Supplemental Draft Time is here and gone and the Green Bay Packers were serious about taking someone. Believe it or not it another defensive tackle. Most Packers fans are educated enough to know more than Football 101. So my thinking in writing this article is why is Ted Thompson and John Dorsey, head of college scouting interested in bringing another defensive tackle with training camp right around the corner.
As fans we all know the Packers already drafted, in the first round no less, a defensive tackle. Why another one. Is it because the medical staff is still afraid to giving the green light on Justin Harrell for physical play, I know they did give the green light for practicing when training camp starts. The Packers could still hold him out of the physical play by just playing it safe or is there really something still wrong with Harrell’s left bicep. If Green Bay is being cautious, you cannot blame them after spending the first round on him.
Another important reason for the addition could have been that Corey Williams is in the final year of his contract. Corey had a decent year in 2006; I think Ted Thompson wants to see if Corey can do it again coming off the bench. I know you can never have to many good defensive tackles. I just hope nothing serious happens to Justin Harrell this season. Like something that could force him onto the PUP list till October. But anyway the player the Packers were said to be interested in was Clifton Dickson from Florida State. The key reason why the Packers were interested in his services was due to his last workout before the supplemental draft. Generally scouts were saying that Dickson had great footwork and stamina during the workout, which was held in Florida, where it can get very muggy and hot. Dickson is just under 6-4 and his weight ranges from 310 to 320 and yet is able to still run a 5.10 second 40 yd dash. If I am not mistaken Justin Harrell is around those numbers for the forty-yard dash. So now you may ask why Dickson wasn’t drafted. Again goes back to character issues, he had a couple of run ins with the law. Dickson has the ability to be a disruptive force and the Packers are counting on that, if they selected him, which they did not. Dickson played behind Broderick Bunkley, who currently is the starting right defensive tackle for the Eagles.
I feel the only reason Green Bay was interested in Clifton Dickson is that he is ready to play now with training camp two weeks away. He was in great shape at his workout that was held in Florida. My gut feeling is the Packers wanted to make sure all bases were covered if something does happen to Harrell for an extended period of time. But what if I am wrong and Justin Harrell’s bicep is fine. Then the rotation is looking like: Pickett and Harrell then Williams and Jolly or Cole. Then the big question is the pecking order for the defensive line.
I am really surprised with this potential drafting and or signing. I mean I have not even discussed Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole or Ryan Pickett the other three defensive tackles. Mike McCarthy mentioned even after OTA’s were completed that both Jolly and Cole had both outstanding off seasons and should be in the mix for more playing time. What Green Bay has at least on paper is starting to shape up to be a formable unit. Let training camp begin.
GO PACK!!!!
Joe Blackwell