Truth be [...]]]> The first part of our look at the defensive battles – part three of our series in all, if you’re keeping score – focused solely on the secondary. Makes sense as it’s the one glaring area of concern on this team as it prepares to begin camp in just one day – holy @$*#!

Truth be told, upon further review, there aren’t many more position battles on the defense that I can see (at least as of now). The eight linebackers appear to be in place, as do at least six defensive linemen. Injuries and/or a push from one of the undrafted free agents could change that, but we’ll have to wait a minute to see how those things develop.

(And don’t ask me who I think will win the punting battle, because I have absolutely no idea. I hope it’s the Australian guy, because that’d be kind of cool. Other than that? I got nothing, Jerry.)

That being the case, I’ve decided to look at the last glaring question regarding the defense: Will Justin Harrell make the roster this season?

I’m not going to waste any time talking about his past. We all know the story there. And I’m not going to link to the now-infamous draft day freakout video. Go to YouTube if you want to see it.

Instead, let’s update where we stand: Head coach Mike McCarthy said during the minicamps/OTAs that the team truly believes Harrell is past his gruesome back problems, problems that have wrecked his career thus far. He hasn’t undergone any additional surgeries since the last one, which is extremely positive. He even saw the field a bit during the minicamps/OTAs, from the sounds of it.

But if it feels like you’ve seen this movie before, it’s because, well, you have.

We’ve heard roughly 8,000,000 different, “No, really, his back’s better now!” speeches from McCarthy and Ted Thompson during Harrell’s three-plus years in the league. At some point, I tuned it out, tossing all those speeches into the ol’ “Spam” folder. It’s not that I don’t want to believe it – or that I don’t want Harrell to finally deliver on the promise that made him a first round pick all those moons ago, because I do.

But I also know it’s always just a matter of time before the back flares up and he’s heading to the I.R. Taking what essentially amounts to a flyer on Harrell makes sense with Johnny Jolly in the fold. But with Jolly done for the year, the team is looking thin at the position heading into camp. Thompson and McCarthy could gamble on Harrell staying healthy and playing well – again, the talent is there if he’s healthy – but by doing so, they could miss out on snagging a more reliable option, either via roster cuts or the trade route (the preferred option, if you’re asking me).

And if – or maybe when – the back flares up and he’s done for the year (yet again), even more pressure will be placed on a pair of rookies (Mike Neal and C.J. Wilson) and a second-year player (Jarius Wynn) who did nothing in year one. If those guys can’t get it done, that could spell doom as there is simply no way Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji and Cullen Jenkins can be effective for an entire season playing the bulk of the snaps.

Remember, the defensive line is every bit the engine on that side of the ball as the offensive line is on theirs. I’m not saying Harrell can wreck that engine singlehandedly. But by choosing him over the possibility of someone who can actually, you know, stay healthy, McCarthy and Thompson are not taking the most calculated of risks.

In the end, I’d say that Harrell sticks, if only because McCarthy and Thompson appear to be hellbent on seeing him achieve some level of success. I’m just not so sure I agree with such a decision.

I hope I’m wrong.

-Chris Lempesis

It’s time to shine the spotlight on the tough guys – the defenders.

The Packers have a couple of major battles going on with their defense – none bigger than one in the secondary. And it’s there that we begin part three of our series:

Strong safety

Type of battle: Starting [...]]]> Enough about the pretty boys on the offense.

It’s time to shine the spotlight on the tough guys – the defenders.

The Packers have a couple of major battles going on with their defense – none bigger than one in the secondary. And it’s there that we begin part three of our series:

Strong safety

Type of battle: Starting spot

Combatants: Atari Bigby (28 years old, 5-feet, 11-inches, 213 pounds, fifth year) and Morgan Burnett (21 years old, 6-feet, 1-inch, 209 pounds, rookie)

Thoughts: This and the Daryn Colledge/Jason Spitz left guard battle are the two biggest competitions to watch in camp. The only difference here is that one player is an experienced vet, while the other has yet to play a single NFL down.

While not an outstanding player, Bigby – who finally signed his one-year RFA tender Tuesday – is solid in certain facets of his game. He’s normally pretty good against the run and has the potential to make big plays in pass coverage. There are two major drawbacks to Bigby’s game, however: his tendency to get caught flat-footed in coverage and his inability to stay healthy. These have caused him to be simply an average player since his breakout 2007 season. At some point, you wonder how high a player’s ceiling really is; we’re nearing that point with Bigby.

If you read this site regularly – and I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t – you know how much I like Burnett. Even before the Pack traded up in round three to get him, I felt he was a great fit for this defense, due to his natural playmaking skills and knack for coming up with the big turnover. He showcased many of those skills in the minicamps/OTAs, working with the No. 1 defense in place of Bigby. That’s invaluable experience heading into camp. He’s also capable of delivering some big hits (just like Bigby). One thing that he’ll need to correct is his tendency to gamble and reach for the big play when it isn’t there. Still, of all the rookies on this team, he’s the one I’m most excited to see.

Early Edge: Burnett. A rookie? Yes, he is. But his feet are already at least sort of wet. That, combined with an advantage in talent, gives him the nod over Bigby, a player who sat out the entire offseason in a miscalculated attempt to get a long-term deal.

Cornerback

Type of battle: Starting nickel and dime back spots

Combatants: Pat Lee (26 years old, 6-feet, 196 pounds, third year), Brandon “Crusin’ Chubbies” Underwood (24 years old, 6-feet, 1-inch, 191 pounds, second year), Will Blackmon (25 years old, 6-feet, 210 pounds, fifth year), Josh Bell (25 years old, 5-feet, 11-inches, 177 pounds, third year) and Jarrett Bush (26 years old, 6-feet, 200 pounds, fifth year)

Thoughts: First thing’s first: Al Harris will be placed on the PUP list. I’m sure of that. With the severity of his injury – plus his age and the fact that the team plays no real high-powered passing attacks over its first six games – it’s truly the best decision. That doesn’t mean Harris can’t regain his old form, because he certainly can (and should).

But, if that’s the case, that leaves openings for the nickel and dime corner spots. The Packers certainly don’t have a lack of candidates, that’s for sure.

It’s been a tough first two seasons for Lee. Various injuries have limited him to just five regular season games. Granted, it can be hard to project things based on training camp practices/preseason games, but Lee did show some signs of ability there. The biggest thing Lee needs to show – outside of staying healthy, of course - is that he’s able to fit in with the 3-4 scheme, one that employs both man-to-man and zone coverage. Remember, Lee was drafted in the second round in ‘08 as a bump-and-run specialist.

Mr. Chubbies himself, Underwood, has had just about the most up-and-down offseason imaginable. The ups came first as head coach Mike McCarthy couldn’t say enough good things about the progression Underwood made during the minicamps/OTAs. Underwood – who had to transfer to Cincinnati from Ohio State due to academic issues/missing team meetings – then flashed his immaturity in astoundingly stupid fashion (see: the Wisconsin Dells incident). How much has that incident altered Underwood in the coaches eyes?

While he’s listed as a safety on the team’s roster, it sounds like Blackmon will be a corner/safety hybrid this season, able to provide depth at multiple spots. That means he could be in the mix. Blackmon has flashed some ability at the position (he’s also a dangerous return man), but has also struggled with injuries. In fact, that’s an understatement; he’s missed 31 out of a possible 64 regular season games since entering the league. This is a make-or-break season for him. If he wants to continue in the league, he’s got to avoid injuries.

Very little is known about Bell’s abilities. After all, he played in only four games for the Packers last season, recording just three tackles (he also got beat on Nasty Ben’s last-second touchdown pass in the Pittsburgh game). But he’s stuck around this long, so the team must like him a least a little bit, right?

Last, and certainly least, we come to corner/safety/bain of my existence Bush. Once again I was certain he wouldn’t last until camp…and once again I am disappointed. Bush brings a whole lot of nothing to the table (spare me the special teams stuff – he’s not that good there, either). I’m really pulling for Blackmon to make a mark as a hybrid player. If that happens, Bush is gone as the team has no need for two corner/safeties. Fingers are crossed.

Early edge: If there’s one area Ted Thompson may look to upgrade via a trade during camp, it’s here. But seeing as how I can’t predict that, I’ll go with Underwood as the nickel and Lee as the dime. Does Underwood need to grow up? Without question. Also unquestionable is his talent. If he builds on his strong offseason, he’s the most ready to take over the nickel spot. If Lee stays healthy – a massive “if”, I’ll admit – I think the dime job is his. The talent appears to be there. Blackmon could give him a run, but I think he will play the “sixth man” role for the secondary (an important role). Bell sticks as the sixth corner until Harris returns. Bush is cut. If I’m wrong on EVERYTHING else, please let me be right on this.

That’s all for part three. The final part of our series will be up Friday.

Anyone else getting excited for this thing to finally tee off?

-Chris Lempesis

We’ll let the skill position players get their due this time around, though, as we make them the focus of part two.

Not bad for a short intro, huh?

Wide receiver

Type of battle: No. 3 receiver spot

Combatants: James Jones (26 years old, 6-feet, 1-inch, 208 [...]]]> We went a different way with part one, focusing on the offensive line first.

We’ll let the skill position players get their due this time around, though, as we make them the focus of part two.

Not bad for a short intro, huh?

Wide receiver

Type of battle: No. 3 receiver spot

Combatants: James Jones (26 years old, 6-feet, 1-inch, 208 pounds, fourth year) and Jordy Nelson (25 years old, 6-feet, 3-inches, 217 pounds, third year)

Thoughts: Consider this round two in the Jones v. Nelson battle. There was really no clear winner during training camp last year and, really, no player grabbed the job during the season, either.

Jones had a slightly better ‘09 season (32 catches, 440 yards, five touchdowns) than did Nelson (22 catches, 320 yards, two touchdowns while missing three games due to injury) but the job is still up for grabs (no pun intended). One of these players needs to come through this season; Donald Driver isn’t going to be around forever, after all.

Jones rebounded from an injury-plagued ‘08 campaign last year, playing in all 16 games. He’s still got a fairly high ceiling and can definitely make big plays. These things only happen occasionally, though. Sometimes, he disappears from games (or worse, can’t hang on to the ball). He needs to become a more refined product.

Nelson strikes me as the more consistent and polished of the two, though he also seems to lack Jones’ big-play abilities. He’s had an outstanding offseason, from the sound of it, as Aaron Rodgers was apparently looking for him more and more throughout the minicamps/OTAs. Nelson, like Jones, struggles with drops, however. That needs to be corrected – and fast.

Early edge: Jones. He’s got an extra year of experience on Nelson and, again, his ceiling appears to be just a bit higher. But Nelson as a No. 4 receiver is definitely a good problem to have.

Fullback

Type of battle: Roster spot

Combatants: Korey Hall (26 years old, 6-feet, 236 pounds, fourth year) and John Kuhn (27 years old, 6-feet, 250 pounds, fifth year)

Thoughts: Quinn Johnson is a lock to make the 53-man roster, in my mind. And since I just can’t fathom the idea of the team keeping three fullbacks yet again, I have to think one of these two isn’t making it to Philly for the season opener.

Hall struggled with injuries last season, only playing in 11 games. He’s not quite the run blocker Kuhn is, but he is a better pass-catching option.

Kuhn, again, is a better pure run blocker and even saw a handful of touches in the short-yardage run game last season. He’s not a bad pass catcher, but appears to be more of a pure fullback.

Early edge: Hall. With Johnson serving as the brute force hammer at the position, the team needs a pass-catcher to help round things out fully. Hall is better at that than is Kuhn, although he must avoid injury in camp. That would tilt things Kuhn’s way.

Tight end

Type of battle: Roster spot

Combatants: Donald Lee (29 years old, 6-feet, 4-inches, 248 pounds, eighth year) and Spencer Havner (27 years old, 6-feet, 3-inches, 250 pounds, second year)

Thoughts: Jermichael Finley is officially “the man” at the position and rookie Andrew Quarless has big-time upside, despite his off-the-field issues. He’s not going anywhere and I just do not see the team keeping four tight ends – Lord help me if I’m wrong.

Just one year ago, it would have seemed silly to say that Lee and Havner would be battling it out. But 365 days can serve as a lifetime in the NFL, thus leaving us where we currently are.

I’ve written this before many times, but Lee has just not been the same player since you-know-who left town. Rodgers has never really favored Lee. Even when he has, Lee has struggled with drops. These things come together to form a picture of a player who just doesn’t have the same confidence he once did. There’s also the little issue of his salary (due $2 million this season), an awfully high amount to pay a backup, potential Super Bowl run or not.

It has not been a good offseason for Havner (see: the crotch-rocket crash that occurred while he was allegedly under the influence). Still, his shoulder appears to be healed up and hopefully Havner can begin building on his solid 2009 season. Despite catching just seven balls in the regular season, four of them went for touchdowns (plus one in the playoff loss). Rodgers looks his way in the red zone, as opposed to, say, Lee (just one touchdown reception last season). Havner is also a special teams demon, something this team desperately needs.

Early edge: Havner. He’s a cheaper option who brings more to the table than does Lee. Lee is desperately in need of a change of scenery and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him traded for help elsewhere (d-line, corner or outside linebacker) before the regular season starts. 

That’s all for the offense. We’ll be back Thursday to take a look at the defense.

-Chris Lempesis

Some guys battle for spots on the depth chart. Others battle for spots on the roster. Either way, the battles are often friendly, yet extremely intense.

The 2010 Green Bay Packers will have a handful of such battles in training camp this year. [...]]]> One of the best parts of training camp involves the battles waged between teammates.

Some guys battle for spots on the depth chart. Others battle for spots on the roster. Either way, the battles are often friendly, yet extremely intense.

The 2010 Green Bay Packers will have a handful of such battles in training camp this year. And over the next couple of days, we’ll be highlighting those battles (and giving our thoughts as to who has the pre-camp edge).

Since the offense will be the driving force for this year’s team, it seems best to start there.

Quarterback and running back have been crossed off the list, however, as those positions seem to be fairly set (sorry, Kraig Lumpkin lovers, it’s true).

So, that said, let’s begin with the hogs up front on the offensive line where there are a couple of battles to be waged:

Left guard

Type of battle: Starting spot

Combatants: Daryn Colledge (28 years old, 6-feet, 4-inches, 308 pounds, fifth year) and Jason Spitz (27 years old, 6-feet, 3-inches, 318 pounds, fifth year)

Thoughts: Of all the battles in camp, this is one of the tops to keep an eye on. Colledge and Spitz, good friends off the field, are both at a crossroads, career-wise. Each has gone through numerous ups-and-downs over the past four years and it’s time for both to step up and prove they can be consistent NFL players.

Colledge’s ups-and-downs have been quite literal. In 2006 and 2008, he was definitely one of the team’s best o-linemen. In 2007 and 2009, however, he was flat-out terrible. It’s an even-numbered year – does that mean he’s going to experience another upswing? For Colledge, it’s less an issue of talent than it is an issue of techique and confidence. He’s still far sloppy at times, which leads to far too many penalties (or worse, him getting flat-out overpowered). His confidence seems to wane easily, as well. His disastrous time at left tackle in ‘09 seemed to ruin him for the year, even after he moved back to his more familiar left guard spot. In every area, he needs to be more sure of himself.

For Spitz, it’s an issue of staying healthy. His back injury, while apparently cleared up now, still causes concern (back injuries are never, ever, ever good and can linger for an entire career). Spitz is clearly a talent, though; remember, many were predicting him to be one of the breakout players on last year’s team. While the team seems intent on having five backups for five starters (i.e., no more shifting and sliding in the event of an injury), Spitz is still capable of playing both guard and center, which is always a plus. And he’s got that nasty demeanor, something the line still needs more of.

Early edge: Spitz. There are just too many issues with Colledge. Spitz’s back is, for now, healthy, and that – combined with an advantage in talent – gives him the nod. Colledge may be playing somewhere else before the season starts. T.J. Lang would then likely serve double duty as backup left guard/backup right tackle should that happen (he’s going to be the “sixth man” for the o-line this season).

Overall roster spot

Type of battle: Um…roster spot

Combatants: Allen Barbre (26 years old, 6-feet, 4-inches, 300 pounds, fourth year), Breno Giacomini (24 years old, 6-feet, 7-inches, 318 pounds, third year) and Evan Dietrich-Smith (24 years old, 6-feet, 2-inches, 308 pounds, second year)

Thoughts: In my mind, eight spots are already locked up on the o-line (Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher, Scott Wells, Josh Sitton, Bryan Bulaga, Lang, the winner of the Spitz/Colledge battle and Marshall Newhouse). I really believe the loser of the Spitz/Colledge battle could be traded, leaving three players to battle for two spots on the roster (no way this team keeps more than 10 o-linemen this year).

A season that began with so much promise ended with so much disappointment for Barbre. Handed the starting right tackle job in camp, Barbre had a very good preseason. Turns out, he wasn’t so good when the opposing d-linemen actually gave a you-know-what. Barbre was repeatedly wrecked in pass protection and, despite some promise as a run blocker, was benched when Tauscher returned mid-season. The team’s confidence in him appears to be as low as it’s ever been.

Giacomini is entering a crucial season. Blessed with tremendous size, he’s spent the past two seasons redshirting in order to get stronger and learn the right tackle position (remember, he converted from tight end to right tackle midway through his collegiate career). Allegedly, Giacomini has had a very good offseason and just might be coming into his own. If the light turns on, Lang will have competition for the “right tackle of the future” title.

We really don’t know that much about Dietrich-Smith, other than the fact that the coaches seem to like him. We do know that he can play center, though, and if the coaches really are intent on this “five backups for five players” philosophy – fingers crossed that they are – it makes sense to keep Dietrich-Smith around in the event Wells gets hurt.

Early edge: Giacomini and Dietrich-Smith. Giacomini’s intriguing upside, and the fact that he’s only in year three as opposed to year four, gives him an edge over Barbre. Dietrich-Smith can provide depth at two spots – center and guard – and fits in with the new philosophy. In the end, it just feels like the team’s ready to move on from Barbre.

I’ll be back Wednesday to close out the offensive battles.

-Chris Lempesis

Before this week’s over, it will begin.

The two-a-days. The position battles. The fights. The heat – my God, the heat.

No more guessing will be necessary. Okay, there will still be some guessing – but not as much. Before this week’s over, training camp for [...]]]> (Before we begin: Our “Friendly Fire” training camp battles series begins Tuesday.)

Before this week’s over, it will begin.

The two-a-days. The position battles. The fights. The heat – my God, the heat.

No more guessing will be necessary. Okay, there will still be some guessing – but not as much. Before this week’s over, training camp for the 2010 NFL season will officially get underway. We will finally start to get some answers regarding this year’s version of our beloved Green Bay Packers in what appears to be one of the most highly anticipated seasons in recent memory.

(I’ll give you a moment to let the chills subside.)

With today marking the start of training camp week, it seemed like a good time to tackle the question everyone has been asking, in one form or another, for roughly six months now: What kind of team will the 2010 Packers be?

It’s a topic Gene and I discussed at length in a recent phone conversation and one that will have to be addressed again before the start of the regular season. But, frankly, I couldn’t wait – I had to give my take now.

In short, this team’s going to be good. Strike that – really freakin’ good. Many have gone so far as to say the Pack will be in Dallas on February 6. As of now, I can’t argue with that standpoint that much. At the very least, they’ll have a major say in who makes it to the Taj MaJerry for Super Bowl XLV – that much seems certain.

To quote Judas himself: The pieces are in place.

While they will not live-or-die with it, the 2010 Packers will make their mark via the offense, a unit that already rivals those of the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts as one of the best in the league.

Aaron Rodgers is on the verge of top-five status as a quarterback. At his disposal? An extremely talented group of playmakers, one that’s still (for the most part) young and improving. The receivers need to be more consistent and this is the year that happens. It’s year five for Greg Jennings, year four for James Jones and year three for Jordy Nelson. This is the section of the career arc where wideouts solidify themselves and the Packers just happen to have three guys hitting that moment all at once. Oh yeah – Donald Driver, healthy knees and all, is still there too, ready to continue defying time.

Most quarterbacks would be more than satisfied with those four alone. Rodgers? He has more, in the form of an ultimate X-factor: Tight end Jermichael Finley. Much has been written about Finley finally growing up, both as a man and as a player, ready to take his place as an elite tight end. That’s happening this year. I’ve said it to anyone who would listen and now I’ll tell you: If he puts up 75-1050-12 this season, well, don’t be surprised.

Then there’s the forgotten man – running back Ryan Grant. Grant is dogged by many Packers fans. Hell, I’ve done it myself a time or two. But Grant turned a corner in the second half of 2009. He ran harder, more determined. That’s going to carry over. And Grant has never killed this team with fumbling – can’t say the same about the running back on the team that plays out my way, the only back with more yards than Grant since week eight of the 2007 season, by the way.

The 2009 Packers were, especially early in the year, brought down by poor offensive line play (and, boy, don’t the “experts” like to bang that hammer over and over, huh?). But none of these “experts” ever mention that the group improved dramatically in the second half. Tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher were brought back and each has at least one more run in them. Rookie Bryan Bulaga – seriously, how the hell did that guy fall to pick No. 23? - will provide crucial depth as he can seemingly play either tackle spot should one of them get hurt.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, our days of watching Daryn Colledge at tackle are over. And, finally, head coach Mike McCarthy seems intent on having five starters and five backups. No more sliding guys over should an injury occur. If the right tackle’s hurt, in goes the backup. Done and done. Hallelujah.

The majority of the question marks lie with the defense, which finished last season No. 2 in the league (No. 1 against the run) before being Upper Peninsula-tire fire torched in the wild card loss. The depth appears to be lacking in certain spots, I’ll admit, mainly at cornerback and outside linebacker. But overall, the confidence is high in that group.

Even without defensive end Johnny Jolly, the unit will continue to stop the run this season. That’s due to the talent and scheme, yes, but I’ve always believed that playing the run in the NFL is mostly about a mentality, a mindset, an imposing of your will. This particular set of Packers defenders finally gained that mindset last season. That won’t be lost.

A big reason for that is the presence of inside linebacker Nick Barnett. Some fans spent years dogging Barnett, underrating his skills. Well, we saw what happened when Barnett got hurt in 2008 – the defense just isn’t the same. He’s the guts of the operation there. And it never hurts to have the considerable guts of one B.J. Raji in front of you. Can’t wait to see how good Raji’s going to be once healthy for a full season.

If you want to score on this defense, you’ll have to do it through the air. That could happen, of course as, again, the corner group provides some cause for concern - especially when you factor in the possibility of Al Harris missing the first six weeks on the PUP list (a near-lock, in my mind). It’s impossible to know if one of the untested youngsters, Pat Lee or Brandon “Crusin’ Chubbies” Underwood, will be able to step up. Will Blackmon will be a corner/safety hybrid this season, so he’s another option if he stays healthy. But I won’t lie to you – we’re just going to have to hope here for now.

But all hope is not lost. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Charles Woodson, still plays corner for this team (talk about defying time). As does Tramon Williams. A top five corner tandem? I’d say so, wouldn’t you?

And the last line of defense? Nick Collins and either Morgan Burnett or Atari Bigby. Yeah, not bad at all. So, in other words, yes, you may be able to pass on this team somewhat. But don’t think you won’t get picked off a time or two, because you almost certainly will.

The pass rush also has some doubting. We all love Clay Matthews, but some are unsure of Brad Jones. I’m not one of those people. I think Jones will be fine. He struggled at times, but also showed many flashes…as a rookie seventh round pick. And there will be some mixing and matching at Jones’ spot, too, as the Packers will rely on their depth in order to target the right plays at the right times.

And it’s the guy doing the mixing and matching that, ultimately, gives me the most confidence in that group: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers.

After a wretched 2008, Capers lifted the defense to new heights in ‘09. He did so with a group of players he largely didn’t know, a group of players going through a scheme change. If he could get those types of results seemingly on the fly, imagine what he could do this season, with an entire offseason of fully knowing the talent at his disposal. In some ways, the defense could just be getting started, a scary thought for Green Bay’s opponents. And fear not: Capers learned his lessons about being too soft on experienced QBs last season. That won’t happen this time around – bank on that.

I won’t say much about the special teams; I did that Thursday. The group has to be better. It could be a major design flaw if it isn’t.

Alright, enough with the background stuff, let’s really answer the question: What kind of team will the 2010 Packers be?

Answer: They’re going to be a team that scores in bunches. That will put major pressure on the opposition to keep up. The run defense will ensure that opponents will not be able to turn games into grind-it-out, clock dragging affairs. So, in order to hang with this team, opponents will have to look to the passing game. And although there are some questions in the secondary, there are also some big-time playmakers who can kill you. Even if opponents have success throwing the ball and matching the team score-for-score, that won’t ensure victory. Remember, Nasty Ben threw for over 500 yards and still needed a last-second touchdown pass to beat the Pack last season.

Throw in a good veteran coach (McCarthy) who has officially seen every up-and-down a coach can see – and a coach that now has full confidence in his group of maturing youngsters - and you come away with a formula that, simply put, should work. Injuries can wreck such a formula, but those can never be predicted. It’s pointless to try.

But what isn’t pointless is the excitement you should feel as a fan of this team today. This year’s going to be a special one.

And before this week’s over, it will begin.

-Chris Lempesis

Still, they are not a team without flaws – no team is in the salary cap era.

Much has been written about the Pack’s seemingly biggest flaw – the pass defense – this offseason. But what are some [...]]]> Most Green Bay Packers fans are extremely high on the 2010 squad. You can include me in that group.

Still, they are not a team without flaws – no team is in the salary cap era.

Much has been written about the Pack’s seemingly biggest flaw – the pass defense – this offseason. But what are some other things that could bring the team down this year? With training camp just nine days away – again, holy crap – it seemed like a good time to take a closer look.

And, as usual, I’ll spare you the obvious “avoiding injuries to key players, particularly Aaron Rodgers” storyline. Folks who tap that storyline are just being lazy.

In no particular order:

• No one steps up to fill the void created by the Johnny Jolly 2010 Suspension Tour

On Monday, I wrote that the team still has plenty of options in terms of filling Mr. Purple Drank’s void. I haven’t changed my opinion on that, but if you’re talking worst-case scenarios for this team, an inability to replace Jolly is certainly one of them.

The starting trio of Cullen Jenkins/B.J. Raji/Ryan Pickett has the potential to be very, very good. But those three will simply not be enough to last an entire season, not to mention the postseason. Players must step up in order to form a rotation, especially when you factor in an injury-prone player like Jenkins.

If no one steps up, you can kiss any shot of repeating as the league’s No. 1 run defense goodbye. Players like Jolly and Pickett were crucial in tying up o-linemen and allowing the linebackers to get to the ballcarrier quickly. Not only that, but the pass rush/pass defense will be even worse, because a tired/ineffective line won’t be able to eat up blocks and allow the rushers to do their thing. And if they can’t, a seemingly thin corner group will be forced to cover longer than they are capable of.

The result of all that? More 300-plus yard passing games for opponents. Mike Neal, C.J. Wilson, Jarius Wynn and Justin Harrell – the time is now.

• Another season of poor special teams play

Am I serious, listing special teams second on this list? You bet I am.

Last season, the Packers were extremely lucky that their atrocious special teams play didn’t hurt them more than it did (and even then, it was a key factor in at least two losses, to Cincinnati and Tampa Bay).

In short, the group did nothing right. That can not happen again, especially when you factor in what appears to be a much tougher 2010 schedule. Two players, in particular, have got to be better: Mason Crosby and whomever wins the punter battle.

Green Bay’s offense should be lethal, but it can not be expected to hit paydirt every single time out. Sometimes, drives stall. If that happens within field goal range, Crosby has to come through. This is a make-or-break season for him, no question about it. I’m sick of the excuses (lack of confidence, a revolving door of holders, etc.). Just make the damn kicks.

And if the drive stalls out of field goal range, the punter has to come through. No more shanks or balls off the side of your foot. Even terrible offenses can put points up if they consistently start at their own 40. Pin them back. Give the defense a chance.

Oh, and if the return units could break one every now and then, that’d be nice too, considering that happened almost never last season.

In today’s NFL, there’s a Kate Moss-thin line between winning and losing. Special teams tilts than line much more than most fans care to admit.

• Mike McCarthy forgets what worked for the offense over the second half of 2009

I like McCarthy, as a coach. Really, I do. The way he kept this team together after the awful start last season was a rather impressive job of coaching.

A big key in that was his ability to change on the fly as a playcaller. He ditched the seven-step drops and went with a precise passing game which let the receivers get the ball in their hands quickly and rack up the YAC.

But I can’t shake this nagging feeling that he’s going to revert back to first-half-of-2009 form, that the seven-step drops and constant home run chasing will return. The offensive line appears to be solidified, which only furthers that nagging feeling.

“Hey, our line’s better now – let’s start heaving ‘em up there again!”

He needs to stick with what worked. If he doesn’t, Rodgers will go back to hanging on to the damn ball too long, which will lead to more punishment – bank on that.

• Confidence is nice, but it’s better to be hungry

The Packers were riding high coming out of the 2009 preseason. We all saw what happened next. The team was lazy, uninspired and just plain unprepared for what happened when the games counted.

And that happened after just a couple of months of everyone blowing smoke up their you-know-whats. Since, seemingly, mid-February, everyone’s been tabbing the 2010 Packers as a definite Super Bowl contender. Imagine the bad habits that can result after THAT long?

McCarthy and the rest of the coaching staff will have to doggedly guard against any overconfidence. Every season, the road is littered with the corpses of teams that were “destined for greatness” only to show nothing once the season started. In many ways, keeping this team hungry will be one of McCarthy’s toughest challenges to date as coach of this team.

You’d like to think these guys could do that on their own – after all, they were the ones that had to go through the players-only “Come to Jesus” meeting last November – but, in reality, that buck will stop with Mike Mac.

My intent here was not to harsh the collective vibe we feel about the team – again, it should be really, really good – but simply to point out some things to watch out for. 

What are some things you guys and gals think could bring the 2010 Packers down? Comment, baby, comment!

-Chris Lempesis

That was written in the context of discussing the Johnny Jolly 2010 Suspension Tour, but really, d-line isn’t the only area Thompson could look to sure up via [...]]]> Monday, I wrote about the idea of Ted Thompson trading a player from an area of relative strength in order to bolster the Green Bay Packers’ defensive line.

That was written in the context of discussing the Johnny Jolly 2010 Suspension Tour, but really, d-line isn’t the only area Thompson could look to sure up via trade at some point during camp.

While it seems unlikely, cornerback and outside linebacker are also areas Thompson could look to tighten up a bit before the season begins. The man hangs onto draft picks the way I grip beers, so trading a player already on the roster is the only route he’d take.

Who are some of the players he could look to move? Here are a few names to consider (and, no, I’m not including the loser of the three-man fullback derby – that’s just ridiculous):

1. Donald Lee, tight end – The selection of Andrew Quarless in the fifth round spoke volumes about Thompson’s feelings regarding the tight end position. Clearly, Jermichael Finley is the man there moving forward. And, for all his offseason stupidity, Spencer Havner is an emerging red zone threat and special teams demon. Those two aren’t going anywhere, meaning Thompson likely feels that Lee is becoming – or has already become – expendable. That makes sense. Lee’s got a big salary (due $2 million this year) for a backup and just has not been the same player since you-know-who left town. Quarless has upside and if he gets off to a good start in camp, Lee could very well become a player to move. Despite his struggles, he could still bring value in a player-for-player swap.
2. The loser of the Daryn Colledge/Jason Spitz left guard battle – Of all the battles to watch in camp, this should be the most hotly contested (more on that in the coming days). On the surface, it makes sense for Thompson to keep whomever loses the battle. Spitz has struggled with injuries and Colledge has been, well, Colledge, an extremely hot-and-cold player. Keeping the loser insures coverage. And both come fairly cheap in a capless season (each is due $1.759 million this season under their respective RFA tenders). But if Thompson feels the team needs help elsewhere, either player would be able to bring back value in a trade. Both have started for much of their careers and each player still has upside (and, again, both would come cheap). It’d be nice to keep both, but if the team is in dire need of help elsewhere, he’d have to consider moving one of these two.
3. Atari Bigby, strong safety – Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that trading Bigby seems far-fetched (and there’s still that little issue of him not having signed his tender yet). But hear me out. Morgan Burnett was one of the major stories of the OTAs/minicamps; in short, the guy was around the ball almost constantly, while working with the No. 1 defense. Bigby isn’t a bad player, but he is still very much living off his 2007 season. If Burnett is clearly the better player in camp – provided Bigby, you know, signs and shows up – isn’t it a waste to have such an expensive backup when you clearly need help elsewhere? Again, Bigby is a decent player and could bring help elsewhere. Doesn’t sound so crazy now, does it?
4. Desmond Bishop, inside linebacker – No, I’m not going to shamelessly mention my recent Twitter tussle with Bishop (oops, I guess I just did). The Packers already have a capable – and expensive – trio of players ahead of Bishop on the depth chart in Nick Barnett, Brandon Chillar and A.J. Hawk. Those three are firmly entrenched as the top guys at that position heading into the season. Bishop has shown flashes in previous preseasons/his limited regular season playing time, but he can’t seem to make the field on a regular basis. I don’t doubt that he’s got ability, but it seems unlikely that he’ll make the field in 2010 unless two of those three guys go down with injuries. That being the case, wouldn’t he be a perfect candidate to be moved for help elsewhere? I say yes. Similar to the situation at left guard, it’d be nice to keep all four, but sometimes, you don’t have that luxury, especially when you’re trying to make your team as deep as possible for a potential Super Bowl run.
5. Jarrett Bush, cornerback/safety/bain of my existence – Okay, okay, this one’s a joke. I doubt you could get more than a six-pack of Keystone Light back for Bush in a trade, but seriously, I’d do it. At least Keystone Light doesn’t get burned every…single…time.

-Chris Lempesis

It feels like I’ve been saying that a lot lately. That’s because, well, I have.

My reasons are, of course, legit. First it was vacay-time; then I got sick; and, finally, I’ve been out of town attending my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. I don’t forsee [...]]]> So it’s been a minute since I’ve last written for the site.

It feels like I’ve been saying that a lot lately. That’s because, well, I have.

My reasons are, of course, legit. First it was vacay-time; then I got sick; and, finally, I’ve been out of town attending my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. I don’t forsee any future delays, so we should be good to go from now until the start of training camp (just 12 days away – holy crap).

Again, we apologize for the overall lack of consistency with the posts lately.

So, with that said, let’s wrap-up the past handful of days’ activity surrounding the Green Bay Packers.

• Team releases financial numbers

Last Wednesday, the Packers released their financial numbers for the past fiscal year. As a publicly-owned team, they kind of have to. The numbers showed the team had a significant drop in overall profit, from $20.1 million for the 2009 fiscal year to $9.8 million for the 2010 fiscal year.

The team attributed the dip in overall profit to rising player salaries. Considering the fact that the Packers dished out roughly $80 million in new salaries over the offseason – combined with rising numbers for players like Aaron Rodgers – I’m not surprised. In short, it’s becoming more and more expensive to run a football team.

In order to survive, the team must create new ways to bring in bucks. The idea of hosting an annual Big Ten Championship football game would certainly help, as would adding more seats. I think it’s a lock that more seats will eventually be added, but I’m less sure on the Big Ten title game. It’s a great idea, but I have such little faith in those running college football. I’m sure they’ll figure out a way to screw it up.

The team seems committed to keeping ticket prices reasonable and I have a feeling that will continue. But don’t be surprised if there’s a slight rise in concession prices at some point in the near future. By charging a buck or two more for things, the team can bring in a lot more money. Ultimately, I have no problem with that.

Not surprisingly, the league and the NFLPA are making a big deal of the numbers. But the Packers numbers aren’t necessarily indicative of the rest of the league, so I’m not sure why. This team truly is unique in regards to almost everything – market size, fan interest, etc. - so both sides would be wise to avoid making the Packers an example of anything.

• What to do now that Jolly is gone

Gene wrote about the Jolly suspension Friday. Seeing as how I had zero internet access, I’m glad he did.

And even though it’s been a few days, I figured I’d weigh in quick. Obviously, Jolly’s absence is big. He’s a great fit for the 3-4 and had a really good season last year. I love how, when a player is suspended, everyone instantly downplays his importance. Don’t. Jolly would have been a crucial piece to the defense in 2010 and beyond.

That said, I have faith that someone will emerge out of the group of Mike Neal, C.J. Wilson, Jarius Wynn and – why not? – Justin Harrell. Actually, two players from that group will have to emerge for the line to avoid running out of gas come December. Well, there’s four options, so the odds are in Green Bay’s favor.

My best guess is that the team will use the first couple of weeks of camp to figure out if those two options are in-house. If not, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see Ted Thompson tap some of the team’s depth elsewhere in order to bolster the d-line. Tight end (Donald Lee), offensive line (Jason Spitz, Daryn Colledge) or safety (Atari Bigby) are all areas he could look to. 

Either way, the line should be alright, so don’t go panicking. You should still be every bit as high on this team as you were before Mr. Purple Drank got shelved for the year. I know I am.

• Team signs third-round pick Morgan Burnett

I’d just like to say this: See, Atari, safeties can sign contracts.

• I got to be on Cheesehead Radio…and here’s proof

Thursday, the fine folks at Cheesehead Radio had yours truly on as a guest. My LeBron/Judas article, the story of OBOD and, yes, my recent Twitter tussle with Desmond Bishop (who went on record to say he does NOT want to kill me, thank God) were all discussed.

Here’s the link. Sorry about my voice sounding so Lempesis-y. This is why I’m a writer. And thanks again to the CHTV folks for having me on. My Thursday nights are usually open, guys, so…you know, I’m just saying…hint, hint.

• Congrats to our contest winners!

Last week, we had our “Name That Packer” trivia contest here at OBOD.

Two lucky folks were able to answer correctly, winning themselves t-shirts from Sconnie.com.

Kathy Wutkowski nailed our first question after just one clue, correctly guessing Edgar Bennett.

We purposefully made our second question much, muuuuch harder to answer. After a day of misses, JonBob over at JonBobsPackBlog correctly guessed cornerback/safety/bain of EVERYONE’S existence Jarrett Bush.

Kathy will receive a “The Mighty Clay” shirt while JonBob will receive a “We’ll never forget you Brent” shirt. We’re working on getting those out to you guys as soon as we can.

Thanks to Adam for running the contest while I was away, and thanks again to the folks at BrentFavre.com for their assistance.

• Finally…

We’ll begin our “Friendly Fire” training camp series this week, with our “Know Your Enemy” series on the other NFC North teams soon to follow.

Actually, that’s all I had for that one.

-Chris Lempesis

Over the past couple of days, a flurry of pro-Desmond Bishop activity has taken place on Twitter. Most of the Tweets have been spin-offs [...]]]> (Before we begin, a reminder: Our mid-Summer trivia contest will begin later this morning as we reveal the first clue. Again, we will only do so via our Twitter and/or Facebook pages.)

Over the past couple of days, a flurry of pro-Desmond Bishop activity has taken place on Twitter. Most of the Tweets have been spin-offs of Chuck Norris facts and jokes (here’s a list if you’re unfamiliar). It was cute and somewhat entertaining.

Tuesday night, I decided to poke a little fun at the whole thing by Tweeting the following: “One thing @Desbishop55 can’t do: Get on the field. I’m not saying…I’m just saying.”

It really wasn’t meant to be a serious shot – I have nothing against Bishop - but rather a fun little jab at the whole on-going bit.

Within six minutes – that’s right, six minutes – Mr. Bishop responded: “Lololol I wud say f— you but go and get ur d—! Lolol good1 tho.. I ll make u eat that statement ”

Only he didn’t put dashes in where I did.

Of course, my first reaction was sheer terror. After all, I’m not the smartest guy on the planet, but even I know you just don’t go around upsetting NFL inside linebackers (back-up or not). I spend quite a bit of time in the Fox Cities area; I’d rather not be fearing for my life the entire time I am doing so.

So, in an effort to calm Mr. Bishop down, I quickly Tweeted back to him: “I hope you do, man. I hope you do. And, either way, please don’t kill me.”

I have not heard any response yet from Mr. Bishop. But, in the odd chance he’s reading this, I would like him to know that I never meant to offend him in any way. Believe me, I want him to get on the field and wreak havoc this season. If I’ve somehow, um, inspired him to do so, that’s great.

And if he kicks butt this year, I’m more than happy to eat my words. I want every Packer to have success – even you, Jarrett Bush.

Overall, I’m not too worried about my own personal safety. Besides, if anything happens to me, I’ve already instructed Aaron Nagler, Chris Jenkins, Jason Wilde and Phil Hanrahan to tell the world my story.

-Chris Lempesis

Before that, though, we’d like to play a little game with you guys and gals, the OBOD faithful.

Don’t like games? What if I told you there was a free t-shirt [...]]]> So, again, training camp is still a little ways off. And fear not – we’ll have a boatload of pre-camp coverage here at OBOD soon enough.

Before that, though, we’d like to play a little game with you guys and gals, the OBOD faithful.

Don’t like games? What if I told you there was a free t-shirt in it for you?

You’re interested now, aren’t ya?

We’ve teamed up with the fantastic folks at BrentFavre.com – “The Packers Blog Born From Treachery” – for a little mid-Summer trivia contest.

Before we get to the particulars, some words about BrentFavre.com. Its name is taken from you-know-who, but really, the site is about much, much more than that. Those guys offer more than enough about the current Green Bay Packers and they do it all with a nice mix of humor, insight and intelligence (and make sure to check out their interview with “Life After Favre” author Phil Hanrahan, one of OBOD’s favorites). They are definitely worth an add to your list of Packers blogs to visit daily. I mean, we’ve certainly added them to our blogroll, so why wouldn’t you?

Now, on to the contest.

Again, it’s a trivia contest: “Name that Packer.”

It will involve two players, one current and one former. The hints we give you will be, frankly, extremely vague at first. The longer the contest goes on, the more in-depth the hints will become. We won’t tell you which type of player will be first – it could be someone current or someone from the past. That’ll be up to you to figure out.

But if you are able to figure it out, you’ll receive a nice prize: A shirt from Sconnie Nation. The first winner will receive a “The Mighty Clay” shirt. The second winner will receive a “We’ll Never Forget You Brent” shirt. Once you win, we’ll contact you to get your shirt size and other information. And you also get a mention on our site…so you’ll have that going for you, which is nice.

Oh yeah, there’s one more catch – we’re only giving the hints via our Facebook and Twitter pages. So if you want to get in on it, you’ll have to add us there. Sorry, there’s just no other way.

The first hint will be revealed Wednesday morning, with subsequent hints going up throughout the day (if necessary). If no one gets it correct Wednesday, we’ll just keep going until we get a winner.

Everyone ready?

-Chris Lempesis, Adam Somers and Gene Bosling