We Should Win Some Games » Brats & Beer

July 26, 2007
posted under: Packers, Pre-season, Ted Thompson

Here on the cusp of the eve of the start of training camp is the most hopeful and optimistic place on Earth, because everything is possible and the potential for greatness is all around. Too bad the season has to get started soon and mess it all up.

Yesterday at the shareholders meeting, general manager Ted Thompson gave his state of the team address to the 11,000 fans at Lambeau Field, an address that amounted to a rundown of who is on the roster with a few quips and observations thrown in. Overall he painted a pretty rosy picture of the franchise, exactly the kind of optimistic view you would expect at this time of year.

TT told the crowd he thinks the team will show improvement in year two under the Mike McCarthy system, that individual players will be better prepared through the off-season conditioning programs, and the coaching staff will bring all those elements together on the field. My favorite quote from the address: “I think we’re going to be fine. We’re going to win some games.” Well, I certainly hope so.

But TT also took the opportunity to explain (again) and defend (again) his philosophy on building the team from the draft rather than by signing pricey and perhaps risky free agent prospects.

“We’ve always said the best way to build a team is to build it from within, because you have these players already,” Thompson said. “Just to turn guys over, over and over, every year doesn’t make sense. So what we’ve tried to do is improve our guys that we have, and we think that’s again going to add to our competition in training camp.”

To a point I’d agree that no team can build and sustain a winner purely through free agency — just take a look at the Washington Redskins — but at the same time history shows what an experienced impact player can do for a youthful organization. How far and how fast would the Holmgren era Packers have progressed without Reggie White dominating on defense?

TT passed on some prospects this year but if things work out we’ll all hail him to be genius; however, we’re getting into year three of the new regime, the stakes are getting higher, and the fans are going to start demanding some real improvement (as in playoff appearances and wins) very soon. I’m hoping he knows what he’s doing.