A rookie orientation camp May 1-3 at the team's indoor practice facility kicks things off on the field. The practices are confined to the rookie class, first-year players and players brought in on a tryout basis.

"We did this last year, and it's been very, very productive for us," head coach Mike McCarthy said. "Sometimes, teams go with the mandatory minicamp with everybody after the draft. We have gone to the rookie orientation format, and I think it's been excellent for our younger players.

"It gives us a chance to introduce these young players to the Green Bay Packers organization. When you have the minicamp in my opinion, you have so much going on, football being the priority, they don't really take in the other aspects of coming to work at the Green Bay Packers that's important when they come back" later in the month.

Voluntary organized team activities for the full squad will be May 26 to June 18. The mandatory minicamp will follow June 22-24.

--Among the unsigned players who will be getting a look-see in the rookie camp are quarterbacks Brian Johnson, formerly of Utah, and David Johnson, who played at Tulsa.

They were invited on a tryout basis and will get ample opportunities to line up behind center because the three quarterbacks on the Green Bay roster -- Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm -- aren't participating.

Brian Johnson was an efficient passer for Utah in its 13-0 season last year, completing 68 percent of his throws with a 3-to-1 ratio for touchdowns (27) to interceptions (nine).

David Johnson put up big passing numbers at Tulsa last season, throwing for more than 4,000 yards with 46 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

--McCarthy was looking forward to get a first glimpse of more than some of his players in an on-field setting.

The rookie camp also is a debut of sorts for several assistant coaches. McCarthy turned over nearly the entire defensive staff after last season and added highly regarded coaches such as Dom Capers as defensive coordinator, Mike Trgovac as defensive line coach, Kevin Greene as outside linebackers coach and Darren Perry as safeties coach.

When asked whether he would be watching his staff as much as the players during the camp, McCarthy responded, "Probably so. Probably more than I did last year."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think our defense is improved from last year to this point for a number of different reasons. I think we are adding a scheme (3-4) that is going to give us some more versatility. Our current players that have been here for the offseason program have taken advantage of the time with the coaches ... and then the ability to add a full draft class with a number of defensive players I think definitely helps us." -- Head coach Mike McCarthy on the state of the defense after the unit struggled last season.