Sunday, October 11, 2009

Thompson Realizing There's No One Else To Blame Anymore

Rob Demovsky expressed some shock that Ted Thompson came out of his shell on Friday to offer some criticism of his team roster, something that has ever rarely happened in the past. It's so out of character, I momentarily wanted to check the Old Farmer's Almanac to see if this meant an extra six weeks of winter.

But, the way he started the article was what stood out to me:

Ted Thompson never has been one to ride the emotional roller coaster of an NFL season. He didn’t do so during the 4-12 debacle of his first year as the Green Bay Packers’ general manger or in the 13-3 season of 2007.

Typically, he reserves judgment until after the season.

That’s why when Thompson made a statement like he did on Friday, just four games into the season, it was evident that his team’s 2-2 start isn’t sitting too well with him.
I'll be honest. What I'm about to say isn't going to make everyone smile, and it isn't going to sit well with some folks who have staunchly supported Ted Thompson since the early days.

But the answer to Demovsky's riddle is simple: there's no one else to blame anymore. This is Ted Thompson's team, and Ted Thompson's team alone, and just as Mike McCarthy is running out of excuses, so is Thompson.

Ted Thompson has received a level of passionate defense over the years that rivals the levels of a certain ex-quarterback. Folks have risen to champion Thompson's accomplishments, long before he actually had any of note. And, like that certain ex-quarterback, there was always somebody else to take the fall.

2005: As Demovsky mentions, Thompson worst year was his first, but any vitriol was directed at the GM that Thompson took over for, Mike Sherman. Certainly, Sherman was in over his head in a dual role, and his 2004 "BJ Sander draft" had the Packer fan base frustrated and no longer believing in his ability to do both positions.

But, as the season rolled on, the Packers saw the loss of veteran players left and right, including Mike Wahle, Marco Rivera, and Darren Sharper, with few quality players brought in to replace them. While some Packer fans expressed concern that Thompson was initiating a rebuilding year, those defending Thompson celebrated Thompson's willingness to "shake things up" and, in particular, to start setting a new standard of accountability. Mike Sherman had often been accused of being overly loyal to certain players and assistant coaches, and Thompson started whittling them off one by one.

As the Packers limped to a 4-12 record, Mike Sherman took the heat, both for his coaching and previous actions as a GM. At the end of the season, he was axed by Ted Thompson, who was viewed as the victim by his defenders for walking into the mess created by Sherman. However, when asked if he was rebuilding the team, Thompson replied at the time, "No, we are here to win today." But as Brett Favre lined up behind Wil Whittaker and Adrien Klemm, handed off to Samkon Gado, and threw to Antonio Chatman and Taco Wallace, you have questioned whether 2005 was little more than a cap-clearing year, allowing Thompson space to begin setting up his future plans.

2006: As the Packers started out 4-8, some of the negativity began to circulate again, but little of it was directed towards Ted Thompson, who again was still in "Wait and See" mode, still struggling against the alleged horrific mismanagement of the Sherman regime. Any criticism of Thompson almost automatically defaulted to the extremely short measuring stick of Mike Sherman in comparison. In fact, it almost seemed as if Thompson was being lauded for simply firing Mike Sherman.

The focus of criticism in 2006 didn't fall onto Thompson or his rookie head coach, Mike McCarthy, but continued backward to Sherman and onto the quarterback, Brett Favre. A perceived strong draft that year, garnering promising players like AJ Hawk, Greg Jennings, Abdul Hodge and a trio of offensive lineman kept Thompson's shield up. Meanwhile, Favre's 29 interceptions from 2005 and his 18/18 TD/INT ratio (along with a 56% completion percentage) in 2006 kept him in the crosshairs.

The Packers finished 4-0 in their final four games, which brought hope to the team, and a measure of proof positive that MM and TT were moving things in the right direction.

2007: In the miracle season, everything seemed to come together. As Demovsky notices, Thompson did not make any early-season statement criticizing his team...and why would you when you are winning? Oh, certainly, there was trouble with the running game early on, but the Packers rode on the heavy passing of Brett Favre until defenses pulled back and Ryan Grant had larger holes to run through.

In this season, a 13-3 surprise that had fans excited for a Super Bowl, Ted Thompson was awarded the NFL's GM of the Year award based on his two-year turnaround from those horrific Sherman years. But, as the season ended at home with a late-game interception, the blame for not making the Super Bowl landed on one set of shoulder pads, and they weren't Ted Thompson's.

2008: In the offseason of 2008, Thompson was indeed presented with a set of circumstances that no GM in history has ever had to face: the idea of moving on without a Hall of Fame quarterback who wanted to return following a retirement. Thompson made a smart move in going with Aaron Rodgers at that late date, but exposed himself to a lot of criticism by not resolving the problem quickly. The airing out of dirty laundry by both sides hurt not only Favre's reputation, but put a crack in Thompson teflon exterior.

When Thompson finally traded Favre away, there was again a kind of reverse-support offered up for the brave man who stood up to Brett and didn't blink. Despite the criticisms in how the situation was handled, Thompson was again praised by those who faithfully defended him, going so far to say that anyone who didn't agree with Thompson was "not a Packer fan". After all, he is the GM, and if you are "against" him, you are against the Packers.

Funny how that never came up when Mike Sherman was the GM, eh?

As the Packers struggled to a disappointing 6-10 record, with a 2-7 finish, criticism abounded for many associated with the team. Many pointed to Favre's late-season wilting with the Jets and congratulated Thompson for being right, but the Packers couldn't gloat too much with their own sluggish finish. Even more troublesome, the problems for the Packers seemed to focus on the defense and special teams, areas that Thompson had focused his drafts and few free agent signings on. Mike McCarthy started the season by saying that this team was built on the defense, and by season's end, that could no longer be blamed on former GM's, coaches, or quarterbacks.

So, who took the fall last year? Why, Bob Sander, the defensive coordinator did, in what was a near-comical series of firings that started with the special teams coach and ended with almost the entire defensive staff being canned (along with the strength and conditioning coach).

Sander, a holdover from the Sherman regime, was ousted, and it could now be safely stated that this team was now completely purged of all those Shermanesque influences.

And all those excuses.

So when it comes to 2009, we see an offensive line built entirely by Thompson continuing to struggle with a lack of ability, fundamentals, depth, and discipline. We see a quarterback that is changing his pocket habits due to the lack of protection, and a running back unable to create anything himself. But, we also see a defense under the control of Dom Capers, still unable to create a pass rush and giving up crucial yards and third downs every game.

And there is no one else to blame. Thus, Mr. Demovsky, the reason that Ted Thompson has, for the first time in history, come forward in his fifth year as general manager, is to address the criticism that is finally directed his way.

Now, mind you, I do not paint Ted Thompson as some sort of twisted, evil tyrant who willingly threw people under the bus to protect his own interests or his job. Quite honestly, I don't think he has that in him. But, it is also human nature during times of stress and finger-pointing to not throw yourself in the line of fire, either. Thompson could have stepped forward to defend Sherman, Favre, Sander, or anyone else who was getting the brunt of the criticism, but was content to quietly stay in the shadows until the end of the season.

Hey...Aaron Rodgers does it. He steps forward and takes accountability even when it isn't his fault. Give him credit for that.

But, in a nutshell, I think people are finally realizing that Ted Thompson isn't the genius that many had him out to be all along. I commented on this many times back in 2006, that building a team purely through the draft, especially by sacrificing quality for quantity in draft picks, was going to do little more than create a mediocre team. It's like building a jigsaw puzzle only using the blue pieces.

The "genius" label, in my opinion, still came from the perception that not only did he fire the reviled Mike Sherman, but he ran his boat in a completely 180 degree direction from the way his predecessor did. Sherman was reviled for his free agent moves and moving up in the draft. Thompson eschewed free agency and traded back. And since Mike Sherman was a Bad General Manager, Thompson must be a Good General Manager.

Now, just because Thompson isn't a "genius", in my opinion, doesn't mean that there has to be a similar 180-degree "stupid" label placed on him. I don't think he's a genius, but what I would call him is very conservative. He is deliberate. He has his plan and he sticks to it like glue. He would rather develop from inside the organization than take risks on proven (but expensive) talent from the outside. He works from what he knows best, which is scouting and evaluating college talent from the draft.

That approach guarantees you nothing, especially when you look at the Minnesota Vikings, who other than their premier running back, have invested money into free agents at nearly every other positional group on the team to build what they now have in a 5-0 team. Not that free-wheeling spending gets you anywhere, as the Vikings haven't won anything of consequence lately other than FavreBowl last week. But, it certainly sends the message that free agency doesn't guarantee you the basement either, as many began believing a few seasons ago.

The other tidbit we need to revisit is the fact that Thompson was often credited for building the Seattle team that went to the Super Bowl in 2005, a reason to believe in his mantra. However, since that Super Bowl, the Seahawks have gone 9-7, 10-6, 4-12, and now stand at 1-3 this season, with perhaps the worst offensive line in the league. If you were building a team through the draft that was intended to challenge every year, wouldn't you think they should have avoided the bottom dropping out from under them?

Is this what is in store for the Packers? After all, it was a great story when we were talking about what a great job Thompson was doing.

In conclusion, Ted Thompson is indeed exposed right now. Scheme changes are just a cover for the talent that lines up within it, and right now, our offensive line and defense is having some deep issues that haven't resolved since last season.

Is the problem the scheme? Doubtful. The scheme is just the recipe you use in the kitchen to make your meal. The coaching is the chef and the talent are your ingredients. But even if it is the scheme, Thompson is the guy who was standing guard over both scheme changes (zone blocking and the 3-4).

If the problem is the coaching, Thompson is the guy who hired Mike McCarthy and, according to both, they talk every day and back each other up. If Thompson hired the wrong guy, or cannot get his guy to take more accountability for the fundamentals and execution on the field, that mistake is on Thompson, too.

And if the problem lies with a lack of talent...well, there's nowhere else to look anymore, is there?

It's nice to see Thompson coming forward and talking. Now, it is time for some action.

7 comments:

unknown said...

top job

well said

unknown said...

It has to be discouraging to write something really good and get only two comments and one is an ad.

Well I was on packercatters and guess what? posters are still

STILL

blaming sherman

here is something to think about
I think it would make a great article and get some focus OFF of devil sherman and BACK ON teddie where it belongs

How do the Packer rank in the NFL over the last 20 games? Looking at the level of competition and who we beat and who beat us. IMO the last 20 games should indicate how good we are and where we fit in the NFL food chain. Here is a break down on the level of competition.

Our overall record is 8 wins and 12 losses.

This is 5 wins in the division and 3 losses, leaving 3 wins and 9 losses out of the division.

Within the Division we have, of course, feasted on the lions. There is little to learn from putting their 1 - 20 record into the mix. We know they are terrible. Adding the Lion record to the records of the queens and bears would only point out how pitiful the Lions are and we already know that.

Outside the Lions we are 3 - 3 in the division. Again that should not surprise anyone and as in most divisional games the home field is a big advantage, splitting the season with the divisional rivals is expected and the norm.

Outside of the division:

We have won a total of one game against a team that had winning record when we played them. ONE.

We have won a total of ONE game against a team that ended with a better than .500 record. ONE.

Both of these were against the Colts last year at home when Manning was struggling returning from his injury.

The Colts were 3-2 coming into that game. They lost the next week dropping them to 3-4. Then they went on an extended winning streak. I don't believe anyone would be optimistic about beating the Colts if we were to play them again.

That leaves two victories outside the division.

We beat the Rams this year and the Seahawks last year. Remember that the Seahawks did not have Matt H for that game .

The combined record of the Rams and Seahawks over that same time span is really bad. 8 - 34.

The combined record of our opponents for half the wins we have (which means counting the lions twice) ..... 10 - 74.

It also means that outside the colts we have not beaten a team outside our division that had its starting QB.

Anonymous said...

Two points: first, while Sherman's BJ Sander pick is often cited as proof of his incompetence as general manager, we find ourselves, several years later, without a punter. No, Sander didn't work out, and it was probably unwise to reach so high in the draft for a punter, but give Sherman credit for recognizing that this was a real issue. We haven't had a good punter since Bidwell left. Hentrich is still punting! If Sander had worked out, Sherman's praises might still be sung.

Second: I think it's pretty clear Favre wanted out of Green Bay, well before the summer of '08. He couldn't play in the cold anymore and he knew it. He resented the new regime, which wouldn't take his suggestions. And he resented Rodgers. (I believe.) I think he wanted to go to Minnesota for some time, because they play indoors and they would cater to him -- no OTAs, no training camp to speak of. But I think he played it to make TT and MM look bad. REtire, get them to commit publicly to Rodgers -- which is what they wanted, after all, that much is true -- then unretire and cause such a fuss that they have to get rid of you. He got traded to the Jets; that was a wrinkle in the plan. But he "retired" again, got himself released, and got to Minnesota, where he managed to avoid training camp by saying he was going to remain retired -- until training camp was over. Quite a performance. He should get an Oscar. --ilscrittore@hotmail.com

unknown said...

I am amazed when people say Favre can't play in the cold.

Compare his stats with Mannings. How much pressure was Manning under? Who had a running game.

Put some facts in and think about context.

Remember Manning got a dominant performance from a WR while favre had throws bouncing off of hands and Jennings totally choked.

Take away throws to Jennings and Favre gave a dominating performance. Jennings was horrible. Can not have an effective QB without a WR

Then compare the two QBs who played and see who out played who.

IPB said...

packerbacker1 - I would be a poor fan overall if I did not remind you of the two incidents in 2007 where we ALL were witness to the Frigid Favre Fest, both at Soldier Field, and then at Lambeau Field for the NFCC game. He really can't handle the cold any more. He also has an issue with long flights (from NY to any team on the Left Coast). Favre lost every game the Jets played on the West Coast last year. So, let's not protect only certain people from the real critique. You comments are laudible, but only up to a point.

There are some real reasons why a LOT of cheeseheads were pointing the finger of blame on one specific set of shoulder pads - they've had it with being booted out of the playoffs, repeatedly, because of some stoopid INT, thrown by a 3xMVP. Need I remind anyone that the ONLY time our former Gunslinger had any "real" success, it was at the hands of a Lombardi-like Head Coach. Under Mike Holmgren, Favre was kept on a strict leash and the media were never given any fodder on how it was handled inside the Clubhouse. In 2007, Favre finally relented, became the mentor to Rodgers that McCarthy would expect any veteran player to be and he started "studying" week in and week out for all 16 games - remember they gave him a Laptop, so he could take the film home with him? I have all of the Favre books - and he admits outright, that he's always figured his ability to be tough in the pocket, take a beating and use those BIG hands to throw the bomb was how he would get his backside out of trouble. Only in 2007, he's now reduced to dink & dunk type plays to move the Offense down the field.

I say let's be real with our critique ON EVERYONE - no person in the Organization gets a free pass, period. I think this website does that and rarely shirks that premise overall.

I will admit I've been in TT's corner - and it WAS Sherman's fault the Packers had no cash in the bank to keep Mike Wahle - that was NOT Thompson's fault.

For my part - I think TT has done a good job, especially with which FA's he has brought in. I do not think it was his fault (seriously) that Anthony Smith got let go recently, either. For the most part TT has been a rather good judge of horse-flesh.

THE REAL ISSUE - which is something I would have warned against - is that the Schottenheimer Tree never breeds Championships and this is where McCarthy comes from.

From Packers.com -
He soon moved into a paid position at Pitt assisting with the quarterbacks, and then coaching the wide receivers, before Panthers head coach Paul Hackett recommended him to the Kansas City Chiefs when they hired Hackett as offensive coordinator in 1993. McCarthy joined Hackett on the Chiefs' staff as a quality control assistant.

If you go look, the HC was one Marty Schottenheimer back then. Here's the link-
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/SchoMa0.htm

Marty Schottenheimer is a pretty good coach, overall.... as long as he never has to worry about being in charge during the playoffs. Much like our Gunslinger, he tends to choke in the Post season. I cite two glaring instances...
1) Against the Colts in sub-zero temperatures, with Jim Harbaugh as the QB, he lost in the 1st round, after going (guess what) 13-3 and slated to be the SuperBowl champs that year.
2)As HC for the Chargers a couple of seasons ago, he did what in the playoffs against the NY Jets? EVERYONE was expecting the Chargers against the Steelers in the next round - and he CHOKED.

Mike McCarthy gets his hesitation on coaching straight from the Master. NO ONE has ever been better at PREVENT FOOTBALL than Marty Schottenheimer.

The problem isn't so much TT as it is MM. Much like Wayne Simmons challenging Reggie White in SB31, it's time to take those gloves off and get down the meat of the matter.

Question becomes - Does Mr. Pittsburgh have any of his Dad's moxey to do it?

Anonymous said...

and for all of a nice reponse you still miss basic facts

both ted and Brandt are on the record saying Mike Wahle was not a money decision, they could have resigned him

both of them

so you can blame sherman for that but the two people who did do it say you are wrong

and in fact just outside the money wasted on the replacements - the money favre offered to restructure but did not - shows the money was there

it was a 'football' decision not a money decision

Anonymous said...

lastly

you did not mention at all how Manning did compared to Favre, they played on the same field

did not mention manning getting blocking, a running game and a WR stepping up big time

did not mention how grant came up short, how the OL failed and how jennings choked

do those things matter


as time goes on it will be come clear to all that the reason favre only had one losing season, and the reason ted has only one winning season are not unrelated

favre carried the team, nobody stepped up aside from driver for a short time

the giants had many step up including a back up guard that teddie canned

you find the same things if you take the time and look at the bear game

nobody on GB showed up

your conclusion is simple minded and wrong