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Cheesehead
The Packers are at a crossroads, and so is Ted Thompson. While the foundation to contend for a championship remains, TT faces the reality that he must move the team ahead this year, or it will fall behind. It won't be easy.
Losing Reggie McKenzie will hurt. It means TT must reshape the front office. Mike McCarthy has had to reshape his coaching staff, as well.
TT must look at whether Finley is the long term answer at tight end, given the price he could command on the open market. If you look at his injuries and attitude, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't use the franchise attitude on him, though he likely will.
Resigning Scott Wells is critical. Do you put a new o-line leader in there at this critical time? The dropoff from Wells is steep.
Flynn is certainly gone, so finding a competent backup QB is necessary.
A decision on Donald Driver will not be easy. Even with a pay cut, Driver could be taking up catches that could be going to younger receivers. His production has dropped off.
But defense needs a makeover. Tough decisions need to be made on Woodson's future and the safety spot if Nick Collins can't continue, Hawk's continuing with the Packers, and the need to find a defensive end and outside linebacker.Mike Neal appears to me to be the new Justin Harrell. Something happened to the defense this year.
TT has dipped his toe into free agency and hit a few times, blanched other times. But he needs to do so this year. He needs to find whatever cap room is available and go after Mario Williams.
His pass rush would be essential to returning the Packers some defensive respect. Drafting the best rookie OLB would be a nice added piece.
The draft is deep in corners, and a stud will be available in the second round.
If Thompson sits pat, hoping for more production out of the current defense, it will be a failure.
If the Packers defense had been middle of the pack, instead of dead last, they likely would have won the Super Bowl. Asking Aaron Rodgers to outscore the other team by scoring more than 30 points each time is a bit much to do.
This offseason will be the most challenging for TT since he came to Green Bay. If he gets aggressive and steps out of his pattern, he could hit it big. But if he gets overly conservative and hopes to get more with the current players, it will be a failure.
We will see.
Losing Reggie McKenzie will hurt. It means TT must reshape the front office. Mike McCarthy has had to reshape his coaching staff, as well.
TT must look at whether Finley is the long term answer at tight end, given the price he could command on the open market. If you look at his injuries and attitude, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't use the franchise attitude on him, though he likely will.
Resigning Scott Wells is critical. Do you put a new o-line leader in there at this critical time? The dropoff from Wells is steep.
Flynn is certainly gone, so finding a competent backup QB is necessary.
A decision on Donald Driver will not be easy. Even with a pay cut, Driver could be taking up catches that could be going to younger receivers. His production has dropped off.
But defense needs a makeover. Tough decisions need to be made on Woodson's future and the safety spot if Nick Collins can't continue, Hawk's continuing with the Packers, and the need to find a defensive end and outside linebacker.Mike Neal appears to me to be the new Justin Harrell. Something happened to the defense this year.
TT has dipped his toe into free agency and hit a few times, blanched other times. But he needs to do so this year. He needs to find whatever cap room is available and go after Mario Williams.
His pass rush would be essential to returning the Packers some defensive respect. Drafting the best rookie OLB would be a nice added piece.
The draft is deep in corners, and a stud will be available in the second round.
If Thompson sits pat, hoping for more production out of the current defense, it will be a failure.
If the Packers defense had been middle of the pack, instead of dead last, they likely would have won the Super Bowl. Asking Aaron Rodgers to outscore the other team by scoring more than 30 points each time is a bit much to do.
This offseason will be the most challenging for TT since he came to Green Bay. If he gets aggressive and steps out of his pattern, he could hit it big. But if he gets overly conservative and hopes to get more with the current players, it will be a failure.
We will see.