26 Mar 2012

In Ted we trust... (author unknown)

I've liked Ted Thompson, as a GM, since the day he was hired.  I think many people consider his Packers tenure as successful.  However, some may also consider his lack of UFA fishing over the years to be a negative...but I don't.  Michael Hunt made some interesting comments WRT Ted's philosophy.

I find it hard to criticize Ted...Draft well, resign your own, and pay your own stars...he's definitely been successful...  He doesn't manage the Cap but has a Cap Guru do it for him (like Ron Wolf did); the Guru's been doing a pretty good job too (IMO)...they've got room to pay their own and play in round two of the NFL's FA period.

• Signing Jeff Saturday could be a huge pay-off but we'll see...regardless, Saturday was the best available option at the time.  (I do not fault TT for not paying Scott Wells like St. Louis did)
• I'm really intrigued by the Daniel Muir signing--could be high pay-off/low-risk ($$)
• Dave Tollefson is visiting the Packers in two days (on Thurs); I'd love to see him signed!
• Anthony Hargrove has been tweeting he's going to Green Bay...

Cap Management

• I'm not exactly sure how much cap room the Packers have this hour but I think they're ~$3M (or more) under and could do some restructures for additional room.
• They have to think about future contracts...here's a few Packers' in contract years:
• Greg Jennings and T.J. Lang (UFAs)
• Several RFAs (e.g., Shields, Zombo, & Crabtree)
• What players are in for healthy contract extensions?...IDK...but I won't be shocked if it isn't GJ.
• The SOONER they extend Aaron & Clay the BETTER.

Twelve draft picks for Ted to play with...he's going to have fun!  I'll let the draftniks debate how he should/will do it.

Musings...21 Dec 2011

Excerpt from the following @JSOnline:

"The Packers would love for Clifton to swoop in and save the day. He has missed nine straight games. McCarthy said the team is confident the hamstring he injured at Atlanta on Oct. 9 is healed. The concern is his ailing back.

Clifton's replacement, Newhouse, continues to ride a season's worth of highs and lows. Philbin said Newhouse wasn't fully responsible for the sack and fumble on Rodgers in the first half. Rodgers held onto the ball a tad longer. And as Philbin put, it's not like Chiefs' 275-pound bull rusher, Hali "took Marshall to school every play." Still, Sunday was certainly another step back.

More than anything, coaches just want to field a full, healthy offensive line."

• I think:
• If Bulaga is out it would be really nice if Clifton can play.  EDS is the weak link as a starter & gets bull-rushed too much...Dominguez has size advantage & maybe could play LG vice EDS.
• The Packers probably should've helped Newhouse w/ some chip-blocks...
• Ted always drafts OL and will get another guy in 2012 draft...

• The GB def PR is lacking big-time & there's no doubt in my mind Ted's main draft focus needs to be somebody that can get to the QB.
• The Pack misses Nick Collins & so do I...
• They also need Ryan Pickett!
• ---[]---
• Cobb has been a great addition...quite a dynamic runner in space.  Look fwd to seeing him get more offensive snaps & some looks/touches out of the backfield.
• Would like to see AR call for more moving pocket plays...love him in a roll-out pass option plus he's good going either direction.  BL: need to limit the blind-side hits...been too many.

1st loss in 2011 regular season...

I haven't blogged during the Packers 13-0 regular season run in 2011 but now they lost to KC in KC...NOT an epic fail, as some may think, but certainly a big downer from my perspective.  Oh well, things could be worse and things really aren't bad seeing they still are in the driver's seat WRT HFA during the playoffs.

AR wasn't really off per say; sure he had a few not so good decisions on sacks but he didn't get much help from the receivers either...WAY TOO MANY drops.  JMike again had most of the huge drops!...guess he only wants to be franchised vs getting the big contract?...sure has been playing like it in 2011.

The defense didn't get any turnovers and that surprised me...thought TW possibly had the best chance at an INT but there were a couple of other opportunities by the guys...no sacks by the defense.  Gave-up 19.

Regardless, I blame the offense for this loss.

Now it's time to start another win streak and win another (and consecutive) Super Bowl.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/113860874.html

One of the marks of cornerback play is interception total. Williams has nine, including three in the playoffs. Neither Revis nor Asomugha had an interception this season.

Revis and Asomugha were joined by New England's Devin McCourtyon the AFC Pro Bowl team. The NFC selections were the Packers'Charles Woodson, the Eagles' Asante Samuel and the Redskins'DeAngelo Hall.

"Tramon is catching balls over receivers that are 6-4, 6-5," nose tackleB.J. Raji said. "I mean, who's really doing that in this league? Not many."

First ever: Counting playoffs, Greg Jennings has played 80 games with 71 starts. The first lost fumble of his career came on the Packers' third play from scrimmage.

Jennings broke free in the middle, turning a short third and 13 pass into a 30-yard gain, before he was stripped from behind by linebackerStephen Nicholas. Cornerback Brent Grimes recovered.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/113860874.html

Asomugha would have to take similar $$$ that TW signed for...it's possible...I bet they could get Champ Bailey for that price.

GJ's first ever lost fumble...that sucks for him.  GJ will play his @$$ off vs the bearz...could have a monster game (two TDs).  

After further review...Pack still 48 & Atl 21

Box Score for the Receivers...

Receiving
	TAR	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
G. Jennings	10	8	101	12.6	0	30
J. Nelson	8	8	79	9.9	1	14
D. Driver	6	6	76	12.7	0	24
J. Jones	4	4	75	18.8	1	34
J. Kuhn	2	2	14	7.0	1	7
A. Quarless	2	2	14	7.0	0	8
B. Jackson	3	1	7	7.0	0	7
D. Lee	1	0	0	0	0	0

Wow, those are some pretty good stats/production with the ball.  Only two missed targets by the WRs & GJ's fumble is the only black-mark.  I love Kuhn as a receiver & think that's where he's most dangerous.  B.Jack was a nonentity...

Rushing
	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
J. Starks	25	66	2.6	0	13
B. Jackson	1	13	13.0	0	13
A. Rodgers	2	13	6.5	1	7
J. Kuhn	2	5	2.5	1	4
M. Flynn	1	-1	-1.0	0	-1

Starks, with his 25 carries pounded at the [F]alcons...I though the run was very effective in general regardless of the lack of yardage statistics.

Passing
	COMP/ATT	YDS	TD	INT
A. Rodgers	31/36	366	3	0

I thought going in that AR needed to play great...but he far exceeded my expectations...WOW!  3TD passes and one rushing TD...out-freakin'-standing!  I'm not sure what McGinn grades AR (0-5 footballs) but I'd give AR a big 5!...my WR/TE grade is 4.5;  RBs: 4.5; OL: 4.5

The offense totally controlled this game...but the defense was stellar & TW's pick-6 was a back-breaker.

On defense: the DL was very active & disruptive.  Raji, in particular, made his presence felt...dominating performance.  DL grade: 4

The LBs were very active & disruptive...especially CM3's domination.  LB grade 4.5

The DBs were outstanding in general, specific kudos to (obviously) TW...and of course CW was a play-maker in the box & contributed in coverage and shutting down Gonzo (non-factor).  DBs grade 5

My handwritten game notes/thoughts

• Mutha F... GJ fumbles after a big catch...(F)alcons cash in for a TD drive; 0-7 Atl
• AR to Jordy combo looks v.good as the Pack evens the score w/ #87 TD catch
• WTF is up with the ST coverage unit?!...7-14 Atl
• B.J. Raji @ FB w/ #45 to his right & #30 @ TB....PURE POWER!
• Sack by CW, loss to 27 yd line, 3rd & 21...INT, Tramon Williams ends threat!
• Great catch by #89 J.Jones for the TD
• ...and Tramon Williams with a ~70yd pick-6 with seconds remaining in 1st half...icing on the cake!
• AR runs for TD!...Pack 35-14 [8:28 left in 3Q]
• Yet another long drive results in yet another TD [by Kuhn] 42-14 GB
• 14:21 remaining in game; GB 42 Atl 21 [time to kill the clock]
• Final score Packers 48 [F]alcons 21

nationalfootballpost.com 1/15/11 tweet

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Opportunity-knocked-Tramon-answered-9736.html

Note: Part 2 of the CBA series is coming soon; I wanted to comment on a contract extension from yesterday for a player I knew and admired at the Packers.

It certainly came as no surprise that the Green Bay Packers came to terms on a four-year extension with cornerback Tramon Williams this week. Williams was five games away from being an unrestricted free agent at a high impact position in a year where -- if there is a new Collective Bargaining Agreement -- many teams may be coming out of their spending hibernation.

This guy can play!

Williams arrived in Green Bay to sign with our practice squad after being released by the Texans almost exactly four years ago today, on November 29, 2006. I remember hearing about him from our scouts soon after his arrival: he was smooth, had good ball skills, great rotation in his hips, and simply “This guy can play!”

Yes, TW can play, no doubt about it!  "he was smooth" is very representational of my perception WRT Tramon Williams' play for at least a couple of seasons now...and undrafted FA / street FA...wow!

When players came in to sign their contracts, even those on the practice squad, I would always notice demeanor. Many players come in with some anger or entitlement, especially after being released by another team. Tramon was grateful to the Texans for the opportunity and humbled to be a part of the Packers, even as a practice squad player.

And Williams developed as a player as well. The more the players and coaches were around him the more they liked him as a player and person. And when preparation met opportunity with the injury to starter Al Harris last year, Williams had a chance to be a full time starter. He has taken full advantage of the opportunity and excelled in that role to the point of being mentioned as a Pro Bowler this year and allowing the Packers to release longtime fixture Harris.

Al Harris finished the 2010 season on Miami's IR...not sure I believe everything I read on this transaction either...I believe TT was up-front w/ Al...and maybe Al was being a little unrealistic w/ himself.

The Packers had to act with Williams before he hit an open market in March -- assuming there is a market in March -- that would have paid Williams far more money than the Packers would pay, and more than he is getting now. Williams' leverage point was about to skyrocket, but he chose the security and comfort of the team that gave him a chance as opposed to seeing what would be behind Door #2 in March.

CBA coming?

Despite all the talk about deals not getting done due to the impending labor uncertainty, this was a deal that was going to get done and was in the works for a while.

And it comes from the only NFL team required to "show its books", as the Packers are public, during a time when the NFLPA has been unsuccessfully requesting/demanding/crying that all NFL teams open their financial statements to them. Also, the message from the Packers financial report, echoed by NFL officials, is that player costs are outpacing team revenues in a way that is not sustainable.

Despite those comments, the Packers have extended Charles Woodson's contract, with $33 million through 2012, and now that of Tramon's. It is interesting to note that despite most teams' talk of labor uncertainty preventing action on the player contract front, Packers CEO Mark Murphy has been sitting in on many negotiation sessions with the union and (presumably) authorized the Packers to spend these tens of millions of dollars despite the labor uncertainty. A sign of progress on the CBA? Perhaps.

Number high, but could have been much higher

His deal is strong but, as noted above, not as strong as it could have been as a free agent. Williams will make an additional $11.1 million this year: $6 million in bonus and $5.1 million in additional salary. He'll make $3.5 in bonuses and salary in 2011 and $5.1 million in bonuses and salary in 2012, giving him approximately $20 million in new money over the next two-plus years. The deal also provides approximately $18 million in 2013 and 2014, although I give little credence to non-guaranteed numbers beyond 2012 at this point.

And as all Packer veteran contracts have been structured for many years, the deal contains (1) very little Cap acceleration should the Packers terminate Williams -- his contract, not him -- after 2011; (2) large per-game roster bonuses each year (up to $300,000) for staying injury-free; and (3) large workout bonuses (averaging $250,000 per year) each year, starting in 2011, for participating in 85% of the team's offseason workout program.

The question for Williams and his agent -- also named Williams (Rodney) -- was whether to turn down over $20 million between now and the end of 2012 for a bigger deal – and it would have been a bigger deal -- in what they hope to be an active market in 2011. Their answer was to take what was in front of them rather than wait for what might have been.

Cinderella lives

Tramon Williams is a shining example of what can happen in the NFL to a player that no one wanted. Signed as an undrafted free agent by Houston and cut at the end of training camp, the Packers gave him a chance three months after that release to show what he could do on the practice squad. While most practice squad players wash out at the bottom of rosters after a year or two, Williams flourished. And he has made the Packers proud.

Congratulations to a true feel-good story named Tramon Williams. We need more like him.

Follow me on Twitter at adbrandt.