The Packers have a couple of capable kickoff return men in 25-year old WR Jordy Nelson and 25-year old CB Will Blackmon.  Nelson played in 13 games for the Packers last season and he returned 25 kickoffs for 635 yards (25.4 avg).  He has now played in 29 games in his two years with the Packers and he has returned 36 kickoffs for 843 yards (23.4 avg).  Nelson is a big guy at 6′3″, 215 pounds so he has power to go along with his speed.  This is a good way for the Packers to get Nelson onto the field as he is currently the #4 WR on the team.

25-year old CB Will Blackmon is also a solid return man.  He played in 3 games for the Packers last season and he returned 10 kickoffs for 233 yards (23.3 avg).  Blackmon has now played in 32 games in his four years in the NFL and he has returned 66 kickoffs for 1,393 yards (21.1 avg). 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PACKERS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  C+

Aaron Rodgers took a beating early last season before the offensive line came together in the second half of the year.  34-year old LT Chad Clifton is getting a little long in tooth but he’s still a good pass blocker when healthy.  LG will either be manned by Jason Spitz or Daryn Colledge in 2010.  My money is on Spitz to win the job as he’s a better all-around guard than Colledge is.  Scott Wells really played well at center after Jason Spitz got injured last season and it looks like he will be the starting center in 2010.  RG Josh Sitton is the run blocking demon of his group as he’s a nasty man when he steps between the white lines.  33-year old Mark Tauscher will be the RT for the Packers this year.  Tauscher doesn’t excel at anything but he’s at least solid at everything.  T.J. Lang and first round pick Bryan Bulaga give the Packers quality depth behind the starters for 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PACKERS O-LINE in 2010:  B

46-year old head coach Mike McCarthy is rising to the top of the NFL as a head coach.  He led the Packers to a 11-5 (68.8%) record during the regular season but they then fell 51-45 in OT against the Cardinals in the playoffs.  McCarthy now has a 38-26 (59.4%) record in his four years as the head coach of the Packers during the regular season and he’s 1-2 (33.3%) in the post season.  McCarthy is a tough guy and a strong leader for the Packers so I expect them to be good for a while.

25-year old kicker Mason Crosby has a very strong leg but he’s not the most accurate kicker around.  The Packers would love to see him improve in that part of his game.  Crosby connected on 27 of 36 field goals (75%) last season for the Packers.  He also made 48 of 49 extra points as he finished up with 129 points.  He has now played in 48 games in his three years with the Packers and he has made 85 of 109 field goals (78%).  He has also made 142 of 143 extra points as he has 397 points in his career with the Packers.  The Packers expect more out of Crosby and I think he will give it to them in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PACKERS KICKERS in 2010:  B

35-year old Donald Driver just hasn’t been acting his age as he is still probably the best WR on the Packers.  Driver played in 16 games (all starts) for the Packers last season and he caught 70 passes for 1,061 yards (15.2 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  He has now played 11 years for the Packers appearing in 161 games (124 starts) in which he has caught 647 passes for 9,050 yards (14.0 avg) with 49 TD grabs.  Driver has also carried the ball 34 times for 217 yards (6.4 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.  Driver has made it to 3 Pro Bowls in his NFL career.  I don’t see Driver making it to another Pro Bowl in 2010 but I think he will play well for the Packers as long as he can stay healthy.

26-year old Greg Jennings is the up and coming star of the Packers’ WR corps.  Jennings played in 16 games (13 starts) for the Packers last season and he caught 68 passes for 1,113 yards (16.4 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  He has now played in 59 games (52 starts) in his four years in the NFL and he has caught 246 passes for 3,957 yards (16.1 avg) with 28 TD grabs.  This might be the season that Jennings overtakes Driver as the Packers’ #1 WR.

26-year old James Jones will have to hold off Jordy Nelson in training camp to stay the #3 WR for the Packers in 2010.  Jones played in 16 games (3 starts) for the Packers last season and he caught 32 passes for 440 yards (13.8 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  He has now played in 42 games (14 starts) in his 3 years with the Packers and he has caught 99 passes for 1,390 yards (14.0 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  Jones is one of the better #3 WRs in the NFL.

25-year old Jordy Nelson was been a solid player for the Packers but he will be looking to move up the depth chart in training camp.  Nelson played in 13 games (0 starts) for the Packers last season and he caught 22 passes for 320 yards (14.5 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has now played in 29 games (2 starts) in his two years with the Packers and he has caught 55 passes for 686 yards (12.5 avg) with 4 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PACKERS WRs in 2010:  A+