2010 Training Camp Dope Sheet

*Two years after he co-founded the Packers with Curly Lambeau, George Calhoun began writing a piece called The Dope Sheet, which served as the official press release and game program from 1921-24.

Honoring Calhoun, the first publicity director, the Packers are running this weekly feature as their release, which is being made available to fans exclusively on Packers.com.

This is an abbreviated version of the 2010 Training Camp Dope Sheet. To read the full version, download the PDF by clicking here.

Here are some highlights from the 2010 Training Camp Dope Sheet:*

TRAINING CAMP ARRIVES IN GREEN BAY

• A day circled on the calendar of every sports fan – the official beginning of the NFL season – finally arrives Saturday as the Green Bay Packers kick off the 2010 campaign at Ray Nitschke Field. 

• Last seen a disappointed side walking off the field on the wrong end of the highest-scoring playoff game in NFL history, the Green Bay Packers now begin to write their 2010 story in front of what is sure to be a standing-room-only crowd this weekend.

• A tradition first started under Curly Lambeau in 1946, training camp in Green Bay remains one of the most intimate settings in all of professional sports. 2010 marks the second summer at the newly constructed Ray Nitschke Field, just a short bike ride away from the team facility.  

• Nitschke boasts the same playing surface as Lambeau Field and seating for 1,500 fans with unobstructed views and sideline access to their favorite players.   

• Just as it does at Lambeau Field, new traditions blend with historic ones at Packers training camp, as players continue to ride children's bicycles to practice, a tradition first started under the legendary Vince Lombardi. Players continue to stay in the dorms at St. Norbert College, the NFL's longest training-camp relationship between a team and school.   

• According to the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, training camp, along with Packers Family Night, will attract an estimated 100,000 visitors from across the nation and as many as 20 foreign countries from July 31 through the final open practice, Aug. 31. With an economic impact estimated at $25 million to $30 million, training camp is a financial boost to many area businesses. 

• Media and fans can visit **www.packerstrainingcamp.com** for the most up-to-date information regarding the practice schedule, events, dining and accommodation options, activities and more throughout training camp.

SAVE THE DATE

Important dates to remember (all times local):

• Friday, July 30 – Players report to training camp

• Saturday, July 31 – First practice, full pads, 2 p.m., Nitschke Field

• Sunday, Aug. 1 – First night practice, full pads, 6:30 p.m., Nitschke Field (also 8:45 a.m. practice)

• Saturday, Aug. 7 – Packers Family Night presented by Bellin Health, 6:30 p.m., Lambeau Field

• Saturday, Aug. 14 – First preseason game, vs. Cleveland Browns, 7 p.m., Lambeau Field

• Saturday, Aug. 21 – Preseason game at Seattle Seahawks, 9 p.m., Qwest Field

• Thursday, Aug. 26 – Preseason game vs. Indianapolis Colts, 7 p.m., Lambeau Field

• Tuesday, Aug. 31 – Final practice open to public, 10:15 a.m., Nitschke Field; NFL-mandated roster reduction, to 75 players, by 3 p.m.

• Thursday, Sept. 2 – Preseason game at Kansas City Chiefs, 7 p.m., Arrowhead Stadium

• Saturday, Sept. 4 – NFL-mandated roster reduction, to 53 players, by 3 p.m.

• Sunday, Sept. 5 – Clubs may establish eight-player practice squad, 11 a.m.

* *

THE MONTH AHEAD

• Eight practices under the lights at Nitschke Field headline a training camp schedule that features 24 practices, the Family Night scrimmage and four preseason games in just over one calendar month.  

• The Packers again will practice in the "2-1-2" format, as has become the custom under Head Coach Mike McCarthy. After kicking things off Saturday at 2 p.m., the team has its first "two-a-day" on Sunday with full-padded practices in the morning (8:45 a.m.) and evening (6:30 p.m.). Eight of the first nine practices are slated to be in full pads before the Packers Family Night scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 7.

• A now-signature event during camp, Packers Family Night this year is presented by Bellin Health. Now in its 10th year, the evening kicks off with on-field football drills followed by an intra-squad scrimmage and fireworks display high above Lambeau Field. The event will benefit the Wendy's Wonderful Kids foster-care adoption program.   

LOTS OF FAMILIAR FACES

• General Manager Ted Thompsoncontinued his philosophy of building through the draft in the 2010 offseason, so much of the Packers' core remains intact.   

• Thompson moved to keep that core together this offseason, re-signing veterans Chad Clifton, Nick Collins, Ryan Pickett and Mark Tauscher to contract extensions.  * *

• Clifton and Tauscher have been mainstays on the offensive line since 2000, while Collins and Pickett were two integral parts of the new 3-4 defense in 2009.

• The return of those four players means 20 of 22 starters return from a team that made its second postseason berth in three seasons.

• Leaving in free agency was Aaron Kampman, one of the most productive pass rushers in team history. Having made the switch to outside linebacker last summer, Kampman tore his ACL on Nov. 22, which put rookie Brad Jones into the lineup.

• Jones went on to start eight games including playoffs, so some may view him as a 21st returning starter.

• The team will be without defensive end Johnny Jolly, who was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Jolly's suspension began immediately in July and will continue through at least the 2010 season. He will be eligible to apply for reinstatement following Super Bowl XLV.

• That continuity extends to the coaching staff, where the same group returns for 2010. There are some slight changes however, as Chad Morton will serve as special teams assistant while Curtis Fuller serves as coaching administrator.

• Also, Mark Lovat, beginning his 12th season with the Packers, takes over as strength and conditioning coordinator. Dave Redding and Thadeus Jackson will serve as assistants in the weight room.

MEET THE DRAFT PICKS

• Training camp storylines always hover around new players and just how they figure into the depth chart. This summer, eyes will be on the seven new draft picks added to the club this past April.    

• First-round pick Bryan Bulaga, the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2009, is viewed as the potential heir to veteran Chad Clifton as Aaron Rodgers' blind-side protector. He started 23 games at left tackle over his final two seasons and was an early-entry candidate into the 2010 NFL Draft.

• The Packers stayed in the Big Ten in Round 2 by selecting Purdue defensive tackle Mike Neal. A four-year letterman and two-year starter, he played in 46 career games (23 starts) and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from the media as a senior. Neal will make the shift to defensive end in the Packers' 3-4 scheme.

• Third-round choice Morgan Burnettwas another early-entry candidate and displayed his playmaking skills at safety in his three seasons at Georgia Tech. In 40 career games, including 28 starts, Burnett intercepted 14 career passes, tied for second most in school history. He was elected team captain as a junior and led the team in interceptions each of his three seasons.   

• In the fifth round the Packers again went back to the Big Ten and drafted Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless. He appeared in 49 career games, including 29 starts, and finished his career as the Nittany Lions' all-time leader in receptions by a tight end (87) and second in receiving yards by a tight end (1,146).

• Also in the fifth round the Packers drafted offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse from Texas Christian. He was a three-year starter at left tackle and appeared in 52 career games, including 38 starts. A first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection as a senior, Newhouse may play a number of positions along the line during camp.

• Running back James Starks came to Green Bay in the sixth round. Starks became the University at Buffalo's all-time leading rusher in just three seasons and holds school records for rushing touchdowns (34) and points scored (222). He missed all of 2009 with a shoulder injury. 

• The Packers selected C.J. Wilson from East Carolina in the seventh round. A three-year starter at defensive end, he tallied 192 tackles, including 45½ for loss, and 27 sacks. He earned first-team All-Conference USA honors each of his final two seasons.

• In addition to the seven draft picks, one must also pay close attention to the non-drafted free agents, as at least one seems to make the team each year. Members of the Packers who entered the NFL via the free- agent route include S Atari Bigby, RB Ryan Grant, TE Spencer Havner, DE Cullen Jenkins and CB Tramon Williams.  

REST AND RECOVERY

• In today's NFL, training camp is no longer a time to get in shape and learn new wrinkles in the playbook.     

• Most of the roster was back for the offseason program, which began on March 15 and ran through the mandatory, three-day minicamp at the end of June. Beginning with dedicated workout sessions under the close watch of the strength and conditioning staff, activities returned to the playing field later in the spring during OTAs.

• With that offseason work in mind, Head Coach Mike McCarthy has scheduled his camp with three Wednesdays off to help the players recuperate from the grind of training camp. 

• Much like the regular season, players will not practice the day after preseason games or after the Family Night scrimmage. The additional Wednesdays off come Aug. 4, Aug. 11 and Aug. 18.

• Those Wednesdays the team will gather in the morning for weight lifting, film review and team meetings before having the afternoon and evening off. Each off day is following by two practices in one day, including the final "two-a-day" of training camp on Aug. 19.

ST. NORBERT AND THE PACKERS

• Continuing a tradition started under Packers coach Scooter McLean in 1958, the Green Bay Packers will call St. Norbert College home for a 53rd consecutive training camp this summer. The relationship between the private college in De Pere, Wis., and the Green Bay Packers marks the longest continual use of any training camp facility by an NFL team. 

• Players will take up residence in Victor McCormick Hall, a 60-room coed dormitory used to house 225 students during the academic year. * *

• St. Norbert, founded in 1898 by Abbot Bernard Pennings, borders the Fox River and enrolls around 2,000 students.

• The Packers use their own practice and team meeting facilities at Lambeau Field during training camp, with the college serving as housing headquarters.

• Players return to St. Norbert via cars and vans every evening for team dinner.

• The 6.62-mile commute is estimated at 11 minutes each way.

• The team will travel roughly 264.8 miles between the college and practice facility during training camp…that's almost 4,660 lengths of a football field. It will take an estimated 7 hours, 20 minutes for the team to commute to and from the college…roughly the time of two-and-a-half NFL games.

A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE

• The Green Bay Packers' 90th NFL regular-season schedule – headlined by six nationally televised games – was released in late April.

• Though the 2010 opponents have been known since the end of last season, the arrival of the complete NFL schedule is a day circled on the calendar of all football fans. 

• Green Bay will open the 2010 slate on the road at Philadelphia before kicking off the home schedule with the Buffalo Bills in Week 2.

• Its first prime-time appearance – against the rival Bears in Chicago on Monday Night Football – will come in Week 3. The NFL's oldest rivalry will be on display in prime time for a fifth straight season, with this first meeting of the year marking game No. 180 in the all-time series. 

• 2010 marks the 18th consecutive season the Packers have appeared on Monday Night Football, the NFC's longest streak.

• Three games are slated for Sunday night on NBC, including home games against the Minnesota Vikings (Week 7) and Dallas Cowboys (Week 9). In Week 15, the Packers are scheduled to take on the Patriots on Sunday night in Foxborough, though the game is part of the NFL's flex scheduling.

• The Packers will get their first look at the new stadium in New Jersey in Week 8 against the Jets, where they may experience some cool fall temperatures. While games at Lambeau Field later in the season always provide a home-field advantage for the Packers, the 2010 schedule is nearly void of cold-weather road games. After the Jets, three consecutive road contests will be played in domes (Minnesota, Atlanta, Detroit).   

• That's good news for a Green Bay offense that seems to thrive in domes. Including playoffs, the Packers played in a dome five times last season, exceeding 400 total net yards in four of those games.

• A number of games on the Packers' 2010 schedule – namely those on national TV – are beginning to have a familiar feel. In addition to taking on the Bears for a fifth consecutive year in prime time, Green Bay will take on Minnesota in prime time for a third straight season. The Packers and Cowboys will meet on national TV for the fourth straight season.

• The schedule concludes with two home games for the first time since 2005. One of the NFL's best teams in regular-season games played in December and January, Green Bay may need to call upon that previous success for what could prove to be two very important contests surrounding the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Games against the Giants (Week 16) and Bears (Week 17) could determine not only the NFC North Division crown but conference playoff seeding.

2010 SCHEDULE NUGGETS

• Green Bay's bye week comes in Week 10, the latest possible week for NFL teams. It marks the latest time in which the Packers have had a bye in franchise history, besting the Week 9 bye in 2004. The Packers will play nine games before the bye and seven after the open date. 

• Three of four games before the bye come at Lambeau Field, while four of five games after the bye are road contests.

• Immediately following the bye comes an important division game against Minnesota, the first of three straight road games played in domes. Under McCarthy, the team has won three of four games after the bye week and 10 of its last 14 after the bye dating back further. 

• Green Bay has always been a successful team after the bye and 2009 was no different, as the team compiled a 9-3 (.750) mark after the bye week. Since 2000, the team is 61-36 (.629) overall after the bye.

• Fifteen games are slated for Sunday, the most since 1993 (also 15). 

• Seven of the final eight games are against NFC opponents.

• The Packers have six games on the schedule against 2009 playoff teams, beginning right away in Week 1 at Philadelphia. Beginning in Week 7 vs. Minnesota, Green Bay has a stretch of four straight games against playoff teams from a year ago. The team will travel east to take on the Jets in Week 8 and host the Cowboys in Week 9 before the bye.  The stretch concludes in Minnesota in Week 11.  

• The NFL's oldest rivalry will see a first in 2010. For the first time in series history, Green Bay will host Chicago in the regular-season finale, set to be game No. 181 between the Packers and Bears. 

BY THE NUMBERS

Nothing attracts more attention during training camp, both from fans and media, than positional battles. Here's a look at the Packers' current roster. Just a quick note – the first number is the number of players at that position currently on the roster, while the second is the number at the position during Week 1 last season.

Quarterback – 3 (2)

• In his first two years under center in Green Bay,Aaron Rodgersproved he was tough, durable and accurate. Now, after throwing for 4,434 yards and 30 touchdowns, he is considered among the game's best young players regardless of position. Still only 26 years old, the sky is the limit for Rodgers in his sixth NFL season.   

• Behind Rodgers is third-year signal caller Matt Flynn, who saw his most extensive game action in 2009. Flynn has served as the No. 2 quarterback in each of his first two NFL seasons and will look to impress in preseason action after an injury kept him out of most game action last summer.

• Also at the position is first-year player Graham Harrell, who set numerous NCAA records including career TD passes and completions while at Texas Tech (2005-08).

Running back – 5 (3)

• Ryan Grant, one of only three players in team annals to post back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons, again serves as the lead back. He established career highs in rushing yards, rushing TDs and receiving yards in '09. 

• Behind Grant is fourth-year pro Brandon Jackson. A capable backup, Jackson excelled on third down last season both in the screen game and in pass protection. 

• The team has traditionally kept three running backs, so the trio of Kregg Lumpkin, Quinn Porter and James Starks will be a group to watch in August. Lumpkin made the 53-man roster in 2008 and spent last season on the practice squad.

• Starks and Porter serve as the newcomers to the group. A sixth-round draft pick in April, Starks became the University at Buffalo's all-time leader in rushing yards, rushing TDs and points scored in just three seasons. He missed all of 2009 due to a shoulder injury. Porter, a non-drafted free agent from Stillman College (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), could also get a chance to impress on punt and kickoff return.

Fullback – 3 (3)

• Last year the team kept three fullbacks, and all three return in 2010. Certainly this will be among the positions most watched when it comes down to the 53-man roster cutdown. 

• Both Korey Hall and John Kuhnhave extensive experience over the past three seasons. While both have made contributions on offense, they have served as standouts on the special teams coverage units.

• Quinn Johnson saw action in nine games as a rookie in 2009, and at 263 pounds, can bring a physical presence to the position. 

• Special teams may be the ultimate factor at fullback. If each of the three can prove to be among the most indispensible on the cover and return units, it's clear the team is comfortable with keeping three on the roster.   

Wide receiver – 10 (5)

• Veterans Donald Driver and Greg Jennings form a dangerous 1-2 combination on the outside. Jennings has topped the 1,000-yard mark each of the last two seasons, while Driver has topped the mark for six straight years and seven of the last eight.  

• James Jonesand Jordy Nelsonboth enjoyed solid campaigns in 2009 and help form great depth at the position. With so many multi-wideout formations, and an offense that puts up prolific numbers through the air, both players will have ample opportunities to produce. 

• Brett Swain showed terrific skills on special teams before a knee injury ended his '09 season, and Patrick Williams spent four weeks on the active roster to end the year. Charles Dillon, Shawn Gore, Jeff Moturi and Chastin West will all look to make their mark in their first training camp in Green Bay.

Tight end – 5 (3)

• Tight end serves as one of the deepest positions on the team, which has to please Head Coach Mike McCarthy, who often uses multiple tight end sets in the offensive scheme.  

• Jermichael Finleywon't sneak up on anyone this season as he has emerged as one of the bright young talents at his position. Blessed with rare size and speed, he is coming off a breakout season in 2009, including a franchise playoff-record 159 yards receiving in the Wild Card playoff.

• Veteran Donald Lee has recorded at least 35 receptions for three straight seasons and is a reliable target for Rodgers. Few 2009 storylines were better than the emergence of Spencer Havner, a converted linebacker and special-teams ace who caught four touchdowns.

• Andrew Quarless, a fifth-round draft choice this past April from Penn State, brings another big-bodied athlete to the group, while Tom Crabtree returns after finishing the year on the team's practice squad.

Offensive line – 14 (9)

• All five starters from a year ago return, but that doesn't mean there won't be competition along the line.

• Veterans Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher both re-signed this offseason. The duo has held down the tackle spots since 2000. First-round pick Bryan Bulaga will get to learn from Clifton on the left side, while second-year man T.J. Lang will get a look on the right side as well as inside. Breno Giacomini also will be in the mix at right tackle, while Allen Barbre will swing both outside and inside. 

• Many eyes will be focused on the battle inside, where a number of players with starting experience are in competition. Josh Sittonis an emerging player at right guard, where he started all 16 games in 2009. Jason Spitz returns from a back injury that sidelined him for nearly all of 2009 and could compete with veterans Daryn Colledge (left guard) and Scott Wells (center) for a spot in the lineup.

• Also competing along the inside are second-year pro Evan Dietrich-Smith and fifth-round draft choice Marshall Newhouse. Rookie free agents Chris Campbell (tackle) and Nick McDonald (guard) will put on the pads for the first time in Green Bay.

Defensive end – 7 (4)

• One of the more intriguing position groups in training camp, the defensive end group will be led by veterans Cullen Jenkins and Ryan Pickett. Jenkins started all 16 games last season in the new defense, finished second on the club with 4.5 sacks, and provided stellar run support that helped the Packers finish No. 1 against the run. Pickett, a nose tackle last year, made the switch to end this offseason. No matter where he has played, be it a 4-3 defensive tackle or 3-4 nose, Pickett has excelled as a space eater and run stopper. Given his experience at the nose position last year, he can also play inside if needed. 

• Justin Harrelland Jarius Wynnhave a chance to be in the rotation. Wynn saw action in 11 games as a rookie in 2009, while Harrell missed all of last season with a back injury. Also, Ronald Talley, who spent last year on the practice squad, will be in the mix.

• Two players who have the chance to make an early impact at end are rookie draft picks Mike Neal (second round) and C.J. Wilson (seventh round). Neal was a two-year starter at defensive tackle for Purdue, while Wilson earned first-team all-conference accolades his final two seasons at East Carolina. How quickly each grasps a new position and the playbook will determine his ability to make an early impact.

Nose tackle – 2 (2)

• The Packers kept only first-round pick B.J. Raji and Pickett last season, so those trying to figure out where the Packers go with the 53-man roster will be paying close attention to this position. 

• Raji enters camp as the starter after flashing as a rookie a year ago. While injuries slowed his performance out of the gate, he became a solid contributor along the line toward the end of the season, showing his potential in both run and pass defense. Most of his first season was spent at either end position or as a down lineman in the nickel package, but he was repped extensively at the nose this offseason. * *

• Anthony Toribiohas spent time on the team's practice squad each of the last two seasons and is familiar with the scheme.  

Linebacker – 12 (9)

• This position undergoes far less transition than it did one year ago. Last season, the team kept nine linebackers, five of whom played outside and four of whom were in the middle. 

• All four of those inside linebackers return and make up what could be argued is the deepest position on the team. Nick Barnett, Desmond Bishop, Brandon Chillar and A.J. Hawk all saw significant playing time in both base and sub packages. Barnett and Hawk served as the two in base, while defensive coordinator Dom Capers came up with packages such as 'Big Okie' and 'Psycho' to get Bishop and Chillar on the field. 

• On the outside, the team will depend upon a couple of second-year pros in Brad Jones and Clay Matthews. Matthews surpassed expectations in collecting his first Pro Bowl appearance and a double-digit sack season, but the emergence of Jones should not be overlooked. Forced into the lineup because of injuries, he collected four sacks over the final five regular-season games and remained a contributor on special teams.  

• Rookie free agent Alex Joseph (Temple) will look to make his mark at one of the inside linebacker spots, while a host of players led by veteran Brady Poppinga will compete for time at outside linebacker. Poppinga, heading into his sixth NFL season, is the most experienced of the group.  

• Second-year man Cyril Obiozor spent the entire season with the club last year, first on the practice squad and then the final five regular-season games and an appearance in the playoffs. First-year player Robert Francois, a late-season addition to the practice squad in '09, joins non-drafted free agents John Russell (Wake Forest) and Frank Zombo(Central Michigan) as young players who have an opportunity to make an impression as a backup on the outside. 

Cornerback – 9 (6)

• All Charles Woodson did last season was have one of the most dominating seasons ever at his position, justly taking home NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors to become the first cornerback to do so since Deion Sanders in 1994. 

• Used a number of different ways by Capers because of his intelligence and innate abilities, the Packers will look for Woodson to continue to cause havoc all over the field.

• Woodson's partner at the position,Al Harris, is coming off ACL surgery after suffering the injury Nov. 22. Though he may be held out of drills early on in camp, it would be unwise to count out Harris, a player who overcame long odds before ascending to a Pro Bowl level.

• Tramon Williamshas continued to get better, and the fourth-year pro will be counted on heavily as Harris returns to action. He has ample experience, with 48 games and 20 starts already under his belt.

• Pat Lee andBrandon Underwood are two players who will be watched closely during camp. Lee, a second-round pick in 2008, has been limited to five games in two seasons after dealing with injuries, while Underwood played in 11 games last season as a rookie. Both could work their way into the nickel and dime defense with a good camp.

• Jarrett Bushremains one of the team's best special teams players and saw extended action from scrimmage last season, while Josh Bell joined the team in late November and saw some game action. Young players D.J. Clark and Sam Shieldsalso will get an opportunity in their first training camp in Green Bay.

Safety – 7 (4)

• Securing back-to-back Pro Bowl berths has solidified Nick Collins' status as one of the game's best at his position. Opposite Collins, however, will be where most of the focus is in the back end.

• Atari Bigbynotched 11 starts in '09 and has had injury issues each of the last two years. Bigby's absence this offseason also gave the coaches a look at third-round pick Morgan Burnett, an early-entry candidate who led Georgia Tech in interceptions each of his three seasons. 

• Adding to the intrigue at the position are candidates such as Will Blackmon, the team's primary return man who is making the switch from corner and is coming off ACL surgery, and Derrick Martin, one of the club's finest special teams players. Veteran Charlie Peprah and rookie free agent Anthony Levine will be in contention for a backup spot as well. 

Specialists – 4 (3)

• Though no specialist job in the NFL could ever be deemed secure, kicker Mason Crosby and long snapper Brett Goode are the only players at their respective positions on the roster. Solid performances in camp and in preseason action should earn each a roster spot. 

• The team knows it will have a new punter in 2010, as Chris Bryan and Tim Masthay will compete this month for those duties. Masthay spent last summer with the Indianapolis Colts, while Bryan, a former Australian rules football player, will be seeing his first game action.