The confidence in Atkins mirrors Guenther's growing confidence in a defense he feels is deeper than last season's unit that couldn't overcome a cascade of injuries. He points to up front and the revival of Atkins, the return of Johnson and tackle Pat Sims, and the emergence of Will Clarke behind Johnson at right end. Plus there is the seamless transition of veteran Packers free agent A.J. Hawk at linebacker and the scrum at cornerback involving four first-rounders.

And, his Tuesday trip downstairs to watch Pro Bowl WILL linebacker Vontaze Burfict rehab had Guenther enthused. He pointed to his agenda he has taped up in his office called The Burfict Plan, which ends in capital letters on Sept. 13: BEAT OAKLAND!

"He's really going after it. He wants it. He looks good," said Guenther of the hope that Burfict's micro fracture knee surgery heals well enough for him to start the opener.

"We have guys that have played at some point and not just on the defensive line," Guenther said. "You look at cornerbacks and linebackers and with the depth we have you can sleep easier on Saturday nights knowing you're not one injury away from playing with guys that haven't played here."

Hayes knows a big key to getting the defense back into the top ten like 2011-2013 is a seven, eight-man rotation up front. Last year they felt like they could play just five with the departure of Johnson and Clarke's developmental path after they took him in the third round out of West Virginia.

But with Johnson back and Wallace Gilberry now able to play both end and tackle, that gives Hayes five, plus tackle Brandon Thompson for six. And if Clarke plays like he had practiced this spring, Hayes says he has found his seventh.

"The way he's been practicing? No question," Hayes said. "He understands where he's supposed to be in the defense and he's bigger and stronger. You can see that confidence."

Guenther was impressed right away when Clarke showed up this year at 290 pounds when they told him he had to put on 20 pounds this past offseason after he arrived somewhere between 270-275.

"He looks like a different player," Guenther said. "I have confidence in these guys that we're able to go in there and play at a high level. I really, really think we can have one of the best (lines) in the league."