NFC North

GoBearsGalason · Head Dick

NFC North

JetBlackNinja · Head Dick

Any one of those teams including the Bears could be drafting first next year.

Not a good division at all, and it really illustrates the problems with the current playoff system.

The Bears can win 8 games and go, and the Bengals could win 11 and miss out.

Sucky.

Grave Digger · Head Dick

I don't think the Bears are a lock to win the division, but they have the best chance of winnings it. Depending on when Grossman gets injured, they could be either 8-8 or 10-6 in my opinion.

I think Detroit will finish dead freakin last. They are going to blow big big big time. So they got an aging Kitna and an a QB who couldn't fukin beat out old timer Kurt Warner in ARIZONA in McCown...big fukin deal. They're going into the season with 1 good WR in Roy Williams. The Oline is alright, but nothing special. Kevin Jones is good but he won't be able to carry the load by himself. Marcus Pollard was a fool for leaving Indy. The defense is going to crap out on them by week 5. This is 4-12 team even with their "all star" coaching staff.

The Vikings are a mystery to me. Brad Johnson can make accurate passes, but he can't move around at all. It's quite possible he will get knocked around quite a bit and might get knocked out. The Oline is alright. I don't think they have a RB that's worth a flip to run behind that good oline. They have a collection of 2nds and 3rds at WRs. The Dline is full of underachievers except for Kevin Williams who has been bothered by a knee injury recently. Greenway is already their best LB. The rest are 2nds and 3rds at best and have underachieved. Smoot and Winfield can be good, but last year they didn't play like it. Sharper is good, but he can't do it alone. Dwight Smith can be good, but their is little depth behind Sharper and Smith with Williams out. If they live up to their potential, they could go 8-8, but for now my opinion is that they will do no better than 6-10 or 7-9.

The Packers have the most potential in the division IMO. Everyone likes to rip on Favre because he had a bad year, but 75% of his troubles last year were because he played with horrible players around him. Their top 3 RBs gone. 2 of their top 3 recievers, gone. Horrible interior line play with the starting center gone most of the season. This year, they will probably keep 4 RBs, who by themselves are not great, but in a rotation are not bad. I watched them at the scrimmage and they were not bad. Not LT or Alexander good, but average. The WR core has been upgraded. Greg Jennings looks really good and will be the #2. The rest of the WR core is below average. The tackles are solid and are 2 of the best in the league. 2 rookies in the interior who looked average to below average. The Dline is better than people think. Solid rotation at DT. Kampmann is good, KGB can be good. The LB core is pretty solid with good depth. Collins is going to be a good safety. The other safety position is a question mark. Woodson has underachieved in the league but even if he doesn't start, Ahmad Carroll has been a starter and can do an ok job. Special teams is a mess, and they might end up bringing in Paul Edinger to kick. In all, the team needs to develop, but I think they will be 2nd in the division finishing either 7-9 or 8-8.

So I think Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota, Detroit.

Vanni9283 · Head Dick

I have them in this order:

1. Chicago

2. Minnesota

3. Green Bay

4. Detroit

GoBearsGalason · Head Dick

Digger, I think the Jennings assumption is semi wishful thinking. How many rcvrs have you seen enter the league and have remarkable seasons. Couple that with the fact that EVERYONE has a new playbook up there and Brett Favre does not have what can be considered a solid line. I don't think that you can institute an offensive scheme in one years time and have everyone on the same page, even with the most veteran of offenses...of which Brett just doesn't have.

Terrible GM work has done your team in. Unfortunately for Green Bay, it is very difficult given the lack of available talent, along with the cap situation, that a team with so many needs is doomed to suffer a few years before compiling or drafting a team that can compete. Not that it couldn't happen, because teams eventually do turn the corner, but given the fact that Thompson is still running the show up there, why would things get better fast?

Though I can't argue with anyone of those 3 behind the Bears being second fiddle.

In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.

Grave Digger · Head Dick

GoBearsGalason wrote:

Digger, I think the Jennings assumption is semi wishful thinking. How many rcvrs have you seen enter the league and have remarkable seasons. Couple that with the fact that EVERYONE has a new playbook up there and Brett Favre does not have what can be considered a solid line. I don't think that you can institute an offensive scheme in one years time and have everyone on the same page, even with the most veteran of offenses...of which Brett just doesn't have.

Terrible GM work has done your team in. Unfortunately for Green Bay, it is very difficult given the lack of available talent, along with the cap situation, that a team with so many needs is doomed to suffer a few years before compiling or drafting a team that can compete. Not that it couldn't happen, because teams eventually do turn the corner, but given the fact that Thompson is still running the show up there, why would things get better fast?

Though I can't argue with anyone of those 3 behind the Bears being second fiddle.

In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.

It's not often that a rookie reciever enters the league and does great, but I watched him in practice and so far, his game is spotless. There is a clear distinction between the #1 (Driver) and #2 (Jennings) and some of the other jokers and camp bodies. He is a very smart kid and is picking up the offense well. I have seen nothing to indicate he is or will stuggle. In fact, I have seen nothing to indicate anyone on the offense is struggling. The line is young, and right now, is below average, but they are all smart guys. I've watched them practice, and they are grasping the blocking sceme and they are executing it well. This is not the first time these Olinemen have seen the zone blocking sceme, many played in it college. It's true it's difficult to implement a brand new sceme, but the way Ted Thompson has draft and signed, he only brings in smart guys. As I said, I've been watching practice for weeks, and the defense is definantly on the same page, and the offense is getting there.

When you say "terrible GM work" you must be referring to GM Mike Sherman from a couple years ago. Ted Thompson is slowly rebuilding this team from the freakin mess Mike Sherman left it in. Thompson is doing great things for the team. He doesn't believe too much in FAs. The cap situation is fine, they were 30 MIL under the cap before the new CBA and I think gained more cap space. Right now, they are still about 8 or 10 under. As I said, Thompson is doing good things for the Packers. He is looking to the future, bringing in young FAs and has drafted like 22 or 23 guys in the past 2 years.

I'm being completely honest when I say the team doesn't have many needs position wise. The only thing this team needs is consistancy and experience.

ISU2007 · Punk Boy

1. Bears (if the offense can do something and Grossman plays more than a couple of games)
2. Vikings

Then it doesn't matter because both the packers and the lions are both so bad that one will probably finish 4-12 and the other 5-11.

The bears defense is absolutely stunning. They have built a championship caliber defense and is the reason they have been good lately. It all comes down to what the offense can do. Rex Grossman is the most injury prone QB I have seen in a while. He still hasn't proven that he can play consistently at a high level. He has shown however, that he is capable of doing great things, now they just need him to do it more often. The running backs are good and the receivers are alright, with Muhammad being the only proven receiver on that team and Justin Gage not being a very reliable # 2 receiver.

I am a vikings fan so I am a little biased when it comes to the division, but I give props where they are deserved.

The vikings have the possibility to have one of the best, if not the best o-line in the league. With the addition of Steve Hutchinson we now have Bryant McKinnie, Matt Birk (missed all of last season), and him anchoring the left side of the line, as well as Artis Hicks (who played for Childress in Philadelphia) and Marcus Johnson on the right side of the line. For those saying that Brad Johnson has "feet of lead" with that backside and the quick passing style the vikings have moved to he won't need a lot of time, but he will get it. The running back situation is "iffy" and the receivers aren't the best. But the defense has gotten much better and if you don't give kevin williams the props he deserves then you just flat out are a team hater and can't admit a good player when you see one.

The reason i give the division to the Bears right now is because if the vikings don't stay healthy they are very deep on defense.

GoBearsGalason · Head Dick

Yes you are correct I meant Sherman. The funny thing is, is that they absolutely would not give Holmgren the GM spot in addition to his coaching duties. They lose him because of it, they in turn give Sherman the GM and Head coaching spot. WTF? They havent had a good offseason of pickups in many years.

Who was the GM during the favre holmgren years...Wolf?

saturn11 · Head Dick

Yeah, the Pack's GM during the Holm'er era was Ron Wolf.

I really think the Pack are the Super Turds of this division.

For what it's worth, I think it'll go:

Bears
Vikes
Lions
Pack

Grave Digger · Head Dick

GoBearsGalason wrote:

Yes you are correct I meant Sherman. The funny thing is, is that they absolutely would not give Holmgren the GM spot in addition to his coaching duties. They lose him because of it, they in turn give Sherman the GM and Head coaching spot. WTF? They havent had a good offseason of pickups in many years.

Who was the GM during the favre holmgren years...Wolf?

Wolf was the GM during the Holmgren regime. It was a two way ****ty street. They wouldn't give Holmgren the job, so he immediatly powted and left for Seattle. Alot of Packer fans think he was so eager to get out of GB that he blew the SB for the Packers. They could have beat Denver, if Old Holmy had actually tried.

On the flip side, Wolf retired not 3 years after Holmy left. He couldn't have been co-GM with Holmy until he was ready to retire? There wasn't some kind of compromise they could have made? The whole thing stinks to high heaven.

Saturn, what have you seen that you could make you believe the Packers are super turds?

phole · Head Dick

you bears fans are startin' to sound like cheeseheads. put the paintthinner down! your def is very good, but that offense is no better than any other in the nfc norris. do not underestimate the Purple. the lions may actually do alright, but the pack? i smell moldy cheese...

saturn11 · Head Dick

you asked: Saturn, what have you seen that you could make you believe the Packers are super turds?

Granted, I'm not intimately familiar with the situation up there (thus my "for what it's worth" phrasing before I gave the prediction), but to me, it looks like this:

-trench play on both sides of the ball that has consistently, slowly been deteriorating over the past 6 seasons.

-a QB who's 3 seasons removed from a good season and 5 removed from his prime.

-a starting RB who's two years past his best year, who has been injury prone and susceptible to coming down with the occasional case of the "fumblerooskies".

-a depleted WR corps.

-a young un-proven coach who is trying to install a completely new system.

This last item, especially, makes me think it will get worse before it gets better up there. Not that you can go much worse than 4 - 12, but I sense malaise creeping in up there.

But truly, this division could go any which way. Have you seen anything from the Pack thus far that contradicts what I'm saying? I'm not challenging you, I'm really asking.

Out of the 8 units in that division (the offenses and defenses for both teams), the Bears are the only team with even half the equation right: their d is the only unit in the entire division that's league class.

saturn11 · Head Dick

also, i didn't mean "turd" in the profootballtalk.com sense of the word. they're not criminals or divas or whatever. i just meant "turd" as in "stink".

Grave Digger · Head Dick

That's division rival bullsh1t.

-It's true the Oline is a weakness, but it has not bee "slowly deterioration". They lost 2 all-pro guards before the '05 season and had to put together a make shift Oline. I have seen with my own eyes the 2 new guys at guard, and they are smart, strong, athletic guys. Unproven, but eventually they are going to be some damn good players. If you knew what the hell you were talking about you would know that the Dline is considered the strength of the team. Solid rotation of guys. 1 run stuffer D end, and 1 pass rush specialist.

-I'm so fukin sick of this Brett Favre suks bull sh1t. I've fukin watched him play, and he is no worse than he was 3 years ago, or 5 years ago, or 8 years ago. He has the strongest fukin arm in the league, with some of the best accuracy. Again, I have seen every Packer practice this year, and he has not lost sh1t. His judgement is no worse than it was in '92 or '96. If your head wasn't in your azz, you would know he didn't play with any fukin good WRs last year. Andrae Thurman, Taco Wallace...ever heard of those fuks? Thats the kind if sh1t he had to play with. Dan Marino couldn't win with that crap. Even with fuks like that, he still managed 3881, just 229 behind the almight Tom Brady. A little tid bit you obviously fukin overlooked.

-Green isn't going to be carrying the load this year. They're going to keep 4 RBs. I've watched these guys in camp, and while none of them are great individually, they are a young and fast rotation.

-The WR core is depleted, but it's not empty. Donald Driver is the most underrated WR in the league. He has been the go to guy for years and there is no reason to suggest he won't be this year. Greg Jennings is a rookie, but this guy has real skills. I've watched him. A team can get by with 2 solid WRs and a bunch of nobodies. Favre did it for years.

-It's true they have a young un-proven coach, but so do 2 other teams in the division. My personal opinion is that he is a smart guy and is all football. And this sh1t about a "completely new system" is crap. Mike Holmgren ran a very similar offense, and Mike Sherman didn't deviate from the west coast too much. I watched practice when Mike Holmgren, Ray Rhodes, and Mike Sherman were coaching, and it's not much different, sceme wise. I'm not at all worried about the sceme being implemented.

Everything I am say contradicts the crapola you wrote. Your not actually looking deeper than what fukin Florio writes about them. His analysis was complete bullsh1t and he did it because he knows alot of his readers are Packer fans. I don't buy into his bullsh1t and no one else should. Get your fukin facts straight. Don't analyze a team you know not a fukin thing about.

User Name · Head Dick

your language sucks.

Miami Bear 305 · Head Dick

Just because we are Bears fans, doesn't mean we're being biased when we talk about how much Green Bay sucks this year. In the years past, although it stung to say it, the Packers were one of the better teams in the league. They are fukn terrible now and will be for many years to come, it's time you guys accepted it.

I

phole · Head Dick

i accept the truth. the packers suck. they're actually worse then the Bears...

saturn11 · Head Dick

hey Grave Digger:

1. I am an Eagles fan, and have no rooting interests in your division.

2. Your argument that your O-line is not deteriorating is based on the fact that they lost 2 pro-Bowlers, and have replaced them with 2 unproven guys. How is that NOT deterioration?

3. I never said Favre sucks. But I did say his game was in decline. You claim he's as good as he ever was. I think my statement's much easier to support given his poor play over the past 3 seasons.

4. Ahman Green, Sam Gado, and $hit Closet Davenport probably won't produce the way Ahman Green alone did in his best year, which was 3 years ago.

5. You're hanging your hat on Donald Driver @ WR? Fine. He's a nice player. But the Pack were 4 - 12 last year, and they didn't get better at WR, did they?

Your fan-boy defense of your team is long on cussing and claims that I don't know what I'm talking about, and very short on real football analysis.

I'll give you one more shot: the Pack were 4 and 12 last year. What did they do in the offseason that makes you think that they will improve?

Oh and by the way, you have quite a way with words. I'm impressed.

LeRoy · Kick Asser

I think that if Farve would adjust his game some, he could be the divisions best qb. He still trys to play like he did 6 or 7 years ago, when the pack had excellent players on offense. Farve could force the ball into these wideouts and they would take it and run.

Brett has lost velosity on the ball as he has aged, and the receivers he has, don't run their patterns as precisely. Farve is a gamer that trys to make something out of nothing..evidenced by the large amount of interceptions last year.

If he would become more patient, andtake what the defense gives him(instead of throwing into triple coverages), he would be very good. Very few have his arm.

GoBearsGalason · Head Dick

Driver is afraid to go over the middle. Your o-line is in the process of being rebuilt (though likely at Favres expense this year), and your Running Back situation....well well see what happens with your new offense this year. I mean Samkon Gado last year....thats all I have to say. Green plays 3 games a year.

Favre has lost some zip on the ball, there is no question about that. His competitive spirit also appears to have taken a huge down turn. Anyone who openly waffles about his retirement is losing his competitive edge. If Brett thought he was a.) physically capable of playing at a high level b.) had a team that could meet this level,

then he wouldn't be openly considering retirement. To argue otherwise about this point is futile.

His patented 5 to 7 step drop and throw off the bag leg (even when there is no rush on) has been so completely sandlot looking the last few years that I just dont think that a second place finish is possible even in the north (given the lack of any real improvment in any of the areas of need on offense.) Driver is good, but he is a bigger pussy than he is good. The reason that he was never elevated to superstar status up in Green Bay, is because he refuses to up and get farves over the middle bombs, which leads to tips and pickoffs. Drivers best move is the alligator arms.

-- Edited by GoBearsGalason at 09:07, 2006-08-09

GoBearsGalason · Head Dick

And any idiot who says the Bear "could win" 8 games this year is a complete fukn idiot.

Look at their schedule. Generally Speaking, it's weak sauce. May be the easiest schedule I've ever seen

If the Bears have some semblance of an offense this year, this is a 13+ win season.

Sun., September 10 @ Packers 3:15 pm FOX Sun., September 17 vs. Lions Noon FOX Sun., September 24 @ Vikings Noon FOX Sun., October 1 vs. Seahawks 7:15 pm NBC Sun., October 8 vs. Bills Noon CBS Mon., October 16 @ Cardinals 7:30 pm ESPN Sun., October 29 vs. 49ers Noon FOX Sun., November 5 vs. Dolphins Noon CBS Sun., November 12 @ Giants Noon* FOX Sun., November 19 @ Jets Noon* FOX Sun., November 26 @ Patriots Noon* FOX Sun., December 3 vs. Vikings Noon* FOX Mon., December 11 @ Rams 7:30 pm ESPN Sun., December 17 vs. Bucs Noon* FOX Sun., December 24 @ Lions Noon FOX Sun., December 31 vs. Packers Noon* FOX

-- Edited by GoBearsGalason at 09:13, 2006-08-09

lost in iowa · Head Dick

GoBears you are right they have a weak schedule, but I don't care for the 3 game road trip much...and 2 Monday night football games....we seem to play poorly on Mondays

saturn11 · Head Dick

wow. that schedule is like cake made of pie!

not only do the bears have the easiest division to contend with, but they get the bills, jets, niners, and rams, all teams that are starting over with new (or relatively new) coaches, just like everybody else in their division.

the pats, dolphins, giants, and seahawks, are their biggest challenges.

then there's the cardinals, whom they should also beat...

hey...do people think the cards are for real?

i think edgerrin might be in for a rude awakening out there: a C+ o-line....

idunno...

LeRoy · Kick Asser

I'm not saying the good things about Farve becasue i'm a packers fan, quite to the contrary. I just think that he could be the best quarterback in that division with alittle adjustment.

After all, just look at the other starting QB's. If I was starting a team, I wouldn't pick any of them to be my starter. The BEars win with defense, and the rest of the division just isn't very good.

You bears fan's need to hope Urlacher doesn't go down, he is the heart and soul of that team. They will loose a few games without him for sure. He has had injuries over the years. He is realy a safety playing as a linebacker( a bigger version of Roy Williams of Dallas). When he was at new mexico, he played safety.

lost in iowa · Head Dick

Leroy saying Farve might be the best QB in the North isn't really sticking your neck out....he has been for at least the last 10 years, but his reign is over, he has lost heart and skill positions.

But saying Urlacher is the heart and soul of this teeam shows you really haven't watched the Bears play much. Yes he is a giant safety, which coincidently is exactly what is called for in the cover 2 D. The bears D suffers far worse when Mike Brown goes down, they haven't had a good replacement for him, but they do/will with D. Manning, he is the same player, a little bigger and faster.

here is the facts on the Bears that everyone needs to know....they have a weak schedule, they improved and added depth to a defense that was fairly harsh last year. The offense will be better with any sembelence of QB play, and they have something they didn't last year....special teams return game.....don't count on 10 fumbles/ 4 of them lost on Punt returns from the bears this year, it sure didn't help a third string QB with no reps in training camps, when you start his azz inside of his own 10 all the time.

Miami Bear 305 · Head Dick

Iowa is right, anyone who knows anything about the Bears knows Mike brown is the QB of our defense. He is the vocal leader that Urlacher has not been (although I've heard Urlacher is staring to take on that leadership roll alot more this year).

JetBlackNinja · Head Dick

They won't go 6 for 6 in the division, nobody really ever does, so we will give them only 1 divisional loss (who cares to who).

That is 1 loss, Pats, Dolphins, and Giants make it up to 4, then let us say that you COULD lose to the Cardnials, Bucs, rams or all 3. That is seven potential losses right there.

So to say that the Bears COULD go 8-8 isn't really that far fetched. They are more likely to win 10 or 11 games but it is possible for them to have a split season.

phole · Head Dick

the bears will Not win the division. the Vikings will. all the dumbass sh^t that you want to regurgiatate and spew out does not change the fact that their(Chi) offense sucks. we'll see if their def can maintain the quality they have had, but i don't think so. plenty of teams have a few stars too, but don't always get it done.
Minny is a unknown. all these guys that have been ripped on are starting in a new system. whether it's the WCO or the Tampa 2, we now have players that fit a specific scheme. to say we will suck based soley on what you know from last year is stupid. nothing has changed in Chitown, same coach, same system, same palyers for the most part. thus it's a little safer to make a assesment of their situation. if you want to put a wager on it i will. vikes win the div or bears. i take the vikes. loser sends a Lou Malnatti's via mail.

JetBlackNinja · Head Dick

In the offseason the Vikes lost everything from the coach to the QB, they have been bleeding their best talent (Culpepper, Moss) and the new owner seems a bit "over his head" (example: Fran Foley).

If I was going to bet on ANY team to lose hard this year it would be the Vikings.

phole · Head Dick

Wilf is far from over his head. pass me some of what yer hittin'! The Foley thing was bad, but not a huge deal. culpepper is way overrated. he turnsover the ball( small hands) and has never been clutch. I woulda liked to see Moss stay, but he has definetly peaked, not worth the $$$ or drama. this O-line is the best in the nfc, hands down. we now have a stud FB to open even more holes. Moore and taylor are guys that can and will run and they have good hands too. wiggins is a great pass catching Te who will flourish. the wr's are nop worse than G.B's & Chi.', probably better. time will show that we have the best d-loine and 2ndary and those questionable lb corps will do some damage. yes, i am a homer, but you guys don't have a clue either. Go Purple.