Considering all the injuries this season, 4-3 is not so bad. Here is a list of players who were not starters on opening day (most of them still aren't) who have made some really nice contributions:

Tramon Williams
Aaron Rouse
Brandon Chillar
Colin Cole
Jeremy Thompson
Brandon Jackson
Jordy Nelson

Not bad, not bad at all.

---

I didn't predict the injuries, but in my 2008 record preidction, I was spot on. 4 - 3 with only having the Seahawks and Cowboys games wrong. 🙂 (had to throw that in cuz the rest of my picks blow donkey butt)

---

I remember just a few weeks ago some were bickering about how Thompson didn't do much for the depth.

If you look at the players that have filled in, they've done a pretty nice job. It's the starters that struggled. As deep as a team this is, it's so young and can get better. All this is encouraging.

---

Yeah, I thought Thompson was undersized and too raw to have much of an impact this year. But he's done a respectable job. I think he will keep the starting DE job when Mike Montgomery comes back. They will still rotate those guys a lot, though.

---

Yeah the depth is showing, but it's still....HARD!

It's not easy to replace an Al Harris or an Atari Bigby. There ARE struggles out there, but guys come through in the end, and props deserve to go to the coaching staff for having them ready.

---

Agreed.. we have considerable depth at most positions.. but the one I continually point at is the Oline.. and I have to be honest.. I am not sold on them at all.

In the end.. I think the entire season will depend squarely on how well the Oline holds up.

Good thread Greg.

---

Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to single you out because their are a LOT of people saying this. But I still don't understand why...

The guy is 6-4 270 that's not small or under size. That's good size. I think Thompson got labeled as a pass rusher (which I don't know how he got that label) and the pass rusher label lead to a undersized label.

But in college Thompson was used very differently than most DEs.

Thompson was throw into coverage a lot more than most DEs. Also Thompson has been used as what I call a blocking DE... he was blocking the OL from getting to the LBs like a 3-4 DE would.

So Thompson has played like a 3-4 DE, 4-3 DE and OLB (he started at DE but dropped into coverage) in college.

He was a do it all guy in college. He has the skills to become a ful time starting DE but like you said he's raw.

Most of Ted Thompson draft picks this year were high potential but raw guys. And the high potential but raw guys are the best value if they develop, which I think this coaching staff is showing they can do.

Well their the best value if there good teammates, work hard, and don't get into trouble off the field which most of Ted Thompson picks are to start with.

---

Our depth will be of great value as the season wears on. We have essentially survived a rough patch in the early stages of this year and teams without the kind of depth we have will find themselves weaker as players inevitably will go down.

Many cry for FA's but they cost teams depth with fewer draft picks and while a starting lineup might look impressive initially it's the players left at the end that either carries you into or bounces you out of the playoffs.

A teams depth determines who exploits whom in that critical last part of the season when teams are playing for those conference championships and playoff spots. With our depth and the experience some of the backups have seen early I think we are less vulnerable than other teams may find themselves as injuries take their toll.

---

Agreed. There was a conspicuous absence of O-linemen on my list. Well, I guess Moll is the only one who really played much anyway. And like you, I'm not even sold on the starters. The good news is that they have played better these past two weeks. Sometimes things start to click with an O-line in the middle of the season. We've seen this before. Maybe we'll see it again.

---

My Girl friend says that to e alot.. :pottytrain1: :icon_smile: . I'm used to it...

Most missed is the pounding hits of the HITMAN Bigby. There may be the difference in our run defense woes.

I'd like to see how that part of the Packer defense adjusts when he comes back.

---