The Turning Point in the Ted Thompson Era

[Pacopete4]

2005: 4-12 (fired Sherman and his staff, getting in his own guys that he wants)
2006: 8-8 (finished with 4 wins, catapulting the team into the next season with the new coaching staff)
2007: 13-3 (the high point so far in the TT era under a different QB and a 2nd season of that coaching staff)
2008: 6-10 (the dreaded offseason, the injuries, the "bad luck" timing of playing people on the schedule)


2009: ?-?


Now TT/MM will bring in their Dcoordinator that they feel will help put that defense over the top. I feel that this will be the turning point, good or bad, in the TT/MM era. If this works, they will look great and if it fails they might find themselves with a pink slip in one to two season depending on how bad it is.


Your thoughts Packer nation?

[pbmax]

What does over the top mean?

[HarveyWallbangers]

For the first time ever, I actually agree with pacopete. The difference might be: I think it will work.

[Pacopete4]

Well before the injuries this season they were above avg at best. A new Dcoordinator, if he uses his players right could put them over the top into a top 5 defense which is what TT I think wanted in the first place. A strong D and an offense that protects the ball.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Well before the injuries this season they were above avg at best. A new Dcoordinator, if he uses his players right could put them over the top into a top 5 defense which is what TT I think wanted in the first place. A strong D and an offense that protects the ball.

Top 5 is a tough one. I think our offense will be top 5-8. If we can get the defense in the top half of the league, like last year, we'll be in the mix.

[Partial]

I suspect you're correct with this one. With that said, I also suspect TT will fortify the defense quite a bit this year.

[Pacopete4]

For the first time ever, I actually agree with pacopete. The difference might be: I think it will work.

haha, I'm actually with ya. If they get the right person (and I'm not sure any of us actually know who that is) they could be a very good D. Maybe not a Ravens type D but a defense that is very, very good.

[pbmax]

Well before the injuries this season they were above avg at best. A new Dcoordinator, if he uses his players right could put them over the top into a top 5 defense which is what TT I think wanted in the first place. A strong D and an offense that protects the ball.

My general estimation of them from 2007 was just outside top 10. They have developed holes at D line they didn't have before KGB's injury that year. If the new guy gets them back to that level (literally just above average) I will likely consider it a step up, barring some Jekyll and Hyde performance.

If they get it into the top 10, then I would say that is a job very well done.

[Pacopete4]

I just hope they bring in some guy with an attitude, that snarls. It seems like our dcoordinator, sanders, had no attitude about him. Ive always been a big believer that defense is played with a chip on ur shoulder and lots of attitude. If only Fritz Shurmar were still around.

[BallHawk]

I think TT will be here for at least another 2 seasons, no matter how bad we do. That being said, I think this offseason is a crucial one for two reasons.

1. We need FAs.

2. We need to make sure we have the ability to sign all of our own guys next offseason, especially with the uncertainty with how large the cap will be. Guys like Jennings need to be kept in Green Bay.

I have full confidence TT will get the job done.

Super Bowl next year......book it.

[texaspackerbacker]

For the first time ever, I actually agree with pacopete. The difference might be: I think it will work.

Yeah, me too.

Assuming this all is true, I wish they hadn't done it, but from this point on, it will be either back to the top with players returning healthy and a similar system to what we have, or it will be a downslide to mediocrity with some crap new system.

That could accurately be described as a turning point.

[retailguy]

1. We need FAs.

I have full confidence TT will get the job done.

I agree, Taco Wallace is available, therefore we'll be "in the mix" as they say. :P

On the serious side, I fear we'll hear more of, - "Well, we thought our offer was really competitive, but sometimes, these things just don't work out."

Edit - I don't recall Ron Wolf ever saying that.... Not pointing fingers, I'm just sayin.....

[Fritz]

Yes, I think this is a turning point. It's an admission of failure; the first for MM and TT, really. If they don't get this hiring right then it will probably be the end for both of them, in a couple of years.

It's a big moment.

[Gunakor]

Yes, I think this is a turning point. It's an admission of failure; the first for MM and TT, really. If they don't get this hiring right then it will probably be the end for both of them, in a couple of years.

It's a big moment.

This move isn't really an admission of failure on TT's part. TT hires the head coach, and the head coach hires his staff. Since the head coach is still here...

MM fired his staff, so he's the one admitting to something here. It might be both of their necks on the line, but if that's the case, then I'd say TT is still pretty confident he made the right choice hiring MM - since his job depends on MM making the right decisions. So I don't think he's admitted to any failure on his part at all, but maybe failure on MM's part (which MM admits to as well).

[Fritz]

I dunno, Gun. It's not a great sign for the organization when the HC fires a coordinaotr. Not to say it can't work. But it doesn't bestow glory on Ted, either.

These guys seem to me a kind of package deal. If MM flops, I see TT going, too.

But I don't think MM will flop.