Time to Extend TT's contract

[Partial]

TT failed to give us a solid running game to this point. We're still winning. There, I said it.

[Carolina_Packer]

I am happy with 5-1 like everyone else, and I am not satisfied with the run game, like everyone else. We all hope it improves, and are hoping we have the personnel to do it this season.

If we don't, then changes will be made, I'm sure. If it costs us down the road in terms of having success or winning ballgames, I'm sure fans will be upset. GM's try and plan for a lot. A-Rod is the planned successor to Favre. I'm not sure TT had a really solid succession plan at RB. As someone else pointed out in a previous thread where I commented on this, TT thought that AG was going to resign with us and got caught flat-footed when Houston gave him stupid money. The free agency market wasn't a great option either. We had Morency from last year's trade, Jackson, Wynn and Grant through this year's draft and an end of training camp trade. We had Arliss Beach and PJ Pope as raw prospects. Noah Herron was a good utility guy. The sum of the parts was either too injured or too little experience. What was needed IMO was better planning. We drafted running backs this year as a reaction to a need. We also drafted a DT in the first round this year as the best player available, not necessarily for immediate need. It seems like TT did not plan as well for the succession of Ahman Green as he could have. I wish he had read the tea leaves back when he first started to realize that AG had an expiring contract and had some miles on the tires. Should have brought in his successor back then to compete with him. Not a specialty, 3rd down type back, but a legit, tote the rock 20-25 times a game type back. I don't have names to suggest. I'm just suggesting that it did not sneak up on him, he just left too much to chance by not drafting running backs in his first two drafts, but settling for diamonds in the rough, or relatively unproven, undeveloped talent to be our running game. Yes, the injuries are a tough reality, and the inexperience is not the player's fault. They are who they are and where they are right now in their careers. TT needed to take a little more care in planning our group of RB's instead of having so many young, untested guys. Too bad we are not sitting on a RB who was drafted in the same draft as A-Rod who is now a big time contributor, now that AG is gone.

[Partial]

I am happy with 5-1 like everyone else, and I am not satisfied with the run game, like everyone else. We all hope it improves, and are hoping we have the personnel to do it this season.

If we don't, then changes will be made, I'm sure. If it costs us down the road in terms of having success or winning ballgames, I'm sure fans will be upset. GM's try and plan for a lot. A-Rod is the planned successor to Favre. I'm not sure TT had a really solid succession plan at RB. As someone else pointed out in a previous thread where I commented on this, TT thought that AG was going to resign with us and got caught flat-footed when Houston gave him stupid money. The free agency market wasn't a great option either. We had Morency from last year's trade, Jackson, Wynn and Grant through this year's draft and an end of training camp trade. We had Arliss Beach and PJ Pope as raw prospects. Noah Herron was a good utility guy. The sum of the parts was either too injured or too little experience. What was needed IMO was better planning. We drafted running backs this year as a reaction to a need. We also drafted a DT in the first round this year as the best player available, not necessarily for immediate need. It seems like TT did not plan as well for the succession of Ahman Green as he could have. I wish he had read the tea leaves back when he first started to realize that AG had an expiring contract and had some miles on the tires. Should have brought in his successor back then to compete with him. Not a specialty, 3rd down type back, but a legit, tote the rock 20-25 times a game type back. I don't have names to suggest. I'm just suggesting that it did not sneak up on him, he just left too much to chance by not drafting running backs in his first two drafts, but settling for diamonds in the rough, or relatively unproven, undeveloped talent to be our running game. Yes, the injuries are a tough reality, and the inexperience is not the player's fault. They are who they are and where they are right now in their careers. TT needed to take a little more care in planning our group of RB's instead of having so many young, untested guys. Too bad we are not sitting on a RB who was drafted in the same draft as A-Rod who is now a big time contributor, now that AG is gone.

Good post. So I gotta ask, are you a Tarheel or a Blue Devil fan?

[Carolina_Packer]

I am happy with 5-1 like everyone else, and I am not satisfied with the run game, like everyone else. We all hope it improves, and are hoping we have the personnel to do it this season.

If we don't, then changes will be made, I'm sure. If it costs us down the road in terms of having success or winning ballgames, I'm sure fans will be upset. GM's try and plan for a lot. A-Rod is the planned successor to Favre. I'm not sure TT had a really solid succession plan at RB. As someone else pointed out in a previous thread where I commented on this, TT thought that AG was going to resign with us and got caught flat-footed when Houston gave him stupid money. The free agency market wasn't a great option either. We had Morency from last year's trade, Jackson, Wynn and Grant through this year's draft and an end of training camp trade. We had Arliss Beach and PJ Pope as raw prospects. Noah Herron was a good utility guy. The sum of the parts was either too injured or too little experience. What was needed IMO was better planning. We drafted running backs this year as a reaction to a need. We also drafted a DT in the first round this year as the best player available, not necessarily for immediate need. It seems like TT did not plan as well for the succession of Ahman Green as he could have. I wish he had read the tea leaves back when he first started to realize that AG had an expiring contract and had some miles on the tires. Should have brought in his successor back then to compete with him. Not a specialty, 3rd down type back, but a legit, tote the rock 20-25 times a game type back. I don't have names to suggest. I'm just suggesting that it did not sneak up on him, he just left too much to chance by not drafting running backs in his first two drafts, but settling for diamonds in the rough, or relatively unproven, undeveloped talent to be our running game. Yes, the injuries are a tough reality, and the inexperience is not the player's fault. They are who they are and where they are right now in their careers. TT needed to take a little more care in planning our group of RB's instead of having so many young, untested guys. Too bad we are not sitting on a RB who was drafted in the same draft as A-Rod who is now a big time contributor, now that AG is gone.

Good post. So I gotta ask, are you a Tarheel or a Blue Devil fan?

Neither actually, although their basketball games are fun to watch. I'm a transplant from MN, but grew up in Iowa, so I'm still a Hawkeye at heart. However, I was born in WI, which is how I became a Packer fan. I just happened to move to Iowa when I was 10 and started following sports. I'm sure I would have been a Badger fan if we had not moved away. We used to go to WI hockey when I was a little squirt at the Dane Co. Coliseum; good memories. Unfortunately there was no hockey in Iowa!

[SkinBasket]

Yeah, let's extend the gambler who plays the lower odds of quantity over quality.

Like when he gambled reaching for Driver and Tauscher in the 7th?

Fortunately for you, I won't say "I told you so".

What did you ever say that you could possibly be in a position to say "I told you so," in the first place?

[HarveyWallbangers]

There are Super Bowl champions that had flaws (Tampa Bay and Baltimore had brutal offenses, Indianapolis won with a bad defense that turned it around in the playoffs, Pittsburgh won with not much of a passing game, Chicago went to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman). I'm not saying we are going to the Super Bowl, but you seldom find a team without any flaws--even Super Bowl champions. It's not like Thompson was going to build every part of the team to be mint. Just hope that he did well enough building the passing game, defense, and special teams that it can continue to overcome a bad running game.

[Partial]

There are Super Bowl champions that had flaws (Tampa Bay and Baltimore had brutal offenses, Indianapolis won with a bad defense that turned it around in the playoffs, Pittsburgh won with not much of a passing game, Chicago went to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman). I'm not saying we are going to the Super Bowl, but you seldom find a team without any flaws--even Super Bowl champions. It's not like Thompson was going to build every part of the team to be mint. Just hope that he did well enough building the passing game, defense, and special teams that it can continue to overcome a bad running game.

I feel like people do not understand this. NE is as close to a team without a flaw and I still question the strength of their secondary.

[RashanGary]

I agree, HW.

It's very easy to scream "THE SKY IS FALLING!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!" over one or two positions. After the 4-12 season, it might be the first reaction at any sign of problems.

Thay are a good team though. They might not have a good running game, but defense, special teams and offense combined, they are better than most teams in the NFL.

[Carolina_Packer]

We'll see how far their backs can take them. With any luck, the technique will improve, the line will start to gel on run blocking and our backs will be able to take advantage and gain some positive yardage. You don't have to be able to run the ball against the Tampa or Buc 2 defense, but man it sure would help. Then the passing game doesn't have to be that much better or consistent to make up for the running game. I sure hope they can come out against Denver and establish a run game. But again, if McCarthy was forced to go away from the run in order to play to the pass and win ballgames, that's what really matters. Also, our defense and special teams can have a big impact.

[superfan]

There are Super Bowl champions that had flaws (Tampa Bay and Baltimore had brutal offenses, Indianapolis won with a bad defense that turned it around in the playoffs, Pittsburgh won with not much of a passing game, Chicago went to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman). I'm not saying we are going to the Super Bowl, but you seldom find a team without any flaws--even Super Bowl champions. It's not like Thompson was going to build every part of the team to be mint. Just hope that he did well enough building the passing game, defense, and special teams that it can continue to overcome a bad running game.

I feel like people do not understand this. NE is as close to a team without a flaw and I still question the strength of their secondary.

Amen to both of these posts x 1000.

[RashanGary]

Packers defense is 6th in scoring
Offense is 11th
Record: 5-1

Overall, the Packers are the 4th best team as far as outscoring their opponents. All of this with a pretty tough schedule.

[RashanGary]

They look like one of the 6 or 7 teams with a legit chance at the SB right now. Unfortunately, 3 of them in the AFC would have a better chance of winning it than any of the NFC teams.

[b bulldog]

IMO, with the running game the way it is, they are not legit. They will never beat the likes of the Cowboys and the powers in the AFC with this terrible running game.

[Rastak]

IMO, with the running game the way it is, they are not legit. They will never beat the likes of the Cowboys and the powers in the AFC with this terrible running game.

The Vikings had no passing game and absolutely had a shot at beating the Cowboys. Blocked field goal was the game turner.....