Will Thompson handle the offseason differently this year?

[PackerBlues]

I will not even pretend to understand the different tenders that a team can place on a Free Agent (restricted or otherwise), but if Thompson could pick up a Free Agent from another team by spending a draft pick, I could actually see him doing so this year. I do not for one second think that he would give up two 1'st round picks on any player, but I could see him spending a single first round pick or less for a player that he might think would be a good fit for the team.

Other than what I see as a desperate need to fix the O-line, it seems to me that Thompson is in a unique position this off season in the fact that he does not have any real pressing needs at any one position. From that standpoint, he could use his draft picks in any number of ways........trade up, trade down, use them to pick up another teams player with a tender that he feels willing to take, or trade the draft picks straight up to another team for players that the other team would be willing to trade.

I really do not see any reason why Thompson would feel that he would have to use his draft picks this year to take the "best player available", yet at the same time, he could do just that to simply provide further depth for the team.

Personally, I would first of all hope that he would find a way to improve the O-line, IMO a veteran free agent would be the best option for that........ but who knows. After that, be it through a coaching change or adding a dominant pass rusher or whatever.......... the Defense needs to be able to pressure opposing QB's a hell of a lot better than it did last season.

Now for my attempt at winning the "Understatement of the Year" award: I think it's going to be a very interesting off-season.

[woodbuck27]

Very good thread.

PACKERS FOREVER!

[Green Bud Packer]

Re: Will Thompson handle the offseason differently this year

Will Thompson handle the offseason differently this year?

Probably not.

All off-seasons are handled differently.It depends on so many varibles as to how you can play it that no two can be alike.

Teds first year he let go big money guys to rescue the cap.
His next year he fired some dead weight.
His third year he added the guys to get to the N.F.C. title game.
Who knows what this year will bring but it'll be different.

[Bretsky]

Re: Will Thompson handle the offseason differently this year

Am I crazy, or does cutting Franks and signing Crumpler sound not so bad?

Repeat after me; "Tory Humphrey, Tory Humphrey, Tory Humphrey".

The Packer website even has a feature article about him!
Seriously, I think he might be a decent second tight end who will be a better receiver than Franks and a better blocker than Lee.

Who was that Atlas Herron guy you kept hyping ?

I see you've found a new victim

You aren't going to let me forget that one, are you??

Herrion was just a guess based on some things I saw in the way he was handled.

What I find intriguing about Humphrey is that both MM and TT, even a coupe weeks into the season, brought him up as a disappointing loss to IR, and he was gone right after training camp started. He was mentioned several times, and TT again mentioned him at the end of the year. They seem to have some expectations for him.

I'll probably be wrong again, and he will be relaesed before camp even starts!

Sorry, my memory (my wife would say my good memory only applies to sports) is just too good with past transgressions; of course I have many many of them myself as well

[KYPack]

Patler, just say "Odell Thurman" to Bretsky (or me), and he (and I) will turn red-faced and stop teasing.

Fritz, B, you may be vindicated yet.

Odell Thurman will be back in Stripes this season.

Everyone makes out like he was Vick or something, but he got hosed!

Goodell gave him a 2 yr hit for missing a wiz quiz and a DUI. That shit is bad & all but Pat Kearney got off the hook clean for a DUI.

OT is one of the most instinctive and active young LB's I've seen come in the NFL. I think he'll play up a storm this year.

[ND72]

Re: Will Thompson handle the offseason differently this year

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.

Wynn won't even be on the roster next year, write it down.

[PackerBlues]

Re: Will Thompson handle the offseason differently this year

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.

Wynn won't even be on the roster next year, write it down.

Sorry, I forgot to write it down........and I am guessing Thompson did too, cause he cut Bubba and Wynn is still on the team. I am guessing that would be because Wynn showed potential, while Bubba has been a "no-show" for the most part, ever since signing his last contract.

I am not suprised that Bubba got cut. I am suprised that we have 10 different posts about it though. I guess everyone is hurting for Packer news to discuss.

I did not bother to count the number of threads on Williams. I am a little disapointed that Thompson put the franchise on him, because that tells me that Thompson was happy with the D-line he had last year, and that he will not be looking to improve it. Still a little early to say for sure though.

I am still hoping to see an improvement to the O-line at least. I have a feeling that I am going to have to wait impatiently to see it though.

[The Leaper]

Re: Will Thompson handle the offseason differently this year

I am a little disapointed that Thompson put the franchise on him, because that tells me that Thompson was happy with the D-line he had last year, and that he will not be looking to improve it.

How does retaining a guy who was a relatively key contributor the last few seasons suggest that Thompson is not looking to improve the DL?

If Thompson had not retained Williams, our DL today would be weaker...and Thompson would have further to go to improve it.

[woodbuck27]

I believe the move with Cory Williams was prudent.

I believe that TT is on a learning curve and he will show us more confidence in his position.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

I believe the move with Cory Williams was prudent.

I believe that TT is on a learning curve and he will show us more confidence in his position.

And, slowly the ice begins to crack.

TT ain't on a learning curve..he already had plenty of experience. YOU are on the learning curve.

[PackerBlues]

Re: Will Thompson handle the offseason differently this year

How does retaining a guy who was a relatively key contributor the last few seasons suggest that Thompson is not looking to improve the DL?

relatively key contributor??? What does that mean exactly? Putting the franchise tag on Williams simply suggests to me that Thompson thought that the personnel that he had at the DT position last season are as good as or better than what he could put together via free agency and/or the draft. Does that sound like an improvement? If you are not concerned about the front fours inability to pressure opposing QBs, or to collapse a pocket last season...........maybe so.

If Thompson had not retained Williams, our DL today would be weaker...and Thompson would have further to go to improve it.

Sorry, I do not buy into that. With Picket, Jenkins and Harrell alone, the Packers seem to be plenty strong in the DT position.

I could care less, one way or the other about Williams. At least the team will be set at the DT position now and can concentrate on fixing the O-line.

[Lurker64]

I think to a large extent, this is going to come down to which NFL players will be available in free agency. Last year's free agent class was historically weak, and much weaker than the previous year's class. Not coincidentally, Thompson was much more active in FA the previous year than he was last year.

Does anybody have the final FA list for 2008? We're done tagging, so we should have a good idea by now

[ND72]

Re: Will Thompson handle the offseason differently this year

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.

Wynn won't even be on the roster next year, write it down.

Sorry, I forgot to write it down........and I am guessing Thompson did too, cause he cut Bubba and Wynn is still on the team. I am guessing that would be because Wynn showed potential, while Bubba has been a "no-show" for the most part, ever since signing his last contract.

I am not suprised that Bubba got cut. I am suprised that we have 10 different posts about it though. I guess everyone is hurting for Packer news to discuss.

I did not bother to count the number of threads on Williams. I am a little disapointed that Thompson put the franchise on him, because that tells me that Thompson was happy with the D-line he had last year, and that he will not be looking to improve it. Still a little early to say for sure though.

I am still hoping to see an improvement to the O-line at least. I have a feeling that I am going to have to wait impatiently to see it though.

Thought I'd bring this up, Wynn tries to play RB, and Bubba plays TE, 2 different positions, so comparing them is meaningless. What you saw from Wynn was what you will get. Yes he had some long runs, but there will be little if any growth. It was reported that Wynn's injury wasn't even a bad injury, but he was still placed on IR, which most reports said it was because he wasn't making enough progress, and didn't understand any of the zones schemes. Of his 50 carries, 3 of them were zone plays...AKA, scheme plays. 42 carries were draw plays....

If you aren't understanding the point, sorry, but that's point blank truth. Wynn won't be on the team next year...Samkon Gado Part 2. Good story, but that's it.

[The Leaper]

Re: Will Thompson handle the offseason differently this year

relatively key contributor??? What does that mean exactly?

It means exactly what I said. The guy would've been the top DT on the free agent market by the accounts of most observers and scouts. Williams has posted 7 sacks in each of the last 2 seasons...which is pretty impressive for a DT.

If you don't feel Williams was a contributor, that's fine. However, the overwhelming consensus would be directly opposed to that reasoning. Saying he isn't worth $6M a year is one thing...claiming he isn't a contributor is another.

Does that sound like an improvement? If you are not concerned about the front fours inability to pressure opposing QBs, or to collapse a pocket last season...........maybe so.

So what is your option for improving the DT position? Who is available that is clearly BETTER than Williams? Who can we draft at pick #30 that will make an immediate impact? How is subtracting Williams, who had 7 sacks the last two years, a way to improve this?

Sorry, I do not buy into that. With Picket, Jenkins and Harrell alone, the Packers seem to be plenty strong in the DT position.

Plenty strong? You just got done telling us how you loathe our inability to collapse the pocket consistently. Then you turn around and claim we would be "plenty strong" without Williams, who was the one guy who seems capable of collapsing the pocket from the DT position.

Well? Which is it?

[cheesner]

Re: Will Thompson handle the offseason differently this year

How does retaining a guy who was a relatively key contributor the last few seasons suggest that Thompson is not looking to improve the DL?

relatively key contributor??? What does that mean exactly? Putting the franchise tag on Williams simply suggests to me that Thompson thought that the personnel that he had at the DT position last season are as good as or better than what he could put together via free agency and/or the draft. Does that sound like an improvement? If you are not concerned about the front fours inability to pressure opposing QBs, or to collapse a pocket last season...........maybe so.

If Thompson had not retained Williams, our DL today would be weaker...and Thompson would have further to go to improve it.

Sorry, I do not buy into that. With Picket, Jenkins and Harrell alone, the Packers seem to be plenty strong in the DT position.

I could care less, one way or the other about Williams. At least the team will be set at the DT position now and can concentrate on fixing the O-line.

You read far too much into that. Franchising Williams does not mean he will be inactive in other areas like the draft or FAs, It could merely mean he would like to get a 4th round pick in a trade rather than just losing him.

The other way the Packers WILL get better is through internal improvement. Every DT except Pickett, is on the upswing of their careers. They are only getting better at this point.