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We're Black and Blue All Over:

It's safe to say the Chicago Bears are interested in upgrading their depth at linebacker after a whirlwind of veteran free-agent visits this week. According to ESPNChicago.com, the list includes Rocky McIntosh, Bryan Kehl and Zac Diles.

The Bears were thin at the position last year behind starters Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Nick Roach. But anyone they sign at this point should be viewed as a backup who could potentially compete with Roach to start during training camp.

The bigger issue the Bears face is finding eventual replacements for Urlacher, who turns 34 next month and Briggs, who turns 32 in November. That work will have to be done during the draft.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Bears signed veteran guard Chilo Rachal, notes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears will "do just fine" with defensive tackle Henry Melton, writes Dan Pompei of the Tribune.
• The NFL has turned up the heat on the Minnesota Vikings' stadium situation, but at least one state legislator wasn't happy to hear the league trying to "drive policy" for state government, according to Doug Belden of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune repeats a familiar message: Replacing a relocated team is always more expensive than giving the original team a new stadium.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has spoken with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, according to the Associated Press via 1500ESPN.com. Another conversation is expected Thursday morning, which will include Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney.
• Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews privately lamented the loss of defensive end Cullen Jenkins last season, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel begins his position-by-position draft evaluations with quarterbacks.
• Young Detroit Lions players will benefit from the team's offseason program, writes Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• Washington running back Chris Polk could be a target of the Lions, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions season-ticket sales appear to be brisk this spring, according to Eric Lacy of the Detroit News.

We've reached the end of the third week in NFL free agency, a time when teams typically shift their gaze toward role players who project as limited contributors for the upcoming season. I think the Green Bay Packers' acquisition of defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove has the potential to exceed those parameters.

Hargrove's skill set meshes well with the two most common alignments used by Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers: the base 3-4 and the nickel with two down linemen. He is big enough to play end in the base and quick enough to be a inside pass-rusher in the nickel; although he's listed at 272 pounds, Hargrove said he played last season between 285-290 pounds while with the Seattle Seahawks. His intensity, meanwhile, will add an element of attitude that might have been missing from recent Packers defenses. Don't forget that he covered kickoffs for the New Orleans Saints as recently as 2010.

"Hopefully I can be a guy that could add a bit of speed to the defensive line," Hargrove said, "and an extra dimension there. I want to be an explosive playmaker and get after the passer, at the right time. When it's time to play the run, you play run with proper technique. But I want to get after it when we convert from run to pass."

Without knowing the results of the Packers' draft, you would have to consider Hargrove a leading candidate to start at defensive end in the base defense. Mike Neal will serve a four-game suspension to open the season, and the Packers never found a successful replacement last season for the departed Cullen Jenkins.

The Packers pursued Hargrove with uncommon zeal, at least for them, bringing him in for a visit a few days after hosting free-agent center Jeff Saturday. They have been reported to have interest in a number of free-agent defensive ends and linebackers, but I think it's pretty clear the Packers viewed Hargrove as the best fit for their scheme and needs.

There is no doubt that Hargrove has a complicated past, one that we've coincidentally covered a number of times here on the NFC North blog. He served a one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy in 2008, and in January 2010 we chronicled his drug use and rehabilitation. It's a fact that he's one positive drug test away from an indefinite suspension, but that also tells you he's passed every NFL drug test since returning to the league in 2009.

We also crossed paths with Hargrove earlier this month, when he released an extensive statement about his presence on the 2009 Saints team that has been implicated in an NFL investigation into cash bounties. Hargrove received a personal foul for a hit on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre in the 2009 NFC Championship Game, but in his statement Hargrove denied he was either motivated by a bounty or received a payment for the hit.

I won't try to predict what's in store for the Packers and Hargrove, but most March 29 signings don't have the kind of potential that this one brings. Let's see where this goes.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- In recent years, I would arrive at the NFL owners meetings in late March to annual questions on the Green Bay Packers' apparent abdication of the free-agent market. What are the Packers up to? That's what officials from other teams wanted to know. My answer was always the same: This isn't Packers season. That starts at the end of April.

This year? Not so much. Last week, center Jeff Saturday became the first unrestricted free agent to sign with the Packers in three years. The team also hosted defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove on a visit, and reports suggest defensive end Dave Tollefson and offensive tackle Demetrius Bell could also visit in the next week or so.

Already, it's the most active stretch of free agency for general manager Ted Thompson since 2006, when he signed defensive lineman Ryan Pickett and cornerback Charles Woodson. Indeed, as of Tuesday, Pickett, Woodson and Saturday remain the only players on the Packers' roster to have been acquired as unrestricted free agents.

What has gotten into Thompson? Did the Packers' early exit from the 2011 playoffs spur a change of philosophy? Did somebody sprinkle the Lambeau Field coffee with extra caffeine?

Not if you ask Thompson, as a few of us did this week here at the NFL owners meetings. Thompson smiled and said: "I know you guys don't believe me. But we're always active in free agency."

Right. And I hit the treadmill every day.

Thompson added: "There have been years, a couple years in a row when we haven't actually signed anybody. It doesn't mean that we weren't active, pursuing leads, trying to understand the market, doing all of that. … Sometimes the market runs away from you, and you keep your hands in your pocket."

In all seriousness, it's not as if the Packers have stayed pat as a rule over the years. In 2009, for example, they expressed interest in defensive lineman Chris Canty but wouldn't make him an offer before he visited Green Bay, as he demanded.

Still, it's hard to look at what's happened so far in 2012 and write it off as random. Given his druthers, I think we know that Thompson would prefer to remain in the background in March. So I see at least a couple of issues at play here.

First, and most important, the Packers have encountered what I could call "Ted Thompson's Imperfect Storm." The Packers have specific needs at important positions where depth is thin, and the draft provides an untenable risk. That was certainly the case at center, a position that might rank second to quarterback in order of importance in the Packers' offense and had no obvious heir on the roster.

Thompson acknowledged that teams have found immediate starters at center in the draft, but that player almost certainly couldn't shoulder the play-calling responsibilities of a Packers center even if he was physically ready to compete with NFL-caliber defensive linemen.

In his typical understated way, Thompson said: "I think it's an important position. The whole makeup on our offense. We asked [former center Scott Wells] to do a lot. We'll ask Jeff to do a lot. … I do think in free agency you're able to target more specific things as opposed to the draft, when we try to take the best player."

The same could be said of the Packers' clear focus on pass-rushers. The Packers have a clear need for a right end and an outside linebacker to play opposite Clay Matthews. But in the current pass-happy era of the NFL, you'd better believe that the other 31 teams are deeply in need of pass-rushers as well. Now more than ever, the Packers would be foolish to close the door on every possible avenue for upgrades.

Second, I wonder whether the Packers weren't at least cautioned by their experience with former defensive end Cullen Jenkins last year. Their anticipated succession plan, 2010 second-round draft pick Mike Neal, suffered a training camp knee injury and made little impact. It's difficult to project injuries, even for a player like Neal, who has endured more than his share. But the Packers' diminished pass rush made a huge impact on their defensive struggles, thus highlighting the risk in counting on unestablished players at key positions.

Every team would love to follow the Packers' style from recent years, relying almost entirely on drafted players to win the Super Bowl. But you wonder whether they were the exception to the rule. Even the best teams need help from the outside at least occasionally, and credit Thompson for acting on that -- even if he did it with his nose pinched and his eyes closed tightly.

Yes, Thompson admitted that he wasn't at Lambeau Field when Saturday arrived last week for his recruiting visit. He was at Iowa's pro day instead. He called Saturday to make sure there would be no hard feelings about his absence and said it was more critical for coach Mike McCarthy to handle the visit. To quote one of my favorite movies: Small moves, Ellie. Small moves.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Green Bay Packers have received the maximum number of extra draft picks available to teams through the NFL's compensatory draft program, while the Minnesota Vikings have received two.

That's our local upshot of Monday's always-anticipated announcement of compensatory draft picks. The Packers got four extra picks and will now have 12 in next month's draft, while the Vikings will have a total of 10. Neither the Chicago Bears nor the Detroit Lions were expected to receive a compensatory pick.

The NFL doesn't reveal its exact formula for determining the extra picks, but in essence it's based on the difference in value between the free agents a team loses and the ones it signs the previous year. In 2011, the Packers bid farewell to free agents Daryn Colledge, Brandon Jackson and Cullen Jenkins, among others, and did not sign a significant free agent of their own.

The formula granted the Packers two fourth-round picks and two additional seventh-rounders. The Packers' total of 12 picks includes three in the fourth round and four in the seventh.

Meanwhile, the Vikings received two fourth-round picks, No. 33 and No. 39 in the round, after losing receiver Sidney Rice, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and defensive end Ray Edwards in 2011. They signed nose tackle Remi Ayodele, but he made little impact.

The free agent market opened without an agreement between the Green Bay Packers and center Scott Wells, increasing the possibility that Wells will sign elsewhere in the coming days. (Bill Huber of Scout.com, in fact, suggests it's a done deal.)

But the start of the new league year did bring the Packers some news: Defensive end Mike Neal has been suspended for the first four games of the 2012 season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

The suspension is another roadblock in Neal's disappointing tenure with the Packers. A second-round pick in 2010, injuries have limited him to nine games and a total of six tackles in two seasons. And the announcement comes at a time when the Packers are almost certainly looking for options to enhance their pass rush, be it at Neal's defensive end position or at outside linebacker.

There's no reason to think the Packers will cut ties with Neal, but it's grown almost impossible to count on him as the full-time starter they envisioned him as when veteran defensive end Cullen Jenkins departed last year. Now more than ever, defensive end is one of the Packers' most notable weaknesses.

With the offseason in full swing, let's take a look at one major question facing each NFC North team as it begins preparations for the 2012 season:

CHICAGO BEARS

In last year's version of Leading Questions, we wondered when the Bears would address the depth behind their aging defensive stars. That issue is still on the table, but of greater 2012 importance is this: How will the Bears manage their transition to new offensive coordinator Mike Tice?

Tice will retain much of the terminology and some of the philosophy from former coordinator Mike Martz. But Tice has his own spin on the "three-digit offense," and the Bears will need to realign behind a power running game and a passing approach that emphasizes downfield throws.

Tight end and receiver are two positions the Bears need to focus on this offseason, either by developing their existing players like Kellen Davis and/or acquiring a legitimate downfield threat. New general manager Phil Emery should have more than $20 million in cap space to work with, and the free-agent market should be deep with receivers.

But to make Tice's offense work, Emery will also need to ensure the return of free-agent tailback Matt Forte and find him a reliable backup as well.

DETROIT LIONS

In a tight salary-cap situation, can the Lions keep their nucleus together and add where needed?

Years of high draft positioning made the Lions a talented team but also one facing a cap crunch in 2012. Preliminary cap reconciliation leaves the Lions with $122 million in cap commitments, about $2 million above the estimated $120 million cap. And that total doesn't include three defensive starters who are pending free agents: defensive end Cliff Avril, middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch and cornerback Eric Wright.

The Lions will need to find ways to shave from that total, whether it's borrowing from future caps -- a tool now available in the NFL's new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) -- or reducing the cap figures in existing contracts.

As we've discussed, receiver Calvin Johnson should be the first target for a cap-reducing contract extension. He's projected to account for about $22 million against the cap in the final year of his rookie deal. Johnson, quarterback Matthew Stafford, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch are estimated to account for nearly half of the Lions' total cap allotment.

What does all this mean? We are all figuring out the NFL's new salary-cap rules together, but it's clear the Lions must make some difficult short-term decisions and weigh them against long-term prosperity.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

What can the Packers do to improve a pass defense that gave up more passing yards than any team in NFL history?

The easiest answer is to address the pass rush, which weakened in 2011 when the Packers couldn't find a suitable replacement for departed free agent Cullen Jenkins. The rush could come from the defensive end position, where the Packers have waited two years for the highly touted Mike Neal to make an impact, or through acquiring a pass-rushing outside linebacker.

General manager Ted Thompson has been reluctant in recent years to utilize veteran free agency, and the truth is that few teams allow a legitimate pass-rusher to depart without compensation. But the situation was serious enough in 2011 that Thompson will at least need to consider every avenue available for a substantial and fast-acting solution. The Packers had 29 sacks in 2011, tied for the third-worst total in the NFL.

Parallel to that issue, however, Thompson will also have to monitor a situation at safety that contributed to the Packers' defensive problems in 2011. Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins will find out in March whether he can continue his career or if he must retire because of a serious neck injury. The Packers missed his leadership and instincts in center field and would need to acquire a long-term replacement if he retires.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The development of quarterback Christian Ponder will dominate many of the Vikings' offseason headlines, but there is an equally important question hovering over the team: How fast can it upgrade its historically poor pass defense?

Vikings opponents finished the season with a 107.6 passer rating, the third-highest figure in NFL history. Their eight interceptions tied for the league's lowest total in 2011 and only one player among the back seven who started the majority of games in 2011 -- linebacker Chad Greenway -- is assured a starting job in 2012.

It's difficult to replace six starters in one offseason, but the Vikings have already begun their defensive overhaul by hiring new defensive coordinator Alan Williams, bringing back Brendan Daly as their defensive line coach and making former coordinator, Fred Pagac, their primary linebackers coach.

The personnel situation is most dire in the secondary, where two of the Vikings' primary safeties -- Husain Abdullah and Tyrell Johnson -- are free agents. Talented cornerback Chris Cook, suspended for the final 10 games of the season following a domestic-violence incident, remains in limbo. Cook's trial date is tentatively scheduled for March 5. The future of veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield must be addressed as well; Winfield turns 35 in June.

Just for the fun of it, I thought I would throw an addendum onto our annual All-NFC North team. Coaches, front office executives and others all deserve recognition for the work they do. So in rapid-fire fashion, let's roll through a final take on the 2011 season:

Best head coach: Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
Comment: Evaluating coaches is easier than most people make it. Nothing matters more than winning, and McCarthy went 15-2 in 2011.

Best assistant: Scott Linehan, Detroit Lions
Comment: Although his primary role is offensive coordinator, Linehan's development of quarterback Matthew Stafford merits recognition alone. After three years with Linehan and quarterbacks coach Todd Downing, Stafford became the youngest 5,000-yard passer in NFL history. I'll repeat what I wrote the moment Linehan arrived in Detroit. You can say what you want about his tenure as the St. Louis Rams' coach, but he remains one of the NFL's top offensive coordinators. The Lions are fortunate to have him.

Best executive: Martin Mayhew, Lions general manager
Comment: Mayhew has made some inspired moves during his tenure and few, if any, mistakes. That's how you go from 0-16 to 10-6 in a hurry. His roster is a mix of every possible avenue of player acquisition: draft, trades, veteran free agency and undrafted rookies. Packers general manager Ted Thompson deserves mention, but his inability to replace the pass rush of departed defensive end Cullen Jenkins hurt the Packers in 2011.

Best rookie: Titus Young, Lions receiver
Comment: Young played 63 percent of the Lions' offensive snaps as their third receiver, catching 48 passes for 607 yards and six touchdowns. He got more opportunities than the Packers' Randall Cobb, but we don't hold that against him.

Most intriguing rookie: D.J. Smith, Packers linebacker
Comment: In 3 1/2 games as an injury replacement, Smith collected 33 tackles and an interception. I'm not sure how Smith could fit into the Packers' 2012 plans, if at all, but he certainly proved a reliable and instinctive short-term asset.

Most disappointing rookie: Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings quarterback
Comment: Ponder was considered perhaps the most pro-ready quarterback available in the draft, but his late-season decision-making called that into question. He threw seven interceptions in his final 122 passes. For context, consider that rate would lead to 29 interceptions over a typical 500-pass season.

Biggest mistake: Donovan McNabb, Vikings quarterback
Comment: The rushed acquisition of McNabb didn't make sense at the time, and the situation deteriorated rapidly. Waiving your starting quarterback during the season is an embarrassing admission.

Biggest mistake II: Roy Williams, Bears receiver
Comment: Williams' shaky hands and questionable effort made the Bears' preseason hopes for him laughable. At least one of his drops, near the end zone against the Kansas City Chiefs, played a big role in a huge defeat.

Any other thoughts? By all means, leave them in the comment section below. Otherwise, it's onward and upward toward the 2012 season. ...

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Is The Beast about to be set loose?

The much-anticipated 2011 debut of Green Bay Packers defensive end Mike Neal should take place Sunday. Neal is active for the Packers' game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is expected to see at least some action.

Injuries have limited Neal to two NFL games since he was the Packers' second-round draft choice in 2010. The Packers loved his work in training camp as a rookie and targeted him as a likely replacement to veteran Cullen Jenkins, who departed last summer via free agency. But a 2011 knee injury ultimately required surgery and cost Neal the first nine games of the season.

Tight end D.J. Williams, who had been active for all nine games this season, is inactive as a result of Neal's inclusion on the gameday roster.

Checking in on Thursday's news bits:

Chicago Bears: Cornerback D.J. Moore missed practice after suffering an ankle injury Wednesday. If he can't play, the Bears could look at Corey Graham or Zack Bowman in the nickel Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. Defensive end Julius Peppers (knee) practiced Thursday.

Detroit Lions: Safety Amari Spievey (toe) returned to practice Thursday as a limited participant. Running back Jahvid Best (concussion) watched practice but did not participate. Punter Ryan Donahue (quadriceps) didn't practice. Neither did defensive ends Willie Young (ankle) and Lawrence Jackson (thigh). Quarterback Matthew Stafford (finger) had full participation in practice.

Green Bay Packers: Linebacker Desmond Bishop and guard T.J. Lang, both of whom missed practice Wednesday for personal reasons, returned Thursday. Running back Ryan Grant (knee) also returned to practice and had full participation.

Minnesota Vikings: Defensive end Jared Allen has been filling in as the team's long snapper in practice because of Cullen Loeffler's shoulder injury. But coach Leslie Frazier told reporters there is "no chance" he would use Allen in that role Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. If Loeffler isn't ready, the Vikings will sign an emergency snapper. Safety Husain Abdullah (concussion) continues to be sidelined and doesn't appear likely to play Sunday. Tyrell Johnson and Jamarca Sanford would be the starters.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Green Bay Packers' defense isn't identical to the one that collapsed in the playoffs two years ago, but there are some similarities. That's the upshot of Pete Dougherty's measured analysis of the situation in the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

A key line: "The 8-0 Packers are different now than in '09 -- their offense is better, and their defense, though giving up more yards than in '09, is making at least a couple of big plays a game. But there's the similar sense that a team with a good quarterback has a good chance to put up a boatload of points, and though it hasn't happened yet, get a score with the game on the line."

The loss of safety Nick Collins and the free-agent departure Cullen Jenkins have impacted the Packers even more than expected, Dougherty notes. The Packers rank No. 22 in sacks this season, and Dougherty suggests that quarterbacks are stepping up easier to avoid linebacker Clay Matthews' outside rush without Jenkins pushing the pocket from the inside.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Collins told Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com that he is going to try to attend meetings this week and, though injured, help where he can in terms of game-day communication by players.
• The Packers are putting together the final details of a stock sale to raise money for a proposed $143 million expansion of Lambeau Field, writes Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Shares could go for as much as $250 apiece.
• The Chicago Bears are in great shape for a playoff run, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune on the Bears and coach Lovie Smith: "Monday changed the perception and perspective of the 2011 Bears -- especially for Smith, Mr. Steady. It reminded us that even though the Chicago area has tuned out Smith, it doesn't mean his players have."
• Dan Pompei of the Tribune on the Bears' victory over the Philadelphia Eagles: "… [W]hile cartwheels and backflips would be overreacting, a somersault or two seems to be an appropriate reaction."
• Bears offensive lineman Gabe Carimi (knee) isn't expected to be ready for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, according to Vaughn McClure of the Tribune.
• New/old Lions running back Kevin Smith, who has not played in a game in almost a year, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "I feel great. I feel like I came out of the body shop brand new. Obviously, I've been playing football for a long time and had two seasons where I got injured and got put on [injured reserve]. I feel great, and God's blessed me with a second opportunity."
• Lions coach Jim Schwartz wouldn't say whether new offensive lineman Leonard Davis will challenge for a starting job, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• The Lions aren't looking ahead to the playoffs, notes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune writes about the Minnesota-Wisconsin rivalry.
• Vikings opponents in the second half of the season are a combined 38-26, notes Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton isn't happy that some stadium opponents want to use a clause in the Vikings' lease at the Metrodome to bind them to the building for another year. Dayton, via Rachel E. Stassen-Berger of the Star Tribune: "We shouldn't be engaged in that kind of hostile posturing with the Vikings … they're our team. And they want to stay here. So are we going to sue the Vikings? Come on. What are we doing here? This is about moving Minnesota forward."

Your conversation on the NFC North's most significant player departure centered mostly around three players: Defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins, receiver Sidney Rice and tight end Greg Olsen.

A few other names surfaced, including linebacker Nick Barnett and center Olin Kreutz. But Barnett in essence departed midway through last season, replaced more than capably by Desmond Bishop, and it's hard to argue that the Chicago Bears offensive line is in worse shape without Kreutz than it was when it contributed to 56 sacks with him last season.

Jenkins is an interesting case. He was not a full-time player last season, starting eight games, but none of you have forgotten his seven sacks and the apparent impact it had on the Green Bay Packers' No. 1 pass defense (based on opponents' passer rating). This season, the Packers' pass rush has been limited and opponents have the NFL's 15th-best passer rating against Green Bay's defense.

Mavajo wrote Jenkins is "the only key difference between this year and last year. … You gotta put 2+2 together and figure that's why." Added tearloch:

"I will say that last year the Packer D was noticeably better with Jenkins in the lineup as opposed to without him, especially on run D. This year, with the big leads they have had for most of the games, the run D, IMO, has been artificial inflated by minimum attempts against, much like the end of last year (playoff run). It will be interesting to see how the GB run D holds up when truly tested. I think Jenkins is sorely missed in GB. His replacements are doing an OK job, but Jenkins was a really good player, but his age and injury history, as well as contract demands, made him expendable."

Jenkins has four sacks in four games this season for the Philadelphia Eagles. Rice, on the other hand, has piled up 188 receiving yards in two games with the Seattle Seahawks. Biglamb7474 thinks Rice is "the obvious choice" and added that the Minnesota Vikings have been forced to make Percy Harvin their No. 1 receiver "even though his talents are much more emphasized in the two spot."

Biglamb7474 added: "The loss of Rice also gave an already declining [quarterback Donovan] McNabb even that much less to work with. ... I mean, did the Vikings even once pay attention to what happened in Washington last year when McNabb was inserted into an offense with a mediocre receiving corps at best? Rice is a big and fast sure-handed receiver in a league that has transformed into one in which defense is becoming less important and elite offenses (particularly the air attack) are essential."

Wrote severs28: "They have no one to stretch the field right now, and when healthy, Sidney Rice is a premier wide receiver. I mean, he has better stats in two games than any Vikings receiver through four? And it's not like he went to New England or Green Bay. Seattle has a terrible o-line, and Tarvaris [Jackson] as a QB. He would have at least those numbers for Minnesota."

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears' decision to trade Olsen to the Carolina Panthers generated more debate than I thought it would. Tearloch wrote: "Olsen's trade was not a good move, IMO. However, I don't think it is fair to compare his production in Carolina to what the current Bears are doing. Even if Olsen was still a Bear, I don't think his production would be any better than what the current Bears players are doing. It is still [offensive coordinator Mike] Martz running the show, and he does not care for TEs, regardless of their talent. "

Added DaBearz84: " Olsen is not as missed as Kevin would like us to believe. The reason that no one on the Bears team has more then 12 receptions is because [quarterback Jay ]Cutler can't get enough time to throw the damn ball."

On the other hand, Jveyron19 thinks Olsen was "the biggest loss from a 'team' aspect" because the Packers "have enough playmakers to fill in the gap that Jenkins pass rush."

My take? I agree that Olsen wouldn't have the same numbers with the Bears that he does with the Panthers. But to me, that's a big problem.

I don't think pass protection alone is to blame for the Bears' anemic pass offense thus far. Let's just say that Cutler doesn't always have a bevy of open receivers to choose from. Olsen has re-established himself as a downfield threat, as well as a sure-handed check-down receiver, and if used properly would absolutely help alleviate some of the Bears' issues.

The Bears traded Olsen rather than require Martz to find a way to incorporate him into his offense. Given what he could have offered them, and the mess he's left behind to this point, I think that makes his departure the most significant thus far in the NFC North.

We had overwhelming participation in Tuesday's SportsNation chat, no doubt a response to our two undefeated teams. As it turned out, one of the questions I didn't get to sparked an idea for this week's Have at It.

Several of you asked who I thought was the NFC North's top free-agent acquisition so far this year. I think we'll get to that at some point in 2011, but being the negative cynic I like to be, I want to turn the question upside down. This week, tell me which free-agent departure has most hurt an NFC North team.

Candidates include:

• Tight end Greg Olsen, who has caught 17 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns for the Carolina Panthers. The Chicago Bears have only one player, tailback Matt Forte, with more than 12 receptions.
• Receiver Sidney Rice, who has caught 11 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown in two games for the Seattle Seahawks. Neither of the Minnesota Vikings' top two receivers, Percy Harvin (172) and Michael Jenkins (144), have matched Rice's yards in four games.
• Defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins has four sacks in four games for the Philadelphia Eagles. That matches the total number of sacks for all Green Bay Packers defensive linemen, who have given up the second-most passing yards in the NFL.
• Linebacker Ben Leber has played in four games for the St. Louis Rams, starting three. The Vikings have surely missed his veteran presence and leadership during their second-half collapses this season.

As always, give me your thoughts in the comments section below. I'll post a representative sample, along with my own thoughts, by the end of the week. Have at It.

Through two games this season, opponents have smoked the Green Bay Packers' defense at a record pace. No one around the team seems concerned about it. Should they be?

I suppose there are any number of reasonable answers to that question. But as we stand here on Sept. 20, it seems the Packers would do themselves more harm by overreacting to allowing a pair of 400-yard passing games in as many weeks. Over time, most NFL teams would accept big yardage totals as long as it's balanced by the kind of red zone defense the Packers have played so far this season.

There is a measure of risk involved with expecting a defense to tighten routinely on key plays, but coach Mike McCarthy said that what he calls "adversity play" is "the strength of our team right now. That’s why we’re 2-0. We’ve stepped up two weeks in a row when it’s counted, but we definitely have a lot of work to do."

Yes, Carolina Panthers rookie Cam Newton lit up the Packers for 432 yards last Sunday at Bank of America Stadium. That performance came a week after Drew Brees logged 419 yards for the New Orleans Saints. Even in a pass-happy league, as the chart shows, the Packers defense ranks near the bottom of the NFL in yardage, points allowed and third-down conversion rate.

Yet the Packers have managed to win on both occasions thanks literally to a handful of important plays. They’ve allowed only three touchdowns on 11 opponent trips to the red zone, a touchdown percentage of 27.3 that ranks third in the NFL. They also rank near the top of the league in takeaways (five) and sacks (seven).

That’s why McCarthy seemed comfortable with the situation, and that’s why you heard linebacker Clay Matthews say: "I don’t think we’re concerned." Cornerback Charles Woodson told reporters that the Packers "definitely have a lot of things to clean up," but expressed full confidence that they would.

The Packers are now down two starters from their Super Bowl team, having lost defensive end Cullen Jenkins via free agency and safety Nick Collins to a neck injury. Jenkins’ expected replacement, Mike Neal, had knee surgery earlier this month and will miss a significant amount of the season. Cornerback Tramon Williams, meanwhile, is rehabilitating a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Panthers game.

But those developments, along with the on-field performance in Weeks 1 and 2, are causing only a mild reaction among the football people I trust. Matt Williams of Scouts Inc. cited mitigating factors in both cases.

"It’s been a little worrisome," Williamson said. "Tramon Williams being out was a huge part of it this past week, though. … I didn't worry too much against the Saints. Brees will do that to everyone. This past weekend opened my eyes a little, but I’m not yet officially concerned."

Williamson did question whether second-year cornerback Sam Shields, who excelled as a nickelback last season, would be ready to handle a larger role if Williams’ injury lingers. And he also brought up an important point: After Jenkins’ departure, do the Packers have enough pass-rushers to complement Matthews?

I’m sure the Packers are hoping that defensive lineman B.J. Raji will pick up much of Jenkins’ slack, and linebacker Erik Walden has proved an aggressive pass-rusher off the edge. Raji and Walden each have a sack this season, but obviously the sample size is small.

In reality, you can point to three series of plays that ensured the Packers’ 2-0 record:

1. [+] Enlarge
   AP Photo/Mike RoemerThe Packers stuffed Mark Ingram at the goal line to preserve their victory in Week 1.
   Stopping Saints running back Mark Ingram at the goal line on the final play of Week 1.
2. Limiting the Panthers to a field goal after they had first-and-10 at the 11-yard line on their second possession Sunday.
3. Again holding the Panthers to a field goal after facing first-and-goal at the 8-yard line in the fourth quarter.

Had the Saints or Panthers scored a touchdown on any of those possessions, the Packers could have at least faced an overtime situation. You don’t want to play with such a thin margin of error, but everything that has happened is "correctable" McCarthy said, and "are things we can adjust to."

An unofficial poll via Twitter this week suggested you are nervous but nowhere near panic. @Jacobklossner noted the Packers are "finding ways to win" but wondered: "How long does that last?" @Elvin1983 is "mildly alarmed with the secondary" and thinks the red zone defense has been called on "too often."

What exactly has happened? I don’t think it can be traced to one or two factors. But I do think the Panthers’ opening drive Sunday was a nice illustration of where the Packers have been vulnerable at least to this point.

In completing six of seven passes, Newton capitalized on two personnel advantages. First, the Panthers' abundance of tight ends forced Matthews to drop into coverage twice and sit on the line of scrimmage on a third play. Matthews hit Newton after one throw, but Newton smartly threw to the area Matthews vacated for an 18-yard play to tight end Jeremy Shockey. And on a screen pass to running back Jonathan Stewart, Matthews slipped at the snap. He got up in time to chase down Stewart from behind, but not before a 19-yard gain.

Second, the Panthers had a rare strength advantage against cornerback Charles Woodson. Veteran receiver Steve Smith escaped contact on two occasions to get open for passes of 15 and 12 yards. I guess it’s possible that Woodson’s coverage skills have slipped, but generally speaking, I don’t think there are many NFL receivers who are strong enough to escape Woodson the way Smith did.

That said, I think it’s worth tracking Williamson’s point about the Packers’ pass rush. Matthews obviously can’t do it all on his own. But given what we know about their defensive personnel and coaching staff, it’s reasonable to believe the Packers will level themselves out. You might consider that unjustified cover for a group in crisis, but I consider it a deserved benefit of the doubt.

Here's something few of us would have considered when the week began: Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams (shoulder) could return to the field sooner than defensive end Mike Neal (knee). That was the upshot, however, of Packers coach Mike McCarthy's injury update Wednesday.

Williams bruised his right shoulder last Thursday against the New Orleans Saints but "has a chance" to play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, McCarthy said. But Neal, who originally sprained his left knee in practice Aug. 16, had surgery Tuesday and will miss "a significant number of weeks," according to McCarthy.

It's not certain that Williams will return this week, and Neal's injury at this point does not appear season-ending. But it seems reasonable to assume Williams' absence will be brief, if any. Neal's won't be.

The Packers had penciled Neal in as a starter and he was a big reason why they allowed veteran Cullen Jenkins to depart via free agency. But Neal has struggled with a number of injuries during his two-year career, and it's hard to know what level of contribution he'll make this season.

Williams, meanwhile, didn't practice Wednesday and might not participate Thursday. But McCarthy said he has "made a lot of progress" since walking gingerly off the field last Thursday and added: "Being on a 10-day work week from the Saints game to the Carolina game, I think he definitely has a chance. Tramon is a veteran player for us and he does a great job with preparation so we'll give him every chance to make the game."

If Williams can't play, Sam Shields likely will start in his place. The Packers announced Jarius Wynn as Neal's replacement against the Saints, but in reality they opened the game in a nickel package that featured only two defensive linemen: Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji.

They are the Super Bowl champions. Nearly every starter has returned. There has been no training camp drama to speak of. So what is getting the Green Bay Packers excited these days? For one thing, a part-time defensive alignment that moves one of their top players a few feet to his right or left, depending on the offensive look.

As Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first detailed a few weeks ago, the Packers have adjusted their "eagle" defensive package to feature B.J. Raji in the most prominent playmaking position, the one previously held by now-departed Cullen Jenkins. In the formation, Raji lines up over the guard on the weak side, similar to the "three-technique" position he played at Boston College and the same held by NFC North playmakers Ndamukong Suh and Kevin Williams in their teams' 4-3 scheme.

Ryan Pickett serves as the nose tackle in the eagle formation, and the Packers' other defensive end -- Mike Neal, C.J. Wilson or perhaps Jarius Wynn -- line up over the strong-side tackle.

The Packers' idea is to give them a look that maximizes Raji's quickness and playmaking ability. But before you get too crazy excited about it, keep in mind that the Packers have most recently spent the majority of their time in the nickel scheme that includes only two defensive linemen. Last year, according to ESPN Stats & Information, the Packers had five defensive backs on the field nearly 75 percent of their plays.

Also, keep in mind that the Packers they are still running their 3-4 alignment out of the traditional "okie" alignment as well, with both ends over the tackle and Raji at nose tackle. So based on last year's numbers, at least, we're talking about a change that could impact up to 125 plays over 16 games, or eight per game.

It's worth noting, however, that the Packers spent significantly more time in the 3-4 during Saturday's preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. In re-watching the first three series alone, I counted 14 instances. On eight of them, Pickett was lined up at nose tackle. Raji lined up there on the rest of those plays.

I'm all for doing whatever it takes to get Raji into the backfield as often as possible. If that means shading him over the guard rather than head-up on the center, that's fine with me.

The Cardinals' typically vanilla preseason game plan gave defensive coordinator Dom Capers plenty of opportunities to experiment with his base defense. For me, it will get really interesting if opposing offenses find ways to get the Packers out of the nickel scheme that Capers clearly favors for play-making purposes. If they can, the new eagle package will impact a lot more than eight plays per game.