NFC North Unit Rankings, Defense and Special Teams

Looking at special teams and the defensive side of the ball, the division is much more balanced. The Vikings still hold the top spot in two of the four units, but the Packers have the best defensive unit in the division to go with another top ranking to earn them the ranking of No. 1 defense in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Lions defense is historically bad, as one can see by their units ranking lowest in three of the four categories again.

Note: I originally wrote this article for Sports Scribes: http://www.sportsscribes.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1027:nfc-north-unit-rankings-part-ii&catid=81:green-bay-packers&Itemid=170

Defensive Line

1. Minnesota Vikings—they feature three Pro Bowl players from 2008 who have seen only a little drop-off in production. They have dropped from the top spot in rush yards allowed (after holding that position for three consecutive seasons) and out of the top five in yards per carry. Their sack totals are inflated by two games against a Packer offensive line that gave up more sacks in eight games than any other in the history of the game. But I would bet that at least two of these guys will still make the Pro Bowl.

2. Green Bay Packers—a revamped line under the 3-4 features four very good linemen in rotation, helping them be the only team that will hold Adrian Peterson under 100 yards twice in a season (maybe for his career!). Green Bay actually gives up 10 percent fewer yards per carry than the Vikings.

3. Chicago Bears—When Adewale Ogunleye registered five sacks in the season opener, it looked like he could team up with perennial Pro Bowler Tommie Harris to anchor a great line; Ogunleye has no sacks since that game and Harris has just 16 tackles. However, the Bears do have a depth of capable if unimpressive linemen.

4. Detroit Lions—one of the worst pass rushes in the league and below average against the run, there is not one player on this line who would start in Minnesota or Green Bay.

Linebackers

1. Green Bay Packers—this was the toughest call of all the units, and the only reason the Packers earn the top spot is depth. Even after losing Aaron Kampman, the team features six starting-caliber linebackers, with Clay Matthews and Nick Barnett standing out above the rest of the unit.

2. Chicago Bears—even after the loss of the overrated Brian Urlacher, this unit has a playmaker in Lance Briggs and two solid backers in Hunter Hillenmeyer and Nick Roach.

3. Minnesota Vikings—E.J. Henderson and Chad Greenway are both good linebackers, but Ben Leber has only 28 tackles in 11 games, and there is no significant other player in the rotation.

4. Detroit Lions—Julian Peterson is still a near-elite linebacker and DeAndre Levy is developing into a good one, as well, but no one else in this corps has been able to exceed 25 tackles and take hold of the job.

Defensive Backs

Defensive Backs

1. Green Bay Packers—this was the single best unit in the league on either side of the ball before Al Harris’ season ended. It still features the likely defensive player of the year in Charles Woodson and one of the best No. 2 corners in Tramon Williams, plus Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins and a solid safety in Atari Bigby.

2. Chicago Bears—this is by default, and represents the single biggest drop-off from first to second of any unit on either side of the ball. They are ranked 14th on pass defense, but that is bolstered by teams trying to run out the clock in more than half of the Bears games because they had a lead; they rank an average 16th in yards per play.

3. Minnesota Vikings—despite a good pass rush, they rank 19th in pass defense, both in total yards and yards per play. True, they had to face Aaron Rodgers one more time than the Bears did, but gave up more in their best performance than the Bears did in their one.

4. Detroit Lions—this is the worst secondary in the league. Four of Rodgers’ top seven passing performances have been against the Lions, and all have exceeded 300 yards. This is the unit that let Brady Quinn pass for over 300 when his previous best was 239.

Special Teams

1. Minnesota Vikings—add Percy Harvin and suddenly the worst special teams unit in the division looks to be the best. Their coverage is still mediocre at best, but they have good kickers and a great return game thanks to Harvin.

2. Chicago Bears—they are living more on reputation than substance now, but they still have dangerous returners and good kickers. Their coverage is near the middle of the league, and in this division, that combination is good enough for second place.

3. Detroit Lions—a team with an aging but still mostly reliable kicker and a punter who gets lots of work, they are at least marginal in all other phases. The fact that they are third in the division speaks for how bad last place is.

4. Green Bay Packers—one of the worst units in the league for the second year in a row and one of a handful of teams to give up a blocked punt (returned for a touchdown, no less), the Packers seem to ALSO give up a long return every game. Moreover, the return game took a hit when Will Blackmon was lost for the season, and Mason Crosby remains unreliable beyond 40 yards despite his strong leg.