vs the veteran pitcher, etc.

On the one hand, Indianapolis has carved up opposing teams with a surgical precision. Much of the credit for that is obviously due to the expertise of Peyton Manning.

Execution is the calling card of the Colts. They don't call a lot of fancy plays, but the plays they do run are carried out with an almost mechanical degree of perfection.

On offense, they are much like a pass-based version of the Green Bay offense under Vince Lombardi. The other team knows what is coming, they just can't do anything about it.

Their defense is basically the other side of the same coin. Rarely is a player out of position and their timing is exquisite. Indy's D just doesn't leave many openings for opponents to exploit.

The polar opposite of the Colts' coldly efficient play is the Saints' all-out daredevil style of attack. The Saints throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at the team lined up on the other side of the field.

New Orleans' forte is the big play and they are never short on tricks designed to obscure what might be coming next. Misdirections on offense and forced turnovers on defense combine to keep opponents off balance on both sides of the ball.

In spite of the many differences, there are several important similarities between these two teams.

Both have solid offensive lines that have kept their quarterbacks upright all season long. The Colts led the league in least sacks allowed, while the Saints ranked fourth.

Whatever advantage that might have given Indianapolis could be mitigated by the probable absence of Dwight Freeney, who was the Colts' top pass-rusher this season.

Another key similarity is the amount of playmakers these teams have on offense. The reason that nobody has been able to shut these two teams down is that there are so many options to go to.

One final key that I think is being overlooked in this game is the importance of the run game.

The Saints have been dangerous all season long when their three-pronged attack of Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, and Mike Bell have been on their game.

Less evident though, has been how much they have struggled against teams that have shut down their run game. Without an effective ground game, they are less able to attack down the field and the entire offense suffers.

While it was largely an afterthought during the season, Indy has really stepped it up on the ground during the playoffs. If they can play solid run defense against New Orleans and pick up the key yards on offense, they might just run away with the game.

In the end, I think this has the potential to be one of the best Super Bowls ever and it's got 'shootout' written all over it.

My Picks

• Take the Points - I would not be surprised at all (and very happy) if the Saints won it outright, but at the very least it should be a close game.
• Bet Your House on the Over - The total is listed as 57 points. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees could both score 29 points in their sleep.
• Put Your Money on "Tails" for the Opening Coin Toss - I always pick tails.

Hello again Packer fans. After a brief hiatus to re-introduce myself to the wife and kids, I am back to once again discuss all things Packers. I have had several weeks to digest the Packers playoff loss to the Cardinals and their season, in general. As the Super Bowl (oops, “the Big Game”) approaches, I am left to wonder what might have been.

What might have been if the Packers had brought in some experienced DB help (not talking Josh Bell, here) like the Saints did when injuries hit their secondary? The Saints brought three different CBs in until they found the right combination to stabilize their secondary.

What might have been if Ted Thompson hadn’t traded up to pick Clay Matthews? Imagine the Packers defense without his QB pressures, 10 sacks, and big plays.

What might have been if Al Harris had not been lost to injury? Besides the obvious effect of moving Jarret Bush up the depth chart, it very much affected what Dom Capers could do with Defensive Player of the Year Charles Woodson. As I predicted in this article , Capers could no longer afford to risk bringing Woodson on blitzes and leaving the other inexperienced cornerbacks to fend for themselves.

What might have been if 23 other teams hadn’t passed on Aaron Rodgers? I don’t think I’ve ever properly expressed my gratitude, so let me officially say “thank you guys.” Getting Rodgers was like finding a Lexus in your driveway on Christmas morning. By the way, does that ever really happen?

What might have been if the Packers had a kicking game? I mean a real kicking game. I mean a punter that could occasionally pin a team back inside their 10-yard line. I mean a place kicker that could be depended upon to make a big field goal when the team needs it most. Yes, that kind of kicking game.

What might have been if Charles Woodson hadn’t decided to come to the last place on earth he wanted to be: Green Bay? For Charles Woodson? Really? YES!

What might have been if Scott Green wasn’t refereeing the Packers-Cardinals playoff game? And for doing such a fabulous job, he’s rewarded by being named as the Super Bowl referee. Business as usual in the NFL.

What might have been if Ted Thompson hadn’t plucked Jermichael Finley in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft? Still only 22 at the time of this article, Finley has a world of upside and could very well crack the all-pro lineup next season. Much like Shonn Greene was the steal of the ‘09 draft, Finley will carry that title for the ‘08 draft.

What might have been if the Packers hadn’t seriously underestimated their depth at offensive tackle and the trickle-down effect seen when three starting positions were changed?

Granted, there aren’t many good tackles out there that you could bring in as a reserve, but how about a right tackle to compete for the job in camp with Barbre and Giacomini? Or why wasn’t T.J. Lang given a real shot at the RT job? I believe Mike McCarthy had his starting OL set in his mind before camp even started. Personally, I’m for open competition.

What might have been if Bob Sanders was still the defensive coordinator of the Packers? Dom Capers led an amazing turnaround for the Packers defense. Sure, there were some bad games. But remember, the majority of the personnel on the Packers defense were drafted to play in 4-3 scheme.

While some players can make quick adjustments, others will struggle. For everyone who is still blaming Capers for not blitzing more against the Vikings, Steelers and Cardinals, you’re misguided. Capers had to pick his poison against the better quarterbacks. And with nobody other than Clay Matthews getting to the quarterback, he chose coverage. It was all he could do.

What might have been if Brett Favre was still on the Packers? Nah, just kidding on that one.

This article officially concludes my looking back on the 2009 season.  From this point on, I’ll be focusing on the NFL Draft and the 2010 season. In the near future, I’ll be posing a series of questions I feel need to be answered to make for a successful Super Bowl run in 2010. Stay tuned…

You can follow Jersey Al on Facebook and Twitter . Visit Jersey Al's Packers Blog .

Jersey Al Bracco is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com. His articles appear on several sports web sites: NFL Touchdown , Packers Lounge , & Packer Chatters.

With the Super Bowl a week away, the NFL is pushing a product on fans that no longer holds the same meaning that it did before. They are trying to tell the world that a Pro Bowl game will be played, yet it is devoid of the very best in the NFL has to offer.

Roger Goodell is the commissioner of the league, and his legacy is forever tarnished by some recent moves that has most calling the fascist commissioner a moron. His moving the Pro Bowl a week ahead of the Super Bowl is certainly near the top of his list of moves that has fans, coaches, and players scratching their heads.

Perhaps Goodell should have this game retitled the Consolation Bowl, because not all the best has to offer will play. There will be several Pro Bowl players from the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts not playing so they can avoid injury and prepare for Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010. The fact that 13 players chosen will be forced to skip the event shows that the NFL commissioner has turned the game into a fraudulent sham whose only real purpose is to steal a few more dollars from their fans to put on a game filled with more mediocre players than ever before.

Though critics like to lament how the players, who participate in the Pro Bowl, give little effort because the game means nothing more than a paycheck, the main reason is that the modern player needs more incentive to find their source to draw pride in the abilities from. Gone are the players who used to give a great effort because they wanted to show they were the best by winning this game. Goodell, who has dropped the ball on many moments in his tenure, continues to spit in the eye of tradition here by thinking he has taken the easy way out once again.

Thinking outside of the box of confined thought is something the league should consider. Major League Baseball added an important incentive that has their upper echelon players give full effort, and the NFL should go this same route. The winning conference can earn home field advantage in the Super Bowl, which is what baseball has done to success so far. It makes for a better game for the fans, players, and even sponsors who pour millions of dollars into these games.

The NFL would most likely never consider this idea because they do not want a Super Bowl played in nine feet of snow with winds at 110 miles per hour if the Buffalo Bills reach the Super Bowl a year when the AFC held home field rights by winning the previous Pro Bowl. But that is where Goodell and the league are missing the point.

Giving players incentive to work and play hard in the Pro Bowl can bring out the very best from their All-Stars. The league may fret the fair weathered fan, who brings a family of four or more to a game where ticket prices skyrocket to obscene proportions, will eschew a cold weathered venue. Yet this is a tax free organization who sells luxury boxes in each stadium, licensed seating, and has never had a problem even filling seats in an exhibition game played by free agents and rookies making their last appearance in a uniform during the preseason. The Super Bowl would be sold out even if it was played on an iceberg in the Antarctic.

The NFL likes to use catchphrases like "giving back" and "community." These are phrases, since it is the fans who made the league what it is. A Super Bowl in a city like Buffalo would do wonders for that city's economy. That is the truest way to give back to the community instead of continuing to bite the hands that feed and keep the game alive.

Goodell will choose continue the work of former commissioner Paul Tagliabue by eroding the game and exiling the fans with a "shut up and like it" message. Defense is becoming as extinct as the dodo bird, and exerts about as much flight right now. The only future is the league adopting the moronic college football overtime rule. That's more of Goodell's speed, and is the easy way out that he usually takes. That is, of course, the league avoids another players strike.

Coming out of South Carolina, Sidney Rice was highly regarded as a top-notch wide receiver prospect.  

Racking up 142 catches, 2,233 yards, and 23 touchdowns in his freshman and sophomore years under Steve Spurrier and standing 6'4", many thought the Minnesota Vikings got a steal when they selected him in the second round (44th overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft.

After catching just 46 passes for 537 yards in his first two seasons, it looked like all those people were wrong, but after a breakout 2009 and an eye-opening, three-touchdown performance in the Vikings' 34-3 divisional round beatdown of the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Rice may finally be living up to his billing.

Ironically, it seems all the 23-year-old receiver needed was a jumpstart from his 40-year-old quarterback.  

Looking back, Rice's lack of production in his first two seasons could have more to do with the fearsome foursome of quarterbacks trotted out by the Vikings (Tarvaris Jackson, Kelly Holcomb, Gus Frerotte, and Brooks Bollinger) than Rice's talent itself.

But with Brett Favre in tow for the '09 season, Rice broke out and became one of Minnesota's best options, finishing the year with 83 catches for 1,312 yards (good for fourth in the NFL) and eight touchdowns.

Rice's breakout began in Week Four, as the Vikings faced Favre's former team, the Packers, in what became the most-watched television program in cable history.

Sidney logged five catches for 70 yards in the game and also scored his first touchdown of the season, as the Vikings won 30-23 and emerged as a true Super Bowl contender in the NFC.

The breakout season for Rice hit its peak in the middle of the season as over a four-game span (with the Vikes bye week in the middle), Rice racked up 27 receptions and 553 yards, including a seven-catch, 201-yard performance in a win over the Detroit Lions.

While it's clear that Rice's emergence has plenty to do with Brett Favre's first year in the Twin Cities, he also has Adrian Peterson and the threat of the Vikings' running game to thank, as well.  

After Peterson led the NFL in 2008 with 1,760 rushing yards, defenses were forced to stack the box against Minnesota, leaving one-on-one coverage for Rice and Bernard Berrian, which Rice is able to win quite often given his 6'4" stature and willingness to go after every ball thrown his way.

Rice's one-on-one ability was clear Sunday, as Rice's two long touchdowns were both caught against one defender after Favre recognized the coverage and trusted his wideout to win the battle.  

The middle touchdown for Rice in Sunday's game displayed another quality of Rice's game that goes underappreciated—his blocking ability.  

Rice started the play split to the right side of Favre and came in motion as the ball was snapped. On the play, Rice's assignment was to block the Cowboys' pass-rusher extraordinaire DeMarcus Ware, which he succeeded at, going to the ground to knock Ware over and give his quarterback some extra time to rollout and complete the pass.

That Rice was able to render Ware useless on the play speaks to his unnoticed blocking ability, but the second part of the play was even more impressive, as Rice quickly noticed Favre was in trouble and scrambled to his feet.

As Favre eluded Cowboys' defensive end Marcus Spears, Rice put his hands up in the middle of the field and Favre delivered him the ball, which Rice took into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.

The desire and smarts it takes to go from blocking the best pass rusher in the NFL to catching a touchdown pass in the same play are immeasurable, but it is clear that Rice possesses these attributes.

Whether or not Favre comes back for 2010 for the Vikings will clearly affect Rice's future, but 2009 has shown us that Rice can be a quality No. 1 receiver in the NFL. 

But before we get to next season, Rice has a chance to continue his breakout '09 in style next weekend, as the Vikings take on the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game.

He may have seemed like a lost cause in his first two seasons, but the Saints better be aware of No. 18 on Sunday.

Especially if they see him blocking.

This is admittedly somewhat of an unscientific study, but I'm pretty sure I'm the only one outside of Arizona's fans who picked the Cardinals to beat the Packers last week .

I'm also fairly certain that I'm the only person on the planet who didn't think the big shootout between Arizona and Green Bay was the most amazingly great game ever played in the history of the National Football League.

Aaron Rodgers and Kurt Warner are undoubtedly great quarterbacks, but the score of that game had a lot more to do with neither team's defense bothering to even pretend they were going to cover receivers or attempt a tackle, once they caught the ball.

My immediate impression wasn't what an exciting game this is, but more along the lines of: If the winner of this game plays like this next week, the Saints are going to be the first NFL team to score 100 points.

Partly because of the way they packed up their tents early at the end of the season, I actually thought New Orleans might be ripe for an upset. However, after last week, this has turned into one of the hardest picks of the divisional round and I'm leaning toward the Saints again.

The Cardinals should have enough to make it a close game if they decide to play defense. If not though, it will be over fast.

The one game that did catch me off guard last week was the Ravens beating the Patriots. Not so much the fact that New England lost to Baltimore, but the way they lost. Unfortunately for the Patriots, the playoffs have a way of making the cream rise to the top.

You might be able to overcome injuries and positional weaknesses in the regular season, but once it gets down to the elite few, those kind of things get exploited. The bad news for the Ravens is that next week is their turn to be the exploited.

It's probably going to be a somewhat close game, because the Colts have a habit of letting teams hang around until the fourth quarter, but I have very little doubt that Indy will come out on top.

Before last week's games , Rex Ryan countered all the talk of New York not deserving to be in the playoffs by declaring that the Jets should be favored to win the Super Bowl. Then they went out and beat a team they should have beat, which somehow made everyone take that boast seriously.

In spite of the fact that the Bengals limped into the playoffs and missed two easy field goals during the game, a lot of people are suddenly considering the Jets one of the top contenders based on that victory.

As much as I would actually like to see Rex Ryan succeed (I picked the Jets to go to the AFCC in my preseason predictions largely based on him being the coach), I just don't see New York getting past the Chargers. In fact, I think it is going to turn ugly.

Which brings us to the final game between Minnesota and Dallas. There are several keys to this game and I think in the end they all point to one team.

The most obvious of them is the momentum of each team going into the game.

Much like the Saints, the Vikings stumbled down the stretch . They ended up losing three of their final five games and not looking good at all in those losses.

The Cowboys, on the other hand, come into this game playing as good as they have all season. They've managed to avoid a December collapse and instead have won four straight games, including being the first team to beat the Saints.

Another factor that will come into play Sunday is the matchups and, once again, I think those point mostly one direction.

Teams that have been able to get pressure up front have had success at disrupting the Vikings offense. Unlike early in the season, the offensive line hasn't been doing a very good job of keeping pass rushers off Brett Favre.

Minnesota's other glaring weakness all season has been their defensive backfield. Every game they have played against a top quarterback, they have gotten gashed. I expect that trend to continue when Tony Romo, Miles Austin, and Jason Witten come to town.

Similarly, the absence of E.J. Henderson (who was injured in week 13) should leave some room for Felix Jones and Marion Barber to maneuver once they get throuh the line.

So in case you somehow haven't figured it out yet, I'm picking the Cowboys to come out on top in this game and I won't be at all shocked if they win big.

Last week , my record was 2-2 both straight up and against the spread, with the Jets and Cards each covering on the field and against the number as underdogs

My Picks for the 2010 Divisional Playoff Games

Sat, Jan.16	1:30 PM (PST)	2:30 PM (MST)	3:30 PM (CST)	4:30 PM (EST)
Favorite	Underdog	Point Spread	Straight Up	Against the Spread
@New Orleans	Arizona	7.0	New Orleans	Arizona
Sat, Jan. 9	5:00 PM (PST)	6:00 PM (MST)	7:00 PM (CST)	8:00 PM (EST)
@Indianapolis	Baltimore	6.5	Indianapolis	Baltimore
Sun, Jan 10	10:00 AM (PST)	11:00 AM (MST)	12:00 PM (CST)	1:00 PM (EST)
@Minnesota	Dallas	3.0	Dallas	Dallas
Sun, Jan 10	1:40 PM (PST)	2:40 PM (MST)	3:40 PM (CST)	4:40 PM (PST)
@San Diego	New York Jets	7.0	San Diego	San Diego

1. St. Louis Rams

Tanner's pick: Ndamukong Suh, Defensive Tackle, Nebraska

The St. Louis Rams' need for a quarterback is obviously there. With Jevan Snead stupidly deciding to declare this year, the Rams can wait until the second round to get their future QB.

Ndamukong Suh is a gigantic presence at 6-foot-4, 305 lbs. He is not only a tremendous run-stuffer, but one of the best pass-rushers in quite some time.

Sayre's pick: Jimmy Clausen, Quarterback, Notre Dame

The Rams need to move on with their franchise. They are reaching here with franchise, but they need a quarterback for the future more than a top-flight defensive lineman.

2. Detroit Lions

Tanner's pick: Eric Berry, Safety, Tennessee

Detroit needs an offensive tackle quite obviously. But for some apparent reason, Detroit's offensive staff is very high on the play of Jeff Backus.

Eric Berry will go along great with Louis Delmas, the second round pick of the Lions from 2009.

Sayre's pick: Ndamukong Suh, Defensive Tackle, Nebraska

Last year the Lions began their rebuilding project with quarterback Matt Stafford. And this year, defensive minded, Jim Schwartz, will take another step in the right direction by taking the top defensive player available in Suh.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tanner's pick: Gerald McCoy, Defensive Tackle

Gerald McCoy has been overlooked by the tremendous play of Ndamukong Suh this past season. With that said, McCoy is still an incredible defensive tackle.

Tampa Bay's defensive line has been terrible for years now. Gaines Adams clearly didn't work out. Hopefully Gerald McCoy won't have the same fate.

Sayre's pick: Eric Berry, Safety, Tennessee

The Bucs have begun the rebuilding process defensively. This year they will take the top defensive player on the board in either Ndamukong Suh or Eric Berry. Either pick will be great for their defense.

4. Washington Redskins

Tanner's pick: Russell Okung, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State

Russell Okung is clearly the best offensive lineman available. Washington will look to tender Jason Campbell. This will allow them to get a stud like Okung to block for him.

Sayre's pick: Russell Okung, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State

Mike Shanahan begins Redskins rebuilding project by selecting the top offensive line prospect to project Jason Campbell in 2010.

5. Kansas City Chiefs

Tanner's pick: Rolando McClain, Inside Linebacker, Alabama

Derrick Johnson is a free agent this off-season. Kansas City needs to start focusing on the defensive side of the ball this offseason.

Rolando McClain showed why he is so great in the BCS championship game this past Thursday night.

Sayre's pick: Rolando McClain, Inside Linebacker, Alabama

The Chiefs need to continue to revamp their defense. Rolando McClain is the best linebacker prospect in this draft. He would either be a great pair with Derrick Johnson, or would be an adequate replacement if he decides to leave via: free agency.

6. Seattle Seahawks

Tanner's pick: Jimmy Clausen, Quarterback, Notre Dame

Matt Hasselbeck has shown lately that his body is nowhere near as in shape as it used to be. They need to start moving on with a young and talented quarterback.

Jimmy Clausen is a better prospect at this point than Sam Bradford because Bradford missed out on most of his junior year at Oklahoma.

Sayre's pick: Joe Haden, Cornerback, Florida

Seahawks rebuilding project has to start somewhere. Taking the best player on the board is what they need to do to get back on track. Their secondary is one of the worst parts of their team. It needs to be revamped.

7. Cleveland Browns

Tanner's pick: Joe Haden, Cornerback, Florida

Joe Haden is the best cornerback in this years draft by miles. Cleveland's defense is horrendous. They absolutely cannot go wrong with any pick they make.

Haden will be a lock-down cornerback from day one.

Sayre's pick: Gerald McCoy, Defensive Tackle, Oklahoma

The Browns need to take the best player available here, offense or defense. Gerald McCoy has no business falling this far. He will be a great addition to their defensive line.

8. Oakland Raiders

Tanner's pick: Derrick Morgan, Defensive End, Georgia Tech

Oakland's defensive line has gotten better with the addition of Richard Seymour, but he is now a free agent.

Derrick Morgan is a very athletic prospect. He will be a great fit for the Raiders young defense.

Sayre's pick: Derrick Morgan, Defensive End, Georgia Tech

Athletic d-end prospect who will provide the Raiders with some semblance of a pass rush.

9. Buffalo Bills

Tanner's pick: Bruce Campbell, Offensive Tackle, Maryland

The Bills offensive tackles are amongst the worst in the league. If they draft a quarterback, he will be sacked almost every offensive possession.

Bruce Campbell could be a risky choice over the emerging Anthony Davis, but they are both extremely talented blockers.

Sayre's pick: Anthony Davis, Offensive Tackle, Rutgers

The Bills need to continue to revamp their offensive line. Their offense will continue to do nothing as long as the line play is putrid.

10. Denver Broncos

Tanner's pick: Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

Brandon Marshall's expiring contract and lack of maturity is going to cause him to not be a Bronco next season.

Dez Bryant is an explosive wide receiver with incredible talent. He will pair nicely with Eddie Royal.

Sayre's pick: Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

Brandon Marshall is likely not going to be a Bronco much longer. If so, Denver needs to add a playmaker on the outside to give Kyle Orton a safety valve. Dez Bryant is that playmaker at the wide receiver position.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars

Tanner's projected trade: Cleveland Browns trade their second round pick (38th overall), third round pick (72 overall) and a 2011 first round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 11th overall pick, and their fifth round pick (134 overall).

Tanner's pick (Cleveland Browns): Sam Bradford, Quarterback, Oklahoma

Cleveland needs a quarterback if they want to succeed. Brady Quinn is not going to cut the cake for you any longer. Trading three high picks will be risky, but the Browns need to make risks in order to improve.

Sayre's pick: C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Clemson

Do you want to sell tickets? Why not add the most explosive offensive player available to team with your pro bowl running back, Maurice Jones-Drew? Spiller can do everything offensively and on special teams.

12. Miami Dolphins

Sayre's projected trade: Miami trades their first and second round pick to Arizona's first round pick and WR Anquan Boldin.

Tanner's pick: Dan Williams, Nose Tackle, Tennessee

Jason Ferguson is near the end of his career. Dan Williams will be a great replacement for him once he's gone.

Sayre's pick (Arizona): Sam Bradford, Quarterback, Oklahoma

Kurt Warner's recent decision to retire makes the Cardinals need for a quarterback more pertinent. Matt Leinart has been a bust. Sam Bradford is cut from a similar mold to Kurt Warner.

13. San Francisco 49ers

Tanner's pick: Anthony Davis, Offensive Tackle, Rutgers

The 49ers offensive tackles are pretty lackluster. Tony Pashos isn't worth starting ever again. Anthony Davis might not fall this far, but if he does, San Francisco will take him.

Sayre's pick: Sergio Kindle, Hybrid Linebacker, Texas

49ers need a big time pass-rusher. Kindle is probably the best hybrid available in the draft. He had a great national title performance. He elevated his stock into the top 15.

14. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver)

Tanner's pick: Taylor Mays, Safety, USC

With Pete Carroll signing a big deal with Seattle, he will likely take one of his many talented USC players that will come out this season.

Taylor Mays is a freakish athlete that will likely run a 4.3, and put himself in the top 15 picks.

Sayre's pick: Taylor Mays, Safety, USC

Pete Carroll will go back to his USC roots. He will be getting a very solid player in the secondary. Big as a linebacker, fast as a corner.

15. New York Giants

Tanner's pick: Earl Thomas, Safety, Texas

There have been some rumblings that Kenny Phillips career might have been ruined after his devastating injury he suffered in 2009.

Regardless of health, the Giants need another safety. Earl Thomas is only a sophomore, so it's very possible that he'll stay in school.

Sayre's pick: Earl Thomas, Safety, Texas

Giants will take the best defensive player on the board. Earl Thomas fits a need with Kenny Phillips in the secondary.

16. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina)

Tanner's pick: Jerry Hughes, Hybrid Linebacker, TCU

San Francisco's pass rush is amongst the worst in the league. The cure for this? Jerry Hughes, one of the best hybrid linebackers in the draft.

Sayre's pick: Bruce Campbell, Offensive Tackle, Maryland

The 49ers give up more sacks than nearly every team in the NFL. This needs to be rectified.

17. Tennessee Titans

Tanner's pick: Everson Griffen, Defensive End, USC

Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jevon Kearse are nearing the end of their careers. The Titans need to focus on getting a young and talented defensive end to replace either one of them.

Everson Griffen is rising up the boards quickly. He will be a great pick for Tennessee.

Sayre's pick: Brian Price, Defensive Tackle, UCLA

The Titans defensive line needs a lot of help. James Jones and Brian Price will become
one of the better defensive tackle duos in the NFL today.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers

Tanner's projected trade: New England trades its first round pick (26th overall) and their second round pick (57th overall) to the Pittsburgh Steelers for their first round pick.

Tanner's pick (New England): Sergio Kindle, Hybrid Linebacker, Texas

Despite Bill Belechick saying that he's impressed with the play of Derrick Burgess, I believe the Patriots need another pass-rusher.

Sergio Kindle might not be the best fit, but not many people thought the Patriots would take Jerod Mayo either.

Sayre's pick: Dan Williams, Defensive Tackle, Tennessee

Casey Hampton is a free agent. It's been reported by several media outlets that he will be allowed to walk. Dan Williams will be a nice, young replacement.

19. Atlanta Falcons

Tanner's pick: Greg Hardy, Defensive End, Ole Miss

Atlanta's pass rush is pretty horrendous. They need somebody that can get to the quarterback in a hurry.

Greg Hardy will have the chance to reunite with his former teammate Peria Jerry.

Sayre's pick: Everson Griffen, Defensive End, USC

The Falcons need a consistent pass rush on the end. Jamaal Anderson was not able to give them that.

20. Houston Texans

Tanner's pick: C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Clemson

C.J. Spiller falling this far might be ridiculous, but with not many teams needing a running back, it's not very far-fetched.

Spiller and Slaton will become one of the best running back tandems in the league.

Sayre's pick: Golden Tate, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

Andre Johnson needs somebody that will be able to take some of the pressure off of him. Golden Tate will be a solid addition to the offensive attack of the Texans.

21. New York Jets

Tanner's pick: Golden Tate, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

After seeing how many balls Braylon Edwards dropped this year, I strongly believe the Jets will draft a wide receiver early.

Golden Tate and Damian Williams will likely be the two receivers that the Jets consider. But Tate is the overall better athlete.

Sayre's pick: Carlos Dunlap, Defensive End, Florida

Dunlap seems like a good fit for the 3-4 defense. He would be a nice addition to an already good Jets unit.

22. Baltimore Ravens

Sayre and Tanner's projected trade: Baltimore trades its first and third round pick to Denver for WR Brandon Marshall.

Sayre's pick (Denver): Jahvid Best, Running Back, California

The Broncos picked Knowshon Moreno in 2009, but their running game still struggled due to lack of depth. Jahvid Best will be an excellent fit for Denver's offense. He will also be a great complimentary speed-back to Knowshon Moreno.

Tanner's pick (Denver): Mike Iupati, Guard, Idaho

Denver's running game will improve with a much better guard blocking for their running backs.

Fixing the offensive line will be much more essential to the franchise rather than drafting a running back this early.

23. Arizona Cardinals

Tanner's pick: Trent Williams, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma

The Cardinals running game will only get better with a solid offensive tackle added on to their average offensive line.

Trent Williams will create lanes for Chris Wells and Tim Hightower to run through.

Sayre's pick (Miami): Terrence Cody, Defensive Tackle, Alabama

Miami's rebuilding project is almost complete. A solid nose tackle to replace Jason Ferguson in Cody is another step in the right direction.

24. Green Bay Packers

Tanner's pick: Charles Brown, Offensive Tackle, USC

Aaron Rodgers needs to be able to stay on his feet more. The Packers were on the top 3 in sacks allowed this season.

Charles Brown is the perfect fit for the Green Bay Packers offensive system.

Sayre's pick: Trent Williams, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma

Aaron Rodgers is sacked far too often, but he's still productive if he has an offensive line blocking for him. With a solid offensive line, he could potentially become the best quarterback in the NFL.

25. Cincinnati Bengals

Tanner's pick: Brian Price, Defensive Tackle, UCLA

Brian Price isn't the essential nose tackle, but he can bulk up and play it if need be. The Bengals were crushed in the run game by the Jets on Saturday night.

Sayre's pick: Reshad Jones, Safety, Georgia

I can't name either one of the Bengals safeties off the top of my head. The Bengals need an upgrade at the safety position.

26. New England Patriots

Tanner's pick (Pittsburgh): Terrence Cody, Nose Tackle, Alabama

Like Sayre said, Casey Hampton will likely not be resigned this offseason. Terrence Cody would be a great fit for the Steelers tough defense.

Sayre's pick: Navorro Bowman, Outside Linebacker, Penn State

Good value pick for the Patriots. Bowman provides a great pass-rush from the outside. Would be a great fit for the 3-4.

27. Philadelphia Eagles

Tanner's pick: Jason Pierre-Paul, Defensive End, South Florida

Victor Abiamiri is not going to be the starting defensive end for the Eagles for much longer. Jason Pierre-Paul is what the Eagles need.

He will be a great pair with Trent Cole at defensive end.

Sayre's pick: Sean Weatherspoon, Outside Linebacker, Missouri

Eagles only real defensive weakness other than safety is at outside linebacker. Sean Weatherspoon is a great fit for their scheme.

28. Dallas Cowboys

Tanner's pick: Bryan Bulaga, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

Flozell Adams is near the end of his potential hall of fame career. Bryan Bulaga might stay in school if he's not a top 20 pick, but there is no way of him ever knowing if that will happen or not.

Sayre's pick: Bryan Bulaga, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

Bulaga would be an awesome fit for the Cowboys offensive line, which is one of the most explosive offenses in the league.

29. Minnesota Vikings

Tanner's pick: Navorro Bowman, Outside Linebacker, Penn State

Ben Leber is not going to cut it at outside linebacker. As a Vikings fan, I know that our linebackers core is weak because we don't have a solid weakside linebacker.

Navorro Bowman would be a steal this late in the draft. He will be able to step in right away to start.

Sayre's pick: Jason Pierre-Paul, Defensive End, South Florida

Ray Edwards is a free agent this offseason. The Vikings could use another pass rush option outside of Jared Allen.

30. San Diego Chargers

Tanner's pick: Brandon LaFell, Wide Receiver, LSU

Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson are both free agents when the season comes to an end.

Brandon LaFell would be a great No. 2 receiver with Vincent Jackson on the other side.

Sayre's pick: Brandon Spikes, Inside Linebacker, Florida

Chargers need more help at middle linebacker. Brandon Spikes is good value this late.

31. New Orleans Saints

Tanner's pick: Sean Weatherspoon, Outside Linebacker, Missouri

New Orleans linebacking core is fairly mediocre, in my opinion. Jonathan Vilma is the star of the core, but that's about it.

Sean Weatherspoon is a great fit for the Saints defense.

Sayre's pick: Greg Hardy, Defensive End, Ole Miss

The Saints could use an outside linebacker here, but due to lack of depth at the top end, they should take advantage of the best player available on defense. In this case, Hardy fits the description, and a need as a pass-rushing specialist.

32. Indianapolis Colts

Tanner's pick: Carlos Dunlap, Defensive End, Florida

Robert Mathis and Raheem Brock both become free agents after the 2010-2011 season ends.

Carlos Dunlap will take a major fall due to his immature acts at Florida. Nonetheless, he will be a great fit and pick for Indianapolis.

Sayre's pick: Patrick Robinson, Cornerback, Florida State

Colts could be losing some players via: free agency in the defensive backfield. This was one of their major weaknesses throughout the season. Robinson is good value with the last pick of the first.


Round 2:

33. St. Louis Rams

Tanner's pick: Jevan Snead, Quarterback, Ole Miss

Sayre's pick: Jermaine Gresham, Tight End, Oklahoma

34. Detroit Lions

Tanner's pick: Jared Odrick, Defensive Tackle, Penn State

Sayre's pick: Charles Brown, Offensive Tackle, USC

35. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tanner's pick: Damian Williams, Wide Receiver, USC

Sayre's pick: Jared Odrick, Defensive Tackle, Penn State

36. Kansas City Chiefs

Tanner's pick: Ricky Sapp, Hybrid Linebacker, Clemson

Sayre's pick: Damian Williams, Wide Receiver, USC

37. Washington Redskins

Tanner's pick: Chad Jones, Safety, LSU

Sayre's pick: Chad Jones, Safety, LSU

38. Cleveland Browns

Sayre's projected trade: Cleveland Browns trade second round pick to the Denver Broncos for TE Tony Scheffler.

Tanner's pick (Jacksonville): Tim Tebow, Quarterback, Florida

Sayre's pick (Denver): Mike Iupati, Guard, Idaho

39. Oakland Raiders

Tanner's pick: Brandon Spikes, Middle Linebacker, Florida

Sayre's pick: Jevan Snead, Quarterback, Ole Miss

40. Seattle Seahawks

Tanner's pick: Donovan Warren, Cornerback, Michigan

Sayre's pick: Tim Tebow, Quarterback, Florida

41. Buffalo Bills

Tanner's pick: Von Miller, Hybrid Linebacker, Texas A&M

Sayre's pick: Arthur Jones, Defensive Lineman, Syracuse

42. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Chicago)

Tanner's pick: Corey Wooton, Defensive Lineman, Northwestern

Sayre's pick: Ricky Sapp, Hybrid Linebacker, Clemson

43. Miami Dolphins

Tanner's pick: Jahvid Best, Running Back, Georgia Tech

Sayre's pick (Arizona): Perrish Cox, Cornerback, Oklahoma State

44. New England Patriots (from Jaguars)

Tanner's pick: Demaryius Thomas, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

Sayre's pick: Donovan Warren, Cornerback, Michigan 

45. Denver Broncos

Tanner's pick: Arthur Jones, Defensive Lineman, Syracuse

Sayre's pick: Maurkice Pouncey, Center, Florida

46. New York Giants

Tanner's pick: Sean Lee, Inside Linebacker, Penn State

Sayre's pick: Sean Lee, Inside Linebacker, Penn State

47. New England Patriots (from Tennessee)

Tanner's pick: Jermaine Gresham, Tight End, Oklahoma

Sayre's pick: Brandon LaFell, Wide Receiver, LSU

48. Carolina Panthers

Tanner's pick: Arrelious Benn, Wide Receiver, Illinois

Sayre's pick: Arrelious Benn, Wide Receiver, Illinois

49. San Francisco 49ers

Tanner's pick: Brandon Ghee, Cornerback, Wake Forest

Sayre's pick: Brandon Ghee, Cornerback, Wake Forest

50. Kansas City Chiefs (Atlanta)

Tanner's pick: Jason Fox, Offensive Tackle, Miami

Sayre's pick: Aaron Hernandez, Tight End, Florida

51. Houston Texans

Sayre's pick:  DeAndre McDaniel, Safety, Clemson

Tanner's pick: Jeremy Williams, Wide Receiver, Tulane

52.  Pittsburgh Steelers

Sayre's pick:  Kyle Wilson, Cornerback, Boise State

Tanner's pick:  Vladimir Ducasse, Guard/Tackle, UMass

53.  Baltimore Ravens

Sayre's pick:  Javier Arenas, Cornerback, Alabama

Tanner's pick:  Aaron Hernandez, Tight End, Florida

54.  New York Jets

Sayre's pick:  Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan

Tanner's pick:  Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan

55.  Arizona Cardinals

Sayre's pick:  Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, TCU

Tanner's pick:  Colt McCoy, Quarterback, Texas

56.  Green Bay Packers

Sayre's pick:  Mike Pouncey, Guard, Florida

Tanner's pick:  Kyle Wilson, Cornerback, Boise State

57.  Pittsburgh Steelers (from New England)

Tanner's pick:  DeAndre McDaniel, Safety, Clemson

57.  New England Patriots

Sayre's pick:  Corey Wootton, Defensive Lineman, Northwestern

58.  Cincinnati Bengals

Sayre's pick:  Demaryius Thomas, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

Tanner's pick:  Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech 

59.  Dallas Cowboys

Sayre's pick:  Nate Allen, Safety, USF

Tanner's pick:  Nate Allen, Safety, USF

60.  Philadelphia Eagles

Sayre's pick:  Myron Rolle, Safety, Florida State

Tanner's pick:  Eric Norwood, Outside Linebacker, South Carolina

61.  Minnesota Vikings

Sayre's pick:  Jonathan Dwyer, Running Back, Georgia

Tanner's pick:  Dan LeFevour, Quarterback, Central Michigan 

62.  San Diego Chargers

Sayre's pick:  Ryan Matthews, Running Back, Fresno State

Tanner's pick:  Anthony Dixon, Running Back, Mississippi State

63.  New Orleans Saints

Sayre's pick:  Eric Norwood, Outside Linebacker, South Carolina

Tanner's pick:  Rob Gronkowski, Tight End, Arizona

64.  Indianapolis Colts

Sayre's pick:  LaMarr Houston, Defensive Lineman, Texas

Tanner's pick:  Javier Arenas, Cornerback, Alabama

As we are a few hours away from kickoff of the 2009-2010 NFL Playoffs, I found myself wondering what NFC teams needed to do to get to the Super Bowl. The NFC was a much different conference than most of us thought it would be. Teams that were supposed to do well didn't, and other teams that started hot, finished not.

During this wild card weekend, there are two NFC games that should be very fun to watch, Eagles at the Cowboys and Packers at the Cardinals. I took a little time to break down each team and come up with a list of my own keys to success.

Packers Offense—They need to keep Rodgers upright. He took far too many sacks this season (50) and had only won one game this season in which he got sacked five or more times. The offensive line has gotten much better this season, but needs to keep it up to have great success in the postseason.

Defense—Need to do what they do. With future Hall-of-Famer Charles Woodson at the defensive helm, they just need to stick to their roots. Their d-line and corners are as good as anybody and will cause any starting quarterback to wake up in the night with cold sweats.

Cardinals Offense—The Cardinals need Warner, Fitzgerald, Hightower, and Wells to be on their A-game. If any one of these guys falter, the Cardinals will fail. They just don't have the offensive resources to pick up the slack. With that being said, the other piece is going to be making sure that they score early and often. They will have a hard time if they get down by more than seven points.

Defense—They just need to play how they played for most of the season. This defense is better than average, so that will help them quite a bit. Their biggest task will be protecting the deep ball, specifically against the Pack this weekend. Rodgers has a canon, so act accordingly.

Eagles Offense—The Eagles need big production from their young receivers. McNabb has shown that he has no problems throwing to Jackson or Maclin this year, so I think the bout against the Cowboys will be no different. The only other thing they need is to make sure that Brian Westbrook has room to run.

Defense—A pretty good defense at times, but a joke at others. They need to make sure that the right defense shows up. The performance against Dallas a week ago was that of a last place high school football team in Alaska. Slow and terrible. They are going to be sharp for 60 minutes in this one if they want to win.

Cowboys Offense—The biggest key to success for the Cowboys is to make sure that Tony Romo doesn't turn into Tony Choko. A team that hasen't won a playoff game since 1996 sparks some concern. At least with Jessica Simpson out of the stands, Romo can focus on the game. He won't have to be distracted by that ridiculous pink Romo jersey. If Romo stays focused, the rest of the offense will do the rest.

Cowboys Defense—Well, the Dallas defense is pretty darn good this year. DeMarcus Ware should be the Eagles biggest concern. He is going to make McNabb throw in a hurry, and the corners need to be ready. The defense should be no worry for Dallas fans; they will be just fine.

Well, that is my keys to success for this wild card weekend in the NFC. I look forward to seeing the outcome of these games what matchups are ahead for the winners.