Packers Bring Excitement Back to the Green Bay: Can They Go All the Way?

(Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

No team in the NFL has quietly had more storylines than the Green Bay Packers the past two seasons.

Whether it was Brett Favre leaving and Aaron Rodgers taking over, or cleaning house on defensive coaches and switching to a 3-4, the Packers are embracing change.

The Packers preseason has started off with a bang. Players have obviously taken to the new scheme and are showing it on the field. Granted, there will be growing pains, but this defense will round out sooner than later.

This year’s offseason has been primarily about switching to a 3-4 defense, and figuring out whether or not the players can handle it. The biggest surprise so far has been the development of linebacker Desmond Bishop. The Packers drafted Bishop out of Cal in the 2007 draft and he has been making his case ever since.

Whether it is team practice or preseason, Bishop has impressed. He seems to be in the middle of every play and delivers big hits on defense.

He will need to work on his coverage, and Coach Mike McCarthy must find a way to get him on the field this season.

On the offensive side, running back Tyrell Sutton has been turning heads. Sutton stands at 5'8" and 213 pounds. He came to the Packers as a rookie free agent and may make the team on his play through this preseason. He has rushed 27 times for 140 yards, 5.1 yards per carry, and one touchdown.

I attended the Packers' practice and noticed Sutton to be much faster in person than on television. He makes quick cuts, is shifty and shows burst through the hole.

At 5’8, he becomes hard to find when he is running behind a big offensive lineman. It was clear at practice that his teammates really like him as witnessed by the pile-up they gave him during a strip drill.

Second year tight end Jermichael Finley has stepped up this preseason and become a downfield threat. Last season he showed some signs of immaturity and seemed distant.

This season though, Coach McCarthy has raved about Finley's play and given him more opportunity to be involved in the offense throughout OTAs and team practice.

He seems to have settled down, reigned in the attitude, and is making his case to be the Packers starting tight end this season. He has caught six passes for 76 yards and a touchdown while averaging 12.3 yards per catch. If he continues to step up and produce, he will demand more attention from opposing defenses.

Any unforeseen speed bumps this season have come via injury or contract holdout (B.J. Raji).

Linebacker Clay Matthews has been hampered by a sore hamstring this offseason and has been coming along slowly. The coaches do not want to make anything worse by playing him too early.

The injury has allowed other linebackers to get more reps and will help coaches evaluate them for the upcoming cuts.

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