Second on the draft need list, let’s round out the northern divisions with the NFC North.
The NFC North is one of the premier passing divisions in all of football; to win in this division, passing is the key to success. The passing dominance begins with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers and it trickles down to both the Chicago Bears’ and the Detroit Lions’ aerial attacks. The Minnesota Vikings are currently working towards becoming the fourth and final pass-happy team in the division. With all the offensive talent on these teams, defense remains a big Achilles’ heel on their squads. What pieces do these four teams need to push farther in both the regular season and postseason?
1. GREEN BAY PACKERS Team Needs: A REVAMPED DEFENSE
The Green Bay Packers weathered a severe injury to Aaron Rodgers, rallied behind backup Matt Flynn and triumphed in the season finale over the Bears to capture the division title for the third consecutive year. Rodgers has propelled the Packers into one of the top passing teams in football the last six years. The running game FINALLY caught up to speed, led by rookie rusher Eddie Lacy, as it eclipsed the century-mark in a single game for the first time since 2010. With A-Rod under center and coach Mike McCarthy on the sideline, the offense will remain stable. Once again, however, the question remains on defense.
Since 2009, the Packers have gone from the NFL’s number two defense to finishing in the bottom fourth of the league for the second time in three seasons. Injuries to key starters such as linebacker Clay Matthews played a role in their struggles in 2013, but even with him at full-strength they placed 25th in defense back in 2011. The Packers need to reconstruct their defense from top to bottom. They will need another run-stopping defensive tackle if B.J. Raji does decide to walk in free agency. Since their top cornerback, Sam Shields, is also testing the free agent market, the Packers will need to find his replacement. Getting some more safeties would also be a great idea for the Packers.
If Green Bay wants to advance deeper in the playoffs, their defense will need to get back to its Super Bowl-winning from 2010. Maybe an improved defense will help them beat the 49ers for a change.
2. CHICAGO BEARS Team Needs: GETTING BACK TO THEIR OLD WAYS
If there was some sort of “Extreme Makeover” award, the Bears would be the recipients.
In 2013, the Chicago Bears finished Top Ten in… offense?? Shocking, but true. Head Coach Marc Trestman brought his Canadian football prowess to the NFL and turned the Bears into the league’s eighth-ranked offense. Trestman’s first order of business was to fortify an offensive line that has been putrid during Jay Cutler’s tenure in the Windy City; bringing in Pro Bowl left tackle Jermon Bushrod and drafting guard Kyle Long were instrumental in the Bears surrendering the fourth fewest sacks in the league. Matt Forte’s career highs in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns earned him a trip to his second Pro Bowl. Above all else, the passing game was the biggest story to their offensive improvements; with the breakout sophomore season of receiver Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall being Brandon Marshall, the duo became Chicago’s new “Monsters of the Midway.” 2013 was unlike any other year in the franchise’s history since the offense became the focal point instead of the defense.
Despite the offense’s immense success, the Bears’ defense to a vast step backwards. The Bears finished dead last in rush defense giving up 161.4 yards per game on the ground. Their passing defense was in the middle of the pack as they finished fifteenth in the league. The Bears need a stout defensive tackle that can clog up running holes. Acquiring some difference-making safeties may assist their secondary significantly as well. Moreover, with three of their linebackers being 30 years or older, bringing in some fresh legs in the box would be nice.
The Bears do not have to be the legendary 1985 defense, but they still need to become formidable enough in order for them to reach the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.
3. DETROIT LIONS Team Needs: CB, S, LB
Outside of the Houston Texans, the Detroit Lions are the considered one of the most talented, non-playoff teams in the NFL (truly a backhanded compliment); the Lions have missed the playoffs two consecutive years after ending a 12-year postseason drought in 2011. Critics have indicted the undisciplined and unfocused nature of the franchise for the struggles; others have placed blame on Matthew Stafford’s indecisiveness in the pocket. Regardless of opinion, the Lions’ issues fall mainly on their defense, particularly in the secondary.
The Detroit Lions have spent the last four seasons building one of the league’s elite defensive lines. A front four led by their Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, they have simply been the highlight of their defense. It has been said that “it starts up front,” but it finishes in the backend. The Lions are in desperate need of some top-notch cornerbacks who can shut down receivers and alleviate the burden of the defensive linemen. Also, with safety Louis Delmas testing the free agent market, the Lions must scout new ball-hawks.
Outside of the secondary, the Lions should look to add some playmaking linebackers to sure up the front seven.
4. MINNESOTA VIKINGS Team Needs: QB, WR, DB
Question: Where would the Vikings be without Adrian Peterson? Answer: Nowhere.
Think about it. Whenever the Vikings have been dominant, they have had a quarterback (Fran Tarkenton-four Super Bowl appearances, Daunte Culpepper-NFC Divsional Playoff appearance and Brett Farve-NFC Championship Game appearance). When the signal-caller was in place, the ceiling of success for the Vikes has ascended. Adrian Peterson is unreal, but he will turn 29 before the upcoming season; as a result, his window of elite status may definitely be closing. Those are the main reasons in which Minnesota needs to find a franchise quarterback.
Adding another receiving target to go opposite of Cordarrelle Patterson would also help improve the league’s 23rd ranked passing attack.
As for the defense, the secondary needs drastic changes after it finished second to last in pass defense.
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