Two-a-Days: Previewing the Green Bay Packers and Detriot Lions

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 NFL season I am going to take a look at two teams a day. I will give you the impact players on offense and defense, a breakout player, and the biggest training camp.

Offense

QB - Aaron Rodgers

RB - Ryan Grant

WR - Donald Driver

WR - Greg Jennings

TE - Jermichael Finley

Defense

DT - B.J. Raji

DE - Ryan Pickett

OLB - Clay Matthews

CB - Charles Woodson

S - Nick Collins

Breakout: James Jones - Another year, another quick strike offense Aaron Rodgers has to work with. But another year also means Donald Driver is on the doorstep of retirement and too old to do the damage he has done for years. Greg Jennings should still be the number one option, but James Jones has a chance to move out of the slot and become the unquestioned second option and have his best season as a pro.

Biggest Training Camp Question: Starr, Griese, Bradshaw, Montana, Aikman, Elway and Brady - These are the only QBs in league history to lead their team to back-to-back Super Bowl wins and to think Aaron Rodgers is ready to step into that class is a lot to take in. Every team is gunning for the defending champs and if the Pack think the road to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI is an easy one, they're going to end up missing out on the playoffs completely.

Last year's record: 10-6

Projected finish: 12-4 (1st in NFC North)

Offense

QB - Matt Stafford

RB - Jahvid Best

WR - Calvin Johnson

WR - Titus Young (r)

TE - Brandon Pettigrew

Defense

DT - Ndamukong Suh 

DT - Nick Fairley (r)

DE - Kyle Vanden Bosch

OLB - Stephen Tulloch (acquired in free agency)

CB - Eric Wright (acquired in free agency)

Breakout: Jahvid Best - I don't think the Lions are sold on Best as an every down running back becuase they went out and drafted Mikel Leshoure early in the second round. But Leshoure is already out for the season and the Lions will need to rely on Best. I believe we have not seen the best of Best yet and Maurice Morris, the backup, is not going to be taking carries away from him. 

Biggest Training Camp Question: Every year some one prognosticates the Lions have a chance to do something special and once again they are everyone's sleeper. It may come down to QB Matt Stafford staying healthy for a full season, or having a resemblance of a run game that teams need to account for, or what will the new look defense do. Things have not gone right in Motown for a long time and while there is no question they are moving in the right direction all the fans want to see a handful of games before they go and buy playoff tickets.

Last year's record: 6-10

Projected finish: 9-7 (2nd in NFC North)

** Check back tomorrow for a look at the Texans and Colts