NFC North Daily Breakfast Links: August 21, 2012

Another day in the books and with all training camps closed, things are just about down to normal. 

Or what passes for it in the NFL.

Hey, general note. Was anyone surprised Mike Vick got hurt again last night? How is that a surprise anymore? Everyone gasps but really, this is Vick. You'd as well be surprised that Aaron Rodgers doesn't get hurt or Jahvid Best gets a concussion.

With that Vick commentary out of the way, let's move onto the critical business of NFC North news.

Oh by the way—in case you missed it, I had a little video posted yesterday with some ideas on who could be cut for the Lions. Enjoy. 

Detroit Lions

MLive.com's Anwar Richardson reports on the return of running back Mikel Leshoure to not just one practice, but two in a row. 

As has been said before, Leshoure's timetable is a little different than it would be were he not suspended to start the season. As it stands, he's right on time and really the more pressing question is, will he get any work during preseason games for us to judge how well he is doing with contact.

One thing which jumped out at me last Friday against the Ravens was the play of John Wendling. With Louis Delmas sidelined after knee surgery, the special teams ace has risen to the task according to Dave Birkett of the Free Press.

Green Bay Packers

Over at the Journal-Sentinel, Tom Silverstein talks about whether the Packers are moving away from their 'next man up' approach when it comes to the backfield and moving towards a single back system, perhaps fronted by Cedric Benson.

I have to see it to believe it. While, as Silverstein points out, Alex Green ran a single back system in school, that doesn't mean the Packers drafted him with that in mind. Also, Benson, while solid, isn't a fantastic back and would be just as effective in a time share.

It might also be odd, because so many teams are moving towards or already use a multi-back system.

Then again, wouldn't it be just like McCarthy and Thompson to swim against the current?

Of course, with his struggles, backup quarterback Graham Harrell has been the guy behind Aaron Rodgers who we talk about. However, the Press-Gazette's Weston Hodkiewicz focuses on the other guy—rookie BJ Coleman.

I've talked before about how raw Coleman is, but he's got tremendous upside and he could be a great fit in this offense. It's going to take time though, and he seems to have the right attitude to deal with that.

Minnesota Vikings

Adam Schefter of ESPN (as opposed to the other one?) says that his sources report Adrian Peterson will skip this Friday's game against the San Diego Chargers. It would then be very unlikely he'd see time in the final preseason game, as that is traditionally one where the starters get little to no time.

As has been said before, it's not like Peterson needs the time. Certainly getting him a little contact prior to his first full game would be good, but Toby Gerhart is very capable of running as lead back and so there is no rush to get Peterson into a game. They need him the whole season, not just the start.

Speaking of Gerhart, Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune talks about how Gerhart has worked to be able to take on that full time role if need be.

The flexibility a healthy, solid Gerhart gives this offense cannot be overstated. It gives them the luxury of playing hardball with Peterson to make him be 100 percent. If he had his way, AP would have played a month ago which might have been disastrous. They don't have to feel pressured to get him out there because Gerhart is more than capable of playing the lead back role.

Chicago Bears

The Bears continue to shuffle the offensive line around and J'Marcus Webb is going to be back at left tackle for the week three preseason game, according to Michael Wright of ESPNChicago.com. I'd say Webb getting the start gives him the edge in the competition but frankly neither he nor Chris Williams is playing at a high level so it's still anyone's ball game.

Staying on the offensive line, Tribune columnist David Haugh says that the key to keeping Cutler upright isn't the left tackle and Webb or Williams but the right tackle and Gabe Carimi.

As someone who follows the Jets on his off-hours, I can't stress how vital a right tackle can be. Watching Wayne Hunter get every Jets quarterback killed play after play is brutal.

Gabe Carimi is a former first-round pick who could end up at left tackle if the Williams/Webb experiment goes down in flames. His development is critical, and not just to protect the right tackle spot.

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