Chicago Bears

Link: http://www.bearstrainingcamp.info/
Location: Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, IL)
Dates: July 27 - August 16
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

• Rex Grossman vs. Brian Griese - The team has done nothing to indicate Rex Grossman has lost his role as the team's franchise quarterback; except sign Brian Griese this offseason. Griese is a confounding player, looking like a Pro Bowler at times and unworthy of a roster spot others. But he's certainly had more on-field success than oft-injured Grossman. Will Griese be given a shot in camp? If not, how long is Grossman's leash?



• Can Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson coexist? - Thomas Jones ran for more than 1,300 yards last year and was the Bears lone offensive stalwart; yet the team hasn't made overtures to give him a new deal in recognition of his contributions. Jones' agent pursued trades prior to the NFL draft, although GM Jerry Angelo apparently never took the offers seriously. At the heart of Jones' discontent is the contract terms for 2nd year RB Cedric Benson, who the team drafted 4th overall in 2005. Can Jones and Benson, returning from a season-ending injury, coexist?



• Can the Bears find a receiver to complement Muhsin Muhammad? - Beyond Muhammad, the Bears receiving corps is long on potential but short on production. Is Mark Bradley ready to put it all together? Does Justin Gage get one more shot? Is there a diamond in the rough among youngsters Bernard Berrian, Airese Currie and Rashied Davis?



• Can Desmond Clark reestablish himself as an offensive playmaker? - Desmond Clark caught 44 passes in his first season in Chicago but hasn't topped 24 catches in the last two seasons. While it seems the Bears are trying to phase him out of the picture, they've done nothing in free agency or the draft to suggest he won't remain the starter. Will his role expand? Can he recapture the form that led to a 4th place fantasy finish in 2001 while a Denver Bronco?



• (IDP) Lance Briggs and Nathan Vasher's contract status - Linebacker Lance Briggs and CB Nathan Vasher are both young, Pro Bowl players that played a huge role in the Bears dominant 2005. Now both want their deals redone, but the Bears haven't done so. There is talk about Briggs getting a new deal, but if talks fall short, will Briggs threaten to hold out?

Detroit Lions

Link: http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=93&p=2&c=547062
Location: Detroit Lions Training Facility (Allen Park, MI)
Dates: July 27 - August 10
Open to the public? - NO

• New coaches, new systems - Rod Marinelli has waited a long time to be a head coach and perhaps no team will engender a bigger personality change than the Lions. Marinelli is a disciplinarian through and through and will bring accountability; something sorely lacking in recent years. Schematically, he and DC Donnie Henderson will run the Tampa Cover-2. On offense, Mike Martz will be his aggressive spread offense to a team that struggled in a West Coast format under the old regime.



• Jon Kitna vs. Josh McCown - Jon Kitna appears to have the inside track on the starting job based on their respective performances at mini-camps. But nothing is set in stone until HC Rod Marinelli and OC Mike Martz name a starter. Given Martz' history turning unheralded quarterbacks into stars, whoever wins the job is an enticing fantasy sleeper.



• Defining the WR pecking order - With three top-10 picks at wide receiver, the Lions' WR rotation would seem fairly cut and dry. But considering the gross underachieving of Charles Rogers and Mike Williams, this is far from a defined situation. Role players like Scottie Vines, Corey Bradford, Eddie Drummond and Mike Furrey are as likely to play a role alongside Roy Williams as the more heralded wide outs. In fact, both Rogers and Mike Williams may be fighting for their roster spots.



• Can Mike Martz turn Kevin Jones into an elite RB? - Mike Martz is better known for his passing schemes, but his best offenses have featured a dominant, versatile runner. Kevin Jones will be given every opportunity to become the focal point of the Lions offense; is he up to the task?



• Offensive line battles at LG and RT - The Lions have brought in a ton of new faces to help fill out the offensive line, with the key battles being left guard and right tackle. Rex Tucker is in the hunt for both spots, but will be given first crack at right tackle over incumbent Kelly Butler. At LG, Rick DeMulling must try and hold off Tucker, Ross Verba and Barry Stokes.



• (IDP) Health and effectiveness of the linebacking corps - Projected starters Boss Bailey and Teddy Lehman are both questionable for the start of training camp. This is especially problematic because they're also expected to switch positions this year, with Bailey moving to the middle. Given the complexities of the Cover-2 defense, it's going to be exceptionally difficult to make up for lost time if they truly do miss the early part of camp.



• (IDP) Preparing for major changes in the defensive backfield - Rod Marinelli is bringing the vaunted Tampa Cover-2 to Detroit, which will mean major changes for the roles and responsibilities of the team's defensive backs. Incumbents CB Dre Bly and SS Kenoy Kennedy must handle more disciplined roles. Meanwhile, a collection of draft picks and veteran free agents will look to fill out the secondary. Rookie FS Daniel Bullocks will be given the chance to win the starting job, as will 2nd year CB Stanley Wilson.

Green Bay Packers

Link: http://www.packerstrainingcamp.com/
Location: St. Norbert College, Clarke Hinkle Field (De Pere, WI)
Dates: July 28 - August 27
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

• New coaches, new systems - The Packers will continue to run the west coast offense under new head coach Mike McCarthy, but the team will implement a zone-blocking scheme in the run game under new OC Jeff Jagodzinski. On defense, Bob Sanders will maintain the system implemented by Jim Bates last year, but his task will be on game day where Sanders will be hard pressed to match Bates' knack for in-game adjustments.



• Does Ahman Green have anything left in the tank? - A lot went wrong in Green Bay last year, though nothing was as devastating as the loss of Ahman Green early in the year to a torn quadriceps tendon. Green re-signed a one-year deal and must prove he can recapture the form that sent him to four consecutive Pro Bowls. The Packers RB situation could be of critical fantasy importance as Green, Najeh Davenport and Samkon Gado are being drafted very late. If either grabs hold of the job in camp, watch out.



• Does Brett Favre have another WR besides Donald Driver? - It used to be that Brett Favre would produce regardless of the quality of his receiving corps. But coming off a 29-interception season, the Packers has a thinner margin for error. Donald Driver was given a new extension and remains the top receiver. But a motley crew of Rod Gardner, Marc Boerigter, and Robert Ferguson must battle rookies Cory Rodgers and Greg Jennings for spots in the rotation. Reports were less-than-promising out of mini camps.



• Rebuilding the offensive line - The Packers must rebuild an offensive line that fell apart last year following the free agent departure of veterans Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle. The team is moving guard Scott Wells to starting center, and the team will open camp with new starters at LG (Daryn Colledge) and RG (Junius Coston or Jason Spitz). Can the team build cohesiveness, and are the personnel well suited for the new zone-blocking scheme being implemented?



• Settling the kicking situation - According to Packers ST Coach Mike Stock, both the punter and place kicker positions are up for grabs in training camp. Incumbent B.J. Sander must hold off Jon Ryan during camp. At place kicker, Billy Cundiff and Dave Rayner will battle to replace Ryan Longwell.



• (IDP) Putting all the new pieces together - The Packers made a lot of changes on defense this offseason, including naming a new defensive coordinator for the third consecutive season. The Packers expect four free agents to start: CB Charles Woodson, SS Marquand Manuel, LB Ben Taylor and DT Ryan Pickett. Perhaps most important will be whether rookie LB A.J. Hawk can make an immediate impact on the weak side.

Minnesota Vikings

Link: http://www.vikingstrainingcamp.com/
Location: Minnesota State University (Mankato, MN)
Dates: July 27 - August 18
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge, with intra-team scrimmages the exception)

• New coaches, new systems - The Vikings have a new coaching staff and, along with it, new schemes on both sides of the ball. HC Brad Childress and OC Darrell Bevell are implementing a west coast offense while Mike Tomlin will install a Cover-2 defense. Both systems are complex, leaving little margin for error in camp if the team expects to be competitive out of the gate.



• Is Brad Johnson ready to carry the team? - The Vikings new coaching staff vetted Daunte Culpepper's departure and hasn't wavered in their support of veteran Brad Johnson. Can Johnson, 38 this year, stay healthy and effective for a full season?



• Is Koren Robinson the Vikings best receiver? - Koren Robinson was considered a long shot to make the roster last year given the Vikings depth at receiver. But a Pro Bowl season (as a returner) and a new contract (along with the departure of Nate Burleson) now find Robinson as the Vikings top receiver, at least on paper. Is he up to the task? If not, will 2nd year player Troy Williamson or veterans Travis Taylor and Marcus Robinson be able to pick up the slack?



• Was Chester Taylor simply in need of opportunity? - RB Chester Taylor played the role of backup and 3rd-down back in Baltimore for years. Now he gets the chance to start in Minnesota after signing a multi-year deal this offseason. Is he up to the task or are the Vikings looking at Fool's Gold?



• Decision at right tackle - The offensive line should make significant strides with the healthy return of C Matt Birk and the addition of Steve Hutchinson, the league's best guard, but questions remain on the right side. Artis Hicks, who played for Brad Childress in Philadelphia, will get the nod at RG, but right tackle won't be decided until training camp gets underway. Marcus Johnson is considered the favorite, but don't count out veteran Mike Rosenthal if he's healthy.



• (IDP) Finding three starting linebackers - New Vikings DC Mike Tomlin is leaving the door open to new starters at all three linebacker positions. Free agent Ben Leber is expected to start on the strong side, but neither MLB nor the weak side are defined. Rookie Chad Greenway will be given a chance to start at WLB, but he must get signed and in camp on time. In the middle, the team will probably choose from incumbent Napoleon Harris and veteran E.J. Henderson.