Green Bay Packers: 10 Looming Post-Lockout Questions for the Super Bowl Champs
You should always be wary in the world of sports about jumping the gun or assuming things before you have definitive answers.
However, if you've been following the recent developments in the NFL's labor situation, optimism is slowly starting to replace the anger and mistrust associated with the possibility of losing football next season.
In light of the good news on the lockout front, it makes sense to take a look at some of the Green Bay Packers' biggest questions that would follow an agreement on a new CBA.
If the deal gets done in the next two-to-three weeks like some have reported, we'll know the answer to most of these in a hurry. And for the others, we'll have to wait for training camp or the regular season.
But even for the most impatient of fans, at least we now have the prospect of having the Packers' training camp in 2011.
Where Will James Jones Play in 2011?
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Once the lockout ends, we should quickly get a pretty clear picture of what will happen with Jones in free agency.
He's stated he wants to be a starter, and I'd guess that there will be a few teams ready to throw him that chance and the money associated with it; the Bears and Redskins seem like real possibilities for Jones to land.
But what if Jones doesn't find a situation to his liking? Would he then consider coming back to the Packers at a reduced price? That's the only scenario I can envision in regards to Jones playing in Green Bay next season.
Either way, the most obvious answer to this question is Jones will likely be elsewhere in 2011.
Is There a Possibility of Five Tight Ends?
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The Packers are no strangers to having odd numbers at certain positions, as they've recently carried three fullbacks when most NFL teams only have one or two.
Could next season see the Packers repeat this trend, but at the tight end position?
They certainly have the talent on board to pull it off.
Jermichael Finley's spot is secure, and Andrew Quarless and Tom Crabtree return from 2010. But the Packers added two more tight ends in April's draft, selecting D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor in the fifth and seventh rounds, respectively.
Williams should be a lock, and Taylor appears on paper like the kind of versatile special teams player the Packers favor.
If the Packers don't decide to keep all five though, training camp will be set to feature some kind of roster battle. But I wouldn't be surprised if that group forced the Packers to keep all five players.
Will Nick Barnett Be on the Roster?
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There's been plenty of discussion over Barnett's future, but the lockout has robbed us of any clear answer on which way it could play out.
I'm not positive that once the lockout ends there'll be a quick resolution of the situation either. It's a tough call for the Packers, one that's loaded with factors.
Money is one, as Barnett is owed more than $12 million the next two seasons, but he also lost his starting spot after he injured his wrist in 2010. Desmond Bishop played well in his absence and was rewarded in January. If he stayed on the roster, Barnett would be the most expensive back-up linebacker in the NFL.
Yet the Packers don't have much for depth at inside linebacker, and Barnett has been a team leader since 2002 when Green Bay took him in the first round. Still, he's a good bet to be moved, and I think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be aggressive in acquiring Barnett.
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How Will the Offensive Line Look?
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With Daryn Colledge a free agent this summer, it's likely the Packers will have a somewhat different looking offensive line come Week 1 of 2011.
T.J Lang is a candidate to fill Colledge's spot at left guard if he moves on, but the Packers have always been keen on playing the best five offensive linemen they have on the roster.
That could mean Derrek Sherrod finds a spot somewhere in the Packers' front five. 2010 first-round pick Bryan Bulaga could shift to left guard, and Sherrod could take his spot at right tackle. It's a risk in terms of Bulaga's development at tackle, but it would give the Packers a solid line on paper.
In the end, it all depends on Colledge's decision once the lockout ends. If he stays, the Packers' line should be the same as the one they ended with in 2010.
Will a Starter Emerge at Running Back?
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The NFL has slowly become a league where most teams feature two starting-quality running backs. With Ryan Grant back in the fold, the Packers fit that description.
Along with Grant, the Packers also feature playoff star James Starks, and the future of the position looks like it should be Starks' for the taking.
So who starts for the Packers to open 2011? That could be anybody's guess.
Grant has the pedigree, but he's returning from an ankle injury that could hamper his chances. Starks is the future and runs hard, but we don't have a large sample size, and he also has an injury history.
The most obvious answer is that the Packers feature both backs. They'll be afforded the opportunity to go with the hot hand, whomever that may be week-to-week. This battle will definitely be something to keep your eye on in training camp.
The Last of the Three Fullbacks, Finally?
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The Packers have taken criticism for keeping three fullbacks on the roster the past two years, but that could finally be changing next season.
Both Korey Hall and John Kuhn are free agents, and the offense appears ready to shift their focus from fullbacks to tight ends. If the Packers keep five tight ends as previously discussed, there's simply no way they can also have three fullbacks.
Who's the odd fullback out? Likely either Quinn Johnson or Korey Hall.
Kuhn's versatility makes him a good bet to be re-signed, but both Johnson and Hall have been underwhelming. The ideal situation for the Packers would have been if Johnson had shown more as a lead blocker the past two seasons, making this an open-and-shut case.
But Johnson hasn't developed into that thumper in the run game, and Hall's injury history makes him expendable. When it comes down to it though, I'd bet Kuhn and Johnson make the 2011 roster.
Who Will Start Opposite Clay Matthews?
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It's going on three years now Packers fans have asked this question. And it's not that the Packers don't have options, because they have several guys who could fill the role.
But who will it be? And for how long?
Brad Jones looked the part late in 2009, but he tore up his shoulder last season and didn't show much before the injury.
Frank Zombo is a high-energy player and had a sack in the Super Bowl, but he has limitations athletically. Then there is Erik Walden, who played well over the final six-game stretch and likely has the highest ceiling.
My guess is this will shake down much like the running back situation. Zombo is likely the odds-on favorite to start initially, but either Jones or Walden could take away snaps if he falters. No matter who's playing there, the Packers need production from the position to take offensive focus off Clay Matthews.
Which Rookies Will Have an Impact Their First Year?
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Super Bowl champions usually feature a talented and depth-laden roster, and the Packers are no different.
Add in the fact that 15 players are coming off injured reserve, and you've got a tough hill to climb as a Packers rookie trying to impact this team.
But that still doesn't mean we won't see much from the 2011 class. Randall Cobb will likely be the Packers' new punt and kick returner, and he could see snaps in the Packers' open passing offense. He has the best opportunity to impact the season.
Derek Sherrod could see playing time as well, especially if there are any injures along the offensive line.
And don't sleep on Alex Green and D.J. Williams. Green could be a Dorsey Levens-type player, and Williams has the skill set to be a weapon in the Packers' offense.
Which of the IR Returnees Can Contribute in 2011?
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While there was one season-ending injury after another last season, the return of the 15 players from the IR list gives the Packers the chance to have as deep a roster as anyone in the NFL in 2011.
And there should be opportunities for many of those players to make the best of their return.
Jermichael Finley (knee) will likely be a focal point on offense, and Grant's (ankle) return gives the Packers a solid backfield.
Second-year players Morgan Burnett (knee) and Mike Neal (shoulder) should be afforded the chance to be major factors in the Packers' defense. They'll need Neal to stay healthy and play at a level he did during his rookie season, as the Packers are likely to lose Cullen Jenkins in free agency.
Are These Packers Ready to Make History?
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While winning the Super Bowl is a tremendous achievement, too often great teams are forgotten in NFL history because they were one-and-done's.
The Packers can look back on their 1990's teams for evidence of that fact. That team was good enough to win three or four Super Bowls during their run, but they only got it done in '96. As a result, no one talks about how good those teams really were.
Luckily for the franchise, the Packers have another chance at putting their mark on history. They have an elite quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, whose bond with Mike McCarthy is as solid as any quarterback-coach in the league, and a roster that features stars of all ages at nearly every position.
Everything is in place, but it's up to this team to stamp their place in NFL lore. This Packers team, with Rodgers and McCarthy in charge, can do it this season.
The formula is simple: Hoist that Lombardi Trophy in Indianapolis in February, cement your status as an all-time great team. Anything less, and you take the risk of becoming a trivia question in 40 years.
Which NFL team won Super Bowl XLV?
No one (besides Packers fans, of course) will know that answer unless they bring home hardware from Super Bowls XLVI, XLVII or XLVIII.
Can these Packers do it?
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