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In case you haven't heard, the NFL has mandated all kickoffs be marked at the 35-yard line this season (and preseason). But we spent so much time dissecting the Chicago Bears' mistake/miscommunication/passive protest earlier this week that I think we missed the opportunity to examine both the larger picture and how this mess will affect the NFC North later this season.

Based on my unofficial review of play-by-plays from Week 1 of the preseason, 11 of the NFC North's 12 kickoffs from the 35-yard line traveled into the end zone. The other landed at the 1-yard line. Here is how it broke down:

There are a couple of interesting points to make here. Most notably, we saw some divergent strategies already starting to emerge.

For the most part, Green Bay Packers place-kicker Mason Crosby aired out his strong leg. But if the Packers thought that kicks deep into the end zone would automatically result in touchbacks, they found out otherwise Saturday night. The Cleveland Browns brought back all four kickoffs, returning them twice to the 20-yard line, once to the 21 and once to the 15.

Because some teams don't want to surrender the potential for a big kick return, it's quite possible we'll see many more kickoffs returned from previously too-deep spots in the end zone. Speaking generally this week, Minnesota Vikings place-kicker Ryan Longwell said: "I really do think that. I really think when they can judge the hang time of it, and you've got a lower kick that is 7 or 8 yards deep, I think that will come out a lot more often this year than it has in the past."

On the other hand, Longwell and the Vikings appeared to pursue an alternate goal. The strategy calls for putting high kickoffs short of the goal line in hopes of tackling the returner shy of the 20, where a touchback would be marked. It didn't work too well on Longwell's first kickoff against the Tennessee Titans, which landed 1 yard deep in the end zone and was returned to the 27-yard line. But his second kickoff generated more than four seconds of hang time, according to Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, and resulted in a return to the 11-yard line.

Said Longwell: "I think that you're going to see a lot of the coaches saying, 'If there is a touchback potential, why do we give them the 20 when we can hang it high inside and the 5, and tackle them inside the 20?' I think it's actually going to flip the other way, from just banging it out and giving them the 20, to 'Hey, let's stuff them inside the 20.' I think there will be a big movement [toward] that as well."

Meanwhile, there are a number of kickers and special teams coaches in the NFC North who are convinced this dynamic will diminish once the weather turns colder. Bears place-kicker Robbie Gould cited the weather issue as a reason he wanted to kick off from the 30 Saturday night against the Buffalo Bills, hoping it would give coverage teams a chance to cover a live return the way they presumably will need to in November and December.

"As the weather changes," Longwell said, "the ball just doesn't fly as far. It's a fact. I think those [deep] numbers will come down."

The Bears have four games at Soldier Field and the Packers have five at Lambeau Field after Nov. 1. We probably won't see many touchbacks, at least in those games. But I'm not convinced we'll see as many touchbacks as we think we might in the first two months of the season. Strategies and skills are still evolving. Stay tuned.

A few days ago, we noted that Minnesota Vikings special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer is a former Naval pilot who ferried Navy SEALs to missions. Priefer joined ESPN's "First Take" to discuss his background and pride for the work SEALs did in hunting down Osama bin Laden.

We’re Black and Blue All Over:

Here’s a relevant and surprising story amid the news of Sunday night: Minnesota Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer is a former U.S. Naval helicopter pilot who once ferried Navy SEALS to operations in the Persian Gulf and near Somalia. Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has the story.

Priefer: "We had an objective, we achieved an objective and nobody was injured -- that's the mission. I'm very proud of them, top to bottom. This whole country has to be proud of what our guys accomplished over there. It's a great moment to be an American."

Now 44, Priefer departed the Navy in 1994 and has been coaching in the NFL since 2002.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bob Sansevere of the Pioneer Press speaks with former Vikings and Florida State quarterback Brad Johnson about the team’s No. 1 draft choice, Christian Ponder. Johnson: “It doesn't matter where you're picked or what people think of you. It's what you do."
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com reviews the Vikings’ draft.
• Mark Craig of the Star Tribune gives the Vikings a “C” for this draft.
• Green Bay Packers draft pick Ricky Elmore trained with some Matthewses before the draft, writes Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers seventh-round pick Lawrence Guy overcame attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia, according to Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Brian VanOchten of Mlive.com grades the Detroit Lions’ draft.
• Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz tells Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune what he likes about rookie quarterback Nathan Enderle.

The Minnesota Vikings' 2011 home stadium remains in doubt, but their plans for the draft are not. In reviewing comments Thursday from coach Leslie Frazier and new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, it seems clear they intend to draft a quarterback who could jump in as a near-immediate starter when the season begins.

The Vikings hold the No. 12 overall pick, and as we noted Wednesday, early mock drafts suggest anywhere from two to four quarterbacks could already be off the board by that point. But past decisions have put the Vikings in an unenviable position this spring: They have little choice but to force a pick. The only question is whether the rookie will be ready to play right away or if the Vikings will also have to acquire a veteran option.

"I guess it depends on that young guy," Frazier said. "Ideally, you'd like to find the Matt Ryans of the world, the Joe Flaccos of the world and ride with one of those guys. But it doesn't always happen that way. We just kind of have to see where things fall. If we find someone like that, you'd like to build around him. That really gives you a chance for the long term. But as I mentioned it doesn't always happen that way. If we have to go with a veteran guy while we're developing that young guy, I'm not opposed to that either. But ideally, find a young guy, build around him and know you're going to have him for that next nine or 10 years as your starting quarterback. But those guys are sometimes hard to find."

Said Musgrave: "Ideally, you would like to find a young guy that has a bunch of promise and potential and you would hand him the keys and let him make his mistakes and learn and but also know that he would be there for you in the long term. That's ideal. I believe that will be one of our goals to identify any candidates that can fit that role but at the same time be ready to find some other fellows that may have some experience, that can come in and be effective and also have some upside to them as well."

Frazier announced most of the additions he has made to the coaching staff Thursday, acknowledging Musgrave along with Mike Priefer (special teams), Fred Pagac (defensive coordinator), Jeff Davidson (offensive line), Craig Johnson (quarterbacks) and Mike Singletary (linebackers). Holdovers will include George Stewart (receivers), Jimmie Johnson (tight ends), Karl Dunbar (defensive line) and Joe Woods (defensive backs).

Where that staff is working on game days next season is anyone's guess. Ted Mondale, the new chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, said Thursday it could take up to six months to replace the damaged roof of the Metrodome, if engineers determine a total replacement is necessary. That timetable could threaten the Vikings' preseason schedule if a lockout doesn't do the trick first.

As we've noted before, the Vikings have already questioned whether they will be able to play next season in the Metrodome. It's possible they'll move to TCF Bank Stadium, at least for 2011, while awaiting approval for a new stadium to replace the Metrodome. Stay tuned.

Leslie Frazier's background as a defensive coach makes the Minnesota Vikings' offensive coordinator perhaps the most important assistant on his staff. Wednesday, it appeared Frazier had decided on Bill Musgrave for the job.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that Musgrave, who spent the past five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, has agreed to terms on a contract. He was also pursued by the Cleveland Browns, but he'll almost certainly have more latitude over the Vikings than he would have had under offensive-minded team president Mike Holmgren and coach Pat Shurmur.

Musgrave has had two stints as an NFL coordinator and one in college. During stops with the Carolina Panthers (2000), the University of Virginia (2001-02) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-04), Musgrave used elements of the West Coast scheme. (He resigned from the Panthers position after four games.) But he has since worked in other philosophies while in Atlanta, and I'm guessing that breadth of experience appealed to Frazier -- who has said he wants his offensive scheme melded around personnel rather than the other way around.

As of this moment, the Vikings haven't acknowledged any movement on their coaching staff. But Musgrave will replace Darrell Bevell, who on Tuesday was interviewing for the Seattle Seahawks' offensive coordinator job. Special teams coordinator Brian Murphy has been hired by the Carolina Panthers and is expected to be replaced by Mike Priefer.

Defensively, Frazier is expected to promoted linebackers coach Fred Pagac to defensive coordinator. One reason for that belief is that Mike Singletary has already announced on ESPN 1000 in Chicago that he will be the Vikings' linebackers coach in 2011.

(Update: The Vikings have posted a press release on their web site announcing the Pagac, Priefer and Singletary moves.)

If you're interested, here are some numbers on the three NFL teams Musgrave has been the offensive coordinator for:

• 2000 Carolina Panthers: No. 20 in yards, No. 21 in points*
• 2003 Jacksonville Jaguars: No. 12 in yards, No. 25 in points
• 2004 Jacksonville Jaguars: No. 21 in yards, No. 29 in points

*Resigned after four games

The Seattle Seahawks will interview current Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell for their quarterbacks coach job, according to ESPN's John Clayton. That news gives credence to one of our theories on where Vikings coach Leslie Frazier is going with his staff: Rather than firing the holdover assistants he doesn't want, he is giving them a chance to sign on elsewhere before announcing their replacements.

That process began Monday, when special teams coordinator Brian Murphy departed for a similar job with the Carolina Panthers. Frazier had interviewed former Denver Broncos assistant Mike Priefer for Murphy's job, and Priefer remains the likeliest candidate to fill it.

Frazier also interviewed former Broncos coach Josh McDaniels to replace Bevell. McDaniels is currently negotiating with the St. Louis Rams, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, but the Rams also want to speak with Bevell. McDaniels is said to favor the Rams over the Vikings because of Rams quarterback Sam Bradford. In the event they don't land McDaniels, the Vikings are also scheduled to interview Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, according to Mortensen.

Meanwhile, Frazier seems on track to hire former teammate and longtime friend Mike Singletary as his linebackers coach. Former linebackers coach Fred Pagac is expected to be named defensive coordinator. *Update: Singletary told ESPN 1000 that he has accepted the job of linebackers/assistant head coach.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Miami Dolphins were nationally lambasted for interviewing at least one candidate for their head-coaching position while incumbent Tony Sparano remained on staff. So even on a lesser scale, it's interesting that no one seems upset as the Minnesota Vikings interview possible replacements for offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and special teams coordinator Brian Murphy, both of whom remain employed by the team.

Over the weekend, coach Leslie Frazier indicated he would not stand in the way of either Bevell or Murphy leaving for another job. But if either man has been fired, the team hasn't announced it and it hasn't been confirmed elsewhere. Nevertheless, Frazier has interviewed Josh McDaniels for Bevell's job and Mike Priefer for Murphy's role.

Frazier has managed to keep a lid on most of what is going on behind the scenes, so for all we know he has already dismissed the incumbent coordinators. Or he is giving them time to find another job without the public stigma of being fired. But if neither of those scenarios is accurate, then the Vikings have followed bad form.

Frazier has coached with Bevell and Murphy for three years. He should know by now if he wants them to run his offense and special teams, respectively. Are we to believe that he only wants them only if he can't get anyone better? I hope that's not the case.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are pursuing Vikings defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, notes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
• Frazier has committed to building his offense around tailback Adrian Peterson, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Green Bay Packers game-planned almost purely to throw the ball in their first meeting with the Atlanta Falcons, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers coach Mike McCarthy on rookie tailback James Starks, via Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Well, he definitely deserves opportunity. He'll run the ball against Atlanta, if that's what you're asking me. Yeah, he's going to carry the ball in Atlanta. He earned that."
• McCarthy said Monday the Packers are a "championship-caliber" team," writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The Chicago Bears' offense is vulnerable to secondary blitzes, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears linebacker Lance Briggs didn't play in the team's regular-season matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, notes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune examines the improvement of the Bears' offensive line.
• Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz reached out to the family of a man who died suddenly of a heart attack at age 39, writes Tony Paul of the Detroit News.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy apparently has taken an in important step in re-assembling his coaching staff, selecting Shawn Slocum as his next special teams coordinator. Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the story.

Slocum was the assistant to former special teams coordinator Mike Stock, who announced his retirement earlier this month. At least two other outside candidates interviewed: Kansas City special teams coach Mike Priefer and former San Francisco special teams coach Larry MacDuff.

Now McCarthy can turn his full attention to hiring a defensive coordinator. Tuesday, Jim Haslett became the third known candidate to interview for the job. Following the decision of Mike Nolan to join Denver and the apparent desire of Gregg Williams to return to Tennessee or go to New Orleans, Haslett might be the Packers' top candidate at this point. He is also a finalist for the St. Louis Rams' head coaching job.

Another possibility is Philadelphia defensive backs coach Sean McDermott.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times believes Bears coach Lovie Smith is trying too hard to protect defensive coordinator Bob Babich. (Babich will retain his title while Smith will call the defensive signals.) Writes Mulligan: "Noble as his desire may be to cover up for his friend Babich, the loyalty he's showing one man is disloyal to all others in the organization. How did his bosses ever sign off on this idea? Are they looking to get rid of Smith?"
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune supports Smith's decision to take a more active role in the defense: "In putting defensive play-calling back on the table for himself, Smith did what good leaders do. He played to his staff's strengths while removing any doubt or ambiguity as to whom should be held accountable if the defense fails."
• During his Tuesday conference call, Smith also reiterated his support for Kyle Orton as the 2009 starter, according to Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald. Smith suggested that comments from general manager Jerry Angelo on the position were intended to address the need for a replacement to backup Rex Grossman, a pending free agent.
• During a news conference with Detroit reporters, Miami assistant head coach/defensive backs Todd Bowles said he would follow a structure set by longtime mentor Bill Parcells if the Lions hire him as head coach. That includes a desire for the 3-4 defense. Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press has details.
• Minnesota defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was in Los Angeles on Tuesday to continue interviews for the St. Louis head coaching job, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune. Frazier is scheduled to return to Detroit on Thursday for a second interview.
  

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

A few evening notes from the NFC North:

• St. Louis interim coach Jim Haslett became at least the third candidate to interview for Green Bay's defensive coordinator job, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel also has the story along with some details of Haslett's visit. This is an interesting decision by Haslett, who is also one of five finalists for the Rams' permanent job. Haslett actually hired McCarthy to be his offensive coordinator when he became New Orleans' head coach.
• Detroit's interview with San Diego defensive coordinator Ron Rivera was shifted to Wednesday, according to ESPN's John Clayton. The Lions have at least three finalists for their job: Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Miami assistant head coach/defensive backs Todd Bowles and Minnesota defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.
• The Packers have interviewed at least one candidate for their open special teams coordinator job. Kansas City special teams coach Mike Priefer has spoken with McCarthy, according to my AFC West colleague, Bill Williamson. Priefer, who joined the Chiefs in 2006 after stints with the N.Y. Giants and Jacksonville, is part of a staff that is not expected to be retained by new general manager Scott Pioli.
• Packers cornerback Charles Woodson pulled out of the Pro Bowl because of an unspecified injury, presumably a fractured toe that bothered him for most of the season. Tampa Bay's Ronde Barber was named to fill Woodson's spot on the NFC roster.