Ranking the NFC North LBs, Pre-NFL Draft Edition

In between schedule announcements and stadium proposal collapses, we're taking a look at the defensive side of the NFC North this week.

Yesterday we looked at the defensive lines and today we'll look at the linebackers.

Since apparently I wasn't all that clear yesterday, let me reiterate: these rankings are a combination of last year's stats, the years before and a look forward. Youth, as well as production, are important.

As with the D-Lines, much of the North is pretty close with both great play and some holes to contend with.

Neither Football Outsiders nor Pro Football Focus has any direct stats for linebacker groups (come on guys get it going!) so this is solely on my perspective of play, stats and crystal ball manipulation.

There are, of course, two parts to the linebackers, the middle or inside linebackers and the outside (weak and strongside) linebackers.

This was a very tough group to break down as all four teams have some really solid players.

My guess is, every reader will be unhappy for some reason, which probably means I'm doing it right.

Chicago Bears

MLB: Brian Urlacher, Dom DeCicco
OLB: Lance Briggs (WSL), Nick Roach (SSL), Blake Costanzo, Jabara Williams, Patrick Trahan, J.T. Thomas

With Briggs and Urlacher both returning, the Bears will continue to have a very good linebacker group.

Dom DeCicco showed well for an undrafted guy, but overall it's a very young or very unproven group of players behind the starters. I'd like to see more sure-footed depth, but overall this is a great unit—if a bit thin.

I'd like to see them add some more depth, if just to start planning for life without Urlacher.

The unit is very good, but I worry a rash of injuries could derail it too quickly.

Detroit Lions

MLB: Stephen Tulloch, Ashlee Palmer
OLB: DeAndre Levy (WSL), Justin Durant (SSL), Douglas Hogue (SSL), Slade Norris

Starting last August, Levy was moved to the OLB spot and Tulloch owns the ILB spot. While Levy can switch it up, it's hard to imagine that Tulloch will give up his chokehold on the middle of the field.

Durant joins them as the primary strong side linebacker. Like the Bears, I don't love the overall depth behind the starters, but Hogue and Ashlee Palmer are very young and may yet be able to step in.

They haven't had quite enough experience to be sure of their effectiveness yet, but they look like they should be more than OK.

Minnesota Vikings

MLB: Jasper Brinkley, Marvin Mitchell
OLB: Erin Henderson (WSL), Chad Greenway (SSL), Larry Dean, Solomon Elimimian, Tyrone McKenzie

Brinkley missed 2011 with a hip injury, but was poised to be a key backup to EJ Henderson, whom he now replaces. If he is good to go, the transition should be OK.

Behind him is Marvin Mitchell, formerly of the Dolphins, who is decent depth.

Erin Henderson is a tremendous run stopper who came off the field last year on passing downs. Now he'll have to step it up if he's going to be able to be a full-time weak-side linebacker.

After an ominous start to his career (tearing an ACL), Chad Greenway has produced very good work for the Vikings and not missed a game or a beat since. His numbers dropped a bit last year, but he still played great football and will continue to do so at the strong-side position.

The key to this group's value this year is how Brinkley and Henderson deal with their responsibilities as full-time, every down players. If they perform well, this unit could be the top of the NFC North.

The question marks bring them down to third (or 1C) for now.

Green Bay Packers

ILB: Desmond Bishop, A.J. Hawk, D.J. Smith, Rob Francois
OLB: Clay Matthews (L), Frank Zombo (R), Brad Jones (L), Vic So'oto (L), Jamari Lattimore (R)

First off, you'll notice the 'L' or 'R' next to the outside linebackers as opposed to the WSL or SSL designations from other teams.  Green Bay designates left or right, not strong-side or weak-side.

That out of the way, this is a good group, but is missing a pretty big piece.

Bishop and Hawk have great success in the middle of the field, racking up plenty of tackles and sacks.

Really, it's outside linebacker which has issues. Yes, Clay Matthews had a down year, but he's not the issue. The issue is, the team hasn't found anyone to take the outside opposite him. This allows too many teams to focus on maneuvering him out of the play.

The Packers need to find someone to play opposite Matthews. If they can get another pass rushing threat on the side, this linebacker group will be very difficult to stop.

See, as I said, it's really close.

Each unit has a flaw, but can be very very good as well. You could really rate them 1a, b, c and d and not be far off.