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An unexpected fall last year left the Detroit Lions with one of the most celebrated players in the draft. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley had once been considered a potential No. 1 overall pick, and the Lions were thrilled to draft him at No. 12. Now I'm wondering if an NFC North team could benefit from another fall by a talented defensive lineman.

There are no recent red flags on North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples, but the public discussion surrounding him includes some of the same work-ethic related keywords that have led to recent drops by Fairley and others. Speaking to several ESPN.com bloggers at the scouting combine, ESPN analyst Todd McShay said there were times when Coples stood up in games and "appeared to have a union deal." More recently, McShay said on his Draft Minute video series that there are times when Coples "is the best defensive player in the class" and there are others when "you watch him and say, 'Man, he's mailed it in.'"

Pass rushers are at such a premium that teams are willing to overlook some flaws to get the kind of presence Coples brings with his 6-foot-6 frame and 81-inch wingspan. It makes you wonder if a team like the Chicago Bears, whose needs at defensive end we have well-discussed, wouldn't be an ideal fit. Coples would have an All-Pro in Julius Peppers to attract most offensive attention, and he would have one of the league's top defensive line mentors in coordinator Rod Marinelli to keep him pushing forward.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Coples as the 14th-best player in the draft, and it would require a significant fall for him to still be available when the Bears pick at No. 19. But if he gets out of the top 10, as it appears he might, it wouldn't be a terrible idea for the Bears to consider trading up to get him.

The Sports Science video gives you an idea of how imposing Coples is as a pass disruptor even if he doesn't get past the line of scrimmage. Check it out.

We've had two coaching developments Wednesday afternoon in the NFC North. We'll start with the Green Bay Packers' apparent shift of assistant Ben McAdoo from tight ends coach to quarterbacks coach, a move first reported by Jason La Canfora of NFL.com.

It was obvious that Packers coach Mike McCarthy had something in mind for McAdoo when he blocked requests from the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to interview him for their offensive coordinator jobs. McAdoo will fill the role once held by the highly regarded Tom Clements, whom McCarthy recently promoted to offensive coordinator to replace the departed Joe Philbin.

While McAdoo is obviously considered an up-and-comer in several corners of the NFL, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers appeared skeptical earlier this week on his ESPN 540 radio show about the possibility of installing a coach with no experience at the position. Here's what Rodgers had to say about reports that McAdoo was a candidate for the job:

"I think that's an interesting conversation I hope I'm in the loop for, because going into my eighth season it'll be interesting to see what direction [McCarthy] wants to go in -- if he wants to bring in a former quarterback with experience to kind of help me with my transition into the middle part of my career being more of an established player in the league now. I'm not sure what the dynamic would be with a coach who hasn't coached the position before, but Ben is a very talented coach and if they do make that decision I'm sure he'll make a very smooth transition."

McAdoo, 34, has coached with McCarthy when both were with the New Orleans Saints (2004) and the San Francisco 49ers (2005). He was one of McCarthy's first hires when he got the Packers job in 2006 and has been their tight ends coach ever since. No matter how good a coach he is, it's fair to ask if he has the expertise to speak the language of a veteran MVP quarterback. McAdoo will also have the important job of developing the Packers' next backup quarterback, assuming that Matt Flynn signs elsewhere as a free agent.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears rounded out their staff by hiring Tim Holt as their offensive line coach. Holt was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' assistant offensive line coach in 2011, and it's expected that new offensive coordinator Mike Tice will retain a daily presence with the offensive line, much as defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli does with the Bears' defensive line.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

In Thursday's Camp Confidential on the Chicago Bears, we discussed the leadership void following the departure of center Olin Kreutz. Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher seemed like the most logical candidate to fill it, and Urlacher discussed that subject with Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.

Urlacher doesn't expect to be more vocal than he normally is, but will continue to make players accountable for mistakes.

"We don't need a guy to go yell at everybody,'' Urlacher told the Tribune. "Our guys, they don't act like [dummies]. They follow rules. They practice hard. They lead by example.''

It's not necessary to have a rah-rah motivator screaming all day long. What the Bears need is a veteran player who others can watch and emulate. Urlacher has the capacity to be that player.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago.com examines the Bears' defense through the eyes of coordinator Rod Marinelli.
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times isn't sure if the Bears and tailback Matt Forte are in "the same zip code" in contract negotiations.
• Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy switched his upcoming night practices to daytime for two reasons, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. First, he wants their "body clocks" on regular-season time. Second, night practices were making for some long days.
• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that Packers defensive back Jarrett Bush is playing cornerback "with far more confidence and aplomb than he ever has. His one-on-one coverage has been better than it's ever been and his mistakes fewer and far between."
• The Packers have already inserted Morgan Burnett into the starting strong safety job ahead of veteran Charlie Peprah, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• It's difficult to see what direction the Minnesota Vikings are headed, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb and receiver Bernard Berrian are both looking to put 2010 behind them, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• McNabb is not fazed by the fact that he's on a one-year contract, notes the Star Tribune.
• Detroit Lions starters will see action for about a quarter in Friday night's preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, notes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham has been quieter than normal during training camp practices, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News: "The Lions line is an enigma wrapped in bandages these days, and I'm certainly not here to tell you it's great. You'd pelt me with over-ripe zucchini if I did. I always think it could use an upgrade. But I am here to say it might be better than we think, and each side -- pro-line, anti-line -- overreacts to disprove the other."

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Thursday evening, we noted the debut of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb and left tackle Charlie Johnson. But from the sounds of it, the player who put on the most eye-catching first-practice display Thursday was Chicago Bears running back Marion Barber.

Barber put on a physical display of running over some defenders, including defensive lineman Vernon Gholston, and stiff-arming others during full-contact running drills, according to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune. At one point, coach Lovie Smith chuckled to himself as Barber obviously raised the intensity of practice.

You continue to wonder if the Bears plan to enter the regular season with three veteran running backs or if it is just a matter of time before they part ways with erstwhile No. 2 back Chester Taylor.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli on Gholston, via Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times: "Vernon's got great speed. He's really put together. Sometimes, for a guy that's played down a little bit more and then he's moved back, sometimes your instincts may possibly get taken away a little bit. But we're going to get him down on the ground, put his hand down there, and just rep him -- over and over and over. Because I know he's got speed, and we've just got to work with him."
• Bears quarterback Jay Cutler via Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago.com: "It's Year 2 [in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's system], it's completely different. It's night and day. I feel a lot more comfortable with the reads and where I'm going with the ball. So it's just a matter of getting the offensive line worked out and getting me and the receivers' timing. We're kind of playing catch up. We don't really have a lot of time with no OTAs and just getting these guys after six practices. We've got to make it happen pretty quickly."
• Green Bay Packers tight ends coach Bob McAdoo has no problem with tight end Jermichael Finley's lean 240-pound frame, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Packers cornerback Davon House is making an early impression in camp, writes Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers defensive line coach Mike Trgovac on the return of defensive end Mike Neal, via Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "I don't want to make any predictions for him. But we're counting on him. We really need him to come through for us."
• The Detroit Lions have taken a wait-and-see approach to defensive end Cliff Avril's contract situation, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• New Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch thinks he'll eventually be moved to the middle, according to the Detroit Free Press.
• Receiver Derrick Williams will have a tough time making the Lions roster, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• Johnson, the Vikings' new left tackle, admitted his first practice was "ugly." Mark Craig of the Star Tribune has more.
• Vikings receiver Bernard Berrian will be a free agent after this season following a restructuring of his contract, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Some Arden Hills, Minn., residents expressed concern about the Vikings' new stadium plan at an open house Thursday night, writes Miles Trump of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Kinda hit a wall Friday evening. Happens. Now refreshed and ready for a weekend that will include our first training camp stop (more on that in a bit), let's slam through some random NFC North thoughts in quick-hit fashion:

Item: Chicago Bears tailback Matt Forte reported to training camp on time Friday after general manager Jerry Angelo assured his contract would be upgraded. "He told me a deal will get done," Forte said. "He said I'm a priority of his. What that means, hopefully that means soon. I mean, there's no telling with them. But to me priority means soon."
Comment: Timing is only half of the uncertainty. Angelo's idea of a fair deal for a running back might be different than Forte's. It's good to know the Bears will make an effort. But after DeAngelo Williams scored $21 million in guarantees from the Carolina Panthers, will their effort match Forte's demands?

Item: Bears camp opened without center Olin Kreutz, who remains an unrestricted free agent.
Comment: Kreutz is in discussions with the Bears but also has interest from the San Francisco 49ers. Odds remain he will return to Chicago, but Kreutz might be wise to let the Bears have a few practices without him to emphasize his value to them. And I'm guessing he won't be too disappointed if his time in Bourbonnais, Ill., is cut short a bit anyway.

Item: The Bears signed defensive end Vernon Gholston to a free agent contract.
Comment: I just googled Gholston to find his career stats. The first suggestion was "Vernon Gholston bust." That tells you all you need to know. The No. 6 overall pick of the 2008 draft has no career sacks. But there is no downside to giving him a flyer for camp, and if anyone can get something out of him, it's Bears defensive coordinator/line guru Rod Marinelli.

Item: The Detroit Lions placed left tackle Jeff Backus (pectoral) and cornerback Alphonso Smith (foot) on the active/non-football injury list.
Comment: Originally both players were destined for the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The difference? Because the injuries occurred during the lockout, the contracts of both players would void (with no injury settlement) if the Lions decide to part ways. I don't think that's going to happen in either case, but it's an available option.

Item: Referring to defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh's brand-building activities this offseason, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said: "There were more Suh sightings than Bigfoot."
Comment: I'm glad someone said it.

Item: The Green Bay Packers agreed to terms with first-round draft pick Derek Sherrod, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette and others.
Comment: The new collective bargaining agreement has rendered rookie negotiations pretty uneventful, at least until agents start finding some loopholes. But at this point, it would be a surprise if an NFC North team had a rookie holdout. The Packers' first practice is Saturday night.

Item: Packers coach Mike McCarthy and his wife, Jessica, welcomed baby daughter Isabella Conroy late Thursday night.
Comment: Sure, McCarthy won the Super Bowl last season. But if he really wants to show us something, he'll take the 2 a.m. feeding throughout training camp.

Item: New Minnesota Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb secured his No. 5 from punter Chris Kluwe in a deal captured on video by the team's web site. McNabb agreed to donate $5,000 to a charity Kluwe supports. He also pledged to mention Kluwe's band in five separate news conferences and finally to buy Kluwe an ice cream cone.
Comment: Kluwe, who will wear No. 4, is one of the breakout stars of the lockout.

Item: The Vikings are presumably still in negotiations to sign a free agent receiver, but coach Leslie Frazier had this to say: "Bernard Berrian is going to step up and have a great year."
Comment: Berrian could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the transition from Brett Favre to McNabb. For reasons that haven't fully been explained, Favre and Berrian never connected on a personal or football level.

Thursday afternoon marked the opening of the NFL's official waiver season, when teams can formally release players and begin adjusting their salary cap structure. We've already discussed the Chicago Bears' now-official decision to release tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, and now we'll hit some other NFC North-related personnel moves in quick-hitting fashion.

Item: The Green Bay Packers have informed linebacker Brady Poppinga and defensive tackle Justin Harrell they will be released, according to Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
Comment: Poppinga was coming off a serious knee injury. Harrell now qualifies as the biggest bust of general manager Ted Thompson's tenure. Drafted with a history of injuries, Harrell couldn't stay on the field for the Packers.

Item: The Minnesota Vikings released safety Madieu Williams.
Comment: Williams was due $5.4 million in 2011, a high price for a player who might not have made the team. He was originally signed on the advice of now-coach Leslie Frazier, but a 2008 neck injury seemed to rob him of some aggressiveness as a tackler. I'm not sure if his replacement is on the roster yet, but Tyrell Johnson might get a chance.

Item: The Detroit Lions will release linebacker Jordon Dizon.
Comment: Dizon was a vestige of Rod Marinelli's Tampa 2 defense and too small to fit into the Lions' current scheme.

Item: The Bears lost out on two free agents they have been reported to have interest in, receiver Brad Smith and offensive lineman Jermon Bushrod.
Comment: They're too busy getting straight at tight end to worry about all that.

This week's edition of ESPN.com's offseason Power Rankings was one of my favorites, and not just because I wrote it. As opposed to ranking the best of this moment, our goal was to look ahead and project some of the people we might include in future Power Rankings.

If we're right, this week's list represents the core members of the next wave of NFL head-coaching candidates. We didn't include college coaches, and we made the executive decision to eliminate anyone who has already been a head coach, allowing us to focus on up-and-coming assistants throughout the league.

Given how much projection was involved in this exercise, I felt most comfortable with the people I know most about. (So did the other bloggers, and 24 assistants ended up appearing on at least one ballot.) To that end, I voted for four NFC North coaches in the order below:

3. Green Bay Packers safeties coach Darren Perry
6. Packers receivers coach Edgar Bennett
7. Chicago Bears special-teams coach Dave Toub
10. Packers assistant head coach/inside linebackers Winston Moss

Moss (No. 6) and Perry (No. 10) made the top 10. My thoughts below:

• Perry has two important attributes going for him. First, he is a good coach and deserves credit not only for guiding the transition of Pro Bowl free safety Nick Collins into a new scheme but also patching together the strong safety spot last season between multiple starters. Second, and this is just as important to his future, he is a long-time disciple of defensive coordinator Dom Capers, having played and coached in his 3-4 scheme. Given the success of the Packers' defense last season, and the fact that both Super Bowl teams played that scheme last season, Perry has the schematic pedigree NFL teams will be looking for. Many people around the league believe it is a matter of when, not if, Perry makes the next step to defensive coordinator.
• Bennett presided over the rise of tailback Ryan Grant from obscurity in 2007 and has drawn particular praise for drills designed to limit fumbles. Grant deserves some credit as well, but the fact remains he lost five fumbles in three years under Bennett as the Packers' primary tailback. Last season, no one among the trio of Brandon Jackson, John Kuhn and James Starks lost a fumble on a running play. The Packers' decision to shift Bennett to receivers coach suggests he is being groomed for a bigger job -- either in Green Bay or elsewhere.
• I didn't really expect anyone else to vote for Toub, and I can't say for sure that an NFL owner would seriously consider hiring a special-teams coach from outside the organization for his own head-coaching job. But Toub has quite simply fielded the most competent and explosive special-teams group in the NFL since joining the Bears in 2004. (One obscure stat among many: The Bears have more blocked kicks during Toub's tenure than any other NFL team.) Toub also has the global mindset necessary to be a head coach, and in 2009, Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid said: "On your staff, the coach that's best prepared to be a head coach is your special-teams coach. They have to deal with everybody on the roster, plus [the media]. That's a tough thing to do. Dave Toub would be a great head coach down the road." Like current Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, Toub might need to move to an offensive or defensive role for a time period to balance his résumé.
• Moss drew interest from both the St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders two years ago for their respective head-coaching jobs. He is a strong leader, someone that players enjoy working for and deserves credit for transitioning A.J. Hawk into an inside linebacker and Desmond Bishop into a full-time starter. Moss has experience in a 3-4 and a 4-3 scheme, and there was talk of the Raiders hiring him as their defensive coordinator this winter. My thought in ranking him No. 10 is that NFL teams would pursue Perry before Moss because of Perry's connection with Capers, but that's just an educated guess.
• Remember, this was a ranking of up-and-coming assistants, not a list of the 10 best assistant coaches in the NFL. If it had been, my list would have looked dramatically different. Many of the NFC North's best assistants are former head coaches who might not get another chance at the top job. That list includes Capers, Chicago Bears assistants Rod Marinelli, Mike Martz and Mike Tice, and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.
• And finally, we put together a little video that you might have missed in the original post. Extra credit for anyone who identifies the photograph in the background of my segment.

We've spent plenty of time discussing the possible combination of offensive linemen the Chicago Bears could be considering with the No. 29 overall pick of next week's draft. But what about the defensive line, where the Bears could use depth across the board and need at least one new starter to replace defensive tackle Tommie Harris?

For that reason, I thought it was interesting Thursday when Bears general manager Jerry Angelo revealed the team has done extensive background work on North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin, a classic "three-technique" tackle who could give the Bears a significant interior playmaker.

As you might know, Austin was dismissed from the team last season because he was a central figure an NCAA investigation into improper contact with agents. Speaking Thursday at a pre-draft news conference, Angelo said Austin has "documented concerns" but that the Bears "have delved into those."

In fact, Angelo said, the two most important figures in the life of any Bears defensive lineman -- coach Lovie Smith and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli -- visited Austin and "spent a goodly amount of time with him." So did area scout Mark Sadowski.

"We feel real good about how we feel about him and knowing him," Angelo said.

NFL teams don't typically hold NCAA violations against potential draft picks unless they learn about more significant issues in the course of background checks. Angelo seemingly doesn't have any concerns about Austin, but in this period of strategic misinformation, he might simply be trying to convince a team who is genuinely interested to initiate trade talks for the No. 29 pick.

In an Insider piece earlier this week, Kevin Weidl of Scouts Inc. notes that Austin seems to be gaining some traction as a late-first round pick -- mostly because of a "steep talent dropoff" after the top 25 or so players. Weidl cautioned against elevating a player like Austin, but it will be interesting to see if the Bears see him as a true value there or a potential trade chip as the first round closes.

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

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: draft rewind -- examining the past five drafts.

Chicago Bears

Best choice: My initial thought was to nominate receiver Johnny Knox, a fifth-round pick two years ago out of Division-II Abilene Christian. Knox has 96 receptions in two seasons and is as close to a No. 1 receiver as the Bears have. But the 2006 decision to draft kick returner Devin Hester in the second round was inspired. Hester has changed the game and has become one of the best returners in the history of football. He has also made steady improvement as a receiver after converting from cornerback. Hester it is.

Worst choice: The Bears made Central Michigan defensive end Dan Bazuin a second-round pick in 2007. He was taken No. 62 overall but never played a regular-season down for the team. A left knee injury ended his rookie season and a second operation on the knee led to his release in the summer of 2008. I'm not sure if the Bears could have projected the knee problems, but bidding farewell to a second-round pick after one year is problematic.

On the bubble: Chris Williams, drafted as the left tackle of the future in 2008, missed almost half of his rookie season because of a back injury and has started at three different positions in the ensuing two years. As of today, the Bears aren't saying where he will play in 2011. The position changes could merit credit for flexibility, or they could be grounds for criticism because the Bears haven't been able to lock him down at left tackle as they have hoped.

Detroit Lions

Best choice: If you had the option between a pass-rushing, playmaking defensive tackle and a freakishly skilled receiver, which would you take? I would go with the former, which is why I'm making defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh my top Lions choice over the past five years. Receiver Calvin Johnson is an elite player, but to me, Suh plays a more important position. I realize Suh wasn't exactly a surprise pick at No. 2 overall in 2010, but it's rare that a player taken at that spot lives up to the hype so quickly.

Worst choice: This discussion is limited to the past five years, so we can't nominate receiver Mike Williams (2005). Many of the Lions' now-discarded draft picks were selected with former coach Rod Marinelli's Tampa 2 defensive scheme in mind, so it's not surprising they would no longer be around. There is no smoking gun in this time period, so I'll go with receiver Derrick Williams, a third-round pick in 2009 who has failed as both a No. 3 receiver and a kick returner.

On the bubble: Quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, has missed more games (19) than he's played (13) in the past two years. His three-game appearance in 2010 suggested improvement over his 20-interception rookie season, but like any player, Stafford must find a way to stay on the field or he will be a bust.

Green Bay Packers

Best choice: Trading back into the first round in 2009 to select linebacker Clay Matthews was an inspired move. And tight end Jermichael Finley, you might recall, was a low third-round pick in 2008. But in this case, I have to go with finding one of the top receivers in the game at the bottom of the second round of the 2006 draft. Greg Jennings was the No. 52 overall pick that year and not exactly a household name after his Western Michigan career. But he was productive from the moment he arrived in Green Bay and earned a well-deserved Pro Bowl berth last season.

Worst choice: Tennessee defensive lineman Justin Harrell had a history of injuries when the Packers made him the No. 16 overall pick in 2007. Not coincidentally, injuries have prevented Harrell from establishing any sort of career. He has played in 14 games over four seasons, felled by back and knee ailments, among others. Because of the value of his draft position, Harrell gets the nod over Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm, who bombed after the Packers took him in the second round in 2008.

On the bubble: The Packers don't have a player who fits neatly into this category, but on a relative scale I would go with guard Daryn Colledge, a second-round pick in 2006. Colledge has started all but three games over the past five years, making several position changes along the way, but the Packers never seem willing to commit to him for the long term. That trend continued last month, when they tendered him as a prospective restricted free agent but didn't seem interested (yet) in a multiyear contract. Is this the year they find someone to take over his left guard spot?

Minnesota Vikings

Best choice: Defensive end Ray Edwards has 29.5 sacks in his five-year career, including 16.5 in the past two season, some significant numbers for a player taken in the fourth round of the 2006 draft (No. 127 overall). But it's hard to get past the value the Vikings have gotten from receiver Percy Harvin, their first pick (No. 22 overall) in 2009. They put a substantial amount of pre-draft work into his background, and he has not been responsible for any off-field issue that has been publicized. In two seasons, moreover, Harvin has 131 receptions and has been a force as a kickoff returner as well. The Vikings didn't fully grasp Harvin's migraine history, but I'm not sure if many teams did at the time.

Worst choice: Safety Tyrell Johnson, whom the Vikings targeted and traded up to the No. 43 slot in 2008 to draft, has been a disappointment and is not guaranteed a starting job in 2011. But as far as impact on the organization, it's hard to look past the decision to trade into the second round of the 2006 draft and select quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. There is no doubt Jackson had some physical skills to get excited about. But ultimately, that decision -- along with former coach Brad Childress' faith in his future development -- set back the franchise and left it in desperation mode this spring.

On the bubble: Right tackle Phil Loadholt was the No. 54 overall pick in 2009 and has started 31 of a possible 32 games since. But is that because he deserves to be an established starter in the NFL, or was he simply the Vikings' best option? There are mixed opinions about Loadholt's performance over that stretch, and it's not clear if the Vikings' new coaching staff considers him an unquestioned starter moving forward.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

CHICAGO -- IT'S HERE.

WE MADE IT.

NO MORE TIME FOR TALK.

NO NEED TO DEBATE.

THE DAY HAS COME TO PLAY THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

GREEN BAY PACKERS.

CHICAGO BEARS.

LET'S DO THIS.

Sorry, my caps lock was jammed.

I'm writing from downtown Chicago, where we are getting a light dusting of snow that apparently will taper off in a few hours. Still, it has given us our own little white Christmas in the NFC North.

While we nervously pace the room, let's take a glance at some headlines from those who have been covering the Packers and Bears all season. I'll check back in with you from Soldier Field in a few hours:

• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune on Bears coach Lovie Smith: "But if the Bears beat the Packers, it will force us to start rethinking the way we view a guy who enjoys more respect around the league than in his own city. It would be time for everyone to show Lovie a little more love."
• Dan Pompei of the Tribune: "A very good chance exists the quarterbacks will decide whether the Bears or Packers goes to the Super Bowl."
• Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times: "Bears-Packers, for everything. If that doesn't give you shivers, nothing will."
• This game puts Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz at center stage, writes Mark Potash of the Sun-Times.
• Can the Bears' offensive line stand up against the Packers' blitzes? That's one of Michael C. Wright's five things to watch in this game over on ESPNChicago.com.
• Michael Wilbon of ESPNChicago.com writes of his boyhood hatred for one of these teams.
• Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "You can bet your cheesehead or your old William Perry poster that Dom Capers and Rod Marinelli, the respective defensive coordinators of the Packers and Bears, spent every waking moment last week crafting game plans to limit the effectiveness of the opposing quarterback."
• Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel on Packers general manger Ted Thompson: "What got the Packers to the position they're in now is the confluence of two natural actions in the Thompson system: the maturation of young players into good players and the natural selection process of replacing good players with better ones. In theory, what you should have is a roster blossoming at the top and budding at the bottom. Whenever a blossom falls, there's a bud ready to bloom and take its place."
• Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette speaks to former Packers president Bob Harlan about the decision to hire Thompson.
• Mike Vandermause of the Press-Gazette: "Yes, today's game at Soldier Field between NFC North rivals is huge. Yes, it will go down as the most important game in the 182-game history of the series. Yes, the winner will dance all the way to Dallas carrying huge bragging rights, while the loser will suffer through an especially long and painful offseason. But no animosity exists between these teams, no matter how hard some try to manufacture it."
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com traces the rising public confidence of Packers coach Mike McCarthy.
• Check out who Wilde picked in this game. He is 14-4 in Packers games this season.
• Seven out of 10 ESPN experts are picking the Packers.
• If you want a pregame speech from the actor who plays Vince Lombardi in the currently-running Broadway show, check it out.

As these thing go, Tuesday's SportsNation chat generated an extended discussion on a postseason award we haven't yet touched but carries special significance this week. If you had a vote, who would be your NFC North coach of the Year? The Chicago Bears' Lovie Smith or the Green Bay Packers' Mike McCarthy?

First, the relevant exchanges. (Keep in mind that "Mike McCarthy" and "Lovie Smith" were proxies for whomever actually submitted the questions.)

Michael Mann (Rib Lake, WI)

Everyone talks about the play calling and play designs of Mike Martz but what about his counterpart in Green Bay. Why doesn't McCarthy get this same type of recognition on arguably one of the best offenses in the league?

Kevin Seifert (2:27 PM)

I think he has. I know I've tried to point out some of the creative things he's done. It's pretty impressive when a team can run the wishbone just as easily as a five WR set.

Mike McCarthy (Green Bay, WI)

Do I have a legitimate case for coach of the year award? I mean look what I did with guys off of the street!

Kevin Seifert (2:33 PM)

You do. Although, again, those awards are based on the regular season only. So getting to the NFC Championship Game isn't counted.

Lovie Smith (Chicago)

You aren't even the COY in your own division there, Mike.

Kevin Seifert (2:49 PM)

Interesting. This much is true. Everyone thought the Packers would be good. No one thought the Bears would be.

Mike McCarthy (Green Bay)

Take [Brian] Urlacher, [Greg] Olsen, [Matt] Forte, and 12 other people away from Lovie Smith and see if he can make the playoffs.

Kevin Seifert (2:52 PM)

And we're off...

This topic is perfect: A simple question with an entirely gray answer. You could make legitimate cases for both men. Assuming you want in on the debate, let me get you started with a few further thoughts of my own.

Smith: Facing a win-or-else mandate after missing three consecutive postseasons, Smith began the offseason with a major shuffle of his coaching staff. He hired Mike Martz as offensive coordinator, Mike Tice as offensive line coach and promoted Rod Marinelli to defensive coordinator. All three were risks in one way or the other, but each has elevated his respective group. Smith directed the Bears back to their core values: Winning with defense, special teams and a balanced offense, in that order. The Bears finished 5-1 in the NFC North and were the first team to win a division title this season.

McCarthy: The Packers were a trendy preseason pick to advance to this exact spot -- before losing more than 200 player starts due to injuries. McCarthy navigated the Packers through the loss of two offensive stars -- tailback Ryan Grant and tight end Jermichael Finley -- along with half of their starting linebackers. A total of 15 players ended up on injured reserve. The Packers nearly upset the New England Patriots in Week 15 behind backup quarterback Matt Flynn and have since won four consecutive games. For more details on this issue, check out Bill Barnwell's Insider piece on the health differences between the Packers and Bears this season.

Remember, the official NFL Coach of the Year award, as determined by the Associated Press, is based purely on regular-season performance. Here on the NFC North blog, we're not bound by those constraints. So let your thoughts be known in the comment section below. This isn't really an official "Have at It," but I might post a few of your responses later this week. Now get to it.

Ryeguy812 has it figured out. To stop the New England Patriots offense this Sunday, all the Chicago Bears have to do is "just keep watering the surface at Soldier Field. If the Patriots can't stand up, they can't score."

We can cross that one off the list. Never would the Bears, nor the Chicago Park District, intentionally sabotage Soldier Field's sod to their own advantage. Ever. Pshaw.

This week's installment of "Have at It" made you the Bears' defensive coordinator. (Take a well-deserved break, Rod Marinelli.) We asked you to help devise a game plan for slowing down a Patriots offense that is averaging 40 points per game over the past month with a quarterback in the middle of an MVP season; Tom Brady has thrown 27 touchdown passes against four interceptions and leads the NFL with a 109.5 passer rating.

Given those numbers, ZTAclerk suggested summoning Jobu, that mystical voodoo doll of elite sports performance. But as it turns out, Pedro Cerrano isn't sharing. So we'll need to figure this one out on our own.

Much of your discussion centered around whether the Bears should stick with their traditional Cover 2 defense or whether they should play more man-to-man than normal against the Patriots' highly efficient short passing game.

Indeed, according to ESPN Stats & Information, nearly 75 percent (287-of-385) of Brady's passes this season have traveled 10 or less yards in the air. He's thrown only 66 passes between 11 and 20 yards in the air, fewer than 21 other NFL quarterbacks, and only 32 of 21 or more yards -- good for No. 20 in the NFL.

"The only way to beat Brady and the Pats is to get to him with four down linemen and play the Cover 2 better than they have all year," wrote jmrushton. "Take those short routes, wrap up, and keep your eyes on a swivel for a tipped ball. Tighten up in the red zone and make the Patriots kick field goals all day rather than score TD's."

The Randy Moss trade left the Patriots without a legitimate deep threat, believes texastufsob, and thus opens up the possibility of man defense: "[The Bears] should be able to play more man to man coverage leaving smaller windows for Brady to throw."

RestoreTheRoarMan suggested that too much of either scheme would spell doom for the Bears: "If the Bears run man to man, they will get destroyed. It's just a bad idea. Running zone all day will of course kill the Bears as well, since they're going against Brady. They need to mix up their coverage schemes ... and utilize a lot of motion and trickery."

With strong-side linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa out because of a knee injury, and backup Nick Roach limited by a hip ailment, the Bears might be forced into their nickel grouping more than normal. That would be fine with Seandogg85, who wants to see playmaking nickel back D.J. Moore on the field as much as possible: "For the Bears to perform well, they will probably need to play in the nickel package quite a bit (gotta love some DJ Moore, subbing out the lb)."

Seandogg85 and others suggested the Bears will need a big boost from their special teams. Wrote 501flow: "Field position will be especially crucial for this one, specifically on the kicking end. The Bears have to keep the Patriots on their side of the field. If they can win the special teams phase the game is theirs to lose. They control their own destiny. The Pats deep threat is questionable and bad field position weakens the potency of a short passing game and run game."

My take? I could be wrong, but I don't see Marinelli or coach Lovie Smith going much beyond their comfort zone in terms of play calls. They believe in simplicity of approach and value execution more than misdirection.

So I think they'll be awfully tempted to make this a strength-on-strength matchup: Can the Patriots outmuscle the Bears' front four and find holes in the Cover 2? Or will the Bears speed up Brady's clock enough to create big-play opportunities for the back seven?

Frankly, if I were the Bears, I would do the same thing. They're not a trick-based defense. They are a punch-you-in-the-mouth defense. I think they'll try to wear down the Patriots with mostly the same scheme that has brought them to 9-3 this season. Will it work? Put it this way: It has a better chance than something they haven't done much of this season.

We're Black and Blue All Over, and thankful to see the resolution of an Upper Midwest broadband outage:

As we put a wrap on Week 13 in the NFC North, we note a slight change in the NFC playoff picture. If the season ended today, the Green Bay Packers still wouldn't qualify for the playoffs. But as ESPN.com's handy playoff standings page shows, the Packers have jumped to No. 7 in the six-team race. The top 10 NFC teams based on playoff seedings, as of Monday morning and including the Minnesota Vikings:

1. Atlanta Falcons (10-2)
2. Chicago Bears (9-3)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
4. St. Louis Rams (6-6)
5. New Orleans Saints (9-3)
6. New York Giants (8-4)
7. Green Bay Packers (8-4)
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
9. Seattle Seahawks (6-6)
10. Minnesota Vikings (5-7)

The Giants would earn a playoff berth over the Packers because of their conference record, but the Packers can rectify that situation in Week 16 in the teams' head-to-head matchup. Meanwhile, by virtue of their No. 2 seed and their Week 12 defeat of the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bears have a nice chance to earn a first-round playoff bye if they continue winning.

More to come throughout the week. But first, our morning spin around the division:

• Vikings quarterback Brett Favre will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of his sprained right shoulder. His streak of consecutive games is at 297. The Star Tribune has more.
• The Vikings' 38-14 victory over the Buffalo Bills was a testament to the acrobatic receptions of receiver Sidney Rice and the stellar day of tailback Adrian Peterson, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com. Pelissero: "If anything, Rice's two sprawling touchdown grabs and Peterson's stellar day on a sprained ankle -- 16 carries for 107 yards and three touchdowns -- provided reminders of how little the quarterback had to do at times last season to keep this offense rolling."
• The Vikings unveiled rookie quarterback Joe Webb for the opening kickoff return Sunday, but his day was cut short by a hamstring injury. The St. Paul Pioneer Press has more.
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette writes that the Packers "took care of business" in Sunday's 34-16 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
• Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reviews the 18-carry afternoon of Packers rookie tailback James Starks.
• Packers defensive end Cullen Jenkins' two sacks brought his season total to a career-high seven, but he also re-injured his calf. Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com has more.
• Bears receiver Earl Bennett matched his career high with seven receptions in Sunday's 24-20 victory over the Detroit Lions, notes Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears cornerback D.J. Moore stood up and made a huge fourth-down play Sunday, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times: "Bears coach Lovie Smith isn't one to get caught up in extremes of emotion, but that didn't stop him from directing some well-chosen words at his defense at halftime of the team's 24-20 victory Sunday against the Detroit Lions."
• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com: "What's important to recognize -- which the Bears do -- is that there's going to have to be some of that in every facet for this team to reach its ultimate goal as the season lurches toward crunch time. The Bears don't have to apologize for winning ugly. The fact the club recognizes that, acknowledges its shortcomings, and harps on them -- even while basking in the luster of victory -- speaks to this team developing the mentality needed to excel in the all-important stretch run."
• Bears general manager Jerry Angelo wasn't happy with the forearm shiver that quarterback Jay Cutler took from Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune. Angelo: "He's too great a player for that. That was a poor sign of a football player in the National Football League, given all that our game stands for.''
• Brian VanOchten of Mlive.com: "The reputation around the league Detroit has earned under [coach Jim] Schwartz's leadership is both a blessing and a curse. The Lions are much tougher and much more respected after putting together a fearsome foursome of pass rushers up front, but their total lack of discipline at inopportune moments late in close games is what has kept them from making some real progress in the NFC North standings this year."
• Lions quarterback Drew Stanton made a point to shake the hand of his former coach, current Bears defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, after the game. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News: "Their intentions usually are good. Their spirit and effort usually are good. Their implementation of basic plays at key times? Incredibly, consistently ineffective. Gripe about the call if you wish, because it was the type of call the Lions don't get. Fine. It was borderline, but Suh also didn't need to hit with such a violent-looking flourish, something referee Ed Hochuli called an "unnecessary non-football act." It probably appeared worse than it was, but naturally, the Lions made it worse than it was."

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Detroit Lions receiver Nate Burleson said earlier this week that his team will win in Sunday's matchup against the Chicago Bears. Across Lake Michigan, Bears linebacker Lance Briggs sent Burleson an unsolicited thanks Thursday.

Briggs, via Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com: "Deep down, every player, I would think you would guarantee a win every week you go into it. It's good. It should fire them up. I know it definitely fires us up. We've got it pinned up everywhere in our meeting rooms. I've been tricked into guaranteeing a win a long time ago. I won't be tricked again. We got beat like 45-12 or something like that. I'm not going to guarantee more wins."

The Bears were the last NFC North team to lose to the Lions, on Oct. 28, 2007. Since then, the Lions have lost 18 consecutive division games. Something has got to give sometime. Will it be this weekend? Well, er, uh....

Continuing around the division on this fine Friday morning:

• Bears running backs Chester Taylor and Kahlil Bell had to be separated following an altercation during Thursday's practice, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears defensive tackle Matt Toeaina hasn't put up much in the way of numbers since replacing Tommie Harris in the starting lineup, but the team is pleased with his work, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli: "Certain guys, statistics don't define them, and [Toeaina is] one of those guys. He makes some plays where he disrupts, and you might not see him, and he pushes a pocket. He does everything right, and he does it as hard as he can.''
• When they rush four or fewer down linemen, the Bears rank first in the NFL in yards per attempt (6.0), opponent passer rating (68.0) and attempts per first down (3.5), and second in interceptions (13), according to Wright over on ESPNChicago.com.
• Lions receiver Calvin Johnson has moved past his Week 1 disappointment, writes Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News.
• Lions place-kicker Jason Hanson, placed on injured reserve Thursday, doesn't plan to retire. Hanson, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "I feel like I can still kick. You don't get to pick to your ending, but I don't feel satisfied finishing like this. So I'll do whatever it takes to make an effort to be at my best form next year and try it again."
• Lions center Dominic Raiola is the only healthy player remaining among the four who were selected captains in the beginning of the season, notes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews' production has dipped a bit recently, possibly a result of a shin injury that has limited his practice time. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more.
• Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette traces Packers receiver Donald Driver's season, which has been interrupted by a quadriceps injury. Driver: "It always happens -- you get to the point where if you go out and you're not 100 percent ... and you start to fall off, everyone starts complaining -- maybe he's old and can't do it anymore. That's not it. You can be young and have injuries. You can be old and have injuries. It doesn't matter. It's just how you bounce back from it. It doesn't matter about age. Age is just a number. I've proven that."
• Packers coach Mike McCarthy is 5-14 in games decided by four points or fewer, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune speaks with Minnesota Vikings linebackers coach Fred Pagac, who has taken over most roles of the defensive coordinator since Leslie Frazier's promotion to interim head coach.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com considers whether any NFL team would want Brett Favre to play for it in 2011.
• The Vikings could lose assistant head coach/running backs Eric Bieniemy to Colorado, writes David Ubben of ESPN.com.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Uh-oh. Another late-game collapse led two veteran players -- both in their first years with the Detroit Lions -- to call out teammates for accepting the organization's long-term losing culture. Nose tackle Corey Williams and cornerback Chris Houston both suggested there is not enough heart in the team's locker room.

Williams, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "There's a bunch of guys that need to be called out. A bunch of guys need to look in the mirror, realize that there's more to it than just playing in the NFL. There's more to it than getting paid. You got guys, everybody out here got their career on the line, you know what I mean? You can easily take your last snap at any moment, so I think guys need to take it more serious. I don't think guys take it serious enough."

Houston: "When adversity hits, everybody can't hold their head down. Leaders got to step up and lead. When adversity hits on the team, you kind of see it in some guys' body language, here we go again. You can just tell. So we just got to have heart and know that when adversity hits we got to keep on fighting."

After watching Thursday's 45-24 loss to the New England Patriots, it would be difficult to disagree with either sentiment. Whether we heard it from the right messengers is a separate issue.

Williams, for one, has been a part of a really good defensive line this year, but he committed another two encroachment penalties Thursday, bringing his season total to nine. He has 10 penalties overall.

We'll hit this issue in more depth a bit later in our Free Head Exam. For now, let's take our post-Thanksgiving spin around the division:

• Lions cornerback Alphonso Smith took full blame for his horrendous performance, saying he was being "selfish" by peeking into the backfield when he had deep responsibility on what became a 79-yard touchdown pass to Patriots receiver Deion Branch. Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News has more.
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News: "Some can be pinned on team leaders, but ultimately it gets pinned on the coach. [Jim] Schwartz is 4-23, the same dreary level as Rod Marinelli (10-38) and Marty Mornhinweg (5-27). He's a better coach than those two, but we can't keep saying that if the evidence doesn't support it."
• Schwartz on the team's penalty totals, via Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com: "The fact is, when you're a 2-9 football team, you're not going to get those calls. When you're a 9-2 team, you're going to get those calls. That's the way the NFL is. It's close games and we don't have the reputation of being a team that makes those plays. We need to make those plays and then complain about officiating."
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune offers this outstanding line: "If it's true chicks dig the long ball, how did Jay Cutler attract Kristin Cavallari?" Cutler has only one completion over 30 yards this season.
• All Bears players had full participation in practice Thursday, reports Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears tight end Greg Olsen remains on track to catch more passes than any tight end in the Mike Martz offense, notes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "You check out Frank Zombo's bio and look up to see him starting at right outside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers and you wonder: How in the world did the dots ever get connected?"
• The Packers are hoping for significant contributions from running back Dimitri Nance, writes Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com tells the amazing story of Packers safety Charlie Peprah, whose family fled Ghana in 1978.
• The Minnesota Vikings are working to protect young cornerbacks Asher Allen and Chris Cook, writes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
• Since 1990, interim head coaches in the NFL have gone 51-111 for the remainder of the season in which they took over, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Don't totally rule out Donovan McNabb as a future quarterback option for the Vikings, writes Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.