NFC North training-camp previews

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Bears TE Greg Olsen

Offensive overview: The expectations are much greater following the early-April blockbuster addition of 26-year-old Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler, whose cannon arm offers an instant big-play dimension. The Bears also bolstered their offensive line, signing seven-time Pro Bowl OLT Orlando Pace and veterans Frank Omiyale and Kevin Shaffer, and they feel good about a ground game featuring second-year RB Matt Forté, who quickly proved to be a quality dual-purpose back, and Kevin Jones, who is expected to spell Forté more after finally fully recovering from the ACL tear that ended his career in Detroit. The team's WR corps, however, is a major question mark. Former return specialist par excellence Devin Hester remains a work in progress as the projected No. 1 pass catcher. A lot more is expected from second-year WR Earl Bennett, Cutler's former teammate at Vanderbilt, who was a nonfactor at the team's weakest position after having been drafted in the third round last season. While the WR situation is a bit shaky, Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark provide Cutler with a potent 1-2 punch at tight end, particularly Olsen, who has developed a strong early rapport with the Bears' new quarterback.

Defensive overview: The hope is that a disappointing defense that ranked 21st in yards allowed and 30th against the pass will turn things around under a revamped coaching staff. For starters, head coach Lovie Smith will be taking over the bulk of the play-calling duties from beleaguered coordinator Bob Babich, who will concentrate his efforts more on the team's linebackers. In addition, 20 years of NFL coaching experience have been added, courtesy of new D-line coach Rod Marinelli, who was called "the best free agent in the market" by Smith at this year's Scouting Combine, and new DB coach Jon Hoke, who spent the last seven seasons in the same capacity with the Texans. But the new blood on the coaching front won't matter much unless key veteran performers such as MLB Brian Urlacher, DT Tommie Harris, CBs Nate Vasher and Charles Tillman and DE Adewale Ogunleye prove more worthy of their lofty paychecks than they were last season. Ex-Ram Pisa Tinoisamoa should add a spark at strong-side linebacker. The unit's biggest concern is at the safety position, where the departed Mike Brown's emotional and intellectual leadership could be sorely missed.

Battle to watch: The competition is wide open at free safety heading into training camp, and it could be well into camp before a starter is chosen. Second-year pro Craig Steltz, who is better-suited for strong safety, is listed first on the depth chart at the moment, but converted CB Corey Graham, ex-Saint Josh Bullocks and Glenn Earl are all expected to be breathing down his neck.

Injury update: Harris' balky left knee heads the list of injury concerns. He was extremely limited in the team's minicamps and OTAs and is expected to remain limited in training camp in the hope that he can stay on the field longer once the regular season begins. Vasher says he's back to 100 percent after missing eight games with a right hand injury last season. As for the rest of the secondary, Tillman began practicing in the second week of June for the first time since his January shoulder surgery, SS Kenny Payne is expected to be fully healed from his offseason shoulder surgery in time for camp, and nickel back/return specialist Danieal Manning — one of a host of players who were unable to finish OTAs due to hamstring injuries — is also expected to be OK. The ruptured biceps that prematurely ended injury-prone DT Dusty Dvoracek's '08 campaign figures to be monitored very carefully. Forté was unable to finish out the team's OTAs due to a left leg injury, but it was not considered a serious injury at all. Reserve LBs Nick Roach (pulled hamstring) and Hunter Hillenmeyer (sports hernia) have been very limited so far this offseason.

Fantasy sleeper: With Cutler throwing to him, Olsen, who has been underutilized up to now, is quite capable of racking up double-digit touchdowns and becoming the league's top fantasy tight end.

DETROIT LIONS

Training-camp site: Detroit Lions Practice & Training Facility, Allen Park, Mich.

Training-camp report date: July 31.

Key veteran arrivals: CB Phillip Buchanon, WR Ronald Curry, LB Larry Foote, TE Will Heller, CB Anthony Henry, DT Grady Jackson, OL Jon Jansen, WR Bryant Johnson, CB Eric King, OL Daniel Loper, RB Maurice Morris, WR-RS Dennis Northcutt, LB Julian Peterson, FB Terrelle Smith, LB Cody Spencer.

Key veteran departures: FS Gerald Alexander, CB Leigh Bodden, TE Dan Campbell, DT Shaun Cody, CB Travis Fisher, WR Mike Furrey, TE Michael Gaines, QB Jon Kitna, LB Alex Lewis, OG Edwin Mulitalo, FB Moran Norris, QB Dan Orlovsky, TE John Owens, S Dwight Smith.

Drafted rookies: (1) QB Matthew Stafford, TE Brandon Pettigrew; (2) S Louis Delmas; (3) OLB DeAndre Levy, WR Derrick Williams; (4) DT Sammie Hill; (6) RB Aaron Brown; (7) OT Lydon Murtha, LB Zack Follett, TE Dan Gronkowski.

Offensive overview: The biggest addition, No. 1 overall draft choice Matthew Stafford, might have to wait to take over the reins, but he has looked good to date. Daunte Culpepper is expected to win the QB job out of camp, and he has slimmed down and previously worked with new coordinator Scott Linehan in Minnesota and Miami. Linehan will mix a man-blocking power run game with a deep passing game that features one of the best young playmakers in the game, WR Calvin Johnson. Johnson also has a better supporting cast with WRs Bryant Johnson, Ronald Curry, Dennis Northcutt and Derrick Williams and TE Brandon Pettigrew, who is being counted on to start right away. The offensive line, a problem at times the past few seasons, still has its share of questions.

Defensive overview: The new staff has hit the reboot button and will show quite different looks to what Rod Marinelli ran with his Tampa-2 system. Head coach Jim Schwartz and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who coached together in Tennessee, believe in pressure, and Cunningham said the team will blitz as much as 40 percent of the time. Julian Peterson and Larry Foote should team well with WLB Ernie Sims to bolster what was a terrible LB unit. The defensive line still is short on depth and talent, but there is promise at end, where there are able bodies. The secondary also has a lot of new faces, led by Willie Buchanon, Anthony Henry, Louis Delmas and Eric King. This group has to be better than the 2007 model, which was one of the worst statistical groups in recent NFL history.

Battle to watch: There's no question that the most visible battle with be at quarterback. There's a chance that Stafford could win the job out of camp, but the Lions' daunting first six games — at New Orleans, vs. Minnesota, vs. Washington, at Chicago, vs. Pittsburgh and at Green Bay — might be the reason he sits initially before the Week Seven bye. The team has lost 17 games in a row; with a loss in Week One, the Lions would tie the third-longest losing streak of all time, and with two straight losses to start the season, the Lions would tie the second-longest losing streak ever. There is pressure to get a win early on, especially for a new staff attempting to put its stamp on this young club.

Injury update: DT Grady Jackson is being counted on to shore up the middle of the defense, but he has been absent from team drills while he rehabbed from arthroscopic knee surgery in February. Schwartz said Jackson was behind schedule, but he's expected to be ready to contribute at some point in camp. With FS Gerald Alexander having been traded to the Jaguars, there are no other serious injury concerns among the returning veterans.

Fantasy sleepers: It seems a bit silly labeling Stafford and Pettigrew, two first-round picks, as sleepers. But by the end of the season, they could be key contributors on a team that has a little bit of promise once it gets its feet under it. Stafford is likely to take over at some point, and the Lions won't be shy about letting him air it out with one of the best weapons in the game, Calvin Johnson, at his disposal. And he also will stand to look for Pettigrew, whose reputation has come about as a blocker but who could be a six- to seven-TD player as a rookie.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Training-camp site: St. Norbert College, DePere, Wis.

Training-camp report date: July 31.

Key veteran arrivals: OT Duke Preston, S Anthony Smith.

Key veteran departures: DT Colin Cole.

Drafted rookies: (1) NT-DE B.J. Raji, OLB Clay Matthews; (4) OG T.J. Lang; (5) FB Quinn Johnson, OT Jamon Meredith; (6) DE Jarius Wynn, CB Brandon Underwood; (7) OLB Brad Jones.

Offensive overview: An offense that ranked fifth in points scored and eighth in passing yards last season appears to be in decent shape under the direction of QB Aaron Rodgers, who did a very solid job in his first full season under center replacing Packers legend Brett Favre. Rodgers is expected to cut loose with more frequency this season after being given more freedom to call plays. He benefits from a deep and talented receiving corps, spearheaded by newly re-signed Greg Jennings and gritty veteran Donald Driver, which is considered among the best in the league. On the ground, the offense will use a zone blocking scheme for the fourth straight year, with more power runs thrown into the mix. Featured back Ryan Grant believes better things are in store for him this season without having to worry about contract concerns, which was the case a year ago at this time, or the injuries that initially hampered him in '08. The Packers hope to have the same starting five intact the entire season on the offensive line and will enter training camp with wide-open competition at the ORT spot previously manned by Mark Tauscher, who isn't expected to return after tearing an ACL in Week 14 last season.

Defensive overview: Can the Packers make a successful conversion to the 3-4 defense under new coordinator Dom Capers, with a shortage of veteran defenders who have played in that scheme? That's the question everybody in Green Bay continues to ask, as it remains to be seen how 4-3 stalwarts such as Aaron Kampman, who will be switching from end to linebacker; DE Cullen Jenkins; ILBs Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk; CBs Charles Woodson and Al Harris; and disgruntled FS Nick Collins will adapt to a scheme that will be unique within the NFC North. Major contributions are expected from the team's two first-round draft picks, B.J. Raji, who is expected to see plenty of action at both nose tackle and end, and Clay Matthews, the favorite to start at right outside linebacker. Further help will be provided by ex-Steeler Anthony Smith, whose familiarity with the 3-4 should come in handy.

Battle to watch: A host of candidates are in the running for the ORT job, with third-year pro Alan Barbre gaining a slight edge on the competition following his impressive work in the team's minicamps and OTAs this offseason. His challengers include second-year pro Breno Giacomini, who has been slow to come back from ankle surgery; fourth-year pro Tony Moll; and rookies T.J. Lang and Jamon Meredith.

Injury update: Jenkins, who started off like gangbusters last season before going down for the count in the fourth game with a season-ending pectoral injury that required surgery, is also coming off ankle surgery. He has yet to do anything this offseason but is expected to be ready for training camp. Same goes for OLT Chad Clifton (both knees), C Scott Wells (shoulder), SS Atari Bigby (ankle) and Giacomini. Barnett, who had surgery for a torn ACL in his right knee late last November, started running, cutting and planting during the first week in June and is expected to be 100 percent by training camp, although he appeared to regress in this offseason's final minicamp.

Fantasy sleeper: Keep a close eye on second-year pro Jermichael Finley, whose excellent athleticism (he's a former hoopster) and terrific hands could enable him to beat out Donald Lee as the starting tight end. Finley routinely makes dazzling plays in practice and could be ready to start doing the same thing in games that count.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Training-camp site: Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minn.

Training-camp report date: July 30.

Key veteran arrivals: WR-KR Glenn Holt, CB Karl Paymah, QB Sage Rosenfels.

Key veteran departures: C Matt Birk, LB Vinny Ciurciu, QB Gus Frerotte, RB Maurice Hicks, OT Marcus Johnson, SS Darren Sharper.

Drafted rookies: (1) WR-RS Percy Harvin; (2) OT Phil Loadholt; (3) CB Asher Allen; (5) LB Jasper Brinkley; (7) SS Jamarca Sanford.

Offensive overview: Although nothing is official yet, there is heavy speculation that Brett Favre will join the Vikings, and his presence would change the makeup of the offense. Yes, this is still Adrian Peterson's team, and there's no reason to think that the Vikings won't again be a top-five running team, but adding Favre might give the coaches more confidence to throw downfield more often than they might with either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels taking snaps. With Bernard Berrian, Bobby Wade, Sidney Rice and the multitalented rookie Percy Harvin, the Vikings have good wideouts, and TE Visanthe Shiancoe could be on the verge of a 60-catch season. Another reason for optimism is the offensive line, which is big and nasty, although rookie OT Phil Loadholt must prove his worth immediately.

Defensive overview: The Vikings have had the No. 1 rushing defense three years running, but that ranking is in some doubt if the expected four-game suspensions of DTs Kevin Williams and Pat Williams hold up. Right now, the case is toiling in court, and the two might be free to play while it is being hashed out. DE Jared Allen took the group to a new level, and behind him is a very talented LB corps that gets E.J. Henderson back. The secondary is mostly strong across the board, though SS Tyrell Johnson has big shoes to fill on a veteran group. Every other projected starter has at least two full seasons of starting experience; Johnson started seven games as a rookie.

Battle to watch: If Favre decides against returning, the QB battle will unfold between Jackson and Rosenfels and will take center stage for a team with legit Super Bowl aspirations. But if Favre comes back, as expected, the nickel back job will be important to watch. Charles Gordon is the best option but is coming off a season-ending ankle injury. Marcus McCauley has failed in previous attempts, and Benny Sapp has been overwhelmed in the past. Paymah might be better on special teams, and it might be unfair to expect too much from rookie Asher Allen, who entered the draft after his junior season.

Injury update: Gordon's injury was very serious, and his leg and ankle might not be fully healthy by the start of camp. He has yet to return to the field since suffering the injury last November. Allen had knee surgery but is expected back by the start of camp, ready to go. And DE Kenechi Udeze, the feel-good story of this year's training camp, is attempting to return from leukemia after missing the entire '08 season.

Fantasy sleeper: Some people still aren't sure what to make of Harvin, who played as much or more at running back at Florida as he did at receiver. Though wideout will be his primary pro position, he will be used in a special package of 15-20 plays in a Wildcat-type role. Harvin has game-breaking speed, and though he might not be a 60-catch player, he possesses the kind of big-play ability that should make him a nice addition to any fantasy roster.

Kickoff is coming! Be sure to buy copies of the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports 2009 NFL preview magazine, as well as the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football Guide 2009, both of which are now available at bookstores, newsstands and retail outlets where magazines are sold. Or order your copies online at PFWStore.com.