Green Bay Packers: LT, CB, S, DL, 3-4 OLB depth, RB

Over the second half of the season, the Packers have developed into a balanced team as the numbers on both sides of the ball show. Offensively, the line is still showing some struggles to protect Aaron Rodgers for as long as he likes to hold onto the ball. An aging Clifton is protecting his blind side and finding a future replacement for Clifton should be the teams biggest priority. Rookie TJ Lang should be the LG or RT of the future in Green Bay. Outside of that that, the offense seems pretty set due to the emergence of the ground over the second half of the season. A speedy back in the mold of Darren Sproles may be a possibility, though back-up Brandon Jackson has come on in recent weeks. A back capable of returning kicks would be ideal. Defensively, starters Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly are set to become free agents. If they cant resign one, or both, the team will be depleted up front and need to invest more into what has become one of the strengths of this defense. Though the team has found a pair of starting outside linebackers from last years draft class, some depth at the position could help keep them fresh, that is assuming Aaron Kampman moves on. In the secondary, the injury to Al Harris and two other cornerbacks, all on injured reserve, has hit the team worse than expected. This seems like the right time to begin the search for the future replacements to Harris and Charles Woodson. Tramon Williams should be one, but the other doesnt appear to be on the team. Both starting safeties will be free agents at the end of the year and if they cant re-sign both, who have played well, theyll need to look to add a starter this offseason because their back-ups are just that.

I think with a complete offseason in Green Bay to build healthy muscle mass to his frame.. Underwood will develop into a solid to above average CB for the Packers. Lee is another candidate, if he can find some health.

Safety.. sorry.. but I don't see the answers on the Packers.. if they choose to extend Collins out long term.. they are going to have to find a running mate that is very football smart on the field.. Collins is a great athlete with outstanding range.. just makes enough mental miscues to cost us.

I think the column has it pegged.. they have to establish a better rotation at outside backer than Poppinga.. is that answer Obiozor? If you listen to Greene and respect his judgment upon players.. he might be. Does that mean if there is a guy on the draft board that you rate highly that you pass him up.. nope.. but again I think we have more pressing needs than spending a high pick on a OLB.

Offensive line being one of those pressing needs... we can't be facing the amount of rotation along the line again for another season and expect the offense to continue to put up impressive numbers.. sooner or later Rodgers will take one to many hits. Also...a line that can consistently open up running lanes of at least college caliber would be a major help in controlling the ball in games facing against prolific offenses.

I would rate Oline, Safety, then CB in our list of highest needs.. in that order.. then depth on the dline and backers.. that is if we can retain Pickett and Jolly.

"pack93z" wrote:

The thing with Collins, in my opinion, is that he has football smarts. OI nkow he has a low wonderlic but I really I don't see a lot of negative plays by him that make me question his football intelligence.

He's a ball hawk, so if you want the big interceptions (and the big returns!) you have to live with a couple big completions here and there. The way the NFL is now, offenses have the big advantage. That's why it is impossible to expect your secondary to never give up big plays now and then.

"millertime" wrote:

I like Chester Taylor, but he's 30 right now which is an evil number for a RB. If we want him, it would probably be best to sign him one-year only and keep looking or developing another second RB who can catch screens.

Taylor is one of the better #2 RBs in the NFL though. He's just at that evil age for RBs.

"zombieslayer" wrote: