Green Bay Packers set for week one in one week

Green Bay Packers set for week one in one week by Tom Mrozla

The Seattle Seahawks line up for a play during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Packers General Manager Ted Thompson made some very telling moves when putting together this year’s early version of the Green Bay Packers.

Labeled soft and much smaller than the mighty San Franciso 49ers of a year ago, a look at today’s final 53-man roster reveals a much “bigger,” stronger, more physical team than last season’s.

Part of Green Bay’s roster that is diferent than 2012, is among the defensive line and linebacking corps. Last season the Packers kept only 6 DL, yesterday they kept eight, including mammoth 330-plus-pound Johnny Jolly, a young and strong Josh Boyd (310), and lightning quick, 295-pound rookie Datone Jones. Couple that with a vastly improved second-year player, Mike Daniels (294), to go along with holdovers B.J. Raji (330-plus), Ryan Pickett (330-plus) and C.J. Wilson (305), the Pack may just have the horses to play a more physical style.

Adding more size opposite Clay Mathews at OLB is Nick Perry (265), Andy Mulmba (260), and DL/OLB Mike Neal (285), the strongest guy on the team. Gone is 238-pound Dezman Moses.

The front seven, as a whole, gives Green Bay a much bigger, more physical defense to aid all-world linebacker Clay Mathews heading into San Francisco, where the 2012 NFC Champions await.

Both teams will look to gauge how they stack up this season among the NFL’s elite.