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Last off-season, I was one of the biggest complainers when it comes to how Thompson was doing his job. I wanted to see Moss in Green and Gold (for Favre's sake, if for no other reason), and I wanted to see a veteran RB and perhaps TE signed, and also a veteran guard. None of that happened though, and the Packers still managed to go 13-3. Do I feel like a dumbass for all of my complaining? In all honesty, yes, a little. 
But, Moss did end up setting an NFL record for TD's in a season, the Packers had no run game until Grant showed up around week six, Bubba was not much of a factor at all, and M3 played "musical guards" (rotating) all season long.
It does not look like the Packers will lose any of their more talented players in the off-season. I could see KGB getting cut because of his high salary, and Williams may hit the road if Thompson does not put a tender on him or hit him with the franchise tag (not likely), but otherwise this team already looks to be in great shape going into next season.
So, my question is, will Thompson approach the off-season differently this year? Will having the 30'th pick overall, with no real pressing needs at any one position cause him to change the way he does things in comparison to previous off-seasons?
On Offense:
QB.......... Rogers should have enough knowledge of the system by now to take over for Favre if needed. So, IMO, QB is not a problem position.
WR..........Short of signing Moss or Chad Johnson, I don't know if you really could do much to improve this position.
RB..........Grant is our guy, and Wynn showed just enough to hold onto. We have depth at the position, and an upgrade from what we have now would be a suprise.
FB..........IMO, the only way this position gets upgraded would be through free agency. Sure we could draft a FB if he is the "best player available", but not very likely. I think it's more likely that the Packers will go with what they have at FB.
TE..........Short of trading for Jeremy Shockey, I don't know that this position is in need of an upgrade. Thompson was comfortable going into last season with what we had, but perhaps he may want to rethink Bubba's importance to the team, he showed flashes of his old self......inbetween injuries anyway.
OT..........Clifton and Tauscher are both still playing great, but they are both getting up there in years. Not a position to worry about just yet....
OG..........I think Favre made these guys look better than they were, simply by getting rid of the ball quickly, and avoiding the sack. Personally, IMO, these guys played like shit! It was bad enough to watch the pocket collapse as easily as it did, but these guys should have been embarrassed by their performance week to week. This is a position that I would love to see upgraded via Free Agency, short of that, would another rookie have as much value as opposed to just being patient with what we have?
Defense:
DE..........Kampman is playing the position as good as anyone in the game. I just do not think that KGB is worth what he is getting paid, as a situational player (pass rusher). Considering KGB's salary, I would not be suprised to see him cut (unless he restructures his contract). Is there a better Free Agent DE out there though?
DT..........Picket is the man, and Williams is probably as good as gone. I think Jenkins has great potential, and who really knows about Harrell yet. All I know, is that our D-line did not come close to putting pressure on the opposing QB in the games that we needed to see it. If this positon can be improved through Free Agency, I really hope that Thompson opens up his wallet and spends if he has to.
CB..........Woodson and Harris are both getting a little long in the tooth. Harris looked like complete shit against Burress in the playoffs. I do not think this position needs immediate upgrading, but it sure as hell would not hurt to look to the future via the draft if the right guy is available.
LB..........Barnett and Hawk are great. IMO, Poppinga is a meathead. The packers could use an upgrade at the position, preferably someone who can play in pass coverage. Again though as with many other positions on the team, it is not very pressing to replace Poppinga, it would be nice to though.
S..........Nick Collins and Atari Bigby look to be doing ok. I do not see this as a position that needs improving all that badly.
The Packers have a few players who will eventually have to be replaced due to their age......these same guys also happen to still be playing at a pro-bowl level, so there should not be any big rush to replace them. The young guys for the most part are playing great football. So, it seems like no one single position is in need of an upgrade any more so than any other position. So, if you buy into that, and taking into consideration the Packers position in the draft at #30............do you think that Thompson will do things differently this offseason?
But, Moss did end up setting an NFL record for TD's in a season, the Packers had no run game until Grant showed up around week six, Bubba was not much of a factor at all, and M3 played "musical guards" (rotating) all season long.It does not look like the Packers will lose any of their more talented players in the off-season. I could see KGB getting cut because of his high salary, and Williams may hit the road if Thompson does not put a tender on him or hit him with the franchise tag (not likely), but otherwise this team already looks to be in great shape going into next season.
So, my question is, will Thompson approach the off-season differently this year? Will having the 30'th pick overall, with no real pressing needs at any one position cause him to change the way he does things in comparison to previous off-seasons?
On Offense:
QB.......... Rogers should have enough knowledge of the system by now to take over for Favre if needed. So, IMO, QB is not a problem position.
WR..........Short of signing Moss or Chad Johnson, I don't know if you really could do much to improve this position.
RB..........Grant is our guy, and Wynn showed just enough to hold onto. We have depth at the position, and an upgrade from what we have now would be a suprise.
FB..........IMO, the only way this position gets upgraded would be through free agency. Sure we could draft a FB if he is the "best player available", but not very likely. I think it's more likely that the Packers will go with what they have at FB.
TE..........Short of trading for Jeremy Shockey, I don't know that this position is in need of an upgrade. Thompson was comfortable going into last season with what we had, but perhaps he may want to rethink Bubba's importance to the team, he showed flashes of his old self......inbetween injuries anyway.
OT..........Clifton and Tauscher are both still playing great, but they are both getting up there in years. Not a position to worry about just yet....
OG..........I think Favre made these guys look better than they were, simply by getting rid of the ball quickly, and avoiding the sack. Personally, IMO, these guys played like shit! It was bad enough to watch the pocket collapse as easily as it did, but these guys should have been embarrassed by their performance week to week. This is a position that I would love to see upgraded via Free Agency, short of that, would another rookie have as much value as opposed to just being patient with what we have?
Defense:
DE..........Kampman is playing the position as good as anyone in the game. I just do not think that KGB is worth what he is getting paid, as a situational player (pass rusher). Considering KGB's salary, I would not be suprised to see him cut (unless he restructures his contract). Is there a better Free Agent DE out there though?
DT..........Picket is the man, and Williams is probably as good as gone. I think Jenkins has great potential, and who really knows about Harrell yet. All I know, is that our D-line did not come close to putting pressure on the opposing QB in the games that we needed to see it. If this positon can be improved through Free Agency, I really hope that Thompson opens up his wallet and spends if he has to.
CB..........Woodson and Harris are both getting a little long in the tooth. Harris looked like complete shit against Burress in the playoffs. I do not think this position needs immediate upgrading, but it sure as hell would not hurt to look to the future via the draft if the right guy is available.
LB..........Barnett and Hawk are great. IMO, Poppinga is a meathead. The packers could use an upgrade at the position, preferably someone who can play in pass coverage. Again though as with many other positions on the team, it is not very pressing to replace Poppinga, it would be nice to though.
S..........Nick Collins and Atari Bigby look to be doing ok. I do not see this as a position that needs improving all that badly.
The Packers have a few players who will eventually have to be replaced due to their age......these same guys also happen to still be playing at a pro-bowl level, so there should not be any big rush to replace them. The young guys for the most part are playing great football. So, it seems like no one single position is in need of an upgrade any more so than any other position. So, if you buy into that, and taking into consideration the Packers position in the draft at #30............do you think that Thompson will do things differently this offseason?
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