The pace picks up the end of the month as all of the Green Bay Packers arrive for the start of the first Organized Team Activity, a three-day festival marking the start of the football year and all things green and gold.

The Packers odds of winning the Super Bowl in 2016 are 11-2, tied with the Seattle Seahawks, just behind the Indianapolis Colts (which nobody seems to understand), and just ahead of the New England Patriots.  

The first OTA is the start of an intense search by Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy and all the other personnel people and assistant coaches to fill the few holes that remain on this roster.

First of all, let’s be clear that everybody is coming to Green Bay. As a matter of fact there are five players, each of whom gets $500,000 for taking part in offseason workouts – Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Sam Shields and Jordy Nelson.

So we’ve got the big five and a whole bunch of other great players. That is not, however, to say that the Packers can just sit tight and not bother to find new players to fill holes.

Scanning the World Wide Web for previews and and analysis from experts and even a few professional scouts who actually know something, it looks like the Packers have at least three pressing needs and one "kind of" question.

1. Defensive End

Anyone who has watched the Packers, either in person or on television, understands the value of being able to put pressure on the opposing quarterback. Julius Peppers added some fire last season and moving Matthews inside was both a surprise and a stroke of semi-genius.

But the defense doesn’t get much of a pass rush from the two defensive ends. Veteran Mike Daniels is entering his fifth year and appears to have a lock on one of the end positions, but he’s better against the run than he is as a pass rusher.

Datone Jones is entering his fourth year and appears to be healthy so the other end spot is his for the taking, but again, he’s been hampered by injuries and has demonstrated that he’s better at stopping the run than rushing the passer.  

2. Tight End

Mike McCarthy loves tight ends and in his dreams he’s got a tight end who can run routes, catch passes and block like a tackle. Give him a player like that and it expands the repertoire of offensive attacks available to him.

Well, he doesn’t have one.

Veteran Andrew Quarless has six years of experience and is the nominal incumbent. But he doesn’t have the whole package.

Richard Rodgers was a third-round pick last year but it took him a good chunk of the season to catch on to what the offense was doing. He’s got great hands and runs good routes, but he has shortcomings as a blocker which may improve with experience and instruction. At 6-4 and 260 he’s the right size. But he only started 11 games in college and his inexperience shows. Coaching and time may make him the answer, but if not, McCarthy is going to keep on looking.

3. Offensive Line

This need is less about finding a new starter and more about acquiring some solid depth.

Last season the there was only a one-game miss by the five starters on the offensive line. That spate of good health ranks in the miracle category and is not likely to be the case this season.

There are really only two backup linemen on the roster, J. C. Tretter and Don Barclay. They are both versatile but if either one has to be a starter for a serious length of time the Packers could be in difficult straits.  It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Packers make some adjustments in position for the offensive line, but they could still use a stud as a backup left tackle, the most crucial position on the line.

And one bonus question

Julius Peppers had a huge impact last year. He had seven sacks and two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns.

But he is going to be 36 years old by the time the Super Bowl rolls around and this will be his 14th season. He is a magnificent physical specimen but there is wear and tear. He has played in all 16 games for the last seven seasons and there is some question about whether he can duplicate the  year he had last year.