GREEN BAY, Wis. – With a young quarterback knocking on the door of the NFL’s elite and the 2009 defensive player of the year running the show on the other side, the Green Bay Packers aren’t just embracing the Super Bowl-or-bust expectations they’ll face this season.

It’s more like a bear hug.

In a talk with the team just before the start of training camp, coach Mike McCarthy pointed out that the only pictures on display in the meeting room depicted past Packers teams that won championships.

“Everything that we have done throughout the offseason and everything that we’ll do starting tomorrow will be taking a step to being the next team up on that wall,” McCarthy said before the team’s first camp practice. “That’s our goal.”

Rodgers says the Packers have “real confidence,” a sign that one of the league’s youngest teams is maturing.

“This year, there’s more of a confidence that, you know what, we’ve had success from the previous season,” Rodgers said. “We have our guys back and we feel like the expectations in this locker room – now, I’m not going to address the expectations (outside) of this locker room – but in this locker room, we feel like they’re realistic expectations.”

The Packers are loaded on offense, fielding one of the league’s deepest and most talented group of receivers.

Tight end Jermichael Finley, whose remarkable combination of size, speed and agility is a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses, is expected to have a breakout year.

Despite being sacked a stunning 50 times, Rodgers completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 4,434 yards with 30 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.

Veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher is back for a full season and first-round draft pick Bryan Bulaga has spiced up the position battle at left guard, providing reasons for optimism about improved pass protection.

Ryan Grant has rushed for more than 1,200 yards in each of the past two seasons.

The Packers’ most significant questions are on defense and special teams.

They’ll need to find a punter, a glaring weak spot in recent years.

On defense, the Packers made remarkable strides under new defensive coordinator Dom Capers and his 3-4 scheme last year. Still, they’ll need to muster a better pass rush.

Clay Matthews is expected to continue his progression into becoming one of the league’s elite pass rushers. But the Packers didn’t do anything to address the other outside linebacker spot.

Defensive Player of the Year Charles Woodson and Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins return as a steadying force in the secondary.