It all begins, as usual, for the Green Bay Packers with quarterback Brett Favre. But where the Packers' story ends in 2002, perhaps with a Super Bowl berth or maybe with a bitter playoff defeat, probably depends more on the Green Bay defense than on the three-time most valuable player.

There seems little doubt that Packers are a playoff team, and coach Mike Sherman has certainly demonstrated he is a man capable of putting together a long string of postseason appearances. In his dual role of coach and general manager, Sherman has gained the trust and confidence of his team and, just as former GM Ron Wolf guessed, possesses the kind of single-mindedness to perform the myriad tasks that comprise his job description.

But to advance deep in the playoffs, the Packers need a healthy Favre, a brainy Sherman, a revamped wide receiver corps to gel as quickly as possible and, maybe most important, a defense that ranked No. 12 in 2001 to perform even better than its statistics. There were times in 2001 when Green Bay struggled to stop the run and, while the unit has become a very athletic one and peopled by some solid, young playmakers, it needs to get plenty more resourceful this season.

The Packers were obliterated by the St. Louis Rams in the divisional playoff round, and not even the arrival of defensive end Joe Johnson and middle linebacker Hardy Nickerson can blunt the effect of the 45 points surrendered in the Edward Jones Dome. But Johnson is a terrific two-way player, solid against the run and capable of registering 9-10 sacks, while Nickerson has maybe one good season left in him. Their leadership will provide some edge for the Packers, but the team needs more plays from the secondary and for youngsters like linebacker Nate Wayne to step up to the next level.

	CAMP AT A GLANCE
	Ahman Green finished fourth in the NFL in rushing last season with 1,387 yards.
	Location: St. Norbert College, DePere, Wis. Rookies report: July 24 Veterans report: July 26 Preseason schedule:    Aug. 10: at Philadelphia    Aug. 17: at Arizona    Aug. 26: Cleveland    Aug. 30: Tennessee

Where will this bring the Packers?

The team must avoid the kind of emotional letdown it suffered late in 2001 -- when it blew the division title by losing at Tennessee just one week after topping Chicago for a second time -- to get beyond the early rounds of the playoffs. The deflating loss was a bit surprising, in that Sherman's team usually reflects his determination, but even Favre allowed it was predictable given the fragile psyches of some players.

Certainly this is a roster with talent, a superior group physically to the Bears, and the Packers likely will go into the season as the division favorite. Frustrated by a dearth of big plays in the passing game, Sherman has gambled by refurbishing the receiver corps, and the top three wideouts from a year ago (Bill Schroeder, Antonio Freeman and Corey Bradford) have all departed. Sherman is rolling the dice with the enigmatic Terry Glenn, who should give the team the vertical threat it has lacked. But if he also brings the club the kind of headaches he visited upon New England officials, then Sherman's roll of the dice on him could come up snake-eyes.

Man in the spotlight
Even if he were playing in a thriving metropolis with a population in the millions, Glenn would come under heavy scrutiny. In the smallest professional sports precinct in the land, the wide receiver's every move will be watched and evaluated and, if he steps out of line, the tiny city's grapevine will be buzzing.

His off-field problems aside, there is no sign that Glenn's skills have diminished. He may never again catch 90 balls, as he did when he set a league rookie record in 1996, but he is capable of a 1,200-yard receiving season, and his speed will strike big-time fear into NFC North secondary units. The hope is that Glenn will be sufficiently motivated by the fiasco season of 2001 to come back determined to quash his critics. Favre publicly endorsed the trade for Glenn, has gone out of his way to insist that everyone deserves a second chance, and seems enthralled by the new dimension the receiver brings to the club.

One step out of line, however, and the honeymoon will quickly end.

Key position battle
There isn't so much a competition at strong safety as there is a question mark. Venerable team leader LeRoy Butler, who once again took a paycut to help assuage a cap crunch, is coming off a collarbone injury and hasn't yet been cleared for contact. And so, at least for now, the starting job remains up in the air. Second-year veteran Bhawoh Jue, a converted corner with good size and hitting ability, played well at times as a rookie. If Butler isn't 100 percent, the job could be his again, although Antuan Edwards and rookie Marques Anderson might also figure into the mix.

Green Bay's other safety, Darren Sharper, is a Pro Bowl caliber performer and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell likes to put in special packages that free him to make plays. But he is more effective, it seems, with a veteran partner and that's why everyone hopes that Butler can return to full strength.

Injury update
The collarbone injury to Butler, who is in his NFL dotage but still valued for his presence in the locker room and knack for the big play, will be closely monitored. Some feel that Butler could be done but there is no sign the injury is career-threatening. That said, at age 34, Butler is no youngster. Antuan Edwards, who has bounced back and forth between safety and cornerback in his career, isn't fully recovered yet from knee surgery, but ought to be 100 percent sometime in camp. Backup linebacker Chris Gizzi seems OK after a back injury and it appears defensive tackle Steve Warren (quad) is also recovered.

Rookie report
Green Bay paid a steep price to move up in the first round to snatch Florida State wide receiver Javon Walker, and here's hoping his debut campaign is better than the rookie year through which 2001 second-round wideout Robert Ferguson suffered. Walker has tremendous size and speed and, once he grasps the offense, should challenge for the No. 3 wideout position. Marques Anderson is a true, close-to-the-line run stuffer and could be the eventual full-time successor to Butler at strong safety.

The Packers really liked the work of fourth-round fullback Najeh Davenport during the spring, but then he ran afoul of the law and his future is uncertain.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.