Check out McGinn's article. It's a bit too simplistic and superficial .... but it does manage to mention the sore spot of Hawk in the middle.
It isn't just about losing Jenkins. The quality of the players is below average for the NFL. The man in the middle, Hawk, is undersized, slow, not particularly strong, not good in pass coverage, and not particularly bright or instinctive. He CERTAINLY isn't a dynamic player or leader by any means.. As long as Hawk is in there...the Packers can't be anything but soft in the middle...and thus vulnerable (they sure were shown to be that this year).
McGinn seems to think that Barnett was so much better. Garbage. I remember one game against the Cowboys, they sent back after back in Barnett's direction. All he could do was try and grab them, and if he did...they dragged him for another 5 yards. Against Michael Vick, he looked especially bad. Barnett was small, and was supposed to be a "speed" player. Yet against Vick, Barnett easily lost 5 yards over the course of a 20 yard run by Vick.
It isn't about coaching necessarily. It's a matter of talent. We just don't have good enough guys. McGinn calls TT's 6th round choice probably TT's "worse draft choice ever." Rubbish, many others outshine him, Justin Harrell, Brian Brohm to just to name a few. Let's face it, TT has gotten some good guys. But, he also has chosen players who can't even play in the NFL, ever, at any time, at any level, under any conditiuons.
The Pack needs dynamic defenders. They need a stud (or two) .on the line and in the middle of the LBs