by Packerlifer, Packer Addict Contributor
When Mike McCarthy was hired as Head Coach of the Packers in 2006, I recall he and Ted Thompson quite pointedly saying they regarded building the lines - on both sides of the ball- as the foundation for the winning team they expected to construct in Green Bay.
Now that we are in the 4th year of the TT & MM partnership and considering the recurrent struggles of the Packers over the past season and a half - lack of pass protection, lack of pass rush, lack of running game - most of those problems stem from the failures or negligence in keeping their promises about the lines.
The Packers have drafted 17 linemen over the past 5 years; that’s about one-third of the club’s draft picks. They’ve netted only 4 starters out of that crop, none particularly outstanding and some more by default than merit.
They’ve used 2 of their last 3 first rounders for d-linemen and made one of the only 2 major ventures in free agency by TT for another. While they’ve gotten good performance from Ryan Pickett, Justin Harrell has been a complete bust and B.J. Raji has been way too slow to get on the field and show some impact for the 9th overall pick in the draft.
Beyond those the Packers haven’t done anything further in free agency or used any pick higher than a 4th rounder for any one else. That was for Jeremy Thompson as an end last year; but he’s been moved to lb in the switch to the 3-4. However the oft-injured Thompson has done nothing for the Packers at either position for a season and a half.
The Packers have trolled the 6th & 7th rounds for Mike Montgomery, Johnny Jolly, Dave Tollefson and Jarius Wynn.
And the Packers have allowed some subtraction on the d-line as well by moving their best Aaron Kampman to lb in the new 3-4 scheme and letting serviceable back-ups on the team’s effective 8 man rotation 2 years ago, Corey Williams & Colin Cole, leave during the past 2 offseasons.
TT has made 10 o-line draft selections since 2005. Four never made or are no longer with the team. An effort to do any upgrading here in free agency has been completely lacking; unless you want to count non-descript bargain basement FA’s such as Adrian Klemm and Duke Preston.
The Packers knew all last offseason that they could have serious problems at the tackles in view of the age/injury issues of Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton; holdover players from the previous regime. Yet all they did in response was assert that Allen Barbre & Breno Giacomini were ready and able to take over the right side and drafted 2 rookies to back up the left; one of whom didn’t make the roster and was plucked away from the practice squad.
As the flood of sacks on Aaron Rodgers mounts it should be noted that the Packers have used picks as high as the second or third round only twice during the TT/MM period for o-linemen. Every one else has been a fourth rounder (3) or later.
I think the Packers have the quarterback, receivers, linebackers and d’backs for a playoff team. But as has been exposed last season and again this year in the Minnesota and Cincinnati games the lines, the foundation of the team, is significantly faulty.
After this much time that shouldn’t be the case. Where does the accountability lie? If the players aren’t good enough for winning in the NFL maybe the fault lies in the scouting and personnel department of the club. That’s TT. If the players are good enough but not being developed that’s MM and the coaches.
When it comes time for Mark Murphy and the Packers’ board to do job evaluations at the end of this 4th year of their program the general manager and head coach had better have some answers.