AFC EAST

1. New England [...]]]> Chris and Adam have weighed in with their preseason predictions, and a few hours before the Vikings and Saints kick off from the Superdome, I’ll add mine, too:

AFC EAST

1. New England Patriots (10-6) – This isn’t the same team it used to be, but Tom Brady and Randy Moss are still here, and the Patriots have enough firepower on offense to take this division. Brady’s car accident on Thursday morning appears to be a non-issue, and I see the Patriots upending the Jets in the division.

2. New York Jets (9-7) – I’ve got to be honest: Everything about this team screams “overrated.” I don’t see the Jets’ defense being as indomitable as it was last year, and the offense will be hurt a little bit by the loss of Thomas Jones. There’s still enough talent here to make a playoff run, but the Jets aren’t the Super Bowl heir apparent to the Colts.

3. Miami Dolphins (9-7) – They’ll be better, with Brandon Marshall giving them a dynamic weapon on offense to go with their Wildcat attack. I don’t trust Chad Henne enough to get them to the playoffs quite yet, though.

4. Buffalo Bills (3-13) – This will be one of the worst teams in football. Too bad for Bills fans; they’re a better fanbase than to deserve this every year. But maybe Jake Locker will change the mood.

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens (10-6) – The Ravens have a bit of a different look, with Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh joining Ray Rice  to give them an explosive offense. They’ll stumble a little early with Ed Reed out, but they should be in position for a deep run come January.

2. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)* – This team could implode with Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco fighting over one ball. But I think they keep it together well enough to make another trip to the playoffs.

 3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) – I’ve seen a few people picking these guys to go to the Super Bowl, and I don’t get it. Ben Roethlisberger is gone for the first four games, and they’ve got enough holes that I don’t see them overcoming that to climb back up this division. But my hatred for this team is well-documented, so take that for what it’s worth.

4. Cleveland Browns (5-11) – This team will look different in a year, as Mike Holmgren gets to put his stamp on things. This year? It’s going to be a bit mismatched, with Jake Delhomme leading the team. Poor Cleveland.

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts (12-4) - The Colts are status quo. And status quo for the Colts is a deep playoff run. That’s going to happen again this year, with the team capable of getting back to the Super Bowl after a loss to the Saints.

2. Houston Texans (9-7)* – I liked Adam’s breakout pick so much, I decided to copy it for myself. Make no mistake: This has become an offensive league, and the Texans have enough weapons to keep up with the best of them there. With Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Arian Foster and Steve Slaton, they’re good to go. This isn’t a team I’d want to play in the first round of the playoffs.

3. Tennessee Titans (7-9) – We know Chris Johnson will be one of the best running backs in the league. And the Titans could add Albert Haynesworth back to their defense if the Redskins get tired of him. But their whole season hinges on Vince Young, and I doubt he’ll be steady enough to get them to the playoffs.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) – Bad team, bad market, bad situation overall. And Maurice Jones-Drew is an injury concern. Lots of blackouts coming to Jacksonville this season.

AFC West

1. San Diego Chargers (11-5) – They’re a sexy Super Bowl pick, despite replacing LaDanian Tomlinson with Ryan Matthews and Darren Sproles. But how are they good enough to Dallas, when they haven’t been able to do any other year they’ve trotted out this much talent? The Vincent Jackson situation is also hanging over the Chargers like a cloud, so here’s what happens: Another slow start, another late-season charge, and another playoff exit.

2. Oakland Raiders (7-9) – In a bad division, the Raiders have a solid defense, which will get them to second place and earn them darkhorse status behind the Chargers. I don’t trust Jason Campbell to take them to the playoffs, though, unless their defense is dominant enough to carry them there.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-11) – Why did the Chiefs go all-in for Matt Cassell? Is he really going to get them moving in the right direction? They’ve got a nice 1-2 punch with Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, and I like Dwayne Bowe, but there simply isn’t enough talent here.

 4. Denver Broncos (5-11) – Josh McDaniels is presiding over a trainwreck in Denver, after taking over from Mike Shanahan’s legacy of competitive teams (and stunning egotism). Other than Belichick, hasn’t the Parcells Coaching Tree been an abject failure?

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys (11-5) – The Cowboys are very talented, yes, but I don’t trust Tony Romo in the playoffs. They’ve got a long list of weapons on offense (Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Roy Williams, and yes, Dez Bryant), a great offensive line and a good defense. But I still don’t think Romo gets the Cowboys to the Super Bowl.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)* – Don’t write this team off because it has a new quarterback: They’re full of talented skill players on offense, and they have a defense that’s good enough to create turnovers and pressure the quarterback. I’m taking them to return to the playoffs.

3. New York Giants (8-8) – The Giants have issues, yes, but their pass rush is still one of the best in football. If Eli Manning can find enough targets to throw to on offense, they’ll be in the playoff conversation late into the season.

4. Washington Redskins (5-11) – New coach, same mess. The Shanahan-Haynesworth power struggle shows how much housecleaning and culture change still needs to happen here. That Donovan McNabb-Willie Parker-Clinton Portis-Larry Johnson backfield would sure look great in 2005, though.

NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers (11-5) – I am beyond nervous about the Packers. I’ve found reason after reason to tell myself they’re not good enough to get to the Super Bowl. And in the end, I don’t think they will (more on that later). But I do think they’ll win the division, based on an offense that looks absolutely unstoppable and a defense that will benefit from that, by way of creating turnovers against teams that are playing from behind. Aaron Rodgers could have an MVP year, but winning in the playoffs is another matter. And this team hasn’t done it yet.

2. Minnesota Vikings (9-7)* - First: All the delusional Vikings fans in the Twin Cities assuming the return of Brett Favre equals a Super Bowl trip need to get their heads checked. We’ve been through all the reasons why: Favre’s erraticism, Sidney Rice’s injury and a secondary that can be shredded. They’ll beat the Packers once, and sneak into the playoffs. But that’s as far as they’ll go. Seriously, I thought the Twin Cities was known for its commitment to education. Why aren’t these people smarter?

3. Detroit Lions (6-10) – There’s little question this team is headed in the right direction. Jim Schwartz is making them tougher, they’ll have a nice pass rush and Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson could create something special. In another year, I think the Motor City Kitties could return to the playoffs. The NFC is too deep this year, though, for that to happen.

4. Chicago Bears (5-11) – Jay Cutler and Mike Martz? What’s the over-under on pick-sixes for this team? And is it higher than the number of times Cutler is seen fighting with a coach on the sidelines?

AFC South

1. New Orleans Saints (11-5) - Things won’t be as smooth as they were last year for the Saints, especially with Darren Sharper on the PUP list. But this offense is still too good to keep down. And Sean Payton has made almost all the right moves in his time with the Saints. It’s why I’m picking them as the first repeat NFC champion since the Packers in 1996-97.

2. Atlanta Falcons (9-7) – I nearly put this team in the playoffs; I like Matt Ryan, I like Michael Turner and I like Roddy White. And this has typically been a team that alternates up years with down years. I’m not sure about the defense, though, and I think they end up just shy of the playoffs.

3. Carolina Panthers (7-9) – Like Adam said, the Panthers can, and should, run all day. But Matt Moore? Don’t think so. Will this be it for John Fox in Carolina?

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12) – They’ve got some athletes, but they’re far too young, particularly at quarterback, to do anything this year

NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers (9-7) – The 49ers are headed in the right direction under Mike Singletary, and they have some improving weapons on offense, particularly with a more settled line. This division is God-awful, as well, so the 49ers get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

2. Arizona Cardinals (6-10) – What a spectacular fall for the 2008 NFC champions. They’ve lost Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin on offense, and Karlos Dansby on defense, and they’ll start Derek Anderson at quarterback. Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower give them some weapons to take pressure off Larry Fitzgerald, but they’ve just lost too much. Have we mentioned how bad this division is?

3. Seattle Seahawks (5-11) – Matt Hasselback deserves better than this. His offense has been stripped of weapons, and while the Seahawks have a respectable defense, they won’t be able to keep up with opponents every week. The rebuilding project is on in the Pacific Northwest.

4. St. Louis Rams (3-13) – For the Rams, this year is all about getting Sam Bradford comfortable. They’re not going anywhere this year. At least Bradford has Steven Jackson to bail him out and keep a few blitzers out of his face.

Playoff Predictions

AFC

Wild card round – (3) Baltimore over (6) Cincinnati  and (4) New England over (5) Houston

Divisional round – (1) Indianapolis over (4) New England and (3) Baltimore over (2) San Diego

Championship game – (2) Indianapolis over (3) Baltimore

NFC

Wild card round – (3) Dallas over (6) Minnesota and (5) Philadelphia over (4) San Francisco

Divisional round – (1) New Orleans over (5) Philadelphia and (2) Green Bay over (3) Dallas

Championship game – (1) New Orleans over (3) Green Bay

Super Bowl XLV – February 6, 2011, Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Indianapolis Colts 31, New Orleans Saints 27

I picked a rematch last year with a different result, too, didn’t I? Since that worked out so well, why not try it again? Honestly, I think both conferences are wide-open enough that any number of teams could win them (the Packers included). But it will come down to the team that can cover up its flaws best, and against the Saints, the Packers’ pass defense will be exposed. But what do I know? Hopefully, I’m wrong, and we don’t have to watch Mr. Horse Face avenge one of the more satisfying Super Bowls not involving the Packers.

-Gene Bosling

To close it out, let’s now talk about the offseason of the team the Packers are chasing for the division title: the Minnesota Vikings, back-to-back winners of the North.

(Vomiting uncontrollably)

Enjoy – or something like that.

Minnesota Vikings

Where they were [...]]]> We’ve covered the two teams that finished beneath the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North last season.

To close it out, let’s now talk about the offseason of the team the Packers are chasing for the division title: the Minnesota Vikings, back-to-back winners of the North.

(Vomiting uncontrollably)

Enjoy – or something like that.

Minnesota Vikings

Where they were heading into the offseason: Boosted by a better-than-expected showing from you-know-who, the Vikings won the NFC North with a 12-4 record. Minnesota then crushed the Dallas Cowboys at home in the divisional round before gagging away the NFC Championship Game to the New Orleans Saints in overtime (Favre? Gagging? NFC Title Game? No way, right?!). Minnesota was solid in most areas, but needed to improve a bit in others, namely the secondary.

What happened in free agency: The biggest thing to happen to the Vikings in free agency was not a signing, but rather a departure as backup running back Chester Taylor inked a deal with the Chicago Bears. Handcuffed to an extent by the “Final Eight” rule, Minnesota couldn’t really do that much, even with Taylor leaving. As such, the Vikings came away with little: kicker Rhys Lloyd, cornerback Lito Sheppard and defensive end Mike Montgomery (remember him? It’s okay if you don’t).

What happened in the draft: While some speculated that the Vikes would tab Jimmy Clausen as their quarterback of the future, Minnesota instead traded back with Detroit to the top of round two (also jumping up 28 spots in the fourth round in the process). With their top pick, the Vikings selected corner Chris Cook. Minnesota had a second pick in round two, as well, and went with running back Toby Gerhart. Other interesting picks included defensive end Everson Griffin (selected with the pick earned in the Detroit trade), linebacker Nate Triplett (like Lloyd, a former Gopher) and quarterback Joe Webb.

Where the Vikings are now: Obviously, the entire 2010 season hinges on whether or not Brett Favre will “decide” to return. Of course, since we’re not as stupid as he clearly thinks we are, we know he will. That being the case, Minnesota should still be a very good team yet again.

But I think the Vikings dropped the ball a bit in terms of strengthening their roster. Namely, they didn’t find an adequate replacement for Taylor, arguably the most valuable backup running back in the league. Taylor was a crafty runner and top-notch pass catcher, neither of which are things Adrian Peterson is. The drafting of Gerhart was questionable, to say the least, in this respect. He’s a brute force type of back and that will help in short yardage spots. But he did nothing as a pass catcher in college and it will take time for him to learn that role in the pros. Remember, Favre loves throwing to his running backs.

Minnesota would have been well-served to bolster its offensive line just a bit, too, but it did no such thing. As such, the depth is not there and the Vikings will be hard-pressed to skate by if a starter is hurt.

As for the defense, you have to wonder what the Vikes were thinking in not tightening up their secondary. Antoine Winfield is great, but struggled with injuries last year and isn’t getting any younger. Cedric Griffin will miss the first stretch of the season rehabbing his knee injury from the Saints game. Cook has amazing size (6-feet, 2-inches) and some definite upside, but the main reason he dropped to round two was his injury history. And don’t expect anything great from Sheppard, a player who’s best days are well behind him.

I thought they should have done more on the d-line, as well. Pat Williams is an elite player, sure, but he turns 38 in October. If he gets hurt, teams can lock in on Jared Allen and Kevin Williams. As a result, the pass rush won’t be there.

Again, when Favre comes back, this team should be okay. There’s simply no way Favre does what he did last year – remember, he hasn’t had two consecutive good seasons since 2003 and 2004 – because, in the end, I don’t think the motivation will be there for him like it was last season. But even if he’s a shell of that – say, 26 touchdowns and 15 picks – this team has enough firepower in other areas to pull out a 10-win season.

Had it had a better offseason, Minnesota could have solidly put itself back in 12-win contention. The Vikings did not, however, and are no longer the team to beat in the NFC North.

Offseason Grade (when Favre comes back): C-

Offseason Grade (if Favre doesn’t come back): The grade doesn’t matter, because if he actually quits, that means the apocalypse is upon us.

-Chris Lempesis

Chicago Bears

Where they were heading into the offseason: The trade for Jay Cutler gave some Bears fans hope 2009 would be a good season. Not so much. Cutler was his typical up-and-down self, only this time there were more downs and ups (26 [...]]]> As promised, we’re back with part two: A look at the Chicago Bears.

Chicago Bears

Where they were heading into the offseason: The trade for Jay Cutler gave some Bears fans hope 2009 would be a good season. Not so much. Cutler was his typical up-and-down self, only this time there were more downs and ups (26 picks). The Bears were near the bottom third in points scored (19th, 20.4 per) and points allowed (21st. 23.4 per). The defense, usually the staple of Lovie Smith’s teams, struggled in other areas, as well: 22nd in interceptions and 27th in third down conversions allowed. The result of all this? A 7-9 finish.

Where they were heading into free agency: On the first full day of free agency, the Bears declared themselves the kings of the market, dishing out roughly $121 million. Obviously, the majority of that dough went to defensive end Julius Peppers ($91 mil), but the signings of running back Chester Taylor ($12.5 mil) and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna ($17 million) were not cheap, either. Not surprisingly, the Bears did little after that, outside of signing cornerback Tim Jennings and releasing corner Nathan Vasher, a long-time key player for that defense.

Where they were heading into the draft: The trades for Cutler and defensive end Gaines Adams (who, sadly, passed away in January) left Chicago with no picks in either of the first two rounds. The Bears targeted their defense with their first pick, safety Major Wright. Defense, for the most part, was focused on the rest of the way, too, with players like defensive end Corey Wooton and corner Joshua Moore being selected.

Where the Bears are now: Not much better than they were a year ago, from the looks of it. Yes, Chicago garnered a lot of attention for bringing Peppers on board. But to me, it’s never a good idea to dish out $91 million to a guy who only plays when he wants to (Peppers usually limits his good performances to national spotlight games and damn near disappears the rest of the time). Will there be five or six games where he dominates? Yes, but remember, it’s a 16-game season.

The money spent on Peppers/lack of top draft picks left the Bears completely unable to address the rest of their defense, a shell of its former self and aging, seemingly, in dog years. As a result, I don’t see how that unit is going to be any better, overrated Brian Urlacher staying healthy or not. Smith is a brilliant defensive mind, no question about it, but even he can only do so much, after all.

Not mentioned in any of the above sections were a pair of big coaching moves made by the Bears: the addition of offensive coordinator Mike Martz (picked only after Green Bay denied Chicago the opportunity to interview quarterbacks coach Tom Clements) and o-line coach Mike Tice.

I continued to be baffled as to why people talk Martz up as such a “genius.” It’s been a loooong time since his glory days in St. Louis and, last time I checked, Martz was a complete failure in both San Francisco and Detroit. He appears to have more talent here than he did in either of his last two stops, sure, but is he smart enough to coach them up? The Tice addition is a little better, as he knows how to work with o-linemen. But, again, there just isn’t a lot of talent in that group.

As for the actual players on offense, there are some positives. The Taylor signing was a nice move. He is a crafty veteran who’s a great pass catcher and will help in third down situations. There’s a pair of young receivers I also like in Devin Aromashodu and Johnny Knox.

Everyone talks about Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark, but if you look at Martz’s schemes, traditionally they don’t utilize the tight ends all that much. Will he change now? And there’s also the issue of Matt Forte not being anywhere near the player people thought he was going to be.

What does all this mean for Cutler?

Well, he should be better in 2010, if for no other reason than it’d be hard for him to be much worse. But I still feel like Cutler is more Jeff George than Brett Favre (the player Cutler clearly wants to be). His decision-making is just so awful at times and that isn’t likely to change playing behind a suspect line where he’ll have to make quick decisions. Plus, you have to wonder how well he and Martz – two very strong personalities – will mesh, particularly when times get tough.  

When you add all this up, you come away with a picture of the Bears: A team with some big names and not-so-big resumes, a squad that is likely to hover around six or seven wins this year.

Lovie, get that realtor’s number handy.

Offseason grade: C- 

We’ll be back Tuesday to look at the Minnesota Vikings.

-Chris Lempesis

That turned out well enough, so we’ve decided to do it again. This time, though, we’re going about it differently. Instead of spreading the posts out over a few weeks, we’re [...]]]> Last summer, we ran a three-part “Know Your Enemy” series in which we broke down the respective offseasons of the other three NFC North teams.

That turned out well enough, so we’ve decided to do it again. This time, though, we’re going about it differently. Instead of spreading the posts out over a few weeks, we’re going to run them all within a couple days of each other. This way, you can get a comprehensive look a little bit quicker. By the time we’re done, we hope we’ll have given you a good look at everything you need to know about what these teams did.

After all, one cannot fully hate their opponent until they know everything about them.

As always, enjoy.

Detroit Lions

Where they were heading into the offseason: The 2009 season went a little better for the Motor City Kitties (copyright Dan Cole), as the Lions won two games, two more than they did in 2008. That’s nice, but when you finish 2-14, you still have major work to do across the board, especially when you consider the Lions were last in points allowed (494) and yards per game allowed (392.1), 27th in points scored (262) and 26th in yards per game (299).

What happened in free agency: Detroit made a big splash in free agency, signing defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and wide receiver Nate Burleson. The Lions continued to target the d-line by acquiring defensive tackle Corey Williams (remember him?) via a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Corner was also addressed as the team signed Jonathan Wade and acquired Chris Houston from Atlanta. Offensively, Detroit picked up guard Rob Sims (Seattle) and tight end Tony Scheffler (Denver) in separate trades.

What happened in the draft: The Lions continued their d-line overhaul by drafting DT Ndamukong Suh with the second overall pick. A trade with Minnesota (huh?) allowed Detroit to jump back into the bottom part of round one, where it selected RB Jahvid Best. Other interesting picks included CB Amari Spivey and LT Jason Fox.

Where the Lions are now: Lions fans – and no, I’m not kidding – should be excited about where their team is headed. GM Martin Mayhew appears to have an actual plan in place for how he wants to build this team (as opposed to Matt Millen, who appeared to use a dartboard for this type of stuff).

With a defensive-minded head coach in Jim Schwartz, Mayhew actively went about improving not only that side of the ball, but the most important part of that side of the ball: the defensive line. Vanden Bosch, Suh and Williams will all start on opening day and pair with promising young end Cliff Avril to ensure the Lions get to the quarterback much, much more often than they did last year (29th in sacks with just 26). This is a good thing indeed because, while I don’t dislike the moves Detroit made with its secondary, I’m still not sure about that group overall (though I love safety Louis Delmas). Still, that won’t matter as much if the other team’s quarterback is pressured, which he should be.

Offensively, the Lions should be better, as well. The Sims move helps the o-line, though that group is still a fairly big question mark. If the line holds up, though, it’s there for quarterback Matthew Stafford to make a nice leap in year two. Scheffler teams up with Brandon Pettigrew to give Stafford two safety valves at tight end. While the team overpayed greatly for Burleson ($25 million for five years), he’ll serve as a solid No. 2 option behind Calvin Johnson. Best will play the dual-purpose gamebreaker role if he can avoid concussions, a major problem for him in college. And I still think Kevin Smith could turn into a nice back. Fox will be the left tackle of the future, as well.

I’m not suggesting a playoff push is in the cards for the Lions (baby steps, Detroit fans, baby steps). I am, however, saying you should not be surprised if the Lions reach six-or-seven win territory this season, pulling off a couple of upsets along the way. A bright future at Ford Field? Maybe – just maybe.

Offseason grade: B

We’ll be back later today with a look at Da Bears.

-Chris Lempesis

Truth be [...]]]> The first part of our look at the defensive battles – part three of our series in all, if you’re keeping score – focused solely on the secondary. Makes sense as it’s the one glaring area of concern on this team as it prepares to begin camp in just one day – holy @$*#!

Truth be told, upon further review, there aren’t many more position battles on the defense that I can see (at least as of now). The eight linebackers appear to be in place, as do at least six defensive linemen. Injuries and/or a push from one of the undrafted free agents could change that, but we’ll have to wait a minute to see how those things develop.

(And don’t ask me who I think will win the punting battle, because I have absolutely no idea. I hope it’s the Australian guy, because that’d be kind of cool. Other than that? I got nothing, Jerry.)

That being the case, I’ve decided to look at the last glaring question regarding the defense: Will Justin Harrell make the roster this season?

I’m not going to waste any time talking about his past. We all know the story there. And I’m not going to link to the now-infamous draft day freakout video. Go to YouTube if you want to see it.

Instead, let’s update where we stand: Head coach Mike McCarthy said during the minicamps/OTAs that the team truly believes Harrell is past his gruesome back problems, problems that have wrecked his career thus far. He hasn’t undergone any additional surgeries since the last one, which is extremely positive. He even saw the field a bit during the minicamps/OTAs, from the sounds of it.

But if it feels like you’ve seen this movie before, it’s because, well, you have.

We’ve heard roughly 8,000,000 different, “No, really, his back’s better now!” speeches from McCarthy and Ted Thompson during Harrell’s three-plus years in the league. At some point, I tuned it out, tossing all those speeches into the ol’ “Spam” folder. It’s not that I don’t want to believe it – or that I don’t want Harrell to finally deliver on the promise that made him a first round pick all those moons ago, because I do.

But I also know it’s always just a matter of time before the back flares up and he’s heading to the I.R. Taking what essentially amounts to a flyer on Harrell makes sense with Johnny Jolly in the fold. But with Jolly done for the year, the team is looking thin at the position heading into camp. Thompson and McCarthy could gamble on Harrell staying healthy and playing well – again, the talent is there if he’s healthy – but by doing so, they could miss out on snagging a more reliable option, either via roster cuts or the trade route (the preferred option, if you’re asking me).

And if – or maybe when – the back flares up and he’s done for the year (yet again), even more pressure will be placed on a pair of rookies (Mike Neal and C.J. Wilson) and a second-year player (Jarius Wynn) who did nothing in year one. If those guys can’t get it done, that could spell doom as there is simply no way Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji and Cullen Jenkins can be effective for an entire season playing the bulk of the snaps.

Remember, the defensive line is every bit the engine on that side of the ball as the offensive line is on theirs. I’m not saying Harrell can wreck that engine singlehandedly. But by choosing him over the possibility of someone who can actually, you know, stay healthy, McCarthy and Thompson are not taking the most calculated of risks.

In the end, I’d say that Harrell sticks, if only because McCarthy and Thompson appear to be hellbent on seeing him achieve some level of success. I’m just not so sure I agree with such a decision.

I hope I’m wrong.

-Chris Lempesis

It’s time to shine the spotlight on the tough guys – the defenders.

The Packers have a couple of major battles going on with their defense – none bigger than one in the secondary. And it’s there that we begin part three of our series:

Strong safety

Type of battle: Starting [...]]]> Enough about the pretty boys on the offense.

It’s time to shine the spotlight on the tough guys – the defenders.

The Packers have a couple of major battles going on with their defense – none bigger than one in the secondary. And it’s there that we begin part three of our series:

Strong safety

Type of battle: Starting spot

Combatants: Atari Bigby (28 years old, 5-feet, 11-inches, 213 pounds, fifth year) and Morgan Burnett (21 years old, 6-feet, 1-inch, 209 pounds, rookie)

Thoughts: This and the Daryn Colledge/Jason Spitz left guard battle are the two biggest competitions to watch in camp. The only difference here is that one player is an experienced vet, while the other has yet to play a single NFL down.

While not an outstanding player, Bigby – who finally signed his one-year RFA tender Tuesday – is solid in certain facets of his game. He’s normally pretty good against the run and has the potential to make big plays in pass coverage. There are two major drawbacks to Bigby’s game, however: his tendency to get caught flat-footed in coverage and his inability to stay healthy. These have caused him to be simply an average player since his breakout 2007 season. At some point, you wonder how high a player’s ceiling really is; we’re nearing that point with Bigby.

If you read this site regularly – and I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t – you know how much I like Burnett. Even before the Pack traded up in round three to get him, I felt he was a great fit for this defense, due to his natural playmaking skills and knack for coming up with the big turnover. He showcased many of those skills in the minicamps/OTAs, working with the No. 1 defense in place of Bigby. That’s invaluable experience heading into camp. He’s also capable of delivering some big hits (just like Bigby). One thing that he’ll need to correct is his tendency to gamble and reach for the big play when it isn’t there. Still, of all the rookies on this team, he’s the one I’m most excited to see.

Early Edge: Burnett. A rookie? Yes, he is. But his feet are already at least sort of wet. That, combined with an advantage in talent, gives him the nod over Bigby, a player who sat out the entire offseason in a miscalculated attempt to get a long-term deal.

Cornerback

Type of battle: Starting nickel and dime back spots

Combatants: Pat Lee (26 years old, 6-feet, 196 pounds, third year), Brandon “Crusin’ Chubbies” Underwood (24 years old, 6-feet, 1-inch, 191 pounds, second year), Will Blackmon (25 years old, 6-feet, 210 pounds, fifth year), Josh Bell (25 years old, 5-feet, 11-inches, 177 pounds, third year) and Jarrett Bush (26 years old, 6-feet, 200 pounds, fifth year)

Thoughts: First thing’s first: Al Harris will be placed on the PUP list. I’m sure of that. With the severity of his injury – plus his age and the fact that the team plays no real high-powered passing attacks over its first six games – it’s truly the best decision. That doesn’t mean Harris can’t regain his old form, because he certainly can (and should).

But, if that’s the case, that leaves openings for the nickel and dime corner spots. The Packers certainly don’t have a lack of candidates, that’s for sure.

It’s been a tough first two seasons for Lee. Various injuries have limited him to just five regular season games. Granted, it can be hard to project things based on training camp practices/preseason games, but Lee did show some signs of ability there. The biggest thing Lee needs to show – outside of staying healthy, of course - is that he’s able to fit in with the 3-4 scheme, one that employs both man-to-man and zone coverage. Remember, Lee was drafted in the second round in ‘08 as a bump-and-run specialist.

Mr. Chubbies himself, Underwood, has had just about the most up-and-down offseason imaginable. The ups came first as head coach Mike McCarthy couldn’t say enough good things about the progression Underwood made during the minicamps/OTAs. Underwood – who had to transfer to Cincinnati from Ohio State due to academic issues/missing team meetings – then flashed his immaturity in astoundingly stupid fashion (see: the Wisconsin Dells incident). How much has that incident altered Underwood in the coaches eyes?

While he’s listed as a safety on the team’s roster, it sounds like Blackmon will be a corner/safety hybrid this season, able to provide depth at multiple spots. That means he could be in the mix. Blackmon has flashed some ability at the position (he’s also a dangerous return man), but has also struggled with injuries. In fact, that’s an understatement; he’s missed 31 out of a possible 64 regular season games since entering the league. This is a make-or-break season for him. If he wants to continue in the league, he’s got to avoid injuries.

Very little is known about Bell’s abilities. After all, he played in only four games for the Packers last season, recording just three tackles (he also got beat on Nasty Ben’s last-second touchdown pass in the Pittsburgh game). But he’s stuck around this long, so the team must like him a least a little bit, right?

Last, and certainly least, we come to corner/safety/bain of my existence Bush. Once again I was certain he wouldn’t last until camp…and once again I am disappointed. Bush brings a whole lot of nothing to the table (spare me the special teams stuff – he’s not that good there, either). I’m really pulling for Blackmon to make a mark as a hybrid player. If that happens, Bush is gone as the team has no need for two corner/safeties. Fingers are crossed.

Early edge: If there’s one area Ted Thompson may look to upgrade via a trade during camp, it’s here. But seeing as how I can’t predict that, I’ll go with Underwood as the nickel and Lee as the dime. Does Underwood need to grow up? Without question. Also unquestionable is his talent. If he builds on his strong offseason, he’s the most ready to take over the nickel spot. If Lee stays healthy – a massive “if”, I’ll admit – I think the dime job is his. The talent appears to be there. Blackmon could give him a run, but I think he will play the “sixth man” role for the secondary (an important role). Bell sticks as the sixth corner until Harris returns. Bush is cut. If I’m wrong on EVERYTHING else, please let me be right on this.

That’s all for part three. The final part of our series will be up Friday.

Anyone else getting excited for this thing to finally tee off?

-Chris Lempesis

We’ll let the skill position players get their due this time around, though, as we make them the focus of part two.

Not bad for a short intro, huh?

Wide receiver

Type of battle: No. 3 receiver spot

Combatants: James Jones (26 years old, 6-feet, 1-inch, 208 [...]]]> We went a different way with part one, focusing on the offensive line first.

We’ll let the skill position players get their due this time around, though, as we make them the focus of part two.

Not bad for a short intro, huh?

Wide receiver

Type of battle: No. 3 receiver spot

Combatants: James Jones (26 years old, 6-feet, 1-inch, 208 pounds, fourth year) and Jordy Nelson (25 years old, 6-feet, 3-inches, 217 pounds, third year)

Thoughts: Consider this round two in the Jones v. Nelson battle. There was really no clear winner during training camp last year and, really, no player grabbed the job during the season, either.

Jones had a slightly better ‘09 season (32 catches, 440 yards, five touchdowns) than did Nelson (22 catches, 320 yards, two touchdowns while missing three games due to injury) but the job is still up for grabs (no pun intended). One of these players needs to come through this season; Donald Driver isn’t going to be around forever, after all.

Jones rebounded from an injury-plagued ‘08 campaign last year, playing in all 16 games. He’s still got a fairly high ceiling and can definitely make big plays. These things only happen occasionally, though. Sometimes, he disappears from games (or worse, can’t hang on to the ball). He needs to become a more refined product.

Nelson strikes me as the more consistent and polished of the two, though he also seems to lack Jones’ big-play abilities. He’s had an outstanding offseason, from the sound of it, as Aaron Rodgers was apparently looking for him more and more throughout the minicamps/OTAs. Nelson, like Jones, struggles with drops, however. That needs to be corrected – and fast.

Early edge: Jones. He’s got an extra year of experience on Nelson and, again, his ceiling appears to be just a bit higher. But Nelson as a No. 4 receiver is definitely a good problem to have.

Fullback

Type of battle: Roster spot

Combatants: Korey Hall (26 years old, 6-feet, 236 pounds, fourth year) and John Kuhn (27 years old, 6-feet, 250 pounds, fifth year)

Thoughts: Quinn Johnson is a lock to make the 53-man roster, in my mind. And since I just can’t fathom the idea of the team keeping three fullbacks yet again, I have to think one of these two isn’t making it to Philly for the season opener.

Hall struggled with injuries last season, only playing in 11 games. He’s not quite the run blocker Kuhn is, but he is a better pass-catching option.

Kuhn, again, is a better pure run blocker and even saw a handful of touches in the short-yardage run game last season. He’s not a bad pass catcher, but appears to be more of a pure fullback.

Early edge: Hall. With Johnson serving as the brute force hammer at the position, the team needs a pass-catcher to help round things out fully. Hall is better at that than is Kuhn, although he must avoid injury in camp. That would tilt things Kuhn’s way.

Tight end

Type of battle: Roster spot

Combatants: Donald Lee (29 years old, 6-feet, 4-inches, 248 pounds, eighth year) and Spencer Havner (27 years old, 6-feet, 3-inches, 250 pounds, second year)

Thoughts: Jermichael Finley is officially “the man” at the position and rookie Andrew Quarless has big-time upside, despite his off-the-field issues. He’s not going anywhere and I just do not see the team keeping four tight ends – Lord help me if I’m wrong.

Just one year ago, it would have seemed silly to say that Lee and Havner would be battling it out. But 365 days can serve as a lifetime in the NFL, thus leaving us where we currently are.

I’ve written this before many times, but Lee has just not been the same player since you-know-who left town. Rodgers has never really favored Lee. Even when he has, Lee has struggled with drops. These things come together to form a picture of a player who just doesn’t have the same confidence he once did. There’s also the little issue of his salary (due $2 million this season), an awfully high amount to pay a backup, potential Super Bowl run or not.

It has not been a good offseason for Havner (see: the crotch-rocket crash that occurred while he was allegedly under the influence). Still, his shoulder appears to be healed up and hopefully Havner can begin building on his solid 2009 season. Despite catching just seven balls in the regular season, four of them went for touchdowns (plus one in the playoff loss). Rodgers looks his way in the red zone, as opposed to, say, Lee (just one touchdown reception last season). Havner is also a special teams demon, something this team desperately needs.

Early edge: Havner. He’s a cheaper option who brings more to the table than does Lee. Lee is desperately in need of a change of scenery and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him traded for help elsewhere (d-line, corner or outside linebacker) before the regular season starts. 

That’s all for the offense. We’ll be back Thursday to take a look at the defense.

-Chris Lempesis

Some guys battle for spots on the depth chart. Others battle for spots on the roster. Either way, the battles are often friendly, yet extremely intense.

The 2010 Green Bay Packers will have a handful of such battles in training camp this year. [...]]]> One of the best parts of training camp involves the battles waged between teammates.

Some guys battle for spots on the depth chart. Others battle for spots on the roster. Either way, the battles are often friendly, yet extremely intense.

The 2010 Green Bay Packers will have a handful of such battles in training camp this year. And over the next couple of days, we’ll be highlighting those battles (and giving our thoughts as to who has the pre-camp edge).

Since the offense will be the driving force for this year’s team, it seems best to start there.

Quarterback and running back have been crossed off the list, however, as those positions seem to be fairly set (sorry, Kraig Lumpkin lovers, it’s true).

So, that said, let’s begin with the hogs up front on the offensive line where there are a couple of battles to be waged:

Left guard

Type of battle: Starting spot

Combatants: Daryn Colledge (28 years old, 6-feet, 4-inches, 308 pounds, fifth year) and Jason Spitz (27 years old, 6-feet, 3-inches, 318 pounds, fifth year)

Thoughts: Of all the battles in camp, this is one of the tops to keep an eye on. Colledge and Spitz, good friends off the field, are both at a crossroads, career-wise. Each has gone through numerous ups-and-downs over the past four years and it’s time for both to step up and prove they can be consistent NFL players.

Colledge’s ups-and-downs have been quite literal. In 2006 and 2008, he was definitely one of the team’s best o-linemen. In 2007 and 2009, however, he was flat-out terrible. It’s an even-numbered year – does that mean he’s going to experience another upswing? For Colledge, it’s less an issue of talent than it is an issue of techique and confidence. He’s still far sloppy at times, which leads to far too many penalties (or worse, him getting flat-out overpowered). His confidence seems to wane easily, as well. His disastrous time at left tackle in ‘09 seemed to ruin him for the year, even after he moved back to his more familiar left guard spot. In every area, he needs to be more sure of himself.

For Spitz, it’s an issue of staying healthy. His back injury, while apparently cleared up now, still causes concern (back injuries are never, ever, ever good and can linger for an entire career). Spitz is clearly a talent, though; remember, many were predicting him to be one of the breakout players on last year’s team. While the team seems intent on having five backups for five starters (i.e., no more shifting and sliding in the event of an injury), Spitz is still capable of playing both guard and center, which is always a plus. And he’s got that nasty demeanor, something the line still needs more of.

Early edge: Spitz. There are just too many issues with Colledge. Spitz’s back is, for now, healthy, and that – combined with an advantage in talent – gives him the nod. Colledge may be playing somewhere else before the season starts. T.J. Lang would then likely serve double duty as backup left guard/backup right tackle should that happen (he’s going to be the “sixth man” for the o-line this season).

Overall roster spot

Type of battle: Um…roster spot

Combatants: Allen Barbre (26 years old, 6-feet, 4-inches, 300 pounds, fourth year), Breno Giacomini (24 years old, 6-feet, 7-inches, 318 pounds, third year) and Evan Dietrich-Smith (24 years old, 6-feet, 2-inches, 308 pounds, second year)

Thoughts: In my mind, eight spots are already locked up on the o-line (Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher, Scott Wells, Josh Sitton, Bryan Bulaga, Lang, the winner of the Spitz/Colledge battle and Marshall Newhouse). I really believe the loser of the Spitz/Colledge battle could be traded, leaving three players to battle for two spots on the roster (no way this team keeps more than 10 o-linemen this year).

A season that began with so much promise ended with so much disappointment for Barbre. Handed the starting right tackle job in camp, Barbre had a very good preseason. Turns out, he wasn’t so good when the opposing d-linemen actually gave a you-know-what. Barbre was repeatedly wrecked in pass protection and, despite some promise as a run blocker, was benched when Tauscher returned mid-season. The team’s confidence in him appears to be as low as it’s ever been.

Giacomini is entering a crucial season. Blessed with tremendous size, he’s spent the past two seasons redshirting in order to get stronger and learn the right tackle position (remember, he converted from tight end to right tackle midway through his collegiate career). Allegedly, Giacomini has had a very good offseason and just might be coming into his own. If the light turns on, Lang will have competition for the “right tackle of the future” title.

We really don’t know that much about Dietrich-Smith, other than the fact that the coaches seem to like him. We do know that he can play center, though, and if the coaches really are intent on this “five backups for five players” philosophy – fingers crossed that they are – it makes sense to keep Dietrich-Smith around in the event Wells gets hurt.

Early edge: Giacomini and Dietrich-Smith. Giacomini’s intriguing upside, and the fact that he’s only in year three as opposed to year four, gives him an edge over Barbre. Dietrich-Smith can provide depth at two spots – center and guard – and fits in with the new philosophy. In the end, it just feels like the team’s ready to move on from Barbre.

I’ll be back Wednesday to close out the offensive battles.

-Chris Lempesis

It’s been a wild ride, but here were are – at the finish line, at long last.

The first seven parts [...]]]> (Before we begin: We understand the importance of the ongoing Brandon Underwood situation and will definitely write about it, once something happens. But we’re not going to get into the speculation game here. That’s not our style.)

It’s been a wild ride, but here were are – at the finish line, at long last.

The first seven parts of this series covered, obviously, the offensive and defensive players. That covered 50 of the available spots. But we’ve still got to get to the three special teams guys – I’m not including a holder and will only have one return man - and we’re going to do that now.

Before we do, though, I’d just like to say thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts (and, sometimes, disagreements) with my selections, both at OBOD and over at PackerChatters. It’s always a great reminder of just how passionate a fan base we really are and I love it.

Okay, let’s wrap this thing up. And I promise I won’t cut to black near the end of the final selection like some people (looking at you, David Chase).

Kicker

Ryan Longwell (1997-2005) – I know many of you will be upset by this selection, as Longwell is now the enemy. Believe me, the site of him booming kicks – where did this big leg come from, all of a sudden? Anyone know? – in purple makes me as sick as it does you.

But we have to give the man his due.

He had his ups-and-downs, yes, but he’s still the franchise’s all-time leading scorer (1,054 points). He also connected on 81.6 percent of his field goal attempts and hit his share of clutch kicks as a Packer.

And, yes, that’s all I’m going to say about him.

Punter

Craig Hentrich (1993-1997) – Funny we should mention PackerChatters, because over there right now, there’s an interesting article by C.D. Angeli which lists Ron Wolf’s 10 greatest moves.

I can tell you one of Wolf’s worst moves: Failing to re-sign Hentrich following the ‘97 season.

Hentrich, still the franchise’s all-time leader in gross average for a career (42.8 yards) and a season (45.0 yards, in ‘97), was an extremely good – maybe even elite – punter. He also handled kickoffs from time-to-time.

He went to two Pro Bowls with the Tennessee Titans and didn’t retire until after the 2009 season. Think of all the B.J. Sanders, Derrick Frosts and Jeremy Kapinos’ we could have been spared of had Wolf simply paid Hentrich.

That would have been nice. 

Return Man

Desmond Howard (1996, 1999) – I know, I know – Howard only played 24 games in a Packers uniform. But, I mean…come on, who else could earn this spot?

Remember how good – make that, electrifying – Howard was during the 1996 season? If not, here’s a reminder: 875 punt return yards on just 58 returns (an average of 15.1 yards per return, which is just astounding). Three of those returns went for scores. And that was just in the regular season.

There was also his 71-yard punt return touchdown that opened Green Bay’s scoring in the divisional round win over San Francisco. He then had 104 yards in kick returns in the NFC Championship Game win over Carolina. Those only set the table for his true masterpiece: Super Bowl XXXI.

In 10 total returns (punt and kick), Howard had 244 return yards. Included in that was his 99-yard kick return for a touchdown that busted the game wide open for the Packers. It was Green Bay’s last touchdown in the 35-21 win over New England and it also was the big reason Howard earned Super Bowl MVP for his efforts. Think about that for a second: Howard scored the first and last Green Bay touchdowns of the ‘97 playoffs as a returner.

He left for Oakland after that season (the Raiders promised him he’d get a shot as a wideout, which he never really did) before briefly returning to the Pack in ‘99. He didn’t do much for Green Bay the second time around, but for one season, he was absolutely magical. And, really, he’s the perfect player to end this list.

Again, that’s all for our series. We’ll resume regular OBOD activities Wednesday.

-Chris Lempesis

I’m serious, guys!

Also, please note that this closes out the offensive and defensive part of the roster. There are three special teams spots left – you didn’t really think I’d leave those guys off, did you? – and they will be unveiled [...]]]> Okay, no more stalling. It’s time to unveil the cornerbacks for the all-time defense.

I’m serious, guys!

Also, please note that this closes out the offensive and defensive part of the roster. There are three special teams spots left – you didn’t really think I’d leave those guys off, did you? – and they will be unveiled later in the week.

Alright, everyone ready?

And, here…we…go!

Cornerbacks

Starter: Herb Adderly (1961-1969) – Yesterday, I made an error in writing that Willie Wood was drafted as a running back. Actually, that was Adderly.

(Although Wood played quarterback in college before converting to safety, so I was at least kind of correct. Sorry for the error.)

The presence of Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor allowed the Green Bay coaching staff to move Adderly over to corner. He re-paid them by becoming the best cornerback in franchise history.

The guy was, simply put, a playmaker of the highest order. Seven of his 39 interceptions (third all-time for the team) went back the other way for touchdowns. That touchdown mark was tops in team history until Adderly was tied last year by a guy you’ll hear more about later. He led the team in picks four times and was rewarded with seven All-Pro selections.

He capped off his sterling career with a 1980 induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Starter: Bob Jeter (1963-1970) – It’s hard to earn any notice when you’re playing opposite a guy like Adderly. It’s even harder when you played running back in college and earned your first pro duty at wide receiver.

But Jeter, who became a cornerback before the 1965 season, was ultimately able to earn plenty of attention.

His speed and hands made him a major threat at the position. Jeter used those assets to pick off 23 passes in six years as a corner with the Pack (returning two for scores). He earned two Pro Bowl trips for his efforts.

How good was Jeter? So good that I’m willing to overlook the fact that he ended his career as a member of the Chicago Bears. That’s not easy to do, but for Jeter, it was well worth it.

Backup: Al Harris (2003-Present) – Okay, so Harris has a tendency to get too keyed up for certain big games (see: 2008 NFC Championship Game).

That does not erase the fact that, week-in and week-out, he’s one of the most consistent corners in the league – remember, Chad Ochocinco once said Harris was the toughest corner to face in the entire league – and has been since he arrived in Titletown. A physical, bump-and-run specialist, Harris has never been a big factor on the stat sheet (just 14 interceptions in seven seasons with the team). But he’s always been a master at keeping the other team’s top guy off the sheet, as well.

And, for good measure, his walk-off pick-six of Matt Hasselbeck in the 2004 NFC Wild Card Game at Lambeau is one of my all-time favorite moments as a fan. Here’s to hoping Harris, who turns 36 in December, can return from last season’s gruesome knee injury and return to form.

Backup: Charles Woodson (2006-Present) – If you had told me, shortly after Woodson signed with Green Bay in 2006, that he’d one day make this list, I likely wouldn’t have believed you. After all, Woodson seemed to have no interest in being a Packer, even after he signed on.

My, how things change.

Woodson has been an absolute force of nature in Green Bay’s secondary throughout his four years with the team. He’s intercepted 28 passes (returned seven for scores, tying him with Adderly atop the team’s all-time list), forced eight fumbles and had five sacks. He’s proven himself to be one of the smartest players in the league, thriving in multiple formations and playing well against a variety of offenses.

Last season was his best yet, as he was named 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He turns 34 in October and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Backup: Willie Buchanon (1972-1978) – Buchanon’s time as a Packer was certainly filled with ups and downs.

On the downside, he broke his left leg – twice. Those injuries – a broken leg is still one of the most wince-inducing injuries, isn’t it? – caused him to miss time in two different seasons.

There were plenty of ups, as well, though. They come in the form of 21 career interceptions (including four in a 1978 game against the San Diego Chargers, tying him for the NFL record for picks in a single contest). There’s also three Pro Bowl selections and the 1972 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. 

Backup: Bob Forte (1946-1950, 1952-1953) – Like many players in his day, Forte was a multi-purpose threat for the Pack. At various times, he played quarterback, running back and wide receiver.

But cornerback was where Forte really excelled (you could even say it was his “forte,” but that would be waaaay to ridiculous to write, even by OBOD standards).

Blessed with excellent size for his era (6-feet, 195 pounds), Forte totaled 22 interceptions in his time with the team (which was interrupted by Forte’s service in the Korean War).

That’s all for our look at the corners. Again, check back later in the week for our special teams players.

-Chris Lempesis