Optimists rejoice

[mission]

<<<<<<<<<<<<< Was (still am) an optimist.


<<<<<<<<<<<<< Still shocked Packers won Super Bowl

+1

[mission]

Yeah the Packers catch all the breaks but they catch them in the offseason. We drafted Raji and Clay in the same draft and then they turned into elite players in only their second year. Tramon Williams just had the best year from a cornerback that I have ever seen in Green Bay and that includes Chuck's DPOY season. Sam Shields materialized into a defensive staple. That's too good to be all Thompson. That's luck

Can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.

Agree with you on Raji, Clay, Tramon, Shields, etc...

But when something happens over and over to the point it's beyond the league average, let's get real -- it's not luck. Definite trend.

[Smeefers]

The only real break the Packers got was when the Jets released Howard Green. With Pickett hobbled at the time, the Packers were desperate for a big guy to spell B.J. Raji a bit. Green's sudden availability reminded me of 1996 when Andre Rison suddenly became available at a time when the Packers were hobbled at wide receiver.

That said, TT was proven right. He won it all in his 6th year at the helm, 5th year with the coach of his choosing. Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren won it in their 5th year. The difference is that whereas Wolf and Holmgren didn't always see eye to eye, Thompson and McCarthy seem in lockstep in terms of how they want to put this team together. They have a better chance to win multiple Super Bowls because it is highly unlikely the coach will leave 2 years after winning the Super Bowl.

Agreed! Getting Howard Green was HUGE. I still remember Raji sitting on the field after a game (can't remember which one), but he was the only healthy DL guy we had. I think that game there was Wynn and Wilson and BJ. BJ played every darn defensive snap. We lost, but he was the rock in that game and I knew that if we didn't get some guys around him to help him out, he'd go the way of so many other players and end up hurt. Getting Green was that extra guy that saved him.

[vince]

[Smidgeon]

Agreed! Howard Green IS huge.

Fixed.

[retailguy]

Getting Howard Green was HUGE.

Was this pun intentional?

[Smeefers]

Was this pun intentional?

Perhaps?

[Bossman641]

Agreed! Getting Howard Green was HUGE. I still remember Raji sitting on the field after a game (can't remember which one), but he was the only healthy DL guy we had. I think that game there was Wynn and Wilson and BJ. BJ played every darn defensive snap. We lost, but he was the rock in that game and I knew that if we didn't get some guys around him to help him out, he'd go the way of so many other players and end up hurt. Getting Green was that extra guy that saved him.

I think you are remembering the Minn game in GB. Jenkins got injured during warmups and Pickett was out after the first couple of drives. It was Raji, Wilson, and Wynn the rest of the way. Don't know how they won that game.

[Scott Campbell]

Can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.

Agree with you on Raji, Clay, Tramon, Shields, etc...

But when something happens over and over to the point it's beyond the league average, let's get real -- it's not luck. Definite trend.

When you get through all the injuries we got through, it's not luck. It's Thompson. And the staff he assmebled.

[mission]

It's Thompson.

Si.

[HarveyWallbangers]

<-- The original Optimist

[swede]

No need to start a new thread, but this blog entry from the Urinal is pretty cool.
It is pretty cool because I am a flawed human being, rejoicing in the pain of Bear and Viking fans.

Let me say that I am "optomistic" about it bringing joy to other flawed human beings that post here, as it picks the scabs of Bear and Viking misery.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/115637529.html

[sharpe1027]

Let me get this straight. Making a bunch of seemingly great moves cannot be credited to the GM and must be luck because it is too good? Seems circular to me. By that logic, I conclude that there are no good GMs in the league, only lucky ones.

[pbmax]

Can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.

Agree with you on Raji, Clay, Tramon, Shields, etc...

But when something happens over and over to the point it's beyond the league average, let's get real -- it's not luck. Definite trend.

I think 3irty is saying even a good GM on a hot streak doesn't hit on two first round draft picks AND THEN find two starting CBs in the undrafted pile very often. So that kind of talent haul may not be repeated every two years. But what I think this year showed, is that all those other picks, the ones that do not produce All-Pros and can still be debated, if done right, can contribute to a very successful year. Colledge, Bishop, Jackson, Hawk, Jones and Nelson all helped, even if none will be superstars. By virtue of rising to competency, they helped the All-Pros immeasurably.

[sharpe1027]

I think 3irty is saying even a good GM on a hot streak doesn't hit on two first round draft picks AND THEN find two starting CBs in the undrafted pile very often. So that kind of talent haul may not be repeated every two years. But what I think this year showed, is that all those other picks, the ones that do not produce All-Pros and can still be debated, if done right, can contribute to a very successful year. Colledge, Bishop, Jackson, Hawk, Jones and Nelson all helped, even if none will be superstars. By virtue of rising to competency, they helped the All-Pros immeasurably.

That seems consistent with the context of 3irty's post. I think the use of the term "luck" is what I disagree with. Every GM has some years that are better than others. Having above-normal results any particular year is to be expected in any long-term strategy as are below-average results. The good years makeup for the bad years. It is not so much luck, as how the system is designed to work.