2010 Green Bay Packers Season Preview

The 2010 Green Bay Packers Preview on paper looks as if the team will be plenty capable of competing for the NFC and the Superbowl. They are well-rounded on both the offensive and defensive sides of the football, and should have motivation and determination given how their season ended last year.

In overtime in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, the Packers lost a heart-breaker on the road to the Arizona Cardinals. During the overtime session, Rodgers was sacked and the ball came out of his hand and in an unlucky twist, bounced off of his foot and into the waiting arms of linebacker Karlos Dansby. Dansby subsequently took control of the ball and ran the 30 yards to the goal-line to end the Packers year.

It was the end to what looked to have been a promising year to for the Packers. However, looking ahead, there are not too many reasons to think that the 2010 Green Bay Packers will not endure the type of success they enjoyed in 2009.

Offensively, the team ranked in the top-five in both total offense and total defense in the NFC, including the second-ranked defense in the entire NFL. Rodgers led the offense to the third-ranked passing attack in the conference, averaging 261 yards per game. On the year, the quarterback threw for 4,434 yards and 30 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. The Packers were also effective at rushing the ball, gaining 117 yards per game on the ground behind Ryan Grant and his 1,250-yard year.

It was the defense that excelled the most in 2009 however. Green bay was tops in the NFC and ranked No.1 in the NFL against the run. The secondary shined as well however, ranking second in the NFC against the pass, surrendering just 201 yards per game. The turnover margin was +24 on the year, which was a driving force behind the success of the defense and the team.

Still, the Packers finished runner up in the NFC North, behind Minnesota by one game. Looking at the 2010 scope, the Packers know they will need to play better against Minnesota, as the the Vikings bested the Green Bay in both match up in 2009.

2010 Green Bay Packers Coaching Staff & Changes

Head coach Mike McCarthy is entering his fifth season at the helm of Green Bay, coming off an 11-win year. McCarthy made the move to change his defensive staff a season ago, and it worked out beautifully, as they switched and implemented a 3-4 base defense in 2009. The Packers struggled in 2008, winning only six games and McCarthy made the necessary changes on the coaching staff.

No changes were necessary this off-season, and that proved to be the case as the coaching staff from 2009 will be back with the 2010 Green Bay Packers, with the defensive staff heading into their second full year in the 3-4 base system.2010 Green Bay Packers Key Free Agency Acquisitions & LossesAcquistions
P - Chris Bryan (DNP - 2009)

Losses
OLB - Aaron Kampman to Jacksonville Jaguars
DE - Mike Montgomery to Minnesota Vikings2010 Green Bay Packers NFL DraftRound 1: Pick 23 - OT, Bryan Bulaga (Iowa)
Round 2: Pick 56 - DT, Mike Neal (Purdue)
Round 3: Pick 71 - SS, Morgan Burnett (Georgia Tech)
Round 5: Pick 154 - TE, Andrew Quarless
Round 5: Pick 169 - OT, Marshall Newhouse
Round 6: Pick 193 - RB, James Starks (TCU)
Round 7: Pick 230 - DE, C.J. Wilson (East Carolina)2010 Green Bay Packers QuarterbacksIn Rodgers' second full season as the Green Bay starter, he quickly became in the conversation among the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Rodgers completed 65 percent of his passes and threw for 4,434 yards along with 30 touchdowns. He also threw just seven interceptions in 541 attempts. As such, Rodgers was selected to his first-ever Pro Bowl last season that has culminated into the high expectations for him in 2010. The one thing that must be paid close attention is how many times Rodgers was sacked. No quarterback in the league was sacked more times, 50, then Rodgers.

2010 Green Bay Packers Quarterback Depth Chart
QB - Aaron Rodgers
QB - Matt Flynn2010 Green Bay Packers Running BacksRyan Grant is coming off one of the best seasons in his career, rushing for 1,253 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Packers lean heavily on Rodgers and the passing game, but Grant added a nice element to the offensive attack in 2009. Behind Grant is Brandon Jackson, who was drafted in 2007. Jackson was utilized primarily in third-down situations and will likely assume that role again. Green Bay also uses full back John Kuhn, who caught 15 passes and had three total touchdowns and is yet another weapon Rodgers can use.

Projected 2010 Green Bay Packers Running Back Depth Chart
RB - Ryan Grant
RB - Brandon Jackson2010 Green Bay Packers Wide ReceiversGreg Jennings and Donald Driver are the two anchors in the receiving corps for Rodgers and the Green Bay pass attack. Both are big weapons, and capable of producing big plays at any time. Jennings lead the corps with 68 receptions for 1,113 yards and four touchdowns. Driver hauled in 70 receptions for 1,061 yards and six touchdowns. Behind the duo is James Jones and Jermichael Finley, who combined for over 1,000 yards receiving and five touchdowns a piece. There is not shortage of receivers available to Rodgers to throw too and they will be a strength of the 2010 Green Bay Packers offense.

Projected 2010 Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Depth Chart
WR - Greg Jennings
WR - Donald Driver
WR - James Jones
WR - Jordy Nelson

Projected 2010 Green Bay Packers Tight End Depth Chart
TE - Jermichael Finley
TE - Spencer Havner 2010 Green Bay Packers Offensive LineFor the first part of the 2009 season, the offensive line for the Packer struggled mightily. They are responsible for an NFL-high 50 sacks allowed on Rodgers, though they improved towards the latter portion of the season. Center Scott Wells and Right Guard Josh Sitton were the primary reason for the improvement in the second half of the season. To help however, the Packers drafted Bryan Bulaga out of Iowa in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft to come in help with depth and potentially start. McCarthy is hoping that the unit will be exhibit more consistency throughout the entire length of the season.

Projected 2010 Green Bay Packers Starting Offensive Line
LT - Chad Clifton
LG - Jason Spitz
C - Scott Wells
RG - Josh Sitton
RT - Mark Tauscher2010 Green Bay Packers Defensive LineIn 2009, the Packers switched up their defensive staff and their defensive scheme. The new staff brought in many changes including switching their base defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4, a move that worked wonders for the team as they were the best in the NFL against the run. That begins with the men up front on the defensive line. B.J Raji, the first-round selection of 2009 is back at full strength, and the Packers bring in Mike Neal out of Purdue as a rookie this season. In addition, Cullen Jenkins and Johnny Jolly make up the rest of the corps of the unit that should be every bit as goo in 2010 as a year ago.

Projected 2010 Green Bay Packers Starting Defensive Line
DE - Johnny Jolly
NT - Ryan Pickett
DE - Cullen Jenkins2010 Green Bay Packers LinebackersThe linebackers for the 2010 Green Bay Packers are arguably the strength of the defensive unit. They are very active in the 3-4 scheme and have play-makers at the position. It begins with Clay Matthews, who was selected to the Pro Bowl after tabbing 10 sacks on the season. Nick Barnett and A.J Hawk led the team in tackles with 105 and 89 respectively. Barnett had 10 tackles for a loss while Hawk added seven. If they can stay healthy, this unit could once again be one of the top in the league.

Projected 2010 Green Bay Packers Starting Linebackers
OLB - Brad Jones
ILB - A.J Hawk
ILB - Nick Barnett
OLB - Clay Matthews2010 Green Bay Packers SecondaryThe secondary for the Packers showed weakness at times, but behind nine interceptions and four forced fumbles by veteran Charles Woodson, they proved to be solid. In fact, Woodson was voted the Defensive Player of the year in the NFL and rightfully so. The Packers had 30 interceptions in 2009, which led the NFL and the highest turnover margin as well at +24. Al Harris should be back after losing out on last season following a torn ACL. Green Bay made the move to acquire Morgan Burnett in the 2010 NFL Draft to help out at Safety.

Projected 2010 Green Bay Packers Starting Seconday
CB - Charles Woodson
CB - Al Harris
SS - Atari Bigby
FS - Nick Collins

2010 Green Bay Packers Preview