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Cleaning out my notebook with the 2011 NFL draft in the books:

The Chicago Bears love their safeties. Cal's Chris Conte is the ninth they've drafted since general manager Jerry Angelo took over in 2002.

(Extra credit if you can name all nine. They're at the bottom of this post.)

The Bears have given most of the players on that list a chance to start, and there's no reason to think they have a different plan for Conte. The Bears are targeting 2010 third-rounder Major Wright as a starting safety, and it's only fair to note that his presumed 2011 partner -- veteran Chris Harris -- is entering the final year of his contract. Is Conte the long-term replacement for Harris?

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said the Bears "spent a lot of time" scouting Conte and noted that his conversion from cornerback means he has some cover skills. Bears defensive backs coach Jon Hoke received a strong recommendation from Cal defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast, and Angelo said it's "very, very hard to find free safeties." Call me crazy, but I'm thinking we'll see Conte on the field sooner rather than later.

It was nice to see Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders announce the Detroit Lions' choice of Boise State receiver Titus Young in the second round. Sanders hasn't taken much of a public profile in recent years, so it was interesting to follow his draft thoughts via Twitter (@BarrySanders). I noticed this tweet in particular:

"Very impressed with what the team has done over the past few drafts.... I might even stop by training camp to see the guys this year..."

The Lions have a distinguished history that predates that disastrous Matt Millen era that many modern-day fans associate them with. The endorsement of one of their best-ever players shouldn't be taken lightly.

Only a few minutes after drafting Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure, Lions coach Jim Schwartz was already facing the question: How will he dole out playing time between Leshoure and incumbent Jahvid Best?

Schwartz said he won't use a "Randy Ratio," the Minnesota Vikings' ill-fated attempt to ration throws to receiver Randy Moss in 2002. (Current Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan was in the same position with the Vikings at the time.) Schwartz said there was "definitely a possibility" of using both in the same backfield, but made clear that the approach could "change from week to week."

Schwartz: "It might change due to injuries and player availability. It might change based on opponent. I think there's a lot of different things that happen in our division. We see a 4-3 team like the Chicago Bears. We see a 3-4 team like the Green Bay Packers. That's a different style of running back. [You] play 3-4 teams that are two-gapping, that are holding on -- you need a big back who can run through some arm tackles. You want to get guys matched up on different teams, you need guys who can match up and beat linebackers and people that want to play man and trick coverage up for a certain player."

A few years ago, we celebrated when the Bears drafted the "pool guy." Defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert had made waves during the pre-draft process by jumping out of a pool and posting the video on YouTube. Unfortunately, Gilbert couldn't play and was waived last summer.

The Green Bay Packers drafted their own pool guy, Arizona defensive end/linebacker Ricky Elmore, but there is reason to believe he has a better future than Gilbert.

True, Elmore has posted videos of him both jumping out of a pool and into a truck on YouTube. But it's also worth noting that Elmore actually had more production last season than his more-famous teammate, defensive end/linebacker Brooks Reed.

Elmore finished last season with 11 sacks and a total of 13 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Reed had six sacks and 10 tackles behind the line. At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, I'm eager to see if Elmore's athleticism and college production can translate in the Packers' 3-4 scheme.

Vikings rookie quarterback Christian Ponder is expected to be the starter sooner than later, if not immediately. Assuming that's the case, it's quite possible the Vikings will look for other ways to get Joe Webb onto the field -- possibly in a way that reflects the New York Jets' use of Brad Smith. In either event, it's likely the Vikings will need a veteran backup.

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave endorsed that suggestion, saying over the weekend that it "balances out a position." There continue to be reports, most recently from NFL.com, that the Vikings' most likely target is Washington's Donovan McNabb. If Ponder is going to take over at some point in 2011, that wouldn't make much sense to me.

But what do I know?

The Vikings might be the only NFC North team looking to add to its quarterback depth chart. Angelo strongly indicated that rookie Nathan Enderle will be the Bears' No. 3 quarterback behind Jay Cutler and Caleb Hanie. The Packers seem set with Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn and Graham Harrell. And Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has said he plans no changes from the trio of Matthew Stafford, Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton.

South Florida safety Mistral Raymond, drafted by the Vikings with the No. 170 overall pick, has endured an incredible three years. As Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune explains, a group vowing retaliation for a shooting mis-identified Raymond's childhood home in Florida and burned it down using Molotov cocktails. No family members were killed, but one of Raymond's sisters was shot four times and airlifted to a trauma center for emergency surgery.

Then, last month, another sister was murdered. Raymond said over the weekend that he hoped his selection in the draft provided a joyful outlet for his family.

"Just having my family here with me, having them see my name come across the screen and seeing the excitement that it brought them, I think it was a relief for all of us," he said. "It helped me realize what type of position that the Lord has put me in. He has blessed me to be an outlet for my family. For them to have excitement no matter what at any given time of the day. It's just a great feeling for me personally, and I'm very grateful to be in the position I'm in."

And finally, your trivia answer: Bobby Gray (2002), Todd Johnson (2003), Chris Harris (2005), Danieal Manning (2006), Kevin Payne (2007), Craig Steltz (2008), Al Afalava (2009), Major Wright (2010), Chris Conte (2011).

Some NFC North teams will continue tweaking their rosters over the next 24 hours, but for the most part, what you see is what you're going to get for Week 1 games. In that vein, let's take a look at some random but interesting (to me) trends we're seeing. Some of the observations are mine, and I've given credit to those who came up with the others:

1. Of the 53 players on the Bears' roster, only 23 of them were drafted by the team over the past seven years. Seven drafts should form the foundation of any team, but for the Bears it represents only 43 percent of the roster. (Source: Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
2. The Bears did bring back 2009 draft pick Juaquin Iglesias to the practice squad. The same could not be said for defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert.
3. The Green Bay Packers have more fullbacks (three) than tailbacks (two) on their roster. I can only assume that John Kuhn, Korey Hall and Quinn Johnson will participate heavily in special teams. The Packers had hoped to bring back Kregg Lumpkin on their practice squad to serve as a quasi-No. 3 runner, but Lumpkin was claimed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Andrew Weber/US PresswireSafety Louis Delmas is the only Lions defensive back who was on the roster last season.
4. By reaching an injury settlement with Will Blackmon and releasing Jason Chery, the Packers left themselves with no obvious kick returners. If that's their biggest problem, I'm not too worried about it. But in the short term, it looks like Jordy Nelson or possibly Brandon Jackson could fill the role. *Update: Coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that Tramon Williams and Greg Jennings are options at punt returner.
5. The Detroit Lions have turned over their entire secondary with the exception of safety Louis Delmas. Every other defensive back is new to the team this year. (Source: Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.)
6. To put a bow on a couple of trades: The Minnesota Vikings received a 2011 fifth-round pick and a conditional 2012 seventh-round draft pick from the New York Giants in return for quarterback Sage Rosenfels and kick returner Darius Reynaud. Meanwhile, the Lions and Denver Broncos exchanged undisclosed draft 2011 picks to complete the Alphonso Smith-Dan Gronkowski trade.
7. In announcing their waiver claim of former Green Bay tight end/linebacker Spencer Havner, the Lions listed him as a linebacker. That makes perfect sense considering the Lions' strong depth at tight end and thin situation at linebacker.
8. The Lions currently have five players listed as cornerbacks on their roster: Smith, Chris Houston, Jonathan Wade, Aaron Berry and Amari Spievey. But Spievey has been working at safety the past few weeks, and Berry is a rookie who missed much of training camp because of a hamstring pull. Your guess is as good as mine right now about who will fill the nickel and dime roles.
9. The Vikings are in a similar situation. They have three cornerbacks on their active roster, and even if they bring someone in over the next day or so, it's hard to imagine him participating Thursday night at New Orleans. You figure Antoine Winfield, Lito Sheppard and Asher Allen will make up the nickel package. But who will the Vikings play if they need a sixth defensive back? At this point, it will have to be one of their backup safeties.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Happy Labor Day to you and yours. Hopefully you'll be able to enjoy it with as little labor as possible.

Speaking of working -- I specialize in brutal transitions -- ESPNChicago.com's Jon Greenberg has worked awfully hard to offer a positive spin on the Chicago Bears' winless preseason. Greenberg wonders if an 0-4 record in "fake games" should change expectations for any team, but adds:

Fans, from what I can tell, are less optimistic. They are ready for an uprising. Bill Cowher could lead a coup of Coogi sweater-wearing, mustache-grooming clones to Halas Hall, if he chose.

Fans aren't owed 10 wins and a playoff berth. It doesn't come with those three-figure ticket prices and your cable bill.

But a return to optimism would be nice, wouldn't it?

Call me crazy, I think this team can win nine games and challenge for a playoff berth. But I won't lose a bet if they win six.

That's the beauty of Week 1. No matter what has happened to this point, hope springs once again.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune offers "the story behind the story" of 2009 third-round draft picks Jarron Gilbert and Juaquin Iglesias.
• Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald predicts an 8-8 record for the Bears this season.
• Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press profiles Bears receiver Johnny Knox.
• The Detroit Lions remain unsettled at linebacker and in the secondary, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Waiver claim Stefan Logan will return punts for the Lions, according to Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com, and perhaps kickoffs as well.
• At this point, the average age of the Green Bay Packers' roster is 25.89, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "It certainly says a lot about Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and his scouting department that five of the players they released Saturday were claimed by other teams. It also says something else as the Packers enter a season with heavy Super Bowl expectations: Thompson and Co. better be right about the roster decisions they made. In the case of each player who was claimed, Thompson decided to keep a player who is green as grass but arguably has more potential."
• It appears the Packers will go into the season with the sure-handed but moderately explosive Jordy Nelson as their primary kickoff and punt returner, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Mark Craig of the Star Tribune: "The Vikings' best bet to keep the Saints from knocking Brett Favre into an early third retirement might be to run the ball as well as they did against them in the NFC Championship Game eight months ago. Only this time don't fumble it six times."
• New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is fully expecting Vikings players to take their shots at him Thursday night, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• It's not clear if the Vikings will have center John Sullivan for Thursday night's game, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.

Check here for a full list of Chicago's roster moves.

Biggest surprise: There were no earth-shattering moments Saturday for the Bears. But it was sobering to see them give up on three members of their 2009 draft class, including defensive end Jarron Gilbert, receiver Juaquin Iglesias and safety Al Afalava. Defensive lineman Henry Melton squeezed onto the roster, and the class did produce two 2010 starters: Receiver Johnny Knox and right guard Lance Louis. Meanwhile, guard Josh Beekman was put out of his misery. The Bears have been trying to replace Beekman for two years and finally released him. Finally, the Bears kept four tailbacks -- Matt Forte, Chester Taylor, Kahlil Bell and Garrett Wolfe. Forte and Taylor are expected to get all of the offensive snaps, but Bell and Wolfe have special teams value.

No-brainers: There was plenty of excitement when the Bears drafted quarterback Dan LeFevour, an Illinois native, but it was apparent early in training camp that he wasn't destined to make the roster. The Bears devoted all of their offensive reps to starter Jay Cutler and then-backup Caleb Hanie. Todd Collins has taken over at No. 2 because of Hanie's shoulder injury, and there was no way the Bears were going to release Hanie and keep LeFevour. You wonder if he won't end up back on their practice squad.

What's next: The Bears are going to have to get their special teams re-situated after releasing Tim Shaw, who led the team with 30 special teams tackles last year. It appears Shaw was released to make room for linebacker Brian Iwuh, who the team believes is more suited for its defensive scheme.

We're planning posts on each NFC North team's cuts once they are official. Announcements could come at any point Saturday afternoon or evening, but for now let's round up some of the bigger names who are already reported to be on the way off their respective rosters.

• The Chicago Bears are planning to waive a good chunk of their 2009 draft, including defensive end Jarron Gilbert and receiver Juaquin Iglesias. They will also waive former starting left guard Josh Beekman. (Sources: ESPNChicago.com and Chicago Tribune.)
• The Detroit Lions will waive offensive lineman Jon Jansen, the loser of the right tackle competition with Gosder Cherilus. Other cuts include linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, who spent most of the summer as the No. 1 middle linebacker, and safety Ko Simpson. (Sources: Mlive.com and Detroit News.)
• The Green Bay Packers reached an injury settlement with offensive lineman Allen Barbre and also released safety/kick returner Will Blackmon. They might also trade tight end/linebacker Spencer Havner. (Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.)
• The Minnesota Vikings will waive two cornerbacks, DeAndre Wright and Marcus Sherels. That leaves them with three healthy cornerbacks on their roster, an indication they will make a trade or waiver claim at the position this weekend. (Source: Star Tribune and ESPN1500.com.)

Earlier Thursday, we looked at four established NFC North players who reside on the proverbial roster bubble. Now, let's take a broader look at some key questions our teams face in determining the final composition of their rosters.

Will the Bears wipe out a good bit of their 2009 draft? Defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert, receiver Juaquin Iglesias and defensive lineman Henry Melton were the Bears' top three picks of that draft. They've all been invisible this summer and certainly haven't done anything to earn roster spots. Whether one is reserved for them is another question.

Can the Bears find room for special-teams stud Tim Shaw? He had 30 tackles on special teams last season but isn't much of a factor on defense. But he would qualify as a specialist, and there isn't always room for one on a 53-man roster. Do the Bears feel comfortable using him at linebacker, especially considering preseason injuries to Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Nick Roach? Uncertain.

How many running backs will the Detroit Lions keep? We know that Jahvid Best is the starter, and veteran Kevin Smith would be the likely No. 2 if he were completely healthy. But does Smith's offseason knee surgery make the Lions nervous? And if so, do they keep five backs behind Best -- Smith, Maurice Morris, Aaron Brown, DeDe Dorsey and fullback Jerome Felton -- or does one get released?

If they keep an extra back, could the Lions take a roster spot from the quarterback position? That's not out of the question. The Lions have established Shaun Hill as the long-term backup to starter Matthew Stafford. So is there any reason to keep Drew Stanton on the roster?

Will the Green Bay Packers keep five tight ends? We mentioned the possibility of veteran Donald Lee meeting the end of the line. It's also possible that Tom Crabtree could be sneaked onto the practice squad. But you could make an argument that all five tight ends are among the Packers' top 53 players. General manager Ted Thompson has made odd numerical choices before; last year he kept three fullbacks for what is mostly a one-back offense.

Will both players who entered 2009 competing for the right tackle job be cut? It's very possible that Allen Barbre and Breno Giacomini have played their way off the team. This year's backup tackles are more likely to be Bryan Bulaga and T.J. Lang.

How will the Minnesota Vikings establish more depth at cornerback? Right now, their starters are Antoine Winfield and either Lito Sheppard or Asher Allen. The nonstarter in that group is the likely nickelback, but beyond him the Vikings have no viable candidates for depth. A waiver claim or trade would seem a near-certainty.

How many receivers can the Vikings keep? Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin are locks. You would think Greg Lewis makes the team, along with Greg Camarillo. Will Javon Walker make the Week 1 roster as a No. 5 receiver? Or would the Vikings be wary of guaranteeing his 2010 salary? Signing him back as early as Week 2 would allow them to pay him on a weekly basis.

Earlier: Final-week position battles and players on the bubble.

As the preseason draws to a close, it's time to start updating some of our offseason threads. Let's begin with a Feb. 22 post that suggested four players whose potential development could ease depth concerns at their respective positions. As it turned out, we did a better job of identifying need positions than we did in suggesting candidates to fill them. Better luck next year, I guess.

Chicago Bears defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert


What we said then: The road couldn't be paved any more clearly for Gilbert, the Bears' top pick of the 2009 draft. Left end Adewale Ogunleye is a pending free agent and is expected to move on. Ogunleye's likely replacement, Gaines Adams, died last month. That left Gilbert and Henry Melton as the remaining internal candidates to start at left end. Good outside pass-rushers almost never become available on the free-agent market, and without a pick in the first or second round this season, it will be difficult for the Bears to draft one capable of making an immediate impact. To this point, Gilbert's greatest claim to fame is being the draft prospect who jumped out of a pool. He spent most of 2009 in an unofficial redshirt year under defensive line guru Rod Marinelli, so it's hard to know if Gilbert is capable of holding down a starting job in 2010. It's not even clear if the Bears consider him an end or a tackle. But if it's the former, Gilbert will get every opportunity to help the Bears out of this jam.


What's happened since: This year, a good outside pass rusher actually did become available via free agency, and the Bears pounced on Julius Peppers. Gilbert, meanwhile, has been nearly invisible in preseason games and could be waived this weekend.

Detroit Lions running back Aaron Brown


What we said then: Starting tailback Kevin Smith is rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while also trying to overcome two shoulder injuries that slowed him in 2009. Backup Maurice Morris is also under contract, but Morris doesn't have the kind of big-play abilities Brown displayed last season. The Lions were exasperated at times with Brown's mental errors, but perhaps an offseason of studying can help him move past those issues. He might not be an ideal every-down back, but Brown could add an explosive element to the Lions' offense if they trust him enough to put him on the field. His development could ease some of the urgency to add further depth behind Smith and Morris.


What's happened since: The Lions traded up to select Jahvid Best with the No. 30 overall pick in the draft. Best will fill the playmaker role we suggested for Brown. Can't argue with that one. But Brown has shown enough this summer to earn a spot on the Lions' roster.

Green Bay Packers defensive back Will Blackmon


What we said then: Because the Packers haven't revealed their tender offers for restricted free agents, we can't say with certainty that Blackmon will return to the Packers in 2010. But based on the typical timetable for ACL rehabilitation, Blackmon should be cleared for the start of training camp. And if he's healthy and ready, Blackmon would add experienced depth to a position ravaged by injuries at the end of last season. With Al Harris rehabilitating a similar injury on a later timetable, the Packers might have to open camp with nickelback Tramon Williams as a starter. It's always possible that a rookie could help at nickelback, but all things equal, the Packers would probably be more comfortable with veteran experience at the position. Jarrett Bush struggled in that role during some games last season, opening up an opportunity for Blackmon if he's up to it.

What's happened since: The Packers moved Blackmon to safety late in spring practice and instead gave Brandon Underwood, Pat Lee and rookie Sam Shields the opportunity we envisioned for Blackmon. It was probably a wise move; he continues to be bothered by knee soreness. It's not clear if he will make the team.

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Asher Allen


What we said then: The Vikings need Allen to become a full-time player, if not a starter, to avoid facing a sudden shortage at cornerback. Starter Cedric Griffin's status is uncertain after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the NFC Championship Game; it would be a surprise if Griffin is cleared for the beginning of training camp. The 2009 nickelback, Benny Sapp, is a pending unrestricted free agent and probably earned himself a decent contract after making seven starts in 2009. I'm guessing the Vikings don't want to overpay to bring back Sapp, especially considering Griffin will eventually return and that fellow starter, Antoine Winfield, is signed through 2013. As a rookie, Allen had a strong training camp but was buried on the depth chart when the season began. He's aggressive against the run, a decent tackler and displayed solid instincts when on the field. A natural progression would make him the nickelback in 2010, a role that would allow him to fill in for Griffin. Otherwise, the Vikings will have to shell out more money for Sapp or another free agent.

What's happened since: Injuries, attrition and solid play have put Allen in position to be the Week 1 nickel back. Griffin hasn't started practicing. Sapp was traded to Miami, and while the Vikings made cornerback Chris Cook their top draft pick, he will miss up to four weeks because of knee surgery.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We might be seeing the end of the Jared DeVries era in Detroit. The Lions' longtime defensive end, who was attempting a comeback from a ruptured Achilles tendon at age 34, has had knee surgery and will be sidelined for a period of time.

It's not believed to have been major surgery, but as Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com points out, the Lions might not want to hold open a roster spot for him as they test and attempt to develop younger players. That would be a tough decision, but keep in mind that the Lions' current coaching staff has no real history with DeVries and therefore wouldn't have as much emotion involved.

DeVries, who has been with the Lions since 1999, had a career-high 6.5 sacks and forced three fumbles in 2007.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Detroit Free Press has some lyrics from Lions receiver Nate Burleson's latest freestyle rap: "This is just a promo, wheels fly just like the Red Wings logo."
• John Niyo of the Detroit News explains why Lions safety Louis Delmas and middle linebacker DeAndre Levy are so important to the team.
• Chicago Bears defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert is running out of time to impress coaches, writes Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald.
• Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com considers Gilbert and a few others to be "bubble players."
• Bears safety Major Wright is one focused rookie, writes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin was still having tests done as of Thursday, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune, and it's hard to imagine him playing Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks.
• The Vikings practiced Thursday at the Metrodome to test out the newly installed playing surface there, notes the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• It looks like rookie cornerback Chris Cook will get a chance to start at right cornerback, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Green Bay Packers punter Tim Masthay might have gained an edge Thursday night in his competition with Chris Bryan, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "Frank Zombo and Sam Shields may not have done enough in the Green Bay Packers' 59-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts Thursday night to win the jobs they're competing for -- Zombo for a starting outside linebacker spot, Shields the No. 3 cornerback job in the nickel -- but it sure looks like a safe bet that both undrafted rookie free agent defenders will be making the 53-man roster coming out of training camp."
• Packers coach Mike McCarthy wasn't happy with his team's three fumbles in an otherwise solid preseason performance, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• My AFC South colleague Paul Kuharsky reviews the Packers' 59-24 preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts from the opponent's perspective.

Jmscooby offered a fair critique of Wednesday's Pressure Cooker post, suggesting I had overlooked a more obvious Chicago Bears player -- defensive tackle Tommie Harris -- in favor of defensive end Mark Anderson:

I think you have a poor pulse on the Bears to think Anderson is in the pressure cooker over Tommie. Worst case scenario, Izzy [Idonije] and [Corey] Wootton can cover LDE. Tommie was suspended by the team 1 game (and the year before), ejected early on another, and makes a heck of a lot more than MA. Who would back up Harris? [Marcus] Harrison? [Jarron] Gilbert? [Henry] Melton? What position is more of a priority in Chicago's scheme? Undertackle or LDE? Not to mention [Adewale] Ogunleye is still out there, although I don't want him. Is there a replacement on the street to replace Tommie?

All good points, jmscooby. In putting together the post, a few things came to mind. First, Harris appeared in our 2009 version of the Pressure Cooker. As we all know, he fell far short of those expectations and, in my mind, took himself off the list of potential playmakers for the 2010 season. I just think it's folly to suggest that, after mostly disappearing for two-plus years, Harris will once again become a player the Bears can count on for consistent disruption inside.

The Bears need more pass rush, whether it comes from the defensive tackle or defensive end. This offseason, the Bears bid farewell to defensive ends Alex Brown and Ogunleye. Tossing Anderson into the lineup suggests the Bears consider him an upgrade. They're counting on him in a way that I don't think anyone can reasonably be counting on Harris: To provide consistent pass rush. And I don't have any illusions that Idonije can be a full-time defensive end, or that Wootton is ready for that role.

That's where I'm coming from, at least. Often I'll respond to individual comments in the comment section, but I thought this one deserved a broader discussion.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- I realize we've been a little light on Chicago-related posts this week, so I made sure to start my NFC coaches breakfast at the table of Bears coach Lovie Smith. We spent part of the time trying to pin him down on the positions of a number of new and incumbent players, and I also asked him how he planned to utilize Greg Olsen in a scheme that has usually ignored tight ends.

I'll get to Olsen a bit later. Olsen has already gotten plenty of attention for the uncertainty surrounding his 2010 role, but there are other players and position groups that -- for me, at least -- carry similar questions.

One of the primary areas is at offensive line, where Smith would name only three starters: Left tackle Chris Williams, center Olin Kreutz and right guard Roberto Garza. I left Wednesday's breakfast feeling strongly that Frank Omiyale will be moved to right tackle, while a number of young players will battle for the left guard position.

Officially, Smith said the Bears still have multiple options and that he's going to "let it all play out." But when we asked about Omiyale, he said: "Right now, if he ends up being our right tackle, it's a good thing. But going into it, we're not going to say he is for sure the right tackle."

When pressed, Smith admitted he hasn't told Omiyale his plans and implied he didn't want to speak publicly about it before he does.

You might think this is an awful lot of discussion about a right tackle, but I think everyone who watched the Bears last season knows they'll need significantly better play on their offensive line to make Mike Martz's offense work this season. Omiyale was a disaster at left guard in 2009, and he was a right tackle at Carolina before signing with the Bears.

While I'm pretty confident Omiyale will play right tackle, I think even Smith doesn't know where new defensive end Julius Peppers is going to end up -- right end or left end. Elite pass-rushers typically line up on the right side, capitalizing on a right-handed quarterback's blind side, but Peppers has played more frequently on the left in his career and Smith sounded intrigued by the possibility of playing a match-up game based on weekly opponents.

"We could just lock him in to the left and let him go against the right tackle," Smith said. "And he's had some success there, and that's good. But to answer your question, we're going to let him play both. He's done both, and we'll try to find ways to get him 1-on-1, which is important for us. ... He doesn't really have a preference. I've seen him be dominant from both sides. It's a lot of options that he's given us right now."

Most defensive linemen need more positional certainty, but Peppers has proved he can play both sides at an elite level. The only trick is having someone to play left end if Peppers is on the right side. Current right end Alex Brown hasn't done that in his career, but Smith also made a point about his excitement level for veteran Mark Anderson. He also said the Bears plan to install Israel Idonije as full-time defensive end rather than use him as a swing end/tackle.

"I'd like to see [Idonije] lock in and be more of a defensive end and see exactly how good he can become," Smith said.

As for the reserves among their defensive linemen, Smith said he projects Henry Melton as a defensive end and Jarron Gilbert as a defensive tackle.

More in a bit.

» NFC Recent History: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: Recent history.

Chicago Bears

The Bears have been unable to add fresh blood to their pass rush, striking out on defensive end Dan Bazuin in 2007 and getting nothing so far from defensive end/tackle Jarron Gilbert (2009). That void, along with a lack of first- or second-round picks this year, left the Bears no choice but to pursue free agent Julius Peppers. The Bears have also drafted seven defensive backs over the past three years, and only one of them -- cornerback Zack Bowman -- figures as a lock to contribute in 2010. Those failures have left the Bears still looking to fill perhaps both safety positions this offseason. That's one position where you can find a starter in the later rounds, and it almost assuredly will be a focus for the Bears next month.

Detroit Lions

About the only position the Lions have placed on the backburner is quarterback, thanks to their decision to draft Matthew Stafford last year. Although Stafford hasn't yet proved he is the Lions' long-term answer, the money he received as the No. 1 pick all but guarantees he will be their starter for the next few years at least. Otherwise, well-known recent failures have left the Lions scrambling to fortify nearly every other position. Given the frequency with which they have drafted first-round receivers, they never should have needed to sign free agents Bryant Johnson and Nate Burleson in successive years. The failure of defensive linemen Cliff Avril, Andre Fluellen and Ikaika Alama-Francis to provide impact has necessitated a 2010 overhaul that should continue with a defensive tackle coming with the No. 2 overall pick of the draft.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers' biggest problem is that several years of above-average drafting has left them with a lineup of restricted free agents who have established themselves as starters and are ready for their second contracts. In this draft, the Packers shouldn't need to focus on safety, thanks to incumbents Nick Collins and Atari Bigby. They are in pretty good shape at receiver with former draft choices Jordy Nelson and James Jones backing up Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. Tight end Jermichael Finley's emergence makes his position a secondary priority. Injuries to former second-round pick Pat Lee has made cornerback a priority, and the inability to draft a successor at left tackle forced the Packers to re-sign Chad Clifton last week.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings head into the 2010 draft with quarterback at the top of their need list in part because they haven't been able to develop former second-round pick Tarvaris Jackson into a long-term starter. They also parted ways with second-day draft picks Tyler Thigpen and John David Booty. But beyond that position, however, focused drafting has left the Vikings able to draft the best available player with most of their picks this year. Although he is still developing, former second-round pick Tyrell Johnson is a starter. The same goes for former sixth-round pick John Sullivan at center and former second-round pick Phil Loadholt at right tackle.

For the past month, NFL teams have evaluated and graded every player on their roster. They've determined whom they want to keep and who can leave. Their priority lists are stacked for offseason acquisitions. As they head to the scouting combine this week, they have a clear picture of their perceived strengths and weaknesses.

I'm all about improving a team through the draft, but I've never understood why some fans and media members put more faith in the nebulous form of a future draft pick over a player who has spent a year or more in the team's program. If everyone is doing their jobs well, those players should be in better position to help out than a rookie just out of college.

In that spirit, let's take a look at one player on each NFC North team who -- with reasonable development -- could help alleviate some pressure to acquire upgrades at his position. (Hat tip to Aaron of Kansas City, Mo., for suggesting the idea as part of last week's mailbag request.)

Chicago Bears

Player: Defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert
Status: Entering second year. Turns 24 in September.
2009 performance: One tackle in four games.
2010 hopes: The road couldn't be paved any more clearly for Gilbert, the Bears' top pick of the 2009 draft. Left end Adewale Ogunleye is a pending free agent and is expected to move on. Ogunleye's likely replacement, Gaines Adams, died last month. That left Gilbert and Henry Melton as the remaining internal candidates to start at left end. Good outside pass-rushers almost never become available on the free-agent market, and without a pick in the first or second round this season, it will be difficult for the Bears to draft one capable of making an immediate impact. To this point, Gilbert's greatest claim to fame is being the draft prospect who jumped out of a pool. He spent most of 2009 in an unofficial redshirt year under defensive line guru Rod Marinelli, so it's hard to know if Gilbert is capable of holding down a starting job in 2010. It's not even clear if the Bears consider him an end or a tackle. But if it's the former, Gilbert will get every opportunity to help the Bears out of this jam.

Detroit Lions

Player: Running back Aaron Brown
Status: Entering second year. Turns 25 in October.
2009 performance: A total of 1,166 all-purpose yards, mostly via kickoff returns.
2010 hopes: Starting tailback Kevin Smith is rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while also trying to overcome two shoulder injuries that slowed him in 2009. Backup Maurice Morris is also under contract, but Morris doesn't have the kind of big-play abilities Brown displayed last season. The Lions were exasperated at times with Brown's mental errors, but perhaps an offseason of studying can help him move past those issues. He might not be an ideal every-down back, but Brown could add an explosive element to the Lions' offense if they trust him enough to put him on the field. His development could ease some of the urgency to add further depth behind Smith and Morris.

Green Bay Packers

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Jeff Hanisch/US PresswireWill Blackmon is a veteran in the Green Bay secondary.

Player: Defensive back Will Blackmon
Status: Entering fifth year. Restricted free agent. Turns 26 in October.
2009 performance: Played three games before tearing anterior cruciate ligament in left knee Oct. 5 at Minnesota.
2010 hopes: Because the Packers haven't revealed their tender offers for restricted free agents, we can't say with certainty that Blackmon will return to the Packers in 2010. But based on the typical timetable for ACL rehabilitation, Blackmon should be cleared for the start of training camp. And if he's healthy and ready, Blackmon would add experienced depth to a position ravaged by injuries at the end of last season. With Al Harris rehabilitating a similar injury on a later timetable, the Packers might have to open camp with nickelback Tramon Williams as a starter. It's always possible that a rookie could help at nickelback, but all things equal, the Packers would probably be more comfortable with veteran experience at the position. Jarrett Bush struggled in that role during some games last season, opening up an opportunity for Blackmon if he's up to it.

Minnesota Vikings

Player: Cornerback Asher Allen
Status: Entering second year. Turned 22 in January.
2009 performance: 27 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble in 10 games.
2010 hopes: The Vikings need Allen to become a full-time player, if not a starter, to avoid facing a sudden shortage at cornerback. Starter Cedric Griffin's status is uncertain after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the NFC Championship Game; it would be a surprise if Griffin is cleared for the beginning of training camp. The 2009 nickelback, Benny Sapp, is a pending unrestricted free agent and probably earned himself a decent contract after making seven starts in 2009. I'm guessing the Vikings don't want to overpay to bring back Sapp, especially considering Griffin will eventually return and that fellow starter, Antoine Winfield, is signed through 2013. As a rookie, Allen had a strong training camp but was buried on the depth chart when the season began. He's aggressive against the run, a decent tackler and displayed solid instincts when on the field. A natural progression would make him the nickelback in 2010, a role that would allow him to fill in for Griffin. Otherwise, the Vikings will have to shell out more money for Sapp or another free agent.

A quick glance at Chicago’s defensive depth chart reveals why general manager Jerry Angelo was so eager to acquire defensive end Gaines Adams last fall.

After absorbing the shock of Adams’ death Sunday morning, the Bears are left with a thin group of incumbents to craft a starting lineup for 2010. Below are the five players on their roster as of Monday. And that list includes 2009 third-round draft pick Jarron Gilbert, who practiced mostly at tackle during the season.


As you can see, Adams would have had every opportunity to compete for a starting job next season. Veteran Alex Brown, who turns 31 this year, is a likely starter on one side. But Adewale Ogunleye will be 33 and is a pending free agent. Mark Anderson will either be a restricted or unrestricted free agent, depending on whether the NFL moves to an uncapped system.

Without a first- or second-round pick in the 2010 draft, the Bears will have limited options to add talent to one of the most difficult positions to develop in the NFL. As Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes, the Bears have little choice but to count on Gilbert and/or Henry Melton as significant contributors next season.

I appreciated your seemingly genuine interest in this week’s Have at It topic and found your responses laced with thought.

When we asked which NFC North franchise is closer to the playoffs, Chicago or Detroit, a few of you felt compelled to inject the standard cheap shot/dose of realism. Larry1811D put fair words to that sentiment: “You need to take into consideration that Detroit's organization just doesn't know how to produce a winner. They've only had fleeting successes in their entire history. That puts the odds in the Bears' favor ... as much as I hate to say it.”

Similarly, adambballn suggested that the Bears “seem to have a cycle where they're bad for a couple years then get things going again.” On the other hand, wrote adambballn, “The Lions just lose. They excel at losing.”

But when you actually sat down and compared the tangible situations, many of you believe the Lions leading this race because they’ve already taken the first step in a rebuilding process both franchises appear to need. The Lions have their coach in place, wrote jrick45, while the Bears seem destined for future change. Coach Jim Schwartz is “the man for the job,” jrick45 wrote, meaning the Lions “already have their coaching staff set … whereas Chicago will have to start that process and implement a new system all over again.”

Even with the Lions’ present and future coach in place, a change in Chicago could accelerate the Bears’ fortunes because they have a shorter path back to the playoffs. Wrote smartaleck99: “A coaching change in Chicago would go a LONG way to making their shot at the playoffs better. Would [Mike Shanahan] or [Bill Cowher] make them better? I would think certainly.”

From a personnel standpoint, many of you agreed that both teams have work to do on both lines. But from the big picture, wrote machinemankse: “It's safe to say youthful talent contributes greatly to the future of any team. That said, the Lions have more of it than the Bears and will only accumulate more in the 2010 draft.”

The Bears, wrote CASPIANMAFIA, have been falling for a while and haven’t finished: “It seems that this trend in Chicago has been building for some time. I blame Jerry Angelo more than anyone else. The trading of all these picks seem to me like a last grasp to try and hold on.”

My take? I can’t disagree that the Bears could take a further (albeit temporary) step back if they change coaches this offseason. I’m assuming that if they decide to pay coach Lovie Smith $11 million to leave, they’re not going to pay Shanahan or Cowher another $8 million to $10 million annually to replace him. So the Bears’ next coach is more likely to be a lesser-known candidate whose success will be more difficult to predict.

And it’s true that the Lions have some interesting offensive parts, including one -- a legitimate No. 1 receiver -- that the Bears do not. But I’m always more interested in the state of a team’s offensive and defensive lines. And to that end, I think the Bears are a bit ahead.

The biggest advantage the Bears have is they appear to have their left tackle of the future already on the field in Chris Williams. The Lions do not. Detroit also doesn’t have one defensive lineman I would consider a future pass rusher. The Bears have at least given themselves some intriguing options with Gaines Adams and Jarron Gilbert.

The point of this post remains valid: There isn’t much disparity between the franchises. But if I had to answer the question I posed, I would say the Bears. Take that for what it’s worth, of course. I’m the guy who, at midseason, thought the Bears had a better chance to make the playoffs than Green Bay.

» NFC Draft Rewind: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

» Draft class lists: Chicago | Detroit | Green Bay | Minnesota

Examining the draft classes of each division team:

Chicago Bears

Hit: Receiver Johnny Knox (No. 5a) ranks fourth among NFL rookies in catches (45), eighth in yards (527) and fourth in touchdowns (5). That is premium production for any fifth-round pick, especially a near-complete unknown out of Abilene Christian. Knox also has averaged 28.9 yards per kickoff return, including a 102-yard touchdown.

Miss: Rookie receivers don’t always contribute immediately, but it’s a major disappointment that Juaquin Iglesias (No. 3b) hasn’t so much as appeared in a game for a team that sorely lacks receiver depth. Iglesias fell behind Knox and Devin Aromashodu during spring drills and hasn’t been in uniform for a game this season.

Needs patience: Defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert (No. 3a) is a tremendous athlete who has spent the season learning the pro game from line guru Rod Marinelli. Stuck behind Tommie Harris and Israel Idonije on the depth chart, Gilbert has played in only two games. But he has high athletic upside.

Detroit Lions

Co-hits: Safety Louis Delmas (No. 2) and linebacker DeAndre Levy (No. 3a) have demonstrated athleticism, powerful hitting and playmaking ability. Both should be fixtures in future starting lineups.

As advertised: Quarterback Matthew Stafford (No. 1) has a powerful arm and excellent football instincts. Questions about his accuracy (53.3 percent) haven’t dissipated, but his competitive zeal and willingness to play in pain have solidified him as a cornerstone of the franchise.

Needs patience: Running back Aaron Brown (No. 6) is a bona fide playmaker when he has the ball in the open field. The Lions have been hesitant to expand his role because of repeated mental mistakes, but they hope Brown will minimize those as he develops.

Green Bay Packers

Hit: Linebacker Clay Matthews (No. 1b) opened the season as a backup, but has put on a late run for defensive rookie of the year honors. He has 10 sacks in 11 starts, making good on general manager Ted Thompson’s decision to trade back into the first round to draft him.

Sleeper: Linebacker Brad Jones (No. 7) was the 218th player selected in the draft and slated for a deep reserve role, at best. But since taking over for the injured Aaron Kampman, Jones has more than held his own with three sacks.

Patience: The Packers haven’t gotten the kind of big plays they hoped for from defensive lineman B.J. Raji (No. 1a), who has spent the season adjusting to the 3-4 scheme while nursing an ankle injury. But he’s shown enough flashes to indicate he could be a dominant force on the line.

Minnesota Vikings

Hit: For most of the season, receiver Percy Harvin (No. 1) has been a leading rookie of the year candidate. His open-field running has added a new dimension to the Vikings’ offense, and he’s also been the NFL’s most dangerous kickoff returner. Only migraine headaches have slowed him down.

As advertised: The Vikings had a need for a right tackle and waited patiently until Phil Loadholt (No. 2) fell to them at No. 54 overall. They had every intention of inserting him immediately into the starting lineup, and Loadholt has been a fixture from the first day of minicamp.

Needs patience: Cornerback Asher Allen (No. 3) displayed aggressive instincts during the preseason and in his relatively few appearances in the regular season. He’s spent the season as the Vikings’ No. 5 cornerback but projects as a regular contributor in the future.