Jersey Al's Packers Blog

Now that draft euphoria was worn off, let’s meet the Packers’ second first-round pick:

Clay Matthews III didn’t start as a 166-pound linebacker his Junior year in High School, even with his father as his coach. Nor did he start a college football game until the fourth game of his senior season. He played as a stand-up DE, not a linebacker, when he finally became a starter.

Clay Matthews III was not even rated by NFL scouting services coming into his senior season. He also started a “White Nation” Facebook group as a Junior in College as a joke.

Are you worried yet?

Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers traded a second-round and two third-round draft picks for the opportunity to select Clay Matthews. Giving up all of that for a player with only 10 starts in college and taking him in the first round? Does this not go against all logic?  Read more... (1074 words + 6 images, estimated 4:18 mins reading time)

Did anybody see this coming?

The Green Bay Packers, after seeing B.J. Raji fall into their laps (and turning their backs on Michael Crabtree), pulled a rare move up the draft board.

Ted Thompson traded the Packers’ second-round pick and both their third-round picks for New England’s first rounder (26th overall) and a fifth-round selection.

Sure, if one bases evaluation solely on value points, the Packers were taken, but Ted Thompson got the object of his desire at 26: USC Linebacker Clay Matthews.

Again, I ask, did anyone see this coming?

According to Thompson, for weeks the Packers have been exploring trade possibilities to move up and select Matthews. He thinks Matthews is the best of the three USC linebackers and the perfect fit for Green Bay’s new defensive scheme.

Matthews is fast, athletic, and smart and made tremendous improvements in his game last season. He has come from being a walk-on at USC to having a great year as a starting linebacker for the Trojans. He is considered to have the most upside of the USC linebackers.  Read more... (325 words + 5 images, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)