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Keys to Training Camp - NFC North


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)

  1. 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.


  2. 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.


  3. 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.


  4. 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.


  5. 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.


  6. (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)

  1. 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.


  2. 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.


  3. 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.


  4. (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)

  1. 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.


  2. (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.


  3. (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)

  1. 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.


  2. 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.


  3. 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.


  4. (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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