Green Bay Packers quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers (12) (left) Graham Harrell (6) (center) and B.J. Coleman (9) (right) are announced to the crowd prior to the family night scrimmage at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photograph

As OTAs are about to begin this month, here at LombardiAve we have decided it would be a good time to take a closer look at each position on the Green Bay Packers roster. Over the next few weeks we will break down each position and discuss which players are safe from being cut, which players will be fighting for a job, and which players will have a long uphill battle to make the roster.

Of course, it is all speculation at this point. That is part of the beauty of the NFL offseason programs. Players who look like long shots for making the final 53-man roster prove themselves in workouts and camp and make the final cut.

Even though it’s too early to predict the final 53-man roster at this point, we will begin breaking the players down into three categories heading into OTAs with the understanding that things are susceptible to change as the offseason progresses.

For the first installment of this series, we will begin with the most important position on the field — quarterback.

Quarterback (4)

 Safe – in fact, a lock: Aaron Rodgers, 6-2, 225 pounds

Aaron Rodgers during the game against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Lambeau Field. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Green Bay has invested a lot of money in Rodgers this offseason, $110 million to be exact, but for good reason. Rodgers is simply the best player at the most important position in the league — if not in all of sports. Rodgers has played at an elite level for several years. He has led the league in passer rating the past two seasons and has been a top five quarterback since he took over the starting job in 2008.

The Packers’ success relies on the arm of Rodgers, and despite the acquisitions in the running game this offseason and efforts to improve the defense, that is the way it will be until Rodgers decides to hang it up someday. As long as Rodgers stays upright, Green Bay will continue to be in the mix as Super Bowl contenders. Let’s just cross our fingers that Rodgers stays healthy in 2013.

On the Fence - Graham Harrell, 6-2, 215 pounds; B.J. Coleman, 6-3, 231 pounds

Beyond Rodgers things remain uncertain at the position. Harrell was the number two last year after Matt Flynn’s departure to Seattle, but Harrell did very little to help his cause last preseason where he struggled to sustain drives in the first three games.

Harrell put up good numbers in the fourth preseason game against Kansas City, where he threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Harrell looked like a different quarterback in that game and showed a good command at the position, but it was the fourth and least significant preseason game, so take away from it what you will. Harrell shows a good understanding for the Green Bay offense, but may lack the arm strength and fearlessness required to succeed at the position.

B.J. Coleman throws a pass during training camp practice at Ray Nitschke Field last summer. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photograph

There is still very little known about Coleman. He was subpar in his preseason appearances last year, but after spending the 2012 year on the practice squad, Mike McCarthy has stated that Coleman demonstrated a much better understanding of the playbook and command of the huddle during rookie orientation last weekend.

Coleman seems to be a new quarterback this offseason and could challenge Harrell for the top backup quarterback position. Coleman has a stronger arm than Harrell and may have more upside, but for Coleman to take Harrell’s spot on the roster, Coleman needs to prove to his coaches that he can handle all the responsibilities of the position during a game.

This will be one of the more interesting position battles to track over the offseason. At age 27, Harrell may have already reached his ceiling as a player, so I think it is safe to say we know what we’re getting out of Harrell at this point. However, Coleman is still young and has plenty of room to improve, so if he shows significant improvement this offseason he may just be the Packers new backup quarterback.

Long Shot - Matt Brown, 6-3, 225 pounds

I have to admit I know very little about Brown. In his senior season at Illinois State, Brown threw for 3,370 yards and 27 touchdowns with a 65 percent completion rate. These look like pretty good numbers, but some wonder about the level of competition he faced on a regular basis in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Brown could be a wildcard at the position and push Coleman and Harrell, but more than likely, he remains the fourth quarterback during camp. And if Brown shows some potential, he could win a spot on the practice squad and become a player Green Bay develops over the next few years.

Last year, the Packers kept two quarterbacks (Rodgers and Harrell) on their 53-man roster and one on the practice squad (Coleman). Will they retain three quarterbacks on the roster this year? Will Coleman or Harrell be the top backup behind Rodgers? Will Brown be a surprise player at the position?

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out this offseason.

Davon House (31) breaks up the pass intended for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon (14) during last year’s game at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Green Bay Packers‘ offseason activities kick off this weekend with the rookie orientation, and it is time to get excited about the season up ahead. Every year there are a handful of low profile players that are buried on the Packers’ depth chart that really shine during offseason activities and get all of our attention. Examples of this in years past are Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Brad Jones, and Dezman Moses.

As exciting as the new high-profile rookies are, the players that will become the young core of this team will come from a variety of places, like last year’s practice squad.

Let’s take a look at some of the relatively unknown players I believe may surprise us all this offseason and become key contributors to the team going forward. I’m going to pick one player for each phase of the game as my surprise players of 2013.

Offense

Tight end Brandon Bostick (48) carries the football as safety Morgan Burnett (42) defends during family night at Lambeau Field last year. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

TE Brandon Bostick 

In case you haven’t read it, Mike Spofford from Packers.com wrote a great article on Bostick and his growth at the tight end position. Bostick spent all of the 2012 season on the Packers’ practice squad. On the scout team Bostick emulated players like Vernon Davis for the defense to practice against, and this gave him the opportunity to showcase his athleticism and receiving ability at the position. Bostick is an athletic tight end, to say the least. He played wide receiver at Newberry College and entered the NFL last season as too big (6-3, 245 pounds) and too slow (4.6 40 time) to play wide receiver at the pro level, but some teams projected him as a tight end at the pro level that could stretch the field and be affective in the passing game.

The Packers brought Bostick in last offseason to convert to tight end, and although he showed some promise, he still had a lot to learn at the new position. Bostick struggled with run blocking early on and had troubles grasping all the various responsibilities the Green Bay offense asks its tight ends to learn. These early struggles prevented the Green Bay coaches from activating him on game day, but the Packers still saw enough potential in the athletic tight end to retain him on the practice squad.

This offseason Bostick raised his weight to 260 pounds, which will help him be more of a presence in run blocking. This will bode well for Bostick as Green Bay will look to be more physical on both sides of the ball this season. If Bostick is able to improve his ability to run block, he could be a real asset to the Packers’ offense.

It will be a long, uphill climb for Bostick to make the final 53-man roster. As of now, Bostick is buried on the depth chart at a very crowded position. However, with Tom Crabtree gone there is no clear-cut second tight end on the roster to line up alongside Jermichael Finley. Andrew Quarless is returning from a major injury and may not be the same player he was in 2010. The other young tight ends still have a lot to prove, and I believe Bostick has more potential and upside than any of them. He has the potential to be another receiving threat at tight end, but he won’t see any playing time unless he shows the coaches he can do all of the dirty work required at the position. If Bostick can put it all together, expect him to make the final 53-man roster and be a key contributor to the offense this season.

Defense

CB Davon House

If House comes to OTAs and camp this year and plays well, I’m not sure if this will surprise anyone or not, but it seems at a crowded cornerback position House is often the forgotten man. House’s young career has been defined by injuries. After being drafted by Green Bay in the fourth round in 2011, House saw very little action his rookie season, dealing with hamstring issues and spending most of the season on the scout defense. However, House began the 2012 offseason as a more aggressive and much-improved player.

Davon House (31) catches a pass during training camp practice at Ray Nitschke Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

House was a standout player during OTAs and training camp and was even penciled in as the starting cornerback heading into the first preseason game last year. House looked like a future star in the Green Bay defensive backfield before dislocating his shoulder against San Diego in the first preseason game. House missed the remainder of the preseason and had to play the rest of the year with a shoulder brace. This prohibited Houses’s ability to jam receivers at the line and be aggressive in his tackling. This pushed House down the depth chart as Sam Shields and breakout rookie Casey Hayward played well and solidified the starting and nickel cornerback positions opposite Tramon Williams.

House had surgery to repair the shoulder in January, and with an offseason to heal, there’s no reason to believe House can’t return to his pre-injury form.

I look for House to have another good offseason this year, and barring any major injuries, be a contender to start at cornerback this season. Defensive back coach Joe Whitt Jr. said this offseason there will be an open competition for the starting spots at cornerback. As most will see this competition between Williams, Shields, and Hayward, don’t be surprised if House throws his hat in the ring and comes out on top.

House’s size (6-1, 195 pounds) offers a different body type than the other Green Bay cornerbacks. His physical playing style could be effective against big receivers in the division, like Brandon Marshall and Calvin Johnson. House was arguably the best cover corner on the Packers’ roster last offseason, and with Williams struggling the last two seasons maybe House will be a better candidate to play the shutdown corner role on the defense. I get the feeling House’s best play is still ahead of him. If House returns this offseason fully recovered from his shoulder injury, I believe he could be a serious contender to start at cornerback, and in the very least, be a solid player in the Packers’ defensive sub-packages.

Special Teams

WR/KR Jeremy Ross

Jeremy Ross (10) returns a punt during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Field. The Packers won 55-7. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

I imagine Coach McCarthy will relieve Randall Cobb from his returning responsibilities and use him solely on offense this season. If this is the case, I expect Ross to take over the kick and punt returning duties. Ross was a practice squad player last season until he was activated in week 15 against the Chicago Bears. The first time Ross touched the ball was when he fumbled a backward lateral from Cobb on a punt return and the Bears recovered it, nearly costing the Packers the lead. Ross’s brief career has also been defined by his fumble on a punt return in the playoff loss against the San Francisco Forty-Niners. This fumble led to the Forty-Niners going up two scores and putting the game out of reach.

Ross has had his low moments, but he has also shown some promise in his limited action as the punt and kick returner last year. After Cobb left the Tennessee game with an ankle injury, Ross took over returning duties and broke off a 58-yard kick return, and the following week Ross provided the Packers with a spark against Minnesota by returning a kickoff 44 yards and a punt 32 yards. Ross has definitely shown his ability to break a big return, and the best may be yet to come for this young player.

Ross’s size (6-0, 215 pounds) and speed (4.39 40 time) also offer some potential as a breakaway receiving threat in the pass game. Maybe with a full offseason working in the Green Bay offense and catching passes from Aaron Rodgers, Ross shows the coaches he can do more than just return punts and kicks. He could push for the fourth or fifth receiving spots on the roster.

I’m sure Ross would like to erase that fumble against San Francisco in the playoffs, but I look for him to redeem himself in the return game this season and maybe be a surprise receiving option on game day.

There is no way at this time of the year, as a fan and spectator, to predict which players will grow and develop on the roster and have a breakout season. However, you can look at players’ past work and see potential and speculate that under the right circumstances these players may grow and develop into special players. Whether these players pan out or not, look for Green Bay to continually find young talent to build their roster around.

The best indicator as to what the future holds.

For those of you who have read my previous posts, you know that I take a lighthearted approach to all the mock drafts that are fabricated based on insights garnered by Magic Eight Balls and it is the sole reason why I still believe the Packers will draft some college kid that plays football.

You also might recall that I predicted that the Green and Gold would go 0-16 this next season because that way anything better than that is a positive.  There were a few of you who did not find the humor in that.

Now as we move into the remaining days leading up to the draft and with the 2013 NFL schedule released I felt the necessity to offer up some of my more profound insights (well that and I have a $1.99 bonus in my contract that pays out if I can write more than two articles on a day that ends in “y”) as to a few things that are just a tad irritating.

The first area I would like to address is some of the negativity and general attitude towards Nick Perry.  Many pundits and bar stool general managers have questioned his physical ability to play the game.  Yes, I do understand that he professed to not want to play outside linebacker in our current defensive scheme.  I also understand that some scouts questioned his intensity and that he was not giving it 100 percent on every play.

Nick Perry, NFL bust after six games?  Photo by Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Yet I wonder how so many of these people have come to such final conclusions. I even read the article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by Tyler Dunne, where he quotes one scout as saying, “When I saw Nick, I saw more of a Vernon Gholston, said the scout, referencing the sixth overall pick in 2008 who is now out of the NFL. ”

The guy played in six games before going on IR with a knee injury and it was also noted that in the season opener against San Francisco he injured his wrist, on which he eventually had surgery.  So how can anyone professional or otherwise consider this guy a bust?

What we have seen in a total of six games is a total of 18 combined tackles,  two sacks and one pass defended.  All of which was done with an injured wrist and a bad knee.

Now I am not saying he should get a passing grade for an incomplete season but what he did show was the ability to be a presence and make some plays.  Considering he was also learning a new position as well as upgrading to the speed of the NFL, I am just irritated beyond most points of common sense to comprehend how this guy is being written off as a bust and non-factor.

Not every player is going to be a Clay Matthews and to write him off after six games is downright absurd.  Give it a year or two and if he does not perform the way he should have or was projected to, then call it a bust and move on.

Another one of those tidbits that has gotten under my skin is the projections and speculations of the upcoming season.  I just cringe when I hear that the Packers have a rough schedule based on their opponents’ records last year.

Breaking News  … what happened last year is last year, it does not count for anything this year.  Yes I was the guy who joked that the Packers would not win a game.  But the point of all that was to show how silly it is to try and predict what is going to happen in 2013.

Is it fun, sure.  Is it worth getting all worked up over and yelling and screaming when they lose to the Lions and beat San Francisco?  No.  I am passionate about each and every game.  Some may even say that I have crossed the line into a realm that may question my mental stability on Sunday afternoons.  But in the end, predicting what may happen is just as foolproof as predicting the winning lottery numbers.

Worst case scenario, Aaron Rodgers lost for the season.   Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Let me paint this scary picture.  In the third pre-season game, Aaron Rodgers goes down with a knee injury that puts him out for the season.  What do all those preseason predictions mean at that point?  Not a thing.  In fact, my prediction of 0-16 has a greater probability than most of the 12-4 predictions I have seen.  All I am saying is why get your undies in a bundle over something that we have no control over.  Can we say Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning lost for a season?

The NFL schedule is a crap shoot with any one team winning on any given day so don’t worry about it and enjoy the season as it unfolds.

Finally, I am just tired of hearing about the draft and who we are going to pick or why we should pick this guy over that guy.  I am the type of fan that does not get all geeked up putting together my draft board or tryinbg to figure out who is best for our team.

I am the lifelong fan who remembers the excitement that came with drafting Tony Mandarich (not that it lasted all that long), the signing of Reggie White and the glory years of Brett Favre.  I enjoy looking back at the story of Aaron Rodgers as he fell into our lap and what he has accomplished since then.

For me the season starts after we make our draft picks and sign the undrafted players.  Then we can start to see what we (the Packers Nation) have brought to the table and start to get into the development and determination of what we might just have and how it will help.

Truly CRAZY after all these years!

Now I am not trying to put down those fans that get into all of the draft and details that go along with this time of the year.  It is just not my thing.  I want to see the pads on and the guys hitting each other.

So please, someone, wake me when the real fun starts, because this time of the season just drives me crazy!

Dec 23, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers center Evan Dietrich-Smith (62) during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Field. The Packers won 55-7. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

An important morsel of information leaked just as the chaos brought on by the Percy Harvin and Anquan Boldin trades reached its apex yesterday. Evan Dietrich-Smith, restricted free agent and the presumed starting center for the Green Bay Packers, was tendered at the lowest level.

For those unfamiliar with the system, restricted free agents can be tendered by their teams at one of three levels. The highest level, which carries a price tag of $2.879 million, entitles the tendering team to a first round pick if another team signs the player. The middle level, coming in at a slightly cheaper $2.023 figure, returns a second round selection if another franchise signs the tendered player. The lowest tender, coming in at the very reasonable $1.323 million, will net the tendering team a pick in the same round where the player in question was selected. If the player was originally undrafted, as is the case with Dietrich-Smith, there is no draft pick compensation if another team signs the player away. Each tender provides the team with the right to match any contract signed by the player.

Dec 11, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith (62) blocks during the game against the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Raiders 46-16. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

By tendering Dietrich-Smith at the lowest level, the Packers risk losing the only player on their roster with any game experience at center for nothing. That reveals a lot about how GM Ted Thompson views Dietrich-Smith. While any objective observer favored Dietrich-Smith over the aged Jeff Saturday last season, the 26-year-old Idaho State product is still far from a dominant center. By letting Dietrich-Smith dangle in the wind, Thompson has effectively told the rest of the league what Green Bay thinks of the center’s long-term future. It’s not that Thompson doesn’t think someone will attempt to sign Dietrich-Smith – though it’s possible no team tries – but rather that Thompson sees no reason to give this player a cent more than required. Dietrich-Smith is still the odds-on-favorite to be snapping the ball to Aaron Rodgers this year, but barring an incredible improvement in play, this is probably Dietrich-Smith’s last season in Green Bay.

Oct 27, 2012; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Travis Frederick (72) during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Camp Randall Stadium. Michigan State defeated Wisconsin 16-13. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

This can also be read as strong indication that the Packers will acquire a center in the draft. It’s a two-man race between Alabama’s Barrett Jones and Wisconsin’s Travis Frederick as to who is the first center off the board. The Packers are on the short list of teams that project to make that call.

More tender and free agency news is soon to come. Keep your browser fixed to Lombardi Ave for breaking news and analysis.

Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Lombardi Ave. He has previously written for Hail to the Orange, College Hoops Net, Mocking the Draft, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JBHirschhorn.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) greets Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh before Super Bowl XLVII. While this was the last game of the season, there’s plenty of work ahead for these two and the rest of the NFL. Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday’s 2012 season-ending Super Bowl XLVII was a fitting conclusion to one of the best and most exciting campaigns for the National Football League (NFL).

I saw a tweet this morning lamenting the end of the season and the fact that there will not be anything to do for seven months.

Well, that tweeter couldn’t be far from the truth – in fact, the season is just starting – the off-season, that is … and there’s certainly plenty going on. While the casual fan looks only to the games for entertainment, those who know the league understand that this is probably the best time of year. If the season is Christmas, the offseason is Thanksgiving – and I certainly give thanks for it.

In just a few weeks, we’ve got the Combine starting, followed closely by the free agency period, the Draft, mini-camps, OTAs, training camp and a whole bunch of stuff packed between these major events. Though none of the teams have announced the dates for their mini-camps and OTAs, those dates will be announced in the not-too-distant future. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, if you think I’m exaggerating, check out this offseason schedule:

NFL Offseason Schedule

Feb. 9-10: Regional Combine (Orange Coast College in Los Angeles, CA)

Feb. 16: Regional Combine (Methodist Training Center in Houston, TX)

Feb. 17: Regional Combine (Cleveland Browns Training Facility in Cleveland, OH)

Feb. 20-26: NFL Combine (Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN)

March 2-3: Regional Combine (Atlantic Health Jets Training Facility in Florham Park, NJ)

March 9: Regional Combine (One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, FL)

March 9-11: Teams can begin negotiating with the agents of players set to become unrestricted free agents at the start of the league year (teams can only talk to agents and not the players during this negotiating window)

March 10: Regional Combine (Halas Hall in Chicago, IL)

March 12: 2013 League Year begins at 4 p.m. ET, opening free agency and the trading period

March 16-17: Regional Combine (Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Atlanta, GA)

March 17-20: Annual League Meeting (The Biltmore in Phoenix, AZ)

March 23-24: Regional Combine (Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, WA)

March 23-24: Regional Combine (Baltimore Ravens Training Facility in Baltimore, MD)

April 7-8: Super Regional Combine (Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX)

April 25-27: 2013 NFL Draft (in New York City, NY)

May 20-22: NFL Spring League Meeting (Hyatt Harborside in Boston, MA)

Like Lombardiave on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.