Mondio, with all due respect, we do this a lot, and just go round and round on it.
You are 100% correct that free agency doesn't always work. But it's like an unfinished sentence, the rest of which would be 'but sometimes it does'.
Both sides can cherry pick to make their point. But look at the best defenses in the league.
Denver-Ware, Ward , Talib. Top players and key contributors, also big ticket free agents.
Seattle-Avril and Bennett, key contributors added in free agency.
New England isn't afraid to get guys like Revis, even on a rental basis. I could go on.
It comes back to the toolbox;
1) Draft
2) Free Agency
3) Trades
Any GM who doesn't employ all 3 at every opportunity is doing a grave disservice to his team.
All the Packers shortcomings will not be fixed in the draft. Not only that, if TT insists on only draft and develop, the team will likely take a step or two back in the near future. There are going to be a lot of key players on this roster coming up for free agency the next two off seasons. You won't be able to keep them all, and you won't be able to keep up with just the draft.
Maybe Davis is pretty much done, and wouldn't be a huge difference maker. But for years, he's been a big time weapon as a receiver. But here's what bothers me.
The TE position is a weakness here, and that weakness makes it easier for opponents to shut down your passing game. Now maybe Davis isn't what he used to be, but he's still vastly superior to any TE on this roster.
By all accounts, TT did not so much as make an inquiry about him. I don't believe he so much as considered going after him- although that's pure speculation on my part. Denver got him cheap. But like the other most successful teams in recent years- New England and Seattle- Denver isn't averse to using every tool in the toolbox.
Thompson's draft and develop philosophy is the right way to go; it's the best way to build and maintain a good team. But it is diminished when it is a stand alone strategy. As Captain Wimm points out, a lot of draft picks in recent years have been spent on the defensive side of the ball. Only an aging Peppers has been added through free agency in the last 10 years as a 'big time' signing. Yet we have what we have; a unit that gets horribly gashed too often and to a degree that is unacceptable for an NFL team.
Fire Capers? Well, we can talk about his faults- mostly perceived -all day. Maybe after all this time, Dom's way has gone stale. As far as his play calls in games and prep during the week, we have no idea. None of us is in meetings, on the practice field, in meetings, or knows what calls and why Dom makes in game.
Carl's challenge remains unanswered; what calls did he make that you have a problem with? What calls, and why in those situations?
Go ahead, fire Capers. It won't result in any significant improvement, if at all.
IMO, here are the biggest problems with this unit;
1) Overall, a lack of talent
2) Too much youth and inexperience on the field- at too many positions, in too many key situations, for too many plays. A product of stand alone strictly draft and develop.
3) Too many 'stupid' players, or more to the point, guys with low football IQ's.
Outside of the rookies, all of these guys have been here , and as a group, for at least 1 1/2 years of training camps, practices, meetings and games. And yet the number and degree of mental mistakes, blown coverages, and blown assignments (and as an aside, blown routes on offence) is appalling and inexcusable.
Bottom line, TT is going to have to step outside of his comfort zone and open the whole toolbox.
If he can't- or won't do this- then maybe he's gone stale and needs to be replaced.
