Cheese Curds, 5/15: Several Packers rookies took unusual routes to the NFL

The Green Bay Packers’ first selection in the 2019 NFL Draft has had a pretty certain future since his high school days. As the nation’s number one recruit in his class, Rashan Gary always looked like a player who would be drafted highly into the NFL, and though his college production seemingly lagged behind his physical tools, the Packers made him the 12th overall pick.

For a few of their later selections, however, the road to pro football has been much more bumpy.

Toledo cornerback Ka’Dar Hollman’s story is a fascinating one. It is much more than simply him cutting up tape and sending it to college football coaches in search of a scholarship — there are other fascinating factors like his random jobs and the prep school he attended to get his testing scores up. Meanwhile, linebacker Ty Summers switched sides of the football after a highly productive high school career as a quarterback, eventually finding success at a new position.

In today’s Curds, we find closer looks at those two players, along with an examination of the team’s offensive coaching staff and much more.

Position change was meant to be for Ty Summers | Packers.com
Summers was a high school quarterback, but he quickly transitioned to linebacker after enrolling at TCU, earning a starting job as a redshirt freshman. Since then, he has done it all on the front seven, and that do-anything attitude should make him a candidate to be a core special teams player as a rookie.

Ka'dar Hollman: From unpacking Dunkin' Donuts trucks to the Packers - ESPN
Meanwhile, Hollman's route to the NFL was even more circuitous. We know by now about how he had no Division I scholarship offers until he sent tape around to coaches across the country, but there's more to his story than just that. Check out some of the odd jobs he worked before getting the call from Toledo.

Packers' young coaching staff clicking with veteran players | Packersnews.com
Not only is Matt LaFleur a first-time head coach, but most of his offensive position coaches are in charge of their rooms in the NFL for the first time. Whether coming from college or from assistant position coach jobs, they'll need to take charge of their new leadership roles quickly and connect with their players -- and so far, all the comments from those players seem to be positive.

New Packers defense could be Aaron Rodgers’ ticket to the Super Bowl | Packers Wire
Every once in a while it's helpful to get a perspective from a great NFL writer like Doug Farrar on how your team is doing, and he's a big fan of the personnel changes on Green Bay's defense.

NFC North projected starters: Familiar challenge awaits Rodgers - NFL.com
This is interesting -- Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com projects Elgton Jenkins to beat Lane Taylor for the starting left guard job.

It’s fine if NFL players don’t want to mentor their replacements - SBNation.com
Does the Joe Flacco-Drew Lock situation remind you of anything, Packers fans?

Accessibility And Acceptability: How Wisconsin Developed A High Tolerance For Booze | Wisconsin Public Radio
This is a fascinating look at how and why the state's attitudes towards alcohol just seem different than anywhere else.