How the Packers look, position-by-position, on defense and special teams

Alright, enough about the pretty boys on offense.

For part two, we’re going to talk about the tough guys on defense (and, okay, special teams, too).

Defensive linemen (6)

Starters: Johnny Jolly, Ryan Pickett, Cullen Jenkins

Backups: Mike Montgomery, B.J. Raji, Jarius Wynn

There’s certainly a lot of talent here. They just have to show they can do what 3-4 lineman need to do (i.e., occupy blockers).

Entering a contract year, Jolly has been fantastic during camp. If the rotation is good, he’ll keep that up, just like he did in 2007. Jenkins has also been great coming back from his torn pectoral injury last season. He’ll do this season what he would have done last season had he not gotten hurt. Not much has been written about Pickett’s performance at NT, as far as I know, but Pickett has always gotten the job done and I doubt that changes.

The X-factor is Raji. He’s already shown he can be strong as a freakin’ bull and command double teams. If he can do that during games that count, the d-line will be more than set.

Montomgery doesn’t, and never has, done much for me and Wynn is a project so the main four need to be very good.

Linebackers (9)

Starters: Aaron Kampman, Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Brady Poppinga

Backups: Jeremy Thompson, Brandon Chillar, Desmond Bishop, Clay Matthews, Brad Jones

Questions abound as far as the starters are concerned.

Can Kampman make the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker? It sounds like he wasn’t too bad in the preseason but the jury is still out. Can Barnett come back from his knee injury and re-gain his outstanding 2007 form? Can Hawk finally become the playmaker the Packers thought he’d be when they drafted him fifth overall in 2006? Can Poppinga finally learn how to cover someone – anyone?

The real strength in this group is its depth. Thompson and Matthews both have big-time upsides and I have to think one of them will surpass Poppinga shortly into the season. Chillar is outstanding in coverage and had a great camp. Bishop also had a great camp and will be waiting in the wings if Barnett or Hawk can’t get it done. Jones is a project who likely won’t see the field much, outside of maybe special teams.

Cornerbacks (6)

Starters: Charles Woodson, Al Harris

Backups: Tramon Williams, Will Blackmon, Jarrett Bush, Brandon Underwood

Outside of wide receiver, this is the deepest group on the team and figures to be the strength of the defense, especially early on.

Woodson is a perfect fit for this scheme. He can cover better than 99 percent of the corners in the league and will wreak havoc as a blitzer. I had some questions regarding how well Harris would transition to being less of a bump-and-run corner, but it sounds like he’s been his typical outstanding self thus far.

Tramon Williams starts for more than half the teams in the league, so as a nickel back, he’s fantastic. Blackmon provides most of his value as a return man, but he improved as a corner as last season went on and I think that will continue. Bush, as readers of this site know, has never been a favorite of mine. But he does provide depth at both corner and safety and is very good on special teams. Underwood is a project who got torched in the preseason, so hopefully he doesn’t have to see the field in important situations.

Safeties (4)

Starters: Nick Collins, Atari Bigby

Backups: Aaron Rouse, Derrick Martin

Another group that has its share of question marks, for the most part.

Not with Collins, though. The new scheme can make stars out of playmaking safeties (see: Reed, Ed and Polamalu, Troy) and I expect it will do the same for Collins. We’ve only seen the beginning of what he can do.

Bigby is a different story. After battling injuries all last season, Bigby didn’t have a great preseason from the sounds of it. He needs to step it up and prove he’s not a flash-in-the-pan.

Same goes with the backups. Rouse has shown flashes, but has struggled with injuries and an inability to get on the field. The team kept him, despite his hamstring injury and the solid play of Anthony Smith, but you have to think this is a crucial year for him. Martin was acquired Saturday from Baltimore for Tony Moll. Martin is heading into his fourth year in the league but, outside of one year, he hasn’t gotten on the field much. Like Bush, he provides depth at both corner and safety.

Special Teams (3)

Kicker: Mason Crosby

Punter: Jeremy Kapinos

Long snapper: Brett Goode

A group with upside, but also some question marks.

While not a make-or-break year, 2009 is certainly very important for Crosby. He needs to show more consistency as he again struggled with that in camp. Yes, he’s got a big leg, but if you can’t hit the intermediate kicks, what good are you?

Kapinos won the job over Durant Brooks and only got better as camp went on. He needs to translate that into results in games that count, though.

Goode was, well, good as a long snapper last season. All I can say on that one is: Keep up the Goode work.

Thank you, thank you – I’ll be here all week. Make sure to tip your waitress.

-Chris Lempesis