Morning Buzz: McCarthy tabbed one of the best
Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers and the NFL from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee, or brew some English breakfast tea if that’s your thing, or maybe you’re just not into caffeine. In that case, may I suggest a glass of orange juice? In any case, sit back and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.
We start with Pete Dougherty’s latest on Ted Thompson needing to bring his “A” game to this year’s player selection process, especially as it pertains to building his much-maligned defense.
The chances of the Green Bay Packers coming out of this offseason with what coach Mike McCarthy calls a “championship defense” are remote.
Based on the moves Ted Thompson has and mostly hasn’t made since March, the Packers' general manager would need a spectacular draft to make that happen. It’s just not realistic. Those come maybe once a generation.
So how about the chances of fielding a defense that can get enough to stops to beat a good team deep in the playoffs? For a Packers team that can win with offense, that’s less of a long shot. But it still will require some uncommonly good work in the NFL draft next week.
While fans may have visions of scouts and coaches “banging the table” for certain prospects when the Packers are on the clock, Michael Cohen writes on how calm things usually are when Ted Thompson is ready to make a selection.
Bob McGinn starts off his positional draft series by ranking the running backs. He also writes on how NFL teams are weighing the risks of drafting Joe Mixon.
I chatted with Packers fans after Ted Thompson’s pre-draft press conference over on our Facebook page.
Pete also chatted with fans yesterday afternoon, touching on a number of different Packers topics. You can read it all here.
I spoke with draft expert Chad Reuter of NFL.com for this week’s podcast, where we discussed the idea of “draft stock” and looked at his selections for the Packers in his latest mock draft:
Elsewhere, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports has some high praise for Mike McCarthy in his annual ranking of NFL head coaches:
There were some who wanted him fired the past two seasons. That was purely absurd. He has the second-best winning percentage (.651) of any active coach, behind Belichick. He has had double-digit victories in eight of his 11 seasons with the Packers , with only one losing season. He also has a Super Bowl win, but gets dinged some for his 10-8 playoff record. With Aaron Rodgers , some expect more. Maybe one more ring ends the debate.
Aaron Rodgers’ effusive praise of the team’s new tight ends has not gone unnoticed.
The team’s website paid tribute to Bill Anderson:
Zach Kruse proposes a trade for the Packers that he feels could solve multiple issues on defense:
Lions fans are already giddy at the thought of the Packers missing TJ Lang:
The NFL will release its regular season schedule this evening:
Cheesehead TV tries to predict the schedule. In an age where everyone and their cousin seems to have a mock draft, this is next level stuff.
Joe Callahan’s alma mater wished him well as he embarks on year two of his NFL career:
Aaron Rodgers took to Twitter Wednesday night and engaged in a war of words with a Shooter McGavin parody account. It’s funnier than it sounds.
The Power Sweep looks at what kind of wide receiver the Packers tend to target in the draft:
The NFL’s annual window for drug testing its players begins today: