By Dave Roloff Published Jul 31, 2004 at 5:43 AM

The road to the Super Bowl begins this weekend as the Green Bay Packers open training camp. In today's NFL every team has its weaknesses. The Packers are not strangers to that fact. There are a few position battles that will be very intriguing leading up to Sept.13 in Charlotte. The Packers will need a few young players to step up and become starters. Here is a look at a few players who might just be that guy.

{image1} Carl Ford - 86
Age: 23
Date of birth: Oct. 8, 1980
Hometown: Monroe, Mich.
College: Toledo
HT: 6'0" WT: 179
NFL Seasons: 0-R
Drafted by Green Bay in 2003 (7/256).

Carl Ford showed some promise in last year's camp but injured his knee and was placed on injured reserve ending his rookie campaign. Ford is a very intriguing player, because he has the inside track to be the fourth receiver.

The Packers like to spread the field in passing situations making that fourth receiver spot vital. The fourth receiver last year was the enigmatic Antonio Freeman. Freeman's lack of speed cost the Packers a minimum of three turnovers because the opposing team's defensive back would sit on his routes because the had no fear of him running by them.

Simply having a better athlete at this spot will spread the field and open holes for the Packers' other three receivers Donald Driver, Javon Walker and Robert Ferguson. Ford doesn't have much competition for his spot, but he needs to show that he can produce in order for Tom Rossley to feel comfortable going four wide.

{image2} Ahmad Carroll - 28
Age: 20
Date of birth: Aug. 4, 1983
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
College: Arkansas
HT: 5'10" WT: 193
NFL Seasons: 0-R
Drafted by Green Bay in 2004 (1/25).

First round draft picks are often the most scrutinized players in camp, but that will only be the tip of the iceberg for Ahmad Carroll. The impending holdout of starter Mike McKenzie means that Carroll will experience a baptism by fire. The Packers will find out very quickly whether Carroll can live up to the hype, because nothing sticks out worse in the NFL that a rookie corner.

If new defensive coordinator Bob Slowik plans to be as aggressive defensively as he has planned he needs someone to step up to fill the gaping hole left by McKenzie. You cannot blitz in the NFL without having the confidence in your corners to survive on an island. Carroll has some large shoes to fill, and we will find out very quickly if he is up to the task.

{image3} B.J. Sander - 11
Age: 24
Date of birth: Jan. 5, 1980
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
College: Ohio State
HT: 6'3" WT: 222
NFL Seasons: 0-R
Drafted by Green Bay in 2004 (3/87).

The last time the Packers used a high draft choice on a kicker, Ron Wolf selected Brett Conway out of Penn State in the third round of the 1997 draft. Conway couldn't stand up to the pressure of kicking in Lambeau Field as he missed his first three attempts and got booed directly out of Green Bay during a pre-season game.

This year Mike Sherman not only used a high draft choice on a punter, but he traded up in the third round to select Ohio State punter B.J. Sander. Let's hope that Sander gets off to a good start, because his leash with the patrons will not be very long.

Sander is not a punter with a booming leg - his specialty is downing the ball inside the twenty, something in which Josh Bidwell was a complete failure. A forgotten key play last year's playoff loss to the Eagles was after Sherman decided to punt on fourth and one from the 41, Bidwell netted the Packers only 21 yards by driving his punt through the end zone. Sander should be a marked improvement and should help the Packers defense with better field position.

{image4} Mark Roman - 23
Age: 27
Date of birth: March 26, 1977
Hometown: New Iberia, La.
College: Louisiana State
HT: 5'11" WT: 184
NFL Seasons: 4
Drafted by Cincinnati in 2000 (2/34).
Acquired as a free agent in 2004.

The Packers are desperate to find a quality free safety so they can release the reigns from Darren Sharper. Mark Roman was signed as a free agent from Cincinnati making that possible. The Pack has struggled in the secondary due to missed assignments and the inability for the free safety to make plays. In fear of giving up too many big plays the Pack have had to use Darren Sharper in the role of center fielder, thus wasting his abilities around the line of scrimmage.

Roman is a safety that has played corner and is known for his coverage skills. If Roman fits the bill it will not only solidify the free safety position it will improve the strong safety position as well. Roman will have to battle it out with third-year safety Marcus Anderson and converted corner Bhawoh Jue, although neither of those players have demonstrated the consistency that is necessary to be a starter.

Donnell Washington - 95
Age: 23
Date of birth: Feb. 6, 1981
Hometown: Beaufort, S.C.
College: Clemson
HT: 6'5" WT: 323
NFL Seasons: 0-R
Drafted by Green Bay in 2004 (3/72).

The Packers are ultra-thin at defensive line and are looking for one of their rookie defensive tackles to surprise. Last year Sherman spent a third and fifth round picks on Kenny Peterson and James Lee and received little-to-no production. This year Sherman used his picks in the third and the sixth round to draft Donnell Washington and Cory Simmons in the hope of adding some depth at end and tackle.

The Packers are banking on Washington to fill that void. He is another mystery pick by Sherman just as James Lee was in 2003. Washington is known for being an under achiever and over weight. The word is that he has rededicated himself and has lost much of the weight that caused his limited production at Clemson. If Washington is ready to play he has unlimited potential and could be a boom pick just as much as he may be a bust.

Chris Johnson - 37
Age: 24
Date of birth: Sept. 25, 1979
Hometown: Longview, Texas
College: Louisville
HT: 6'0" WT: 187
NFL Seasons: 0-R
Drafted by Green Bay in 2003 (7/245).

Chris Johnson, like Carl Ford, lost his entire rookie season due to a knee injury during training camp. Also like Ford he was a seventh round pick in the 2003 draft and he made a stunning impression in last year's camp with his aggressiveness and his athletic ability at corner.

Johnson is not yet healthy and is the forgotten man after the Packers used their first two selections on corners. He was the fastest player coming out of the 2003 draft, and only time will tell if he regains his 4.2/40 speed. Johnson could also be an option next to Najeh Davenport returning kickoffs if he can get himself on the field before the season begins.

Only 46 days until opening night. The question still remains whether the Packers have the horses to get back to the Super Bowl. Most of the pundits are naming the Eagles and the Seahawks as favorites of the NFC. If some young players can fill a few holes the Pack should be right in the thick of things come January.

Dave Roloff
Dave was born and raised on the south side of Milwaukee. He is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh where he graduated in Business while playing four years of football. He is a sports junkie who, instead of therapy, just watches the Bucks and the Brewers. Dave is a season ticket holder for the Brewers, Bucks and Packers, as well as a football coach at Greendale High School. Dave still likes to think he still can play baseball but has moved on to the more pedestrian sports of bowling and golf. Dave is a Pisces and it depends on whom he is walking with to determine whether he likes long walks on the beach. Dave writes with an encyclopedic knowledge and a sarcastic flare. Mainly to insure his sanity.