Let's Play Spot That Upgrade!: Wolf 2001 vs. Sherman 2004

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2001
Jared Tomich DE
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila DE
Billy Lyon DE
Jamal Reynolds DE
John Thierry* DE
Vonnie Holliday DT

2004
Aaron Kampman DE
R-Kal Truluck DE
Kab. Gbaja-Biamila DE
Corey Williams DE
Donnell Washington* DE

Thierry, a reclamation project/bust from the Bears, was drafted as the next Dent/Haley. But by the time he was with the Packers, he was only good enough to hold up in run support and KGB and Reynolds were used as the pass rushers. I believe Lyon moved to DE after Thierry was hurt. Holliday was fine as the Power end but never generated much pass rush except opposite Reggie. 2004 found KGB a starter opposite Kampman who bests everyone on this list with the possible exception of Holliday. But there is dreck behind them. Both teams had similar results versus the run, although in 2004 that might have been becuse offenses were passing their way down the field. KGB is miscast as a starter and sacks for the years 52 for 2001 and 40 in 2004 with approx 20 of those coming from Carolina in week one. Edge 2001.

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2001
Santana Dotson DT
Jim Flanigan DT
Gilbert Brown DT
Cletidus Hunt DT
Steve Warren* DT
Rod Walker NT

2004
Cullen Jenkins DL
Colin Cole DT
Cletidus Hunt DT
Kenny Peterson DT
Grady Jackson NT
James Lee* NT

Flanigan and Hunt backing up Dotson and Walker backing up Gilbert, it ain't pretty and three players were at the tail end of their careers, but there is depth. Bates corrctly drove off Hunt in 2005, and I am convinced Grady made it only because there wasn't a replacement (a constant theme of the Sherman GM tenure). Jenkins has shown he has something to offer on passing downs. I'll reserve judgement on Cole for ND or bulldog as I haven't seens anything that stands out about Cole, but I haven't seen him washed out of the play like Lee. Edge 2001.

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2001
Ryan Longwell K
Rob Davis LS
Josh Bidwell P

2004
Ryan Longwell K
Rob Davis LS
Bryan Barker P
B.J. Sander P

Enough said. 2001.

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So, in conclusion, APBs assertion that Sherman handed over the same roster quality (plus upgrades) to Thompson as Wolf did to Sherman is a joke, especially on defense, where the beginning of the collapse was evident even in 2002.

There was a near complete lack of depth everywhere on the roster and that was exposed during the 2005 medical-fest.

On offense, he upgraded the receiver position with Walker, but he lost ground elsewhere save thrid string QB. And everyone on the line was older and more expensive without any help on the roster.

And one question, non-rhetorical, why did Wahle resign with the $6 million roster bonus in his second GB contract? Why was this provision here? If he wanted one more big payday, which seems the likeliest explanation, why didn't Sherman give it to him in the 2nd contract? Why short term it?

Did Sherman not have the cap room to do a bigger deal? Is that why his second contract was short?

Defense was in a free fall and McKenzie is only part of the story. Harris was a very nice addition, but they still hadn't found a second safety. And because of a lack of talent and depth. there was no one to cover for McKenzie's absence.

LB had been losing talent since Simmons was traded. His replacement, Joyner, wasn't well suited to Shurmur's scheme and he was gone shortly. Wolf found Diggs and Wayne, but this unit wasn't a strength and it got worse under Sherman.

Kampman, like Barnett and Harris was a nice pickup. But at best (Harris, Barnett) they adequately replaced people who were gone, but didn't make up for the holes next to them (or the problem of depth).

Sherman's main approach to FA, to spend next year's money on this year's player, meant he was always losing his depth because he couldn't resign everybody next year. And with his tageting of players in the draft, and even a normal failure rate, meant that this roster was spending maximum dollars and losing talent.

After allowing several good players to leave, Thompson at least has the cap room to sign rent-a-players to front loaded contracts. Which means next year, he'll have room again to chase FAs and sign his own. This should solve the depth issue.

The question that can't be answered is whether he'll find enough playmakers to remake the top of the roster.