We all followed closely the Brett Favre vs. Ted Thompson saga over the offseason.  What we should have been paying closer attention to was the depth on the offensive and defensive lines.  Last year, the offensive line was a work in progress at best and the defensive line, after Johnny Jolly and Cullen Jenkins were hampered due to injury, didn’t prove to be nearly as effective. In the offseason, while we were all watching Brett hem and haw about his comeback, we should have been wondering more outloud as to why the trenches weren’t addressed more fully.  The only real move on either front was the trade of Corey Williams to the Cleveland Browns thus lessening the depth on the defensive front.

After watching both lines closely the last few weeks you can’t help but wonder why Thompson refused to go after any free agents in the offseason.  You can clearly see that Chad Clifton is past his prime and doesn’t “sell out” any longer in the zone blocking scheme.  It’s as if he doesn’t really believe in it and therefore picks and chooses his spots to attempt to be effective.  College, Spitz and Moll were clearly overestimations of talent.  That leaves Mark Tauscher and Scotty Wells.  Tauscher’s still effective and gives you everything he has but he’s aging as well while Wells, for a 7^th rounder who wasn’t supposed to make the team, he’s exceeded expectations.
If I’m an opposing offensive coordinator, I’m double teaming Kampman and running the ball anywhere I darn well please.  Pickett is beef inside but no where near as effective as he was last year.  Jolly is a hustler but he’s not going to pressure the quarterback on a consistent basis.  KGB….WHO?  Michael Montgomery is not the answer and Jeremy Thompson is no where near ready to be a starter in the NFL.  By the way, what’s happened to Nick Barnett?  After a sold start against Minnesota , he’s been on the MIA list.  Right now, he can’t shed a block to save his life.  AJ Hawk you can give, somewhat, of a pass to since he’s been playing injured with a pectoral muscle strain and a sprained ankle.  Throw into the mix Al Harri’s ruptured spleen, Atari Bigby with a hamstring, Aaron Rouse, Charles Woodson, the defensive depth has certainly been tested and has failed miserably so far.
It takes 3 things to be effective in the NFL; you have to be good, you have to be lucky and you have to be healthy. Over the last couple of years, the Packers have been all three.  This year, their luck and health has gone almost hand in hand and it’s been on the negative side for the Packers.  It seems that this is Green Bay ’s year to bite the bullet with injuries and rethink the depth issues along with shedding the mountain of cash they’re sitting on and delve into the free agent market in the offseason.  I know it’s something that Ted Thompson doesn’t like to do but he’s going to have to overpay some key free agents to sure up the gaps in the Packers deficient areas of concern.  Draft day acquisitions aren’t going to help in the immediate future.