A Case Study in Rebuilding - From Very Close to Home

[vince]

"
a) What support can you possibly lend to that optimism?

That Ted Thompson is well on his way to getting "the Packers" to a playoff position (and Vince,you say next season)

Yes, Woody, I expect the Packers to be a playoff team - or at a minimum - very close to such next year. From where does this "optimism" come?

From a General Management Perspective

1. Our GM, Ted Thompson, is supremely experienced, having had the unique opportunity to work very closely with some legendary and genius football leaders and general managers for over 15 years, namely Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren - two relatively well-known and highly-respected individuals around these parts.

I won't spend a lot of time examining the two legendary individuals' resumes with whom Ted Thompsom has had the opportunity to work so closely with, other than to say that both men are brilliant football minds who know how to groom talent into production, and who know a thing or two about how to go about developing and leading winning football teams.

2. Our GM, Ted Thompson, is a proven talent evaluator. You may recall that he served our own Packer organization for 8 years under Hall of Famer Ron Wolf's tutelage, from 1992 through 1999 as Director of Pro Personnel (until '97), and Director of Player Personnel (through the '99 season). During that time, he was right smack dab in the middle of, and played a pivotal role in putting together the SUPER BOWL CHAMPION Green Bay Packers in 1996 and the Super Bowl team of 1997. With Ted Thompson's help, the Packers acquired free agents Reggie White, Sean Jones, Don Beebe, Santana Dotson, Desmond Howard, and others. Together, and with Coach Mike Holmgren, they restored a winning tradition and high expectations to Green Bay that has continued through today.

Beginning in 2000, Thompson served as Vice President of Football Operations with Mike Holmgren in Seattle for another 5 years. His fingerprints were ALL OVER the Seahawks' road to last year's Super Bowl, and, many would say, if not for some refereeing snafu's would have architected another Super Bowl Champion. NFL MVP Shaun Alexander, Thompson's first draft pick in 2000, captured the league rushing title and established a new league record for touchdowns. Half of the Seahawks starters on their Super Bowl team, including All-Pro Steve Hutchinson and the previously-mentioned Alexander, were drafted by Ted Thompson.

3. Our GM, Ted Thompson, has the pleasure and significant advantage of working in conjunction with a highly respected staff that includes Director of Pro Personnel Reggie McKenzie, Director of Scouting John Dorsey, Personnel Analyst to the General Manager John Schneider, and Vice President of Player Finance Andrew Brandt. This is a proven, very talented and experienced executive team of advisors from which he gains significant input and sound advice on a daily basis.

4. Our GM, Ted Thompson, has established a clear vision for this franchise, and is acting decisively and consistently to achieve that vision as quickly as possible through the use of proven and sound strategies. His vision and strategies are outlined below.

Thompson's VISION: Build a football team structure that places the franchise in position to achieve the Packers' mission YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT, which is "to be a DOMINATING FORCE in professional football's competitive arena."

Thompson's STRATEGIES:
a. OBJECTIVELY evaluate the status of the team at all times.
b. Create and maintain the salary cap flexibility to enable you to act in ways that help you achieve your vision.
c. Build the talent foundation of the team through the draft. See Strategy B.
d. Don't put all your eggs in one basket in the draft. That one player that you think you "must" have has a better chance of being a complete bust than he has of becoming a Pro Bowler.
e. Especially in the first round, get THE BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE, regardless of "need."
f. Use free agency to patch holes, not build the foundation. See Strategy B.
g. When possible, favor younger free agents, as opposed to those looking for their one big payday. See Strategy B.
h. Signing VALUE wins championships. Overpaying for underperformers leads to problems. See Strategy B.

5. Our GM, Ted Thompson has stopped perpetuating the slippery slope of backloading player contracts and mortgaging the future to delay the decline of a team's fortunes. He has directed a rapid transition from Salary Cap HELL to EXCEPTIONAL salary cap position for the future. (See Strategy B)

6. Our GM, Ted Thompson has passion, believes in himself, works hard, is confident, and trusts himself and his team of personnel men. These are all essential traits in being a successful GM.

7. Our GM, Ted Thompson hired a coach that wasn't even on anyone else's radar screen - a coach that has a lot to prove yet, but one that I am more and more impressed with as I learn more about him.

From a Coaching Perspective
Mike McCarthy is a leader, is tough, disciplined, determined, and communicates well, but in a no-nonsense fashion. And he has an excellent football mind.

He understands the importance of teaching, understands the importance of holding EVERY player accountable for their performance, and understands the importance of having a clear picture of what the future state of this team MUST be. He fearlessly takes action each and every day to bring it closer to that state.

He's also a rookie, who has made mistakes, is learning from them, will make some more mistakes, and will learn more from them, but make no mistake. This man is growing into this job, and this team has consistently improved since the first game. I have very little doubt that it will continue to improve.

Mike McCarthy is a proven offensive genius. Anyone who equates San Francisco's problems last year to Mike McCarthy has no idea whatsoever about which they speak. He led the most prolific offensive stint in New Orleans' 45-year history as Offensive Coordinator, breaking numerous team records along the way. In 2000 McCarthy was chosen Assistant Coach of the Year by USA Today.

Sure, there will be additional bumps in the road, but I believe Mike McCarthy is destined to be a GREAT coach in this league, and that is high praise indeed. Coaches don't get to be great until they win Super Bowls.

Here's a quote I found from Rich Gannon about Mike McCarthy.

He's the guy that really helped catapult my career. He was the guy who really taught me the West Coast system of football. He really taught me how to prepare for a game, taught me how to watch film, how to break down an opponent, how to study. It was really those things I took with me to Oakland. There was never a doubt in my mind he'd be a head coach. He a great play-caller, great working with the quarterbacks. He's a tough guy, a guy willing to do the work, and he's a leader. I think he'll do a phenomenal job.

From a Team Perspective
This team has been rebuilt, almost from the ground up, in a short period of time. No less than 13 starters this year are new. That'll create a learning curve for the most experienced of teams, and the Packers team is not that.

Our GM, Ted Thompson, inherited a team that was full of backloaded contracts, was in cap hell, and was coming of a series of poor drafts that left the team with few players around which it could realistically build its depth. That's what you call a bare cupboard, and there was no money to buy new dishes.

Fast forwarding to today, our team has rapidly come together to become a team that, while overall young and inexperienced, has talent. There's a nucleus of young players that will be around for a long time. They will grow together to form the foundation of this team. Nick Collins, Marviel Underwood, AJ Hawk, Abdul Hodge, Brady Poppinga, Ryan Pickett, Corey Williams, Aaron Kampman, Jason Spitz, Scott Wells, Tony Moll, Daryn Colledge, Greg Jennings.

And there are some veterans that are beginning to provide the performance and leadership needed.

And there's that guy named Brett Favre. He will perhaps end up being the greatest quarterback of all time before he's done. I give him two more years after this one. As long as he keeps himself in shape and stays healthy, there's no reason why he won't... While his skills aren't quite what they used to be, he's still one of the best when he is properly corralled and executes the offense. While he's had some "relapses" here and there, he's beginning to do that again, and his numbers are beginning to show it again. The only thing that brought Brett down last year was his decision-making. You don't become dumber with age. You get smarter. With the right offense and the right film work. Brett will be reborn with the rebirth of his team.

This team is playing much better together. Give them a bye week to prepare and work together more, and there is no reason whatsoever to say that this team won't continue to get better and better. They need to learn how to become more consistent, and they need to learn how to win. That'll come - this year. In fact, I don't understand those who seem to think this team WON'T continue to get better and better. Where's the evidence that would lead to that conclusion?

I see the Pack rebounding to finish out the year a respectable 6 - 6. Talent and experience-wise, I don't think they're quite that good yet. They're still 6 players away, plus some depth at a couple positions away from being really good in my opinion. But this team, like their coach, has a lot of heart, a lot of fight, and a lot of passion to give everythign they have, and overachieve for the rest of this year.

Next offseason, the team needs some help, but they added 13 starters last offseason. I think they can add 6 next offseason... They have the cap room to do it... Hopefully, the right mix of talent will be available.

This team needs an RB, TE, OT on offense next year, and a DE, CB, and S on defense, as I see it. I believe those pieces will be added in the offseason, and when that happens, next year's team, as a result of all that's included in this extensive post, will be a playoff team once again.

THOSE are the sources of my optimism, Woody. Now to your next question...

[vince]

" " If the Packers don't turn the corner next year and reach the playoffs, then TT will have failed in his efforts " Vince

b) May we gather from your statement above Vince?

That no playoff position in 2007 predicates that you will deem that Ted Thompson is a failure as OUR GM, if that's the case or obvious sometime in the 2007 season ?

So leaping ahead, or gathering that your response to question b) will be in the affirmative.

Your window of assessing Ted Thompson as OUR GM is three seasons, or 2005-07.

One at a time, Woody. My God you are all over the board in that post.

I believe that Ted Thompson not only SHOULD have this team on a very firm footing in the year 2007. I believe he WILL do just that. I see this team, with a number of additions in the next offseason, which we are in perfect position to make, as being very capable, with a little good luck, as all successful teams need, to be a playoff-caliber team next year.

If Ted Thompson has this team in position to be that, then he will have succeeded. Ted Thompson can't throw the football, catch passes, run the ball, or stop the run. He can put the people in place, and I expect him to do that. The man knows talent. There are no two ways about it.

If he comes in far below a playoff caliber team next year, then I believe he will have failed. I don't think that the rebuilding process needs to take 5 years anymore in this league. Ted Thompson is rebuilding pretty much from the ground up, starting from cap hell with little depth. He'll establish that timeframe as three years. Other teams have taken longer, and other teams don't have to rebuild. Unfortunately, THIS team did.

[vince]

Let's just review his Record as OUR GM Vince.

1. We are still debating on this board "the fact or not", that Ted Thompson could "in reality" have restructured Players Contracts to enable/ensure Mike Wahle still being a Packer.

For Ted Thompson to restructure a bunch of deals to ensure Mike Wahle was still a Packer would have merely perpetuated the disease that ailed the team's situation. By restructuring deals, you are taking the dollars that are on this year's books and setting up new contracts with these players for more years out in the future.

THIS DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. RATHER, IT MAKES IT WORSE AND DRAWS IT OUT FARTHER IN THE FUTURE.

These players that restructure don't give money back. In fact, for the FAVOR of restructuring, you have to pay them MORE for LONGER. In order to do that, you have to backload their contract WORSE than it already was.

That's exactly the WRONG thing to do, Woody. You COULD do that, IF you want to make the team operate at an increasing competitive DISADVANTAGE FOR MORE YEARS IN THE FUTURE when you have more guys that are over the hill, not performing like they once could, yet you still have them on your cap books for large chunks of your available salary alotment.

BAD MOVE, Woody.

Having $15 million dollars and more allotted to players that are not contributing to your team in a year burdens the team with a built-in competitive DISADVANTAGE. This is why those teams that use this tactic fight with everyhting they have to win, because they have the vets on the team, but they're all overpaid and don't play like they used to.

Remember the Packers from a few years back, Woody? Those teams taht we so fondly remember in the Sherman era that were 10-6 in weak divisions, barely made the playoffs, and promptly got smoked like a cheap cigar in the first round every year? That's the poster child for this affliction. That's what you get. You don't get Super Bowl caliber teams. That's a proven fact.

[vince]

" "Now... *** given that Ted Thompson allowed Rivera and Sharper to walk and then extended HC Mike Sherman ( a highly conrtentious move given that he set him up for a miserable season and then turned around and used Mike Sheman as a scapegoat as he FIRED Mike Sherman.

( Gag reflex !! )

You would have preferred that he fired him immediately? I've been very harsh on Mike Sherman, the GM, but I am not as harsh on him as a coach. I do think that Mike McCarthy is a MUCH BETTER coach, and I have no doubt that will prove itself out in time. However, it's not about finding a scapegoat. That's an absolute joke. Mike Sherman was not a scape goat. Ahmad Carroll was not a scape goat. They are individuals that, in the eyes of the management group, were not the best fits for the future direction of the franchise.

It's the people who need to reinforce their disdain for Ted Thompson that say that EVERY MOVE he makes is a SCAPEGOAT for his own failures, as they see them. That's a completely baseless and ineffective argument.

Ted Thompson has great responsibility to succeed in his position. Like any executive, in any industry, he needs to get his team of managers that compliment his personality and that he communicates well with and whom he/she trusts to make decisions that are in line his vision.

If Ted Thompson had confidence in Mike Sherman to make such decisions, he would still be the coach. He obviously didn't, and he's not. Perhaps Mike Sherman had a personality conflict, or had deep-seeded resentment for losing his power with the team... The team's direction was no longer Mike Sherman's vision. That probably caused some issues on some level. We really don't know, because we don't know what their REAL relationship was like. The bottom line is this. Ted Thompson gave Mike Sherman EVERY OPPORTUNITY to succeed in his daily activities as coach of the team, and Ted Thompson, who was given the responsibility of making judgements about the best coach for the team, judged him to be not the best fit. Nothing else matters.

[woodbuck27]

Thanks for checking in Woody. I look forward to engaging you in this debate about our GM. I respect your opinion and integrity on this board, and while we clearly disagree on the value of our GM, we do agree that our goal is to bring success to Packerland.

I will tackle your lengthy response in multiple posts. Here's hoping PR has ample server capacity to handle this one... It'll be a doozy. I'll be back Woody. Hang in there.

Peace Brother Packer fan !

I forgot to say my "I LOVE Ted Thompson's",

100 times today.

[woodbuck27]

TT can only end up as a hero or a zero. Making so many changes in his short stay so far he will either prove his great ability to lead this team or will prove that he was the worst GM in pack history. I am hoping for the former. I do not want to re-live the 1970's.

I'm with you... but is Ted?

[vince]

" Couldn't the money returned to the kitty *** there certainly have assisted in retaining Wahle? [/b]

A thought here Vince.

We won't go into, other CAP money that was available or could have been made available to ensure resigning Mike Wahle.

For example.

We won't consider "the fact"... that Brett Favre has in his past, and likely would have restructure his personal Contract (again), to ensure such an important player as Mike Wahle obviously was/would be for his success, and as a result was a must FA retention for OUR team for 2005 and beyond.

Then again. We won't open up "an old can of worms" and revisit that when Ted Thompson was hired as OUR GM.

No, let's revisit that, Woody. But then again, I already answered this a couple posts up. Restructuring contracts to make room under the cap because you have other contracts that are too large is a BAD MOVE, and perpetuates the disease that ails you in the first place.

[vince]

" We won't open up "an old can of worms" and revisit that when Ted Thompson was hired as OUR GM.

That Brett Favre and several other Packers were not in the plans for OUR future, as that would be highly speculative. Especially given the way that Brett Favre is currently performing, as one of not even a handful playmakers.

What in God's name makes you say that Brett Favre isn't part of the plan? HE'S OUR STARTING QB, WOODY! If he comes back next year, HE'LL START AGAIN, and both Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy will be elated.

[vince]

" Let's get past 2005, and go straight to this season including Ted Thompson's Off Season moves.

Well I believe when we speculate on the wonders of Ted Thompson as a Drafting Guru, we have to consider his record thus far in Green Bay.

I'm calling his 2005 Draft a miserable failure as he took a QB in round one that has demonstrated (still) nothing to me, to hardly give me any comfort, that he's even close to being anyone's successor, more so Brett Favre's. We had too much need on OUR team to assist Brett Favre in improving on OUR efforts in 2004, a 10-6 season... to waste a #1 Draft pick on a QB that was falling to us. Oh how very fortunate we were. Right !!

We had other needs than a backup to Brett Favre... as we are talking Brett Favre. Come On Ted Thompson. That was your first and most revealing error as OUR GM

Followed by questionable picks thereafter in the Draft in 2005.

Oh, we may argue that we have one useful starter fr. the 2005 Draft in Safety Nick Collins, but what's with him to date in 2006?

A sophomore jinx?

It well could be that ( and arguably in the affirmative) that Ted Thompson's Draft in 2005 was a complete disaster.

At BEST only two players may be on that Super Bowl team that YOU maintain Vince... that Ted Thompson may build and that you'll support him as long as we make the playoffs in 2007. mmmmm

Woody, please tell me when God came down and gave you the valuable piece of information that Brett Favre would play LAST YEAR, and THIS YEAR, and maybe NEXT YEAR. That piece of information would have been valuable to have. I certainly wish that God would have given Ted Thompson that piece of information, for mere mortals would have believed that the PRUDENT thing to do would be to get a Quarterback that has the potential to TAKE OVER at the helm of the team that we want love. Next time you have that valuable information, Woody, please pass it on, so the mortals on earth can see into the future and make better draft day decisions. Until you do, Ted Thompson will have to act with the best information that he has.

Beyond that, Woody, I'm no genius, but I'd say that Nick Collins, Brady Poppinga, Terrance Murphy, Marviel Underwood, Junius Coston, and Aaron Rodgers wasn't doing to bad in a down draft year. Not his best draft ever, but better than most of Mike Sherman's...

[vince]

" We are not "the Chicago Bears" and Ted Thompson isn't Lovie Smith, Vince.

So I maintain that we can't speculate on the success of next season's Draft as yet, even if the players chosen in 2006's Draft appear to be keepers.

Ted Thompson is not the coach, Woody. Mike McCarthy is. And while you can choose not to speculate on next year's draft, since doing so based objectively on the evidence before you runs counter to your foaming hatred of Ted Thompson.

The fact is, we will know more about the needs of this team at the end of this season than we did at the end of last season. New coach. One year to implement new systems and practices. Logic dictates that we should be able to be more successful choosing players that fit these systems and practices, since there's more information from which to draw.

Go ahead and ignore that fact, Woody. Your decision to do so isn't going to change what happens next season anyway.

[woodbuck27]

" I see the Pack rebounding to finish out the year a respectable 6 - 6" Vince

Let me see 1-4 before the Bye and 6-6 after means....Ohhh Glory Be...
we made the playoffs ...yeaaaaaa !

DAM Lucky though as Rastak's team must have crashed and burned.

So 7-9 got us in. Yeessss!!

It's just like ....."Back to the Future".

Then reality sets in.... and ...we bow out in round one.....pooooop.

Seriously, Vince.

I just noticed that you have "Homer's Epic's" lined up for me. That's cool.

I must say your optimistic Vince.

I must have been... BORN of a BAD SIGN.

[vince]

" AJ Hawk. He's LOST in the strength department on the inside rush. AJ Hawk is being manhandled. He isn't strong enough to rush inside and has to upgrade his strength to be as we hoped he'd be at a PRO BOWL Level in three seasons time.

AJ Hawk has the strength Woody. He proved that at the combine. His strength is more than adequate for a LB. He doesn't have the technique, nor the confidence, and he's not as strong as Orlando Pace. Not many people are.

Your hatred for Ted Thompson REALLY paints your judgement about this team, Woody. AJ Hawk is going to be VERY GOOD. He's fast, athletic, and strong. He struggles getting off blocks at this point though.

He's a rookie. Show him some love. He'll show it back to you with a little more seasoning.

[vince]

" G/T... or is it GT/G Darryn Colledge is about as mobile as Quasi Modo. Now the talk is that he has to play in his natural position or LT, " to really shine " and that assumes that Chad Clifton is about done.

1. Daryn Colledge is a very mobile and athletic lineman. His problem thus far has been getting bullrushed by large behemoth DT's. He wasn't getting low enough and certainly has more to learn.

This guy has a tremendous upside. He will be a stallwart lineman for the Packers for years to come, at Guard or at Tackle.

And Woody, Chad Clifton is about done. His knees are bothering him, and he's not going to get any better at this stage of his career with those knees. That's the way it goes when you beat your body as a lineman in the NFL for that long and you start to have knee problems.

[woodbuck27]

" Couldn't the money returned to the kitty *** there certainly have assisted in retaining Wahle? [/b]

A thought here Vince.

We won't go into, other CAP money that was available or could have been made available to ensure resigning Mike Wahle.

For example.

We won't consider "the fact"... that Brett Favre has in his past, and likely would have restructure his personal Contract (again), to ensure such an important player as Mike Wahle obviously was/would be for his success, and as a result was a must FA retention for OUR team for 2005 and beyond.

Then again. We won't open up "an old can of worms" and revisit that when Ted Thompson was hired as OUR GM.

No, let's revisit that, Woody. But then again, I already answered this a couple posts up. Restructuring contracts to make room under the cap because you have other contracts that are too large is a BAD MOVE, and perpetuates the disease that ails you in the first place.

I'm not following you there Vince.

What I'm referring to is Brett Favre not taking what he was scheduled to take in 2005, rather allowing (whatever $) that Ted Thompson needed, to secure Mike Wahle (if that was within reason).

[vince]

" Suddenly, with the new and improved ZBS the Ted Thompson and Co.'s almost gurantee to us, that the ZBS will be "just it"; we are witnessing the self destruction of formerly reliable Tackles Clifton, and easily OUR best Offensive Lineman last season...Mark Tauscher.

Tauscher is getting better. Clifton is a great pass blocker, but probably won't cut it for much longer with the ZBS.

The running game is coming along, Woody. It aint gonna be great probably all year, but two straight 100-yd games, and I'm sure you saw the holes that Herron had to run through. Granted, St. Louis isn't the Bears run D, but all we can do is be effective against the team that lines up against us. We'll see how it comes as the season progresses, but I for one, am seeing pretty dramatic improvement. Jags said it'd take a little time. Looks like he might be right...