With training camp already under way, here are some key questions looming for the Pack.
What happened to Andrew Quarless, Datone Jones, and Letroy Guion in the offseason? Will they play this season?
Quarless recently told reporters that his newborn daughter passed away during childbirth. He was also involved in an incident with a firearm in Florida last month. He has not been suspended and remains with the team competing for the starting tight end position with Richard Rodgers.
Jones was suspended one game for PED use, but will play in the team’s other 15 games pending injuries. He has accepted his suspension and is moving on to be a better player and better man. The Packers will need him to bounce back right away against the Seahawks Week 2 with a very thin defensive line.
Guion was arrested for possession of hundreds of grams of marijuana and almost $200,000 in cash in February. He was suspended for three games by the NFL and is still awaiting his appeal. The Packers hope his suspension will be reduced and they can have him back to help their defensive line.
Who will replace Tramon Williams?
After Williams left Green Bay to sign with the Browns, the Packers are turning to two of their draft picks to take over at the second outside corner position. Sam Shields is the team’s best corner and will start with that big contract, while first-round pick Damarious Randall and second-round pick Quinten Rollins will be in the mix alongside Casey Hayward. Even though Hayward is the team’s second best corner, he will likely be guarding the slot receiver position most of the time, so Randall and Rollins’ development is very important to this team. In my opinion, Williams was trending down anyway, and I believe Randall and Hayward will be able to fill his void pretty well. Micah Hyde can also play some corner if need be and will be in on nickel and big pass play formations.
What is the Packers plan to approach inside linebacker?
The plan is to move Clay Matthews to inside linebacker for good, and the Packers are hoping to get solid play out of rookie Jake Ryan and former draft pick Carl Bradford. Sam Barrington is still in the mix and one of those three guys will start along Matthews with Julius Peppers and Nick Perry at the outside linebacker positions.
Will Davante Adams have a breakout season in his second year?
Not only do the Packers have the NFL’s best quarterback (Aaron Rodgers) and two of the league’s best receivers (Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb), they also have Adams, who should make a huge impact on offense this season. With all of the coverage those two guys get, Adams will be in the mix and take on even a bigger role than James Jones had in the Packers offense over the years. He is only getting better and the Packers are excited about him.
Is Ty Montgomery the real deal?
The Packers believe Montgomery is a bigger Cobb, and we have no reason not to believe their word. He will likely return all kicks and punts at least this season. With the way the Packers have developed wide receivers over the years, there’s no reason not to believe in Montgomery, a third-round pick.
What are the Packers expecting out of Brett Hundley?
The Packers believe in Hundley’s ability to call a game and his intelligence. He is definitely worth watching over the next few years to see what the Packers think of him. They are expecting him to work hard and get better like every other player.
Will Jared Abbrederis make the 53-man roster?
With another injury setback this week (concussion), Abbrederis will likely not make the team unless another wide receiver gets hurt. He and Jeff Janis are a lot alike, but Janis would likely make the team over Abbrederis at this point.