Yeah I think it's a pretty poor analysis by someone who has been wanting to write that for along time. Now is the best oppurtunity because of the preseason hype the Packers generated. That hype has turned out to be the worse thing that could possibly ever happen to the Packers going into this year. People are mad. When I write my packer fix for the week, I think I'll go into a little more detail about that.
As far as Thompson's drafts go.
This years draft cannot be looked at. You just can't base a draft after one training camp and four regular season games. The article loses some creditability with that.
Driver didn't see the field much early as a 7th round pick and he's turned out to be one of the best Packers' receivers in team history. Probably No. 4 so it takes time with the draft. I recall someone saying Ron Wolf said something about batting 300 in the draft isn't bad. That's pretty good. I think I heard that on the radio (Havel?) though so I don't have a quote.
Thompson's first two drafts were solid in my view. Aaron Rodgers, Nick Collins, and Greg Jennings have been solid. Hawk is a solid football player. Not great, but solid. A four year starter out of a fourth round pick in Brady Poppinga is also very good. Colledge at guard isn't bad. He was also never drafted to be a tackle IMO. Spitz at center isn't bad either. That's a good nucleus to start your drafting with.
Since 06 though, it's gone down hill. It's now fair enough to suggest that players like Justin Harrell, Brandon Jackson, and Aaron Rouse are busts. That draft might be his worst one. Barbre is a guard playing tackle and for all the flash Bishop has given the Packers, he hasn't seen the field. Hall and Crosby are what they are. That would be late picks that are role players and that's fine, but as you can see, Thompson missed on three of his first four picks including his first and second picks that year. That draft is hurting the Packers and one of the reasons why GB is where they are as a team right now. It's also worth noting that James Jones has been regressing as a player.
Last years draft is interesting. Jordy Nelson looks good and I think he has a career ahead of him. Brohm and Lee are busts especially Brohm. I actually think that pick is his worse pick of all. Finley, however, could end up being one of Thompson's best picks. It's still a work in progress to judge that draft IMO, but the bigger picture is starting to set in and that's maybe the Packers shouldn't of traded down in that draft.
How different would Green Bay be this year if Thompson moved up for Sam Baker instead of Atlanta? Quite different. Those types of decisions hurt.
Back to this years. Saying Clay Matthews is going to be a beast after four games is as premature as saying B.J. Raji is going to do nothing in his career or is another Harrell. It's too soon to tell and quite frankly, that draft should just be set aside.
I don't think many GMs in today's league are great at the draft. Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New England, Indy, and San Diego. That's about it and I've liked what Jerry Reese has done in his short time with the Giants. Philly isn't bad. I may of left someone out.
Beyond that though, Thompson falls in line with just about the next group. Maybe the next best. He's above average to good IMO at the draft. You can win with his drafting. Being above average to good doesn't make him a good GM though. A good GM uses all his resources and that's his downfall.
The 07 draft + one free agent signing since then is the reason why this team is struggling. If that draft was like the two prior, this team is probably 3-1 and Packer fans feel as good as Bear fans right now. If Thompson signed maybe three or four guys over the course of that span, the same thing applies. Problem is he didn't.
"porky88" wrote: