GREEN BAY — Morgan Burnett still has the unwavering support of the Green Bay Packers' coaching staff.

Now it's up to the fifth-year safety to justify that faith by playing to the level those coaches believe he is capable of reaching.

"I still think Morgan's a heck of a football player," safeties coach Darren Perry said as the team's minicamp wrapped up last month. "I know our critics may not agree, but again, Morgan's going to be fine and he's still a young player, ascending. We've just got to keep him going."

Throughout the offseason, Perry, defensive coordinator Dom Capers and head coach Mike McCarthy all publicly expressed support for Burnett, a third-round pick out of Georgia Tech in 2010 whose rookie season ended after four games because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. Historically, the Packers' top safeties have hit their stride in their fourth seasons — LeRoy Butler, Darren Sharper and Nick Collins each were selected to their first Pro Bowl in their fourth season — and if you don't count Burnett's rookie season in that equation, then this season he should be expected to elevate his game.

Even Burnett himself acknowledged during the organized team activity practices  that it's incumbent on him and not first-round pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix or Micah Hyde — whichever one lines up alongside him in the Sept. 4 regular-season opener at Seattle — to raise his level of play.

During the NFL Scouting Combine in February, McCarthy had said that the other safety spot had been part of the issue with Burnett. The Packers opted not to extend a qualifying offer incumbent starter M.D. Jennings in restricted free agency, and he promptly signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears, who don't appear to view him as more than a backup safety and special-teams contributor.

"We need more production next to Morgan, which I think would definitely help him," McCarthy said at the time.

But in June, Burnett defended Jennings, which should put even more expectation on Burnett after the four-year, $24.75 extension he received last July.

"I don't take nothing away from M.D., because in my opinion, M.D. was a really good safety, very underrated. He's more athletic than what you really think he is. He was good back there," Burnett said. "That's why, like I said, there's no excuses. Everybody has to come in and collectively get the job done."

Jason Wilde  wrote: