Green Bay Packers

NFL Previews - Green Bay Packers

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Green Bay Packers 2007 Preview

(My Sportsbook) - Step one for the 2007 Green Bay Packers: take back Lambeau Field.

The historic building that was once a house of horrors for visitors has morphed into a kind of "Club Med North," with the home team trying in vain to tap into Lambeau's former magic.

Green Bay was just 3-5 at home in 2006, with two of the wins brutal-to-watch December affairs against terrible dome teams Detroit (17-9) and Minnesota (9-7). The other was against Arizona (31-14), which still doesn't count for much.

Mike McCarthy's squad was also embarrassed in its home building multiple times, with the Bears (26-0), Patriots (35-0), and Jets (38-10) all coming into cheese country and laying the wood to Lambeau's occupants. There was a time when a dome team would never dream of leaving Green Bay with a victory, but both the Saints (34-27) and Rams (23-20) achieved the feat.

Still, Green Bay must have done something right in '06, because the Packers ended up 8-8 and weren't mathematically eliminated from the playoff picture until Week 17.

McCarthy seemed to have things moving in the right direction when the team managed a four-game win streak to end the season, as a confluence of young talent began to jell and figure out ways to pull out victories.

There is hope that Green Bay will take a step forward this year and get back to the playoff bracket, but that could be difficult for a club that remains youthful in a number of key areas, is still relying on the soon-to-be-38-year- old Brett Favre to walk on water more weeks than not, and no longer has underrated running back Ahman Green to provide a complement to the passing game.

One thing is certain for the Pack as '07 begins, however, and that is if the team is serious about a return to glory, the march will have to begin at home sweet home.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2007 edition of the Green Bay Packers, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2006 RECORD: 8-8 (2nd, NFC North)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2004, lost to Minnesota, 31-17, in NFC Wild Card Game

COACH (RECORD): Mike McCarthy (8-8 in one season with Packers, 8-8 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Joe Philbin

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Bob Sanders

OFFENSIVE STAR: Brett Favre, QB (3885 passing yards, 18 TD, 18 INT)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Aaron Kampman, DE (89 tackles, 15.5 sacks)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 23rd rushing, 8th passing, 22nd scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 13th rushing, 17th passing, t25th scoring

FIVE KEY GAMES: Philadelphia (9/9), at Minnesota (9/30), Chicago (10/7), Carolina (11/18), at Detroit (11/22)

KEY ADDITIONS: RB Brandon Jackson (2nd Round, Nebraska), WR James Jones (3rd Round, San Jose State), DT Justin Harrell (1st Round, Tennessee), CB Frank Walker (from Giants), S Aaron Rouse (3rd Round, Virginia Tech), K Mason Crosby (6th Round, Colorado)

KEY DEPARTURES: RB Ahman Green (to Texans), FB William Henderson (released), TE David Martin (to Dolphins), DT Kenderick Allen (to Bengals), LB Kurt Campbell (released)

QB: Favre did not produce one of his finest seasons from a statistical standpoint in 2006, but for a 37-year-old quarterback with a thin receiving corps and a green offensive line, you have to laud the future Hall-of-Famer's performance. Favre cut his interception total from a career-worst 29 in 2005 to just 18 a year ago, a huge factor in the team's ability to scratch and claw its way to .500. With Favre back, 2005 first-round draft pick Aaron Rodgers can look forward to another season on the bench. Rodgers appeared in two games last year before losing the rest of his season to a broken foot. Second-year- pro Ingle Martin will hold the clipboard again.

RB: The Packers probably did the right thing by not bringing back Ahman Green, who turned 30 in February and had been slowed by injury problems in recent years. But Green Bay surprised the pundits by passing up a running back in the first round of the draft and settling for Nebraska's Brandon Jackson in round number two. Jackson is an intriguing talent with a lot of mileage left on the odometer, but at 5-10, 212 pounds, there is some question about his ability to become an every-down NFL back. For now, Green Bay is hoping that Vernand Morency (421 rushing yards, 2 TD, 16 receptions) can complement Jackson, but the former Texan was slowed by a knee problem early in training camp. Holdover Noah Herron (150 rushing yards, 29 receptions, 3 TD) and seventh-round draft choice DeShawn Wynn are likely battling for the third running back job, with Herron having a slight edge based on his experience. Fullback William Henderson was not brought back after 12 seasons in Green Bay, meaning Brandon Miree (9 receptions) should field those duties when necessary.

WR/TE: More than any other year in his career, last season established Donald Driver (92 receptions, 8 TD) as an elite-level NFL receiver. With no other reliable pass-catcher to take the pressure off, and with an oft-stagnant running game that put undue pressure on him to perform, Driver went out and posted career-highs in both catches and yards (1295). He'll continue to serve as Favre's top option, and the team is hoping that promising second-year-pro Greg Jennings (45 receptions, 3 TD) can continue his development on the other side. Jennings played well at times but was also hampered by an ankle injury in 2006. The battle for the No. 3 receiving job will likely come down to third-down draft pick James Jones and a cast of holdovers including Robert Ferguson (5 receptions, 1 TD), Ruvell Martin (21 receptions, 1 TD), and Carlyle Holiday (9 receptions). The former second-round pick Ferguson is the biggest name among this group, but injuries have limited him to a total of 15 games over the past two seasons. The tight end pool took a hit when David Martin defected to the Miami Dolphins during the free agent period, but there is some experience in those ranks. Donald Lee (10 receptions) will likely see most of the snaps in that position, with the declining Bubba Franks (25 receptions) serving as a backup. The battle for No. 3 tight end duties figures to come down to holdover Zac Alcorn and seventh-round draft choice Clark Harris.

OL: The Packers took a calculated risk along the line heading into last season, allowing three rookies - guards Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz along with tackle Tony Moll - to play major roles. The trio had its struggles, particularly in the area of run-blocking, but comes back with 38 combined starts and should be greatly improved. Colledge and Spitz project as the starters at left and right guard, respectively, while Moll will be the primary backup to starting tackles Chad Clifton (left) and Mark Tauscher (right). Reliable center Scott Wells will again round out the unit. In addition to Moll, backups should include fourth-round draft pick Allen Barbre and holdovers Tyson Walter and Junius Coston.

DL: He was hardly flashy, but lunchpail-style defensive end Aaron Kampman (89 tackles, 15.5 sacks) made his first Pro Bowl last season by playing hard on every down. The same could not be said for Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (39 tackles, 6 sacks), who relinquished his starting status with another less-than-stellar year and will likely be featured only on passing situations in 2007. The regular at right end will be Cullen Jenkins (32 tackles, 6.5 sacks), who is better against the run than the pass. On the inside, the team used the No. 16 overall pick on Tennessee tackle Justin Harrell, who will immediately be counted on to bolster the run-stopping unit. Ryan Pickett (64 tackles) will play the other interior spot, with holdovers Corey Williams (34 tackles, 7 sacks) and Colin Cole (37 tackles, 1 sack) serving in backup roles. Ends Michael Montgomery (18 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Jason Hunter (8 tackles) could be fighting fellow holdover Johnny Jolly (4 tackles) for a roster spot.

LB: Green Bay is looking for more out of a linebacking corps that was solid but unexceptional last season. The starting group of Nick Barnett (105 tackles, 2 INT, 2 sacks) in the middle, A.J. Hawk (119 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 INT) on the weak side and Brady Poppinga (60 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) the strong was smart and kept mistakes to a minimum, but also didn't make a wealth of big plays. Hawk, who the team used the No. 5 overall pick on in 2006, will be the player on the group most expected to make a positive leap forward this season. There isn't much depth beyond the starters. Second-year man Abdul Hodge (10 tackles) is still finding his way as a pro, Tracy White (11 tackles) is of the most value on special teams, and youngsters like sixth-round draft pick Desmond Bishop and free agent Spencer Havner are devoid of NFL experience.

DB: The strength of the Packers secondary is its veteran corners, Al Harris (41 tackles, 3 INT) and Charles Woodson (59 tackles, 8 INT, 1 sack). The former Heisman winner Woodson has the bigger name and posted the bigger stats last year, but Harris is the more reliable player and will be matched up with opponents' best wideout. Nick Collins' (80 tackles, 3 INT) job as the starting free safety is secure, but strong safety incumbent Marquand Manuel (81 tackles, 1 INT) could be challenged by Marviel Underwood and third-round draft choice Aaron Rouse. Underwood missed all of 2006 with a knee injury, and will have to regain his previous form to make the club. The battle for reserve d- back jobs should be contentious. At corner, free agent pickup Frank Walker (13 tackles with the Giants) will have to beat out the likes of holdovers Patrick Dendy (37 tackles, 3 INT), Jarrett Bush (10 tackles), and Will Blackmon for nickel duties. At safety, Atari Bigby could be facing a difficult task in making the squad while up against the two losers of the Manuel/Underwood/Rouse confrontation.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Packers fired a warning shot in the direction of kicker Dave Rayner (26-35 FG) on the second day of the April draft, using a sixth- round pick on Mason Crosby. Many considered Crosby to be the best kicker available, and he would seem to have the edge on winning the job. Punter Jon Ryan's (44.5 avg.) job is more secure, though the team will likely scan the waiver wire at the final cut just in case. Long snapper Rob Davis is one of the best in the business. Wideout Shaun Bodiford (16.2 kickoff return avg., 4.2 punt return avg.) will be in the mix on returns, but will have to prove his value as a receiver in order to make the club. If he doesn't, Charles Woodson (8.9 punt return avg.) and Vernand Morency (21.6 kickoff return avg.) might end up returning kicks for a second straight year.

PROGNOSIS: Green Bay was able to salvage an 8-8 season out of a horrid 1-4 start in 2006, even meriting some discussion within the playoff picture, though this was not a team that had anything resembling postseason talent. Since the organization added basically no veterans in the offseason, the Pack will again rely primarily on young talent, which figures to be hit-or-miss. Favre will again find himself counted on to do a bulk of the heavy lifting, which is problematic for a player that turns 38 in October. Look for the Pack to hover around .500 for much of the season, maybe even heading into December with something to play for, but to ultimately fall short during a tougher final month than the one the team faced in 2006.

08/14 12:49:33 ET

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