Camp Countdown: NFC North

Over the next two weeks, the National Football Post’s Matt Bowen is previewing the top storylines for each team heading into training camp.

Chicago: The return of Brian Urlacher

The top story this offseason in Chicago was all about the offense and new quarterback Jay Cutler. There were also rumors about receivers and the idea that the Bears would put points on the scoreboard in 2009. But what about the defense—the same defense that has taken steps backward since the team’s Super Bowl run in ’05?

Urlacher will have to be the man in the Windy City this season

If the Bears want to be successful this season, the play of their Tampa 2 scheme will fall on the shoulders of Urlacher, whose play slipped in some people’s eyes last season.

The middle linebacker position is crucial to the success of the entire defense in the Tampa 2 because the MLB can be a playmaker. Not only will Urlacher be expected to make plays in the running game in the Bears’ seven-man front, he will also be expected to run the middle of the field and make plays on the football in the intermediate-to-deep passing game.

Expect head coach Lovie Smith—who has essentially taken over the defense—to call more zone blitzes, enabling Urlacher to get into the backfield and become the disruptive force he’s known to be.

Urlacher, who is now 31 years old, is still the key member of this defense in Chicago, but his playmaking needs to increase and he must get to the quarterback when his number is called. Cutler or not, Urlacher is still the leader and the expected playmaker in Chicago.

Detroit: Starting Matthew Stafford

Just give him the football. That’s what I would do if I were new head coach Jim Schwartz, but as tempting as that sounds, we still have to wait for Stafford to impress in training camp practices and in preseason games—because until you take a hit at this level at the quarterback position, everything is a question mark.

If Stafford starts for the Lions, can he get the job done?

Even so, I still see Stafford getting every chance to win the starting quarterback job over veteran Daunte Culpepper, who hasn’t shown me enough since he was with the Vikings to prove that he is the right man for this job—or any starting job in the NFL. Now, there will always be doubts about playing a rookie quarterback at this level, but I don’t see what the Lions have to lose by giving Stafford the keys to the offense if he does show that he’s the best option to win—and that’s all that matters on Sunday.

Folks, this is a young team indeed, and I don’t know how many wins we can expect out of Detroit, but I will tell you that this club is better and will be more prepared than we may think.

If Stafford is the right choice after training camp, you have to give him the ball. Play to win, not to develop players, because this isn’t college football and no one is on scholarship anymore.

Green Bay: The production of the D-line

Dom Capers is in Green Bay for a reason—to win games from the defensive side of the ball and change the culture of the team. We don’t have to worry about the Packers’ ability to score points on offense—like my man Michael Lombardi talked about—but no matter how good they are, the new defense under Capers is under more pressure than any other unit in the NFL. And the finger will always point to the defensive line.

How will Green Bay's new defensive scheme affect Kampman's production?

Do the Packers have enough talent up front? That’s what I want to know. I love their secondary, and I don’t worry about players like Aaron Kampman making the switch to linebacker, but the defensive line has to show us that it cannot only provide a push up front but play sound football that will allow this linebacking unit to run and make plays.

That’s what a 3-4 front does, especially at the nose guard position, where I like the rotation of rookie B.J. Raji and veteran Ryan Pickett, and I can say the same for DE Cullen Jenkins, who has the size (6-2, 305) to play the position. However, can we really count on former first-round pick Justin Harrell—who has spent more time in the training room than on the field—to step up, mature, and start producing? Harrell has the ideal size for a 3-4 DE (6-4, 320) and has the ability to get the job done, but he can’t make plays if he’s in street clothes.

The Packers can’t continue to try and outscore teams if they want to win this division because they tried that in ’08. The secondary will make plays and the linebackers will be better than you think, but the defensive line has to show up. That’s what we want to watch this summer.

Minnesota: The lost leadership

The Brett Favre drama that has surrounded this team this offseason has done a number on the franchise—because I don’t see how it can find leadership right now. That includes everyone from the front office and coaching staff down to the players. This is a football team that’s lost right now, and there’s nowhere to look for guidance.

If Favre signs with the Vikes, how will the locker room respond?

Think about it. This team was already split down the middle when QB Sage Rosenfels was signed, and I know for a fact that there are plenty of players up north who favor last year’s starter, Tarvaris Jackson, over Rosenfels—most likely because he took them to battle on Sundays last season. However, now you have a team that is split three ways, and there’s no clear answer in front of them.

Is it going to be a battle between Jackson and Rosenfels, or is it going to be the Favre show, with no questions asked? I’ve been there during my own career, and the worst thing that can happen to a football team is to lose the leadership that’s usually provided by the quarterback. And I can tell you, the players on that Vikings team just want some answers so they can move forward and start preparing for the 2009 season.

If Favre is the guy, then get it over with—and make sure he’s in camp throwing and running the offense on the first day. If not, then let’s get this competition between Jackson and Rosenfels underway. Too much talk, no action up in Minneapolis right now—and it could get worse.

Next: AFC North