2008 NFC North Preview

[hermes]

i'd be happy to have garcia go to the vikings

[dingojazz]

Those predicting the Bears to implode and win 4 games will EAT your words. Defensively...

Last year they won 7 games with Adam Freaking Archuletta starting at safety. He was terrible. In addition to Mike Brown missing the whole year, Nate Vasher missed most of the season and a rookie started at corner. Urlacher was playing with a bad neck and back. Briggs was an unhappy franchise tagged player. Coaches mistakenly started Mark Anderson over Alex Brown. Tommie Harris was battling injuries.

Now Brown, Vasher, Urlacher and Harris are healthy. Harris, Urlacher, and Briggs have new deals and are happy Bears. Alex Brown is back to starting at DE with Anderson as a 3rd down pass rush specialist. This core of this defense has been together for several years, and they are pissed and hungry from last year.

Offensively there are obvious short comings. Keep in mind though that the Bears have one of the best TE tandems in the league with Clark/Olsen. That will take pressure off the QB's and WR's. Forte, who has looked great so far in camp, has to step up and play big.

It has been proven time and time again that if your offense is efficeint, doesn't turn the ball over you can win with defense and special teams (by the way the Bears have the best special teams unit in the league - link http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/ ... id=3492256).

Sorry I had to vent I know no one gives the Bears a chance but thats the way we like it!! Bring on this season!!

Don't crown the Vikings just yet they are overhyped and are 1 AP knee injury (which I would hate to see) from sucking.

[BiggMann]

Ya... Bears dont stand a chance!

AHHAHAHA.

I love raggin on Bear fans.

Their D is definitely improved this year, I think Vasher is going to have a huge year, and the loss of Archuleta really improves their pass D. All Dingo said was correct, but you are putting alot of faith in a 4th round pick and two mediocre QB's. I think the WR's will be better than everyone is expecting. Moose was a joke last year, losing Berrian hurts but Chicago doesn't have a lack of speed by any means. If Hester can become a decent WR they could suprise some defenses.

But like said before it's the Vikings divison to lose! The Biggest question mark for everyone this year is TJack. I'm one of the few that has a lot of faith in the kid, he's been in Minny all offseason working with the WR's and coaches to improve his decision making, because if he is able to limit mistakes this team will be very productive... if he starts making bad throws and bad decisions then it could be a long season and quick 3 and outs.

[dingojazz]

Ya... Bears dont stand a chance!

AHHAHAHA.

I love raggin on Bear fans.

Their D is definitely improved this year, I think Vasher is going to have a huge year, and the loss of Archuleta really improves their pass D. All Dingo said was correct, but you are putting alot of faith in a 4th round pick and two mediocre QB's. I think the WR's will be better than everyone is expecting. Moose was a joke last year, losing Berrian hurts but Chicago doesn't have a lack of speed by any means. If Hester can become a decent WR they could suprise some defenses.

But like said before it's the Vikings divison to lose! The Biggest question mark for everyone this year is TJack. I'm one of the few that has a lot of faith in the kid, he's been in Minny all offseason working with the WR's and coaches to improve his decision making, because if he is able to limit mistakes this team will be very productive... if he starts making bad throws and bad decisions then it could be a long season and quick 3 and outs.

I really do like Craig Stelz, but I think you're referring to Matt Forte who was a second rounder.

[Mags FTW]

Now Brown, Vasher, Urlacher and Harris are healthy.

For now...

Keep in mind though that the Bears have one of the best TE tandems in the league with Clark/Olsen. That will take pressure off the QB's and WR's.

They didn't last year.

The Bears aren't going to be the worst team in the league, but they aren't going to compete for the division unless something happens to MIN and GB and they're all hanging around 8-8 a la last year's NFC South.

[mbucks22]

The Bears defense when healthy is very good, but their problem is going to be the other side of the ball. Their offense is going to be very bad and struggle every week. Defense can only win you games for so long before the putrid offense will be the downfall. They'll win 5 or 6 games, maybe squeak out a 7th win if the defense stays healthy.

[CBS7]

The Bears will win 9 or 10 games and be in contention for a WC spot. That's my prediction. (Barring any crazy injury problems like last year. Doesn't include the inevitable Mike Brown season ending injury though. )

[Fatty]

the Vikings defense is just as good and probaly better than that Bears defense except the vikings have an offense to go with it. you could say some bull about bears "elite TE duo" to help out that offense but the VIkings have an elite RB duo and a fantastic offensive line- which the bears very obviously dont have. I guarentee that the Bears O will get pummeled in all 4 meetings with the AFC south

[SportsWorld]

the Vikings defense is just as good and probaly better than that Bears defense except the vikings have an offense to go with it. you could say some bull about bears "elite TE duo" to help out that offense but the VIkings have an elite RB duo and a fantastic offensive line- which the bears very obviously dont have. I guarentee that the Bears O will get pummeled in all 4 meetings with the AFC south

Vikings defense better than the Bears defense.

[Mags FTW]

Vikings defense better than the Bears defense.

2 years ago when the Bears were "healthy" they were #5 and the Vikings were #8. It's not that big of a stretch to think they are better than the Bears at this point.

[hermes]

the bears defense is going to wear down at the end of the year, because the offense won't be able to stay on the field, the d will be good but they are going to be on the field a lot

[Cliff Levingston]

LOL at the people saying the Bears will have a dreadful offense because of the QB's and the WR's. Yea those are issues, but if you truly knew the Bears, you'd know that the biggest offensive concern in the offensive line. Kreutz and Tait are on the wrong side of 30 and showed their age last year while Garza never was anything to write home about. The Bears have a decent prospect in Beekman for the LG and Cliff Levingston guesses that St. Clair is decent too, but both are more likely to end up below average than above it. Chris Williams could be a really good left tackle if he can ever get on the field. Right now he's out with back spasm.

Hester will see a tons of snaps as a WR, and you have to respect him when he's on the field. We don't have a good enough offensive coordinator to be able to use Hester effectively, but at least he'll attract some attention to perhaps take some pressure off other guys like Lloyd and Booker and what not.

But what else is new. The Bears offense is always bad. It was bad last year, the year before, and the year before that, etc. It's all about the defense and special teams as always. We've got a great kicker (as long as he's within 45 yards), a great punter, great coverage teams and great return teams... and of course the special teams are headlined by Hester. Because of him, we won't lose a single game as far as field position goes.

The defense is healthy, but for how long is right. Cliff Levingston isn't sure is any one player is more important to a defense than Mike Brown. With him, we're a downright damaging defense. Without him, we can still be good but not excellent. Going by the last few years, he'll be hurt, but you never know. Harris should be healthy. He had that nasty knee injury a couple season ago which ended his superbowl season and it lingered last season. As far as Cliff Levingston has heard, he's 100%. Urlacher is supposedly 100% after having routine neck surgery since that was something that was bothering him last year.

ICLO, if Mike Brown stays healthy along with most of the defense, we're a lock for a top 5 D, and thus could maybe fight for the division. However, all things considered, it'll be an uphill battle for the Bears to get over .500. 6-10 isn't an outrageous prediction but anything lower than that is, ICLO. Cliff Levingston has us pegged for a paltry 7-9 once again but you can always hope for more.

Cliff Levingston thinks it's the Vikings' division to lose as well, and Cliff Levingston would be surprised if GB wins over 10 games this year.

[deeney0]

Vikings defense better than the Bears defense.

I don't see how it isn't. Vikings have the best D-line in football, are solid and deep and LB, and have two Pro-Bowl caliber players in the secondary.

[skones]

For those thinking the subtraction of Favre will lead to 4 or 5 less wins than last season need to consider the following:

Favre last year WAS NOT the Favre he had been his entire career. He wasn't the gunslinger who took a lot of chances such as in years past. (although he did take his fair share) Favre had the season he had statistically due to two different factors.

1. Favre bought into the system. Instead of doing his own thing, he was strapped down by the offensive schemes put into place. Everything was underneath. There were a TON of slants thrown. Those same slants will be in place for Rodgers. Those slants made his deep ball far more effective than it had been in the two years prior where he was below the league average. The scheme opened up everything for him and simply put, made him look better than he actually was. Before last season, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone saying that the loss of Favre would cripple the Packers.

2. Favre also benefited from one of the best receiving corps in the entire league. The Packers were in the top few teams in the league for yards after catch. Jennings and Driver did some ridiculous things last season in terms of shedding tackles after a catch. If they can do the same thing this coming season, it'll make Rodgers look all the better.

3. As I said earlier. Favre was not the normal Favre last season. He was put into more of a game manager role which made his statistics look absolutely fantastic. He played within himself more than he ever had before. If Rodgers can do the same while keeping mistakes under wraps look out.