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Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette previews the offensive line in his position by position outlook on the team in the run up to OTAs. Noteworthy is Pelissero's prediction that Breno Giacomini will win the starting right tackle job. "Giacomini (6-7, 311), a nasty fifth-round pick in 2008 who made big strides with the scout team as a rookie, would be the clear favorite if he weren’t coming off ankle surgery that has sidelined him for much of the offseason program," writes Pelissero. I really have no idea who will win the starting right tackle job. Giacomini has as good a chance as anyone, but...

Mike Spofford of the Packers official website profiles Allen Barbre who is in a battle with Giacomini among others for the starting nod at right tackle. At the very least, Barbre is saying all the right things. "I think I play nasty," Barbre said in the article. "I think I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder when I play, and I think that's very vital to an offensive line. The offensive line leads the team and kind of sets the tone for the team, and I like to set that kind of tone." I'd like to think Barbre also has a fair shot, but both rookies T.J. Lang and Jamon Meredith figure in the mix, and don't count out Mark Tauscher either.

Spofford is also taking a three part look at OTAs, which are set to being next week. He begins by taking a look at the offense and talked to offensive coordinator Joe Philbin. One thing that stuck out was that Philbin says the Packers will spend more time practicing two-minute situations citing that was one of the team's weaknesses last season. "We're going to practice that more often, devote more time to it," Philbin said. "Obviously you believe as a coach if you place a certain emphasis on something, your hope is and your anticipation is it's going to improve and it's going to get better. That's one part of our game we looked at that we really think we have to improve on and we're taking some steps we think to become more productive." When you lose seven games by four points or less, yeah, that's a good idea.

Pelissero gives us a peek into what the schedule for OTAs looks like this week. "Tuesday is an administrative day (physicals, equipment checks, etc.)," according to Pelissero. "The first practice is on Wednesday, marking the first time all position groups will have been on the field together since late December, and the first time for the veterans to take the field with the new crop of rookies and the remodeled coaching staff."

The position by position analysis continues for Pelissero (busy guy lately) with the tight ends. The interesting prediction here this time is undrafted rookie Carson Butler will become the team's third tight end. "Butler (6-4, 255) received a $6,000 signing bonus, tops among the Packers’ undrafted rookie signings on offense, and has an intriguing combination of size (7-foot-plus wingspan), speed (4.6 40) and hands," writes Pelissero. "But he never lived up to his potential at the University of Michigan while repeatedly landing in the doghouse with two coaches, then leaving school a year early." I agree. I can't imagine Tory Humphrey sticking around another season. He was healthy and was given every chance to make an impact last season and didn't.

Finally, Pelissero takes a look at the defensive line and thinks Ryan Pickett will be a starting defensive end for the Packers with B.J. Raji manning the nose. "Coach Mike McCarthy has said Pickett (6-2, 330) has a chance to win the starting nose tackle job," writes Pelissero, "but the ninth overall draft pick Raji (6-2, 337) is the long-term plan at the position. With Pickett about to hit age 30 and entering a contract year, the torch could be passed sooner than later. Either way, Pickett and Raji both figure to play some left end and nose tackle in the base defense, and Raji’s pass-rushing acumen makes him a good bet to play inside in nickel, too." I will add that Pickett has more hustle in him than most people think.

The NFL has allowed teams to broker deals with state lotteries as another source of income, and you can bet the Packers will agreeing to a deal sometime in the future. The New England Patriots have already done so, and it didn't take them long. “We think there is potential in this new area and we’ll be taking a look at the opportunity,” Laura Sankey, Packers senior vice president of marketing and sales told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “As we do with all our potential partners, we’ll want to strive to build and enhance both our businesses.”

Newly signed rookie tight end Travis Dekker is being used an example by Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun why the Department of Defense needs to change the rule regarding service academy graduates two year service commitment. "Calhoun argues that by leaving slightly ajar the door to an immediate pro opportunity (or other job with public relations benefit to an academy) academies would be more attractive to potential recruits," writes Colorado Spings Gazette reporter Jake Schaller. "Thus the pool of applicants would become even stronger."

Cheesehead TV critiques PackerChatters, and PackerChatters issues their response.

Wide receiver Donald Driver visited Slinger Elementary School earlier this week issuing words of inspiration to the young ones. "Driver's visit was prompted after Slinger students, faculty and their families banded together to collect an area-best total of 27,965 items in Goodwill Industries' Pack'er Up Donation Challenge," reports gmtoday.com.

Stay tuned for big news coming after the Memorial Day weekend regarding a Railbird Central event. We're covering OTAs in a whole new way. I'll leave it at that.

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