Concerns for 2010 (No Particular Order)

[RashanGary]

ok, then it's over. Let's move on. It's not a fight. Nothings wrong. Let's just move on.

[get louder at lambeau]

Just be glad you don't work with the guy.

[RashanGary]

haha. The last few days have been drama after drama. Why is everyone gone. Ted's a liar. This strange drama that was never a drama. . . .

For fucks sake, let's get back to football. You got us, RG. Just move on.

[cheesner]

I'm getting really exhausted by this witch hunt...

Witch hunt? It's not like anyone is twisting his words. It's also not like RG is backing down from his POV. I would just like an example so I get a better idea of where he is coming from.

I don't think either cheesner or Bossman are on a witch hunt. However, there have been ample personal attacks in this thread. It is clear which posters are engaging in those attacks, and in spite of their insistence to the contrary I believe it shows. If anyone cares or not may be a different issue altogether.

I understand the "want" for me to support the statement, and I believe I have, and have been very clear why I have the POV that I do. I'm not interested in getting into the technical difference between "lie" "mislead" and "say nothing", much less the respective merits or issues with them once you've decided on your "technically correct terminology".

At the end of the day, I don't like it, and don't respect it, and you folks may side with Justin. Makes no difference to me either way.

Yes. There are lots of personal attacks in this thread that you are making. You can call TT a bad GM because of his methods, that's your opinion. But when you attack him personally, making stuff up, that is wrong. You are correct that he doesn't tell the truth, that does not make him a liar. No GM is expected to give a hard analysis of their team. Do you really expect him to openly discuss weaknesses of his team and players? That would be akin to announcing at the beginning of a poker hand 'I only have pocket 3s. If I don't get a 3 on the flop - I will fold"

I just think it flat out wrong for you to attack him for this.

[falco]

FWIW, the interviews I've seen with TT generally made him seem like a pleasant individual. I agree he uses double speak to answer their questions, but I don't object to this.

He could be a total asshole for all I know, but then again I don't really care. He's a very good GM that has kept GB from falling off the map when #4 left.

[pbmax]

Ending a season 7-1 does silence some folks. For others it raises the question of why can't this team start a season strong? That's a few year "trend" here in GB, and I don't think that anyone can put a finger on it as to "why".

This is actually worth a threath of its own; I am no expert, only been into the game for 9 or so years. But in that time, I've seen 6-0 teams miss the playoffs. I think, and I've read, that latter 8 games is far more important to a ball club than the previous. I aint gonna dig up stats, but I truly believe, a strong finish is more valuable thatn a fast start.

That's true, but you can bury yourself with a bad start. Losing two in a row at the start of the season (one normally a home game) has a terrible track record of making the playoffs.

So once you MAKE the playoffs, its far better to be hot late than early.

Back on topic: I am officially concerned about both CB and pass rush. Specifically the shoulder harness for Jones. That isn't a fashion accessory.

Not worried about the holder. We are going to need to outscore some folks. The good news is that Capers has buried whatever wrinkles he has laid out for the team and not exposed them in the preseason. That should buy us some time.

[falco]

Good point PB. Holder shouldn't be an issue when the kicker is only doing PATs.

[retailguy]

You are correct that he doesn't tell the truth, that does not make him a liar.

:P

Ok, Cheesner, I've been speaking English my whole life. If you aren't telling the truth, you ARE lying.

I know that you're maintaining that Ted has reasons to lie. If he's protecting a "secret" or "gaining a competitive advantage", I'd agree with you. I've already dealt with this, but I am of the opinion that most of the time it is unnecessary for him to do that. Wolf would occasionally mislead folks because he needed to, and sometimes he was just candid and told the truth.

Ted doesn't do that often, and believe it or not, I'm not attacking him personally. He's made this a part of his job. I have no earthly idea what he does with the folks he goes to dinner and a movie with.

No where did I say that I expect him to give a hard analysis of his team. Plenty of those softball questions the GB reporters used to ask are answered evasively. There's just no need for that.

[superfan]

We are going to need to outscore some folks.

This is one of my concerns. Last season GB went 11-0 when holding teams under 30 points, and 0-5 when the D gave up over 30. Even in those losses GB managed to put a respectable number of points on the board - 24, 23, 26, 28, 36. The team only scored less than 20 points in a game once all season (17-7 win vs Dallas), and the offensive prognosis is even better for this season.

The playoff debacle was yet another example of an inability to win a shootout.

All I ask is that the defense finds a way to keep opponent points allowed under 30. Shouldn't be too much to ask. If they are able to do so, should be a fine season.

A side note about that crazy stat and those games - last year we generally had a pretty good idea about midway through the 2nd quarter whether or not it was going to be "one of those days". I've done some math on this - in the 11 wins, GB averaged 3.5 points allowed in the first half. In the 5 losses, GB averaged almost 19.5 points allowed in the first half. 39 total first half points allowed in 11 victories, 97 total first half points allowed in 5 losses. Offensive production is practically statistically irrelevant.

In the postseason, true to form, 24 first half points allowed to Arizona in the playoffs, resulting in a loss.

One year of data is hardly enough to generate statistically accurate results, yet the swing is significant enough to be disturbing. We need the defense to show up in the first half of games on a consistent basis to be successful.

[vince]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfbAFgD2mLo

[MJZiggy]

Good heavens, people! Take it to FYI or something.

Also, my biggest concern still remains in the kicking game. Crosby needs a holder and I worry about the punt coverage unit. Great that the Chery kid got a touchdown, but we need to make sure that every punt returner we face doesn't do the same thing. Field position is everything.

[Fritz]

Going back to an earlier theme in this thread - why is anyone concerned when so many have been so pro-Ted? - I see in another thread that Bigby and Harris are going on the PUP list for the first six games. And then can start practicing.

Harris is not a surprise. No question. But Bigby, once he signed the tender, was thought to be ready to work his way back in. Most Rats had Bigby starting ahead of Burnett, giving the young guy a chance to watch and learn and play ST (not Skin, though). Blackmon too was thought to be progressing pretty well medically. The point is, at that point the team seemed to have reasonable safety depth.

Well, that's shot to hell now. And I am concerned about depth at safety now. But that was partly due to the injury stuff. You could argue TT shoulda known, but had he gone out and spent the draft pick to acquire a starting caliber or strong backup safety, then what would the team have done if Blackmon and Bigby had progressed as expected? It woulda been a pickle.

Maybe corner is an area that Ted might've seen coming. My guess is that he thought Underwood and Lee were going to step it up this year. But they haven't. Is that a mis-assessment of their skill levels? It could be. It sure could be. Could be though that Lee's injuries have cost him speed or quickness, and Underwood's injury is slowing him down.

But the test will be in the next two weeks. Will TT make a move to improve the defensive backfield or the linebacking corps? He's got Jason Spitz, maybe Donald Lee, and some future draft choices to play with.

[superfan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfbAFgD2mLo

One of my all time favorite movie scenes. Need to watch the entire movie for full context and effect.

Ol' Val has added about a buck and change since that movie.

[superfan]

Gotta comment on one of retailguy's statements in this long ass and mostly preposterous thread.

I'm critical of ignoring free agency, especially with the lower tier guys. Not much risk there, and might give competition.

I've HATED the lackidasical approach to the OL, absolutely DESPISED it. It has taken far too long to field a competitive squad there. There was no reason for it. I firmly believe that responsibility for the slow starts the past two seasons rest firmly with the OL.

These statements back to back are contradictory. We have a comment that TT ignores free agency, especially lower tier guys, followed by a comment about the lack of commitment to the OL. Yet in TT's first year, following the regrettable release of Wahle and Rivera, TT targeted exactly those lower tier guys in Klemm and O'Dwyer. Very forgettable names in the annals of Packer lore.

While I would also like to see more targeting of the lower tier FAs, the track record of success just isn't there. TT has mostly failed with these blue light specials. Too lazy to look all of them up, but additional FA/trade names at various positions like Gardner, Boerigter, Preston, Anthony Smith, Giordano, Marquand Manuel come to mind. I'm sure there are others. There have been a few hits in trade/FA - Grant, and to a lesser extent Bigby, Gado briefly. Etc. But I think we can all agree that the misses outnumber the hits at this level. Whether that is the fault specifically of TT, coaching, or the strategy in general, I don't know.

I'm no therapist, but I have a feeling that if we got retailguy on the couch and worked everything through, his despise of TT would have roots in his decision to let Wahle and Rivera go in his first season as GM, thus contributing to OL issues for years to come.

P.S. - I am completely in agreement with retailguy's last sentence in the quote above - the slow starts are on the backs of the slow gelling of the OL. That, and the defense's inability to contain opposing offenses in the first half as stated by me previously in this thread.

[MJZiggy]

Gotta comment on one of retailguy's statements in this long ass and mostly preposterous thread.

I'm critical of ignoring free agency, especially with the lower tier guys. Not much risk there, and might give competition.

I've HATED the lackidasical approach to the OL, absolutely DESPISED it. It has taken far too long to field a competitive squad there. There was no reason for it. I firmly believe that responsibility for the slow starts the past two seasons rest firmly with the OL.

These statements back to back are contradictory. We have a comment that TT ignores free agency, especially lower tier guys, followed by a comment about the lack of commitment to the OL. Yet in TT's first year, following the regrettable release of Wahle and Rivera, TT targeted exactly those lower tier guys in Klemm and O'Dwyer. Very forgettable names in the annals of Packer lore.

While I would also like to see more targeting of the lower tier FAs, the track record of success just isn't there. TT has mostly failed with these blue light specials. Too lazy to look all of them up, but additional FA/trade names at various positions like Gardner, Boerigter, Preston, Anthony Smith, Giordano, Marquand Manuel come to mind. I'm sure there are others. There have been a few hits in trade/FA - Grant, and to a lesser extent Bigby, Gado briefly. Etc. But I think we can all agree that the misses outnumber the hits at this level. Whether that is the fault specifically of TT, coaching, or the strategy in general, I don't know.

I'm no therapist, but I have a feeling that if we got retailguy on the couch and worked everything through, his despise of TT would have roots in his decision to let Wahle and Rivera go in his first season as GM, thus contributing to OL issues for years to come.

P.S. - I am completely in agreement with retailguy's last sentence in the quote above - the slow starts are on the backs of the slow gelling of the OL. That, and the defense's inability to contain opposing offenses in the first half as stated by me previously in this thread.

Not to abruptly change the subject or anything, but I've just turned on the TV for more than 5 minutes for the first time in 4 months. Tom Brady sounds, and quite frankly right now looks like someone who should be leading the glee club instead of a major football franchise. (Does the fact that I'm watching Glee have anything to do with this?)