What to know: These guys can play defense. No team is going to run up and down the field on the Packers. The strength of the team looks like the defensive line, which is at least eight deep. Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins are a fine pair of defensive ends, and Ryan Pickett anchors the middle.
Jenkins is a rising star who plays the run and pass well. He moves inside on nickel downs so Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila can rush from the end position. The line will occupy blockers, allowing linebackers A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett to roam freely and make tackles sideline to sideline. Al Harris and Charles Woodson form one of football’s best cornerback duos, and Woodson appears revitalized.
The Packers are hoping young, talented Atari Bigby can pair with Nick Collins to solve their safety problems. The Packers also have made a concerted effort to improve on special teams, and they are counting on second-year man Will Blackmon to help them in the return game.
Who’s new: No one of consequence — hence, Brett Favre’s dissatisfaction. The Packers drafted defensive tackle Justin Harrell, who is off to a slow start. Third-round receiver James Jones looks like he might be a quicker contributor.
Favre was hoping for a dynamic offensive player like Randy Moss, but general manager Ted Thompson prefers to develop young players like Greg Jennings, who had an intriguing rookie season in 2006. The team lacks a legitimate deep threat.
Who’s gone: The Packers allowed Ahman Green to leave as a free agent, which wasn’t a bad move. But failing to replace him might have been. The team hoped Vernand Morency would step up, but he was injured on the first day of camp. That leaves second-round pick Brandon Jackson to carry the ball and the offense. Jackson hasn’t won the job on performance as much as by default. The team has concerns about his ability to pick up blitzers on passing downs. The Packers want to run a more conservative offense to reduce turnovers and complement their defense. That might not be easy with their personnel. Persuading Favre to take fewer chances with the ball might not be easy either. Injury-prone receiver Robert Ferguson was a surprise training-camp cut.
Outlook: The Packers won their final four games last season and hope to benefit from that momentum.
But their off-season was somewhat of a downer: They failed to acquire anyone to get excited about. With a questionable offense led by an aging Favre, Green Bay looks like a middle-of-the-road team despite a capable defense.
