Broncos vs. Packers preview: Looking at Green Bay's offseason changes

1) Both of our teams have been locked and loaded for the 2015 season. What changes were made from a coaching standpoint to help get your team to 6-0 this off season?

There are two significant coaching changes this year - the first was Mike McCarthy giving up the playcalling, something he has handled ever since arriving in Green Bay in 2006. Tom Clements now handles that, with Edgar Bennett moving up from his post as wide receivers coach to replace Clements as Offensive Coordinator. The move has allowed McCarthy to spend more time contributing to the defense and special teams and it also seems to be helping him manage the game better on the sideline. The feel of the offense hasn't really changed, though, since Clements and Aaron Rodgers had been so integral to the game plans in recent years anyway.

The other big move was the firing of special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum, who was replaced by Ron Zook. Zook's units have not been exceptional, but have been solid and unspectacular - but compared to last year's special teams, that is a massive improvement. The Packers had seven kicks blocked a year ago and of course messed up that awful onside kick against the Seahawks, but they have had no significant blunders so far this season.

2) What personnel changes happened this off season that has had a big positive impact on the Packers? What changes haven't been so helpful?

As is usually the case, the Packers' biggest personnel changes have come through the draft. The top three picks have all made critical contributions at their primary positions, and the class as a whole has bolstered the special teams significantly.

In the secondary, veteran corners Tramon Williams and Davon House departed in free agency and were replaced by the Packers' top two picks, Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins. Both have been impressive, Randall especially. Third-round wideout Ty Montgomery has stepped in due to the injuries to Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams and been a big contributor on offense, as well as adding some spark to the return game.

Finally, the re-acquisition of James Jones was a huge shot in the arm for the offense after Nelson went down. After being released by the Raiders before camp and the Giants at final cuts, GM Ted Thompson picked up Jones almost instantly and he has been a critical part of the passing game, both making big plays (over 20 yards per catch) and coming up big in the red zone (3 of his 6 TDs have come from inside the 15-yard line).

3) Talk about scheme changes that have been made this year. The offense doesn't look terribly different from what I saw last year and all we hear about the defense is Clay Matthews moving to MLB. What's been done to make your defense so potent? Are we missing any changes on offense?

The Packers' offense is going to be more or less the same as long as Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy are together - there will be a lot of adjustments at the line of scrimmage, a lot of no-huddle, and a lot of three-wide sets. One thing Packers fans have been frustrated about is the lack of production from Eddie Lacy, but James Starks has been picking up the slack admirably. The Packers do need to establish a solid running game, though, as they like to use play-action to open up the deep ball.

On defense, though Matthews is playing inside a lot now, he has become at linebacker what Charles Woodson was for DC Dom Capers in the secondary a few years ago. Matthews plays every linebacker position now, and gives Capers a unique weapon to move around all over depending on the situation. The secondary still plays a lot of press-man and the Packers tend to use their 2-4-5 nickel as a base formation - and they're especially likely to do so against a receiving corps like that of the Broncos.