Keys to Training Camp: NFC North

Posted 7/28 by Jason Wood - Exclusive to Footballguys.com

Chicago Bears

Link: http://www.chicagobears.com
Location: Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, IL)
Dates: July 31 - August 20
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/15 - @Buffalo (7:00 PM Eastern)
8/22 - New York Giants (8:00 PM Eastern)
8/30 - @Denver (8:00 PM Eastern)
9/03 - Cleveland (8:00 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Integrating QB Jay Cutler into the offense - The acquisition of Jay Cutler has markedly increased expectations, and the team has to make quick work of building the offense around its new franchise passer. Cutler is stronger armed and more mobile than the Bears recent starters and that should allow OC Ron Turner to open up the offense; it will force Turner to prove he's not conservative to a fault.

Is RB Kevin Jones a legitimate handcuff for Matt Forte? - Matt Forte (316 carries, 63 receptions) was awesome as a rookie but the Bears need to lighten his load. Will Kevin Jones, 100% healthy finally, be a worthwhile fantasy handcuff? We'll find out in camp as the Bears should give KJ plenty of work.

Establishing the WR pecking order - Devin Hester will start but training camp will decide how the rest of the corps shapes up. Earl Bennett is the early favorite given his experience playing with Cutler at Vanderbilt, but rookies Johnny Knox and Juaquin Iglesias will vie with Rashied Davis for roles, too.

Putting the new offensive line into place - The addition of Cutler won't matter if the offensive line isn't rebuilt to protect him. The Bears will start new players at three positions including LT (Orlando Pace), RT (Chris Williams) and LG (Frank Omiyale) and getting them comfortable is an early camp priority.

Detroit Lions

Link: http://www.detroitlions.com
Location: Detroit Lions Training Facility (Allen Park, MI)
Dates: July 31 - August 20
Open to the public? - Select dates only (see website)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/15 - Atlanta (4 PM Eastern)
8/22 - @Cleveland (7:30 PM Eastern)
8/29 - Indianapolis (1 PM Eastern)
9/03 - @Buffalo (6:30 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Can Jim Schwartz change the culture? - Finishing as the league's first 0-16 team is indicative of the depths of the losing culture that pervades the Lions organization. Schwartz is an intense, intelligent, tough-minded coach that comes from a perennially strong Titans organization, but does he have the organizational sway to change the culture?

Will QB Matthew Stafford start right away? - Last year, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco started early and their teams flourished, which will weigh on the Lions as they decide whether to throw Matthew Stafford to the wolves or instead let Daunte Culpepper hold down the huddle.

Who will catch the ball besides WR Calvin Johnson? - Calvin Johnson has put up dominant numbers in spite of a revolving door at QB; he'll be fine no matter who plays QB. But who else do the Lions have to catch passes? Bryant Johnson fizzled in San Francisco, Dennis Northcutt was deemed expendable by the WR-starved Jaguars, and Derrick Williams is more athletic than polished. One of them will earn a starting role over the next few weeks.

Is RB Kevin Smith a safe fantasy starter? - Kevin Smith finished a solid RB18 last year but didn't notch 1,000-yards nor did he look particularly explosive. Will the Lions commit to Smith or will they play the hot hand between Smith, Maurice Morris and possibly Aaron Brown?

(IDP) Do the Lions have a trio of sleeper fantasy studs? - The Lions quietly upgraded their LB corps yet fantasy owners haven't paid the new additions much respect. But why shouldn't MLB Larry Foote and SLB Julian Peterson provide solid numbers (alongside incumbent WLB Ernie Sims) for IDPers this year? They've got two proven defensive coaches and the defensive line isn't going to make many tackles.

Green Bay Packers

Link: http://www.packerstrainingcamp.com/
Location: St. Norbert College (De Pere, WI)
Dates: July 31 - September 1
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/15 - Cleveland (8:00 PM Eastern)
8/22 - Buffalo (8:00 PM Eastern)
8/28 - @Arizona (10 PM Eastern)
9/03 - @Tennessee (8:00 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

How will the Packers adjust to a 3-4 scheme? - The Packers hired Dom Capers to reshape the defense and he's moving the team to a 3-4 defensive front. That's not without risks particularly given the makeup of the roster. Can Aaron Kampman, a proven 4-3 pass-rushing end, handle the transition to OLB? Will Jeremy Thompson hold off Clay Matthews on the other side?

Does WR Donald Driver have a stranglehold on the #2 role? - Greg Jennings has overtaken Donald Driver as the Packers best receiver, but Driver is still churning out 1,000-yard seasons. Is there any reason to think talented backups Jordy Nelson and James Jones could overtake Driver with strong camps? Probably not, but it's worth asking the question given Driver's advancing age.

Is RB Ryan Grant capable of more? - Ryan Grant got off to a rough start last year but finished strong. This offseason he's been stellar and if he can carry that through training camp, he may offer great upside as a potential 1,300-1,400 yard rusher.

Who starts at tight end? - Donald Lee enters camp as the starter yet again, but the team won't be disappointed if 2nd year Jermichael Finley overtakes him with a strong camp.

Sorting out the new look O-line - The Packers enter camp with a planned starting five but the coaches aren't ruling out changes if the backups impress in camp. Jason Spitz must hold off incumbent Scott Wells at center, and a number of tackles want to displace Andre Barbre on the right side.

Minnesota Vikings

Link: http://www.vikings.com
Location: Minnesota State University (Mankato, MN)
Dates: July 30 - August 12
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/14 - @Indianapolis (7:30 PM Eastern)
8/21 - Kansas City (8:00 PM Eastern)
8/31 - @Houston (8:00 PM Eastern)
9/04 -Dallas (8:00 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Will QB Brett Favre play for the Vikings? - It seemed like a fait accompli a few weeks ago but camp looms and Brett Favre has yet to commit to returning. At this point, fantasy owners and Vikings fans have assumed he would suit up in Minnesota, so the real disruption will be what the offense will look like without him. Would Tarvaris Jackson get a shot at the job or has that ship already sailed?

Will RB Adrian Peterson have a larger role in the passing game? - Adrian Peterson is an obvious stud and will push for the league's rushing title again. But will he be used in the receiving game more often? Backup Chester Taylor caught 45 passes last year, and if Peterson could grab some of those targets, he would be an easier choice as the top fantasy pick in PPR leagues.

Will WR Percy Harvin overtake Sidney Rice and Bobby Wade? - The Vikings offensive coaches have already scripted new plays to take advantage of Harvin's versatile skill set, but that's a far cry from earning a role as a starting wide receiver. Is Sidney Rice really capable of holding down a starting spot, or will the sure-handed by unexciting Wade start again? Or will Harvin zoom past him and join Bernard Berrian as fixtures in the lineup?

Was TE Visanthe Shiancoe's 2008 season a fluke? - Shiancoe finished 5th among fantasy tight ends, a shocking turn after a dismal 2007. But Shiancoe's tallies were odd in that he only caught 42 passes, but 7 of them were touchdowns. With TDs unpredictable, could Shiancoe be an overvalued commodity?

Filling in the missing pieces on the O-line? - The Vikings are considered to have an excellent offensive line but they've given up quite a few sacks in recent years. This season, they aim to replace Matt Birk with John Sullivan and will let rookie Phil Loadholt battle for the starting RT job. The Vikings want Loadholt to win the job, but Artis Hicks and Ryan Cook won't just hand it over.