NFL Time! NFC North Preview for you Football Fans

It is time for more "real football" entries on my off-topic blog for your reading pleasure.  Not a fan a of the pigskin?  Then feel free to pass these entries by.

Today Remmiz takes a guest entry here on my blog contributing his NFC North projections, thoughts and fantasy chatter.  If anyone else wants to contribute to any other conference previews then feel free to let me know.

And now Remmiz gets on with the show:

I decided us football addicts needed a place to ***** about our teams and bad mouth other teams. This is also an attempt to brush up my blogging skills since Slapnuts and I made a little side bet on our NFC North Conference. Anyways im going to do a NFC North preview of each
team each week, and I am going to give my prediction of how each team will fare. Ill also add fantasy favorites and sleepers from each team to help some of you fantasy buffs, but remember don't blame me if you draft Brett Favre and he doesn't help Minnesota this year.

Ok the first team up is Slapnuts' Chicago Bears.

Last seasons record: 9-7 (no playoffs)

Key Additions: Jay Cutler, Orlando Pace,

Key Losses: Kyle Orton, Marty Booker, 1st and 2nd RD draft picks.

Offense:

The Bears enter 2009 balancing on the cliff known as mediocrity. The attempt to back away from the ledge was put into motion early this year with the trade of its first, third and first from next year draft picks and Kyle Orton for Jay Cutler and a 5th round pick. While the move was a huge improvement in the QB department, you have to wonder if it was a desperation move to quell the unhappy fan base who wanted more offense after years of dink and dunk style play. The lack of Offensive weapons seem to be a major problem with this team with the lack of any upper round talent from Free agency or Draft at the WR position. To make up for that they have a up and coming star in Greg Olsen at TE and RB Matt Forte is a pro bowl running back who can rack up the numbers on the ground and receiving out of the backfield (he was the 3rd highest receiver on the team last year). What most Bears fan are really hoping for is WR Devin Hester to finally have a break out year at his position, the return man has been working hard in the off season working on his route running and trying to gel with his new QB. The lack of Depth at WR was addressed in the Draft with the selections of WR Johnny Knox(speedster), and Juaquin Iglesias(possession), along with 2nd year man Earl Bennet that is all they have behind Hester. It will be an interesting year on the offensive side of the ball. It could be a
feast of famine with this team.

Fantasy Studs: RB Matt Forte (top 4 pick in FF drafts)

Fantasy Sleepers: WR Devin Hester, Greg Olsen (both can be gotten 8 rounds in or later)

Fantasy Duds: QB Jay Cutler (he could be a sleeper but numbers nowhere near 2008's)


Defense:

On the Defensive side of the ball the Bears struggled last season at the bottom of the league in Sacks, Yards allowed, and Passing yards allowed. With 7 aging starters and young inexperienced defensive backs it could also be a up and down year for this unit. If Brian Urlacher can stay healthy and the DB's make some plays this could be a very tough defense to score on. Sadly though this could be the last chance for many of the starters on this Defense if they struggle and could lose their spots to younger more athletic guys. If they can get pressure on the QB and give their younger DB's an easier time with it they will be successful. If not don't look for another super bowl shuffle any time soon.

Fantasy outlook:

The Bears Defense should be a solid pickup if played against the right teams. Not an everyday start unless they can prove otherwise.

Bears 2009 Schedule:  http://www.chicagobears.com/team/schedule.html

2009 Record Prediction 9-7 a weak wildcard could see a playoff birth.



Green Bay Packers

Last Season Record: 6-10

Key Additions: DL B.J. Raji, LB Clay Matthews, Def. Coordinator Dom Capers

Key Losses: OL Mark Tauscher

Offense:

The Packers 2008 season was a disappointment following a NFC Championship appearance in 2007. Though they lost Brett Favre to semi-retardedment, Aaron Rodgers played well for most of the season throwing for over 5,000 yards and 28 touchdowns with 6 rushing TD's as well to only 15 INTs cementing himself as the future QB of the Packers. More importantly for GB this season could be the Health of RB Ryan Grant who could give GB a healthy option out of the backfield finally after a disappointing 2008 showing. At WR GB has at their disposal the likes of
Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones and Jordy Nelson. Expect the Packers to put up some solid passing numbers again with 2 possible 1,000 yard receivers in Jennings and Driver. A key position in a lot of west coast style offenses is at the Tight End and GB has a young athletic TE in Jermicheal Finely and veteran Donald Lee. I'm expecting Green Bay to put up extremely solid numbers on offense with many 20+ scoring games.

Fantasy Studs: WR Greg Jennings, QB Aaron Rodgers

Fantasy Sleeper:RB Ryan Grant

Fantasy Dud: WR Donald Driver (he may have some yardage but less then 6 TDs)


Defense:

The major handicap for Green Bay was the poor play of its defensive unit, giving up scores with under 3 minutes in 5 games while leading.  This proved they didn't have the mental toughness nor the physical play to get the key stop to win a game. With this is mind GB drafted DL B.J. Raji in the first round with pick 9, then traded up to acquire LB Clay Matthews at the end of the 1st round. The most important piece for this team may actually be a non-player in Def. Coordinator Dom Capers who is bringing in his 3-4 system to a team who is in desperate need for something to bolster their performance from a poor showing last year.  While the LBs from GB are no Pittsburgh Steelers, the combination of Aaron Kampman, Nick Barnett, AJ Hawk, and Clay Matthews at LB give the Packers a chance to be a much improved defense without even mentioning Raji on the D-line. Charles Woodson and Al Harris on the corners gives GB stability on the outside. Green Bay may be able to outscore most of their opponents this season but to win the division and advance into the playoffs the defense has to play well. I would say that GB's defense is the key to a winning season, if they play poorly they will be a mediocre 8-8, and if they play well the sky is the limit.

Fantasy Outlook:

They lead the league in TDs scored but gave up a lot of points and didn't get many sacks. But with the 3-4 style of Capers expect more sacks and less points allowed per game. This will be a solid fantasy defense and may even put up some big numbers.

Green Bay 2009 schedule:  http://www.packers.com/gameday/schedule/2009/


2009 Record Prediction: 10-6 NFC North Champions



Detroit Lions (Matthew Stafford gets more tail than you do)

Last Season Record: 0-16

Key Additions: QB Matthew Stafford, LB Julian Peterson

Key Losses: GM MATT MILLEN, QB Jon Kitna, WR Roy E. Williams

Offense:

Well 0-16 gives the Lions only 1 direction to go UP! Maybe even more importantly the Lions finally got rid of the worst GM in football in Matt Millen, the chance to improve has now sky-rocketed. Add in the 1st Pick in the Draft QB Matthew Stafford and a solid backup in Daunte Culpepper (solid for Detroit), they have begun to rebuild in the right direction. Also last season RB Kevin Smith exploded ending with 976 yards and 8 TDs. The number one target for Stafford next season will be stand out WR Calvin Johnson who with a ragtag crew at QB went for over 1,300 yards receiving and 12 TDs and don't forget he had Roy Williams opposite him for the first half of the season who took away some of his looks. Look for Johnson to put up similar numbers with a solid option at QB and a decent running game. The Lions traded away Roy Williams to Dallas for a 1st round pick and a 3rd round pick, so they signed free agent WR Bryant Johnson and used their second 1st round pick on TE Brandon Pettigrew to give Stafford some more options down the field. I like the direction the Lions are heading but unless Stafford is the next Joe Montana and Barry Sanders is coming out of retirement I don't expect a huge turn around like the 2008 Falcons.

Fantasy Studs: WR Calvin Johnson

Fantasy Sleepers: RB Kevin Smith

Fantasy Duds: QB Matthew Stafford, WR Bryant Johnson


Defense:

This is a toughie, 2 years at the bottom of the league in total defense and a near record amount of points given up. New Coach Jim Schwartz is a Physical style coach and with that in mind he went out and signed LB Julian Peterson and LB Larry Foote two veteran LBs to anchor the core of his defense. Then you look at the Lions secondary who had 1 total INT all of last season, and the guy who had the 1 INT is gone. So, they signed disgruntled Falcon Phillip Buchanon (nice move phillip) and are hoping he can mentor their young secondary, but don't have any lofty visions of double digit INTs. All in all this going to be another tough year for the defense, try to hold teams to 21 points and hope they can put up some huge offensive numbers to make up for it.

Fantasy Outlook: RUN AWAY

Detroit 2009 schedule:  http://www.detroitlions.com/section_display.cfm?section_id=13&top=21&level=2

2009 Record Prediction: 5-11 Better luck next year


Minnesota Vikings

Last Season Record: 10-6

Key Additions: QB Sage Rosenfels, WR Percy Harvin

Key Losses: OL Matt Birk, QB Brett Favre


Offense:

Minnesota has a guy at RB named Adrian Peterson and he has some broad shoulders, because he carries the Vikings all season long. But how long and how far can a team go with
only 1 legitimate weapon on offense. To remedy the situation Minnesota made an all out blitz for Veteran Flip-flop artist QB Brett Favre, who made a great effort to string the Vikings along going so far as to have shoulder surgery and meeting portions of the coaching staff. As per
usual Favre waited less then a week before training camp to decide he wasn't coming back. This left Minnesota with QB Tavaris Jackson, and free agent QB Sage Rosenfels both who thought they were the shoe in number one. As of writing this Jackson is Injured and pretty much has been relegated to second string behind Rosenfels. My personal feeling is Rosenfels is far superior at QB and with a decent core of receivers in Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin, Bobby Wade and TE Visanthe Shiancoe he could put up some solid numbers (3,000 yards 18 TDS). None of thismatters though because it all hinges on AP and as he goes so goes the Vikings.


Defense:

What needs to be said really. One of the top preforming defenses against the run, a pro bowl DE in Jarred Allen, and a cast of veteran secondary players. The Defense should stay consistently good with the return of the Williams Duo and EJ Henderson at Middle Linebacker. If anything is vulnerable its the Safety play with the loss of Darren Sharper who was overrated anyways.

Fantasy Outlook: Should start this Defense every week if you have them, they could probably
equal the Lions Def. production while on their bye week.

Minnesota 2009 schedule:  http://www.vikings.com/schedule/season-schedule.html

2009 Record Prediction: 8-8 (a tough schedule and an improved NFC North)




So at the end my prediction for the NFC North standings are

1. Green Bay 10-6

2. Chicago 9-7 (possible wildcard berth)

3. Minnesota 8-8

4. Lions 5-11

Conference MVP: Adrian Peterson RB Vikings

Rookie of the Conference: Matthew Stafford QB Lions


*Slap Edit*

Obviously I disagree with this rankings, but he is a Packers fan and I pull for the Bears.  I don't think the Packers have improved much and I think they will struggle to get out of third place.  The Vikings and Packers should push each other around for 2nd and the Bears who gave away 1st in the last game of the season are improved on offense and will win the division.

Thanks to Remmiz for the assist.  If anyone else wants to contribute conference previews let me know.  Use this format/layout to make it easier.  If you just want to contribute to the season or anything football related as well you can hit me up also.