IPBprez
Cheesehead
Posted Jan. 15, 2006
Chris Havel
Cheers or jeers? GM celebrates (first) year on job
Ted Thompson observed his one-year anniversary on Saturday.
Whether he deserved to do so with a moment of silence or a full-blown celebration depends on whom you talk to. Mike Sherman supporters would have you believe that Thompson’s arrival hastened the team’s unraveling. Others would suggest the general manager spent the year cleaning up his predecessor’s mess.
The truth lies closer to the latter.
Are the Packers in better shape today than they were when Thompson was hired? Yes and no. Serious injuries to Javon Walker and Ahman Green were a factor in the team’s miserable 4-12 season, and they remain a concern.
Walker’s game-breaking ability was impossible to replace. Green’s breakaway speed and toughness between the tackles was unique. If either or both fail to make complete recoveries, it is that many more holes the GM has to fill on a lengthy list.
Needs are many
It could be argued the Packers are worse at every position — save tight end and defensive line — than they were a year ago. The notion that Thompson and new coach Mike McCarthy can transform the Packers into a playoff contender between now and training camp seems unrealistic.
It is possible, but the margin for error is almost non-existent. The team’s needs include a receiver, a running back, two interior offensive linemen, a defensive lineman, a linebacker, a cornerback, a safety and a return specialist. They also need a punter, a head-hunter on special teams and perhaps a kicker.
If Brett Favre retires — and it seems more likely each day — the Packers are going to need a veteran quarterback to back up Aaron Rodgers. In short, Thompson can draft the best available player because odds are, it fills a need.
Sherman inherited more talent in 2000 and still needed to win six of the final eight games to finish 9-7. McCarthy has a chance to equal or exceed that record, but only if Favre and defensive coordinator Jim Bates come back. Even then, it seems like a reach given Thompson’s irritating comparison of free agency to dangerous, uncharted waters. The draft is more of a crapshoot because teams are forced to project college players’ performance in the NFL. In free agency, the players’ performance is there for everyone to gauge.
Heading downhill?
Thompson is fond of saying he intends to acquire “Packers-type playersâ€
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Chris Havel
Cheers or jeers? GM celebrates (first) year on job
Ted Thompson observed his one-year anniversary on Saturday.
Whether he deserved to do so with a moment of silence or a full-blown celebration depends on whom you talk to. Mike Sherman supporters would have you believe that Thompson’s arrival hastened the team’s unraveling. Others would suggest the general manager spent the year cleaning up his predecessor’s mess.
The truth lies closer to the latter.
Are the Packers in better shape today than they were when Thompson was hired? Yes and no. Serious injuries to Javon Walker and Ahman Green were a factor in the team’s miserable 4-12 season, and they remain a concern.
Walker’s game-breaking ability was impossible to replace. Green’s breakaway speed and toughness between the tackles was unique. If either or both fail to make complete recoveries, it is that many more holes the GM has to fill on a lengthy list.
Needs are many
It could be argued the Packers are worse at every position — save tight end and defensive line — than they were a year ago. The notion that Thompson and new coach Mike McCarthy can transform the Packers into a playoff contender between now and training camp seems unrealistic.
It is possible, but the margin for error is almost non-existent. The team’s needs include a receiver, a running back, two interior offensive linemen, a defensive lineman, a linebacker, a cornerback, a safety and a return specialist. They also need a punter, a head-hunter on special teams and perhaps a kicker.
If Brett Favre retires — and it seems more likely each day — the Packers are going to need a veteran quarterback to back up Aaron Rodgers. In short, Thompson can draft the best available player because odds are, it fills a need.
Sherman inherited more talent in 2000 and still needed to win six of the final eight games to finish 9-7. McCarthy has a chance to equal or exceed that record, but only if Favre and defensive coordinator Jim Bates come back. Even then, it seems like a reach given Thompson’s irritating comparison of free agency to dangerous, uncharted waters. The draft is more of a crapshoot because teams are forced to project college players’ performance in the NFL. In free agency, the players’ performance is there for everyone to gauge.
Heading downhill?
Thompson is fond of saying he intends to acquire “Packers-type playersâ€
