1. If the Packers lost a bunch of close games last year, how will replacing Ryan Longwell with Billy Cundiff help?

I'm not exactly sure. Longwell complained a lot, which probably didn't increase his chances of returning to Green Bay. The Packers also made a serious run at would-be Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri in free agency, so it's not as if they were downplaying the importance of a great kicker.

Cundiff, who made 60 of 82 field goals (73.1 percent) for Dallas across four seasons, may not end up on the roster by September. Former Michigan State kicker Dave Rayner was in camp this weekend, and the Packers are likely to pick up a veteran off the street before training camp.

2. Can rookie receiver Greg Jennings become the next Antonio Freeman?

The early reviews on the Western Michigan product have been positive. I didn't figure the Packers would take him because of Mike McCarthy's stated preference for bigger receivers (Jennings is 5-11, 196). But Jennings was hugely productive in the Mid-American Conference, catching 56, 74 and 98 balls in his last three seasons, 39 for touchdowns.

Jennings doesn't look like the home run threat that Walker was in 2003-'04, but he could become the team's next Antonio Freeman -- a possession receiver capable of yards after the catch and occasional big plays. Don't get your hopes up this year, though. PackersNews.com reports that only six of 23 rookie receivers taken in the second round over the last five years have caught 40 or more passes. Plus, Brett Favre will need to get comfortable with Jennings before he utilizes him.

3. Has the offensive line improved?

Center Mike Flanagan is gone and guards Will Whitticker and Adrian Klemm appear to be ex-starters, which leaves Scott Wells in the middle with rookie Daryn Colledge at left guard and second-year man Junius Coston penciled in at right guard.

At this stage, I wouldn't focus too much on the names. The important thing is the new zone-blocking scheme that offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski is implementing. Considering how well it's worked in Atlanta and Denver, I'm hopeful the new scheme will improve the Packers run game by default. The fear is that, like last year, new starters will never mesh and the running game will be stuck in neutral all season.

4. How good is new cornerback Charles Woodson?

Well, he's better than Ahmad Carroll. Woodson has battled injuries for the last few seasons, and he's never had more than the five interceptions he had in his rookie year. But, he's still just 29 and has the physical tenacity to break down a running play on the corner. Paired with Al Harris, Woodson gives the Packers legitimate coverage men on either side. If they're both doing their jobs, the safeties should have more opportunities to ballhawk in the secondary.

5. Who will return kicks now that Antonio Chatman is gone?

Woodson fielded some punts this weekend, but the coaching staff might be trying to placate him with the possibility for the time being (Woodson is eager to get his hands on the ball, be it on offense or special teams). The Packers are hoping rookie receiver Cory Rodgers will win the job before September. He averaged 31.7 yards on kickoff returns in 2005. Considering Najeh Davenport's injury history, it would be a major surprise if Rodgers isn't fielding kickoffs when the games begin, despite Davenport's at-times effective "me strong like bull" return style. Boston College rookie Will Blackmon is another possibility.

6. Is Ahman Green over the hill?

A lot of people like to mention that Green was looking pretty ordinary (255 yards, 3.3 ypc) before the leg injury that wiped out most of last season. I'll grant them that. But the line was awful, too, and I'm not ready to write off a guy with a 4.6 ypc number for his career who won't be 30 until 2007.

Running backs wear out quicker than, say, receivers, but Green deserves a chance to play himself out of a job. If he's right and Samkon Gado is legitimate, the Packers could have an impressive 1-2 punch at RB.

7. Can Brett Favre change?

No. Many coaches have tried to tame Favre, but none have succeeded (Mike Holmgren merely harnessed him for a year or two). McCarthy has said all the right things about helping Favre reduce his interceptions, but the best thing he can do in that regard is commit to the running game. When Favre has one, he's still very good. When he doesn't, he's an aging QB that announcers and fans still love, but one who isn't capable of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Even at his best, Favre fired off a lot of questionable balls into double-coverage, and he'll do so again this year. If he throws 16 interceptions (one per game) or less, I'll be thrilled.

8. How good is rookie linebacker A.J. Hawk?

The draft is accompanied by two types of stories: instant "report cards" grading out how well a team addressed its needs, and contrarian pieces which insist you can't possibly judge a draft the day after it's over. Of course you can't, but the papers still come out the next day.

As for Hawk, it's difficult to see him failing. A friend and non-Packers fan e-mailed me on Monday to congratulate me on the selection (as if I was in the War Room): "Hawk's a beast," he simply wrote. He is, and it's about time the Packers had someone like Hawk in the middle of their defense (note: you always want pro-war guys to play linebacker for you). He may not turn out to be Ray Nitschke, but he won't be Torrance Marshall, either.

9. Will Mike McCarthy earn the veterans' respect?

I'm guessing so. Mike Sherman wasn't all things to all people, but his players seemed to respect him. And because of the injuries and circumstances that befell the team in 2005, it's safe to say not everyone agreed with Ted Thompson's decision to replace Sherman with McCarthy.

But in many ways, the new head man is straight from central casting. He's a big, solid man with blue-collar American roots. As his former mentor, McCarthy already has Favre's respect, which is vital. And his stock and trade is a variation of the same offense the team has been running for 15 years.

10. Will the Packers win more than 10 games?

Yes. The Packers are a rebuilding team, but they probably lost more games than they should have in 2005. The schedule is easier this year, as well, featuring the likes of New Orleans, Arizona, Buffalo, the Jets and 49ers. And I'd be willing to bet the Packers win more than one game in the NFC North in 2006.

The Packers needed a lot of good fortune to win 10 games in 2004 and a lot of bad fortune to lose 12 in 2005. Somewhere in between -- six or seven wins -- sounds about right for 2006.