One of the longest-running cliches in football is that "the games are won in the trenches".  Sure, you can come up with some valid points that make this true, but look at how Green Bay used its defensive linemen during the playoffs.  In non-goal line situations, there were more instances of the defense using 2 or 1 down linemen than 3 or more.  Capers' ability to use multiple linebackers and defensive backs helped compensate for the relative shortage of healthy linemen, and it worked well enough to win a championship.  The Packers won plenty of battles away from the trenches, to be sure.

Next season?  If nothing else, Capers will at least have the option of using 3 or 4 down linemen.  Let's break them down: 

Defensive Ends (6): Justin Harrell, Cullen Jenkins, Johnny Jolly, Mike Neal, C.J. Wilson, Jarius Wynn

Defensive Tackles (4): Howard Green, Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji, Jay Ross (practice squad)

#77 Cullen Jenkins

Player Progression (progress/stagnate/regress from 2010): stagnate

Team Standing (expanded/same/diminshed role): same role

Likelihood of Long-Term Retention: poor

If/when the labor agreement is settled, the preamble to all our 2011 articles will change from "If there's a 2011 season" to "If Cullen Jenkins stays".  He's a crucially important part of this defense, and articles like this hint at his departure.  

It's borderline depressing, since Jenkins' transition from above average 4-3 DT to very good 3-4 DE was as important to the defense's success as Charles Woodson.  He posted a career high in sacks (7.0) despite missing serious playing time with injuries to his hand and calf.  He's probably the best DE on the roster in terms of run support, and his pass rush ability makes him one of two possible 3-down linemen on the roster. 

Still, he's past 30, and there's a lot of young talent on the depth chart (most notably Mike Neal).  Letting Jenkins walk is a predictable Thompson move: get the same production from a younger player for a fraction of the cost.  And Thompson deserves to be trusted...but it'd be nice to keep Cullen around.

#91 Justin Harrell

Player Progression: progress

Team Standing: expanded role

Likelihood of Long-Term Retention: poor

#97 Johnny Jolly

Player Progression: progress

Team Standing: expanded role

Likelihood of Long-Term Retention: average to high

#96 Mike Neal

Player Progression: progress

Team Standing: expanded role

Likelihood of Long-Term Retention: high

#98 C.J. Wilson

Player Progression: stagnate

Team Standing: same role

Likelihood of Long-Term Retention: average

#94 Jarius Wynn

Player Progression: stagnate

Team Standing: diminished role

Likelihood of Long-Term Retention: poor

#95 Howard Green

Player Progression: stagnate

Team Standing: diminished role

Likelihood of Long-Term Retention: average to poor

#79 Ryan Pickett

Player Progression: regress

Team Standing: diminished role

Likelihood of Long-Term Retention: poor

#90 B.J. Raji

Player Progression: progress

Team Standing: same role

Likelihood of Long-Term Retention: high

Jay Ross

Player Progression: who?

Team Standing: huh?

Likelihood of Long-Term Retention: Maybe if everybody else on this list gets hurt.

* * *

Defensive line was the position on defense with the least amount of focus on it going into 2010.  Everyone was unsure of the depth at cornerback and linebacker, but we regularly lauded the fact that the team collected a deep group of versatile linemen.  After the injuries and suspensions hit, the unit was saved by two things: Raji's breakout year and Capers' continued schematic creativity.  

Now?  The group looks even deeper than before.  With Mike Neal, Johnny Jolly, and even Justin Harrell making comebacks, it's like we're getting three fresh draftees just by getting them out of the trainer's room or off probation.

The biggest question is the status of Cullen Jenkins.  If he stays, then this line goes from merely good to great and one of the deepest units in the entire league.  Retaining Jenkins allows the team to play their base set more than just 25% of the time without losing the threat of a pass rush.  It would allow the line to rotate Neal and Jolly in whenever the situation called for it, keeping all five top linemen fresher.  Our goal-line defense would be absolutely stacked, with Jenkins-Raji-Green-Pickett-Jolly up front.  

On the flip side, his departure would create a huge question mark as to which end will be asked to step up the most.  It would influence Capers towards running more of the hybrid 2-down linemen schemes, which is vulnerable to the run.  When they do run the base defense, my money is on a starting trio of Raji-Pickett-Neal, at least until Jolly is back and in football shape.

All things considered, the APC staff assigned the defensive line a grade of not particularly important to address.  The line is already going to be solid with who's guaranteed to be on the roster in 2011; this article from Pro Football Focus doles out high praise to Raji and Neal particularly.  The only real choice to make is whether or not to re-sign Jenkins.  If he walks, it's probable that Thompson looks at a late-round player to add to the rotation.  But that'll be the extent of it.

Or will it?  Poll!