"Three simple words, be a pro," he said. "For us, as coaches, being consistent and being predictable, that breeds inherent stability for your players to see. I always want to be consistent in everything I do, because they're depending on us to be successful. Being that I have played pro football and have understood that, they know I have their best interests at heart. I want what's best for them."

Whitted couldn't be more fired up about his new opportunity. Somewhat serendipitously, he met Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur just a year ago, when LaFleur, as the new offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans, came out to Colorado State for a pre-draft workout with receiver Michael Gallup, the second of Whitted's three All-Americans.

They talked some football in his office and it turned out they had a mutual friend in the coaching business who reconnected them when LaFleur was looking for a receivers coach for the Packers.

The next thing Whitted knew, he was on the phone introducing himself to his two-time Pro Bowler, Adams, which only excited him more.

"I tell you, that man is dialed in. He is dialed in and he loves football, and he wants to win," Whitted said. "The other impressive thing about him is he wants to find ways to get better, and that's the thing that will always trickle down to the younger guys as well. He's a natural leader."

As for those younger guys, Valdes-Scantling and St. Brown both came on strong the second half of the season when injuries limited Cobb and Allison, and the rookies made their share of explosive plays for Aaron Rodgers. Kumerow was reactivated from injured reserve late in the year and caught a long TD in an eventual overtime victory over the Jets.

"Those guys were starting to earn Aaron's trust at the midpoint and later in the season," Whitted said. "Hopefully we'll continue to develop that rapport that Aaron can trust all those guys, and they can all step in and be a weapon for him and for this football team."

Tough, dependable and smart. Those are the three characteristics Whitted looks to instill in all his players.

They're traits he possesses, too. He needed them to last nine years as a seventh-round pick, and to do the work required to get back in the NFL as a coach. Now, it's about that other piece of unfinished business.