[sinatra]

Per JSO Blog:

McCarthy: "No substitute for experience and Clifton and Tauscher have it."

Really? Does this team really believe that? Because it hasn't in any way been manifest in the way this team has been built. In fact, experience seems to be one of the most absolutely disregarded facets of personnel decisions for this organization.

[ricky]

Sure, but Woodson, Harris, Kampman, and Pickett were all on the field Sunday afternoon. The two veteran linemen whose experience he was extolling never set foot inside the sidelines until it was time to congratulate the Vikings on their victory. The way I read his remark it sounds like a contradiction; because if their experience is so irreplaceable, why weren't they playing?

Tauscher is still recovering from a really bad knee injury; Clifton is also recovering from an injury. Yes, experience is great- as long as the "experienced" stay healthy. Once you've been in the NFL plus-ten years, it takes longer to recover, and injuries are more likely. Its like "dog years"- an alleged seven for every human year.

Whatever context MM made this comment, it seems there is a "CYA" attitude being developed by MM. He has to know that tempers- and tenure- is getting shorter and shorter. Isn't next year his contract year? Players usually perform better so they can get a big contract. MM had better perform (assuming he's still the Packers HC), or he will be finding himself on the outside, looking in.

[grabthar]

Tauscher is still recovering from a really bad knee injury; Clifton is also recovering from an injury. Yes, experience is great- as long as the "experienced" stay healthy. Once you've been in the NFL plus-ten years, it takes longer to recover, and injuries are more likely. Its like "dog years"- an alleged seven for every human year.

Whatever context MM made this comment, it seems there is a "CYA" attitude being developed by MM. He has to know that tempers- and tenure- is getting shorter and shorter. Isn't next year his contract year? Players usually perform better so they can get a big contract. MM had better perform (assuming he's still the Packers HC), or he will be finding himself on the outside, looking in.

McCarthy was just extended 4 years last year, so him and Thompson both have 3 years left on their contract after this year. Because of that, I don't think either of them will be going anywhere this off season unless they lose the rest of their games and finish 5-11 or worse.

[JimATX]

if their experience is so irreplaceable, why weren't they playing?

They weren't healthy enough and were only active as injury back-ups?

[JimATX]

Whatever context MM made this comment,

Here is the context of the comment.

Obviously Tauscher and Clifton wouldn't solve everything, but how much value is there in their experience?)
No substitute for experience, and Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton have a ton of it. You see that just in the practice today, just some of the things that they do. Anytime you add experience to your group, it's definitely a benefit.

Question asked and answered...