Do or die year for TT

[retailguy]

Realistically, it doesn't matter so much the record they have next year as an indicator of progress, it matters more for the long term how they look while they're earning that record.

If they go 6-10 but lose 10 overtime games against teams that make the playoffs, that's probably okay. If they go 6-10 and look bad doing it, then Thompson's going to have some hard questions to answer.

On the other hand, when they win it doesn't matter how ugly it looks, I'm hoping for 12 ugly wins, personally.

The record matters. A LOT. Last year they were 8-8 but only beat ONE team with a winning record.

People are trumping up how "good" we were and how much "improvement" we had.

In 2005 they were 4-12 but were in EVERY game except the Baltimore game. Yet that was "bad", and this is "good".

Can't you see the hypocrisy? It's funny, it really is...

[retailguy]

RG,

It almost sounds like you'll be disappointed if the Packers OL plays well against Philly.

Disappointed? No. Stunned? Yes.


I have a lot of respect for Jim Johnson, and he's got MONTHS to prepare for that game. He sadly doesn't need MONTHS.

I am very, very concerned about the line. Look at the schedule before the bye week, and match our OL to the opponents DL. I am VERY concerned about that.

[wist43]

Late to chime in on this... surprising thread.

The reason I think it's a surprising thread is b/c I can't really believe that the majority of posters in here would think that TT was on thin ice whatsoever. He's got a very long leash.

I expect the team to finish somewhere around 8-8, and after a tough start with the tough schedule, I would think the team should continue to show some improvement. That being the case, I believe everyone will settle down.

There's quite a bit of hot blood out there, based on some of the reactions I've heard on the radio and people I've talked to (casual fans).

Even if they finish with a losing record, I can't foresee a scenario in which TT could be in trouble.

[BallHawk]

I'm kind of looking forward to that opening game. I think this team is going to have you eating some crow. I see a good young team with dedicated football palyers who stand a good chance of improving by leaps and bounds. They were the youngest team in the league after all.

I'm on the same boat as you and it's sailing in a sea of kool-aid

[KYPack]

Iknow we weren't an 8-8 team, but to the organization they were 8-8...good luck telling any of those guys "eh, you weren't really an 8-8 team"...pretty sure you'd be dead.

and who did you want Ted to go out and sign and kill any money we have for nothing? signing any free agents this offseason would have been as dumb as this topic.

But wasting the cap space provided is equally as dumb.

This is an "Urban Myth".

Thompson has never WASTED A NICKLE OF CAP SPACE.

He has gone down to the end of the year with a small amount of cap and carried it forward to the next year.

The myth is perpetrated by the Anti-Thompson contingent on the net, Blogs and talk radio.

TT does a great job of managing the cap. I'd like to see him improve in some areas, but cap management ain't one of his failings.

[falco]

Its hard to say that the team is going to suck this year. They very well might, but in all reality how many contributors can you expect from one draft?

Most of the improvement has to come from within; if TT drafted solidly, then many of his second and third year players should start showing something this year.

McGinn made a good point; the only real loss was AG. Every other position should have a returning starter, and many of those positions should show improvement over last year.

[esoxx]

Just have to do better than 6-10??? Is that what it's gotten to now for the TT cheerleaders? Those are some lofty goals there.

Kind of a reach here. The thread is not what record you'd be happy with, but how well the Packers would have to do for Thompson to keep his job. I think he has this year and next (end of 2008) for it all to come together--regardless of how well he does this year. He was given a pathetic situation with an aging roster, no salary cap room, and little depth. He's far from perfect (FA signings this offseason, for one), but he'll get a little more rope to hang himself with the situation he was handed.

As for Ted and his job security, I don't see him being fired after this season under just about any scenario. GB organization is very patient, almost to a fault. I'm also not calling for TT's head. I'm just a bit underwhelmed with his offseason to date, but that's just my opinion. I realize others hold a different view.

I don't care for blind cheerleading though. "8-8 buys him to the 2010 season or later". That's pretty funny.

[Scott Campbell]

Re: Excuse

He took over the worste situtation possible. Aging talent and bad contracts.

You're better off starting from scratch than starting as it falls. Like Lurker said, they just have to do better than 6-10. If they completely flop, I don't think there is endless support.

Sooner or later the "Sherman card" you guys keep playing is gonna wear out. Sherman did'nt trade away our best WR for a 2 rd pick.

Well Sherman did trade our best corner away for a 2nd round pick in nearly identical circumstances. And sooner or later the "Walker card" you keep playing is going to wear out.

[Partial]

I love all these posts, mostly on JSO about this has to be a winning season or Thompson will be gone. it's beyond idiotic to even read it, much less write it. The Packers organization has complete belief in Thompson. And going 8-8 last year got him to at least 2010 if not longer. Harlan & Company know that GM Sherman screwed our talent, which gave us a 4-12 season. Thompson got us a 8-8 season. Next year, we're going to be bad, sorry to tell everyone, but our schedule is just screaming for a 6-10 type season. But Thompson won't be fired...but we'll have to sit through all those dumb posts next year with people not knowing why he isn't fired. And now I've wasted a short portion of my life responding to this dumb topic.

I highly disagree. If this guy sucks this year, and sucks in 2008, TT will be gone before the 2009 draft.

He has one more draft to prove himself. I think you're assuming he's on a much longer leash than he is.

Winning record in 2008 or he is out the door.

[Partial]

Things would have to get pretty bad for TT to get the ax, and I think he's put together a very good defense, so It's not likely to happen. He will get at least 1 year post-Favre. TT has stuck his neck out with the drafting of Rodgers, and the hiring of McCarthy. The level of success of those 2 guys will likely determine TT's future.

I think if Favre sticks around next year they deal Arod before he gets disgruntled. You don't draft a guy and let him sit on the bench for 4 years. Period. He will absolutely be gone after this season if Favre returns again.

[Scott Campbell]

Re: TT

Did you ever stop to think that a great majority of fans are not content with 8-8 seasons and not making ANY attempt to fix known problems?

Any attempts???

I think your posts would be more credible if you stopped exaggerating.

[Partial]

McGinn in his JSO chat did make an important point. Both Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson came into a situation where they inherited very little. Wolf got a decade to build a superbowl team, why are we expecting Thompson to turn the team around in three years?

If the team regresses this year, Thompson gets a shorter leash maybe, but he doesn't get fired. He's new at GMing and he's still above average, after all.

By Ron Wolfe's 4th year we knew they were going to be something special, though. We don't see that out of this team. Will we this year? I know not. Will we next year? It's very possible, but there will certainly be a setback when Favre retires, which kinda puts a different perspective on the whole thing.

[Partial]

Didn't Wolf arrive late 92 season and he took the Pack to the Suoer Bowl in the 96 season. One thing Ron had was a young HOF'er at QB but hye stuck his neck out to get that QB,i don't know if TT would do that. I am not saying he needs to go but with the fan base not real happy with TT and if we have a down year followed by another sub par year in 08, he will be gone imo. Joe you made an interesting point about the one year post Favre, I agree with you and I think that year will be next year.

My guess is he will not. He had a chance to move up, "stick his neck out", and take a shot on a very good receiver in Dwayne Jarrett. Someone with pro-bowl potential. He decided to take comfort in additional draft picks by moving down, though.

[Partial]

That bothers me a little too bulldog. He said he would never really do that because he doesnt' knwo how to rate the value.

I expect him to get together with his mathmaticians, scouts and closest confidants and get that thing ironed out. You can get some good value by taking future things away from desperate teams.

You can have all the geeks in the world grinding out their calculators. If Joe Thomas and Quinn turn out to be studs, the team is in the playoffs and will lose value on those picks. They are going to be able to run the ball with any team in the league to the left side of the field.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Jarrett? Could be great. Could be another Mike Williams. You're starting to sound like tank with your infatuation with the likes of Jarrett and Branch.


Jarrett is far from a sure thing. I'm not losing sleep that Thompson didn't trade up to get him. Sidney Rice was intriguing. Until I see the two guys he drafted, I'll trust the organizations's instincts for finding WRs--after the last 2 drafts.