Linebackers 
The good news: The Packers finished the regular season ranked second in the NFL in total defense, and it was in large part due to the play of the linebackers, particularly Matthews, the rookie first-round pick who earned a trip to the Pro Bowl with a fabulous first season. When GM Ted Thompson traded one second- and two third-round picks to the New England Patriots to move up into the first round to take Matthews at No. 26, it turned out to be a stroke of brilliance albeit completely out of character for Thompson, whos more accustomed to trading back, not up. Matthews team-high 10 sacks set a rookie team record, and he added a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, an interception and six pass break-ups despite not even being a starter to open the season. When Kampman suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee against San Francisco on Nov. 22, rookie seventh-round pick Brad Jones entered the starting lineup and there was little drop-off. Inside, Barnett got stronger and stronger as the year wore on as his torn ACL from 2008 continued to improve, and while Hawk still has more than a few detractors, his play was steady and at times terrific. Chillar played well enough to earn himself a four-year contract extension.



The bad news: The fact that there wasnt much drop-off from Kampman to Jones can be taken two ways: Either Jones played extremely well for a rookie seventh-round pick, or Kampman simply wasnt very good. The truth probably lies somewhere in between. Whatever the case, the team needs more production from the left outside linebacker spot in 2010. The same is true inside, where Hawk faded down the stretch after a pretty solid run and Barnett, while an effective leader and solid player, needs to make more of an impact: While he had four sacks, he didnt have a single turnover-causing play no interceptions, no fumbles caused or recovered. Bishop remains a fan favorite in training camp and constantly flashes big-play ability in the summertime, but when he does get the occasional opportunity when the games start to count, his limitations become readily apparent. Chillar, meanwhile, had some surprising coverage problems during the course of the year and might not be the every-down linebacker hes been paid like.



The big question: What does Kampmans future hold?



Of all of the Packers difficult offseason decisions, what to do with Kampman could very well be No. 1. Do they truly believe he can be productive as a 3-4 outside linebacker? Does he? Or would he rather leave Green Bay, his NFL home for the past eight seasons, and join a team that runs a 4-3, where he earned a pair of Pro Bowl selections? And do the Packers use one of their franchise or transition tags on him and then trade him to a 4-3 team? All those questions and they dont even take into account the uncertainty of Kampmans comeback from the knee injury, and how that might affect his market value. The fact of the matter is that publicly, the Packers have said again and again and again that they believe Kampman can be productive as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Thats been the party line, and no one on the staff has strayed from it. But now its time for them to put their money where their mouths are. If they truly believe that, then Kampman will get a fair market offer. If they let him walk or franchise-tag him with an eye on trading him, itll prove that all that talk was nothing more than spin.



Offseason outlook: There are more than a few Packers fans with visions of Michigans Brandon Graham, possibly the top-rated outside linebacker in the draft, going to the Packers at No. 23 and lining up opposite Matthews for years to come. Theres a better chance of that happening than there is of the Packers signing any of the top outside linebackers in free agency be it restricted free agents like Denvers Elvis Dumervil or San Diegos Shawne Merriman, or unrestricted free agents like Arizonas Karlos Dansby or Tennessees aging Keith Bulluck. The inside linebacker crop is even thinner. Thus, while the 3-4 demands depth at linebacker, the position is pretty well-stocked overall. It seems the only way theres a major addition here is if Kampman departs.