Mike Vandermause column: Thompson scores with bold moves 
APRIL 25, 2009

Ted Thompson hides his emotions well, but make no mistake that the Packers general manager was the happiest man in Green Bay on Saturday.

In a span of less than two hours on draft day, Thompson transformed his much-maligned defense from obscurity to legitimacy with the addition of Boston College nose tackle B.J. Raji and Southern California linebacker Clay Matthews.

It could go down as the Packers most potent first round since 1978 -- when the team landed James Lofton and John Anderson -- and the normally conservative Thompson orchestrated the theatrics with uncharacteristic boldness.

Thompson entered the weekend with one clear mission, and that was to revitalize a moribund defense that all too frequently got pushed around last season. It became obvious Thompson was going to do what was necessary to make that happen, even if it meant straying from some of his well-established tendencies.

First, Thompson resisted the temptation to trade down and out of the top 10. He also passed on the chance to select highly touted receiver Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech, arguably the highest-rated player on the board at No. 9.

Instead, Thompson stuck to his guns and chose Raji to serve as the 337-pound anchor for the Packers 3-4 defense.

Its unbelievably hard to find the combination of skill set that he brings, said Thompson of Raji. The good Lord just didnt make many people like this.

Thats high praise from the low-key Thompson, but it was only Phase 1 of his plan. No one could have predicted his next stunning stroke.

In by far the most daring draft-day maneuver in his four-plus years in Green Bay, Thompson traded a second-round draft choice and a pair of third-rounders for New Englands first-round pick at No. 26, and used it on Matthews.

Thompson seemingly loves draft choices more than life itself, so for him to part with that many high picks without a gun pointed at his head was both groundbreaking and astounding.

It speaks to the desperation Thompson felt over the teams defensive problems. And it shows that Thompson learned an important lesson from former Packers General Manager Ron Wolf, who believed that if you wanted a player badly enough you had to go out and get him regardless of the cost.

We were really zeroed in on Clay, said Thompson. We think hes a really, really nice fit for our defense.

Suddenly the Packers have a potential starting outside linebacker to play behind their new starting nose tackle. Suddenly the Packers anemic defense, which couldnt find its way off the field last season without a map, has a new lease on life. Suddenly defensive coordinator Dom Capers has enough bona fide playmakers to transform this unit.

Those are two very large pieces, marveled linebackers coach Kevin Greene of Raji and Matthews.

Very large indeed, and combined with the new staff and scheme, it puts the defense in an entirely different and positive light. It also leaves the stoic Thompson positively giddy, even if hes only smiling on the inside.