The Packers Biggest Questions As Training Camp Approaches

The Green Bay Packers return to the practice field in just three weeks. When they do, what should fans be most on the look out for? Lets look at one of the biggest questions facing each unit before practice begins in earnest.

The Packers Offense

Can Jordan Morgan play left tackle?

Maybe the most important question the team needs to figure out not only for this season, but potentially for years to come. Rasheed Walker was not good last year. Not only was he not good, he got even worse in the most important moments. Go back and watch the wildcard loss to Chicago again. More than anything else Walker seeming to forget how to play football sunk the Packers offense in the second half. The contract he received in free agency should tell you all you need to know about the leagues opinion on him.

For this season in a vacuum, Morgan just being competent at the position would be a significant upgrade. For the long term, Morgan being able to hold his own would have the Packers set at the tackle positions for the long term future between him and Zach Tom. There’s reason to believe he can do it too, while it was a small sample size, the games Morgan played at tackle last year looked competent, even good at times. Holding up over the long term though is a different story, and one Packers fans should be keeping an eye on.

The Packers Defense

Can one (or two) of Green Bay’s edges take the leap?

Despite optimism in the spring, the most likely outcome for Micah Parsons is a midseason return, similar to the timetable that Christian Watson went through. So with that being the expectation the Packers are going to need a guy, hopefully two guys to step up and provide a modicum of pass rush.

The most obvious candidate would be Lukas Van Ness, who looked good in flashes last season before injuries derailed his season.

The other options presently on the team are Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver, Brenton Cox Jr, Dani Denis Sutton and Arron Mosby. Including LVN this group in its entirety has generated just 16 sacks. Now, there are the obvious caveat – the majority of these players are only first or second years and injuries have played a factor. But regardless, there is plenty of reason to be concerned about the pass rush until Parsons returns.

If Green Bay is going to survive the first half of the schedule, they’re going to need one ore more of these players to step up, otherwise the Packers could be looking at a lot of shootouts.

Special Teams

Can Trey Smack live up to expectations?

Never draft a kicker. Words often repeated in both real life and fantasy football scenarios. Green Bay went against the grain when they selected Smack in the 6th round of this years draft. Not only that, they sent extra picks out to jump up and take him.

The early returns have been what you’d call mixed, with streaks of makes and misses that didn’t do a lot to build early confidence that the Packers got their second bite at drafting a kicker correctly.

That being said its very early and kicking in Lambeau isn’t like kicking in Florida. If Smack can come out swinging early in camp it would go a long way to building confidence in a coaching staff and a fanbase that spent last year lamenting the cost of missed kicks in multiple losses.

If Smack falls apart early look for the Packers to turn to Lucas Haverisik first, holder of the Packers longest made FG in team history.