Draft Review

[The Leaper]

You could certainly come out and say that TT failed to adequately provide the Packers with a singular talent at RB and I don't think you will get much argument there.

You could...but again, what singular talent was really available that we would not have to overpay for? I recognize that our RBs clearly aren't durable enough to be starting caliber talents...but I just don't see how people can feel that Thompson did nothing to try to improve the position. He tried, but there just wasn't much available this offseason. Things are looking like they will be much better in that regard next offseason.

If you want to be critical of Thompson's planning prior to last offseason...fine. I can see that logic. He should have done more when Green was a question mark and the backup plan was Herron than merely bringing in Morency. However, to claim he ignored the RB position after Green left for ridiculous money...I just don't see the logic there. Thompson did about as much as he could do...spending a 2nd round pick, a late round pick, and trading for an additional guy.

Perhaps you are advocating that he should have given up multiple picks and a monster contract for an relatively unproven but talented backup. That's fine...put your name to it then.

[Cheesehead Craig]

You could certainly come out and say that TT failed to adequately provide the Packers with a singular talent at RB and I don't think you will get much argument there.

You could...but again, what singular talent was really available that we would not have to overpay for? I recognize that our RBs clearly aren't durable enough to be starting caliber talents...but I just don't see how people can feel that Thompson did nothing to try to improve the position. He tried, but there just wasn't much available this offseason. Things are looking like they will be much better in that regard next offseason.

If you want to be critical of Thompson's planning prior to last offseason...fine. I can see that logic. He should have done more when Green was a question mark and the backup plan was Herron than merely bringing in Morency. However, to claim he ignored the RB position after Green left for ridiculous money...I just don't see the logic there. Thompson did about as much as he could do...spending a 2nd round pick, a late round pick, and trading for an additional guy.

Perhaps you are advocating that he should have given up multiple picks and a monster contract for an relatively unproven but talented backup. That's fine...put your name to it then.

I agree that there wasn't a big, known talent to trade for that wouldn't involve overpaying. I don't think Michael Turner is all that and a bag of chips as others do. Trading up for Peterson or Lynch would have been a crapshoot at the time.

I was trying to stop the pointless back and forth that Harvey and bulldog were having over semantic wording and providing a potential different wording of the argument. That's all.

[Lurker64]

Seeing the way the line has played in some games this season, having LT, LJ, AP or any other 2-letter acronym back there probably wouldn't have given us an adequate running game. I think that TT was counting on the OL being at least competent in run-blocking, which didn't really pan out. Short of somehow getting Barry Sanders in his prime via a Time Machine or something, I think we're just going to have to be contented to aim for a "slightly below average running game" which is due to a combination of issues involving talent, scheming, intensity, and decisionmaking at three positions: RB, OL, and Coach.

But we can't actually test this under laboratory conditions, so who knows?

[b bulldog]

Lets see, McGahee was out there, Henry was out there, Thomas Jones was out there, Tatum Bell was out there, Dominic Rhodes, Ahman Green, Chris Brown and Jamal Lewis. Sounds like a pretty good class of backs when the draft had crap written all over it after the top 2 backs were off the board.

[b bulldog]

Forgot to mention turner also

[b bulldog]

TT failed to notice or consider how bad our running game will be with the "guys" he put back there. One could also say he ingored the rb position deliberately when they had the means to make the position much better.

[The Leaper]

Lets see, McGahee was out there, Henry was out there, Thomas Jones was out there, Tatum Bell was out there, Dominic Rhodes, Ahman Green, Chris Brown and Jamal Lewis. Sounds like a pretty good class of backs when the draft had crap written all over it after the top 2 backs were off the board.

Neither McGahee, Jones or Bell were free agents.

McGahee was traded to Baltimore for 2 third round picks and change...and signed a hefty new deal. Seems pretty steep to me for a guy who has some durability issues and only has 2 TDs through 7 games this year.

Thomas Jones was shipped out of conference for a reason by Chicago. We had ZERO chance at getting Jones.

Tatum Bell? The guy has 44 carries and 1 TD for Detroit. How is that much better than what we already have...and to give up additional draft picks for that?

Travis Henry was an option...although I think he signed with Denver fairly soon after Green signed with Houston, so Green Bay probably didn't have that great a chance of landing him with a short turn around after the Texan's surprise deal. Besides, he now could be suspended. Would that have really been a good choice to tie up $12M in guaranteed money into?

Rhodes has character issues...he was suspended in the past for a DUI. Plus, the Raiders are considering RELEASING him at this point. So you are suggesting Rhodes is a better option as well?

Jamal Lewis? The guy has as much tread left as a bald tire. At best he would be a stop gap, and likely isn't a good fit for a zone blocking scheme. He's a power back.

Sorry bulldog...you are off in left field on this. Most of these guys you list were not viable, affordable options for the Packers. If you want to harp on Thompson not doing enough before this offseason, fine. That makes sense. However, there wasn't much availble during this offseason once Green got a very surprising deal that Thompson really didn't feel he could find a way to justify matching even though I'm sure he wanted to keep Ahman in Green Bay.

[The Leaper]

I was trying to stop the pointless back and forth that Harvey and bulldog were having over semantic wording and providing a potential different wording of the argument. That's all.

I actually wasn't really talking to you specifically...but those who claim Thompson sat on his hands and let a bunch of good opportunities at RB slip away. I don't see the good opportunities.

[Tarlam!]

OK, we're pickin' 32nd acording to my math; so, who should we be taking again?

[Guiness]

Lets see, McGahee was out there, Henry was out there, Thomas Jones was out there, Tatum Bell was out there, Dominic Rhodes, Ahman Green, Chris Brown and Jamal Lewis. Sounds like a pretty good class of backs when the draft had crap written all over it after the top 2 backs were off the board.

Neither McGahee, Jones or Bell were free agents.

Actually, the one guy you don't mention is the guy I would've like to see they make an offer too - Brown. I know he's got injury concerns, but he does have talent. He was out there for a while, and re-signed with his original team to a reasonable deal. I think we should've looked at him.

But as I said before, I think we're looking at this the wrong way. It's not that TT ignored the position, he just thought he already had his guy, either in Herron or Morency.

[Partial]

Lets see, McGahee was out there, Henry was out there, Thomas Jones was out there, Tatum Bell was out there, Dominic Rhodes, Ahman Green, Chris Brown and Jamal Lewis. Sounds like a pretty good class of backs when the draft had crap written all over it after the top 2 backs were off the board.

Neither McGahee, Jones or Bell were free agents.

Actually, the one guy you don't mention is the guy I would've like to see they make an offer too - Brown. I know he's got injury concerns, but he does have talent. He was out there for a while, and re-signed with his original team to a reasonable deal. I think we should've looked at him.

But as I said before, I think we're looking at this the wrong way. It's not that TT ignored the position, he just thought he already had his guy, either in Herron or Morency.

He has had one big game, and a slew of crappy games. He is now hurt again.

[Zool]

Think McGahee wanted out of a small town.
Chicago would not trade Jones in division.
Tatum Bell is Morrency.


Jamal Lewis looked used up last year but is playing OK.