Oates: Offensive line's problems start with Thompson
By TOM OATES
608-252-6172
toates@madison.com
Even Ted Thompson's harshest critics have to admit the Green Bay Packers' general manager has built a fairly solid roster in his four years on the job.
The receivers and defensive backs rank among the NFL's best. The linebackers and running backs are sound. The defensive line, when healthy, has been a strength. And though Thompson's exit strategy for quarterback Brett Favre blew up in his face, he at least had a capable replacement in Aaron Rodgers.
However, the one problem Thompson has never solved is the offensive line.
Since Thompson allowed guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera to walk in free agency after the 2005 season, the shaky status of the line has held back an offense that has many weapons yet still plays sporadically.
Indeed, Thompson's strategy of drafting small, athletic linemen from obscure schools in the middle rounds and then trying to develop them into blockers for coach Mike McCarthy's zone running scheme has failed miserably.
For a team that often plays in wintery conditions, a physical running game is a necessity. But other than the second half of last season, when the Packers faced a series of lousy defenses, they've been unable to run consistently.
Thompson's failure to find dominant linemen to play between veteran tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher came crashing down on the Packers in their loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game in January and again Sunday when they lost a critical game to the Minnesota Vikings.
When the running game was inconsistent, McCarthy abandoned it, as he often does. Then the Vikings' fast, physical front four simply overwhelmed the Packers, giving Rodgers little time to make decisions or throws and forcing the Packers into one of their worst offensive games under McCarthy.
In nine starts, Rodgers has shown he can be a very effective passer when given time. But though he's mobile, Rodgers doesn't have Favre's instincts or strength in the pocket.
Favre had the rare ability to make a play when everything around him was falling apart. Rodgers hasn't shown that quality, so for him to be a good NFL quarterback, he'll need an effective running game to keep defenses from going all-in on the pass rush like the Vikings did.
Clifton had an especially rough day Sunday, a sign that his troublesome knees might finally be affecting his play. At guard, Jason Spitz was just plain overmatched and Daryn Colledge kept drawing penalty flags.
Thompson drafted Junius Coston and Will Whitticker in 2005, Colledge, Spitz and Tony Moll in 2006, Allen Barbre in 2007 and Josh Sitton and Breno Giacomini this year. Most remain with the team, but the Packers' three best linemen are Tauscher, Clifton (until recently) and center Scott Wells, all of whom Thompson inherited.
The inability to run trickles down to all aspects of the game. A running game buys a quarterback time to throw, makes the play-action game go and keeps the defense off the field so it doesn't wilt in the fourth quarter.
Until the Packers develop a physical line with no weak links, their running game indeed, their entire team will suffer.