Interesting thing I heard from MM today in his press conference,He was talking about Clay Matthews and how Ted Thompson went to USC in the fall before the following draft.Then he said Ted was in Texas this year,I like that he is going out early and looking at prospects.He sure knows how to find some good players.Idk if this has been discussed before or if a lot of Coaches/Managers do this but any thoughts on this?

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I noticed this in the transcript when I read it earlier.

I was gonna make a topic for it, but you beat me to it.

Personally, I love how Ted Thompson approaches things like this.

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Don't all GMs and scout do that? ... or isn't that their job anyways?

Pro days are mainly focused on the kids that are becoming pros the next draft but the younger kids that want to can go though the drills as well (but have to wait for the kids that are going to be pros the next draft to go first.) ...

And when you have the huge programs go course they're going to go there year after year.

I think they start tracking players as soon as they start getting decent amounts of playing time. Which for some is as early as their rookies years.

(and some of the bigger programs you go watch them practice)

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Yes they all do. However, do they do it well, or they do it half assed.?

Do they manage their time well? See as many prospects as possible in a regional trip? Do they study, call, investigate, and challenge every decision they have to make in an efficient professional and proven manner?

Do all GM's look beyond the central scouting reports? Do all GM's factor in pedigree like I did with Clay Matthews?

I put more into the job. I worker smarter and harder.

Edit: I mean Ted Thompson works smarter and harder. TYPO

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I think you meant you put more into the job 😉 hahaha 😃

good works. Other than I'm not sure pedigree should always go into it... as some kids just aren't like their parents at all. Parents can be totally great people... and kids can be total @ holes...

BTW Matthews' brother is going into the draft soon... this year or next I forget. From what I hear he's not as good as clay but does he the raw potential to become better with a good coach. (He plays ILB) ...

I'm a bit worried about the ILB coach though. Great guy... but Hawk, Barnett, Bishop and Chillar haven't seem to get better.... then again maybe all of hit their ceiling before he ever coached them? ... so maybe not he's fault. But other than when Poppinga got better in coverage while in the 4-3 is the only time I saw someone really get better under his coaching. (well their is also Havner... but he became a TE so I'm not sure that should count.).

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Some GM's don't even attend the pro days for college and some have even skipped the combines.

Ted and a few more passionate GM's do go farther than the normal.


I believe it was Mike Sherman who dozed off at a combine at one time. I don't think you'll ever see Ted doing that.

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haha Sherman did it more than just one year 😉

At one combine I was a bit disappointed that Ted and Mike were taking questions from the media while players were going. I was kind of hoping they would tell the media to nicely get lost and let us watch but they didn't.

of course the other Packers scout weren't with them so maybe they were watching? ...

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Yeah Ted does his due diligence. He's out there on the road checking out prospects. He's respected around the league for that.

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Being General Manager of the Green Bay Packers is a full time job.

He also has to check up on the scouts and double check their eyesight for talent.

Part of the reason Ron Wolf did not take a consulting job was that you had to spend hours and hours looking at tape and being informed to be a consultant otherwise your opinion meant nothing.

He did not want to put in all the hours in order to be informed.
Besides a consultant is someone you hire to do your job.

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Cali Cheez... I have to disagree with you this one time.

The greatest leaders manage by design and objectives, they tell people exactly and precisely what they want them to do and then get the hell out of their way.

That is Ted.

That is why the Packers are where they are right now, and that is why my Raiders are where they are right now.

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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2175/2201345377_e910fb99fa.jpg?v=0 


he must of been evaluating Ahmad Carrol

Yes, indeed he must have.

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Ha ha! I knew it, Ted.

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Whatever he's doing works pretty damn well (except Harrell. Yes.) so go get em, Ted-o.

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I believe Ted Thompson has a unique eye for talent coupled with a silent, efficient workrate. Teddy has always said he will go through the "build through the draft" route - you can't expect someone to earn a reputation and respect around the league without being supremely proficient in their own philosophy.

Now, if Al Davis says "We like to build through the draft" - you'd turn around and tell the senile ol' man to give up his draft picks for established players. Ted Thompson is one of the best drafters in the league at the moment. Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Nick Collins, Jermichael Finley, Josh Sitton - all pro bowl caliber players.

I don't think it can be limited to drafting either - low pick trades such as Ryan Grant for a 6th and grabbing Tramon Williams sfter he got cut by the Texans - great moves.

Justin Harrell can be seen as one of his few failures, but really?

Is all fault to be placed on Ted Thompson?

He looked like he could be a player before he got the injury against the Eagles - not only that, but the injury wasn't even related to the chronic back problem.

He is more a bad luck case than a bust.

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I have to say this.

When he was hired I figured he would "clean house" in the scouting department. He didn't.

He has the same scouting department Mike Sherman had.

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From top to bottom? Sounds unlikely. Show me?

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I heard that Ted Thompson delivered Aaron Rodgers. He's that good.

Speaking of Sherman, where are all of our resident Ted haters lately? None of us have been in good ole denfending Uncle Ted argument in a long time. Have all the Favrebillies just given up?

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I know it is shocking, but I did read this as well. Ted said there wouldn't be changes to the scouts and the scouts here were really good. It almost sounded like a slap in Sherman's face in the tone that he couldn't develop players.

Elliot Wolf is one who is still here.

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