Says he expected the team to play better to this point Brad Biggs
Four games into the season, Ted Thompson was expecting more from the Green Bay Packers.
In a rare in-season assessment of his team, the general manager made it known he was looking for more than a 2-2 beginning after the Packers have dropped two of their last three games, losing an emotional game Monday night at Minnesota and falling to Cincinnati at Lambeau Field in Week 2.
Every team is going to tell you the bye week comes at a good time for them, but the Packers legitimately need this week to heal some injuries on the offensive line. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was bruised up good in the loss to the Vikings when he took eight sacks, 4 1/2 from Jared Allen. The Packers will have this weekend to reflect and then resume preparations for a meeting with the Detroit Lions next week at Lambeau Field. It’s a far cry from where they were a little more than a month ago when the offense was unstoppable in preseason and the defense looked like it had been playing Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme for years.
“The preseason and the regular season are a whole different kettle of fish, but yeah, I would have thought we would have played a little bit better starting out,” Thompson told Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “But at the same time, we feel like we’re a work in progress, and we’re going to get better.”
Thompson was roundly criticized when he first took over and let guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle go in 2005, and it’s been an evolution since. The Packers believed they had the line set entering this season, but one injury to left tackle Chad Clifton, a rough start by Allen Barbre at right tackle, and things don’t look very settled. Rodgers has been sacked a league-high a league-high 20 times, 14 in the two losses.
“The whole protection issue is a combination of things,” Thompson said. “It’s the blocking, it’s the reads (by Rodgers), it’s the route running, it’s the running game, it’s the whole thing. All those things have to come together. I think we have a very potent offensive, but obviously we’ve stubbed our toe a little bit in terms of getting off to a good start.”
Clifton should return against the Lions and that will allow the rest of the line to fall back into order. It’s early, and no one was expecting Green Bay to look as flawless in the regular season as they did in preseason, but there are some issues to iron out.
“We’ve played a quarter of the season, so we’ve got a long way to go,” Thompson said. “Our team is confident enough, but at the same time we understand that we have the work to do. I think we have the kind of team where if we play well, I do think we have (a playoff) team. I think we have that kind of people on our team.”
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So TT thinks we should have had a better start? There's an understatement! Where is the offensive line? Where is the running game? Where is the D? Rodgers is going to be lucky to play all 16 games with this embarrassing offensive line. Thompson and McCarthy are accountable, and if
the Pack fails to make the playoffs, both GM and the head coach should be shown the door at the end of this season.
Somebody didn't read Lombardi this week about GMs needing to keep quiet and avoid public criticisms of their team. Packer fans, what say you?
That's what you guys said last year. "We know what the problems are, and they will be fixed." Monday night was an embarrassment and humiliation in front of the biggest TV audience EVER. Favre will take the Vikings to a win in the Super Bowl.
The same could be said about the Browns. Both teams need alot of new talent.
I can't wait for Mr. Rogers and the packroid's loss to Detroit.
It would not surprise me one bit if GB loss to DET. If Ted isn't gonna spend money on FA, he can mail me a ck. for $20,000 so I can pay my medical bills. At least it'll be put to good use.
Well, Cheese heads, if you dump both of these dudes who we gonna get? It would have to be some one that can continue to push the west coast offense. You don't really wanna be changing the playbook too much on a young Q.B. just ask T.Romo, J. Russell, and those Q.B.'s in Cleveland.
Another thing; who will we get get as our G.M.? It would have to be some one who has a proven track record on offensive linemen and the 3-4 defense.
Any thoughts?
I'd worry about your next two games, Beardown: at Atlanta next Sunday night and at Cincinnati; don't be surprised to see the Bears looking up at the Packers in the standings two weeks from tomorrow.
Jorge, Thompson and McCarthy aren't going anywhere. The schedule is very favorable over the next month, and I expect the Packers will play better, starting with Detroit next week. I will admit that I question Thompson's ability to build a solid offensive line; it might be time for him to draft a tackle in the first round, and be needs to be more agressive going after lineman in free agency.
thompson and mccarthy area joke
TT likes to build through the draft.
This is what he's built, a sub 500. team.
He has sooo many early round flops its not even funny!!!
Maybe the Pack should relieve him of his duties and make him a scout or something, (after all) he's actually proven that he's a good late round drafter.
Maybe we snatch up Baltimore's G.M.?
Anyone can be had if the price is right...
Comments anyone?
The Pack had a playoff team last season and what did that get them?
I wonder if Ted is telling his coaching staff to step up.
It's kind of comical reading the comments on this site and others concerning TT and MM. No one had a problem with either one of them until they told Brett to hit the road. Now that they've gotten rid of the sacred cow, many are calling for their heads. People, get over it, Brett's gone.....period. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Now as far as TT building a team via the free agent route, just remember, 5 years ago the Pack was up against the cap. TT came in and straightened that situation out. And remember, he did pick up Woodson and Pickett. If you look at the stats over the years, about 25% of free agents ever really work out. Restraint in this area is a virtue. There are no more Reggie Whites out there. Now, does the Pack have a cruddy O-line?? Hell yes!! and for all you Brett lovers.......even HE would have been buried against Minnesota Monday nite. There is no quick fix to this. But I do know that dumping bucket loads of money into free agents won't fix it.
Slippery - another koolaid drinker. Enjoy. The Pack won't finish with 9 wins this year.
Thompson needs to be more accessible to the public, not less. He often acts like he's head of NSA, not the publically owned Packers.
The debacle, which this season is becoming, is squarely on Thompson. I staunchly defended TT for his actions involving Farve. It took courage to move on from a legend and to refuse the tail wagging the dog any further. His neglect of the offensive line borders on criminal. His intransigence in refusing to get help in free agency is stupid. His keeping the packers the youngest team in football for four years in a row may help the payroll, but it doesn't provide quality depth that he should know teams need. Not keeping a competent swing tackle when Clifton is 33? Having three "developmental" players occuping the roster, when the coach's are obviously scared to let them play? Then doing the musical chair bit on the OL? On the other side, cutting a good, experienced safety (Smith) was unconscionable. The player know who's performing and who should make the roster. Management loses credibility with the player when the best 53 aren't on the roster.
Finally, someone, either TT or McCarthy shouldve noticed that OL coach Campen can't cut it.
Seattle will be able to put an end to musical chairs on the offensive line on the weekend when Sean Locklear returns from a high ankle sprain or veteran Walter Jones is placed on injured reserve, or both.
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Oct 10, 2009
12:17 PM
Great article in the Milwaukee Journal, comparing the success of Greg Williams in New Orleans and Mike Nolan in Denver (two 4-0 teams) to the struggles the Packers are having with Capers. It mentions the veteran free agents both teams brought in for experience. Thompson HAS to get over his free agency phobia and learn that there are two ways to plug holes on your team, not just the draft (which he has struggled with too... Justin Harrell, Pat Lee, Brian Brohm, Brandon Jackson are all first and second round picks contributing nothing.)