Packers: Reviewing the roster midway through preseason

Reviewing the Green Bay Packers by position group midway through preseason.

Halfway through the preseason, we are starting to see what direction the Green Bay Packers are heading in, as well as what direction some of the players are trending in. Since we do not see much of the starting units in the preseason, this is a time to figure out which players are pushing starters for their roles, which players are deserving of roster spots, and which players don’t look quite ready for the NFL.

With the return of Aaron Rodgers, Packers fans are expecting to return a high octane offense that puts a lot of points on the board. With new additions at tight end, Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis, Rodgers has a couple more very large targets with plenty of NFL experience, and the two will serve as deadly red-zone threats as well.

Dom Capers‘ time in Green Bay has come to an end, when he was fired after the 2017 season. The Packers brought in Mike Pettine to fill his shoes. Packers fans are hoping to see a revitalized and nastier defense under Pettine, who has never had a defense coordinated by him finish outside of the top 10 in total defense.

While that could seem like a tall task given the defense’s recent history, Pettine brings a whole different approach to this defense – an approach built on accountability, creative blitz schemes to free up open runners at the quarterback, and bringing a nasty attitude out on the field against opposing offenses.

As long as Pettine can get this defense into the top 15 in total defense in the NFL, this is a Super Bowl team.

Let’s take a look at how the offense, defense and special teams have looked so far this preseason, and dive into which players have been helping or hurting their stock to make the 53-man roster.