Yeah, I'd say Thompson is doing a great job.
1. I think we can confidently say that winning the NFC North the last number of years wasn't all it was made to be. And if making the playoffs is the sign of a good coach then Sherman was great. I'm more concerned about winning the big games in the playoffs, Sherman has shown the ability to get out coached in every single one of those. As the Sports Guy says never bet on a Sherman coached Packer team in a big game. The Eagles game a few years ago never should have been decided by "4th and 26"
2. SF had no talent and traded away their starting QB and inserted a rookie who most analysts agrees was WAY over his head this season. MM was indeed the QB coach during what everyone would agree was one of Brett's worst seasons, but it was also the last time the players were given much more latitude than they should have been under then coach Rhodes. He was fired immediately after thant season because (Rhodes) of it. Wolf also liked MM then, but Sherman did not.
3. Ties into the first point. The NFC North offenses were an embarrassment all season and Cleveland and Baltimore were bad against about everyone but the Pack 8 games by itself). For that matter most of the season most teams were trying to run the clock out on them after getting big leads (not Bates' fault). Yes the defense was better, but it wasn't dominant by any means.
TT is taking a big chance, but IMO a necessary one.