What to Expect From Green Bay Packers in 2009

After a season of heartbreak and disappointment, both the Packers and their legion of fans have reason to be quite optimistic for the 2009 campaign.

The Packers are coming off a season which saw inexperience and injury lead to a 6-10 record. That was after coming within one drive of going to the Super Bowl in the 2007 season.

Aaron Rodgers became the new Packers quarterback and showed there would be no drop-off in production from the field general. For those that wondered how the Packers would fare without Brett Favre, Rodgers showed the team is in good hands for the future.

The Packers have an offense filled with playmakers and scoring points will be the least of their worries.

Rodgers has the ability to get the ball to any player at any time when he's on the field. Donald Driver and Greg Jennings form one of the best wide receiver duos in the league and should again provide Rodgers with protection few quarterbacks have.

Ryan Grant has emerged as a solid running back. Despite a slow start to last season, Grant finished with over 1,200 yards. His total touchdowns dropped from eight to four. Grant will need to find the end zone much more frequently in 2009 to give the offense the balance it needs.

The offensive line will be a question mark for the team this year. Mark Tauscher will unlikely be back in Green Bay. If he does come back, he will see limited action because of numerous injuries.

Scott Wells is set as center, but the other four spots are up for competition. Chad Clifton might secure one tackle spot but age is quickly becoming an issue for him. Daryn Colledge, Breno Giacomini, Tony Moll, Josh Sitton, Jason Spitz, Allen Barbre, TJ Lang, and Jamon Meredith will all compete for spots on the line.

The offensive lines cohesion will be key to the success of the offense. If five guys are able to come together and gel in before the start of the season, Rodgers will have ample time to lead the team and Grant will have holes to run through. Should the line be in shambles, then the offense won't come together and it could be a long year for everyone involved.

The defense will see the biggest changes between last year and this one.

The Packers are switching to a 3-4 defense, and everyone will look to rebound from a horrible 2008 season.

In the Packers' 10 losses, seven of them were by a touchdown or less. Usually, the game came down to the defense giving up a last second drive after the offense had taken the lead.

Charles Woodson and Al Harris are a year older, not a year better. If they can remain a solid duo, it will give Tramon Williams, Pat Lee, and Jarrett Bush one more season to try and improve enough to play full-time in 2010.

Clay Matthews is being added to a linebacking group that has the potential to be one of the best in the league.

Aaron Kampman will convert from a defensive end to an outside linebacker. He is athletic enough for the transition, and his production shouldn't suffer too much.

AJ Hawk and Nick Barnett will patrol the two inside linebacker slots. Hawk and Barnett have yet to live up to their abilities. There's no reason both can't flourish in this defense and if they do, the Packers will transform into an elite defensive team.

The Packers spent their top draft pick on BJ Raji. Raji is expected to be inserted as the starting nose tackle. His spot is vital to the success of the defense. Raji will need to force constant double-teams so the linebackers can roam free and create plays.

Cullen Jenkins and Ryan Pickett should serve as the other starters on the line if they are fully recovered from injuries. If Justin Harrell can finally live up to being a first round draft choice, the defensive line could turn into a strength for the team.

Mason Crosby has turned into one of the best kickers in the league. There's no reason to think that will change this year. Crosby has a rocket launcher for a leg, and he should be near the top of the league in scoring.

The Packers will face a weak schedule this year after finishing third in their division last year. They will play a playoff team on the road only three times and only once before Decemberm which could give the young team enough time to mature.

The key to the season will be how quickly the offensive and defensive lines adjust to their new roles. I tend to believe both will find success sooner rather than later.

Packers' fans should expect nothing less than a playoff appearance for the 2009 season. They have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball and are led by veterans in key positions.

I think it's quite reasonable to see the Packers win double-digit games this year and compete for not only a division crown, but be right there in the playoffs with a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl birth. Anything less might cause fans to stir enough that Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson might have to look elsewhere for employment in 2010.