OLD ISSUE: REBUILDING?

[TOP HAT]

REALLY? WITH WHAT ELITE QUARTERBACK?

Rebuilding Packers will require patience
Written by Mike Vandermause - Green Bay Press-Gazette

Green Bay - No one in the Packers' organization wants to use the "rebuilding" word. No one wants to say the 2006 team is a year or two away from being a legitimate contender.


No one wants to admit wins will be few and far between.


But that's what faces the Packers this season. With almost half the roster made up of players possessing a year of NFL experience or less, the Packers are destined to suffer some significant growing pains.

Don't be fooled by the presence of veteran quarterback Brett Favre, who in years past was capable of elevating an ordinary team to the playoffs.


Favre still has skills, but not even he can single-handedly turn this team into a contender.


Some will blame Packers General Manager Ted Thompson for the predicament. But Thompson inherited not only a team on the decline, but one that was strapped by the salary cap.


There is no way of knowing whether Thompson will turn around this listing ship. But one thing is certain: His possessive attitude toward draft picks gives the Packers the best chance for success.


It's not a short-term cure. Rebuilding takes time and patience. It also takes keen judgment, which is the skill on which Thompson will be judged.


A team can accumulate a truckload of draft picks, but if those players do nothing more than blow bubbles in the huddle, losing is sure to follow.


Ten of Thompson's draft picks in 2006 made the roster, and four will be in the starting lineup against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. That could be a credit to Thompson's drafting prowess or an indication of a roster lacking in talent.


It should be noted that just five of Thompson's 11 draft picks in 2005 are on the roster, and only one of the five — safety Nick Collins — has started.


Thompson has dipped into free agency with mixed results. He failed in attempts to replenish the offensive line last season with Adrian Klemm and Matt O'Dwyer, but that didn't stop him from trying to bolster the defense this year with cornerback Charles Woodson, safety Marquand Manuel and nose tackle Ryan Pickett.


Maybe the defense will shine with an improved linebacking corps and seemingly solid secondary. But if the Packers can't generate a pass rush or stop the run, they will be in trouble.


On offense, a line featuring two rookie guards will be hard-pressed to protect Favre and open holes for running back Ahman Green, who is returning from a major injury.


On paper, this is a team that will scratch and claw for everything it gets. New coach Mike McCarthy can try every motivational ploy in the book, but there's only so much he can do with the available manpower.


A playoff berth or winning record this year would be a shocking accomplishment.


Fans hoping to avoid frustration should lower their expectations and be content with a team that plays smart, gives its all and shows improvement.


No one in the Packers' organization wants to say it publicly, but that's the best you can hope for in the midst of a major rebuilding project.

[TOP HAT]

REBUILDING: 1ST GAME FORESHADOWING PREVIEW???

Deputy Nutz summary after 1st game: "This was not the way Ted Thompson and his lacky Mike McCarthy wanted to start the season, but with poor or at least questionable off season moves, or failure to make moves that would seem sensible for team that was 36 million under the cap at one point, this loss should have been expected. Ted Thompson has looked out classed and over his head as the Packers General Manager in the last two seasons. His 2005 draft has already been considered a failure. His lack of concern over the offensive line is mind boggling, especially when you have a QB like Brett Favre that needs protection. His hire of Mike McCarthy now has to come into question. After the first game of the 2006 season, and 4 preseason games, it seems that McCarthy might not be ready to be a head coach in the NFL. He was outclassed by Lovie Smith, and his game plan was basic and uninspiring. His hire of Bob Sanders can also be considered a reach. The special teams is down right unwatchable and fails to ignite this team in anyway. The bottom line is that Thompson has taken this franchise in the wrong direction over the last year and a half."


Finally, the player personnel had it generally correct about what a mess too in a posted article on the views of two personnel directors, one from an NFC team and the other from an AFC team: "It's a mess. I have no idea why Ted (Thompson) would entertain hiring that guy (Mike McCarthy) as a head coach." . . . "The little bit I've seen on TV of them, wow. No. 21 (Charles Woodson). Whew?" . . . "I still think Ahman Green can do something. But sometimes when you get behind in games, your running back, as good as he is, can't really run." . . . "Brett Favre is done. He's going to lose games for you, not win them. He's two years late retiring. The bad thing is, he holds you back from developing your team." . . . "I think Aaron Rodgers has a chance. The other guy can't do the things he used to do physically himself and he doesn't have the supporting cast to help him do it. He's a gunslinger. Gunslingers become erratic at some point and aren't worth anything." . . . "How good is Ahman Green going to be? How much speed and quickness has he lost? It's an unknown. He doesn't have a backup." . . . "I like (Greg) Jennings. I don't like the other two, including (Donald) Driver, no matter what he's done. I think Jennings has a chance to be something special. I've never liked any of their tight ends." . . . "I don't know how they're going to win with those two rookie guys at guard. I don't like Scott Wells. (Mark) Tauscher is as good as any right tackle in the league probably. (Chad) Clifton has bad knees. Those backups will get a lot of snaps because they're going to get the (expletive) kicked out of them on the inside. Imagine that offensive line lining up against Chicago. Or Minnesota. Mercy, mercy, mercy." . . . "I know Bob Sanders. I think he's a solid guy. They won't make a lot of mental mistakes but I don't think they're good enough." . . . "Everybody likes their two defensive ends better than I do. They can both rush the passer. (Ryan) Pickett is the real deal inside. The rest are just guys. It's not even close between Pickett and Grady Jackson." . . . "(Nick) Barnett is a good player. (A.J.) Hawk will be a great player. It all depends if (Brady) Poppinga has the instincts for the position. He certainly has the talent." . . . "Is Methuselah still with them at cornerback? They're old. And Ahmad Carroll is just not an instinctive player. He doesn't have any ball sense. I think Woodson will get beat consistently. (Al) Harris doesn't have enough speed. He plays everything in front of him very well. He's a pure Cover 2 corner right now." . . . "It's amazing to me that Nick Collins has played as good as he has. (Marquand) Manuel will be OK but he won't be able to play anything over the top."


As they said online, the "glory days" are fading into history, now today, with another major prime time embarrassing day loss to the "BEARS", unbearable, for the Pack on nfl fox sports in front of the nation.

I know how it is, when a rich great tradition can be surrounded by idiots who have no clue or the talents to do the things necessary, anything major, about resolving a losing situation into a positive new, winning direction. You cannot take such people seriously, who simply can be brushed off by saying, "It'S NOT ENOUGH". These loonies are people who will short you, cheapsakes, while pushing their own ambitions/job goals. I left those types of wanna bes, " " Americans behind a long time ago,


A final lesson from recent drafts: in the coming weeks, the need for quality draft picks with consistent elite talent.

Finally, as for the panic talk about the need for patience with a 2-3 years rebuilding plan, maybe 4 years??, ...sounds like the 1970s and 1980s "sound familiar" talk. Who has the time???

One is reminded about the climax from the trilogy movies, a classic, of the "Lord of the Rings, episode: The Two Towers", when the king says in the scene "Where is the horse and rider?": "How did it come to this?"

[Fritz]

It's not as if this team is old and decrepit. It's a young team, and young players make mistakes. I think it will get better, every week.

[TOP HAT]

REBUILDING: SUMMARY

As deputy nutz said, "Perfectly predictable" scenario.