So much for that OLB depth; Packers revamp spot behind Clay Matthews, Nick...

Zero2Cool
Elite Member Topic Starter

7 years ago

So much for that OLB depth; Packers revamp spot behind Clay Matthews, Nick Perry

If ever anyone needed a reminder that in the NFL it’s far more important to watch what teams do rather than listen what they say, the final week of the preseason in Green Bay reinforced that.

Three months earlier, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy proclaimed -- much to the surprise of anyone who heard it -- that at "the outside linebacker position, this is probably as good a depth as we've had there in some time."

Then why did Packers general manager Ted Thompson blow up the depth chart behind starters Clay Matthews and Nick Perry?

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yooperfan
Veteran Member

7 years ago

Going into this season we never had depth at OLB, and we still don't.
That was all BS "coachspeak".
Regardless of the moves made this week, we are seriously challenged at OLB.

wpr
Preferred Member

7 years ago

Fans get upset when the HC or GM don't tell them anything of relevance. It is more irritating when they outright lie. But it nothing new.

There's a story in this week's Sports Illustrated. A young reporter from New York came out to do a story for the Green Bay game in Chicago. He set up a Tuesday interview with Vince. After the small talk Lombardi tells him that he will give him an exclusive story. Coach said he plans to feature his Million Dollar rookie backfield. Donny Anderson and Jim Grabowski. Vince went on to say he has to know if they are going to make it in the NFL. The report calls his paper. The run this as the lead on the sports page. Reporter sits in the press box all game long. Neither player was in the backfield. The guy meets up with Bud Lea from the Milwaukee paper and asked what happened. Lea laughed and said welcome to the club. Vince does that to everyone. He knows Halas reads the out of town papers and had to spend time defending the possibility.

I suppose it's ok if Vince does it but no one else. Win multiple championships THEN you can do what you want.

uffda udfa
Veteran Member

7 years ago

We're challenged on defense, again. Same old song and dance but OLB and CB look particularly frightening. I can NOT believe we're going into this season with who/what we have at CB. I truly can't. OLB I understand, we paid multi millions to our two starters so we get less than the cream of the crop behind them. Brooks is 33 and not Peppers when it comes to rushing and who freaking knows about Odom, although, I can with almost full confidence state without ever seeing him live, that he has to be an upgrade over Datone.

MM thinks OL depth is fine. What he has to say to us is all noise. Really really annoying noise. Almost disrespectful. I trust him less than a slimy politician now.

Ted Thompson sits on his hands per former GM: "because they’ve had 25 fricking years of great quarterbacks. Of course it works. Try it without a special quarterback."

RainX
Member

7 years ago

In past years, Ted Thompson would have stood pat. At least this year he saw the deficiency at the end of camp and at least made a reasonable effort to address the issue by bringing in a guy like Brooks who probably will be a sufficient replacement for Peppers. I think Fackrell's days are numbered, especially once Biegel comes off the PUP and Elliot was more more valuable on special teams than anything on defense.

blank

uffda udfa
Veteran Member

7 years ago

Originally Posted by: RainX

...but...is...this...Ted? This is not Ted's character at all. He looks compromised so perhaps this is not Ted? Eliot, Brian? More of a GMBC situation? GM by committee?

Hopefully, we'll get to hear what was going on this year. I was hoping/thinking after the roster was all set we might hear Ted announce he was stepping down immediately, or at least at the end of the season. I can't see him here next year as GM.

Ted Thompson sits on his hands per former GM: "because they’ve had 25 fricking years of great quarterbacks. Of course it works. Try it without a special quarterback."

beast
Select Member

7 years ago

I think Fackrell's days are numbered, especially once Biegel comes off the PUP

Originally Posted by: RainX

I think he deserves more time, he seriously needs a lot of work on his strength, leverage and power, but I think that was fairly clear in his college tape (and why I thought the Packers wouldn't take him) as he had almost no power and was used in coverage more than pass rushing. His strength was his length and short area quickness with some straight line speed (due to his leg length). But he needs to both gain muscle and learn how to use it.

But he surprised me with his two early sacks last year (against Lions and Giants ) and I was starting to eat my words when he got injured and then disappeared. You can watch the play it you click the team name link.

But lots of players struggle their first couple of years in, and Fackrell has a CLEAR weakness in his game (his lack or power/strength), it's gonna take him a while to build that up (assuming everything goes right... if it goes wrong, then it might not happen). But again, lots of players take more than two training camps to become very good players.

Aaron Rodgers sucked until his 3rd training camp I believe.

Jordy Nelson sucked his first 2.5 years and then caught on fire.

Took Nick Perry until year #5 to breakout.

How many years before Lang broke out again?
Driver too?

Lots of Packers players took more than 2 years to break out....

Originally Posted by: beast

Also I didn't like the OLB coach complaining about Fackrell being too assignment sure... if you got a problem with a guy being assignment sure, then change the assignment. All the other stuff, like not being being physical, not being powerful... that's on him... but assignment is your job... and if you need to adjust it for certain players then do it.

beast
Select Member

7 years ago

I was hoping/thinking after the roster was all set we might hear Ted announce he was stepping down immediately, or at least at the end of the season. I can't see him here next year as GM.

Originally Posted by: uffda udfa

But haven't you been saying that for the past 5 years or so? 👅
One of these years you'll be right too 👍

My random guess is it will be when his contract is up, is when he's planning to step down.

Barfarn
Senior Member

7 years ago

I think Fackrell's days are numbered,

Originally Posted by: RainX

Since his injury mid last year he hasn't been the same guy.

Barfarn
Senior Member

7 years ago

#10

Originally Posted by: uffda udfa

Ted's not playing a video game. He cant just hit a button and Barwin appears on his team. Barwin didn't want to come to GB for the $$$ Ted was offering. A solid majority of the players wont come to GB unless Ted pays well above market. Also, 99% of what Ted is doing is never reported. For some reason the Barwin info got leaked, the Brooks visit got leaked, often these leaks come from agents trying to manufacture a market. Oh and sometimes the agents LIE!

Ted did what he does every FA period, a few years back he got Woodson and Pickett; then Manuel and Chillar; then Guion and Pepeprs. And he did what he does every September, a few years back had a problem at RB and traded for Grant; a problem at QB and signed Tolzein and Wallace; problem at WR and signed Jones; problem at punter last year and signed a punter. Brooks aint coming to GB if he has multiple offers, his late cut and legal issues meant only 1 team was willing to pay 3.5M.

Remember Ted has to see that the guy can help and then that guy needs to want to come to GB for an offer that fits Ted's opinion of his value. There will only be one successful deal for every several dozen of inquires. But some years there are statistical aberrations and maybe there's an extra deal or two done. What happened this year constitutes ZERO evidence that something has changed, because Ted ad done all this stuff before multiple times.

Oh and BTW, Sandy Hook is real, don't fall for the whacked out conspiracy theories.

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