Well out of 4 of your busts I would say only 1 was expected to be a starter after they were drafted (Harrell). So even that isn't as bad as it seems.

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It just seems like we are high on TT's picks when they happen, but soon guys we love (Abdul Hodge, Aaron Rouse, Brian Brohm, Pat Lee) are getting beat out by newer or younger guys.

As far as the whole, this draft gave us ____ starters argument, I have to look at the calibur the actual player. Yes, Colledge, Spitz, Sitton, Barbre, and Poppinga are starters for the Packers, but I am not sure how many other NFL teams they would start for. I think their starting status is more of a reflection of the lack of talent behind them than their action skill.

Barbre beat out Giacomini. Not exactly a stiff competition.

You NAILED it!

Starters for GB because of the lack of talent on this team. These guys would likely not start on any other team. So when you label the "Starters" realize that with these "Starters" we went 6-10 and now are 2-2 and don't look very impressive.

I've argued over and over again with people. I remember Hodge was going to be a stud, so was Rouse. I remember Harrell was going to be the unpopular pick but the right one. I remember Colledge was going to be a pro-bowler. On and on and on. When I said I didn't think they would be I was discredited with just being a Ted Thompson hater.

Ted Thompson also doesn't seem to surround his already mediocre drafts with much FA help. You are a foool to think just because Ted Thompson is starting his guys that that in someway means he's building through the draft. Technically he is but what exactly is he building?

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Colledge, Spitz, Sitton, Barbre, and Poppinga

Colledge and Spitz would be the only two that I could say would start on a dozen other teams. The other three, maybe four teams, tops. That's being generous.

I hope someday, a few of the loudest pessimistic pricks who only come around to be negative, grow up because it's really getting old.

There's too much preaching to the choir going on lately.

No one is happy with the 2 - 2 record, no body. We all want better, we all expect better and we all hope for better. Bottom line is, this is the 5th year and honestly, it's not looking like its going to get better. As others and I have said several times... you can bang your head against a wall 10 times, 100 times, 1,000 times, you're always going to get the same result, a headache. You have to try something DIFFERENT!

Ted - stop being a pussy in FA.
Mike - DEMAND better from your team.

Get it done, or get out town.


So now let's rehash everything again in the MIDDLE OF THE FUCKING season, about all of the downfalls from our regime, over, and over, and over again. Because that's the FAN thing to do. Why hope for the best? Why try to think positive? Well, I'll always root for the Packers no matter what, but like some have proven, they'd rather come pound their chest at the Packers failures. To those people, leave and don't come back until you can contribute like an adult.

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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.

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For not caring what the later rounds produce, then compare to history. Here is Ron Wolfs draft history on 1st and 2nds with their time in GB.

92 T'Buck (3 years), Mark D'Onofrio (2 games)
93 George Teague (3 years), Wayne Simmons (4.5 years)
94 Aaron Taylor (3 years),
95 Craig Newsome (4 years)
96 John Michels (2 years), Derrick Mayes (3 years)
97 Ross Verba (4 years), Darren Sharper (8 years)
98 Vonnie Holliday (5 years),
99 Antoine Edwards(5 years), Fred Vinson (1 year)
00 Bubba Franks (8 years), Chad Clifton (9 years and counting)

By pick comparison IMO Wolf was no better than Ted. Probably worse. But Ron did make some nice trades.

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I am in full agreement. Good drafter, poor damn near everything else.

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haha i agree that was pretty Bias to begin with lol he's been solid but i wouldnt say GREAT, but very good in terms of picks...

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I agree with most of your post. One thing we as Packer fans take for granted is that we almost always have a competitive team. Think about what it must be like to be a Browns, Raiders, 49er (until now), and Bills fan. Most these fans would trade anything for a playoff appearance.



THe thing I can't forgive Ted Thompson for is not trying to upgrade these average players. Take Poppinga, the guy has been an below average to adequate starter for what... like 4 years? Really? I feel like he exemplifies the problem with TT. He settles with average (Poppinga, Colledge, Spitz, etc) instead of overpaying (which you have to do) for proven talent or moving up in the draft. The sad part is that his fear of risks is actually a bigger threat to our team. We have little to no depth along the trenches because all of our backups are undrafted FAs or late round picks.

He's built a good team, but a couple of solid free agents on the o-line would turn us into a contender. It hard to argue that the Jets or Vikings overpayed for Faneca and Hutchinson. The arrival of both men transformed those teams running game. Could you imagine what A-Rod and our WRs could do if they had some time?

There are some guys that you just need to go after. The Eagles traded a first for Jason Peters and signed Stacy Andrews. I feel like they're one of the better teams at mixing the draft, free agency, and trading to always field a competitive squad. They always seem to nab the guy who slips and turn him into a starter: DeSean Jackson, Maclin, Winston Justice, Max Jean-Gilles etc. Ted Thompson is only utilizing one of the three and it puts us at a disadvantage.

Looking at that list, a good number of those players were either traded, released or left via FA's and went on and started with some starring for other teams. Hell Holiliday and Sharper are still playing at a high level.

Not to many NFL busts on that list.

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