NFL 2006: Green Bay Packers

(This is the Corners look at the upcoming NFL season. For the next 32 days we'll be previewing each team and their prospects for the 2006 season. Today we look at the Green Bay Packers.)

The theme song for the Green Bay Packers in 2006 should be 'Changes' by David Bowie, that's because the Packer brass decided to do some house cleaning after a disappointing 2005 saw the Pack slip to 4-12.

Green Bay was beset with injuries like no other franchise, except maybe Philadelphia. Those injuries, coupled with a lackluster defensive effort got Mike Sherman fired and Mike McCarthy hired. McCarthy responded with a complete overhaul of the defense, signing six potential new starters in free agency.

Offense: Green Bay has lived and died the past 14 season with Brett Favre at the helm but speculation swirled in the offseason that Favre was retiring. Brett hedged for awhile before deciding to come back for another year and with that the Packer Nation let out a big sigh of relief.

Favre, despite his 29 interceptions a year ago, is still a big-time quarterback. He threw for 3,881 yards and 20 touchdowns to a group of receivers that wasn't very deep. He'll have to do it again in 2006. Aaron Rodgers is biding his time as backup.

Ahman Green (255 yards) and Najeh Davenport (185 yards) return after an injury-plagued 2005 caused them to miss a combined 20 games. Given the chance to shine with the injuries to Green and Davenport, unknown Samkon Gado bolted on the scene by rushing for 582 yards and six touchdowns in five starts. Green is listed number one on the depth chart, but don't be surprised if Gado wins the job. William Henderson (30 catches) is back for his 12th season as Packer fullback.

The receivers were a weak spot last season and appear even weaker this year with Javon Walker and Antonio Chatman gone. Donald Driver is the lone bright spot. His 86 catches for 1,221 yards and five scores moved him into the number one role occupied by Walker. After Driver the pickings are slim. Robert Ferguson takes over at number two, but he caught only 27 passes last year. Rod Gardner, free agent Marc Boerigter and rookies Greg Jennings and Corey Rodgers will fight for playing time as well.

Green Bay has a nice group of tight ends. They're not flashy, but they get the job done. Bubba Franks (25-207-1) fought injuries last season and had a down year. David Martin (27-224-3) and Donald Lee (33-294-2) are capable of starting.

The offensive line, which suffered a big blow in 2005 when Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera left, lost another front liner when center Mike Flanagan signed with the Chiefs in the offseason. Starting guard Scott Wells moves over to center, while Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton return at tackle. The guard spots are wide open with incumbent Will Whittacker, Junius Coston, Adrian Klemm and rookie Daryn Collidge fighting for the starting jobs.

Defense: The defense surrendered 344 points last season, so changes were inevitable. The six free agent signings, along with some high draft choices has McCarthy optimistic as the new year looms on the horizon.

The one place were no change took place was at defensive end. The top four rotation players are back, led by starters Aaron Kampman (81 tackles, 6.5 sacks), who signed a new deal in the offseason, and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (51 tackles, eight sacks). Kenny Peterson (three sacks) and Michael Montgomery complete this unit. The defensive tackle spot will see two new starters as Kendrick Allen was signed away from the Giants and Ryan Pickett (65 tackles, two sacks) came over from the Rams. Grady Jackson wasn't re-signed and Cullen Jenkins, a starter last season, will join Corey Williams in reserve.

The same kind of turnover happened to the linebackers as well. Out is Robert Thomas and Na'il Diggs and in our free agent Ben Taylor (113 tackles) and rookie A.J. Hawk, the fifth pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Nick Barnett (138 tackles) is back as the Mike or middle linebacker. Ray Manning, rookie Abdul Hodge and Brady Poppinga provide depth.

Charles Woodson, who also suffered through an injury-shortened season, left Oakland to come to Green Bay and he'll challenge returning starter Ahmad Carroll (44 tackles, two interceptions) for one of the starting corner spots. Al Harris (53 tackles, three interceptions, three sacks) is back and should make a good combo with Woodson. Carroll most likely will drop back into the nickel role. Mike Hawkins and rookie Will Blackmon may see action in the dime package. Nick Collins (84 tackles) and Mark Roman (90 tackles, two picks) return at safety, but free agent Marquand Manuel (71 tackles) left Seattle and will challenge for a starting job.

Special Teams: Ryan Longwell is gone, so former Dallas kicker Billy Cundiff has been brought in to replace the long-time Packer kicker. B.J. Sander (39.2) returns, but has competition in the form of rookie Jon Ryan. Davenport (18.9) will return kicks and Woodson takes over on punt returns.

Outlook: It's a shame that Brett Favre has to end his career in circumstances like these. The defections in the offensive line have made it considerably weaker. The receivers, with the exception of Driver, are not that good and the running game could be a disaster if Davenport and Green haven't made full recoveries. The defense should be better with the free agents and draft picks brought in, but Green Bay lost a key playmaker in Longwell. He's one of the games best, while Cundiff is one of the games most inconsistent. A definite downgrade in the kicking game.

Prediction: The defense needs some time to get used to each other but has potential. On the other hand, the offense isn't very good. Too bad for Favre. The Packers will have a long season and fight Detroit to stay out of last place. Green Bay will go 4-12 or 5-11.

Check out the most complete guide to coaching youth football ever created!