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He is going analytical on us Bretsky!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bretsky
I thought the problem was that we were too small.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bretsky
After reading Dougherty's article the thing that struck me most was how little has changed so far this offseason. When the Packers eliminated the Cowboys and made it to the NFCC game the entire coaching staff saved their jobs. But in the end it sucked getting clobbered by the Falcons the way we did....:x
I think there is something to this. Not sure how fundamental the change is though, because except for maybe Hyde, each change on D so far in understandable as a typical Ted move.Quote:
Originally Posted by bobblehead
Ted mentioned moving toward analytics a couple of years ago and last year someone ran the League's picks against the SPARQ measurement of explosiveness and the Packers came out pretty high for the last couple of drafts. The question of how you dramatically improve your D by watching SPARQ values is an open question, but it is definitely one approach.
Seattle is the franchise know for valuing those measurements for quite some time. But I there is a good chance he is paying more attention to ideas like this.
Frustrating sure. But how much should an NFC game participant change the roster?Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincenzo
Ted's always leaned a little towards the Al Davis side of the Football Player:Athlete continuum.Quote:
Originally Posted by pbmax
Yeah he has. His public statement on this is to have his staff remind him to get good football players not just athletes.Quote:
Originally Posted by 3irty1
My worry is that he has had 3 or so drafts in a row that people thought the choices were wise and a lot of them were on defense (Ha-Ha, Jones, D lineman). I want to get back to people being mad at Thompson's drafts because he found some real difference makers then (Collins/Jennings/Nelson).
Quote:
Originally Posted by pbmax
Don't sell me short; I'm pissed at Thompson every year in the draft.....lol....Think Kylie Thornton and Richard the Plodder Rodgers. Not many were pissed on HaHa. But Nelson and Jennings bring back memories,
Perhaps you're right. But many of us are wondering if our team has become "perennial playoff losers." I think you'd have to admit that we've endured a number of painful losses over the past few years, and I just tend to think that without more significant change we're in for more of the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by pbmax
I'm inclined to agree. I would like a young DC to come in and shake it up a bit. I wouldn't mind spending a few bucks to replace shields.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincenzo
During the favre era we were perennial playoff losers due to his turnovers in big moments. Now its our letdown on defense (and at times offense) in big games.
HOWEVER....by all rights we had a second super bowl in the bag v. seattle before a fake FG and a bonehead play put us away. We were clearly the best team that year imho. But as long as we almost never sign a FA to fix a hole on D, we always seem to have one weak link. Be it Hawk, a second safety, OLB opposite clay or whatever.
Could there be an upgrade to Capers that helps? Sure. Its probably one of three or four guys if you want a guarantee.
Could there be an upgrade to the DC that would align the personnel to a coordinator who will adjust the plan to the players? Much more likely. But this is as much personnel side and coach side. Seems like it needs to happen. If you want a critique of a failure of Thompson/McCarthy, this is it. But be clear, the defense probably doesn't play better overall, but is more consistent and less likely to get blown out in playoffs. That might be enough.
Better and easier still: sometime after 2009, hit on a game changer of a defensive player in the draft.
Now we're in to some philosophical discussion that I can get into, ha-ha.
The team is so close as we were witnessed to during our ending 8 game regular season winning streak - what a thrill that was. Heck, at that point many of us thought the team was destined to go all the way. But to get killed the way we did versus the Falcons it pretty well muted all that excitement. For frick sakes, the season came to a screeching halt.
The fact that the defense has remained status quo, especially in terms of Dom Capers, is enough for fans to feel uneasy. The Packer D was shredded far too many times last season, and that was mostly through the air.
Whenever a formidable passing team hits the field next year, expect to be holding your breath the same way we've become accustomed too.
I don't know how any defensive coordinator could've done much with Rollins, Randall, and Gunther as the top three corners at the end of the season.