The Green Bay Packers found themselves once again NFC North Division champions last season, if only by an Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass to Randall Cobb.
The Packers struggled without Rodgers for much of the season and only climbed back on top thanks to the help of division rivals the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, who missed many opportunities to eliminate the Packers from contention.
Can the Packers stay on top? That will largely be decided by the health of the team, a struggle for the Packers in recent years, and how these five questions are answered in the preseason.
Who starts at safety?
Ever since Nick Collins went down with a neck injury, the safety position has been, by far, the Packers’ biggest weakness.
Despite throwing some significant draft picks at the position — Morgan Burnett (third round), Jerron McMillian (fourth), mistakes in the secondary continued. The Packers’ safeties were the only unit in the NFL to go without an interception last season.
The Packers’ response was to draft Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the first round of the 2014 draft.
If there is competition in training camp, it’ll likely come from Micah Hyde, a hard-hitting second-year player who saw the field as a cornerback last season and took first-team reps at safety during offseason workouts.
Another possibility is Sean Richardson, a third-year player who has been hampered by injuries.
The Packers’ decision to simplify the defense, and allow for more substitutions, could mean Burnett, Clinton-Dix and Hyde will see the field.
Who catches for Rodgers?
Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are two of the league’s most dynamic receivers. After losing James Jones to Oakland in free agency, the Packers decided it was time to restock and took three receivers in the draft.
Davante Adams (second round), Jared Abbrederis (fifth) and Jeff Janis (seventh) will join a group four other young players competing for spots.
Jarrett Boykin, who was thrust into action as a rookie last season because of injuries to Cobb and Jones, will likely have a role.
The Packers have not brought back Jermichael Finley, who suffered a season-ending neck injury last year. Finley’s return would be a boost to the unsettled tight end position.
With Andrew Quarless and Brandon Bostic on the roster, the Packers drafted Richard Rodgers (third), who made a splash in offseason workouts and drew praise from Aaron Rodgers.
Another project is tight end Colt Lyerla, who went undrafted because of off-the-field issues and impressed the Packers in a workout to get signed.
Who is the starting center?
Four years, four centers.
The Packers’ offensive line looks to be more stable than it has been in recent years, but the center position is still in flux after starter Evan Dietrich-Smith left via free agency.
JC Tretter is the leading candidate to replace Dietrich-Smith, despite never playing a down in the NFL. Tretter, a rookie last year, tore up his knee doing a drill in OTAs and missed the entire season.
If he has competition, it will come from rookie Corey Linsley, who the Packers took in the fifth round this year. Linsley played center at Ohio State, giving him an advantage over Tretter, who has never played the position before.
Can the Packers establish a pass rush?
The Packers’ inconsistent pass rush was no help to the struggling safeties last season. Putting pressure on quarterbacks usually means less pressure on safeties, and more picks.
Clay Matthews’ broken thumb hindered what little pass rush the Packers did have last year. Meanwhile, no one opposite Matthews established himself as a threat.
The Packers made a rare free-agent splash by signing former Bears defensive end Julius Peppers, who has 118.5 career sacks. Lining up Matthews and Peppers at outside linebacker on opposite sides of the quarterback certainly sounds intimidating. We should get our first hints if it’s a successful pairing in the preseason.
A few other players to watch in the Packers’ front seven are B.J. Raji, who will likely move back to nose tackle, and defensive end Mike Daniels, who had 6.5 sacks last season and has taken on more of a leadership role in the locker room.
Who is the backup QB?
The Packers can’t be blamed for underestimating — or taking the calculated risk in neglecting — the importance of the backup quarterback position. Following Brett Favre’s iron-man tenure and Rodgers’ relatively healthy record, not having an established backup did not seem so important.
Until it was.
When Rodgers injured his collarbone against the Chicago Bears last season, the Packers had to start Seneca Wallace, then had to bring up Scott Tolzien, then brought back former backup Matt Flynn, who, once settled, managed to keep the Packers in contention before Rodgers’ return.
The Packers need to prepare better for that nightmare scenario. That should make this year’s preseason games all the more important as Tolzien and Flynn set out to prove they can handle the responsibility as the No. 2. The Packers might even be spooked enough to keep all three quarterbacks on the roster this season.
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