What do you get the team that has everything: a franchise quarterback, one of the best young defensive players in the game, a Grade A coaching staff and reigning Super Bowl championship?
Well, if you’re going shopping for the Packers, don’t have to go much farther than their own locker room to find the best gift money can’t buy.
Give them a healthy Jermichael Finley, Morgan Burnett, Ryan Grant, Nick Barnett, Mike Neal, Brandon Chillar and Brad Jones, and they’ll be as content as a fantasy football player with the No. 1 overall pick.
In 2011, Green Bay will be adding the equivalent of five or six high draft choices, none more galvanizing than the ultra-talented Finley, who was on his way to a Pro Bowl season before tearing cartilage in his knee in Week 5.
Throw in Grant, a 1,200-yard rusher in 2009; Burnett, a third-round safety who won a starting job as a rookie; Neal, a brutish defensive end with inside pass rush ability; and linebackers Barnett, Chillar and Jones, and the Packers are better on paper than they were a year ago.
WHAT'S NEW
Offense: After 47 regular-season starts, Aaron Rodgers has more yards (12,394) and touchdowns (86) and fewer interceptions (31) than Favre, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers at that point in their careers. Coach Mike McCarthy would like to take some pressure off Rodgers with a better running game, especially given the two concussions he suffered last year.
Behind Rodgers, it’s James Starks’ world -- if he wants it. Starks revived a dormant running game at the end of last season with some timely runs and a knack for never losing yardage. Ideally for the Packers, Grant would come back and look more flexible and elusive than when he started the season last year. Don’t discount third-round pick Alex Green, who not only can step into the third-down role but can also take snaps away from Starks and Grant.
G.M. Ted Thompson moved to secure the team’s long-term future in the draft, using his top pick to select Mississippi State left tackle Derek Sherrod—the second year in a row he has used a first-round selection on an offensive tackle. Chad Clifton hung in well in his 11th season at left tackle, but he’s now 35 and could suffer a decline soon. The quick-footed Sherrod will learn from Clifton and, if necessary, step in for him or move to right tackle so 2010 first-round pick Bryan Bulaga can fill in on the left side.
Defense: Cullen Jenkins, the best pass-rusher of the bunch, could be lost to free agency and replacing him will be difficult, especially in nickel situations. Mike Neal is coming off a torn rotator cuff and has shown susceptibility to injury. End C.J. Wilson could be the wild card because he has the run-stopping ability to replace Jenkins or Howard Green and enough talent to increase his sack total from last season. An interesting prospect is athletic 2011 seventh-round pick Lawrence Guy.
The Packers have three returning starters in linebackers Clay Matthews, Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk, along with a bunch of guys hungry for playing time.
Charles Woodson is starting to show his age as a wide corner and needs to be in the slot, where he can use his outstanding tackling skills to press the run. Sam Shields’ presence allowed that to happen in 2010 and also guarantees the team has two young corners in place for at least three more seasons.
Bottom line: There probably isn’t a more talented team in the NFL than Green Bay, but as McCarthy has said before, talent doesn’t always win championships. Recapturing the chemistry of this team will be difficult because expectations will be enormous, egos will be in launch mode and many players will be thinking about getting paid. That’s the poison McCarthy has to keep out of his locker room if he’s going to have any chance of repeating as champion.
BREAKOUT CANDIDATE
James Starks, RB
Starks missed all of training camp and didn’t have a single carry his rookie season until Dec. 5. He wound up taking over the starting job in the playoffs and one can only wonder what he’ll do with a full training camp.
"I think it is clearly evident to everybody to see the player that he can be. What is exciting about him is that his best football is in front of him. He has all of the tools, the work ethic, the intelligence and the instincts to be an every down player." -- McCarthy
OPPONENT’S VIEW
(An anonymous opponent breaks down the Packers)
“They’ve got so many weapons on the perimeter with (Greg) Jennings and (Donald) Driver, those two guys can really cause some issues. (Coach) Mike McCarthy’s offense is going to be very multiple. You’re going to get personnel groupings where there are no running backs in the game and they have five wide receivers all the way to three running backs in the ballgame at one time. … Defensively, Clay Matthews, I think had arguably a defensive MVP-type season. It’s a very talented team.”
DEPTH CHART
QB: Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn
FB: John Kuhn, Quinn Johnson
RB: James Starks, Ryan Grant, Alex Green
LT: Chad Clifton, Derek Sherrod
LG: T.J. Lang, Marshall Newhouse
C: Scott Wells, Nick McDonald
RG: Josh Sitton, Caleb Schlauderaff
RT: Bryan Bulaga, T.J. Lang
TE: Jermichael Finley, Andrew Quarless, D.J. Williams
WR: Greg Jennings, Randall Cobb
WR: Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson
Defense
DE: Ryan Pickett, Jarius Wynn
NT: B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett
DE: Mike Neal, C.J. Wilson
OLB: Clay Matthews, Brad Jones
ILB: Desmond Bishop, Brandon Chillar
ILB: A.J. Hawk, D.J. Smith
OLB: Frank Zombo, Erik Walden
LCB: Charles Woodson, Sam Shields
SS: Morgan Burnett, Charlie Peprah
FS: Nick Collins, Jarrett Bush
RCB: Tramon Williams, Davon House
Specialists
K: Mason Crosby
P: Tim Masthay
KR: Randall Cobb
PR: Randall Cobb
LS: Brett Goode
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