Here's your silver linings, and they have nothing to do with 2017, because yeah, this is a lost season:
1 - By far the most important, we will have the GOAT back and healthy for the 2018 season.
2 - We will have a top pick next year. And an early 2nd. We have to hit on them. Wolf is still here, and given that fact and Thompson's age, I have to guess that there have been some promises made as to his future role and a succession plan for Thompson is in place. That's my theory. This will be a crucial pick, and I have faith they won't entrust it to a lame duck.
3 - This season is the other shoe dropping on some major front office changes. It has to be. Other than the previously mentioned TT, who will likely either step down or be 'reassigned' ala Doug Melvin, I expect Capers and most of his coaching staff to get pink slips. It has to happen. It would be a damn shame if this was all for nothing. I don't find it terribly important that MM goes down as well; actually I'd prefer him back, but Thompson and the defensive coordinator and coaches are a must.
4 - Once that is accomplished, it's an exciting chance to get a bright young innovative mind running this defense. Those coaches and assistants are out there waiting for that opportunity. It's time to go that route. I don't know if the defense will get better overnight. But it COULD, and even if it doesn't, it's not going to get worse than it is right now. Which still, when coupled with Aaron Rodgers, gives us a contender. But it's absolutely time for a new direction.
There's no sugarcoating it, this is a lost season. We are 4-4, we may as well be 0-8. But with the things listed above happening there is plenty of reason to hope that we have a very different perspective at this time next year.
1 - By far the most important, we will have the GOAT back and healthy for the 2018 season.
2 - We will have a top pick next year. And an early 2nd. We have to hit on them. Wolf is still here, and given that fact and Thompson's age, I have to guess that there have been some promises made as to his future role and a succession plan for Thompson is in place. That's my theory. This will be a crucial pick, and I have faith they won't entrust it to a lame duck.
3 - This season is the other shoe dropping on some major front office changes. It has to be. Other than the previously mentioned TT, who will likely either step down or be 'reassigned' ala Doug Melvin, I expect Capers and most of his coaching staff to get pink slips. It has to happen. It would be a damn shame if this was all for nothing. I don't find it terribly important that MM goes down as well; actually I'd prefer him back, but Thompson and the defensive coordinator and coaches are a must.
4 - Once that is accomplished, it's an exciting chance to get a bright young innovative mind running this defense. Those coaches and assistants are out there waiting for that opportunity. It's time to go that route. I don't know if the defense will get better overnight. But it COULD, and even if it doesn't, it's not going to get worse than it is right now. Which still, when coupled with Aaron Rodgers, gives us a contender. But it's absolutely time for a new direction.
There's no sugarcoating it, this is a lost season. We are 4-4, we may as well be 0-8. But with the things listed above happening there is plenty of reason to hope that we have a very different perspective at this time next year.
