Keys to Training Camp - NFC North
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Posted 7/28 by Jason Wood - Exclusive to Footballguys.com
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Chicago Bears
Link: http://www.bearstrainingcamp.info/
Location: Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, IL)
Dates: July 28 - August 18
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge, except for August 14)
- Getting to know one another, new schemes - Plenty of new faces dot
the landscape including a new, inexperienced coaching staff led by Lovie Smith,
and coordinators Terry Shea and Ron Rivera. The plan is to implement a more
wide open offense and an attacking style of defense; but questions remain
about whether the personnel is in place to make those schemes work. In addition
to the coaches, the team added a new tackle, a new starting RB and ushers
in a new full time starting QB.
- Thomas Jones or Anthony Thomas? - Probably both, but Thomas Jones
enters camp as the primary ball carrier according to GM Jerry Angelo. Jones
entered training camp as the starter in previous years yet never held onto
the job for a full season, will it be different in Chicago? And does Anthony
Thomas make the decision difficult for the coaching staff or does he pout
over being relegated to backup duty? We expect
Jones to carry most of the load, and serve as a viable RB3 this year.
- Is Rex Grossman the franchise QB? - The Bears certainly hope so,
as Jon Quinn is the team's only experienced backup. Grossman enters camp as
the starter for the first time, and should find this offense more suited to
his skills. Camp will be critical for Grossman to develop timing in the new
scheme and to establish a rapport with receivers Marty Booker, Justin Gage
and David Terrell.
- Is Justin Gage ready to make his mark? - Justin Gage is listed on
Ourlads as the starter opposite Marty Booker; although that's not been made
official until he proves himself in camp against David Terrell. We currently
project Gage to make
a bigger impact than Terrell, although neither should be considered until
the very late rounds of most redraft leagues.
- The battle at left tackle - Qasim Mitchell, a 24 year old mammoth
tackle, enters camp as the starter but his position is tenuous. Mitchell must
hold off Mike Gandy for the position; with an outside chance that newly signed
John Tait will be moved from right tackle to left tackle if neither Mitchell
or Gandy are equipped for the job.
- (IDP) Does Brian Urlacher flourish in Ron Rivera's scheme? - Brian
Urlacher failed to create a solitary turnover last season, tarnishing his
image as the best linebacker not named Ray Lewis. HC Lovie Smith and DC Ron
Rivera has spent quite a bit of the offseason discussing Urlacher's role in
their new attacking defense and believe he's equipped to be the difference
maker. Our IDP team agrees and currently projects
Urlacher as the 6th best fantasy LB.
Detroit Lions
Link: http://www.detroitlions.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=341042
Location: Detroit Lions Training Facility (Allen Park, MI)
Dates: July 30 - August 13
Open to the public? - NO (with August 8th the lone exception)
- Is Kevin Jones the workhorse? - One has to believe that GM Matt
Millen didn't trade back into the first round to select RB Kevin Jones just
to have him backup the likes or Artose Pinner and Shawn Bryson. To that end,
Jones must avoid a prolonged contract negotiation and be in camp on time so
that he can establish himself atop the depth chart. Barring a lengthy holdout,
we expect Jones to
make a major impact as a rookie with upside to our current projections depending
on the play of the line and the passing game.
- Will Joey Harrington finally get it? - Joey Harrington has been,
statistically, one of the worst starting quarterbacks in league history in
his first two years. This year, with the additions of Kevin Jones, Roy Williams,
a healthy Charles Rogers, Tai Streets and Stephen Alexander, there are no
more excuses. We expect
Harrington to make progress, albeit with modest fantasy success.
- Does Roy Williams earn a starting spot out of the gate? - When the
Lions selected Roy Williams this year, it was with the understanding that
he would provide them with a Pro Bowl caliber receiver for years to come,
to line up opposite Charles Rogers, last year's "can't miss" rookie
receiver. However, Williams must earn his starting spot in camp against Tai
Streets, a veteran familiar with Steve Mariucci's system from their days in
San Francisco and incumbent Az Hakim. We believe Williams will start the full
season, but we caution
against fantasy owners being overly optimistic with regards to his production.
- (IDP) Manning the middle (linebacker, that is) - Earl Holmes will
face stiff competition from rookie Teddy Lehman in training camp. Not only
does Lehman have a good shot at winning the job, our IDP team expects
Lehman to be the most productive linebacker on the team.
Green Bay Packers
Link: http://www.packers.com/training_camp/2004/attractions/
Location: Clarke Hinkle Field (DePere, WI)
Dates: July 28 - August 31
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)
- The WR pecking order, will one emerge ahead of the others? - Donald
Driver was the team's leading receiver in 2002, but an injury and improved
play from Robert Ferguson and Javon Walker in 2003 altered the pecking order.
Now, all three return healthy and signed to long term contracts. Will all
three again be targeted 100+ times, or will one of the receivers emerge as
a true number one? We expect
all three to get quote a few catches, but Javon Walker will make the biggest
fantasy impact, ranking 24th in our latest projections.
- (IDP) Is LB Nick Barnett ready to join the elite? - Nick Barnett,
the team's middle linebacker and 2nd year starter, has many convinced he's
a perennial Pro Bowler in waiting. Our IDP team is convinced Barnett will
have a major impact this year and ranks
him 9th among fantasy LBs.
- (IDP) The Mike McKenzie Saga - Mike McKenzie is one unhappy camper
or non-camper as the case may be. McKenzie is threatening a holdout and demanding
a trade unless the Packers tear up his current deal and make him one of the
highest paid corners in the league. Neither side appears willing to budge
nor would it be a surprise to see McKenzie in camp on time. If McKenzie does
return, he'll again be an affective top corner; critical to the Packers' success.
If he is either traded or holds out, the team will have to rush Ahmad Carroll
and Joey Thomas into full time duty.
Minnesota Vikings
Link: http://www.vikingstrainingcamp.com/
Location: Minnesota State University (Mankato, MN)
Dates: July 30 - August 19
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge, with intra-team scrimmages the
exception)
- How is Randy Moss' foot? - Randy Moss has suffered from plantar
fasciitus since last season and, according to him, continues to give him great
pain. Moss has maintained that he'll play this year, whether he's 80% of 100%;
but obviously Vikings fans and fantasy owners want to make sure the pain won't
inhibit him. He's too valuable to the team to not let him sit out and recuperate
if that's what it will take; so watch his participation in drills and practice
during camp very carefully. If he sits out of camp entirely, you may want
to let someone else pick Moss in the late 1st or early 2nd round.
- How much of the workload will Michael Bennett carry? - RB Michael
Bennett is unquestionably the team's starting running back; but the team also
has very productive options in Onterrio Smith, Moe Williams and rookie Mewelde
Moore. The coaching staff has gushed over Bennett's size, strength, maturity
and preparation during mini camps and vowed he'll get a lot of work, but that
could mean 240-250 carries. We believe Bennett will get enough work to be
a solid fantasy option; but would recommend
rostering Onterrio Smith as a bench player; Smith could step in for an injured
Bennett and not skip a beat.
- Does Marcus Robinson add another dimension to the passing game? -
The team signed veteran Marcus Robinson and has touted him as the first threat
opposite Randy Moss since Cris Carter left two years ago. Yet, Robinson hasn't
been an impact player in the league since 1999. We don't think
fantasy owners should count on Robinson to do much more than D'Wayne Bates
did in that role last year.
- (IDP) Putting the pieces together on defense - The Vikings had a
potent offense and a putrid defense last season, and Ted Cottrell was brought
in to change that imbalance. He'll have some additional pieces to work with
including Antoine Winfield and rookie DE Kenechi Udeze mixed in with talented
returnees Kevin Williams and Corey Chavous. Don't be surprised if the Vikings
exceed their modest preseason ranking.
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