I think (Thompson) does a great job, I think hes done a great job with the draft and all that, said a scout whose teams of responsibility include the Packers. But you have to have some balance to your program. If he just had a little balance in that program, the skys the limit with what he has surrounding it.

Balance doesnt mean jumping into the big-time free-agent market, where the prices can be ridiculous. Thompson never has stuck his toe in those waters and probably never will. But it does mean signing more of the Brandon Chillars of the world to go with his usual bargain-basement moves.

For instance, going into this season, the Packers felt OK about their tackles. But with a new, young starter on the right side, and a beat-up veteran on the critical left side, there were risks, and the backup plans were inadequate for a contending team if things went wrong.

Sure enough, things went wrong. Right tackle Allen Barbre, though improving, hasnt been ready for prime time. Left tackle Chad Clifton, at 33 a health risk coming off arthroscopic surgeries on both shoulders and knees, got hurt.

So one quarter of the way through the season, the 2-2 Packers biggest problem is their offensive line. With Barbre suffering more than his share of defeats while growing on the job, and guard Daryn Colledge forced to replace the Clifton the last 2 games, the Packers run game has been mediocre and their pass protection little short of a disaster.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 20 times and is on pace for 80, which would be the second-most allowed in a season in NFL history.

Yes, Rodgers has held the ball too long several times, but the bigger problem is the line. Thompson is admitting his high level of concern with his impending signing of right tackle Mark Tauscher, who hasnt played football since blowing out his knee last Dec. 7.

I have a lot of respect for how (Thompson) is trying to build something, the scout said. But my god, theyre so damn close. Youve wasted two years trying to build an offensive line when you could have signed somebody off the street.

Thompsons thinking now that hes rebuilt his roster is clear: use the draft to develop backups and competition for as many positions as possible. But that didnt work, at least not on the offensive line.