Packers Notebook (at Vikings)

After free agency and the draft, offseason practices and training camp, the time is here. For the 12th time, the Green Bay Packers are ready to take aim at a second Super Bowl championship during the Aaron Rodgers era. The journey will start Sept. 11 at the Minnesota Vikings.

Roadblocks, as always, stand in their way. Here are five questions that must be answered for the Packers to be dancing under the confetti at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, following Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12.

1. Health of the offensive line

On Dec. 31, 2020, All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari suffered a torn ACL at practice. A few weeks later, the Packers gave up five sacks in a five-point loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game. With a healthy Bakhtiari, the Packers probably would have at least won that game to reach the Super Bowl.

On Nov. 21, 2021, Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins suffered a torn ACL in a three-point loss at Minnesota. With Bakhtiari unable to overcome his knee injury, the Packers were shocked 13-10 by the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional playoffs. Had Green Bay’s best linemen been available, they probably would have at least won that game.

As the 2022 season approaches, the status of Bakhtiari and Jenkins is in doubt. Regardless of whether they’re on the field for the opener, the Packers will be in a great position if Bakhtiari is the starting left tackle and Jenkins is the starting right tackle for the playoffs.

“You’re talking about two guys that are All-Pro players,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “Whenever they do come back, we can’t expect them to be at the exact same level as when they went out. I just think that’s a little unrealistic. These guys haven’t played ball in a long time. You’ve got to knock the rust off and they’re going to have to work through some things.

“But, certainly, they know how to play the game. They know what to expect when they go out there. Just their ability to communicate and see things, their experience speaks for itself. So, I do think there’s going to be a ton of benefit to when we can get them out there. It definitely makes it a lot easier from a gameplan purpose.”

2. Overcoming loss of Davante Adams

During the LaFleur era, the Packers won all seven games without Davante Adams. Now, can they win games over a 20-or 21-game stretch without arguably the best receiver in the NFL?

For the first time in Rodgers’ superb run as Green Bay’s starter, he’ll be going into a season without a proven No. 1 receiver.

In 2011, when he won his first MVP, that receiver corps was so loaded that then-rookie Randall Cobb finished seventh on the team in catches. In 2014, when Rodgers won his second MVP, he had Jordy Nelson, Cobb and then-rookie Adams as his big three. During his MVP seasons of 2020 and 2021, the indomitable Adams became an uncoverable force, a marriage of Adams’ talent, Rodgers’ brilliance and their uncanny connection.

Did Rodgers force the ball to Adams? At times, sure. But, by and large, Adams got the ball because he was open. Now, the question is whether the veteran trio of Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins and Cobb will be good enough to get open in key moments of big games against excellent secondaries. And if not, when will the rookie duo of second-rounder Christian Watson and fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs be ready to help?

3. Lack of depth on defense

Green Bay’s starting 12 on defense – the 11 in its base 3-4 alignment and nickel defender Rasul Douglas – might be the best in the NFL. It is a unit without a weakness.

The defensive line is as good as it’s been since perhaps the Reggie White-led Super Bowl champions in 1996. Inside linebacker, seemingly ignored for years, has an All-Pro (De’Vondre Campbell) and a talented first-round pick (Quay Walker).

After ranking second in the NFL in pressures last year, outside linebacker Rashan Gary seems poised for stardom. Good luck throwing against the cornerback trio of Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Douglas. And the safety tandem of Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage is experienced and productive.

The problem is the depth. At some point, there will be injuries. How will the Packers fare when they’re forced to dive into their depth chart? Who will rush the passer if either Gary or Preston Smith are down? Will opposing quarterbacks pick on Shemar Jean-Charles if he’s forced into the fray at cornerback? The top backups at safety, Dallin Leavitt and Rudy Ford, are on the 53 because of their prowess on special teams.

4. Run defense

Green Bay’s path to defensive dominance seems simple. Force opposing offenses into third-and-long and make them throw against that elite secondary before Gary, Smith and defensive lineman Kenny Clark deliver the pain.

Can the Packers stop the run, though? It has not been the unit’s strong suit over the years, though the additions of defensive tackle Jarran Reed in free agency and Walker with the first-round pick should help.

Whether it was Mike Pettine or last year with Joe Barry, Green Bay has leaned on a lot its dime packages. That means a sixth defensive back replaces one of the linebackers. With coverage-poor linebackers, that was deemed the best way to handle pass-happy offenses. The addition of Walker could change the equation.

Because Walker and Campbell are excellent in coverage, Barry barely lined up in dime during training camp. Logically, the run defense will be better with two 240-pound linebackers instead of one 240-pound linebacker and an extra 200-pound defensive back.

5. Curse of the special teams

There are three certainties in life. Death, taxes and putrid special teams.

Last season, the Packers finished 32nd in Rick Gosselin’s exhaustive special teams rankings. Nothing new there. They finished 20th or worse in seven of the past nine seasons. That includes ranking 29th in 2020, 26th in 2019, 32nd in 2018, 29th in 2016 and 32nd in 2014. They have not fielded a top-10 unit since 2007, a feat that defies explanation.

Enter Rick Bisaccia, who has a rich history of fielding good to great special teams. Plus, general manager Brian Gutekunst has given the chef some ingredients. Leavitt, Ford and cornerback Keisean Nixon have strong histories on special teams, and veteran Pat O’Donnell is a good punter and excellent holder. The returner might not be great but the blocking could be better.

“I feel like we have a couple guys who are teamers – guys, that’s how they make their money – and a couple other guys who need to embrace that role, especially young players who can do it and have done it in preseason but need to really embrace that might their main impact on the season,” Rodgers said.

“We have some good leadership on there. We’ve got an older punter and older kicker that I feel really confident in their consistency. But we need some young guys to step up and play well, and we need the veteran guys to hold it down.”