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2007 Team Report: Green Bay Packers

Quarterbacks

Starter: Brett Favre
Backup(s): Aaron Rodgers

Starting QB: The past few years have been tough on Favre, both on and off the field. After averaging 30 touchdowns and 17 interceptions from 2001-2004, he has averaged 19 touchdowns and 23 interceptions the past two years. In addition, Favre underwent minor ankle surgery this offseason, though it is not expected to affect him during the season. On a positive note, Favre is within reach of becoming the league's all-time leader in touchdown passes, passing yardage, and QB victories. While he caused some consternation by publicly criticizing the team's failure to acquire Randy Moss, the Packers and Brett Favre are intertwined for at least another season.

Backup QB: The jury is still out on Aaron Rodgers and how effective he can be in this league. Should Favre be slow to recover from his ankle surgery or get banged up during the season, Rodgers could get a chance to showcase his skills. Otherwise, it's pine-riding for another season.

Running Backs

Starter: Vernand Morency
Backup(s): Brandon Jackson [R], DeShawn Wynn, Ryan Grant, Noah Herron [IR]
Fullback(s): Korey Hall [R]

Starting RB: Vernand Morency started camp listed as the #1, but a minor knee injury kept him out of practice and early preseason action. A late preseason recovery vaunted him back into the starting spot, however. Morency is the most experienced runner on the roster, which is saying something. He is a natural one-cut runner with good open field awareness. He averaged an impressive 4.6 yards per carry last year as a Packer. Regardless of who starts each game, HC Mike McCarthy has openly stated his intention to use a committee approach.

Backup RBs: Brandon Jackson was selected in the second round of the 2007 draft. While fantasy owners are divided on his long-term potential, the Packers believe he's a good fit for their offensive system. Jackson has good size (5'11, 210 pounds) and runs with toughness, but he lacked consistency at Nebraska. He has clearly benefited from Morency's injuries, and appears ready to contribute right out of the gates; but he must improve markedly as a pass protector or his time in the sun will be short lived. Noah Herron was expected to play a role, too, but was placed on injured reserve. Rookie DeShawn Wynn and newly acquired Ryan Grant fill out the RB cadre.

Fullback: Korey Hall will have the difficult task of replacing William Henderson as the team's lead blocker and sometimes red-zone target.

Wide Receivers

Starters: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings
Backups: Ruvell Martin, James Jones [R], Carlyle Holiday

Starting WRs: For the past five years, Driver has been QB Brett Favre's go-to guy regardless of the situation. He's got excellent play-making ability and runs some of the best routes in the league. On the other side of the field is second-year man Greg Jennings. While he is still young, Jennings may actually be every bit as talented as Driver. Jennings came out of the gate on fire last season and was on his way to Rookie of the Year consideration until a high ankle sprain sidelined him in Week 5 and hampered him throughout the remainder of the season.

Backup WRs: The backup WR situation is unclear, but there are several promising youngsters who will contribute. Robert Ferguson was sent packing, which bodes well for 3rd year Ruvell martin and rookie James Jones. Jones has been the star of camp and may challenge for a starting job in a season or two. Martin, meanwhile, lacked consistency in 2006 but has been much shaper in training camp. Carlyle Holiday beat out a pack of young receivers for the 5th and final roster spot.

Tight Ends

Starters: Donald Lee
Backups: Bubba Franks

For real football purposes, Franks is a valuable blocker and selfless teammate. But for fantasy football owners, he just isn't worth what he once was. Franks used to have a nose for the football down around the goal line, but the past two seasons he's caught a total of one touchdown pass. Franks appears to have lost his starting job to Donald Lee, although both will be used interchangeably if healthy.

Place Kicker

Mason Crosby : Dave Rayner spent most of his first year with the Colts handling kickoffs. After beating out Billy Cundiff for the Green Bay job last year, he was inconsistent, going 26 of 35 (74.3%%) on FGs and missing a PAT. The Packers hadn't planned on using the draft to provide competition for the job, but when Crosby was still available in the sixth round they called his number. Crosby was nearly unstoppable from long range during his sophomore and junior seasons at Colorado, but faltered as a senior, and was inconsistent overall. After a neck-and-neck preseason competition, the team decided to go with the rookie, Mason Crosby.

Kick and Punt Returners

Kick Returners: Will Blackmon; Tramon Williams

The Packers have probably gone through more kickoff returners than any team in recent years. The latter part of 2006 they settled on RB Vernand Morency (31 returns, 21.6 avg. ), although it's a question whether they'll keep him in that role this year since he'll be more involved on offense. CB Will Blackmon who returned both kickoffs (22.2 avg.) and punts (8.3 avg.) while at Boston College won the job and will make a go of it to start the season.

Punt Returners: Will Blackmon; Greg Jennings; James Jones

CB Charles Woodson did pretty well on punt returns for an old guy last year (41 returns, 8.9 avg.). He was the primary punt returner last year, however special teams coordinator Mike Stock indicated they plan to use him only when ball security is critically important this year. Will Blackmon won both the punt and kickoff return jobs in camp; but will be backed up by Greg Jennings and James Jones.

Offensive Line

Projected Starters: LT Chad Clifton, LG Daryn Colledge, C Scott Wells, RG Jason Spitz, RT Mark Tauscher
Key Backups: T Tony Moll, G Junius Coston, G Allen Barbre [R], G Tony Palmer

Second-year player Jason Spitz started 13 games last season and had an exceptional rookie campaign. Daryn Colledge was also a rookie who stepped in a year ago and improved as the season wore on. He and Spitz are the future of this group. Left tackle Chad Clifton does well in all aspects of the game but needs to be more explosive at the point of attack. Tauscher has been a starter since the 2000 season and has both heart and aggression that helps make up for marginal athletic ability. Wells, a fourth-year player, came into his own at center a year ago and became a strong starter. What a difference a season can make as nobody expected the young players to develop so quickly. Expect more improvement and a good season in 2007.

Team Defense

Despite mediocre finishes in total yards allowed and points allowed in 2006, the Green Bay defense had good value as a fantasy team defense with top ten finishes in takeaways and sacks. The Packers were anchored by DE Aaron Kampman, who had a career high 15 sacks, and the big play of CB Charles Woodson, who added eight interceptions. The Packers did little to improve the defense in free agency, electing instead to spend their cap money on extensions to veterans Al Harris and Nick Barnett. The 2007 draft, however, brought in DT Justin Harrell and SS Aaron Rouse, both of whom could provide a boost to an already improving run defense when they earn starting roles. With the continued growth of A.J. Hawk and Nick Collins, this defense should be better in the yardage and scoring categories in 2007 and should remain in the upper ranks of the counting big play categories. They should be a solid fantasy defense again in 2007.

Defensive Line

Starters: DE Aaron Kampman, DT Ryan Pickett, DT Justin Harrell [R], DE Cullen Jenkins
Backups: DE Kabeer Gbaja-Bjamila, DE Mike Montgomery, DE Jason Hunter, DT Corey Williams, DT Colin Cole, DT Johnny Jolly

Starting DL: Aaron Kampman had a career season in 2006. Already proven as a solid run supporting end, Kampman exploded for 15 sacks last year, smashing his prior career high of 5.5. Both Cullen Jenkins and Kabeer Gbaja-Bjamila will see time at the other end. Jenkins will get the vast majority of snaps, with KGB playing only in clear passing situation. Jenkins isn't a poor pass rusher in his own right, however, with 16 sacks in three seasons of limited duty. Ryan Pickett had a solid 2006 as the primary run stuffing DT and should continue to anchor the tackle corps. Corey Williams also played well at tackle last year, but has been pushed out of the starting lineup by first round rookie Justin Harrell. Both are more disruptive, penetrating type players.

Backup DL: Kabeer Gbaja-Bjamila is a one trick pony as an edge rushing defensive end. Last season, KGB was demoted to a situational role after his declining pass rush ability highlighted his poor run support capability for a second straight season. There were offseason rumors that KGB would be released in a cap saving move, but the Packers apparently plan to keep him rostered after not finding a suitable replacement through the draft or free agency. He'll remain in the same situational role he played at the end of 2006. Colin Cole has an edge on Johnny Jolly to provide depth at both tackle positions.

Linebackers

Starters: WLB A.J. Hawk, MLB Nick Barnett, SLB Brady Poppinga
Backups: LB Desmond Bishop [R], LB Tracy White, ILB Abdul Hodge [IR]

Starting LBs: Last year's fifth overall pick, A.J. Hawk, worked his way through some preseason struggles and quickly established himself as one of the better young playmakers in the league. The sky truly is the limit for Hawk, after a 121-tackle, four sack, two interception rookie season. Nick Barnett saw his statistical output drop with the arrival of Hawk. Barnett played through a broken hand during the second half of 2006, which also likely affected his play. The Packers were happy enough with Barnett's play to sign him to a six-year contract extension in April. With the talk of a position switch deep on the backburner for now, a healthy Barnett could be poised for a rebound season. Brady Poppinga had significant problems in coverage early in the 2006 season but rebounded to have a very nice year. He'll continue to do the dirty work on the strong side in run support in 2007.

Backup LBs: The Packers LB depth is non-existent, as Abdul Hodge was placed on injured reserve leaving the team with only two reserve linebackers on the 53-man roster. Rookie Desmond Bishop will backup up Nick Barnett in the middle, while veteran Tracy White is the only true OLB not lining up with the opening unit. Don't expect the Packers to sit tight with what they have, it's likely they will add a body or two before Week One kicks off.

Defensive Backs

Starters: CB Al Harris, SS Atari Bigby, FS Nick Collins, CB Charles Woodson
Backups: CB Frank Walker, CB Will Blackmon, SS Aaron Rouse [R], CB Tramon Williams, CB Jarrett Bush, SS Charlie Prepah

Starting DBs: Al Harris had another solid season in 2006. His stats weren't as pretty as teammate Charles Woodson's, but Harris had a consistently good year against the opposing team's top receivers. He was rewarded with a two-year contract extension and should continue to play well in 2007. Woodson was a pleasant surprise as a big play corner. After a rough 2005 season in Oakland, Woodson rebounded with eight interceptions while adding three forced fumbles and 20 passes defended. The Packers are hoping for another solid season from both veteran corners. Both starting safeties struggled in deep coverage last year, as the coaching staff often cited poor communication and missed assignments as major areas for improvement during the 2006 season. Atari Bigby has been the surprise of camp and made Marquand Manuel expendable. Nick Collins quietly had another solid season at FS. He was singled out as needing to improve in coverage but, other than a couple of long passes given up, Collins stats suggest that his coverage ability is solid. With continued improvement, he could bloom into one of the better all-around free safeties in the league.

Backup DBs: The Packers are young and inxperienced behind the veteran starters at cornerback. Will Blackmon, last season's fourth round draft pick, struggled through foot and rib injuries from the preseason on before finally going on injured reserve late in the year. Frank Walker provides a steady veteran hand although he doesn't have the coverage skills to play a full-time role. Rookie Aaron Rouse is big and physical at 6'4", 215 pounds and, if he can allay concerns about inconsistencies in coverage and run support, has a chance to be a very good in-the-box safety.

Last modified: 2007-09-02 15:00:47