Silverstein: Critics Go After Packers New Structure

[Teamcheez1]

Complaining about the Packers management structure is the pot calling the kettle black.

The very structure of an owner with zero football experience for the most part, meddling in the daily affairs of their team is the definition of dysfunctional.

[RashanGary]

There is a problem here with terms, and I will have to go back to the article and maybe the 2 part Ball article from a year or two ago to see if it reveals any details. But business operations are different and distinct from football operations.

There are some football operations that don’t have much to do with acquiring or coaching or developing players though. Thompson, Gute, McCarthy, Lafleaur.... all guys who are qualified to acquire or coach players. But there were other responsibilities to Teds job like medical and field crews and finance and things that I would consider more of a business operation than a talent in acquiring players and or coaching them. I call it non football, football operations.

I like this setup because it gives Gute complete autonomy over the thing he has talent, experience and knack at while taking away distractive reaponsibilities like vacation time for the field crew or benefits packages for the medical team. Gute can focus on player acquisition. He’s setup for success. And ball does the rest.

[RashanGary]

I think it’s a better setup and the right setup for winning games. Now Murphy needs the guys he picked to win or it’s his ass on the line. And credit to Murphy for taking charge and making himself the accountable person. Whether he succeeds for fails, I respect his bold approach. You only get one shot. Better shoot that shot or live in regret. He took his shot. Let’s see how it goes.

[RashanGary]

I think Murphy is on to something in a few ways actually. Ted Thompson is one of the most respected scouts of the last couple generations. He has talent and determination. But he didn’t strike me as an authoritarian or administration type. By switching the structure it allows the Packers to always keep one of the leagues best scouts as GM because he won’t be overloaded with garbage that has nothing to do with his expertise. I’d rather have an elite scout than and administrator acquiring players and making those calls. It really gives the Packers the ability to keep a true elite scout as GM instead of having to find a balance of administration and scouting.

[Bretsky]

I think it’s a better setup and the right setup for winning games. Now Murphy needs the guys he picked to win or it’s his ass on the line. And credit to Murphy for taking charge and making himself the accountable person. Whether he succeeds for fails, I respect his bold approach. You only get one shot. Better shoot that shot or live in regret. He took his shot. Let’s see how it goes.

It seems to me you are doing your best to argue against the system that Ted Thompson was in charge of and you had fully supported for the past several years. The one Bob Harlan implemented and the one that brought up two Super Bowls and a ton of wins under Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson.

[RashanGary]

It seems to me you are doing your best to argue against the system that Ted Thompson was in charge of and you had fully supported for the past several years. The one Bob Harlan implemented and the one that brought up two Super Bowls and a ton of wins under Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson.

Ron Wolf was good for that system. He knew who his good scouts were and could handle all of that extra responsibility well. Ted, more of a pure scout, wasn’t as good at the whole job.

The old system was good for a guy like Wolf, but the new system is good because it allows the most talented scout to be in charge of player personnel and not be bogged down with administration. It’s a better system if you want the most talented scout running the player personnel side of things. I think it will prove to be better overall because Gute is fully responsible for player acquisition and he’ll have more time to dial in on it than the old system.

This draft had a really good feel. Gute knew what he was doing. I could just feel it from him. Having less ancillary responsibilities make him a better player acquisition GM.

[Bretsky]

Ron Wolf was good for that system. He knew who his good scouts were and could handle all of that extra responsibility well. Ted, more of a pure scout, wasn’t as good at the whole job.

The old system was good for a guy like Wolf, but the new system is good because it allows the most talented scout to be in charge of player personnel and not be bogged down with administration. It’s a better system if you want the most talented scout running the player personnel side of things. I think it will prove to be better overall because Gute is fully responsible for player acquisition and he’ll have more time to dial in on it than the old system.

This draft had a really good feel. Gute knew what he was doing. I could just feel it from him. Having less ancillary responsibilities make him a better player acquisition GM.

I have no idea about this year's draft. Time will tell.

And while it's too early to just last year's draft, not many would argue it's a home run at this point.

[RashanGary]

I have a feeling this is the best draft we’ve had in a long time. Gute is so focused and dialed in. He’s making things happen. I hope he can find other Uber talented young scouts to come up the ranks too. He’ll have more time to teach and train them as they develop too. The whole thing sets Gute and his player acquisition team up for success.

[RashanGary]

I have no idea about this year's draft. Time will tell.

And while it's too early to just last year's draft, not many would argue it's a home run at this point.

Last year Gute was just dipping his toes in. I listened to his pressers. Dude seems dialed in this year.

[mraynrand]

I have a feeling this is the best draft we’ve had in a long time. Gute is so focused and dialed in. He’s making things happen. I hope he can find other Uber talented young scouts to come up the ranks too. He’ll have more time to teach and train them as they develop too. The whole thing sets Gute and his player acquisition team up for success.

Dude, you are a breath of fresh air. Love the optimism. We have the whole season to be negative if things go south. Plus, you make sense. The Packer scouting staff is pretty young, but they have some solid elder statesmen, including a guy they acquired recently from the 49ers system who I believe was responsible for a lot of the talent during the Hairball era.

[pbmax]

Complaining about the Packers management structure is the pot calling the kettle black.

The very structure of an owner with zero football experience for the most part, meddling in the daily affairs of their team is the definition of dysfunctional.

Disagree. Lack of a hobbyist in charge should be the source of a great competitive advantage. I'm just not sure its the same now.

[RashanGary]

Disagree. Lack of a hobbyist in charge should be the source of a great competitive advantage. I'm just not sure its the same now.

Bob Harlan didnt have the football background of Mark Murphy. It makes sense that Murphy feels more capable in the arena of football operations than his predecessor.

Wolf and Holmgren jockied for power in the mid 90s. Wolf came out on top. Wolf was a cagey old coot who wasn’t gonna back down to anyone. He was experienced and qualified as a personnel guy and at the same time a true alpha dude who was going to dominate the whole show. So he could keep the mutinies at bay and acquire talent at the same time.

Harlan hired the right guy and he did his thing.

Murphy is stepping forth. He’s passing Wolf or McCarthy or Holmgren. He’s saying, “I’m in charge.”

Instead of hiring a cagey, dominant old silverback to beat his chest as GM, he’s hiring the most talented scout and giving him autonomy over that one spot. Gutes not gonna have to fend off other gorillas. He just has to run his team of guys who already trust and respect him.

Mark Murphy isn’t coaching the team or picking draft picks.

He’s the alpha silverback handing out jobs though. Of course little Elliot Wolf and his daddy don’t like it because they wanted to run the show. Of course McCarthy doesn’t like it. He wanted to run the show. But really, who cares if they like it. At the end of the day, the questions that are really gonna matter are:

Can Gute build a roster?
Can Lafleur coach an offense and keep the ship on course?
Can pettine cosch the defense and work well with Lafleur?
Can Lafleur infuence Rodgers to be a little less stubborn?
Can Ball run the, behind the scenes (non roster and non coaching,) football operations?
Can Murphy be the alpha silverback that keeps everyone in their lane?

Murphy has stepped forth and defined each persons job. Anyone who doesn’t like it is going to have to take it up with Murphy. He’s setting the tone. Now let’s hope he picked the right guys for the jobs. I respect his aggression and approach either way. If he’s wrong we’ll just replace him and move on. But for now he’s established the order, as should a leader.

[pbmax]

Bob Harlan didnt have the football background of Mark Murphy. It makes sense that Murphy feels more capable in the arena of football operations than his predecessor.

What does playing safety have to do with being a team administrator? He's not coaching defense.

What does being a rep in the NFLPA have to do with being CEO? He's not negotiating contracts. He was AD at Colgate when the salary cap came around.

He isn't Ozzie Newsome. He's a less successful Willie Davis. Murphy's greatest outside resource? Charley Casserly for Pete Rozelle's sake.

Harlan had been with the Packers in an administrative capacity since 1971. Before he hired Wolf, he had 21 years experience with how pro football operates from the administrative side. He had seen the worst and through a process of elimination figured out how to fix it.

You keep insisting that Murphy has cleared the decks for Gute to concentrate on just being a scout or GM. Well, tell me, who makes the call on FA contracts? On second contracts? Gute doesn't, because the cap guy/contract negotiator don't report to him. That guy reports to Murphy. So does the coach. So you know who has final say on the roster? Murphy.

And that ain't good.

It will work until Ball or La Fleur decide its not in their interest to back Gute. And Ball wants Gute's job. La Fleur will need a fall guy during the first poor season or 4 game losing streak.

[pbmax]

Wolf and Holmgren jockied for power in the mid 90s. Wolf came out on top. Wolf was a cagey old coot who wasn’t gonna back down to anyone. He was experienced and qualified as a personnel guy and at the same time a true alpha dude who was going to dominate the whole show. So he could keep the mutinies at bay and acquire talent at the same time.

That jockeying for power, as I recall, went this way:

Holmgren: I would like to a chance at personnel.

Wolf: No.

Harlan: I gave Ron total control over football operations.

Holmgren: <<left the team>>

[pbmax]

Murphy is stepping forth. He’s passing Wolf or McCarthy or Holmgren. He’s saying, “I’m in charge.”

He is in charge and he isn't qualified to be in charge of football operations.

He is in charge and he is going to be breaking ties of the triumverant. Who he sides with will depend on who makes the best case to the judge and jury. Which is at least one crucial step removed from being the best football decision.

Its part time meddling.