I agree. I don't really see how such a great draft will even be possible.

Now, with that being said, if we can bring in a few solid rotational players via free agency then I think we will be ok. That's obviously seeming like a bit "if" at this point though.

Sometimes it just seems like Thompson isn't doing everything he can to improve this team, and I am a Thompson supporter. I'm no coach or GM, but I feel like we have a lack of talent on defense as of right now.

Thompson . . . . prove me wrong.

I liked your analysis - especailly your final comment "TT is going to have a heck of a draft year" - meaning he's got alot of gaps to fill he better pick em good.

- We have a Oline that is getting old and has various injuries and perhaps need some replacements. MM already has said he doesnt want to switch guys around this coming year like he had to do last year. So that would take healthy guys and depth.

- We have a shrinking Dline due to injuries - FA and a switch to the 3-4 where some of our players may not fit. Pickett jolly and jenkins are nice starters but our depth is pretty lacking once you throw injuries in there. We are looking for big fat guys for the front 3 instead of a variety of 'shapes' as we had last season. Perhaps we can slot in someone like montgomery but he would need to gain some weight etc ...

- We have linebackers that perform so-so IMO and have a missing gap in the ROLB position (can try some players from our current roster but nothing solid atm).
ie we dont know how well barnett's knee is doing; IMO hawk is only so so on the pass coverage (a decent tackler thou), chiller is a nice pass coverage guy ...

my 2 cents

No, my approach is to let the defensive coaches run some of these guys through some drills, get a handle on where they are at, peg through the depth chart. While on paper I completely agree with the addition of Holiday or Carter, neither are going anywhere soon and with two comparable players available why rush to lock them up.

With the change over in defensive staff, I can see them wanting to do first hand evaluations and then fill out the grocery list of needs on the defensive side. Remember, they get to work these FA out, to it will give them an apple to apple comparison at that point.

Now, where I am a little baffled with Ted and Co. is on the offensive line, I can see absolutely no reason not to be either locking up Tauscher, thus taking a risk that he will be fine or adding a possible starter at either tackle or more likely Guard and shifting Colledge out to his natural position.

Don't get me wrong, I see flaws in Ted's approach this offseason, same ones that I stated the last couple years.. to reliant on young players and not enough veteran mix to stabilize the roster. But I expected it, and I can see logic in waiting on the defensive side now that they missed on the one sure 3-4 young end with upside.

Additionally, when Capers was hired there was much talk about a hybrid or using both fronts.. if we are seriously deficient in personnel to man up the 3-4 full time, I see a smart adaptable coach like Capers using his personnel to its fullest and adjusting the scheme to fit the roster.. that is why you pay a talented coordinator like Capers for..

Minus Moss still on the D staff, I have a ton more confidence in this approach than the static vanilla fronts that Sanders rolled out. But I am ultra concerned with the Oline.

Ted's approval rating is lower now than in the Brett Favre saga.. and that is saying a hell of a lot to the approach and speaks highly of the one collapse of this regime.

Failing to develop players.. period. It will be their undoing.

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Every day that goes by, the angst goes up and the price comes down for those that are still available in free agency. In the meantime, the lists are starting to come out regarding winners and losers in free agency. (Florio just put one up on PFT, even as I type this.) These are my favorite, and while I haven't actually looked, I hope we made the list amongst the "losers".

I happen to derive great pleasure in being right, making me unique. My absolute favorite winner/loser free agency article was posted in the "For Whom the bell tolls" thread yesterday. Of course, that article was from last year, and the "winner" went on to a 4-12 season, after having been prognosticated to make a run at the SuperBowl.

Some might argue, "well, we went 6-10", and I have no real argument with that. Where we part company, however, is that the "winner" got to pay 30 million dollars in bonuses yesterday, including bonuses to players that the consensus seems to be they wish they didn't even have on their roster, but because of the cap hits involved. had to make a business decision to retain them. They have fired and blamed the GM for their cap hell, which is hugely different from what they were saying a year ago. That thread is getting little response, but is an excellent reminder of what can happen when teams start doing what the fans want them to.

We have a GM that makes business decisions all the time when it comes to free agency. The difference between the Packers and a team like the Browns is that our GM makes them before he acquires a free agent, not after, and if you think that is bad, go back and actually look at those decisions they made...after all, they were the example of the "BIG WINNER" last year...

+ the 2008 Jets
+ 2008 Jacksonville Jaguars


just wanted to throw a couple more recent cautionary tales into the mix

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Wow if this talk keeps up i'll have to get a bigger train lol. Sorry i had to make a joke, but honestly i am very disappointed in some of you. You need to keep faith in Ted Thompson like most of you were before free agency. I stood by all my convictions and took hell for it and still do in fact one poster actually claimed i find more joy in being right then i do about the Packers winning. The way i look at things might make it look like that but its far from the truth. I'm a diehard Packer fan but i'm also a fan that don't get blinded by things.

So c'mon you Ted Thompson supporters don't jump off his train so fast stick to your guns.

If more people keep jumping i'm going to raise my ticket prices on my train lol. I have said for awhile now that Ted Thompson is going into this season with the players he drafted and he is comfy with that. So have the faith he is right.

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People who support Ted Thompson tend to do it quietly. There is no reason to keep arguing the same crap over and over again.

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I was never a Thompson supporter. I am always a Green Bay Packer supporter. I'm not going to get caught up in the civil war that's going on. I'll say what I see and I always say what I believe is best for the Packers.

Every situation presents itself with a different response so to speak and this year the situation more so than others was to go into free agency and adding help in my opinion. The result has been one free agent and I think two in for visits.

This is more of the same. This philosophy works very well when you need to restock the team, but not when you're quite close.

I agree that the team should see what happens when players report I think as soon as next week. Players will start interacting with the coaches and studying more film, but I also have no doubt that by the time Thompson is done figuring out what he wants to do, guys like Vonnie Holiday and Kevin Carter will be gone. These players can still play and are probably starters in this defense.

I saw today that Mike Wright resigned with New England. Might of been worth a look especially if the Patriots are trying to keep him. That alone tells you he has skill. Nothing happened.

This regime is way to content with what they have and I think it's wishful thinking to believe that this team will improve based just on a switch of schemes.

Thompson could have a very good draft and that would probably boost the team a great deal, but he could blow it too which sets the team back another year or years which would cost him his job and I don't want that. I want the Packers to win.

This team would be a lot better if Thompson signed free agents as well as he drafts players in the second round.

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Agreed.

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