Green Bay Packers 2009 Season Preview
By Tony Moss, NFL Editor

(Sports Network) - Aaron Rodgers answered the question, and in so doing, created another one.

If the only question mark for the 2008 Green Bay Packers was Rodgers, who started all 16 games and played as well as could have reasonably been expected, then how in the world did the Pack go from 13-3 and within spitting distance of the Super Bowl to a 6-10 also-ran in the NFC North?

In the Whac-A-Mole game that is the NFL, head coach Mike McCarthy's troubles reared their collective heads on the opposite side of the football.

After turning in the highlight of their season with a 37-3 pounding of the hated Bears on Nov. 16th that pushed their record to 5-5, Green Bay would not give up fewer than 20 points in any of their final six games.

Not surprisingly, the Packers went 1-5 (with the only win coming over the winless Lions) the rest of the way, allowing 28.5 points per game during a stretch that saw them fade from view in the postseason race.

Also not surprisingly, defensive coordinator Bob Sanders was axed after the implosion, replaced by renowned defensive mind Dom Capers, who will institute a 3-4 defense intent on getting more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

The Packers raised some eyebrows by remaining basically silent in free agency, but both of their 2009 first-round draft picks - pass rusher Clay Matthews and nose tackle B.J. Raji - are being counted on to fill a specific need. Matthews is supposed to team with incumbent (and reluctant outside linebacker) Aaron Kampman to improve the team's sack numbers, while Raji will play the role of interior space-eater for a club that ranked a distant 26th against the run last year.

There are national doubts about whether the Packers have done enough to improve themselves following last year's debacle, but if the defensive alterations were indeed enough to get that side of the ball up to speed, Green Bay should again be a contender in the NFC North.

Unless, that is, a sophomore jinx for Rodgers in his second year as a starter shifts all the questions to the quarterback spot again.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2009 edition of the Green Bay Packers, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2008 RECORD: 6-10 (3rd, NFC North)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2007, lost to N.Y. Giants, 23-20 (OT), in NFC Championship

COACH (RECORD): Mike McCarthy (27-21 in three seasons with Packers, 27-21 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Joe Philbin

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dom Capers

OFFENSIVE STAR: Aaron Rodgers, QB (4038 passing yards, 28 TD, 13 INT)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Aaron Kampman, OLB (62 tackles, 9.5 sacks)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 17th rushing, 8th passing, 5th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 26th rushing, 12th passing, 22nd scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: C/G Duke Preston (from Bills), NT B.J. Raji (1st Round, Boston College), OLB Clay Matthews (1st Round, USC), S Anthony Smith (from Steelers)

KEY DEPARTURES: T Mark Tauscher (not tendered), DT Colin Cole (to Seahawks), DE Kenneth Pettway (released)

QB: You have to hand it to Rodgers, who wasn't always perfect in his first year as the starter but was about as good as any successor to a legend has ever been. Rodgers didn't make the Pro Bowl, but posted a 93.8 quarterback rating during a season in which he eclipsed the 4,000-yard mark, averaged less than one interception a game, and proved to skeptics that he had NFL toughness and could stay healthy. Rodgers' place on the depth chart is not in doubt, though the team could be in trouble if he goes down. Second-year-pros Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm don't appear to be ready for prime time, and their lack of development gave rise to rumors that the team was investigating other backup options, including Michael Vick. Stay tuned.

RB: Ryan Grant (1203 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 5 TD) may have been the most disappointing 1,200-yard rusher in the league last year. After being hampered by injuries and a contract issue during training camp, the 2007 surprise out of Notre Dame saw his yards per carry dip from 5.1 to 3.9, his rushing touchdowns from eight to four, and he eclipsed 100 yards just once in his first nine games. Grant turned it on a bit in the second half and dispelled some doubts in the process, but his work didn't translate into much winning. If he gets off to a slow start, don't be surprised to see McCarthy give Brandon Jackson (248 rushing yards, 1 TD, 30 receptions) or DeShawn Wynn (110 rushing yards, 1 TD) a long look. Jackson has had his moments in two years with the team but has not been especially consistent either. Wynn has averaged 5.4 yards per carry over 58 attempts in two seasons with the Pack, but has had trouble staying healthy. The fullback battle among incumbents John Kuhn (4 receptions, 3 TD) and Korey Hall (7 receptions, 1 TD), along with fifth-round draft choice Quinn Johnson (LSU), should be relatively interesting. Both Kuhn and Hall were regulars a year ago, but the team might not have the luxury of keeping two fullbacks, much less three. The slight nod goes to Hall entering the preseason, though he'll have to stay healthy.

WR/TE: The transition from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers clearly didn't hamper Packer wideouts Greg Jennings (80 receptions, 9 TD) and Donald Driver (74 receptions, 5 TD), who both went over 1,000 yards for the first time together. Jennings would have been a Pro Bowler had it not been for the crowded state of the receiving corps in the NFC, and there is no doubt that he has taken over the No. 1 receiving mantle from the still-relevant Driver. Driver barely scratched out his fifth straight 1,000-yard season last year, though his 74 catches were his fewest since 2003. There is depth behind Jennings and Driver, with Jordy Nelson (33 receptions, 2 TD), James Jones (20 receptions, 1 TD), and Ruvell Martin (15 receptions, 1 TD) all capable of stepping in if needed. The player to watch here is Jones, who is thought to be the heir apparent to Driver but needs to overcome a knee injury that hampered him last year. Tight end Donald Lee (39 receptions, 5 TD) has 11 touchdowns over the past two seasons and looks to be secure, though 2008 third-round pick Jermichael Finley (6 receptions, 1 TD) could take some of his reps this season.

OL: The only thing certain about the group that will protect Rodgers and block for Grant is the left side, where tackle Chad Clifton and guard Daryn Colledge will be staples if healthy. Insurance for the 33-year-old Clifton will probably be needed down the line, but his spot looks secure for now. Everywhere else, battles rage. Scott Wells started 13 games at center last season but is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and faces a major challenge from Jason Spitz. Josh Sitton and Allen Barbre, both of whom were backups last season, are favorites to claim the right guard and right tackle positions, respectively, with fourth-round rookie T.J Lang (Eastern Michigan) and second-year-pro Breno Giacomini serving as backups. If Wells and Spitz both stick, ex-Bill Duke Preston, fifth-round tackle Jamon Meredith (South Carolina), and disappointing holdover Tony Moll could be vying for one spot. As a group, the Packer line allowed 34 sacks last season.

DL: The play of Green Bay's three-man line will have a major impact on the team's ability to transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Early signs were not good, however, as would-be nose tackle B.J. Raji began camp with a training camp holdout (ongoing as of Aug. 12th) that threatened his place in the lineup, while former first-round end Justin Harrell's (12 tackles) chronic back injury sidelined him before he had suited up for as much as a preseason game. If Raji can't get up to speed before the opener, either Ryan Pickett (49 tackles, 1.5 sacks) or Johnny Jolly (49 tackles) will have to occupy the all-important middle spot. The team would like to use Pickett at end and Jolly as a backup, but circumstances could dictate otherwise. The team is also rolling the dice that Cullen Jenkins (13 tackles, 2.5 sacks) can return to play one end after missing the final 12 games of 2008 with a torn pectoral muscle. In light of all of the above situations, longtime stop-gap Michael Montgomery (59 tackles, 2.5 sacks) could continue to be a vital part of the rotation.

LB: The key to the new scheme is pressure, and outside linebackers Aaron Kampman and Clay Matthews are being counted on most heavily to provide it. Kampman was publicly unhappy about his transition from end to linebacker, but early reports in training camp indicated that the move suits his skills. While playing opposite him, the USC product Matthews should be able to thrive. On the inside, A.J. Hawk (86 tackles, 3 sacks) has not quite lived up to his early first-round status in three years as a pro, and needs to make more big plays to justify his contract. There is hope that Nick Barnett (49 tackles) can recover from a torn ACL that prematurely ended his 2008 season in order to play next to Hawk, but if he is slow out of the gate, holdovers Brandon Chillar (69 tackles, 1 sack) and Desmond Bishop (35 tackles, 1 sack) will have to fill in. Brady Poppinga (69 tackles) and Jeremy Thompson (8 tackles) look like the backups on the outside.

DB: Though age is beginning to catch up to this group, and injuries were a concern last year as well, on paper the secondary should be a Green Bay strength. Cornerbacks Al Harris (24 tackles) and Charles Woodson (62 tackles, 7 INT, 3 sacks) will be 35 and 33 years of age, respectively, before the season ends, and though both play at a high level, expecting the tandem to make it to the finish line without incident is probably wishful thinking. Tramon Williams (57 tackles, 5 INT) and Will Blackmon (35 tackles) will be the first men in if either Harris or Woodson is sidelined, and the club has high hopes for holdover Pat Lee as well. Nick Collins (72 tackles, 7 INT) is a staple at free safety, and will be better off if strong safety Atari Bigby (21 tackles, 1 INT) can recover from an ankle problem and remain in the lineup. If he can't, holdover Charlie Peprah (12 tackles) or ex-Steeler Anthony Smith (9 tackles with Pittsburgh) will be the starting candidates. Third-year-pro Aaron Rouse (53 tackles, 2 INT) should also fit into the team's plans at safety, though likely in a backup role.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Mason Crosby (27-34 FG) has done a generally good job as the team's kicker for the past two seasons, though he did miss three kicks inside 40 yards last season and needs to be a bit more consistent. Punting duties are up for grabs between Jeremy Kapinos (39.2 avg.), who had 17 punts as a Packer last season, and Durant Brooks (39.6 avg. with Washington), a sixth-round pick of the Redskins who was released midway through 2008 after struggling. On returns, cornerback Will Blackmon (11.2 punt return avg., 21.0 kickoff return avg.) scored two touchdowns off punt returns last year but was less consistent when bringing back kickoffs. Tramon Williams might get a shot there, and wideout Jordy Nelson (18.9 avg.) has some experience in that area as well. Long snapper Brett Goode begins his second season as a Packer.

PROGNOSIS: The Packers organization decided that the problems with last year's defense lay in the area of scheme and staff, and changed both rather than making a host of personnel upgrades on that side of the ball. That's a risk due in equal parts to the unit's age (Harris, Woodson), injuries (Barnett, Harrell, Bigby), inability to sign players (Raji), and the fact that every incumbent member of the front seven is trying to embrace a new scheme. If things go perfectly, Green Bay has enough talent to come out of the box strong and serve as a contender in the NFC North. But things rarely go perfectly in the NFL, and chances are this defense won't be much better under Capers than it was under Sanders. And that situation places Green Bay well behind Minnesota in the division, and a bit behind Chicago as well. The offense is good enough that the postseason will be a possibility entering December, but we bet those hopes are blown up in the midst of a difficult final-month schedule.