For the second year in a row the Green Bays Packers bowed out of the playoffs in excruciating fashion. This time losing in overtime to the Arizona Cardinals despite another Aaron Rodgers hail mary at the gun. It is all too familiar for Packers’ fans as the Packers have won more than one playoff game in a season only once in head coach Mike McCarthy’s tenure.
It was a season of ups and downs for the Packers who just couldn’t seem to get on the same page all year. While the defense was a bright spot, when it was needed most it disappeared, much like last year in Seattle. And all season the offense couldn’t get going until they were behind and while they did win 11 games you never got the feeling they were playing at a level good enough to win a Super Bowl.
Now the question is how long is just getting to the playoffs good enough to maintain the status quo? When is it time to make major changes at either general manager, head coach, or both.
I think Thompson has to change or a change should be made. It is clear that other than one magical postseason run led by the league’s best quarterback, the draft and develop method can’t win Super Bowls on a regular basis. If you are only using one of three possible methods to improve your team you are not going to win the big one very often.
Thompson and McCarthy always talk about the standard being high in Green Bay, but really there is no pressure on them whatsoever. Keep getting to the playoffs, explain away another disappointing loss, offer promise of a new year, and all is well. Maybe it’s time team president Mark Murphy puts both on alert, Super Bowl or bust.
The areas to improve are plentiful. While the defense improved this year they still need linebackers galore. When a 36-year old linebacker is your leading sacker, you have problems. The Packers simply have to get Clay Matthews back outside where he can make more of an impact on the game. Having him be A.J. Hawk is not right. The secondary looks good with last year’s influx of talent so no worries there, in fact, they have the makings of one of the NFL’s best with Sam Shields, Demarious Randall, Quinten Rollins and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix leading the way. The defensive line is a different story. Mike Daniels played well but the others are all average at best. That is where I would start on defense.
On offense the Packers will be better simply because Jordy Nelson will be back, but they need to find a threat at tight end they can rely on. Had they had one this year they would have been much better equipped to withstand the loss of Nelson. By whatever means necessary Thompson needs to get this done.
Elsewhere, the Packers need to get Eddie Lacy in shape again. His 61-yard run against the Cardinals wasn’t the longest run in NFL history in yards, but it sure was in time. McCarthy said today he “cannot play at the weight he did this year”. The Packers need Lacy to be the lead dog, James Starks can’t carry that load.
The Packers may look stocked at receiver but James Jones, Jeff Janis and Jared Abbrederis are really question marks. Jones is old and Janis and Abbrederis haven’t proved anything in two years with the team. Janis is a great special teams player so he is probably a lock to make the team next year. I think Abbrederis will have to make the team in training camp and I think bringing in a free agent or drafting one or two is not out of the realm of possibility.
Finally, the Packers need to find real depth on the offensive line. They showed when healthy they can be good, but you can’t have the drastic dropoffs they had this year with guys in out of the lineup due to injuries. Thompson’s biggest mistake this year if you ask me.
As far as coaching, lots of questions there. What do they do with Tom Clements? Why is Edgar Bennett offensive coordinator? Why is there no wide receivers coach? Expect some changes there. Now that Jim Schwartz is off the market the Packers might as well keep Dom Capers another year.
It was a rocky road this year, some good, some bad. But it is time for Thompson and McCarthy to get this team over the hump. 2016 is going to be a pivotal year for this franchise.