Packers: Five players to watch vs. Bears in season opener

5. The four big-money free agents

Billy Turner, Adrian Amos, Za’Darius and Preston Smith were all signed this offseason to make the Packers better. GM Brian Gutekunst showed once again this offseason Ted Thompson is no longer in control and he is not afraid to make big-time signings.

The Smiths were signed to replace and better the five sacks their predecessors registered last year. Amos was brought in to be a steady veteran presence and stabilize the Packers’ young, talented secondary. Turner is supposed to upgrade the offensive line and be a better fit in the wide zone system Coach LaFleur runs.

We got a very small taste of what these guys would look like in a Packers defense. Two drives against the Ravens proved to be all the sample we’d get this preseason.

The Bears have no idea how Mike Pettine will deploy his new reinforcements. Za’Darius Smith will be used all over the line, rushing from the edge and lining up in the middle. That we know, but how that shakes out is anybody’s guess.

Za’Darius and Preston Smith’s impact will be easy to see. If they are constantly in the backfield harassing Trubisky, we can count that as success. The same can be said for Amos. If the defense isn’t giving up chunk plays in the pass game, Amos has done his job of ensuring the players are lined up and know their responsibility.

Turner, on the other hand, has just as important of a job but with him, the less we see or hear his name, the better. The Bears have a top-flight interior player in Akiem Hicks. If Hicks gets going, he has the talent to disrupt the Packers offense in every phase.

It will be on Turner and the other two interior linemen to make sure Hicks and their names are said as little as possible.

The wait is finally over. In just a few short days, the 2019 season kicks off. Will this be the beginning of a LaFleur dynasty, or will the Packers bow down to the new kings in the north? I can’t wait to find out Thursday night.