It’s taken over two years, but the documentary highlighting the amazing life of Jerry Kramer is finished. There have been some bumps and hurdles over that time, including the COVID-19 pandemic, but the film is done and is already getting epic reviews from those who have seen it.
I was honored to take part in this great undertaking as a supervising producer after being introduced to award-winning filmmaker Glenn Aveni, who directed and helped write this documentary.
The people who add their commentary in the film are a Who’s Who list of prominent people. For instance, Bart Starr Jr., Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers all add some insightful discussion about Jerry. We came close to adding two more very significant voices to this group. Glenn and I had set up an interview with both Bart Starr and Zeke Bratkowski at Zeke’s home in Florida’s panhandle in 2019. Unfortunately, Bart’s health situation worsened and he passed away before we could do the interview. About six months later, his best friend Zeke also passed away.
Plus there are many other legendary sports icons in this movie. People like the late, great Paul Hornung. Other teammates of Jerry’s who add their commentary in the film include Hall of Famer Dave Robinson, as well as Boyd Dowler, Carroll Dale, Chuck Mercein, Donny Anderson, Don Horn and Jim Grabowski. Other former Green Bay greats also add some great analysis about Jerry, which include stars like Gilbert Brown and Hall of Famer James Lofton.
The president of the Packers, Mark Murphy, also lends his voice in this film. As does the former general manager of the team, Ron Wolf.
Also in the documentary is David Baker, the president and executive director for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The two men who made the presentations for Jerry to all of the voters for the Hall of Fame are also in this film. They are Rick Gosselin and Pete Dougherty.
There was nobody more important in Jerry’s literary career than his very good friend Dick Schaap. That part of Jerry’s life, as well as some other excellent assessment about Jerry was added by Jeremy Schaap, Dick’s son. Jeremy is named after Jerry, plus Jerry is the godfather of Jeremy.
Plus there a number of Pro Football Hall of Fame members who also add some insightful recognition about Jerry. This includes Franco Harris, Tom Mack, Joe Delamielleure, “Mean” Joe Green, Bill Polian and Robert Brazile. Also in the documentary is the vice president of the Chicago Bears, Brian McCaskey.
In addition, five of Jerry’s children…Tony, Diana, Dan, Alicia and Matt, speak of their admiration for their father. Jerry’s sister Carol also shares some nice memories about their childhood.
Three of the executive producers of the film, Herb Kohler, Lonnie Stephenson and Kenny Hansmire, also add some commentary in the documentary.
Jerry was also able to share some great memories with some of his buddies from Sandpoint High School.
I talked to Aveni about the film recently and he was very thankful for all the help he received along the way.
“The whole film has been a pleasurable experience,” Aveni said. “We have had tremendous support. First and foremost, the Green Bay Packers. The Packers have been outstanding in wanting to be involved with us, from Mark Murphy on down, including his whole team and also Craig Benzel (vice president of sales and business development) who have been very supportive. Then inevitably, they decided they would help in distribution for us.”
“They will be handling the digital streaming on their platform for the feature-like version and it will be there exclusively. They are also going to handle sales of digital downloads, physical DVDs and Blu-Ray copies at the Packers Pro Shop at Lambeau.”
The film goes back to Jerry’s childhood growing up in Sandpoint, Idaho. It captures Jerry’s time in high school and also at the University of Idaho. Then there was the 11 wonderful years Jerry spent in Green Bay playing under Vince Lombardi. Jerry was part of a team which won five NFL championships in seven years, which included the first two Super Bowls. Plus, the Packers won three straight NFL titles (1965, 1966 & 1967), which is something that has never been duplicated in the playoff era of the NFL which started in 1933.
The signature moment of the time under Coach Lombardi was the victory in the “Ice Bowl”, aka the 1967 NFL title game. That game included the signature drive in the Lombardi era, as well as the signature play, Starr’s quarterback sneak. Jerry played a big role in all those memorable moments.
That period was an unforgettable time in Jerry’s life. He was part of a great collection of individuals, who excelled on the playing field and also in life in general, thanks to the coaching and teaching of Coach Lombardi.
The documentary also delves into Jerry’s literary career and then the long 44-year journey that Jerry took on his way to enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
One day, Jerry can look back on all of the wonderful achievements he has accomplished in his life.
“I know I’ll go home and go fishing one of these days,” Jerry says in the film. “And sit out on the water and remember the days and some of the moments and some of the players and some of the guys. I think I just need to be alone and be out in the bushes somewhere and think about it for a while. But it’s been all I dreamed it could be and more. It’s just been more that I ever hoped it would be.”
We are now four days away from the start of the 2021 NFL draft which will be held in Cleveland. Like I have done for 20 years now, I will be doing a mock draft for the Green Bay Packers. As per usual, I am using the expertise of NFL scout Chris Landry as I go through this exercise.
I’m using Landry’s Horizontal Draft Board (best player regardless of position) and his Vertical Draft Board (best player at a particular position), plus I am utilizing his scouting reports.
By the way, I will not be selecting any of the players I picked in my first mock draft. That being said, when I looked at how the 2021 Green Bay team needs to improve, one thing stuck out like a sore thumb to me. That is, the overall poor play of the special teams of the Packers. The team was just 29th in the NFL in Rick Gosselin’s annual special teams rankings.
The Packers were ranked No. 5 in the NFL in total offense in 2020. Green Bay was also ranked No. 9 in the NFL in total defense. Both units still need to improve, especially the defense, but special teams has been a problem now for years for the Packers. In 2019, the Packers were ranked 26th in special teams by Gosselin. In in 2018, the Pack was ranked dead last at spot No. 32.
So in this mock draft, especially later in the selection process, I focused on improving the special teams units for Green Bay.
Time will tell if like a blind squirrel, I can find an acorn with some of my picks, but it’s always a great time for me when I do these mock drafts.
Packer Nation is hoping for is hoping for the type of draft that the Packers had in 1956, when the team selected Forrest Gregg out of SMU, Bart Starr out of Alabama and Bob Skoronski out of Indiana in that class. Or the 1958 draft, when the Pack selected Jim Taylor out of LSU, Ray Nitschke out of Illinois and Jerry Kramer out of Idaho.
The man most responsible for those excellent draft classes was scout Jack Vainisi. We shall see if the scouting department under general manager Brian Gutekunst of the Packers can also find some gems for head coach Matt LaFleur to utilize on his team.
So without further adieu, here is my second mock draft for the Pack. After each selection I make, there will be a scouting report that you can read on that particular player done by Landry.
Round 1: Linebacker Jamin Davis (Kentucky)
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 234 pounds
Jamin Davis played at Kentucky for three years, but really made his mark in 2020, when he had 102 total tackles, four for a loss, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions for 90 yards (including one for a touchdown, two passes defended and one forced fumble.
Davis has excellent size, speed and pursuing ability. He plays the run and the pass equally well. Davis showed off his athleticism at the Kentucky pro day when he ran a 4.47 in the 40 and had a 42-inch vertical leap.
The defense of the Packers, now under the guidance of Joe Barry, will be utilizing the scheme that was used by Brandon Staley of the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 (ranked No. 1 in team defense in the league). In that scheme, it’s important to have a playmaking linebacker who can be effective in all phases of the game. Davis fits that profile perfectly, just like the linebacker I selected in my first mock draft, Zaven Collins.
Chris Landry’s scouting report:
A one-year starter at Kentucky, Davis was the middle linebacker in head coach Mark Stoops’ 4-2-5 hybrid scheme. After a redshirt year and two seasons as a backup, he had a breakout junior season as the Wildcats’ leading tackler and finished as one of only four SEC players to average double-digit tackles per game in 2020. Davis is a rangy player with a GPS for the football, stretching out his stride to close versus the run or drop into coverage. He needs to develop more of a counterattack versus blockers and clean up his tackling technique, but he casts a wide net with his length to make open-field stops. Overall, Davis isn’t a banger and needs to improve his take-on skills, but he trusts his eyes and plays fast to quickly respond to play development. He projects as a run-and-chase linebacker and Zach Cunningham clone.
GRADE: 1st-2nd Round
Round 2: Wide Receiver Amari Rodgers (Clemson)
Height 5’9″
Weight: 212
Amari Rodgers played at Clemson for four years and was a three-year starter. In his career as a Tiger, Rodgers had 181 receptions for 2,144 yards and 15 touchdowns. Rodgers had a fine senior year at Clemson, as he had 77 catches for 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns. That led to Rodgers being named first-team All-ACC.
Rodgers was a member of the 2018 FBS national championship team at Clemson, as he caught 55 passes for 575 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned a punt that season for a score.
On the pro day at Clemson, Rodgers ran the 40 in 4.51.
Looking at film on Rodgers, I see a lot of Sterling Sharpe with his body-type and his strength in breaking tackles. Plus, he plays the slot receiver role very effectively, which is something which has been missing from the offense of the Packers ever since Randall Cobb left via free agency. The addition of Rodgers would definitely make another fellow named [Aaron] Rodgers smile, as the depth chart at wide receiver led by All-Pro Davante Adams would definitely improve.
Chris Landry’s scouting report:
A three-year starter at Clemson, Rodgers lined up primarily in the slot in offensive coordinator Tony Elliott’s shotgun spread scheme, moving around the formation and thriving on quick targets (screens, sweeps, etc.). He was Trevor Lawrence’s favorite receiver in 2020 and finished his career No. 6 in school history with181 catches. Rodgers is very natural catching the ball in stride and seamlessly becoming a ball carrier, and there is a rumble pack on the clicker when you watch his tape because you feel his play strength and toughness. He has elusive feet to shake defenders and settle in zones, but he still requires maturation as a downfield route runner. Overall, Rodgers might struggle to win on the outside vs. NFL corners, but he is a cranked-up competitor with the play strength, instincts and acceleration similar to Deebo Samuel. He projects as a versatile starting slot receiver with special teams skills.
GRADE: 2nd-3rd Round
Round 3: Defensive Lineman Tommy Togiai (Ohio State)
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 296 pounds
Tommy Togiai played defensive tackle for three years at Ohio State. In 2020, Togiai became a regular on the defensive line and had a great year, as he was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches. In 2020, Togiai had 23 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, with three sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Togiai plays the run extremely well and is improving as a pass rusher.
At the Ohio State pro day, Togiai showed off his strength and speed, as he put up 40 reps on the bench press and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.97.
The Packers have to improve their run defense, as that is definitely their weakest link on that side of the ball. Adding a guy like Togiai, will allow the Packers to move Kenny Clark around on the defensive line and exploit certain matchups.
Chris Landry’s scouting report:
A one-year starter at Ohio State, Togiai played the one-technique position in defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs’ four-man front, lining up primarily over the A-gap. He was one of the prizes of the 2018 recruiting class and after two seasons coming off the bench, he became a starter in 2020 and emerged as arguably the Buckeyes’ most valuable player on defense. Togiai is a bully in the trenches and has outstanding strength and flexibility through his hips to anchor, shed and make plays at the line of scrimmage. He takes the “hard work always beats talent” mantra to heart, never taking plays off and competing with relentless effort. Overall, Togiai needs to develop his handwork and timing as a pass rusher, but he boasts developed power, physical hands and budding instincts. He projects as a stout run defender with pass rush upside.
GRADE: 3rd-4th Round
Round 4: Cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. (Oregon)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 192 pounds
In the pass-happy NFL, a team can never have enough good cornerbacks. Thomas Graham Jr. of Oregon has the attributes to fill that role. In three seasons at Oregon, all as a starter, Graham had 183 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, eight interceptions (including one for a score), 32 passes defended, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
In 2019, Graham was named honorable mention All-Pac 12 because of his play. In 2020, like many college players did, Graham opted out of the season and accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.
Even though the Packers re-signed cornerback Kevin King to a one-year deal, nothing is certain regarding King’s future, especially when one looks at his injury history and his poor play in the 2020 NFC title game. That’s why it’s important to reload at the cornerback position. Plus, Graham is always around the football and is a better tackler than King. If nothing else, the secondary of the Packers will add better quality depth with Graham, as will special teams.
Chris Landry’s scouting report:
A three-year starter at Oregon, Graham was the field cornerback in former defensive coordinator Andy Avalos’ scheme, playing both man and zone coverages. He enrolled early at only 17 years old and earned an immediate role at cornerback, totaling 40 passes defended and eight interceptions in only three seasons with the Ducks. A coachable and confident competitor, Graham is quick to sort and react to what he sees, showing a knack for disrupting passing windows. While he plays urgent, he isn’t a sudden athlete and needs to protect vs. missteps. Overall, Graham doesn’t have high-end physical traits, but he works hard to stay on top of routes and makes plays on the football. He projects as an immediate depth piece for an NFL team.
GRADE: 4th Round
Round 4: Offensive Tackle Tommy Doyle (Miami of Ohio)
Height: 6’8″
Weight: 320 pounds
Tommy Doyle was a four-year starter of at Miami of Ohio where he played both right tackle (15 games)and left tackle (16 games). Doyle was named first-team All-MAC honors in both 2019 and 2020 for the Redhawks.
At the the pro day for Miami of Ohio, Doyle ran a 5.1 in the 40, had a 32-inch vertical jump and a 9-3 long jump. In addition, Doyle posted times of 4.61 seconds in the short shuttle and 7.57 in the 3-cone drill, each of which would have been among the leaders at the 2020 combine. Doyle also had 24 reps on the bench press.
On the offensive line for the Packers, the offensive tackle position is the most tenuous position on the line. That’s due to the release of right tackle Ricky Wagner and the ACL injury suffered late in the 2020 season to All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, which will most likely cause No. 69 to miss a number of games in 2021. That’s why it’s important to have someone who can be a swing tackle at both of those positions. Doyle can definitely do that.
Chris Landry’s scouting report:
A four-year starter at Miami (Ohio), Doyle was the left tackle in head coach Chuck Martin’s offense. Focused on hockey most of his life, he made the switch to football in high school and settled in at offensive tackle for the RedHawks, earning First Team All-MAC honors as a junior and senior. Doyle didn’t face high-level pass rushers each week in the MAC, but he more than held his own vs. A.J. Epenesa on the 2019 Iowa tape and took positive steps in his development each season. While he works hard to gain positioning, he isn’t a natural or fluid bender, leading to grabbing and technique breakdowns. Overall, Doyle is overly segmented with his movements and pad level continues to be an issue, but he is a tenacious blocker with the raw size and athleticism worth developing. He projects as a future NFL swing tackle.
GRADE: 4th Round
Round 5: Running Back Javian Hawkins (Louisville)
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 183 pounds
Javian Hawkins of Louisville is nicknamed “Playstation” for a reason. It’s because of the cuts and moves he can make on the football field. Hawkins is undersized, but he is also can break a log run at any moment of the game due to his speed and agility. For example, Hawkins had posted touchdown runs of 75, 70 and 90 yards in 2020.
In 2019 and 2020, Hawkins combined to rush for 2,347 yards (5.9 average) and 16 scores. Hawkins also caught 20 passes for 185 yards and another score.
At the Louisville pro day, Hawkins ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44, the short shuttle in 4.25 seconds and the three-cone drill in 6.96 seconds.
The Packers need to add another running back to their depth chart behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Hawkins would be a great change of pace back to bring in, plus he is perfect for the outside zone scheme that the Packers run on offense.
Chris Landry’s scouting report:
A two-year starter at Louisville, Hawkins became the feature back when head coach Scott Satterfield took over in 2019, thriving in the Cardinals’ outside zone scheme. He set the school’s single-season record for rushing yards by a running back in 2019, which was the third-best overall (Lamar Jackson holds the top two spots). Nicknamed “PlayStation” for his elusiveness, Hawkins has slippery feet to bounce laterally and slash away from trouble (similar to a more dynamic version of Donnel Pumphrey). Although his quickness makes it tough for defenders to square him up, his small frame and inability to power through contact are concerns at the next level. Overall, Hawkins lacks ideal size/power and relies more on a clear point of entry rather than creativity, but he has the speed, toughness and shifty feet to stack cuts on cuts on cuts. He projects as a change-of-pace option in the NFL, especially if he earns trust as a receiver/blocker.
GRADE: 5th-6th Round
Round 5: Center Drake Jackson (Kentucky)
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 293 pounds
Center Drake Jackson could have played at places like like Alabama and Ohio State after being one of the most sought after players at his position in high school. But Jackson decided to stay home and play for Kentucky, where he became a four-year starter.
Jackson played in 47 games for the Wildcats and was named second-team All-SEC in 2020. Although a bit undersized, Jackson has the quickness to get out on the second level on his blocking and is a good match for the outside zone scheme that the Packers run on offense.
With center Corey Linsley leaving the Packers via free agency, the Packers could use someone to take over at the center position. One option would be to move left guard Elgton Jenkins over to center, as he played that position at Mississippi State. But Jackson or possibly second-year center Jake Hanson could also be options there.
Chris Landry’s scouting report:
A four-year starter at Kentucky, Jackson was a mainstay at center in former offensive coordinator Eddie Gran’s scheme. He worked himself into the starting lineup midway through his freshman season and never gave the job back, starting 45 straight games at center (including 25 victories). Jackson has the grip strength to latch and control, but will struggle when matched up against power across from him. He is a technician at the position with the snap quickness and body angles to reach/pull with ease. Overall, Jackson lacks position versatility and will have his troubles vs. length and power, but his movement skills, hand strength and feel for the game are on an NFL level. He projects as a center-only prospect who will push for playing time in a zone scheme.
GRADE: 5th Round
Round 6: Cornerback Camryn Bynum (Cal)
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 196 pounds
Cornerback Camryn Bynum was a four-year starter at Cal. In those four years, Bynum had 184 total tackles, eight tackles for a loss, one sack, six interceptions and 28 passes defended. Bynum was named honorable mention All-Pac 12 as a sophomore, second-team all-conference as a junior and first-team all-conference as a senior.
Camryn was also a team captain for Cal in 2019 and 2020.
At the Cal pro day, Camryn ran the 40-yard dash in4.49 seconds, leaped 10 feet, 9 inches in the standing broad jump, ran the 3-cone drill in 6.98 seconds and ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.01.
By adding Camryn, the Packers once again add to the quality on the depth chart in the secondary, plus Camryn also has the ability to play safety. In addition, Camryn is a very good tackler, which would make him an ideal addition to special teams for the Packers.
Chris Landry’s scouting report:
A four-year starter at California, Bynum was an outside corner in defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon’s scheme, playing well in both man and zone coverages. He earned a starting job as a freshman and started all 42 games the last four seasons, totaling 35 passes defended, which ranks top-five in school history. Bynum checks boxes for his balanced movements, coverage awareness and run support skills (all skills that translate well to safety). He knows he isn’t the most athletically gifted player, but he doesn’t allow anyone to outwork him and his coaches praise his drive, leadership and smarts. Overall, Bynum doesn’t have ideal twitch or speed for outside work in the NFL, but his play recognition and football character are why he will stick in the NFL. He projects best in a zone-based scheme with a possible future at safety (similar to Jordan Poyer).
GRADE: 6th Round
Round 6: Safety JaCoby Stevens (LSU)
Height: 6’1“
Weight: 212 pounds
Jacoby Stevens had a four-year career at LSU, where he started in three of those years. In his career as a Tiger, Stevens had 190 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks, four interceptions, 15 passes defended, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
At LSU, Stevens was versatile enough to play at linebacker, safety and as a dime back. Stevens was a member of the 2019 FBS national championship team at LSU and one of the defensive staff members from that team gave me some insight about Stevens.
“Jacoby is physical and runs well. He is smart and athletic. He is also a great special teams player”
Stevens ran a 4.50 in the 40 at the LSU pro day.
Chris Landry’s scouting report:
A three-year starter at LSU, Stevens was the free safety in former defensive coordinator Bo Pelini’s scheme, previously lining up at outside linebacker, box safety and dime back. As the team’s undisputed leader as a senior, he was awarded the No. 7 jersey and led the team in tackles in 2020, but his effort and attitude were sporadic. He runs the alley with conviction and loves to thump, although he needs to improve his downhill discipline and eliminate the missed plays. He has adequate ball skills in coverage, but the deeper he plays, the more ineffective he becomes. Overall, Stevens is a linebacker in the body of a safety and often the toughest player on the field, but he is a complicated study because of his tweener skills and uneven play. He projects as a box player and special-teamer.
GRADE: 6th-7th Round
Round 7: Fullback/H-Back Tory Carter (LSU)
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 229 pounds
Tory Carter was the top-rated fullback in the country coming out of high school in Georgia, but instead of playing for the home state Bulldogs, Carter opted to play for the LSU Tigers. At LSU, Carter played both fullback and tight end.
Carter has two very big attributes. He is a tenacious blocker, plus a is a special teams demon. The LSU staff member who shared some insight with me on JaCoby Stevens, provided me with some more insight on Carter, who was also a key member of that 2019 FBS national championship team at LSU.
“Tory is a true bad ass. He is also great special teams player. Will be a great fullback in the NFL.”
The Packers are one of the few NFL teams which still utilizes the fullback position and Carter could definitely help as a lead-blocker due to his outstanding ability in that area. Plus, he could also help in catching the ball out of the backfield, given his playing time as a tight end at LSU. But his biggest help would be on special teams, which needs a player like Carter in both the coverage and return units.
Chris Landry’s scouting report:
A part-time player at LSU, Carter was a hybrid tight end in offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger’s offense, lining up mostly on the wing and in the backfield. His offensive role evolved as the Tigers’ offense changed under different play-callers, but his impact on special teams coverages remained the same all four seasons. A throwback blocker, Carter is a fearless, contact-seeking H-back who doesn’t have tackles or blocks, he has body counts (Joe Burrow: “He’s like an old-school player from the 1940s”). He plays hard all the time and his overflowing adrenaline can be both a positive and negative. Overall, Carter isn’t a proven pass-catcher and he could stand to add a dash more discipline as a lead blocker, but his combative, mean-spirited play style is what gives him a chance to stick on an NFL roster as an immediate special teamer.
When he played for the Green Bay Packers for six years and then the St. Louis Cardinals for three more years, Donny Anderson was a multi-talented halfback who could run, receive and pass (two touchdown passes and 115.7 passer rating in his career) very effectively against his opponents. But No. 44 could also punt very well. In fact, he punted so well that the NFL changed a rule because of his prowess in punting the football.
In his rookie year in 1966, Anderson punted only twice, as Don Chandler was the primary punter for the Pack, as well as being the team’s placekicker. But starting in 1967, Anderson was the primary punter for the Packers until he was traded to the Cardinals after the 1971 season by head coach and general manager Dan Devine.
I was shocked by that trade, as Anderson and fullback John Brockington were an outstanding combination in ’71. Anderson had one of his best years ever in the NFL that season, as he rushed for 757 yards and five touchdowns. No. 44 also caught 26 passes for 306 yards and another score. Meanwhile, Brockington was named AP NFL Rookie of the Year, as he rushed for 1,105 yards and four scores. No. 42 also caught 14 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.
If you add up the rushing yardage for Anderson and Brockington in 1971, it equals 1,862 yards combined between the two backs. The reason I bring that up is because the man who Devine traded Anderson for, MacArthur Lane, rushed for 821 yards in 1972, while Brockington rushed for 1,027 yards. That adds up to 1,848 yards, 14 yards fewer than what Anderson and Brockington did in 1971.
Still, Devine traded away Anderson, even though Donny had two back-to-back great seasons at halfback in 1970 (1,267 total yards and five scores) and 1971 (1,063 total yards and five scores), plus was continuing to be one of the better punters in the NFL as well. We will revisit the Devine situation with Anderson later in this article.
Back to Anderson’s punting now. Even though Vince Lombardi had a great punter like Chandler on his roster in 1967, he decided to make Anderson his regular punter.
Anderson talked about one reason Lombardi liked him as a left-footed punter.
“My ball had a backward spin, made it tough for punt returners, plus there was the hang time factor and the fact I kicked the ball high,” Anderson said. “Anyway, I would punt early in practice to Elijah [Pitts] about 15 minutes before everyone else got on the field. And on this occasion, Elijah was having a tough day catching my punts. Coach Lombardi was watching us and Elijah said to him, ‘Coach, I’ve never caught a left-footed punter before and it’s really hard to catch.’ The main reason Elijah was having a tough time was because the spiral was going the opposite way.
“When I first punted against the Bears, Gale Sayers fumbled my punts twice and we recovered both times. That led to 10 points and we ended up winning the game 13-10. “One of the writers asked Vince if I should remain the punter, as I only averaged 37.5 yard per punt that day. And Vince says, ‘Didn’t Sayers fumble the first punt and the second punt? And on the third punt had a fair catch? Didn’t we win?’ The writer replied yes. And Vince said, ‘Yeah, I’m going to let him punt again next week.’
“My 37.5 average didn’t mean a lot to Vince, as he knew my punts were hard to catch and if they were caught, there was not much of return, if any. I think Vince learned a lot from Elijah.”
In 1967, Anderson punted 65 times. Only 13 of his punts were returned. And that was just for 22 yards. That adds up to a little over a yard and a half a return. It’s no wonder Lombardi loved Anderson punting the ball.
It was during the 1967 season when Anderson had the only punt blocked in his entire NFL career, which numbered 387 punts. That was against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, when Tony Guillory blocked a punt from Anderson late in the game with the Packers holding a 24-20 lead. It led to a final second touchdown by the Rams, as they beat the Pack 27-24.
“Steve Wright missed a call,” Anderson said. “The guy came straight up the middle and was never blocked.”
But the Packers would later beat those same Rams in the 1967 Western Conference title game in Milwaukee 28-7. That led to the 1967 NFL title game, better known as the “Ice Bowl” at Lambeau Field. Anderson played a key role in Green Bay winning that game, especially on that final epic 68-yard drive. Anderson also punted eight times in the game, in which the temperature was -13°. If you add in the wind conditions throughout the game, the temperature plummeted to -50°. Anderson only averaged 28.8 yards per punt on those eight punts, which had to feel like kicking a rock. But guess what? Not one of those punts was returned.
Two weeks later, another punt from Anderson in Super Bowl II played a key role in turning the tide of that game. Late in the 1st half, Anderson punted from his own 17 and booted the ball 36 yards. At that point, the Packers were leading the Oakland Raiders 13-7. But punt returner Roger Byrd fumbled the punt and Dick Capp of the Packers recovered. A short time later, Chandler kicked a 43-yard field goal and the Packers increased their lead to 16-7 and never looked back, as Green Bay won 33-14.
Anderson had a nice game at halfback as well in Super Bowl II, as No. 44 rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown, plus caught two passes for 18 yards.
Because of Anderson’s ability to punt the ball so effectively, causing either a turnover or having little or no return, the NFL made a rule change to help the punt returner. The NFL prohibited the offensive team on punts from moving downfield until the ball was kicked.
Bottom line, Anderson punted 387 times for 15,326 yards in his career, an average of 39.6 yards per punt.
Back to Anderson’s time with Devine now. I asked Donny how it was playing for the former Missouri head coach, who would also coach at Notre Dame.
“First of all, let me say God bless his soul,” Anderson said. “I would say that he was totally out of his environment. He had no clue about coaching men. He thought he was very knowledgeable, but he was only knowledgeable on the college level. And he didn’t have the grace or kindness or the sophistication about working with grown men.
“I believe when Devine arrived in 1971, there were 19 players on the team who played on the Super Bowl I team. Devine could not handle the legacy of Lombardi. And he starting moving a lot of those players out as soon as he could.
“In 1971, I was leading the NFL in rushing at the time and we were playing in Milwaukee and it was raining. The infield dirt started to turn to mud. So we were driving and Devine pulled me out of the game and put in Dave Hampton, who was an excellent running back. So I go to the sideline and asked Devine what he was doing. And he said, ‘You need to clean your shoe off, because if we have to punt, we don’t want a lot of mud on your shoe which might cause a bad punt.’ And I said, “Coach, I’m the leading rusher in the NFL and you just pulled me out to tell me to clean my shoe off.’ I just walked away at that point.”
I’m sure that encounter may have been one of the reasons Devine traded Anderson after the 1971 season.
Anderson told me another funny story about about another game he played in which involved his punting.
“We were playing in Cleveland in 1969, and Boyd Dowler was backing me up as punter,” Anderson said. “It was cold and windy that day. On one of our running plays I got hit right in the nose by defensive tackle Walter Johnson. The blow broke my helmet, facemask and everything. I only had my nose bleed one time in 20 years of playing football, but it was definitely bleeding that day. Anyway, it’s getting near a punt situation and Boyd comes up to me on the sideline and says, ‘You need to get that nose fixed because we are going to have to punt and I am not going in to punt. There is no way I’m going to punt.’
“So I told Boyd that I can’t punt because my nose is broken. The cartilage in the tip of my nose is broke. And Boyd said he didn’t care what my physical status was because I was going to punt. Finally I said, ‘Okay, I’ll go in to punt.’ The doctor on the sideline told me not to go in and punt, but I did anyway. But we had to punt later and I had to take all the cotton out of my nose and I started bleeding pretty good. So finally, Boyd did have to punt.”
That punt by Dowler was the first for No. 86 since the 1962 season, when he and Max McGee split time punting, although Dowler was the primary punter that year. Dowler got off a 34-yard punt against the Browns. Even though he broke his nose, Anderson had 44.3 yard punting average in the game on seven punts and as per usual, the return yardage was very minimal, as the Browns tried to return a punt three times and only gained four yards overall.
Bottom line, Anderson was one of the best punters in the NFL while he played due to the spin on the ball because he was a left-footed punter, the hang time of his punts and also because his punts were so high. Anderson was so good, as a matter of fact, that NFL made a rule change to help the punt returners in the league.
That says a lot right there about the skill of Anderson as a punter.
With the 2021 NFL draft just two weeks away, I want to write about one of the players that the Green Bay Packers selected in the 1961 NFL draft. That player was drafted in the 13th round out of a small college in Arkansas called Philander Smith. That player’s name was running back Elijah Pitts.
Pitts was part of a draft class which included Hall of Fame cornerback Herb Adderley who was selected in Round 1, as well defensive tackle Ron Kostelnik, who was drafted in Round 2. And in the next round after Pitts was selected, the Packers drafted LB Nelson Toburen in Round 14.
Going into the ’61 draft, the Packers already had Paul Hornung and Tom Moore at the top of their halfback depth chart. Adderley had played halfback at Michigan State and Pitts also played that position at Philander Smith, so something had to give.
The Packers ended up first moving Adderley to flanker and then towards the end of the year to cornerback. It obviously was a wise decision that both Vince Lombardi and Phil Bengtson made, as Adderley became one of the very best corners to ever play the game.
In his rookie year, Pitts played in all 14 games and actually started a game, as he rushed for 75 yards on 23 carries and scored a touchdown. Hornung led the NFL in scoring for the third year in a row, plus rushed for 671 yards and had eight rushing touchdowns. No. 5 also caught 15 passes for 145 yards and two more scores. Hornung was later named the NFL MVP in ’61. Moore rushed for 302 yards and a score, plus had caught eight passes for 41 yards and another score.
The Packers would go on and win the 1961 NFL title at new City Stadium in Green Bay, as Hornung scored 19 points for the Pack, as Green Bay defeated the New York Giants 37-0. Hornung almost didn’t play in that championship game due to Army duty, but thanks to the friendship between Lombardi and President John F. Kennedy, he was given a pass to play.
In 1962, Pitts got some more playing time, as Hornung injured a knee and only played in nine games. Fullback Jim Taylor led the Packers in rushing with 1,474 yards and 19 touchdowns. No. 31 was later named NFL MVP in 1962. Moore led the halfbacks with 377 yards and seven scores, while Hornung rushed for 219 yards and five touchdowns. Pitts chipped in with 110 rushing yards and two scores.
In ’62, Pitts also returned punts at times and had seven returns for 17 yards, as Willie Wood was the main return man for the Pack. But in the 1962 title game against the New York Giants again, this time at Yankee Stadium, Pitts had a key 36-yard punt return in the 4th quarter to help set up Jerry Kramer for another field goal attempt to pad the 13-7 lead the Packers had at the time. Kramer missed that 40-yard attempt in a swirling wind, but later connected on 30-yard attempt in that same direction to make the score 16-7 and the Packers were NFL champions again for the second straight year.
In 1963, there was a major change for the Packers as they attempted to win their third straight NFL title. They would have to do it without Hornung, who was suspended along with Alex Karras of the Detroit Lions for the season for gambling. That also meant more time at halfback for Pitts.
Moore became the lead halfback in Hornung’s absence, as No. 25 gained 658 yards and scored six touchdowns. Pitts added 254 yards rushing and had five rushing touchdowns himself. Moore and Pitts also combined for 32 receptions for 291 yards and three more scores. Pitts also continued to return punts along with Wood, as No. 22 returned seven for 60 yards. But between the absence of Hornung, a broken hand which caused quarterback Bart Starr to miss four games and the exceptional play by the Chicago Bears, the Packers fell just short in winning the NFL title again in 1963. Green Bay finished 11-2-1, but Chicago was even better at 11-1-2, as da Bears ended up winning the NFL crown by beating the G-Men from New York.
Hornung was back for the Packers in 1964, but there were major changes along the offensive line, as center Jim Ringo had been traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for linebacker Lee Roy Caffey and a 1965 1st round draft which would be used to select Donny Anderson. In addition to that change, right guard Jerry Kramer missed almost the entire season with intestinal issues. Left tackle Bob Skoronski moved over to play center for some games, while Norm Masters filled his spot at left tackle, plus Dan Grimm filled in for Kramer at right guard.
The Packers finished second in the Western Conference again in 1964, as the kicking game of the Packers was a big reason why, as Hornung was just 12-of-38 in connecting on field goal attempts. The Packers lost two close games to the Western Conference champion Baltimore Colts due in part to the kicking woes. Bottom line, if the Packers had beaten the Colts in those two games, Green Bay wins the Western Conference.
With the return of Hornung, Pitts again was relegated to being the third option at halfback behind Hornung and Moore. Hornung rushed for 415 yards and five scores, while Moore ran for 371 yards and two touchdowns. Pitts chipped in with 127 rushing yards and one score. Pitts continued to return punts in tandem with Wood and returned seven for 191 yards, which included a 65-yard touchdown scamper.
In 1965, the Packers were determined to get back to the status of being champion. The rushing game struggled for most of the year, but when it counted in the postseason, the ground game clicked like it did in the early ’60s in Green Bay. Taylor only rushed for 734 yards, which was the first time he hadn’t eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark since 1959. Pitts remained as the No. 3 halfback behind Hornung and Moore, but when he got an opportunity, he found a way to find pay dirt. Hornung rushed for just 219 yards, but had five scores, while Moore only had 124 yards rushing and no scores. Pitts rushed for 122 yards, but he did also have four rushing touchdowns.
In the 1965 NFL title game at Lambeau Field against the Cleveland Browns, Taylor and Hornung ran like it was 1961 again, as combined they rushed for 201 yards. The “Golden Boy” rushed for 105 yards and a score, as the Packers were NFL champs again, as they beat the Browns 23-12.
The situation for Pitts at halfback would be quite different in 1966, as Lombardi had traded Moore to the Los Angeles Rams and now had Anderson, who Lombardi had drafted in 1965 with a future pick in the 1st round. Hornung started the year as the lead halfback again, but as the season wore on, the neck/shoulder issues he had only allowed No. 5 to play in nine games and start six of them.
With Hornung relegated to the sideline due to his injury, Pitts became the main halfback for the Packers in 1966. No. 22 gained 393 yards and scored seven touchdowns. Hornung rushed for 200 yards and had two scores, while Anderson had 104 yards on the ground and had two scores.
Plus, Anderson took away the job Pitts had in returning punts with Wood, especially after No. 44 returned a punt for 77 yards and a TD in a game against the Atlanta Falcons in a game I attended at County Stadium in Milwaukee.
Bottom line, Starr was the difference for the Packers on offense in ’66, as he was named NFL MVP in ’66.
The Packers once again returned to the 1966 NFL title game, this time against the Dallas Cowboys at the Cotton Bowl. Pitts came up big in that game, as he rushed for 66 yards on just 12 carries, plus caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Starr, who threw for 304 yards and four TD passes in the game. For the second straight year, the Packers were NFL champs and had won their fourth NFL title in six years. But another test was still awaiting the Pack. That would be Super Bowl I, when the NFL champion Packers would be facing the AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs for the bragging rights in Pro Football.
Starr was just phenomenal in the game, as he was named MVP in the 35-10 win by the Pack. Split end Max McGee also had a big game, as No. 85 caught seven passes for 138 yards and two scores. Guess who else scored two TDs for the Packers that day? That would be Mr. Pitts, who had two rushing touchdowns, as he rushed for 45 yards on 11 carries.
In 1967, things would really be different for the Packers in terms of their offensive backfield. Taylor played out his option and signed with the New Orleans Saints which netted the Packers a 1st round pick in the 1968 NFL draft, while Hornung was nabbed by the Saints in the expansion draft. Hornung would end up retiring due to his neck/shoulder woes.
That meant the starting backfield for the Packers in 1967 would be Jim Grabowski at fullback and Pitts at halfback. The two would be backed up by Ben Wilson and Anderson, as the Packers tried for their third straight NFL title, a feat that had never been done in NFL history since the playoff era started in 1933.
Both Grabowski (466 rushing yards and two TDs) and Pitts (247 rushing yards and six TDs) were having strong years, when both were basically lost for the season in Week 8 against the Baltimore Colts at Memorial Stadium. Pitts was definitely lost for the year with a ruptured Achilles tendon, while Grabowski suffered a knee injury that kept him out for the entire year except four carries against the Bears in Week 11.
It was at that point that Lombardi added Chuck Mercein to add to the depth chart at fullback, while Anderson became the starter at halfback with rookie Travis Williams backing him up. Even with all the changes at running back for the Packers in 1967, the team finished second in the NFL in rushing. Better than that, the team indeed won their third straight NFL title by beating the Cowboys again in the 1967 NFL championship game at Lambeau Field, better known as the “Ice Bowl”, plus won their second straight Super Bowl, by beating the Oakland Raiders 33-14.
In 1968, Lombardi resigned as head coach and was general manager only for the team, as Bengtson became the head coach. Pitts, along with Williams, became backups to Anderson at halfback. The same routine occurred in 1969, when Pitts backed up both Anderson and Williams. In ’68 and ’69, Pitts combined to rush for 398 yards and two scores.
In 1970, Pitts, along with Caffey and center Bob Hyland, were traded to the Bears for a 1st round draft pick. Pitts was later released by the Bears and picked up by two teams (the Saints and the Rams) in 1970. All told, Pitts rushed for 104 yards in eight games combined for both teams.
In 1971, the new head coach and general manager of the Packers, Dan Devine, picked up Pitts to play for the Pack in ’71. But No. 22 did not carry the ball once for the Packers that year and only returned kicks for Green Bay that year. After the season was over, Pitts retired and started scouting for the Packers, which he did for two seasons.
In 1974, Pitts was hired to coach running backs with the Rams in 1974. That led to a long assistant coaching career in the NFL, similar to what both Boyd Dowler and Zeke Bratkowski did after their playing careers ended, as Pitts coached for 23 years as an assistant, which concluded with Elijah being the assistant head coach of the Buffalo Bills when they went to four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s.
In 1997, while Pitts was still coaching in Buffalo, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. That dreaded disease took the life of Pitts just nine months later at the young age of 60.
Now you know the history of Pitts as a NFL player and coach. But I want to you to know more about Elijah. Which is why I wanted to talk with both Kramer and Anderson about their time with Pitts.
Let’s start with No. 64.
“Elijah was probably one of the sweetest, gentlest, most thoughtful players on the team,” Kramer said. “He really had a nice comfortable way about him. He had a great voice and a great smile. I remember that smile as much as anything.”
No. 44 concurred.
“Elijah was a perfect gentleman,” Anderson said. “I could understand why he was there in Green Bay for so long. Elijah was pretty quiet guy. He didn’t have a lot to say, but he was pretty funny when he would say things. He was just a sweet guy. And he was my friend. I was his friend too, even though we fought for the same position.”
Kramer talked about the running style of Pitts.
“I tried to get on his ass a little bit about the way he would go by Fuzzy and me on the sweep,” Kramer said. “And Elijah would go, ‘Okay Jerry, okay.’ But later he would do the same thing and run by us. I think it was more of an instinctive way to run by Elijah. He had great talent and speed. But he wasn’t used to waiting for his blockers while he ran. He was the type of back who wanted to go for as much as he could get, as quick as he could get it.”
Anderson mentioned that he and Pitts had similar styles.
“Elijah was different than Hornung in terms of power and speed,” Anderson said. “I was like him, in terms of being light-legged and fast. Elijah could block a lot better than I could though.”
Anderson also mentioned another story about the way he and Pitts ran.
“Elijah and I were similar in the way we ran, as we didn’t raise our feet very high,” Anderson said. “So anytime we played a stadium that had high grass, that could be a deterrent for us, as we would sometimes stumble. In fact, Vince asked me why Elijah and I stumbled at times running. I told him that the grass was too high, like at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Both Elijah and I had problems there, as did Bob Jeter. After that, Vince made sure the grass was mowed in either Green Bay or Milwaukee for Elijah and I.”
Kramer summarized the way Pitts was when they played together.
“There were quite a few things that were impressive about Elijah,” Kramer said. “There was his smile and his singing, but there was more than that. Elijah just had a happy way in the manner he conducted himself. Always smiling and happy and just a very pleasant guy to be around.”
The 2021 NFL draft will be held in Cleveland starting April 29th and will ran through May 1st. As I have done for close to 20 years now, I will be doing at least a couple of mock drafts for the Green Bay Packers. Over the years, like a blind squirrel who finds an acorn, I have hit on some picks with my selections.
We shall see how this turns out in 2021. I will once again be using the talents and expertise of NFL scout Chris Landry in terms of the players I will be selecting for the Packers, as I will be using his scouting reports and his overall Horizontal Draft Board (best players regardless of position) for this draft. By the way, all NFL teams have Horizontal Draft Boards, which can number 150 players or more. Teams also have Vertical Draft Boards (players ranked by the position they play).
Packer Nation is hoping that general manager Brian Gutekunst can bring in a haul like the Packers did in the 1958 NFL draft, when general manager Verne Lewellen, based on the great scouting of Jack Vainisi, selected the best draft class in the history of the Packers and one of the best ever for any NFL team. In that draft, Green Bay selected three players who would later be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In Round 2, the Packers selected fullback Jim Taylor. In Round 3, the Packers selected linebacker Ray Nitschke. And in Round 4, the Packers selected guard Jerry Kramer. In addition to that, the team also selected two other players who would have very fine careers in the NFL, linebacker Dan Currie and guard Ken Gray.
Gutekunst, who was originally hired by Ron Wolf in 1998 to be a scout for the Packers, also worked under Ted Thompson for several years, when he was elevated to positions like director of college scouting and director of player personnel before he became GM. Since then, Like Wolf, Gutekunst has been very aggressive at times in free agency, like he was in 2019 when he signed Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Adrian Amos and Billy Turner. Plus like Thompson did in 2005 when he selected quarterback Aaron Rodgers with pick No. 24, Gutekunst had a similar selection last year, when he shockingly picked quarterback Jordan Love with pick No. 26 in a trade-up deal.
Time will tell what Gutekunst will do in the upcoming draft, but with the Packers being in back-to-back NFC title games in 2019 and 2020, this draft for the Packers definitely needs to add some talent and quality depth to a roster that has come very close to making it to the Super Bowl the last two years.
With no further adieu, here is my initial mock draft for the Green Bay Packers. After each selection, there will be some commentary by Landry on the player who was drafted.
Round 1: Linebacker Zaven Collins (Tulsa)
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 260 pounds
Zaven Collins has the size and speed you are looking for at the linebacker position in the NFL. Collins was a three-year starter, plus won the Bronco Nagurski Award for being the best linebacker in the country in 2020, as well as the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defender. In three years at Tulsa, Collins had 236 tackles, 25 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, five interceptions (two for a touchdowns), eight passes defended, three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. In 2020, Collins was named first-team Associated Press All-American and AAC (All-American Athletic Conference) Defensive Player of the Year.
The defense of the Packers, now under the tutelage of Joe Barry, will be utilizing the scheme that was used by Brandon Staley of the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 (ranked No. 1 in team defense in the league). In that scheme, it’s important to have a playmaking linebacker who can be effective in all phases of the game. Collins fits that profile perfectly.
Chris Landry commentary:
Zaven Collins might be the best linebacker you haven’t seen. The 6-4, 260-pounder is a future NFL starter with size, range, pass rushing ability, and off-the-charts instincts. He’s second on the team with 51 tackles to go along with four sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss, and he has four picks including a 96-yarder for a score in the 30-24 win over Tulane. That came after sealing the win over SMU with an interception.
Quinn Meinerz played his college football at one of the best D3 football programs in the country, as since 2005, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has won six national titles in Division III, plus has finished runner-up four times. Meinerz and the Warhawks did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19, but Meinerz still stood out at the Senior Bowl in 2021 going up against D1 athletes.
In 2019, was named a first-team Associated Press Division III All-American in 2019, starting all 15 games at left guard. The previous year, Meinerz was named first-team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) status after starting all 14 games also at left guard.
The Packers love versatility with their players along the offensive line and Meinerz has the ability to not only be a standout at guard, but also at center, where he looked very good at Senior Bowl practices. The Packers lost center Corey Linsley via free agency and bringing on a talent like Meinerz would be a great addition. In addition, the selection of Meinerz would give the Packers more options as to where it would be best to play Elgton Jenkins, who basically can play any position of the offensive line effectively, including center.
Chris Landry commentary:
One of the beautiful aspects of the Senior Bowl is that it provides opportunities for players to face opposition they would never normally face. Even more beautiful is when those players grab the opportunity with both hands and shake the life out of it. Case in point: Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz. Despite a rough start to the week, Meinerz was, without a doubt, one of the 2021 Senior Bowl winners. A player who came into the week with a late-round grade — or worse — from most outlets, Meinerz has soared up draft boards and is a consensus top 100 selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. Meinerz was strong, controlled, and demonstrated he can play with excellent leverage. He also showed versatility in lining up at guard and center during the week. His toughness was illustrated by playing through practice with a broken hand. Despite the injury, he passionately pleaded to be allowed to play on Saturday.
Round 3: Defensive Lineman Tyler Shelvin (LSU)
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 346 pounds
In the Brandon Staley scheme that defensive coordinator Joe Barry will be implementing in Green Bay, it’s also important to have a very stout front on the defensive line. The Rams had All-Pro Aaron Donald on their line, but Donald also received help from fellow defensive linemen Michael Brockers and Sebastian Joseph. The Packers big star on their defensive line is Kenny Clark. Like Donald has in LA, Clark needs more assistance in Green Bay. Kingsley Keke came on in his second season last year to help to bolster the D-line for the Pack, but more aid is needed, especially in stopping the run.
That leads us to a mammoth run-stopper, nose tackle Tyler Shelvin of LSU. Shelvin is a load. When the Tigers won the national title in 2019, Shelvin was a big reason why, due to his ability to stuff the run and free up his linebackers to make tackles. Per a member of the LSU defensive coaching staff, Shelvin is “big and athletic and also has some twitch.”
The Packers brought in nose tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison late in the 2020 season to shore up their defensive line. Shelvin has similar size and ability, but is a decade younger.
Chris Landry commentary:
LSU redshirt junior DT Tyler Shelvin has opted out of playing this season. Shelvin (6’3/346) is the second Tiger to opt out on Monday, joining standout wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. In the case of the redshirt junior defensive tackle there are no reports that he has also decided to enter the 2021 NFL Draft, but given the fact that he considered doing so after last season Shelvin may have suited up for LSU for the last time. Last season Shelvin was excellent against the run, ranking ninth among qualifying defenders. Shelvin started 13 of the 14 games in which he played in 2019, tallying 39 total tackles (3.0 for loss) and two passes defensed.
Round 4: Wide Receiver Shi Smith (South Carolina)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 186 pounds
The Packers have a prolific offense with 2020 NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers running the show at quarterback. No. 12 also has some excellent talent around him, with the likes of running back Aaron Jones and wide receiver Davante Adams. But ever since Randall Cobb left via free agency, the Packers have not really had a true slot receiver. Shi Smith from South Carolina can change that. Back in 1988, the Packers selected another receiver out of South Carolina. That player was Sterling Sharpe.
Now I’m not saying that Smith will ever match the success level of Sharpe, plus he’s about two inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter than No. 84, but the skill set is there. In four years as a Gamecock, Smith had 174 receptions for 2,204 yards and 13 touchdowns.
At the South Carolina pro day, Smith ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, plus had a 36 inch vertical jump. Bottom line, Smith would be a perfect fit at slot receiver for the Packers.
Chris Landry commentary:
I may sound like a broken record, but Shi Smith is so fluid in his movements. His breaks are the cleanest outside of Toney, and his wiggle is great for gaining separation. A really good, consistent week for Smith (at the Senior Bowl).
Round 4: Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 200 pounds
Benjamin St-Juste hails from Montreal, Quebec. St-Juste originally went to the United Sates to play for the Michigan Wolverines before transferring to Minnesota, where he played with the Gophers the past two years. In 14 starts over the past two seasons, St-Juste had 59 tackles and 13 pass breakups.
The intriguing thing about St-Juste is his excellent size and speed to play cornerback. At 6’3″ and 200 pounds, St-Juste ran a 4.51 in the 40 at his pro day, plus really shined on the short shuttle, where he notched an excellent time of 3.96 seconds.
The Packers did bring back Kevin King (who is also 6’3″, 200 pounds) in 2021, but No. 20 only has a one-year assurance he will stay in Green Bay. That’s why it’s important to have someone waiting in the wings should King leave the Packers after the 2021 NFL season.
Chris Landry commentary:
St-Juste looked good (at the Senior Bowl). He continued to show how good he is in press coverage by sticking to his assignment during one-on-ones on a short in route, which led to a PBU. He’s big and physical, and that style of play has suited him well.
Round 5: Running Back Khalil Herbert (Virginia Tech)
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 204 pounds
The Packers were able to bring back Aaron Jones, as No. 33 received a four-year $48 million deal to come back to Green Bay, where he has rushed for over 1,000 yards two years in a row, plus was named to the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl. But in bringing back Jones, the Packers also lost Jamaal Williams to free agency. That means the Packers need to add a third running back to the roster who can add to the rotation of Jones and second-year running back AJ Dillon.
A back who could be added via the draft and who also has similar attributes to Jones, is Khalil Herbert from Virginia Tech. Herbert played only one year at VT, after spending four years at Kansas, sharing time with running back Pooka Williams Jr. with the Jayhawks.
In four years at Kansas, Herbert rushed for 1,735 yards (5.4 average) and scored 22 rushing touchdowns. In just one year as a Hokie, Herbert rushed for 1,183 yards (7.6 average) and scored 14 touchdowns. Herbert was also used much better in the passing game at Virginia Tech as he was at Kansas, as in 2020, Herbert had 10 catches for a whopping 179 yards and a score.
Chris Landry commentary:
Herbert was better today than yesterday, and he was really good yesterday. His blocking was much improved today as Herbert showed great fundamentals and was very effective with his hands. Herbert shows great interior quickness, and his vision and ability to pick and choose his spots was impressive (at the Senior Bowl).
Round 5: Offensive Tackle/Guard Robert Hainsey (Notre Dame)
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 302 pounds
As mentioned earlier, the Packers love offensive linemen with versatility. Robert Hainsey will provide that. Although he was a starter at Notre Dame at right tackle, Hainsey showed scouts that he could not only play there, but also inside at guard at the Senior Bowl.
Hainsey started 20 games for the Fighting Irish in 2019 and 2020 at right tackle and was named All-ACC this past season. The Packers have depth issues at offensive tackle, both on the left side and the right. All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari will probably miss the first part of the 2021 season due to an ACL tear late in the 2020 season, while the Packers also released the starter at right tackle (nine games) for part of the 2020 season, Ricky Wagner. Hainsey can definitely help on the right side at tackle, plus can move inside if needed.
Chris Landry commentary:
It was an effective week for Robert Hainsey (at the Senior Bowl). He didn’t always play his natural position, but he displayed impressive upside at offensive guard, and that’s likely what he’ll be drafted to play. Hainsey employed steady hands and a squared base in pass protection, and as a run blocker, he proved himself to be able to drive players back. He also moved effectively in zone concepts, further compounding his upside as an interior blocker with positional versatility. He profiles as a solid mid-to-late-round pick after his trip to Mobile.
Round 6: Wide Receiver Frank Darby (Arizona State)
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 195 pounds
Like a lot of athletes in 2020, because of the pandemic and how it effected their specific sport, the stat line doesn’t always tell the story about a player. Wide receiver Frank Darby of Arizona State is one of those athletes. In 2020, Darby only played in two games for the Sun Devils and had six catches for 46 yards and a score. Certainly nothing to write home about.
But if one looks at the previous three years production that Darby had for the Sun Devils, the picture becomes much clearer. From 2017 through 2019, Darby had 61 catches for 1,271 yards and 12 touchdowns. If you break down the yards receiving average for Darby in those three years, it’s a whopping 22 yards per catch.
Darby ran a 4.56 in the 40 at the Arizona pro day, but based on the 22-yard average per catch he had from 2017 through 2019, Darby plays a lot faster than that.
Chris Landy commentary:
Talking to an NFL scout after practice, he told me that of the three Arizona State wide receivers to enter the NFL the last few years, it will be Brandon Aiyuk and Darby competing to be the better pro, not N’Keal Harry. At 6-0 and 195 pounds, Darby accelerates well in his routes and finishes with toughness and ball skills. He also wins the award for most animated player throughout the week — he was having fun out there, and his teammates embraced his energy.
Round 6: Linebacker William Bradley-King (Baylor)
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 254 pounds
A NFL team can never have enough edge rushers, which is why I see the Packers adding a player like William Bradley-King from Baylor in the upcoming draft. Yes, the Packers have the likes of Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Rashan Gary as their primary edge rushers now, but it never hurts to add the talent of a player like Bradley-King. If for nothing else, Bradley-King can be a very good special teams player, as he ran a 4.74 in the 40 at his pro day at Baylor.
Before he played for Baylor in 2020, Bradley-King played three years for Arkansas State, where he had 88 total tackles, 24 tackles for a loss and 14.5 sacks. As a Bear in 2020, Bradley-King had 31 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and had 3.5 sacks. Between the two schools, Bradley-King recovered three fumbles and forced six fumbles.
Chris Landry commentary:
An Arkansas State grad transfer, Bradley-King had a solid 2020 season at Baylor, but he didn’t quite reach expectations. However, he was consistently disruptive during practice (at the Senior Bowl) with his rush technique and quickness. At 6-3 and 254 pounds with almost 33-inch arms, he is very skilled at using his hands to snatch, swipe, and maneuver around blockers.
Round 7: Cornerback Bryan Mills (North Carolina Central)
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 180 pounds
Bryan Mills opted out for the 2020 season, but had a fine year in 2019 for North Carolina Central, as he had five interceptions and eight passes broken up. Because of that fine season, Mills was named All-MEAC and second-team All-America (FCS).
One can never have enough good cornerbacks in the pass-happy NFL and Mills has a chance to make some noise as a late-round selection. Mills played press coverage effectively in college, plus has quick feet and fluid hips. Mills ran a 4.55 at his pro day in the 40. Again, if nothing else, Mills can help to improve the special teams of the Packers, which once again had problems in 2020.
Chris Landry commentary:
Mills had several good reps (at the Senior Bowl), specifically one in one-on-ones in which he stayed step for step with Marquez Stevenson down to the end zone which led to an incompletion.
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