Yi, you can stop running from the situation in Milwaukee now.

Packers. Packers concluded their first mini camp for the rookies last week and by all accounts there was some great talent there. Everybody (meaning the media) is seeming to really like the picks now and lots of people are convinced that Ted Thompson is a genius. . . almost totally opposite from the sentiment the day of the draft. Patrick Lee's play was as advertised, physical coverage with kind of a nose for the ball and good size to boot. Jordy Nelson showed flashes of why he should have received more attention at K-State. But it's tough being a talented receiver in the Big12, not exactly a pass happy league. He's another big body receiver to add to the mix, squeezing out Koren Robinson, who some have compared to Joe Jurevicius or Wes Welker or Ricky Proehl, or Brandon Stokely (why do white receivers always have to be compared to each other?). The two lineman selected look like they have the skills to fit very nicely into the Packers zone blocking scheme. Aaron Rodgers had really better watch his back and he is going to have to play at the top of his game to keep Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn off the field. Who knows maybe it will turn into a situation like when we had Matt Hassellbeck, Mark Brunell, and Aaron Brooks all on the roster. We got a lot of good trades and draft picks out of those guys.

One of the more intriguing free agent rookies at camp who didn't stick was Justin Beaver, star running back from Division III national football champion UW-Whitewater. You could tell he was a real slick and polished player, but just too lacking in size to gain the confidence of a NFL team. I wouldn't be surprised though if some team gives him a real crack after a couple of successful seasons in the Canadian League. Packers.com has the run down on which free agents the Pack wants to stick around and an interesting read on a family connection on the current roster.

Brewers. C- It seems our blind enthusiasm that so happily marked the beginning of this '08 season is beginning to wane a bit. The blooms have definitely fallen off the branch for Ned Yost, D. Turnbow, and our heralded free agent signing Gagne. Just about all of our stars have been in slumps to varying degrees at some point this season. But something tells me that it's not time to give up hope and revert back to the old familiar pessimism just yet. Not any statistical trend that I noticed or obscure numbers that I analyzed (remember I am an extremely casual baseball fan even with the Crew) just a gut feeling. Yost came from an Atlanta Braves organization that had been very successful over a length time. He was there for 12 years. This is his first managerial position so he only has the experience with Atlanta's organization to draw upon. It's a cliche but something of knowing what a real contending MLB baseball team looks like had to rub off on him (or so you might assume). He's been good enough to institute a real change in attitude in the clubhouse and a change in the team's culture (of course an influx of young talented players has really helped that also), and there's one more thing that gives him a few extra points in my eyes: he's a former Brewer, played here most of his short career so I believe somewhere deep inside this isn't just a paycheck for him. He understands the fragile expectations of a scarred fan base. Let's give him just a little more time to figure it all out.

Bucks. Well now that Scott Skiles has made his picks and all is complete but the signing of the contracts the new coaching staff is pretty well solidified. As I noted last week this is a solid bunch of guys, so solid that we shouldn't be surprised to see a couple of them (Kelvin Sampson, Lionel Hollins) move on to other opportunities after putting in a season or two for the rebuilding Bucks. Yes, I think we can officially say that's what mode the Bucks are currently in now. Everyone is up for grabs except for Yi and Bogut. By the end of next season would probably be the prime time to trade Redd. He's our star so whatever pieces we get to start the real rebuilding with are going to come from parting ways with him. And the more seasons he plays for us (and keeps getting exposed as a ballhogging below average defensive player) the more his trade value will fall. Besides the Josh Howard trade scenarios being talked about last week the new popular theoretical trade is Redd to Cleveland for Daniel Gibson and either Wally World's expiring contract or Anderson Varejao. Either one of those trades might represent the peak of what the Bucks might be offered for the aging career overacheiver.

And don't forget the draft is coming up. I won't really have a sense of what we could get until the draft position is finalized. Every once in a while something strange happens. We had the fifth worse record this season but could sneak into the number one pick or at least top three. That means Rose, Beasley, or Mayo. So while I agree with The Bratwurst's sleeper pick when you get a pick that high in a draft this stocked you have to go for it. Speaking of top picks, ours from last season is busy carrying a torch for his country.

CheezerAAA-er

75 days ago

Score 2

It's a little early to call T2 a genius, but I've never understood the Thompson hatred that seems to exist all over Packerland.

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AKittellVarsity

75 days ago

Score 0

TT hatred is epitomized by the first round selection of Justin Harrell last year. That and the fact that the Packers were only about $10 million above the cap minimum last year, and refused to make any attempt at picking up an impact free agent to fill holes at S, LB and OL. It's pretty clear that one extra player last year could have put them over the top.

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CheezerAAA-er

74 days ago

Score 3

Exactly what FA's were available for the OL, their biggest weakness,last season? The guys I saw were aging and overpriced. Just because you have the money, you shouldn't overpay.

Although I don't like the guards, I don't think it's personnel as much as it's the fact that they still don't understand the zone blocking scheme. One thing I do know is that if the OL continues with the 2-3 look-out blocks per game again this season, Rodgers is gonna get killed. Favre was able to avoid a lot of problems because of his experience.

The issues with the DL were due to late season injuries. I really thought that they had enough depth on the DL to make the run and they just ran out of gas. The Pack really missed Johnny Jolly (even Colin Cole a little) in the Giants game. I'm glad that T^2 got rid of one overpriced situational defensive lineman this off-season. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Williams had his payday, but I'm even happier that it wasn't the Packers that paid him. He's a situational player that doesn't deserve to be paid as an every down lineman. As the demands on him increased late in the season due to injuries to other players, he fell flat on his face.

Hopefully, the weakness at linebacker was addressed in the offseason.

I also hope that the moves T^2 made in the draft addressed the aging corner situation as well.

The OL is still a question mark.

Against the Giants, the Packers were out played and outcoached. It was play calling and execution, not personnel. They went 1/10 on third down for Pete's sake. Why didn't they make adjustments to help out Harris? Why didn't Grant get more carries? Why did Favre telegraph his passes?

I remember when Starr was coach, and Gregg, and Infante. Last season, although disappointing, is more than I expected. Therefore, in my mind it was a success. It's a step to the next level. The future is bright.

I'm sure this puts me in the minority, but I like that T^2 builds through the draft and doesn't get retreads and cast-offs. Granted, if the next Reggie White becomes available, he better go get him, but I haven't seen that player become available.

Anyway, I would love for you to tell me who they should have gotten to help them. Either via the draft or via free agency. I am always interested in the opinions of other fans.

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AKittellVarsity

74 days ago

Score 0

I'm intrigued by the fact that you think the Packers have been building through the draft. From the 2007 draft, only Aaron Rouse and Korey Hall were impactful enough for me to say that built up. Justin Harrell was a waste of a first round pick. Brandon Jackson is not built for the NFL no matter how many times Mike and T^2 say he is and James Jones fell off the face of the earth the last six games of the season.

In 2006, it was a no brainer to take AJ Hawk. Daryn College and Tony Moll have both been disappointing but are improving a little. Ultimately, Colledge was not a second round pick in my eyes. Greg Jennings was probably the only impressive talent Thompson has picked up that has had legitimate impact. Other Hodge, Spits, Cory Rodgers, Will Blakmon, Ingle Martin?, Tyrone Culver?, Dave Tollefson? In one year the review will come out and he'll get a B, solely because of Hawk and Jennings.

In 2005, Rogers is the only guy who was any good. You got Nick Collins (Bust in my book. He had some promise but proved to be a mental disaster), Terrence Murphy, Underwood, Slow Poppinga, Coston, Michael Hawkins, Mike Montgomery, Craig Bragg, Kurt Campbell, Will Whitticker. Wow. Poppinga is the only starter on the team now and he's only deserving because of his hustle.

As for free agents last year, there were plenty of possibilities that were not even pursued including Donnie Edwards LB, Jason Fabini G, London Fletcher LB, Nick Harper CB, Kawika Mitchell LB, Adalius Thomas LB. The line was definitely lacking that year, but if you look at this year: Milford Brown G, Justin Smiley G, Alan Faneca G, Damien Woody G, Jake Scott T.

On top of the that TT would never in his life consider trading up to pick up a guy with a higher ceiling, nor would he trade any of his picks straight up to fill these holes. Look, if you have $25 million just sitting in the wings and you're being threatened with a fine because you haven't spent ENOUGH money, something can be done to make a better team. TT doesn't pull those triggers. And sure there are always extenuating circumstances with contractual issues and no trade clauses, but somewhere along the line, there had to have been some options.

I can't deny that I was extremely upset when he signed Bubba to that big contract when he tried to hold out and told Javon Walker to shove off. Walker turned out to end his career (sort of) by tearing his ACL and look what the Bubba investment brought you: 68 catches in three years.

TT isn't the worst GM in the league by any stretch of the imagination, but he's clearly the most static. Consider the money he gained on the cap when Favre left. Big free agent? Let's just sign Chilar. Who? You know, that LB from St. Louis.

With Faneca out and Kawika Mitchell out there again or Boss Baily and Demorrio Williams, I just can't handle the lack of aggression he shows.

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

75 days ago

Score 0

Agreed. I think when it comes to Thompson fans opinions reside at the extremes, but I think their main problem with him is that he's not Ron Wolf.

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TheruffianVarsity Captain

75 days ago

Score 0

that was me by the way.

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