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          Packers position preview: Continuity on the offensive line

          The Packers ponied up to keep Bryan Bulaga in front of Aaron Rodgers for five more years. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
          • Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff WriterJul 25, 2015, 11:00 AM
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              Rob Demovsky is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Green Bay Packers. He has covered the Packers since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2013. Demovsky is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year as selected by the NSSA. You can follow him on Twitter at @RobDemovsky.
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          GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Between now and the Green Bay Packers' first training camp practice on July 30, we will break down each position group.

          Next up, the offensive line.

          Returning players: David Bakhtiari, Bryan Bulaga, T.J. Lang, Josh Sitton, Corey Linsley, Garth Gerhart, Lane Taylor, JC Tretter, Don Barlcay (injured reserve last season), Jeremy Vujnovich (practice squad), Josh Walker (practice squad).

          Gone from last season: Aaron Adams (injured reserve).

          New this season: Matt Rotheram (rookie free agent), Andy Phillips (rookie free agent), Vince Kowalski (rookie free agent), Fabbians Ebbele (rookie free agent).

          Position coach: James Campen (ninth season, previously served as assistant line coach from 2004-06).

          Biggest issue: The only major question with his group is whether it can play up to last season's standard. The Packers allowed only 30 sacks, the fewest since Aaron Rodgers took over as quarterback in 2008. It also helped Eddie Lacy rush for 1,139 yards – his second straight 1,100-yard season. When general manager Ted Thompson signed Bulaga to a five-year, $33.75 million contract in March, it ensured that the same starting five would be together again this season. In fact, all five are signed through at least the 2016 season.

          Player to watch: Bakhtiari might be the most underappreciated member of the line. All the fourth-round pick in 2013 has done is start every game in his first two seasons at left tackle – arguably the toughest and most important position on the line.

          Medical report: Barclay is coming off a torn ACL. He sustained the injury early in training camp last season and was a limited participant in the offseason practices. Sitton and Lang battled toe and ankle injuries, respectively, during the second half of last season, but neither underwent any offseason surgeries.

          Help wanted: The top-seven spots – the five starters plus Barclay (if he's healthy) and Tretter – appear to be set. The Packers typically keep eight or nine at this position. Rotheram is the best of the rookie free agents.

          Quotable: "It should be better than it was last year," Campen said of his group. "There's a lot of continuity there. There's more competition behind it pushing. And we can get into more individual drills and more scenarios quicker than having to go through a normal progression. So it helps us out a lot."

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