NFC North Roundtable: Biggest Remaining Question for Lions

The ninth in a collection of articles from NFC North FanNation group reporters explores the most important remaining query for every NFC North squad in 2022. 

Bears 

Can the Bears preserve Justin Fields upright?

If a veteran line allowed 58 sacks final yr, what number of instances can Justin Fields anticipate to be thrown to the bottom this yr?

The Bears enter coaching camp with three tackles for 2 spots which have began 10 complete NFL video games. As an illustration, former middle Sam Mustipher hasn’t performed at proper guard in his life aside from throughout OTAs and minicamp. 

This offensive line is an “Abbott and Costello” routine for soccer: Who’s at deal with, who’s at guard? 

Might rookie Braxton Jones begin at left deal with? Will the Bears transfer Mustipher again to middle and begin middle Lucas Patrick at proper guard, one of many positions he performed with Inexperienced Bay? 

Larry Borom began eight video games at proper deal with final yr, however lined up at left deal with by means of the offseason, till Jones performed left deal with to shut OTAs and minicamp.

And, Teven Jenkins was purported to be a starter, because the Bears’ second-round choose final yr, however he might be on the bench if Jones and Borom man the deal with positions. Then once more, they might additionally transfer Jenkins to protect. They did have Dakota Dozier enjoying guard, however he suffered a knee damage at minicamp and is on IR.

A beginning offensive line must be established as quickly as doable to allow them to construct a cohesive unit. The Bears have 4 undetermined positions. 

Subsequently, Fields’ mobility guarantees to be examined.

Lions 

Can the defensive position drastically enhance?

The Detroit Lions’ defensive position has struggled mightily over the previous couple of seasons pressuring the quarterback. Merely put, opposing offenses have had their manner with Detroit’s protection for a lot too lengthy. 

Detroit’s sack totals and stress charges have been nothing to write down dwelling about, as Detroit’s protection has ranked within the the underside tier of the league in plenty of classes.

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and the entrance workplace have made a concerted effort to revamp the defensive position, drafting younger gamers which possess a powerful motor and are optimistic suits within the locker room.

Charles Harris had a profession season in 2021, and can be trying to construct off the success he skilled his first season in Motown.

How briskly rookies Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal adapt to life within the NFL will go a great distance in figuring out how profitable the defensive position could be.

The teaching employees is relying on veteran Romeo Okwara coming back from a severe damage, together with the event of second-year gamers Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill.

If the change to extra of a 4-3 base look can produce extra stress, the secondary can even profit and take steps ahead, because the roster continues to be fairly younger on protection. The most important query mark nonetheless revolves round who will step up alongside the defensive position and rack up sacks. 

Packers 

Who’s going to get open?

Aaron Rodgers is coming off back-to-back MVP seasons, thanks partially to All-Professional receiver Davante Adams. Over the past six seasons, no receiver within the NFL has caught extra passes, piled up extra yards or scored extra touchdowns than Adams. Together with his expertise and unimaginable reference to Rodgers, the duo was unstoppable.

The issue is the Packers didn’t add any important belongings to their receiver corps till it was too late. 

In 5 drafts from 2016-20, the Packers drafted six receivers. The earliest was J’Mon Moore, with a compensatory choose on the finish of the fourth spherical. None of these six are even on the roster right now.

With the offseason commerce of Adams, the Packers signed veteran Sammy Watkins, whose lone 1,000-yard season got here again in 2015, and drafted Christian Watson within the second spherical, Romeo Doubs within the fourth spherical and Samori Toure within the seventh spherical. 

These 4, together with veterans Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb and 2021 third-round slot receiver Amari Rodgers, will battle for his or her place on the depth chart in coaching camp.

Finally, all the season will boil right down to this query: Who will get open? 

Rodgers is a good quarterback, and Matt LaFleur has a fantastic scheme. However, at some pivotal second, in a massively vital sport, any person goes to need to win their route and make a play. 

Will that be Lazard? Watkins? One of many rookies? Or will GM Brian Gutekunst need to buy groceries?

Vikings 

Will the offensive line and secondary be adequate?

I am making this a two-part reply as a result of, effectively, why not? As presently constructed, the Vikings have one key space on all sides of the ball that is a relative unknown heading into the season.

As is the case seemingly yearly, the offensive line is a possible weak point that might maintain again an in any other case gifted assault. 

The Vikings have a stable veteran quarterback, elite weapons on the ability positions and a younger, offensive-minded head coach who seems to have a shiny future. To ensure that all of these individuals to thrive, the road wants to supply enough go safety and powerful run-blocking. 

Minnesota’s deal with state of affairs is definitely fairly promising, with younger constructing blocks Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. However, it is the inside trio that is still a priority, significantly middle Garrett Bradbury.

Defensively, the entrance seven seems stout. However, this can be a passing-driven league, so the Vikings’ secondary would possibly make or break the group’s defensive efficiency as a complete. It is a unit counting on two of the oldest gamers on the roster — doable Corridor of Famers Harrison Smith and Patrick Peterson — to play at a excessive degree. 

Along with these two, the Vikings can be relying on three of the youngest gamers on the roster, together with two rookies, to supply high quality play. That combination of post-and pre-prime expertise may work effectively, or it might be a little bit of a multitude.