GM acknowledges subpar season but isn't planning drastic moves

Ted Thompson was careful not to say the 6-10 Green Bay Packers of 2008 were nearly as good as their 13-3 team from 2007. He pointed to those records as proof.

But the teams general manager also suggested the franchises foundation is strong and the team is headed on the right course to become a championship contender as early as next season.

Thompson rarely reveals his true thoughts about his teams strengths and weaknesses and his plans to address them, but he gave at least a hint in a phone interview Tuesday. When asked whether he thinks he needs to make significant personnel changes in the offseason to return to contender status, he in effect said the Packers are not as far from being as good as they were in 2007 than their 6-10 record might suggest.

Collectively, you could sense it in our locker room after our win the other day (against Detroit) and in the building, we feel like we could have been better, Thompson said. We all feel like we should have had more wins. So well work on it and see if we can get to the bottom of it and try to get better.

Thompson also suggested that while hes open to signing free agents to try to fill weak spots, hell not embark on a radically different course than he has in his four previous years as GM. Thompson never has been a major player in free agency, though in 2006 he signed Charles Woodson and Ryan Pickett to deals that included a combined $17 million in first-year pay.

Woodson and fellow cornerback Al Harris publicly lobbied for Thompson to hit free agency harder this year than in the past, and the play of the Packers defensive line all but necessitates signing a couple of players to upgrade the defense. But Thompson gave no indication hell depart from his philosophy of not getting involved in the bidding for the most coveted and expensive players on the open market.

I dont know that its any more (urgent) than any other year, Thompson said. Its an avenue, free agency.

The biggest immediate issue with the Packers is whether any assistant coaches, namely defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and special teams coach Mike Stock, will be fired this week. Though Thompson said thats coach Mike McCarthys call, its a given throughout the NFL that GMs who have control over football operations, as Thompson does, can make changes in two ways: either by exercising hard power and ordering a coach to fire an assistant, or using soft power by strongly suggesting the move.

When asked if he thought there should be any changes on the coaching staff, Thompson said: Thats not my bailiwick.

Thompson also addressed several other issues regarding the 08 season and next year:

# When asked whether he made the right move by trading Brett Favre to keep Aaron Rodgers the starter at quarterback after Favre decided last summer he wanted to play this season, Thompson said: Im not going to touch that. I will say this, I thought Aaron played very well and I thought he was a good teammate and a good player for us this year. Im not going to touch the comparison.

Thompson wouldnt proclaim Rodgers being the teams franchise quarterback for a period of at least six to 10 years, though the seven-year contract he signed Rodgers to on Nov. 1 that included $20 million in guarantees answered that question.

Six to 10 years, who knows? Thompson said. Were very happy with Aaron.

# Thompson said there are the resources and players available to significantly upgrade his defensive line, and he at least didnt deny the line was a problem position group this season.

I dont know if you ever have enough defensive linemen, he said. Certainly losing a guy like (end-tackle) Cullen Jenkins early in the season was a pretty good hit because of the different things he brings to the table, his ability to play inside, play outside, create pressure, that sort of thing. Weve always looked at it that you never have enough big guys.

Thompson also said the combination of losses on the defensive line his trade of Corey Williams, season-ending pectoral injury to Jenkins in Week 4 and ineffective play by defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila that led to his release were major factors in the decline in the Packers pass rush and ability to stop the run.

KGB was different this year. He never really did quite get over the (knee) injuries, Thompson said. We said all along Corey Williams is a good player. I dont regret what we did (trading him), but thats another piece in the machine.

Thompson traded Williams to Cleveland for a second-round draft pick last offseason after designating him the teams franchise player. Thompson had no plans to invest long term in Williams, who had 14 sacks in 2006 and 07 combined, because of concerns his work ethic would slip after receiving a major payday.

When asked if he made the right call on that deal, which yielded quarterback Brian Brohm in the draft, Thompson said: I think so. I think it was the best thing for him and for us. Allowed him to get a secure future and big contract and all that.

# Thompson wouldnt say what else specifically caused the defenses failures to come through in the clutch, and to cause the drop from ranking No. 11 in yards allowed and tied for No. 6 in points allowed in 2007 to Nos. 20 and 22, respectively, this season.

Sometimes you can try too hard. If youre missing one little piece, then something else goes wrong, he said. Its sort of like you have a sprained ankle on the right side of your body, then sometimes the left side of your body gets out of whack because its compensating for it. We played hard throughout, which Im very proud of, and we just didnt get off the field as much as we (needed). We had a tremendous amount of turnovers and that cant be overstated, its very important. There were several times over the course of the season where interceptions and runbacks for touchdowns were the reason we won the game.

# Thompson in effect conceded he erred by replacing punter Jon Ryan with Derrick Frost the week of the regular-season opener. Thompson wouldnt say whether the decision was driven by the front office or the coaching staff.

We looked at it, all of us did at the same time, he said. We were looking for more consistency, and we didnt get that.

# Though halfback Ryan Grants average per carry took a huge drop from 5.1 yards a carry in 2007 to 3.9 yards this season, Thompson said Grant will be the Packers primary back next season.

Yeah, Im sure he is, Thompson said.