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SportingNews.com - NFL - Packers Team Report

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If things continue to go as they have, the secondary will be in far better shape than it was a year ago when Ahmad Carroll started the season as the nickel back. There is a heated race between five players for the important nickel corner spot and all are far better than Carroll was. Of the group, which includes Patrick Dendy, Jarrett Bush and Will Blackmon, Blackmon is the best athlete and would be the ideal candidate because he's big, fast and aggressive to the ball. Charles Woodson will play the slot, so the nickel's main job is holding down the boundary receiver. Bush has made the most improvement of any corner and has been consistent. Dendy lacks size, but has the most experience and is the most ready to play. ...

The running back position has been decimated by injury and is proving to be more of a question mark than it was when the season started. Tentative starter Vernand Morency has been sidelined for several weeks with a knee injury, prospect P.J. Pope is probably out for the year with a knee injury and promising rookie DeShawn Wynn has battled a stomach virus and thigh injury. That has left second-round pick Brandon Jackson as the top candidate left standing. All along he was pegged as at least a part-time starter, but he has a lot to prove after starting just one year at Nebraska. He's shifty but not particularly fast. He has struggled with pass protection, but is not an unwilling blocker. If he doesn't prove ready, the club is going to have to take a chance on a free agent veteran, possibly someone like Corey Dillon or a veteran obtained through a trade.

NEWCOMER REPORT: First-round DT Justin Harrell has been a disappointment the first two weeks of training camp, especially where pass rushing is concerned. Harrell missed all but three games of his senior season at Tennessee, so he's getting used to being in pads again. He didn't report in particularly good shape and has been slow out of the gate. His pad level is too high and he isn't very explosive. The coaches are still confident he can contribute as a run defender, but right now he's fifth on the depth chart among defensive tackles and would be inactive if the season started today. ...

One of the surprises of training camp has been sixth-round FB Korey Hall. A former college linebacker, Hall has picked up the fullback position with ease and very well could be the starter come opening day. His biggest contribution is expected on special teams, but the aggressiveness with which he attacks his fullback duties has the coaches excited.

SCOUTING REPORT: DE Cullen Jenkins appears poised for a huge season. Jenkins is a slippery pass rusher with a great first step, loose hips and tremendous balance. He came into the league as an undrafted free agent and has had to work for everything he's got, so there's no question about his hustle. He's limited as a run defender because he's under 300 pounds, but he's good enough. This will be his first full season at end after coming into the league as a tackle. He has the potential to be a double-digit sack man if he doesn't wear down.

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