The rookie camp and OTAs are history or mostly so. Minni camp is happening next week. Both amount to non-contact workouts and learning. Furthermore, no real information is available since the media coverage was limited and the drills conducted indoors where prying eyes can’t see - much. So it is important what the players and coaches say. In this report, I will indicate the information and impressions that I have gleened from various sources.

Offense: One thing that is revealed is that the playbook was not rewritten. It was tweaked – meaning that it won’t look much different than in the past. At the quarterback position we all know that QB Aaron Rodgers is the starter –and should be your fantasy starter as well. We know that QB Brett Hundley and QB DeShone Kizer will battle it out for the number 2 spot. There is no word on undrafted free agent QB Tim Boyle. The one thing we know Hundley and Kizer have in common is unsuccessful regular season experience. But QB Troy Aikman’s first two seasons were not much better. At running back, everyone is healthy. RB Ty Montgomery will be the starter. But look for RB Aaron Jones, and RB Jamaal Williams to get some carries as well. Between durability issues and deployment scheme I would be a little leary about who to put on my fantasy team at this point. RB Devante Mays and RB Joel Bouagnon are also on the team. At tight end, the Packers have really done a makeover. TE Jimmy Graham is purely a receiving tight end. Since the Packers cut WR Jordy Nelson, it is easier to see how he fits in the Packer plans. I would put him on my fantasy draft list. The Packers recently signed TE Mercedes Lewis who is a good blocker, but can also provide a good target for Rodgers. A little less certain is how TE Lance Kendricks fits in right now. He did not show well last year and this year he will face some stiff competition from undrafted free agents TE Kevin Radar and TE Ryan Smith. Both of those fit the new TE profile better. Other leftovers include TE Emmanuel Byrd and TE Robert Tonyan. At wide receiver, The one thing that is crystal clear is that WR Davante Adams and WR Randall Cobb are the top two receiving options. In fact, I would put Adams on my fantasy draft list. After that, things are a little less clear. WR Geronimo Allison ‘could’ make a big jump this year, but so far injuries have limited his ability to contribute. But when healthy he gets open. Against Carolina the Packers had a chance but it ended when Allison dropped a third down pass from Rodgers. But the drop was not characteristic of him in previous outings. So the jury is out yet. Beyond that from last year’s crew is WR Michael Clark who is tall but inconsistent catching the ball, WR Trevor Davis who is fast but inconsistent with routes and catching ability, and WR DeAngelo Yancey who spent last year on the practice squad and very little is known about. The Packers must not have been impressed enough because they drafted three other guys; WR Equanimeous St. Brown who is both tall and fast and was productive when Kizer was his quarterback at Notre Dame, WR J’mon Moore who was very productive at Missouri and showed well in workouts so far, and WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling who is also tall and fast but on the raw side. Also on the roster for now are WR Jake Kumerow and WR Colby Pearson. The offensive line should be stable this year. Between the guys they get back from injured reserve, the guys who filled in well last year, and draft pick OG Cole Madison the Packers should be good. The starters are (from left to right); OT David Bakhtari, OG Lane Taylor, OC Corey Linsley, OG Justin McCray, and OT Bryan Bulaga. McCray is being given the chance to be the right guard starter – that was news out of OTAs this year. Other serious contenders for a roster spot include; OC Dillion Day, OG Lucas Patrick, OT Jason Spriggs, OT Kyle Murphy, OG Adam Pankey (who can also play tackle), and OG Kofi Amichia. Others on the roster include; OC Austin Davis, OG Jacob Alsadek, OT Alex Light, and OT Kyle Meadows. The Packers also signed veteran OG Byron Bell who figures to be experienced depth if he sticks.

Defense: Everything is new this year. New DC Mike Pettine begins to install his defense. The Packers did not major on drafting the outside linebacker or edge rusher position in the draft this year. So either they think some existing players will develop or the pass rush will come from somewhere else. On the defensive line, the Packers fortified an already deep group. Those from last year include; DE Dean Lowry, DE Kenny Clark, DE Mike Daniels, and DT Montravius Adams. The Packers signed NT Muhammad Wilkerson – he will add a pass rush if he plays like he did in Pettine’s defense in New York. Other on the roster include; DL Tyler Lancaster, DE Conor Sheehy, and DE James Looney. At inside linebacker, those guaranteed to make the roster include LB Blake Martinez, LB Jake Ryan, and LB Owen Burks. The combination of Burks and Martinez tilts the position to pass coverage strong. The combination of Burks and Ryan makes the position stronger against the run. So drafting Burks provides defensive flexibility they didn’t have last year. Also on the roster are ILB C.J. Johnson, ILB Marcus Porter, and ILB Paris Bennett. At outside linebacker there are a lot bodies – just not a lot of different bodies with known talent. LB Clay Matthews and LB Nick Perry are the starters until further notice. Backing them up are LB Vice Biegle, LB Reggie Gilbert, and Kyler Fackrell – all of whom were there last year, and all who need to step up big time this year. If they don’t step up, maybe hold-overs LB Chris Odom and Ahmad Thomas will. Or maybe newcomers LB Kendall Donnerson, LB Naashon Hughes, and LB Greer Martini will. At cornerback things have changed drastically as I have indicated before. It looks as if CB Kevin King and CB Josh Jackson will be given the chance to start at corner, and CB Jaire Alexander will be given the chance to take over the slot corner position. If that happens it will be a big upgrade in talent over last year. If they need veteran help along the way, CB Davon House and former Packer CB Tramon Williams will help. Other serious contenders for a roster spot include CB Lenzy Pickens, CB Quinten Rollins, and CB Donatello Brown. Others on the roster are CB Herb Waters, CB Demetri Goodson, and CB Josh Hawkins. At safety S Morgan Burnette is gone, other than that not much has changed. S Josh Jones will take over for Burnette. S Kentrell Brice, S Marwin Evans, and S Jermaine Whitehead are good bets to make the team. S Raven Greene is on the roster but is an unknown quantity. The actual combination of corners and safeties that make the team could be influenced by the number of corners who have safety experience. Should you pick the Packer defense? If they perform like other Pettine coached defenses I would say yes. But training camp is over a month and a half away. We will see then.

For special teams PK Mason Crosby is back. If the Packer offense is more consistent you may want to take him. If P JK Scott is an upgrade at punter it could affect field position and how the defense plays. If I were fantasy drafting today the following players would be of interest; QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Ty Montgomery, TE Jimmy Graham, WR Davante Adams, and K Mason Crosby. We will see how injuries affect all this thru the preseason. Minicamp has yet to happen. I will cover that along with a pre training camp report next month. The "Pack Is Back" – hopefully. See you next month.

End.