NFC North Primer

We reach the halfway point in our primers for the upcoming NFL season by visiting the NFC North.

Cutler must improve his discipline under
the Martz system.

Chicago Bears
2009 record: 7-9, 3rd in division
Head coach: Lovie Smith
Key Additions: DE Julius Peppers, TE Brandon Manumaleuna, RB Chester Taylor, CB Tim Jennings
Key Losses: CB Nathan Vasher, DE Adewale Ogunleye, FB Jason McKie, DE Alex Brown

1. Can new offensive coordinator Mike Martz transform QB Jay Cutler into a decent quarterback?
This is the question in the Windy City. I still don't see what every one sees in Cutler except that he takes a lot of chances the brings glimpses of a young Brett Favre. Favre made those passes while Cutler doesn't. Martz is a control freak and that's not a bad thing in this case. Cutler must be more disciplined and I'm not so sure he'll totally welcome the change...unless the Bears start winning.

2. Will the Bears D return to one of the best in the NFL?
Getting Peppers was huge, no doubt. There's still some tinkering new defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli needs to do. Marinelli wasn't successful in Detroit as a head coach, but his calling card is as a coordinator. It will take these guys time (like on offense) and the first order of business is stopping the run (23rd in '09). Having LB Brian Urlacher back will help. DT Tommie Harris is the key though. If he's healthy, he can dominate the line of scrimmage.

3. Will Lovie Smith be the first coach receiving a pink slip in 2010?
He might be, but unless the Bears go 0-5 out of the gate, I doubt it. Make no mistake here. Smith is on the hot seat and he knows it. Plus, if the Bears do lose their first five games, they will have lost their opener at home to the Detroit Lions. Just sayin'.

Change can be good, but too much at once can be worse...

Who better to show Suh the ways of a
defensive lineman that Vanden Bosh.

Detroit Lions
2009 record: 2-14, 4th in division
Head coach: Jim Schwartz
Key Additions: DE Kyle Vanden Bosh, WR Nate Burleson, S C.C. Brown, CB Chris Houston
Key Losses: LB Ernie Sims, LB Larry Foote

1. What area do the Lions need the most help?
DEFENSE!!! Last against the pass and 25th against the run tells you all you need to know. It doesn't matter how much you score when you can't stop your opponent. Drafting DT Ndamukong Suh and signing free agent Vanden Bosh (who Schwartz had in Tennessee) are nice building blocks. But the Lions are thin at linebacker with Sims and Foote departing. The secondary added Houston and drafted the most talented corner in the draft with Amari Spievey. This unit should be better, but baby steps...

2. Will QB Matthew Stafford have a better season now that there's no competition?
Dicey area. I hear a lot of former NFL players say that competition drives a player to improve. With no one to push Stafford, that desire to improve all falls squarely on him. He seems to have his head on his shoulders and I expect Stafford to improve upon his rookie campaign. He did lead the Lions to their only two wins in '09 before being shut down after week 13. Plus, the Lions brass added a couple of more toys in signing Burleson, getting TE Tony Sheffler and drafting Jahvid Best.

3. If I'm a fantasy owner, should I draft any Lions?
I had Calvin Johnson last year and got burned. I won my league (due mostly because of a certain QB in Green Bay), but I sat CJ a few weeks when the matchup wasn't right. I have been known to take a flyer or two on rookies and Best may not be that bad of a flyer.

Rodgers has emerged as an elite QB.

Green Bay Packers
2009 record: 11-5, 2nd in division
Head coach: Mike McCarthy
Key Additions: none...really
Key Losses: DE Aaron Kampmann

1. Is Aaron Rodgers the best QB in the NFC?
No question. Not even a debate. But notice I said "NFC". There's a guy in Indianapolis that's better, but he's the only one that I think is better than Rodgers. Rodgers just piles numbers that few thought he could even after being a first round selection. That was because of the QB in Green Bay before Rodgers. Rodgers has pretty much pushed "his" memory to the side...temporarily. There's a guy in New Orleans that's sharp, too.

2. How much will the loss of Johnny Jolly due to suspension hurt the defense?
Losing Jolly for the whole season is big. Jolly had just found his way in Dom Capers' scheme, too. His loss forces B.J. Raji, last year's first round pick, to step up his game. On a defense that was extremely stubborn in '09 (5th against the pass and tops against the run), that's a tall, tall order.

3. Will the Pack ever discover a running game?
They need to and I'm not sure why people have soured on Ryan Grant. Could be that contract thing, but Grant is still the best back the Packers have and I think he's still among the top 15 in the NFL. No flash, no dash. Maybe that's why he doesn't get his due.

A common sight. Another AD fumble.

Minnesota Vikings
2009 record: 12-4
Head coach: Brad Childress
Key Additions: CB Lito Sheppard
Key Losses: RB Chester Taylor, CB Karl Paymah, G Artis Hicks

1. Favre?
In my humble opinion, the Vikings have let this soap opera play out way too much. It's been beyond out of control since day 1. I've hear and read that experts and former players say Favre has earned this right. Sure, holding not only a franchise, but an entire league hostage (to an extent) is not a right any player has. (Hear that, Darelle Revis?) Personally, I could care less. I've never been a Favre fan and I never will be. He had his best season last year and no one, not even little ol' me, can take that away from him and Vikings fans.

2. Will Adrian Peterson ever be able to control his fumbling?
Giants fans thought the same about Tiki Barber until an adjustment was made in the manner in which Barber carried the ball. Peterson must do the same. I know Childress has him lugging around a much heavier ball, but it's also a mindset. The offensive coaches can do everything possible, but it ultimately rests with AD. He has to put in the extra work in the attempt to control his issues.

3. Will the defense be able to hold up to their end of the bargain?
We know that it's almost impossible to run on that front four, but bear a couple of things in mind here. Pat Williams is 37. I would suspect the Vikes would rotate Jimmie Kennedy a little more this season. The corners? That's a different story. Antoine Winfield was beat up pretty much all of 2009. Cedric Griffin is injured and the Vikes have been using Asher Allen and rookie Chris Cook in nickel situations. Sheppard has made little impact in camp. The secondary is where the Vikes must improve this season.

To place the teams is difficult because of the "Favre Factor". If Favre returns...

1. Minnesota. Favre means that much to their hopes.
2. Green Bay. They will push the Vikes again.
3. Chicago. Smith will most likely be gone after 2010.
4. Detroit. Remember, baby steps.

Of course, if Favre really does hang up the cleats (and would we really believe if he says so), flop GB and MIN.