NFC North Season Preview
Chicago Bears
The Bears slipped a bit, going from 8 - 8 to 7 - 9, but still finished 2nd in the division. The team lost franchise QB Andre Woodson to free agency, and invested heavily in the position, trading for QB Jeff Garcia, the starter, and trading up to draft QB Jermaine Shazor (1 - 12) and QB Dustin Ball (3 - 76). They also traded up to add depth to a backfield where Kendrick House finally gets a shot, drafting HB Chuck Bushell at 2 - 41. The Bears have a solid offense, with speed merchants at WR and an okay offensive line led by 2nd-year LT Shawn Nelson (#15 overall in 2011), who has gobs of potential but needs to improve. Most of the defense returns, but parts of it are aging (no starting LBs under 29), and it may need to be addressed soon. Look for the Bears to finish 2nd or 3rd in the division.
Starters:
QB: Jeff Garcia (Jermaine Shazor #4, Dustin Ball #3)
RB: Kendrick House (Chuck Bushell #3)
FB: Ahmard Hall
TE: Greg Olsen
WR: Santana Moss, Devin Hester
OL: Shawn Nelson, Kili Lefotu, Olin Kreutz, Jared Atkins (R), Ryan O'Callaghan
DL: Darius Blake, Andre Fluellen, Mike Patterson, Mark Anderson (8 sacks in 2011)
LB: Hunter Hillenmeyer, Brian Urlacher, Thomas Howard
CB: Nathan Vasher, Charles Tillman
S: Mike Brown, Dawan Landry
K: Robbie Gould
P: Brandon Fields
KR/
PR: Devin Hester
Detroit Lions
The Lions stumbled badly, finishing 3rd in the division with a 5 - 11 record, and used their first round selection, #5 overall, to select CB Rodney Dewberry to an already loaded cornerback corps, a not entirely wise decision. They also traded up to draft TE Covaughn Turner in the 2nd, and found themselves a franchise LT in the 3rd in Ron Boozer. The Lions have a decent offense, a strong offensive line, and a good defense (especially the cornerbacks), which means they should easily bounce back from their 5 - 11 season and compete for the top spot in the division.
Starters:
QB: Kellen Clemens
HB: Kolby Smith (2011 2nd rounder Terryll Browning #3)
FB: Jeremi Johnson
WR: Calvin Johnson, Rocky Hendricks
TE: Tim Wiley (Covaugh Turner #2)
OL: Ron Boozer (R, 3rd round), Jeff Mullinax, Hank Fraley, Ryan Richards, Alex Barron
DL: Antwan Odom, Tommie Harris Marcus Harrison, Dewayne White
LB: Justin Durant, Kirk Morrison, Ernie Sims
CB: Leigh Bodden, Jacques Reeves (2011 1st rounder Melvin McBride #4, Rodney Dewberry #5)
S: Gerald Alexander, Craig Steltz
K: Colin Henderson
P: Nick Harris
KR/
PR: Covaughn Turner
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings improved to 12 - 4, winning the division but losing to the Giants in the divisional round. Despite HB Adrian Peterson's struggles with injury, the Vikings were able to ride QB Tarvaris Jackson to another successful season, and they continue to stockpile young WRs, as they added WR Dominique Mitchell with the #27 overall pick. Look for the Vikings to win the division again, unless something unforseen occurs.
Starters:
QB: Tarvaris Jackson (2010 1st rounder Brett Cardinal #2)
HB: Adrian Peterson
FB: DeQuan Wolford (R)
WR: Sidney Rice, Darrell Jackson, (2011 2nd rounder William Benzee #3, 2011 2nd rounder Duane Wooten #4, Dominique Mitchell #5)
TE: David Thomas
OL: Bryant McKinnie, Marshall Epps (R), Ryan Kalil, Artis Hicks, Clint Dannenman
DL: Ron Payne (8 sacks in 2011), Kevin Williams, Kerry Dunn, Jared Allen (10 sacks in 2011)
LB: Cato June (2nd rounder Orlando Sykes #2), Curtis Lofton, Chad Greenway
CB: Antoine Winfield, Cedric Griffin
S: Danieal Manning, Darren Sharper
K: Donny Harris
P: Maurice Mackey
KR/
PR: Aqib Talib
Green Bay Packers
Despite free-falling to 2 - 14 and the #3 overall pick last season, the Packers have a pretty bright future. Despite his struggles in his first full season (15 TDs, 23 INTs, 2559 yards, 59.8 rating, 50% completion percentage), QB Willie Idleburg has a bright future, and the Packers invested the 3rd overall pick on WR Joker Davis, who should team with WR Defazio Combs, #8 overall in 2009, to form a top duo for years to come. The Packers still have a strong backfield, although Ryan Grant had his worst season since 2007 with 995 yards and 5 TDs for a 4.4 YPC. Behind him are several talented HBs, such as 2011 #8 overall pick Desmond Duffy. Defensively, however, the Packers still struggle. Their secondary is among the worst in the league, as #1 CB Eddie Jackson is by far the worst starting CB in the league (60/60 MCV, 40/40 ZCV!), and their interior defensive line has been neglected year in and year out. The Packers have talent on the offensive side of the ball, but still need to address the defense if they want to be successful in this league.
Starters:
QB: Willie Idleburg
RB: Ryan Grant (2010 2nd rounder Tom Jones #4, 2011 1st rounder Desmond Duffy #2)
FB: Jamil Caldwell (R)
TE: Tony Gonzalez
WR: Defazio Combs, Joker Davis
OL: Haloti Solari Sean Ortmayer (R), Billy Wiggins, Shelton Brookes, Marshal Yanda
DL: Aaron Kampman (16 sacks in 09, 11 in 10, 8 in 11), Justin Harrell, Armond Kessler (R), Kameron Perryman (8 sacks in 2011)
LB: Brady Poppinga, Nick Barnett, AJ Hawk
CB: Eddie Jackson, Charles Woodson (2nd rounder Devin Beasley #5)
S: Jimmy Williams, Atari Bigby
K: Mason Crosby
P: Jon Ryan
KR/
PR: Deon Barbour (R WR)