5 Green Bay Packers Players with the Most to Prove in 2014

The Green Bay Packers are once again entering a new season with playoff expectations and Super Bowl aspirations. With more than five weeks of training camp and four tedious preseason games in the rearview mirror, the Packers find themselves with a roster capable of just about anything this year.

The Packers offense, the staple of the team during the Aaron Rodgers-era, is as talented and healthy as ever. The defense, recently known for being inconsistent and far from stout, is looking revamped this year with more of a veteran presence, characterized by speed rather than bulk.

This promising roster didn't step up in Week 1's blowout loss to the hard-hitting, loudmouth Super Bowl champion Seahawks. So Packers management, coaches and fans may be far from settled on what to expect from each position as players continue to battle to solidify starting roles or move up the depth chart.

The Packers have more than their fair share of players, young and old, who have something to prove. This article profiles the five players with the most to prove in 2014.

What qualifies a player as having the "most to prove?" Good question.

Here is a list of the criteria used (not in any specific order):

1. Player's draft position (for younger players)
2. Player's recent production versus their career output (for veteran players)
3. Importance of position 
4. Competition from others at the same position

The Packers boast a considerably talented roster entering the 2014 season, though—as with any NFL team—Green Bay still has ongoing positional battles. 

The players listed below didn't quite make the cut for "most to prove," but that doesn't mean they can simply coast through the season without a sense of urgency.  

Nick Perry

Perry, a physical specimen powering through 35 reps on the bench press at his 2012 draft workout, was selected in the first round that year by the Packers.

Green Bay was hoping to position him opposite the destructive pass-rusher Clay Matthews to help collapse the pocket. That hasn't exactly worked out. Perry has done little to impress during his time in Green Bay and that time grows shorter each week. If healthy this year, he will have to translate his gym strength to the field with more effective bull rushes and consistent gap control as he shares time with Julius Peppers.

If not, Perry's next job might be at a gym.

David Bahktiari

Bahktiari was the 109th pick by the Packers in 2013. He wasn't expected to make much of an impact in his first year.

But when the left tackle position opened up due to a season-ending injury to Bryan Bulaga, Bahktiari was thrown in as the starter at the most important position on the offensive line. To the surprise of most around the league, he outperformed all expectations and started every game during the 2013 campaign as Aaron Rodger's blindside protector. He proved his worth last year, now he must prove it again and again to ensure that the face of the franchise doesn't end up on the ground.

Why does he have so much to prove if he outperformed expectations last year? That's the life of a left tackle in the NFL.

Jarrett Boykin

Boykin is entering his third season in the league. Each year he has shown improvement as his playing time has become more consistent. He collected 49 catches for 681 yards and accounted for three touchdowns. Not bad for a third or fourth option.

The Packers will be expecting more from him as he continues to find his place within their high-flying offense. He has a lot to prove this year, with the pressure of rookies Davante Adams and Jeff Janis fighting for playing time. But with his 6'2", 218-pound frame, he should be able to put up a good fight.

The stable of tight ends

Andrew Quarless, Richard Rodgers, Brandon Bostick and Ryan Taylor make up the Packers platoon at the tight end position.

This group, unlike most positions on the offensive side of the ball, lacks a true superstar-caliber player, but it certainly brings depth and versatility. Each tight end on the roster has something to prove and he will have plenty of opportunities to do so lined up at various places in the Mike McCarthy's offensive formations. With their size, speed and athleticism, each player has the chance to prove their worth and become the number one guy.

If they don't, expect Green Bay to invest in higher draft picks next year to address this position.

It isn't often you'll see Julius Peppers listed in a category titled "most to prove." With his illustrious career, he has shown the ability to consistently produce at the highest level. This is evident when looking at his career sack total of 118.5 over 12 NFL seasons. 

Player's recent production versus their career output:

Peppers made a name for himself years ago as a member of the Carolina Panthers. Nobody is expecting the production of 25-year-old Peppers, but Packers management and players are confident he's much better than what he showed in Chicago last season.

Packers defensive end Mike Daniels knows how talented and athletic the elderly Peppers can be for this defense when he called him a "freak of nature," according to Larry Hartstein of CBS Sports.

Importance of position:

At 6'7", 287 pounds, he is an intimidating figure to lineup against, but he will have to prove to his coaches and teammates that at 34, he can still terrorize opposing offenses from what is a critical position in the Packers front seven. If he can successfully create pressure, that will open up opportunities for Clay Matthews to attack from wherever that human cyclone chooses to rush.

Competition from others at the same position:

Although Peppers is entrenched as the starter at right outside linebacker, that doesn't mean young guns Nick Perry and Mike Neal aren't itching to unseat him. Peppers has to prove that he can be more than just a situational pass-rusher.

Peppers finds himself on this list because of how important his production is to the success of the defense. But he doesn't crack the top four, because he is in the final stage of his career and will be expected to rush the passer and not much else.

The Packers believed the addition of Datone Jones this past year would be a step toward replacing the team's older, less athletic line (think Ryan Pickett and Jerel Worthy) with quicker, more versatile defensive linemen. 

Player's draft position:

Jones was a surprise pick by some when the Packers selected the 6'4", 285-pound defensive end with the 26th overall pick in the 2013 draft. He had a productive college career at UCLA, where he regularly found himself disrupting the opposing teams' backfields.

Jones was drafted ahead of other linemen who experienced success in their rookie campaigns, and he will be judged over the next few years on his progression and production on the field. For a first-round selection, he has a lot to prove in order to silence critics and avoid being labeled a "bust."

Importance of position:

With the Packers struggling the last few years to find reliable defensive linemen through the draft and with Johnny Jolly and Ryan Pickett departing, the Packers need production from their defensive linemen in whom they invested high draft picks.

As seen by the Seattle Seahawks this past season, a productive defensive line allows linebackers to make plays and makes the jobs of defensive backs easier.

Competition from others at the same position:

It's troubling to think Jones could potentially be pushed for snaps by Josh Boyd, who was selected 141 picks after Jones in the 2013 draft. Fortunately for Jones, there is little competition behind Boyd on the depth chart, so it's up to him to take advantage of his opportunities and become an impactful leader of the defensive line.

Jones has more to prove as an all-around player this year than the older Peppers, who will be asked to focus more on pressuring quarterbacks. He finds himself third on this list and not higher because of the importance of the positions listed ahead of him. 

Packer fans most likely had no idea who Letroy Guion was at the start of training camp. Guion, a veteran entering his seventh season, was signed in March as a free agent to add a serviceable, large-bodied force to Green Bay's young and athletic defensive line.

Entering camp, Guion probably felt well-suited for a backup role behind starter B.J. Raji. Well, things have changed, and now Guion has much to prove to show he can step in as the starter after Raji's season-ending biceps injury suffered in the preseason.

Player's recent production versus their career output:

Guion fits into this list as an exception to the typical criteria used here. He was used sparingly the first four years of his career before earning a starting role for a lack-luster defense the last two seasons in Minnesota. He has never registered more than two sacks in a season, but that doesn't seem to deter his confidence in playing nose tackle. According to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

I'm very confident in myself," Guion said. "I know how to play nose tackle. I'm going to shock everybody when I get there. Nobody's seen nothing yet. That can be a good or a bad thing, but I'm going to make it a good thing.

 

Importance of position:

It goes without saying how important the nose tackle position is to a successful 3-4 defense. Some of the greatest 3-4 defenses of the last decade were anchored by top-tier players like the Patriot's Vince Wilfork and the Steeler's Casey Hampton.

With a block-eating anchor at the center of a 3-4 scheme, defensive ends and linebackers are able to move  around the field and make plays. Without the imposing Raji lined up over center, the Packers will be counting on stellar performances by Guion. If he can't manage to hold the line this season, the Packers will be gutted by hard-nosed running backs—as they were by Marshawn Lynch in the season-opener (110 yards on 20 carries)—and will be unable to force pressure up the middle to accommodate edge-rushers like Matthews and Peppers.

Competition from others at the same position:

The Packers are slim at nose tackle without Raji and two of last year's occupants on the line, Pickett and Jolly. But with the only true competition coming from the unproven but talented rookie Mike Pennel, the Packers will be counting on Guion to step up and outperform his previous six years in the league to ensure the Packers' defensive woes don't continue in 2014. 

Guion may not have thought he'd ever be on a list like this when signing with the Packers as a backup to Raji.

But that's the NFL: next man up.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was drafted in the first round this offseason by the Packers to solidify a shaky defensive backfield that gave up big plays and failed to generate turnovers.

With Clinton-Dix's role as the Alabama Crimson Tide's signal-caller, he was essentially an extension of Nick Saban and the defensive coaching staff on the field. With the book on M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian at safety closed, Clinton-Dix was thought to be stepping into a starting role without much competition.

However, that wasn't the case as Mycah Hyde took full advantage of his reps at the safety position during training camp and surprisingly pushed Clinton-Dix to the second unit.

Player's draft position:

In choosing Clinton-Dix with the No. 21 overall pick, the Packers were looking to add an athletic, long playmaker to a safety position that had lacked an impact player since Nick Collins went down with a career-ending injury in 2011.

Clinton-Dix at times showed promise throughout the preseason but was unable to beat out the do-it-all Hyde. It will be up to Clinton-Dix to display his abilities on special teams and in certain defensive packages where his terrific range can best be utilized.

Who knows, maybe the Packers first-round pick in 2014 can't outperform Hyde, but he'll end up surpassing Morgan Burnett at the strong safety position.

Importance of position:

Packers safeties are crucial to the effective execution of defensive coordinator Dom Caper's defense. Clinton-Dix needs to first prove he can make plays. Once that's accomplished, he must learn the defense so he can call signals and correctly position his fellow defensive backs.

Competition from others at the same position:

The Packers have assembled a deep and talented group of cornerbacks through the draft. They haven't had that same luck at the safety position, and this failure has cost them in recent years. With the addition of Clinton-Dix, the rise of Hyde and the experience of Burnett, the Packers have more reliable options this year.

Clinton-Dix needs to show he is better than at least one of those two.

With his age, draft status and the fact he plays a position of need for the Packers, Clinton-Dix has a lot to prove. But cracking the starting lineup will be good for starters.

Yes, this is about as "unsexy" as it gets. But for people who know football, they understand the importance of the center position and realize how fragile that position is on this otherwise stacked roster.

The Packers have operated a carousel at the center position the past few years and with the most recent departure of Evan Dietrich-Smith to Tamp Bay, the Packers will once again work with a new man in the middle. J.C. Tretter was supposed to start off as that man, but he was recently put on the injured reserve-return list, according to Josh Alper of NBC Sports, due to a knee injury suffered during the preseason.

With Tretter out, Corey Lindsey is in. Lindsey, the 161st overall pick in this year's draft, is a decorated center out of Ohio State University with loads of experience against some rough defensive lines in the Big Ten. He, similar to Guion, probably didn't expect to be on a list such as this. But with injury, comes great responsibility to step in.

Player's recent production versus their career output:

Lindsey played four seasons for Ohio State and was named first-team All-Big Ten his senior year. He has played in big games and succeeded in high-pressure moments. The pressure is on now more than ever to perform.

Importance of position:

As stated earlier, the center position is key to the success of an offense. Not only does the center touch the ball on every single offensive play, but he is responsible for organizing blitz coverages and ensuring the other four linemen know their assignments and protections on passing plays.

Competition from others at the same position:

There is the utmost pressure on Lindsey, as the 2014 campaign begins. After all he is the last reliable option at center. It won't be competition that pushes Lindsey. It will be the fact that if he fails, the Packers fail with him.

Lindsey has the most to prove coming into this season and unfortunately for him, he'll be forgotten by the media and fans if he performs well or blamed if he plays poorly.