NFC North

1. Chicago Bears (12-4)

Head Coach: Lovie Smith (3rd year)
2005 Record: (11-5)
Key Acquisitions: QB Brian Griese, CB Ricky Manning Jr.
Key Departures: CB Jerry Azumah, PK Doug Brien

Overview:
The Bears are returning with their division champs team almost intact. In fact, they are returning all 22 starters. And Chicago should be able to feast on what promises to be a weak NFC North.

For the Bears, it all starts with defense. The unit ranked first in the NFL last year, and looks to be even deeper this year. Like all great defenses in the league, the Chicago is very strong all along the defensive line. It starts at defensive end with Adewale Ogunleye. Ogunleye missed 4 games with injuries last year, but still racked up 10.0 sacks. He is the prototypical DE: very fast, strong, with long arms. At the opposite side, veteran Alex Brown starts. Brown does not get as many sacks as Ogunleye, but he is stouter against the run. Inside, Tommie Harris has matured very nicely as the ‘under’ tackle. Harris isn’t overly big, but he is very quick and he can get to the quarterback in a hurry. Alfonso Boone, who is 6’4” and 320 lbs, will line-up beside Harris. Boone will play the NT position. His role consists in occupying blockers, allowing Harris and the linebackers to make plays. Last year, he performed quite well, but durability is a concern. To keep him fresh, look for the Bears to rotate him with rookie Dusty Dvoracek.

While the defensive line is solid and deep, linebacker is the true position of strength on this defense. The big name, of course, is Brian Urlacher. When healthy, he is a player that has no real flaw. Urlacher was healthy for a full season last year, and he finished with 122 tackles and 6 sacks. He has great range and covers a lot of the field. He is quite adept at rushing the QB on the blitz, and he is fast enough to go around blocks and strong enough to run through them. Simply, he is a nightmare for opposing coaches. Urlacher is joined on the weak side by another superior player, Lance Briggs. Briggs does not get the recognition Urlacher does, but he makes just as many big plays on the field, and he might be a surer tackler as well. Hunter Hillenmeyer joins them on the strong side.

The Bears’ defense features quality starters at every position, but its greatest strength might be its depth. Nowhere is this more true than in the secondary. At one corner we find Nathan Vasher, who is coming off a Pro Bowl year in which he snagged 8 interceptions. Vasher is big enough (5’10” 180lbs.) to hang with the bigger receivers in the league and he has great recovery speed too. His counterpart on the left side is Charles Tillman. Tillman had his problems in coverage last year, but he has apparently made some changes in his technique that have worked well so far. The nickel corner is new addition Rickey Manning Jr., who comes over from Carolina. Manning is a tough corner who likes to play bump-and-run a lot and get into wide receivers’ faces. He will help solidify an already very good defensive backfield. Mike Brown, who missed the last 4 games of the year in 2005, is back at free safety. Brown is injury-prone, but when healthy ranks amongst the best safeties in the league, and he is a tremendous leader for this defense. Chris Harris, who started at strong safety as a rookie last year, is back alongside Brown. That being said, people around the club are raving about Danieal Manning, the Bears’ first of 2 second round picks this year. He seems poised to overtake Harris for the starting job, even though that will probably not happen until after a few weeks into the regular season.

On offense, the Bears figure to have problems scoring once again. Running behind a pretty good offensive line, Thomas Jones had a career year in 2005. Before training camp began, though, 2005 first round pick Cedric Benson was anointed as the starter. (Now, allow us to make it clear that we are not fond of Benson in this corner. We’ve always seen Benson as a bit of a problem child, and with Jones already on board, we thought Chicago had wasted their pick when they chose Benson at #4.) But Benson hasn’t managed to stay healthy throughout training camp, and a week ago, he left the sidelines midway through a game and didn’t return. His attitude is quickly becoming a problem, and so Jones is back as the starter. But whoever starts for this team will get many carries and will have a very productive year.

The problem for the Bears lies in the passing game. Starting quarterback Rex Grossman has yet to play a full season in this league, so he is a constant injury risk. Moreover, Grossman has looked rather ordinary in camp, if not mediocre. Brian Griese, who was brought in as a free agent from Tampa, has looked much better. Grossman will have to get his act together quickly or we will see Griese starting before long.

At wide receiver, Muhsin Muhammad was the prized addition last year, and he responded with a good campaign, considering he had Kyle Orton throwing to him most of the year. Muhammad is a huge body with great hands who still enough speed to create separation, even though he is starting to slow down a little. Opposite him, Bernard Berrian figures to be the starter. Berrian, like Muhammad, is a big guy. He should benefit from Muhammad getting double-covered a lot. The main backup is possession receiver mark Bradley. The Bears are set at tight end with Desmond Clark, an unspectacular receiver but excellent blocker.

Look for the Bears to have a season very similar to the last one. While their offense will be better and a bit more explosive with either Grossman or Griese running it instead of Kyle Orton, Chicago will still win games by playing great defense. And in a division that looks very weak, look for the Bears to perhaps run the tables in the North and challenge for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.





2. Green Bay Packers (8-8)

Head Coach: Mike McCarthy (1st year)
2005 Record: (4-12)
Key Acquisitions: S Marquand Manuel, NT Ryan Pickett, LB Ben Taylor, CB Charles Woodson
Key Departures: WR Antonio Chatman, LB Na’il Diggs, C Mike Flanagan, DT Grady Jackson, K Ryan Longwell, WR Javon Walker

Overview:
The big headline grabber in Packer-Land this spring was whether or not Brett Favre would come back for another year. And, as we now know, the All-Pro quarterback will be back at the helm of the Green Bay offense. Lost in the shuffle of the Favre news was the fact that the Packers have a new head coach, Mike McCarthy. McCarthy did his apprenticeship under Andy Reid as a quarterback coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, but he is best known for his work as the offensive coordinator for the Saints. Last year, he coached the 49ers offense. While McCarthy is from the West Coast Offense school of thought, he preaches a style that includes far more deep passes and more of a power running game. His offense is a bit of a mix between the pass-oriented Eagles offense and the deep-six Raiders offense. On the defensive side of the ball, Jim Bates, the man who led the Packer defense to 7th in the NFL, left the team this off-season. Still, his philosophy and attacking style will remain, much to the delight of the players, most of whom thrived under Bates.

Brett Favre’s return is great news for the Green Bay offense. While Favre is getting older and does not have the escaping ability he once possessed, nor the invincibility he was once known for, he is still one of the best pure passers this league has to offer. Favre has a cannon for an arm, and he can still thread the needle like very few quarterbacks can. Plus, he is the ultimate leader, the perfect guy to march an offense down the field. What Favre needs to do this year is to put less on his shoulders and not try to force plays as often as he did last year. He needs to start letting his receivers and backs make more plays on their own. In that regard, having a healthy Ahman Green, along with Najeh Davenport, back in his backfield should help a lot. Last year, both got hurt, and the bulk of the running duties were given to Samkon Gado, who made great strides as the year went on. Look for the Packers to rotate all three this year. That should help keep them fresh and healthy, as well as keep defenses off balance. Veteran William Henderson will be back once more as the ever reliable fullack. Green Bay is also set at wide receiver, where Donald Driver (86 rec, 1221 yds, 5tds) is back as Favre favorite target. The split end position is Robert Ferguson’s to lose, but he is receiving major competition from rookie 3rd rounder Greg Jennings. At 5’11” and 196 lbs, Jennings is not a huge target, but he has speed to burn. In camp, he has also showcased very good hands and has shown absolutely no fear going over the middle. He could be starting at some point this year. TE Bubba Franks, a longtime safety valve for Favre, is back for a 7th year. Donald Lee and David Martin also figure to get playing time.

The one issue the Packers have on offense is on the offensive line. The starting tackles, Chad Clifton on the left and Mark Tauscher on the right, are both very experienced and reliable, but depth is a concern. C Mike Flanagan defected via free agency, but Scott Wells should prove to be an adequate replacement. The big problem is at guard, where rookies Jason Splitz and Tony Moll figure as the starters. Green Bay is looking to implement the same type of cut blocking schemes the Broncos use, and the thinking is that using younger, more agile players will help the transition. The 3 youngsters that form the interior line will determine much of the faith of the Packer offense this year. If they can protect Favre, then the offense should thrive. If not, it could spell another miserable year for the veteran quarterback.

On defense, there is a lot of hope after last year’s improved performance. Aaron Kampman (6.5 sacks) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (8.0 sacks) anchor the defensive line. Ryan Pickett, who comes over from St. Louis, and the oversized Colin Cole will be the tackles. This is a line that can get to the quarterback by itself, and the huge Cole should help keep blockers off the linebackers, who form the strength of this defense.

It all starts in the middle with Nick Barnett (139 tackles). Barnett has a lot of speed and he really has a knack for finding the football. He also has great range, which means he doesn’t come off on passing downs. He will be joined on the strong side by Ben Taylor, who recorded 110 tackles last year and is a solid, if unspectacular player. On the weakside, Green Bay will start prize rookie A.J. Hawk. Hawk is often compared to longtime Detroit Lion Chris Spielman, in that he has a motor that never stops. He is also being compared to Brian Urlacher, because he possesses so much speed and he can track down the ball carrier all over the field. In training camp, Hawk has been a little slow to get a complete grasp of the defense, though. Still, he has amazing instincts, so while you can expect him to blow a few assignments this season, he will make a lot of big plays for this defense.

The other big addition on defense is CB Charles Woodson. Woodson has a history of getting injured, but when he is healthy, he can be one of the premier cornerbacks in the league. He has lost a step with age, but he can still take away one side of the field. The other starter will again be Al Harris. Often penalized Ahmad Carroll will move to the nickel spot. The strong safety spot will be manned by Marquand Manuel who comes over from Seattle. Manuel is very good in run support, but he is a liability in coverage. Nick Collins will start at free safety.

The special teams will no doubt be affected by the loss by reliable PK Ryan Longwell. Second-year man Dave Rayner will replace him. Rookie Jon Ryan has been tabbed as the punter. There are also issues at the punt return position, where no starter has been named as of this writing.

All in all, the Packers will experience some growing pains this year. But there is enough veteran leadership on this squad that they will be able to take advantage of a weak division. If they can stay healthy, they should surprise some people.

3. Detroit Lions (6-10)

Head Coach: Rod Marinelli (1st year)
2005 Record: (5-11)
Key Acquisitions: WR Corey Bradford, TE Dan Campbell, QB Jon Kitna, QB Josh McCown, DE Tyoka Jackson, S Idrees Bashir, CB Jamar Fletcher, OT Rex Tucker
Key Departures: CB R.W. McQuarters, CB Andre’ Goodman, LB Wali Rainer, QB Jeff Garcia, QB Joey Harrington, OT Kyle Kosier

Overview:
For several years now, the Lions franchise has been a losing one. Under Steve Mariucci, Detroit underachieved year after year. And at the end of last year, there was no sense of accountability on the team, and players left and right were accusing the coaches and their own teammates for the lack of success. Enter Rod Marinelli. Marinelli has long been a key ingredient in helping Monte Kiffin build the vaunted Buccaneers defense of the last few years. He is a no-nonsense guy, one who is very hard but also fair on his players. Getting him into the fold was undoubtedly a great move by President and GM Matt Millen.

Marinelli’s first move was to bring in Mike Martz to run the offense. While Martz had his troubles a head coach of the Rams, he is an offensive genius. He will help spark the offense, and he will use every trick in the book to get big plays out of his squad. The Lions then cut ties with first-round bust Joey Harrington and brought in Jon Kitna and Josh McCown to replace him at quarterback. Kitna will be the starter entering the season. Kitna is known in league circles as a true warrior. Kitna does not have a great arm or great mobility, but he truly makes the most of his ability. He also proved to be a very good tutor for Carson Palmer in Cincinnati, and he will do the same here for the young McCown.

At running back, Kevin Jones has great potential. Jones is a big back who runs with a lot of power, but he has uncanny moves for a man his size and he also has speed to burn. He showed up in camp at a very lean 220 lbs, and Martz plans to use him in the same way he used Marshall Faulk in St. Louis. If Jones can stop underachieving, he could enjoy a breakthrough season. Shawn Bryson is a good receiver out of the backfield and he figures in as the 3rd down back. Veteran Cory Schlesinger is the fullback.

The receiving corps is a great example of the old saying ‘what a difference a year makes’. Last year, everyone was talking about the potential of the Detroit offense with 3 former 1st rounders at the wide receiver position. This year, Roy Williams has one of the two starting positions secured, but Charles Rogers and Mike Williams have fallen out of favor with the new coaching staff. Mike Williams has been having trouble with his routes, and Rogers is on the verge of being released. As of this writing, Corey Bradford, a speedster who never developed to his full potential, figures to hold the other starting spot. The diminutive Eddie Drummond will probably man the slot position. Martz likes his potential as a Az-Hakim type of receiver. Glenn Martinez is slotted as the 4th receiver. At tight end, ex-colt Marcus Pollard is back as the pass-catching specialist. He should see a lot of action on 3rd downs. The starter is Dan Campbell, who comes over from Dallas. Campbell is an average receiver at best, but he is a very good blocker, and he should help the Lions improve their running game.

On defense, Detroit strength is its front seven. It all starts at defensive tackle where Shaun Rogers, perhaps the Lions’ best player, should flourish under new coordinator Donnie Henderson’s aggressive style. Replacing the departed Dan Wilkinson beside Rodgers will be second-year man Shaun Cody, who has enjoyed a strong camp. The starting defensive ends, James Hall and Cory Redding, are nothing to write home about, but they are solid against the run. The best pass rusher of the group might be backup Kalimba Edwards, who resigned with the Lions to get an opportunity to play for Marinelli. There is a possibility he could flourish when coming in on passing downs.

At linebacker, the Lions will field what could be the fastest unit in the league. But it might also be the most fragile unit in the league. MLB Boss Bailey is super fast and is a sure tackler. He lacks great instincts, but makes up for it with pure athleticism. Still, he has only played 11 games in the last 2 years. SLB Paris Lenon is unspectacular, but he rarely misses an assignment. The weak side will be manned by rookie Ernie Sims, who has a history of concussions. Still, Sims is being groomed to play the same role Derrick Brooks plays in Tampa. Like Bailey, he has speed to burn, but he is a much bigger hitter. If he can stay healthy, look for him to make a big impact this year. With such durability concerns, depth might be a problem.

The secondary is nothing to write home about, but it is solid enough. CB Dre’ Bly (6 ints) is the star of the unit. While he isn’t big, he is fast enough and has good enough instincts to match up one-on-one with just about any receiver in this league. Fernando Bryant, who has durability issues of his own, is the other starter. If they can both stay healthy, veteran newcomer Jamar Fletcher is a good nickel back. But if he has to start, the Lions will be in trouble. At safety, Detroit has a pair of big-hitting defenders in Kenoy Kennedy and Daniel Bullocks, who should take over from Terrence Holt at free safety. Kennedy is a force against the run, but he lacks range. Bullocks could become a really good player, but he needs to take less chances and not always look for the big hit.

The special teams are solid with All-pro Jason Hanson handling the kicking duties and with Nick Harris as the punter. Eddie Drummond is electrifying as a return man and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.

All in all, the Lions should be much improved from last year, even if their record won’t show it. What fans will see, though, is a much better attitude on the field, and a lot more fight and less quit in their players. The Lions are a work in progress, but they are on the right track, finally.





4. Minnesota Vikings (5-11)

Head Coach: Brad Childress (1st year)
2005 Record: (9-7)
Key Acquisitions: OG Steve Hutchinson, LB Ben Leber, K Ryan Longwell, QB Mike McMahon, RB Tony Richardson, RB Chester Taylor, S Tank Williams
Key Departures: WR Nate Burleson, RB Michael Bennett, S Corey Chavous, LB Sam Cowart, QB Daunte Culpepper, DE Lance Johnstone, WR Koren Robinson, CB Brian Williams

Overview:
2005 was an odd year for the Vikings. The season began with Minnesota having their sights set on the Super Bowl. Randy Moss, a huge distraction, was gone, and this was finally Culpepper’s team. The problem is that with his offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan, and his favorite receiver both gone, Culpepper struggled mightily, until he broke his leg and was lost for the season. But the big storyline of 2005 for the Vikings was the “Party Boat” incident. Several players were charged and the whole team was really covered with shame. Even though Brad Johnson came in and rallied the team to a respectable 9-7 record, there was still a sour taste left in people’s mouth.

Owner Ziggy Wilf, seeking respectability, fired head coach Mike Tice and replaced him with Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress. Then, the team traded away Culpepper and essentially handed the reins of the offense to 37 year old Brad Johnson. Still, controversy remains in Minnesota. Koren Robinson, who was handed a fat contract to be the team’s #1 receiver, got in trouble with the law and was recently released. Childress might become a good coach, but he has his work cut out for him with a team that lacks discipline and, frankly, is much less talented than recent editions.

Johnson is a veteran quarterback, one who makes very few mistakes. But Johnson is limited physically. He does not have great arm strength or great mobility. He is a very good leader, though, and is well respected by all his teammates. He is the type of quarterback that does not lose games, but he does not win them either. Mike McMahon, who played for Childress last year in Philadelphia, is the backup. If Johnson gets injured or falters, the Vikes will be in trouble. Keep an eye on second round draft choice Tavaris Jackson. He will simply hold the clipboard this year, but he has all the tools to eventually succeed. Under the tutelage of Childress, he should develop nicely and could start as soon as next year.

At running back, Minnesota brought in Chester Taylor, a 3rd down back with the Ravens, to be their starter. Taylor is a good receiver out of the backfield, but he does not create the matchup problems Brian Westbrook did in Philly for Childress. Taylor has good speed and good cutback abilities, but he has never carried an offense on his back, so the jury is still out on whether he can be an every down back. With Ciatrick Fason and Mewelde Moore as the backups, depth is a huge concern.

The offensive line got a huge boost with the signing of all-pro guard Steve Hutchinson. Hutchinson might be the best guard in football. He can do everything: he is a punishing run blocker, he has the speed and athleticism to pull to either side, and he is flawless in pass blocking. With former 1st rounder Bryant McKinnie at tackle, the Vikings now possess one of the best left sides in the league. Matt Birk, a leader and a very intelligent player, is back at center. Artis Hicks is a capable right guard, and he is backed up by former starter but aging Chris Liwienski. Right tackle is more of a concern. Converted guard Marcus Johnson is powerful, but his technique needs improvement.

When Minnesota signed Steve Hutchinson as a restricted free agent, they included a clause in their offer that said Hutchinson would need to be the highest paid lineman on the team. With Seattle having all-pro Walter Jones on their payroll, that effectively raised Hutchinson’s price tag by 2 millions if he were to re-sign with the Seahawks. That clause created a lot of animosity between the two teams, so Seattle turned around and pulled the same trick on the Vikings to pry away their #1 receiver, Nate Burleson. Losing Burleson is a huge blow to the Vikings offense, because with Robinson now released, they do not have a #1 receiver. Second year man Troy Williamson now becomes Johnson’s main target. Williamson is extremely fast, but he is still very raw. He is not a polished route runner, and his hands are not great either. Last year, he had only 24 receptions. Travis Taylor becomes the other starter. Taylor is a former first round pick who never really panned out. He is better suited to play a reserve role. Aging Marcus Robinson has clearly lost a step and is now a possession receiver. Jermaine Wiggins is back as the starting tight end, and he caught 69 passes last year. Yet, all of Wiggins’ catches totaled only 568 yards, and he only caught 1 touchdown.

The defense is a big question mark. There is some talent there, but it has yet to prove it can gel into a cohesive unit. DT Kevin Williams is already a star, and he can create havoc from the interior. He is very good at penetrating the line, as his 26 career sacks prove. Pat Williams will line up inside with him, but at 33, he is nothing more than a run stopper. DE Erasmus James will start at right end. As a rookie, he collected 4.0 sacks, but he has the potential for much more. If he fulfills that potential will go a long way in determining the fate of this defense. Kenechi Udeze is the other starter.

At linebacker, Minnesota has a lot of bodies, but they need to find the right combination. Rookie Chad Greenway was expected to make a big impact, but he is lost for the season. Ex-Raider Napoleon Harris will start in the middle. Harris has enjoyed a very good camp, but he never performed up to his first round billing. He is a good tackler, but he lacks range and does not take on blocker so well. E.J. Henderson, a former starter in the middle, moves to the weak side to replace Greenway. Ben Leber was given $4,000,000 to be the strong side linebacker, and he is a good one. Dontarrius Thomas can play both outside linebacker positions, and he could even challenge Henderson.

The strength of this defense lies with its starting cornerbacks. Fred Smooth is a very good cover corner, although he did struggle at times last year. Antoine Winfield can stay with any receiver, but he drops way too many interceptions. An while the starters are good, depth is a concern. At free safety, Dwight Smith should do a fine job in the new cover 2 defense the Vikings are trying to implement. Smith played in that defense when he was in Tampa. Darren Sharper is the starter at strong safety, but he is getting up in age and is nowhere near the player he once was, although he did pick off nine passes last year.

If Minnesota can somehow manufacture a pass rush, the defense should be fine. But there are just too many questions on offense. Yes, they will have a very good offensive line. And yes, Brad Childress has done terrific things with past Eagles offenses that lacked talent at the running back and wide receiver positions. But back then, he had quarterback named Donovan McNabb. It will be hard to bring out the same type of results with Brad Johnson at the helm.