2009 Packers wishlist

[zmanishere11]

1 - Taylor Mays, Safety, USC. I know everyone here is going to scream "Dline, Oline," but the Safety position has been a black hole on our defense since the Sharper/Butler days, and having Woodson play there is making our defense much worse. Mays is a Sean Taylor type talent at this position. 6-4, 225, 4.3 speed, starter since his freshman year, the guys is a flat out freak.

2 - Some change at the LB position. Hawk and Poppinga have been awful, Bishop is NOT an answer, and who knows what we'll get from Barnett when he comes back. Here's my wish:

A trade of AJ Hawk that somehow, someway nets us Meluaga, Brandon Spikes, or James Laurenitus.

Or, I'd even take one of those 3 with our 1st pick (assuming Mays isn't availible) and Hawk for a later 1st

3 - Some more leadership on offense. I think a guy like Tony Gonzalez could take this offense from good to great immediately. If it takes a 2nd, fine, but ideally we do it with a 3rd and a player (Jermichael Finley). Get it done!!

[Jollay]

A mid to high level free agent signing to fill any hole on our team. Anywhere. Just one.

[ReasonablySober]

You list three needs and none of three make mention of the defensive line. This thread fails.

I love Maualuga. Spikes is a good, instinctive linebacker. Cushing, Curry and Laurinitis are all good prospects. If we waste a first rounder on a linebacker I'm going to break my new 50" TV.

[xTitan]

A new defensive coordinator who has an aggressive, attacking style of football. I doubt it happens but I still would love to draft Mt. Cody and switch to an attacking 3-4 defense, I am just so damn jealous of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Also TE's do not bring leadership to a team, not worried about the leadership aspect at all, I fully expect Rodgers to be much more vocal next year because he will have a very calm off season and now there is no doubt the job is his and he can run with it.

[El Duderino]

I gotta believe that either McCarthy will can Sanders or Ted will force him to do it.

Who then runs the defense and what the scheme is will have to dictate what players are brought in. If it's a 3-4 defense, i think Jenkins/Kampman are ideal sized ends. Then you start looking hard at undersized pass rushers to be the Ware or Joey Porter type of linebacker/pass rusher.

Either way, the front seven obviously needs an overhaul, giving up 500 plus yards at home to a southern dome team on a cold day was an absolute debacle.

[ReasonablySober]

I gotta believe that either McCarthy will can Sanders or Ted will force him to do it.

Who then runs the defense and what the scheme is will have to dictate what players are brought in. If it's a 3-4 defense, i think Jenkins/Kampman are ideal sized ends. Then you start looking hard at undersized pass rushers to be the Ware or Joey Porter type of linebacker/pass rusher.

Either way, the front seven obviously needs an overhaul, giving up 500 plus yards at home to a southern dome team on a cold day was an absolute debacle.

We actually agree.

[El Duderino]

A new defensive coordinator who has an aggressive, attacking style of football. I doubt it happens but I still would love to draft Mt. Cody and switch to an attacking 3-4 defense, I am just so damn jealous of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I had stuff to do after the Packers game and even though i had already heard Pittsburgh won, i just finished watching the game because i taped it on the DVR. Man i agree with you about being jealous over that Pittsburgh defense. Watching the Steelers play defense, especially at home with a rocking crowd, it's probably my favorite thing to watch in the NFL besides watching Packer games.

They are so physical, hit hard, play fast, and have a scheme that so often looks to confuse QB's and the offensive lines because they never can be sure who will be rushing, where they'll be rushing from, and who might drop back in coverage. Against the Packers defense it's the reverse, they aren't physical and are predictable.

Yea it's fun to watch your sports team if they have an exciting and productive offense, but in football, i love following teams when your defense is really good or dominant. In those close games at home where the crowd is flat out rocking, nothing beats watching your defense get say sacks, big hits, and/or turnovers, thus the crowd just exploding. Our defense has folded so many times this year in those situtions.

BTW, Props to Tomlin to not let pride affect his judgement. He was a 4-3 defense guy running the Vikings defense, yet he was smart enough to not force that on his Steelers team given the success of their 3-4 scheme over the years. I think many guys in that situation getting a head coaching job would have wanted to change the defense to fit what they were used to running.

[zmanishere11]

You list three needs and none of three make mention of the defensive line. This thread fails.

I love Maualuga. Spikes is a good, instinctive linebacker. Cushing, Curry and Laurinitis are all good prospects. If we waste a first rounder on a linebacker I'm going to break my new 50" TV.

Actually, I made mention of the dline right off the bat:

1 - Taylor Mays, Safety, USC. I know everyone here is going to scream "Dline, Oline," but the Safety position has been a black hole on our defense since the Sharper/Butler days, and having Woodson play there is making our defense much worse. Mays is a Sean Taylor type talent at this position. 6-4, 225, 4.3 speed, starter since his freshman year, the guys is a flat out freak.

Plus, I think people are failing to see just how bad our LB's are because we have so much money invested there. That was Bishop getting OWNED on the 40 yard pass play by Steve Slaton to set up the winning FG yesterday. Hawk has been no where. Poppinga LEAPED a step backwards this year. Between Barnett, Hawk, Poppinga, and Chillar we've got damn near $100 mil tied up in our LB position, is it to much to ask one of them to make a frickin play???? I don't have a problem going with one of those 3 LB's, as long as we're able to trade Hawk/Barnett/Pops to reload that draft pick at least in the late 1st.


The only free agent worth anything is going to be Julius Peppers, and he's not going anywhere. Jordan Gross would be nice for our O'line, but he'll take either draft picks or ridiculous money to sign.


I would also like to add a new defensive coordinator to that list.

[Ayt]

If the only thing that changed was a new, innovative DC I'd be very happy.

The problem with this defense isn't so much that it asks the CBs to play on an island so often or that it asks so much from the front four in terms of pass rush. I think the main problem is that it asks so much of the LBs in man to man coverage. There isn't a team in the NFL with athletic enough LBs to keep up with TEs and RBs one on one all game, but that is what we ask them to do. Our D has been destroyed all year because of our LBs in coverage.

Covering TEs and RBs was the biggest flaw in our D last year, and this year it has gotten much worse. The tactic of going straight man to man with LBs on the TEs and RBs in the current NFL simply won't work anymore.

[LUKE23]

I hope we lose the rest of our games, because we need a top of the line defensive playmaker added to this team.

[ReasonablySober]

If the only thing that changed was a new, innovative DC I'd be very happy.

The problem with this defense isn't so much that it asks the CBs to play on an island so often or that it asks so much from the front four in terms of pass rush. I think the main problem is that it asks so much of the LBs in man to man coverage. There isn't a team in the NFL with athletic enough LBs to keep up with TEs and RBs one on one all game, but that is what we ask them to do. Our D has been destroyed all year because of our LBs in coverage.

Covering TEs and RBs was the biggest flaw in our D last year, and this year it has gotten much worse. The tactic of going straight man to man with LBs on the TEs and RBs in the current NFL simply won't work anymore.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

I sort of shake my head when I read some of the people here, saying that a reason our linebackers suck is they can't cover a runningback. Guys, there isn't a linebacker alive that could run with Steve Slaton. I don't know of one that could run with most NFL runningbacks. Also, with the way the TE position has evolved, I think you could say the same with most of them as well.

I don't have a problem with the linebackers. I have a problem with any coach that thinks he can spy a back with Hawk or Barnett or Pops or Chillar. Or leave one of them to cover a TE without safety help.

[aaprigs311]

1. Sign Albert Haynesworth: Our defensive line is immediately improved.
2. Draft DE Orakpo from Texas: I have a feeling he's going to drastically improve his draft stock at the combine next spring so it'll probably take a top 5 pick.
3. If Orakpo is off the board I'd turn my attention to MLB Rey Maualuga. He's a playmaker and a leader. I think he's going to be a perrenial pro bowler.
4. OT is a major concern coming into next season. We'll either need to address that come draft time or make a free agent aquisition. TT isn't going to go out and overpay for o-line help though. I'd can Clifton and his big contract and give the franchise tag to Tausch. It'd be foolish to try to replace Tauscher and Clifton in the same offseason. I think the Packers have learned from letting both Wahle and Rivera walk the same offseason. (which turned out to probably be the right move, but..)
5. Kick Bob Sanders to the curb and pry Ron Rivera away from the Chargers.

[Buck You]

Get Mike Singletary if he's let go.

[Kerb Hohl]

If the only thing that changed was a new, innovative DC I'd be very happy.

The problem with this defense isn't so much that it asks the CBs to play on an island so often or that it asks so much from the front four in terms of pass rush. I think the main problem is that it asks so much of the LBs in man to man coverage. There isn't a team in the NFL with athletic enough LBs to keep up with TEs and RBs one on one all game, but that is what we ask them to do. Our D has been destroyed all year because of our LBs in coverage.

Covering TEs and RBs was the biggest flaw in our D last year, and this year it has gotten much worse. The tactic of going straight man to man with LBs on the TEs and RBs in the current NFL simply won't work anymore.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

I sort of shake my head when I read some of the people here, saying that a reason our linebackers suck is they can't cover a runningback. Guys, there isn't a linebacker alive that could run with Steve Slaton. I don't know of one that could run with most NFL runningbacks. Also, with the way the TE position has evolved, I think you could say the same with most of them as well.

I don't have a problem with the linebackers. I have a problem with any coach that thinks he can spy a back with Hawk or Barnett or Pops or Chillar. Or leave one of them to cover a TE without safety help.

This also reminds me how out of his mind Barnett played last year. He wasn't perfect at being matched up on the other team's RB but he somehow kept them in check when we needed him to. Something was wrong this year and couple that with the fact that Hawk sucked in coverage of TE's and got even worse this year and you have a disaster with that scheme.

I remember numerous times where Barnett would make an amazing play of covering up LT or whoever just short of the first at a crucial time in the game on 3rd and short on a swing pass or something. It just goes to the argument of how everything seemed to go right last year. This year, with Sanders' pussy scheme a lot of things went wrong and sprinkle in a few injuries and guys trying to play hurt (Hawk, Bigby, etc.) and you have a disaster.

Whenever I watched a tight game this year especially one like last week where we had the chance to go up 7 at the one and didn't or in this one where we got jipped on a terrible hold that took away our chances of even getting 3, I said "it's over" to the people I was watching the game with. Yes, I am a pessimistic fan, but with this defense and an NFL QB, when they have 4 downs to pass with minimal pressure, you just know that there is no way you are not going to stop them from at the very least getting into FG range. There is going to be some sort of blown coverage or missed tackle on one of those downs that continues the drive or sets them up in range to win.

[an_also]

Is there any chance Bob sanders is not fired?? any at all? he has to go. If he is retained, i dont know what i would do

[MickeyDavis]

Right now we are tied for the #9 pick with San Diego. Our first rounder needs to contribute right away. Ron Wolf didn't have a good track record on first rounders but he wasn't picking near the top of the draft. We can't afford to have 2 top 10 busts (and 3 top 16 busts) in 4 years.

[ReasonablySober]

Right now we are tied for the #9 pick with San Diego. Our first rounder needs to contribute right away. Ron Wolf didn't have a good track record on first rounders but he wasn't picking near the top of the draft. We can't afford to have 2 top 10 busts (and 3 top 16 busts) in 4 years.

Hawk isn't a bust, he's just not an All-Pro type impact player. He's obviously been impacted by a terrible defensive line.

[LUKE23]

This will sound like me being an apologist, but I honestly don't think Hawk has been 100% all year. I just don't view him as the type of player who is not going to give full effort, that's been his calling card since day 1. I still think his groin is gimpy.

We just need a clean slate health-wise, a new DC, and a good defensive draft and I think the D will at least be back to top 12 or better next year.

I really want our first pick this year to be used in the front 7 though.

[Kerb Hohl]

Here are my wishes:

Coaching: MM calls things much more aggressively. Read my comments in the other thread. I am hoping we clean up the penalties as well because MM has tried to play for the tie/field position/only a field goal way too much this year.

Sanders is canned and we get someone in who calls an aggressive style and maybe implements a 3-4 as some have said.

Personnel/GM: I hope we lose out, well...maybe beat the Lions. Now I want us to lose to the Bears. Both Bears/Vikes pose little threat in the playoffs but if the Vikes ground game breaks out I fear them making a run. I'd rather see the Bears in the playoffs.

Anyways, I hope for a top 10 pick. Draft for impact. OT, LB, DL are the major places I would like that to be done. I think our secondary is just fine but we don't get any run stoppage or pressure up front. Find replacements for Bush/Peprah in late rounds and I'm fine. Those guys are not NFL players.

I think Grant is an impact runner when healthy and with a few more lanes and Jackson is emerging. I could live with a can't-miss runner or WR/TE but I think we have a decent amount of impact there.

You all know that I have always given TT a pass for his style because it was really working from the day he walked in here. That said, I am never opposed to grabbing an impact free agent. This year might be a blessing in disguise. Rodgers will now have the experience, TT will have some urgency in the FA market, and we had better draft for impact. Hopefully all the teams on our schedule from the NFC West and AFC North are beatable. That hasn't held true recently in the NFL but hopefully it does.

TT needs to take a few stabs in free agency. Maybe we win the Peppers/Haynesworth sweepstakes and our defense is instantly changed. Like I said, I'm fine with our current set of DBs but if we can pry away Nnamdi Asomugha and trade Harris for a 2nd or so, I'd love it. Burying a solid CB like Tramon Williams/Harris as our 4th would be amazing depth, but I'm not sure it would be worth it.

I wouldn't mind an offseason of Haynesworth, Sproles, Meluga. Run a 3-4 with Kampmann and Jenkins as fairly ideal DEs or maybe we get Peppers instead of Haynesworth. Either way, a Peppers/Jenkins/Kampmann rotation for the 2 DEs or a Haynesworth/Pickett/Jolly rotation at DT would be great. If we get Haynesworth, the 4-3 isn't a bad idea. Poppinga is a decent DE/LB that you could run in a 3-4 and maybe try to steal Cushing by trading into the late 1st/early 2nd. Take some shots on athletic guys on the first day and try to grab those impact outside guys you need to run the 3-4. I would feel confident with Meluga/Barnett/Hawk rotating as your middle guys if you got some stellar outside rushers/containers.

I think TT did a great job at getting a solid, young core but missed out on the impact that lot of you naysayers accuse him of. That said, this doesn't seem to be our year so maybe the increased urgency and decent draft position may be a blessing in disguise.

[El Duderino]

You all know that I have always given TT a pass for his style because it was really working from the day he walked in here. That said, I am never opposed to grabbing an impact free agent. This year might be a blessing in disguise. Rodgers will now have the experience, TT will have some urgency in the FA market, and we had better draft for impact. Hopefully all the teams on our schedule from the NFC West and AFC North are beatable. That hasn't held true recently in the NFL but hopefully it does.

TT needs to take a few stabs in free agency. Maybe we win the Peppers/Haynesworth sweepstakes and our defense is instantly changed.

I could see Ted being a bit more active in free agency this offseason, but i wouldn't hold out any hopes for an impact guy like a Peppers/Haynesworth. Even if those guys did hit free agency, those are the type of elite players that would get signed right away for massive money by a very aggressive GM, that just doesn't strike me as Thompson's style. Remember that when he signed Woodson, it was late in the free agency process. For the most part in each free agency period, the top few free agents get signed quickly and for blow the doors off money so that player won't go shopping around his services to other teams. I wouldn't doubt that if a talent like Peppers/Haynesworth hit the open market, some team will throw out 30 million or more in up front cash so that guy will sign right away. Ted's not going to do that and he probably shouldn't, even though i'd obviously love an impact player added.