A different perspective on who is the Best in the North

[Zbikowski_9]

It is relevant and interesting to compaare teams based on who is the best at each position, but i think to gain even more insight into who will win we should look at key positional match ups.

The first match up that jumps out at me is the DE vs OT battle.
Our division will play some of the best pass rusher in the NFL
Notable REs:
Peppers (made the transition from the left)
John Abraham
Will Smith
Gaines Adams
Javon Kearse (Well past his prime, but can still get it done)
Dwight Freeney
Derrick Harvey (Rookie, but could transition well)
Trent Cole (Bears only)
Andre Carter (Lions only)
Manny Lawson (Lions only OLB)
DeMarcus Ware (Packers only OLB)
Patrick Kerney (Packers only)
Berternad Berry (Vikes only, coming of injury)
Osi Umaynara (Vikes only)

Notable LEs:
Jamall Anderson (ordinary rookie year as a pass rusher, but could break out)
Charles Grant
Mario Williams
Vanden Bosch
Robert Mathis
Chris Long/ Leonard Little (Bears only)
Greg Ellis (Packers only OLB)
Strahan (Vikes only)

Then you factor in divisonal pass rusher who teams will face twice.
RE:
Jarred Allen
KGB
Anderson
Alex Brown
LE:
Kampman
Agouwande (sp)

The ability for the division's tackles to cope with this pass rush and protect and give time to their developing or average quaterbacks will be crucial.

1. Packers have to very well established and well rounded tackles that could give them the edge.

There is a distinct drop off in pass blocking after this and the remaining teams are pretty similar.

2. Vikings have McKinnie who is an average pass blocker and Ryan Cook is by no means an established pass blocker.

3. Bears could be ranked higher if Chris Williams fires, as Tait will be solid at RT

4. Again the Lions could move up if Cherlius improves his pass blocking, as they Bakus is solid.

Vikings could be in even more trouble and move well to the bottom of the league is pass blocking if Bryant is suspended.


With the Vikings and Packers the favourites for the division this match up could decide the division. The Packers will face more elite pass rushers in Allen, Kerney and Ware; however their pass blocking makes up for this in comparrison to the Vikings.


What other key match ups do you think could decide the Division?

[BeerBaron]

wow...reading that i know for sure that rodgers, jackson, orton and kitna will all be on their asses a lot.

which OT combo keeps them on their asses the least will be pretty key, lol. hell of way to look at it anyway...

[Zbikowski_9]

wow...reading that i know for sure that rodgers, jackson, orton and kitna will all be on their asses a lot.

which OT combo keeps them on their asses the least will be pretty key, lol. hell of way to look at it anyway...

Yea, as much as i like both Jackson and Rodgers as prospects this year will be a major challenge.

Rodgers will have to prove he is not injry prone as he WILL take alot of hits.

Jackson will have to show a HELL of a lot more poicse and better decision making skills.

Kitna and Grossman and their experience could move their teams closer to the front runners.

[BeerBaron]

Yea, as much as i like both Jackson and Rodgers as prospects this year will be a major challenge.

Rodgers will have to prove he is not injry prone as he WILL take alot of hits.

Jackson will have to show a HELL of a lot more poicse and better decision making skills.

Kitna and Grossman and their experience could move their teams closer to the front runners.

well, ive got my money on orton for the bears and if their QB is going to be taking a lot of hits, id prefer him. grossman makes me nervous even when hes not throwing because he doesnt protect that football very well at all.....

and kitna...well, hes on the lions. ill believe that the lions are capable of something when they show me that they are and not a second sooner.

[Yatta!]

Interesting read, I still think QB is the key to this division.

On a side note how the Packers cover the TE is going to be really important and if we do it well, we could become an elite unit. Last year that was a major downfall.

[Maybe Next Year Millen2]

There are four keys to pass protection

1) quality of tackles (GB good both sides, Minni good on left questionable on right(McKinnie suspended?),Chicago, good potential on left solid on right, Lions average on left, potential on right)
2) the QB. How fast can the QB make a decision and is it the right decision. Plus does the QB have pocket awareness. This is where Rodgers will struggle. Brett Favre made amazingly quick decisions. Clifton and Tauscher are solid but with a different QB things may change a little. The extra split second of decison making for a 1st year starter changes things. Grossman must improve, Jackson must improve but has the most athletic abiltiy to escape and Kitna knows the offense to make quick decisions but his ability to move around in the pocket is terrible.
3) Offensive system. West Coast offense helps tremendously based on shorter routes. When the Lions ran the West Coast they gave up the fewest sacks in the league. Joey always checked down but he only had Roy as an option. The Lions should be better without Martz with a more balance attack. The Bears have the same offense as the last 3 years, Rex just has to make better decisions but they lose the deep threat of Berrian.
4) WRs. How fast can they get open and the quality of their routes. The Packers and Lions are top notch in this department and the Bears/Vikings need tremendous improvement.

Without pass protection, you team has turnovers. Turnovers lose games. Forcing turnovers win games. When the Lions were 6-2 they were leading the league in ints forced and forced fumbles. Why because we had a pass rush despite having the worst secondary in the world.

[GB12]

With the Vikings and Packers the favourites for the division this match up could decide the division. The Packers will face more elite pass rushers in Allen, Kerney and Ware; however their pass blocking makes up for this in comparrison to the Vikings.
Last year those 3 got a combined 1.5 sacks on us.

[Maybe Next Year Millen2]

Last year those 3 got a combined 1.5 sacks on us.


Well last year means jack. Clifton/Tauscher are very good but expecting to stop Ware,Kerney,Allen twice again like that won't be easy. Especially with Rodgers possibly taking longer to make decisions.

Backus with Ware,Osi and Allen only gave up 2 sacks(both to Allen).

[Zbikowski_9]

Last year those 3 got a combined 1.5 sacks on us.

They did well then, but that was last year and they had Farve. Young QB freezing up in the pocket could mean more. Pluss it is not about sacks it is a but rushung decisions, i didn't see the game so maybe theyr didnt even do that, i dont know

[Maybe Next Year Millen2]

They did well then, but that was last year and they had Farve. Young QB freezing up in the pocket could mean more. Pluss it is not about sacks it is a but rushung decisions, i didn't see the game so maybe theyr didnt even do that, i dont know

Against Dallas, Favre sacked 0 times. Aaron Rodgers sacked 3 times. Small sample but the Qb makes a difference. And the second sack by Greg Ellis who had 2 in the game, Ware had 1, Ellis had a costly face mask penalty. If it wasn't for that Green Bay would have kicked a field goal instead of a td cutting the score to 27-24. Dallas got agreessive down the stretch once Green Bay caught back up. Rodgers played a good game though so we'll see about him this year.

And Jared Allen from last year on KC is a different guy than playing with Kevin Williams next to him.

[Zbikowski_9]

Against Dallas, Favre sacked 0 times. Aaron Rodgers sacked 3 times. Small sample but the Qb makes a difference. And the second sack by Greg Ellis who had 2 in the game, Ware had 1, Ellis had a costly face mask penalty. If it wasn't for that Green Bay would have kicked a field goal instead of a td cutting the score to 27-24. Dallas got agreessive down the stretch once Green Bay caught back up. Rodgers played a good game though so we'll see about him this year.

And Jared Allen from last year on KC is a different guy than playing with Kevin Williams next to him.

Good post, i would ++rep but i already have today.