Prediction for 2009

[Partial]

I think the Packers will take a huge step to becoming a more physical team next year. I suspect that TT focuses around the trenches this off-season.

If Nolan comes here, I look forward to seeing a defensive of tough guys. On Offense, I think we'll be running the ball a lot more. Our running game has shown that it can be successful when we stick with it. I suspect we'll see more of this next year.

Basically, I think we'll look more like a Pittsburgh team instead of the "red carpet pretty boy" team we were this year.

Do you guys have any predictions?

[Jimx29]

TT will continue his ways and be fired by seasons end

[Lurker64]

TT will continue his ways and be fired by seasons end

There's no way that Thompson gets fired this season, no matter how bad the squad is. 6-10 this year probably doesn't even take away all the credit he's gotten from taking a team that was 4-12 and in cap hell to the NFC championship with an enviable cap situation. Thompson will have to have two more consecutive losing years before Murphy would even consider firing him.

How many GMs get fired two years after getting an "executive of the year" award? Haters aside, Thompson is at least in the top half of personnel people in the NFL (remember, this list includes Al Davis). McCarthy gets fired before Thompson does, and I'm not really sure that McCarthy could get fired after next year.

[Jimx29]

In most cases (not counting detroilet) you get 4 years to do something.
Riding the coattails of Brett just long enough to sign a 5 year extension doesn't count as "something"

[Lurker64]

In most cases (not counting detroilet) you get 4 years to do something.
Riding the coattails of Brett just long enough to sign a 5 year extension doesn't count as "something"

I'd say "making the conference championship game" counts as "something", regardless of whether you had a legend playing at QB or not. Thompson got through his first 5 years and accomplished "something". He's safe for at least the next two.

For all the pressure the fans assume is being put on him, there's really no evidence whatsoever that Thompson's boss has any real pressure on him. I mean, Mark Murphy has only been president of the Packers for a little over a year (and came in as a Thompson supporter). I don't think a sub 2-year tenure is going to be enough to sour him on the guy.

Simply because a GM is unpopular with the fans does not mean his ouster is imminent. Carl Peterson spent 20 years as the GM of the Chiefs being unpopular with the fans...

Like it or not, Thompson is here to stay for at least two more years. Better hope he's successful in the meantime, at least if you're a Packer fan.

[Lurker64]

Regardless of discussing the fate of management (which is really hard to project, anyway), I agree with Partial's assessment.

I think if McCarthy would be well-served to emphasize more physical line play. I think that with the chance of drafting an OT at #9, the fact that Colledge is a far better tackle than guard, and the ages (and injury concerns) for Clifton and Tauscher we may be close to an OL consisting mostly of young guys. I expect them to cut more and be generally more aggressive and athletic. As great as Clifton is in pass-blocking, a lot of the problems we've had with running plays is that Clifton simply isn't athletic enough to cut the backside pressure. I think a line of Colledge/Sitton/Spitz/Barbre (if he turns it around, otherwise Wells/Spitz)/and one of M. Oher or J. Smith could be pretty damn good for years to come, if we decide to go that way in the draft (which wouldn't be too much of a stretch, since the failure rate for top 10 OTs in the draft is very, very low in the modern era, there hasn't been a failure at that position taken in the top 10 since Gallery.)

The defensive line also clearly needs help. Thompson has long been an advocate of the value of defensive tackles, and he has put his money where his mouth is (signing Pickett in the first day of FA, drafting Harrell when the majority of Packerdom was looking for a WR or a TE (even though it hasn't worked out so far, he was at least trying)). I expect him to do it again.

[RashanGary]

I agree with Partial. I think they like Sitton. McCarthy said he's the big, physical right guard they've been looking for and Spitz is stronger than Wells so our interior right gets stronger at two positions.

Hopefully they can figure something out at RT. Tausch is getting older and major knee surgery is going to be very hard to overcome in just 8 months. Colledge did a nice job, but if Colledge is going to play RT, then we'll have to find a left guard (maybe Clifton/Spitz/Wells/Sitton/Colledge). Then there is a matter of replacing Clifton within a year. Ted is going to have to get moving on that before it becomes a real issue.


As far as the DL goes, I think we're going to see at least a mid level FA and I think this is the year we make a splash. I think AH makes sense for this team and judging by Thompsons apparent attraction to top tier players (Moss, Gonzo, Woodson, Arrington, Vinitari), I would say we're going to be in that race till the end.

[pbmax]

From the way things broke this season, I'd say that Thompson rode the coattails of Sanders to his extension

[RashanGary]

And I agree we have to get more physical. There is no way this team can win a championship running the ball or stopping the run the way we do now. We're a decent team, but we need to be much more physical to be SB competitive. I think last year was a little fluky. According to the stats, we won more games than we should have last year and lost more ganes than we should have this year. Bottom line, we're somewhere near average for the last two years. Now we have to take the step forward, let Collins, Rodgers, Jennings and all of the young players become vets and continue to stock pile talent around them rather than letting them go to go young. We finally have a solid base. Lock them up and keep building.

[Gunakor]

I agree with Partial. I think they like Sitton. McCarthy said he's the big, physical right guard they've been looking for and Spitz is stronger than Wells so our interior right gets stronger at two positions.

Hopefully they can figure something out at RT. Tausch is getting older and major knee surgery is going to be very hard to overcome in just 8 months. Colledge did a nice job, but if Colledge is going to play RT, then we'll have to find a left guard (maybe Clifton/Spitz/Wells/Sitton/Colledge). Then there is a matter of replacing Clifton within a year. Ted is going to have to get moving on that before it becomes a real issue.


As far as the DL goes, I think we're going to see at least a mid level FA and I think this is the year we make a splash. I think AH makes sense for this team and judging by Thompsons apparent attraction to top tier players (Moss, Gonzo, Woodson, Arrington, Vinitari), I would say we're going to be in that race till the end.

Don't forget about Giacomini. From all I've heard about that, the reason he didn't see any PT this season isn't because he lacks talent. It's because he lacked size, which the conditioning staff was trying to put on him. He's got that 6'7" frame but needed to put muscle on it to be effective at this level. Assuming he puts on the muscle, and he's got the talent, he'd be an ideal LT protecting Rodgers' blind side. From that perspective, both OT replacements might already be on our roster.

[Lurker64]

Don't forget about Giacomini. From all I've heard about that, the reason he didn't see any PT this season isn't because he lacks talent. It's because he lacked size, which the conditioning staff was trying to put on him. He's got that 6'7" frame but needed to put muscle on it to be effective at this level. Assuming he puts on the muscle, and he's got the talent, he'd be an ideal LT protecting Rodgers' blind side. From that perspective, both OT replacements might already be on our roster.

My, admittedly inexpert, opinion is that Colledge probably projects better to LT and Giacomini to RT. But I would appreciate hearing the input of one of our resident experts on offensive line play.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I don't think anybody knows enough about Giacomini. I'm no expert, but I'd be fine with Clifton and Colledge as our OTs this year and bringing on Giacomini (or better yet, a more highly acclaimed guy we acquire relatively early in the draft) slowly. It might be foolish to count on a guy like Giacomini.

2009
Clifton, Spitz, Wells, Sitton, Colledge?

Long-term
Colledge, Barbre, Spitz, Sitton, high draft pick?

[rpiotr01]

I don't think anybody knows enough about Giacomini. I'm no expert, but I'd be fine with Clifton and Colledge as our OTs this year and bringing on Giacomini (or better yet, a more highly acclaimed guy we acquire relatively early in the draft) slowly. It might be foolish to count on a guy like Giacomini.

2009
Clifton, Spitz, Wells, Sitton, Colledge?

Long-term
Colledge, Barbre, Spitz, Sitton, high draft pick?

I think more likely:

high draft pick, Colledge, Spitz, Sitton, Giacomini/ draft pick.

Colledge isn't the answer at LT. I'm hoping either Oher or Jason Smith is around at #9 and that should take care of that.

Right now Giacomini is generating Allen Barbre type buzz about his progress, and we know how that turned out. But I'm anxious to see how he does in mini camp and TC. He and Sitton would form a nice big mauling right side of the line.

[Lurker64]

Colledge isn't the answer at LT. I'm hoping either Oher or Jason Smith is around at #9 and that should take care of that.

I'm not so sure about that. I'm reasonably confident that Colledge isn't the answer at either guard spot, but he's been much more productive (and natural) playing Tackle, which was his position at Boise State.

[Gunakor]

I don't think anybody knows enough about Giacomini. I'm no expert, but I'd be fine with Clifton and Colledge as our OTs this year and bringing on Giacomini (or better yet, a more highly acclaimed guy we acquire relatively early in the draft) slowly. It might be foolish to count on a guy like Giacomini.

2009
Clifton, Spitz, Wells, Sitton, Colledge?

Long-term
Colledge, Barbre, Spitz, Sitton, high draft pick?

Not saying you are wrong, but it might be just as foolish to not give Giacomini his shot at a starting job. Certainly the coaches know more about his progress than any of us do, and it doesn't make sense that they'd use a draft pick on this guy, not let him so much as dress for one regular season game in his rookie year while still keeping him on the roster, and then not give him a shot at playing. Something tells me this guy is going to be pretty good once he gets into shape.

Colledge does project better as a LT, but he's a bit light and seems like he could get pushed around a bit in pass pro. Gia is, well, large. I could see him as the anchor long term, assuming he's got the talent, before I could see Colledge in that role. I could be wrong, but from a pure size standpoint, I'd rather the bigger, stronger guy be the one to protect my blind side if I were the QB.