NFC North - A new overview

[Partial]

I 100% agree with your asessment on the pass rush. They are RIDICULOUSLY fast at getting to the passer. I, for one, think if Grady was as overrated as the big time OL guys here claim (specifically ND) (I am not sure how I feel on this matter) and Pickett can draw a double team whereas Grady was single teamed last year, we should have significantly more pass rush from inside from Williams and Jenkins. That will be very, very good because that is how the Bears collapse the pocket so fast.

Here's hoping ND's right!!

edit - man that was worded horribly. The point I was trying to get across is the guys on this forum that I believe really know their offensive line stuff tend to think Grady was washed up and much less effective then the rest of us and that Pickett will be a HUGE step up. If that is the case, and Pickett can draw a double team consistently (where as Grady was single blocked last year), we will free up our interior pass rushers in Jenkins and Williams to collapse the pocket.

[Dabaddestbear]

I 100% agree with your asessment on the pass rush. They are RIDICULOUSLY fast at getting to the passer. I, for one, think if Grady was as overrated as the big time OL guys here claim (specifically ND) (I am not sure how I feel on this matter) and Pickett can draw a double team whereas Grady was single teamed last year, we should have significantly more pass rush from inside from Williams and Jenkins. That will be very, very good because that is how the Bears collapse the pocket so fast.

Here's hoping ND's right!!

edit - man that was worded horribly. The point I was trying to get across is the guys on this forum that I believe really know their offensive line stuff tend to think Grady was washed up and much less effective then the rest of us and that Pickett will be a HUGE step up. If that is the case, and Pickett can draw a double team consistently (where as Grady was single blocked last year), we will free up our interior pass rushers in Jenkins and Williams to collapse the pocket.

I just think that Pickett will not be that much different than grady was last year. I could be wrong though.

[Dabaddestbear]

Hey, daBaddestBear...tell me when was the last playoff game DaBears won?
I am seriously wondering. I'm thinking the upset of Minnesota in "94...but please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks, dude.

Note: capitalized Bears, as a sign of respect.

Its been so long I dnt even remember, and I dont feel like google searchin it...lol.
But this team and coaching staff is alot different than the past ones. If Packer fans cant see that then I dont mind taking any of you guys money at Major Goolsbys downtown milwaukee on opening day.

From BearsHistory.com:

In the '94 season for the first time in the league's history, the NFC Central sent 4 teams to the playoffs, Minnesota, Detroit, Green Bay, and the Bears. First up for the Bears was a third matchup with Minnesota in the Metrodome, a game no one gave the Bears a possibility to win. Behind Steve Walsh's careful play, the Bears did shock Minnesota 35-18, their first road playoff win since 1984. This win allowed the Bears to advance to San Francisco in the divisional playoff. The 49ers were heavy favorites, and they demolished the Bears 44-15 en route to their Super Bowl victory.

GB took care of Detroit that year (Sanders had -1 yrds on 13 carries) and went on to lose to the Boys (again).

UGH!!! why did you have to remind me of that year? I remember my uncle went to jail after that game for beating the crap out of somebody cuz he lost a bet on chicago and had to pay a pretty sum. Afterwards the guy kept throwing it in his face in a not so kind manner. Well he was in the hospital for about 4 days when uncle Buck got finished with him. Sore loser he was, but a good fighter.

[Deputy Nutz]

Uncle Buck? Your Uncle was John Candy? God rest his soul, I loved him in the Great Outdoors.

Anyways, I am not going to argue that the Bears defense is better than the Packers, anybody with any real football knowledge can figure that out. What you have to look at in the off-season, especially if your looking for a little hope you have to see what teams made improvements on paper. The Packers have done that. Adding Pickett and Woodson in free agency, Hawk, Hodge, and Blackmon in the draft your looking at upgrades in all three phases of the defense.

I agree with it coming back to the pass rush, the Packers have done a pitiful job at getting to the QB, and the Bears are damn good at it. The fact is that KGB needs to consistently get to the QB, and Kampman needs to learn how to get there on a regular basis and get into the double digit sack category. Inside pressure is also important, and the Packers are going to be better here than they have been in years. Grady Jackson just didn't have that push or the speed to burst through the gaps that made him an unbelievable force in years past. Can Pickett equal that? I sure hope so, but he is more of a run stuffer, but the Packer defensive tackle that gets the best bull rush is Collin Cole. He is a stout fire plug that keeps his legs going. Hopefully the combination of Williams and Jenkins will give an agile sack attack up the middle.

[The Leaper]

Don't forget Montgomery either. He showed flashes of ability at the end of last year, and hopefully he will develop into a real contributor in 2006. He certainly has the physical talent to be a player...he dropped in the draft because of the concerns on his stamina and potential health risks. He has more size than KGB, and is more stout against the run. He could provide much needed spells for KGB, so he is more effective in rushing the passer on 2nd and 3rd downs.

[Dabaddestbear]

Uncle Buck? Your Uncle was John Candy? God rest his soul, I loved him in the Great Outdoors.

Yeah that last name is ironicly the same as the character Candy played. Buck was about the size too, just more of a solid build. But he passed away last november at an early age--45(walking Pneumonia). We were like brothers and my only Bear fan buddy here in WI.

[PackerPro42]

Yes the Bear's D is very very solid, but I think that the Packers D has improved a lot this off-season.

[MadtownPacker]

Pickett is a perfect fit for this D. His fat ass just needs to clog up the middle and let everyone work around him. I thought Grady did very well and wish we had both.

Dline has been the main contributer to all the big plays against the Packers in recent history IMO. Watching QBs have all day to throw weekly drives me insane on gameday. Seems like the Dline was never hustling. Not sure if clediius hunt had alot to do with it but I am happy to blame lazy bastards like him. I have some concern about Pickkett being another hunt.

[Fosco33]

Pickett is a perfect fit for this D. His fat ass just needs to clog up the middle and let everyone work around him. I thought Grady did very well and wish we had both.

Dline has been the main contributer to all the big plays against the Packers in recent history IMO. Watching QBs have all day to throw weekly drives me insane on gameday. Seems like the Dline was never hustling. Not sure if clediius hunt had alot to do with it but I am happy to blame lazy bastards like him. I have some concern about Pickkett being another hunt.

Agreed. When guys like Grady and the Gravedigger were healthy, they often clogged up the middle and forced double teams - hopefully freeing up the other tackle/DE to do some damage. I'm hopefull that KGB can bounce back and get another 10-12 sack season (note: In 2004, he became the first Packers player to post double-digit sacks in three consecutive seasons. Only three other NFL players – Michael Strahan, Simeon Rice and Leonard Little – have done the same over the past three years).

I really like the Packer's D

[PackerPro42]

Yeah I can't wait to see Pickett in action.

[Partial]

I have some concern about Pickkett being another hunt.

Same here, he was pegged as an underachiever until this year.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Same here, he was pegged as an underachiever until this year.

I wouldn't say this is fair. A lot of people that watch the Rams closely felt like he wasn't necessarily dominant, but that he got unfairly lumped in with the likes of Damione Lewis and Jimmy Kennedy as first round busts at DT for the Rams. He was better than those guys. His numbers have been comparable to Grady Jackson the last 4 years.