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ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions wasted no time Wednesday throwing their newly prized prospect into the mix. Rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh arrived at the team's facility at 1:40 p.m. ET, passed a significant conditioning test -- more on that in a bit -- and immediately jumped in with the first team defense when practice began a few minutes later.

Some teams at least play out the charade of requiring a high draft pick to "earn" his way up the depth chart. But in this instance, there was no reason to mess around and little time to waste. As we noted earlier Wednesday, Suh is a centerpiece of the most important position group on the team this season. Suh-a-palooza has begun.

"I was running with the ones during [spring practices]," Suh said, "so I kind of came in here expecting it. I was at home with the plays and trying to remember everything. I knew if I was running with the ones, I wanted to be prepared."

During a meeting with reporters, Suh projected the same confident and mature image he carried throughout the draft process. Although his absence ended after a relatively modest five days, he admitted to having heard complaints from Lions fans who had no tolerance for a holdout of any length. It got pretty nasty on Twitter, and Suh said: "It was a tough time."

He added: "Obviously I wanted to be in camp on time, and that's what I said. I wanted to be in camp on time and unfortunately I wasn't. I apologize for that, but as we all know, it's a business. ... You have to look past those things. Obviously I know the fans were excited and wanted me to be in camp. I don't fault them for that. It's unfortunate some things were said, but I'm not going to hold a grudge on it. It is what it was."

None of his teammates appeared to hold grudges either. Some wandered onto the practice field early to cheer him during the conditioning test, which consisted of two sets of 300-yard shuttle runs. The first had to be completed within 65 seconds, and the second by 67 seconds. "No problem," Suh said.

Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch pulled him aside to offer some private words of encouragement, and Suh then made it through a nearly two-hour practice in 90-degree heat. (Your blogger made sure to find some shade.) Suh said he weighed in at 305 pounds, but joked that he probably dropped five during the practice. While I wish I could give you some kind of detailed analysis of his practice performance, the reality is players were in shorts and shells. The best thing that can be said is that Suh is in camp, in shape and had enough retention to jump into the first-team defense right away. All's well that ends well.

Let's get to some final camp observations and notes before I head off to Green Bay, the third stop of our training camp tour. Remember, my formal Lions Camp Confidential will post Saturday.

• Tight end Brandon Pettigrew had an active morning practice, catching two really nice downfield passes from quarterback Matthew Stafford. Pettigrew sat out the afternoon practice, but that's typical for players recovering from anterior cruciate ligament injuries. "Brandon has been doing a little bit more each day," coach Jim Schwartz said.
• Receiver Tim Toone flashed a couple times during the morning practice, and on one play, he put a double move on cornerback Chris Houston that left him wide open down the right sideline. This is pure amateur work, but I would put Toone no lower than fourth on the Lions' depth chart of receivers after Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson and Bryant Johnson. I've thought he looked much smoother than 2009 draft choice Derrick Williams, and I'm wondering if Dennis Northcutt will be the odd man out.
• The Lions released veteran safety Marquand Manuel, who was buried on a depth chart of middling safeties. He started four games last season.

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- I took in most of the Detroit Lions' two training camp practices Monday, surpassing my 2009 total and matching what I saw in 2008. And the best news yet: I'm back for more on Tuesday!

My official Lions "Camp Confidential" report isn't scheduled to post until Saturday, but the blog will feature heavy Lions emphasis through my Wednesday departure. If there's something you want me to check out, just let me know. Otherwise, you're left to my whims and personal biases.

Ok, enough chit-chat. Here are some first-day impressions from Allen Park:

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Carlos OsorioQuarterback Matthew Stafford led the Lions through two training camp practices on Monday.
• Tight end Brandon Pettigrew, activated from the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list Sunday, participated in the less-physical afternoon practice wearing a brace on his knee. Pettigrew looked, well, like a player trying to run with a brace on his knee: Not smooth, but not unexpected. I would be really surprised if he is on the field for Tuesday's full-pads practice.
• The Lions activated defensive end Jared DeVries from the PUP list, and DeVries mostly worked with the second team at left end. Cliff Avril continued getting most of the first-team work there, but I would imagine DeVries will be rotating with Avril before too long.
• I planned to take a look at middle linebacker DeAndre Levy, but he sat out both practices because of what coach Jim Schwartz said was continuing back tightness. Levy's absence emphasized the Lions' shaky depth at the position; special teams player Vinny Ciurciu was the first-team middle linebacker in both practices.
• The morning practice featured an entertaining red-zone session in which the defense more than held its own. But the offense triumphed on one play in particular: Fullback Jerome Felton's steamroll of safety Marquand Manuel at the goal line. Meanwhile, quarterback Matthew Stafford misfired on two red-zone passes. One appeared to be a miscommunication with receiver Calvin Johnson and another pass was a step behind receiver Nate Burleson.
• Running back Kevin Smith (knee) didn't do much in either practice, but I glimpsed at least four other runners getting work with the first team: Maurice Morris, Jahvid Best, Felton and DeDe Dorsey.
• As defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh continued his holdout, Sammie Hill was working alongside expected starter Corey Williams.
• Schwartz indicated he is being extra cautious with safety Louis Delmas, who is recovering from a groin strain. Delmas is a "known quantity," Schwartz said, and the Lions' only goal is to get him healthy -- not back out on the field. Delmas said: "Everybody that I'm playing with, we all got a good understanding of each other. When I get back, I think I'll be able to adjust to them really fast." Schwartz has been rotating safeties during camp, and Monday his first-teammers were Marvin White and C.C. Brown.
• Finally, as you probably know by now, my visit was preceded by ESPN heavyweights John Clayton and Adam Schefter. Be sure to check out Clayton's report on Stafford and Schefter's thoughts on Best.

Hopefully all of you got a chance to read John Clayton's take on the NFC North in his training camp preview. Included in the post was this analysis of the Detroit Lions' safety situation:

Safety Louis Delmas, a second-round pick in 2009, seems to be a good piece to build around. Lions coach Jim Schwartz must sort out whether Ko Simpson, Marquand Manuel or C.C. Brown is the strong safety to pair with Delmas.

I would be surprised if the Lions don't add one or two names to that list of candidates before the start of the regular season. It might not be their top organizational priority, as evidenced by their cool pursuitof free agent Oshiomogho Atogwe, but my understanding is that they were less than satisfied with their options as minicamp concluded last month.

Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News suggests the Lions could have interest in Kansas City Chiefs safety Jarrad Page, who has asked for a trade. Another option is veteran defensive back Dante Wesley, whom the Lions signed as a reserve cornerback in April mostly for special teams purposes. Wesley has some experience as a safety, however, and the Lions likely will give him a chance to compete for the strong-side position in training camp.

We'll get into a more formal discussion of training camp battles next week, but at this point, the Lions' safety situation is among the most fluid in the division.

Of the eight divisions, the NFC North reports to camp the latest. All four teams arrive July 30.

Figuring Brett Favre will report to Minnesota sometime after the Vikings break camp in Mankato, Minn., that seems fitting. All good things come to those who wait.

The NFC North, once known as a pounding-the-rock division, is now one of the more interesting for quarterback play. Favre, who is expected to return, and Aaron Rodgers of the Packers are among the league’s elite quarterbacks. Jay Cutler of the Bears hopes to regain that status after a poor 2009 season. The Lions drafted Matthew Stafford with the hope of him being one of the next great ones.

FOUR BIG QUESTIONS

Chicago Bears: Can new offensive coordinator Mike Martz add enough offense to the Bears to catch up to the Vikings or Packers?

Martz adds five to six points a game to any offense he’s around, so there is no question the Bears will be better on offense. Cutler likes what he sees, but the Bears must tighten their defense because the season will be a roller-coaster ride if they play 27-24 games every week. Keep an eye on the defense -- it ranked only 17^th in 2009 -- in camp and during the preseason.

Detroit Lions: Can the Lions generate enough of a running game to make it easier on Stafford?

Probably not. The Lions averaged only 25.6 rushing attempts a game last season, meaning Stafford needed to complete 24 or 25 passes a game for the offense to be good. Keep an eye on rookie RB Jahvid Best in camp. He will add explosiveness. Last year’s starter, Kevin Smith, is coming off knee reconstruction and may not be ready to earn quality first- and second-down yards.

Green Bay Packers: What’s the biggest concern on defense?

The Packers must sort out their cornerback situation in camp. Al Harris is coming off a major injury, so they must make sure that Tramon Williams is ready to take over if Harris is not ready for the start of the regular season. They also must develop Pat Lee as a key backup just in case.

Minnesota Vikings: While they wait for Favre to return, what is the main job of the Vikings’ offense this summer?

Ensuring that Adrian Peterson protects the football would be nice. Peterson has an NFL-high 20 fumbles the past three seasons. Vikings head coach Brad Childress knows that Peterson’s aggressive style sometimes will lead to fumbles, but a repeat of late-season fumbling issues by Peterson would not be good. Peterson fumbled twice and caused a turnover on a third play when he botched a handoff in the second quarter against the Saints in the NFC Championship Game.

HOTTEST SEATS

Bears: Head coach Lovie Smith. This is an easy one. Smith is on the hottest seat in the division. If the Bears don’t have a winning record this season, anyone who isn’t a McCaskey or a Halas will lose his job. It’s win or else.

Lions: Right tackle Gosder Cherilus: Former Redskins veteran Jon Jansen was signed to be an insurance policy, but Jansen came out of the offseason program in competition for a starting job. The right tackle job is there for the taking. Cherilus is big and physical, but he’s on the hot seat.

Packers: Safety Atari Bigby. The Packers rewarded free safety Nick Collins with a four-year, $30.4 million contract. Bigby isn’t happy that he was given the $1.759 million restricted tender and hasn’t signed it. Plus, the Packers drafted strong safety Morgan Burnett in the third round and seem to like him.

Vikings: Backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels. Before Favre joined the Vikings last season, Rosenfels competed against Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job. Rosenfels left the offseason program as the fourth quarterback, behind rookie Joe Webb, who was drafted to play receiver. Rosenfels’ seat is burning.

SECRET WEAPON

Bears receivers: Want a weird stat? The Bears are tied with the Vikings for most Pro Bowl players at wide receiver. That’s right. The Vikings have Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin. The Packers have only Donald Driver as a Pro Bowler, although Greg Jennings has been on the Pro Bowl radar the past couple of years. Bears wide receivers Devin Hester and Johnny Knox have each been to the Pro Bowl. The problem is that each made it as a returner, not a receiver. Those trips vouch for their athletic abilities, but it makes them ultimate secret weapons in the Mike Martz offense. Hester has receiving skills similar to Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers, but he tends to wear down the more routes he runs. Plus, he is challenged by the adjustments receivers must make on routes. Knox’s game is speed, but the second-year player still must polish his receiving skills.

Martz and the Bears said they like their receiving corps, but how good is it? If Hester and Knox are raw talents who can turn into solid receivers, the Bears could emerge as one of the league’s surprise offenses.

Another receiver to follow in training camp is Devin Aromashodu. This is Aromashodu’s fifth team, but Jay Cutler treated him as though he were his favorite receiver in the second half of last season. He caught 22 passes in the final five games. It’s hard to categorize Bears receivers into who is the legitimate No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3. It will be interesting to see how this sorts out in camp.

WILD CARD: DETROIT’S SECONDARY

How quickly the Lions’ secondary jells this summer could determine the fate of Detroit’s division rivals. In many ways, the Lions are the wild card of this division because the Vikings, Packers and Bears are each counting on two wins against Detroit if they want to get a better seeding in the playoffs or, in the case of the Bears, make the playoffs.

No secondary has undergone more change the past two offseasons than the Lions’. Detroit’s passing defense was abysmal last season, ranking last in the NFL. Opponents threw for 266 yards a game, with a 68.1 completion percentage and a 107.0 QB rating. Obviously that won’t cut it in a division that features Favre, Rodgers and Cutler.

Safety Louis Delmas, a second-round pick in 2009, seems to be a good piece to build around. Lions coach Jim Schwartz must sort out whether Ko Simpson, Marquand Manuel or C.C. Brown is the strong safety to pair with Delmas.

It’s a roll of the dice at cornerback. Eric King is the only corner returning from last season, but he started only one game for the Lions. The Lions acquired Chris Houston from the Falcons in a trade and have high hopes for third-round choice Amari Spievey. The Lions also have Jonathan Wade and Dre’ Bly, who played for Detroit from 2003-2006, but he’s 33.

It's been a week since we wondered if the entire NFC North would be fighting for free agent safety Oshiomogho Atogwe. I had a wild mental image of each team pulling a different Atogwe limb, but it didn't work out that way.

The Green Bay Packers, who rarely pursue veteran free agents, never seemed a serious candidate. There were some connections between Atogwe and the Chicago Bears, but as Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com pointed out, there isn't much money left in the Bears' player payroll budget.

The Minnesota Vikings have indicated their safety depth chart could change, but apparently it won't include Atogwe. Friday, coach Brad Childress said the Vikings had no interest in him. "We've got who we need right now on this football team," Childress said.

(For now, the Vikings are giving Jamarca Sanford -- a seventh-round draft pick in 2009 -- a chance to unseat either Madieu Williams or Tyrell Johnson.)

That leaves the Detroit Lions, who have been the NFC North's most active team in free agency over the past two years. Atogwe is a native of nearby Windsor. Although he is nearly 29, Atogwe plays a position that historically has featured stars in their mid-30s.

Most important, check out the Lions' current stack of safeties in the chart to your right. It doesn't exactly rule out the need for further talent, especially when you consider that three of the six players on the list -- Marquand Manuel, Daniel Bullocks and Ko Simpson -- are recovering from season-ending injuries.

So the question circles back to Atogwe. As Howard Balzer pointed out in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, the Rams are letting him test the market. If anyone has made a significant bid for him -- the Lions or anyone else -- it hasn't been reported.

Stay tuned. Or, at least 25 percent of you should.

We’ve had a relative flurry of activity Tuesday afternoon here in the NFC North. Let’s start in Detroit and work our way out.

Speaking to reporters in Detroit on the second day of the Lions’ offseason program, quarterback Matthew Stafford said he is throwing at full strength but acknowledged his surgically repaired knee is not yet 100 percent. He had arthroscopic surgery Dec. 29.

“I wasn’t running full speed with the guys,” Stafford said, according to a transcript provided by the Lions. “I was doing a separate conditioning thing, but other than that I was going.”

Stafford said he should be ready for the Lions’ veteran minicamp later this spring. If this were training camp, I would be alarmed. But dialing down a March conditioning run is pretty typical for players returning from surgery.

The Lions also re-signed three players Tuesday. Safety Marquand Manuel signed a one-year contract, according to John Niyo of the Detroit News. Meanwhile, Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com reports the Lions also agreed to terms with defensive end Copeland Bryan and cornerback DeAngelo Smith.

As we head into the second full week of free agency, it's probably a good time to revise our look at each NFC North team's unsigned players. We haven't had a restricted free agent (RFA) receive an offer sheet yet, so we'll limit this post to unrestricted free agents (UFAs) -- who have total freedom to sign with another team.

Chicago Bears
UFAs as of March 5: Linebacker Darrell McClover, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, running back Adrian Peterson, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.
Comment: None have re-signed. The Bears are trying to bring back Tinoisamoa.

Detroit Lions
UFAs as of March 5: Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, offensive lineman Damion Cook, quarterback Daunte Culpepper, tight end Casey Fitzsimmons, linebacker Larry Foote, tight end Will Heller, cornerback Anthony Henry, cornerback Will James, offensive lineman Jon Jansen, safety Marquand Manuel, quarterback Patrick Ramsey.
Comment: Ciurciu, Heller and Jansen have re-signed. Foote seems likely to return to Pittsburgh.

Green Bay Packers
UFAs as of March 5: Offensive lineman Chad Clifton, running back Ahman Green, linebacker Aaron Kampman, offensive lineman Mark Tauscher.
Comment: Clifton and Tauscher have re-signed. Kampman signed with Jacksonville.

Minnesota Vikings
UFAs as of March 5: Offensive lineman Artis Hicks, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, cornerback Benny Sapp, running back Chester Taylor.
Comment: Kennedy and Sapp re-signed. Taylor signed with Chicago. Hicks signed with Washington.

Chicago Bears

Potential unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Darrell McClover, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, running back Adrian Peterson, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.

Potential restricted free agents: Defensive end Mark Anderson, safety Josh Bullocks, safety Danieal Manning, linebacker Nick Roach, linebacker Jamar Williams.

Franchise player: None

What to expect: With no picks in the first or second round of next month's draft, the Bears are gearing up for a relatively major jump into free agency. They're expected to bid for defensive end Julius Peppers and possible safety Antrel Rolle and would also like to re-sign linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa. Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna could also be a target. Manumaleuna played for new offensive coordinator Mike Martz in St. Louis.

Detroit Lions

Potential unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, offensive lineman Damion Cook, quarterback Daunte Culpepper, tight end Casey Fitzsimmons, linebacker Larry Foote, tight end Will Heller, cornerback Anthony Henry, cornerback Will James, offensive lineman Jon Jansen, safety Marquand Manuel, quarterback Patrick Ramsey.

Potential restricted free agents: Defensive end Copeland Bryan, offensive lineman Dylan Gandy, defensive lineman Jason Hunter, offensive lineman Daniel Loper, offensive lineman Manny Ramirez, safety Ko Simpson, linebacker Cody Spencer.

Franchise player: None

What to expect: The Lions aren't likely to be as active as they were last year, but general manager Martin Mayhew said over the winter that he could envision a five- or six-man free agent class. Running back, defensive end and defensive back are all positions they will investigate. They'll also need to find a backup quarterback, assuming Daunte Culpepper moves on.

Green Bay Packers

Potential unrestricted free agents: Offensive lineman Chad Clifton, running back Ahman Green, linebacker Aaron Kampman, offensive lineman Mark Tauscher.

Potential restricted free agents: Safety Atari Bigby, defensive back Will Blackmon, offensive lineman Daryn Colledge, safety Nick Collins, defensive end Johnny Jolly, running back John Kuhn, offensive lineman Jason Spitz, cornerback Tramon Williams.

Franchise player: Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett

What to expect: The Packers will have a demanding offseason filled with difficult decisions. To this point, they haven't re-signed either of their starting offensive tackles. They are clearly approaching injured linebacker Aaron Kampman with caution. And they have a long line of restricted free agents who would like long-term contracts, starting with Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins. The Packers have more than enough to keep them busy, but they haven't dabbled much in free agency in recent years, anyway.

Minnesota Vikings

Potential unrestricted free agents: Offensive lineman Artis Hicks, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, cornerback Benny Sapp, running back Chester Taylor.

Potential restricted free agents: Offensive lineman Ryan Cook, defensive end Ray Edwards, defensive tackle Fred Evans, safety Eric Frampton, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, fullback Naufahu Tahi.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Vikings are awaiting word from quarterback Brett Favre on the 2010 season, a decision that could impact their offseason plans. They would like tailback Chester Taylor back, but it's possible Taylor will at least test his value on the open market. As a Final Four team, the Vikings will be limited to signing players that have been released by other teams unless they lose one of their own unrestricted free agents first.

» AFC Free Agency: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

An early look at the free agency situation in the NFC North.

Note: These projected lists reflect notable unrestricted free agents for each team. The NFL will not issue an official list of free agents until the signing period begins March 5.

Chicago Bears

Unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Darrell McClover, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, running back Adrian Peterson, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.

Key figures: Defensive end Mark Anderson and safety Danieal Manning are two key players who would have joined the list of unrestricted free agents if the NFL weren't on track for an uncapped offseason. The Bears can block both from moving now. Ogunleye is unlikely to return if he's seeking significant money. The Bears want to re-sign Tinoisamoa, even after his injury-shortened 2009 debut. Peterson's eight-year run with the team might be coming to a close.

Detroit Lions

Unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, offensive lineman Damion Cook, quarterback Daunte Culpepper, tight end Casey Fitzsimmons, linebacker Larry Foote, tight end Will Heller, cornerback Anthony Henry, cornerback Will James, offensive lineman Jon Jansen, safety Marquand Manuel, quarterback Patrick Ramsey.

Key figures: The Lions have a total of 20 unrestricted and restricted free agents, a product of the extended roster tryouts they held throughout the 2009 season. The biggest name among their UFAs is Foote, who seems unlikely to return and should be replaced by DeAndre Levy. Culpepper will seek offers on the open market, but it's not out of the question he could return as Matthew Stafford's backup. James had some moments in 2009 and might be worth a return engagement.

Green Bay Packers

Unrestricted free agents: Offensive tackle Chad Clifton, running back Ahman Green, linebacker Aaron Kampman, nose tackle Ryan Pickett, offensive tackle Mark Tauscher.

Key figures: The Packers have a notable list that includes four starters and would have included six more if not for the uncapped year. Clifton will be 34 this summer and Tauscher will turn 33, and it's time for the Packers to begin a succession plan at both positions. T.J. Lang figures as Tauscher's replacement, but Tauscher was actually playing better than Clifton at the end of 2009. Kampman seems unlikely to return as a linebacker in the 3-4, especially while he rehabilitates a knee injury. Pickett could be phased out by B.J. Raji.

Minnesota Vikings

Unrestricted free agents: Offensive lineman Artis Hicks, defensive lineman Jimmy Kennedy, receiver Greg Lewis, cornerback Benny Sapp, running back Chester Taylor.

Key figures: Taylor is perhaps the most valuable backup tailback in the league, considering his abilities as a receiver and third-down converter. He will be 31 when the 2010 season begins, but figures to get some attention if he enters the free-agent market. The Vikings want him back, but probably won't devote a huge salary to him with starter Adrian Peterson approaching the expiration of his contract. Sapp probably made himself some money with a credible replacement of injured starter Antoine Winfield.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

CHICAGO -- As ESPN.com’s John Clayton reported earlier Sunday morning, Detroit tailback Kevin Smith will be in uniform for the Lions’ game against the Bears at Soldier Field. Smith was not among the eight inactives the Lions just announced.

But, as expected, the Lions will be without defensive lineman Sammie Lee Hill and Dewayne White. Landon Cohen and Jason Hunter will start in their places, respectively. The Lions also have named Ko Simpson their starting safety in place of Marquand Manuel.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Detroit’s depth at safety dwindled so much this summer that it suddenly became necessary to start shopping for more. That’s why they felt compelled Thursday to acquire Buffalo safety Ko Simpson.

As you might recall, the Lions finished up offseason workouts with five veterans -- Daniel Bullocks, Gerald Alexander, Kalvin Pearson, Marquand Manuel and Stuart Schweigert -- competing with rookie and Louis Delmas. Alexander was traded to Jacksonville to reduce the glut, Bullocks suffered a re-occurrence of an old knee injury and Manuel has been limited by injuries in training camp. Delmas and Pearson have been working with the first team, but Pearson has struggled and Delmas is still learning the NFL game.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has been rolling veterans in and out of his building for what amounts to extended tryouts. So I can’t say that Simpson is going to challenge Pearson for his starting job. But it’s pretty clear the Lions depth at the position has dissipated considerably.

	Scott Boehm/Getty Images
	New Lions coach Jim Schwartz is attempting to change the atmosphere in Detroit.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Upon arriving in Detroit to begin offseason workouts, Lions players found their locker room had been painted. Their lockers had been moved around. They had been assigned new parking spaces. Their lifting regimen had been changed. Their uniforms looked different.

Most symbolic, a number of motivational signs were replaced by one that simply read: "National Football League" -- a reminder of the high standards set for everyone who walks into the building.

Camp Confidential: NFC North • Vikings: Sun., Aug. 2 • Packers: Sun., Aug. 9 • Bears: Thurs., Aug. 13 • Lions: Fri., Aug. 21 • Training camp index

"It sort of made a little statement to the players," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "The whole idea was that when the players came back, they didn't walk into the building and have the same old thing. ... The objective was for them not to say, 'Whoop, same old stuff around here.' That was the plan."

That approach has extended into training camp, where more than half of the players on Detroit's 80-man roster are newcomers. Schwartz has tweaked his practice plan for every day of camp, both to reinforce the message and provide variety. After taking over the first 0-16 team in NFL history, he really had no other choice.

"You can't stand pat," Schwartz said. "That's something that gives the players a little bit of comfort, that we're not standing pat. ... Every time they come to practice, they're working on a different situation, a little bit different drill, different emphasis of periods and things like that. There's drudgery in walking out of the hotel every morning and going to bed and walking to the next meeting. But when they walk onto the practice field, it's a fresh plan that day. It's not the same old thing."

(Note: Due to circumstances, my stay in Detroit was cut short. But for additional information, make sure you've checked out this practice report posted earlier this week.)

Key questions

	Mark Cunningham/Getty Images
	Detroit rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford has played well enough to be the starter.

1. Who will start at quarterback?
I hope it doesn't sound patronizing to praise Daunte Culpepper for losing 30 pounds during the offseason. Culpepper reported to camp at 260 pounds and has never looked lighter in his NFL career. During the practice I attended this week, he was decisive and his passes were sharp.

To be honest, Culpepper probably couldn't have done more thus far to win the Lions' starting job. And he still might not see the field this season.

Rookie Matthew Stafford, whose pre-draft contract agreement ensured he would not miss a day of training camp, has practiced his way into a legitimate opportunity to start the Sept. 13 opener at New Orleans. (Let that be a lesson to all future No. 1 draft picks.) In practice, at least, it's difficult to see much difference between him and Culpepper. If that remains the case, it's hard to imagine Stafford opening the year on the bench.

Stafford still has plenty of work to do, beginning with his anticipated start Saturday night against at Cleveland. But at the very least, it looks like Stafford is going to give Schwartz a very difficult decision.

2. Can the Lions retrofit their defensive line?
You won't find two more dissimilar defensive schemes than when you compare the Lions' 2008 approach with the one Schwartz is implementing now.

"The philosophy here in the past had been small and quick," he said. "The philosophy here now is big and powerful."

That put the Lions' personnel department on a search for larger defensive linemen, while incumbents were required to gain weight in the offseason. Such changes don't occur overnight, and it appears the Lions are about halfway there.

They've added some interior bulk in Grady Jackson (340ish pounds), Shaun Smith (325 pounds) and rookie Sammie Lee Hill (329 pounds). Based on pure size, that trio should be more difficult to drive off the ball than the players Detroit used last year.

On the outside, however, the Lions will miss veteran Jared DeVries, who ruptured his Achilles tendon early in camp and is lost for the season. Their current depth at end -- led by Cliff Avril, Jason Hunter and Dewayne White -- is thin.

3. What impact will the free agent/trade crop have?
The Lions' revolving personnel door has continued into training camp, most recently with Shaun Smith. New veterans are sprinkled all over the field, from Smith and Jackson
to cornerbacks Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry, from linebackers Larry Foote and Julian Peterson to receivers Bryant Johnson and Dennis Northcutt.

Considering the personnel deficit that contributed to last season's record, an influx seemed unavoidable. The Lions decided to pursue the veteran route in hopes of establishing some short-term credibility while building for the long term behind the scenes. In all, it looks like the Lions will have at least 11 new starters when the season opens.

Market watch

Henry

The Lions acquired Henry, 33, in exchange for quarterback Jon Kitna. Henry is of the age where cornerbacks typically convert to nickel backs or safety, but for now the Lions have him listed as a starter opposite Buchanon.

You wonder whether that will last all season or if Henry will eventually make his way to safety. From the outside, he doesn't appear to be a good matchup for the speedy receivers in this division, be it Green Bay's Greg Jennings, Minnesota's Bernard Berrian or Chicago's Devin Hester.

A previous surplus of safeties has been whittled down to the point where this move might make sense, if the Lions can find another cornerback they feel comfortable inserting into the lineup.

Peterson

Newcomer to watch
During the best portion of his career, Peterson was a pass-rushing, play-making force to be reckoned with. Offenses had to account for him on every play.

At 32, Peterson might be past that prime. But the Lions believe he can still be a disruptive player who will help cover for some pass-rushing deficiency in other areas. His success or failure will play a big role in whether the Lions can improve their takeaway totals from last season.

Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham has said he could blitz as often as 40 percent of the time this season. Expect him to lean heavily on Peterson in those situations.

Observation deck
The Lions signed veteran Maurice Morris to back up starting running back Kevin Smith, but you wonder what Morris' role will be if rookie Aaron Brown continues to display big-play capabilities. Brown's speed might make it difficult to keep him off the field. ... When the summer began, the Lions had too many safeties. But their surplus has thinned out considerably after the trade of Gerald Alexander and a season-ending knee injury to Daniel Bullocks. Rookie Louis Delmas and veteran Marquand Manuel have been limited by injuries. When it's all said and done, expect Delmas and Kalvin Pearson to hold starting jobs. ... Receiver Demir Boldin, the brother of Arizona's Anquan Boldin, is a long shot to make the roster but made a number of professional-level catches during the practice I watched. ... Receiver Calvin Johnson has been limited by a thumb injury during much of camp and will miss his second consecutive preseason game Saturday at Cleveland. But Johnson is expected to be healed in time for the regular season. ... Quarterback Drew Stanton appears close to locking down a roster spot after seeming to be on the brink of release during the offseason.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

NFC North teams have been issuing their first depth charts this week as preseason games approach. Typically I pay little attention to these documents, which are disclaimed by an "unofficial" title and sometimes contain preposterous fudging that is plainly evident to anyone who has watched one practice.

This winter, however, the NFL clarified its media policy on the issue and now requires the depth chart to be "credible." (The league's word, not mine.) I guess we should see how it plays out. Below, I've listed some of the more interesting nuggets I saw this week. (Links provided where available.)*

Detroit Lions

• Daunte Culpepper is listed as the No. 1 quarterback ahead of Matthew Stafford
• Kalvin Pearson and Marquand Manuel are listed as first-team safeties.
• Louis Delmas, a likely starter at one of the safety positions, is listed as "injured."
• Phillip Buchanon is the top punt returner.

Green Bay Packers (Link)

• Scott Wells is listed as the first-team center.
• Jason Spitz is the first-team right guard.
• Jeremy Thompson is the first-team right outside linebacker, with Clay Matthews behind him.
• Punter Jeremy Kapinos is listed ahead of Durant Brooks.

Minnesota Vikings

• The Vikings cheated and listed their No. 1 quarterback as Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels.
  
• Sidney Rice was listed as a starting receiver opposite Bernard Berrian.
  
• Percy Harvin was listed as the kickoff returner.
  
• Jaymar Johnson was listed at punt returner.

*Chicago's depth chart had not been released as of Tuesday morning.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

	AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
	Quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears will need a young receiver to step up in camp.

Chicago Bears
Training camp site: Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, Ill.)

Campfires
The only Bears receiver with a guaranteed job is Devin Hester. Otherwise, the position is wide open. Veterans Earl Bennett and Rashied Davis will compete with rookies Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox for the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 receiver positions. If general manager Jerry Angelo doesn't like what he sees, the Bears could pursue a proven veteran later this summer.

The free safety position is also wide open as the Bears replace the departed Mike Brown. Craig Steltz ended spring practice atop the depth chart, but he'll have to battle converted cornerback Corey Graham. Former New Orleans starter Josh Bullocks is also on the roster as a third, if distant, option.

Although the Bears hope it never matters, they'll have to sort out their depth behind new quarterback Jay Cutler. Unproven Caleb Hanie is set to battle free agent Brett Basanez in a competition that, like receiver, could ultimately give way to a veteran from outside the organization. Hanie, however, is a favorite of coach Lovie Smith and will get every opportunity to win the job.

Camp will be a downer if ...
... the Bears realize this summer that they haven't given Cutler enough weapons. While young players don't always develop on a convenient timetable, it should be pretty clear by mid-August if the Bears have enough mature depth at the receiver position. Adding a veteran at the end of the summer is an imperfect solution and would limit his chances to develop a rapport with the new quarterback.

Division Camp Previews • Tuesday: NFC North | AFC North • Wednesday: NFC East | AFC East • Thursday: NFC South | AFC South • Friday: NFC West | AFC West MORE • Camp battles: AFC | NFC • Schedule: Training camp dates

The best-case scenario is if Bennett can parlay his familiarity with Cutler -- they were college teammates at Vanderbilt -- into a quick claim on the No. 2 job. That would lessen the pressure on the rookies and relieve the need to rely on Davis, who isn't a starting-caliber receiver. But if Bennett stumbles, the domino effect could significantly diminish the Bears' passing attack early in the season.

Camp will be a success if ...
... Smith can lay the groundwork for a revived defense. Smith has taken over as the de facto defensive coordinator and will call most defensive signals during games. He'll need to restore the Bears' core values -- producing a pass rush with the front four and making big plays in the secondary -- in order to meet the standard his defenses set earlier this decade.

It might be difficult to judge the success of this venture during camp and even in the preseason; Smith isn't likely to give away too much from a schematic standpoint before the regular season begins. But make no mistake: The origin of any improvement must come during technique and drill work in training camp.

O-verhaul
Quietly, the Bears shook up 60 percent of their offensive line this offseason. Center Olin Kreutz and right guard Roberto Garza are the only returning starters. Chicago is hoping that left tackle Orlando Pace, left guard Frank Omiyale and right tackle Chris Williams can breathe some life into a group that grew stale last season.

Pace is the short-term key. Injuries have caused him to miss 25 games over the past three seasons. His health and conditioning will be monitored carefully in training camp. It will be interesting to see if the Bears also work Williams at left tackle -- his natural position -- as a contingency should Pace suffer another injury.

---

Detroit Lions
Training camp site: Team facility in Allen Park, Mich.

	Rashaun Rucker/zuma/Icon SMI
	The Lions would like Daunte Culpepper to earn the starting quarterback job ahead of Matthew Stafford to start the season.

Campfires
No Black and Blue battle will be more scrutinized than the competition between Lions quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper and Matthew Stafford. Conventional wisdom suggests Culpepper will win the job as long as he maintains his offseason conditioning level. But coach Jim Schwartz has said Stafford will start as soon as he meets two criteria: when he is ready and when he surpasses Culpepper as the team's best option.

Stafford's status as an underclassman suggests he faces a steep learning curve this season. That, along with Culpepper's familiarity with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan's scheme, imposes a two-pronged challenge for Stafford to win the job in training camp.

Another rookie, safety Louis Delmas, appears to be one of the few locks to start in the secondary. You would assume Phillip Buchanon will win one cornerback spot, but the other two starting roles seem wide open.

Anthony Henry could start at cornerback, or he could move to safety. Other safety candidates include Daniel Bullocks, Marquand Manuel, Kalvin Pearson and Stuart Schweigert. The competition will be wide open as the Lions look for defensive backs who are aggressive and eager for contact.

Camp will be a downer if ...
... every player on the roster suffers a season-ending injury on the first day of camp. Otherwise, there is nowhere to go but up for a team that went 0-16 last season.

Seriously, there is one position where Detroit is keeping its fingers crossed. The Lions signed 36-year-old nose tackle Grady Jackson to help tighten their run defense and also keep offensive linemen off their talented trio of linebackers. But Jackson missed all of spring practice after undergoing knee surgery in February. Jackson is as important as any player the Lions acquired this winter and he needs to get at least some practice time in training camp to ensure he will be ready for the season.

Camp will be a success if ...
... Culpepper can win the job outright, rather than become the starter simply because Stafford isn't ready. If Culpepper can recapture some of his previous magic with Linehan, the Lions will have a much better chance to be credible in Schwartz's first season.

And despite the protestations of modern-day thinkers, Stafford can only benefit from some time on the sidelines. That doesn't mean he should sit for three years. But rare is the quarterback who can start -- and succeed -- on day one. A rejuvenated Culpepper is the first step in the Lions' rebuilding project.

Linebacker city
Through trade and free agency, the Lions have put together a competent group of linebackers in Julian Peterson, Larry Foote and Ernie Sims. It will be interesting to watch defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham experiment with ways to utilize their playmaking skills.

Cunningham has said he plans to blitz 40 percent of the time this season. Peterson could make some big plays if he has maintained the athletic skills of his prime. The same goes for Foote. We'll get a good idea of how much each player has left in the tank this summer.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Thanks to those of you who shipped questions to the mailbag for this weekend's edition. Since we're in a relatively dry spell of local coverage here Friday morning, I'll use this post to give you one more reminder that you can send in questions until about noon ET before I need to start writing.

You can send them directly to the mailbag, or through Facebook or even Twitter.

For now, let's take a spin through the best of what I could find Friday morning:

• Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago writes that Bears receiver Earl Bennett has made "huge strides" since last season.
• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times examines the Bears' situations at defensive tackle and fullback.
• Need a used TV? The Packers are selling about 450 20-inch televisions for $30 on Saturday. The sets were removed from luxury suites following an offseason renovation, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
  
• Here is coverage from Rochelle Olson of the Star Tribune and Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Thursday's court decision involving Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. The next court date to keep in mind is July 22.
• The Vikings' offseason has been on hold while waiting for the Williams verdict as well as a decision from Brett Favre, writes Larry Weisman of USA Today.
• Detroit safety Marquand Manuel will have to beat out Daniel Bullocks for a roster spot, according to Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.