In my continuing series on impact players for 2009, I make a stop in the NFC North. Four players who need to produce this season to make their teams contenders. Matt Bowen
In my continuing series on impact players for 2009, I make a stop in the NFC North. Four players who need to produce this season to make their teams contenders.
Click HERE to check out the AFC North’s impact players.
Click HERE to check out the AFC East’s impact players.
Click HERE to check out the NFC East’s impact players.
The Impact Players: NFC North
Chicago: DT Tommie Harris
The Bears were subpar on the defensive side of the ball in 2008, and despite the fact new QB Jay Cutler has been getting all the attention this offseason, if Chicago wants to compete for an NFC North title, it will need production from its defense — especially Harris.
Although the Bears were fifth in the league in ’08 against the run (93.5 ypg), they were 30th against the pass (241.2 ypg), and that can be attributed to the lack of a pass rush from their front four. As I’ve written before here at the NFP, Tampa 2 defenses such as Chicago depend on a solid push from their front four, which allows the secondary to keep receivers in front of them and limit the explosive plays in the passing game. Harris — although he contributed five sacks in ’08 — needs to return to the dominant form he had during the Bears’ Super Bowl run in ’05.
He has the ability, and when healthy, he’s a Pro Bowl talent on the defensive line. Chicago brought in new defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, the former head coach in Detroit who’s considered one of the best teachers in the league, for a reason — to push Harris and the entire front four. Cutler or not, this ball club needs to play better defense to win games, and it starts up front.
Detroit: WR Bryant Johnson
The Lions have a franchise wide receiver on the field in Calvin Johnson, but they need more production from role players like Bryant Johnson — especially if rookie QB Matthew Stafford is put under center early in the season.
Bryant Johnson isn’t going to be expected to produce like a No. 1 target, but the Lions need to find away to exploit defenses that continue to roll their covergages towards C.J. To do that, they need players like Bryant Johnson to make plays in the passing game — especially in third down situations. If he produces, he will not only open up coverage schemes for C.J. — and some man-to-man coverage — he’ll also allow the Lions to open up the middle of the field for rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew, who could be an essential target for Stafford.
I like the idea of the Lions playing Stafford as early as possible, depending on his ability to command the huddle and the offense at the pro level. But they need to give him as many weapons and as many outlets as possible in the passing game to ease his transition.
Green Bay: NT B.J. Raji
It’s a lot to ask for a rookie to step into a starting lineup and contribute for 16 straight weekends in the NFL, but Raji is a top-10 pick — and top-10 picks are expected top play and produce immediately in this league.
The 3-4 defense was brought to Green Bay when the Packers hired Dom Capers as the team’s defensive coordinator, and a key to any new system is finding the right players to fit it. The 3-4 has officially made its mark in the NFL, and with that comes a shortage of players at key positions — and the nose is essential to the success of not only the defensive line in the 3-4, but the entire defense. The Packers can use DT Ryan Pickett in a rotational system with Raji, but they drafted Raji for a reason — to start and to make plays.
I’m not concerned about the Packers’ ability to score points on offense, but I am concerned about their ability to transition to a new defensive scheme and become a dominant unit over the course of one offseason. However, it can be done, and it starts up front with Raji. If he grasps the pro game and does whatever Capers asks of him, the rest of the defense will benefit — and this team can become a playoff contender. Playing nose in this scheme is a big job, but the Packers envisioned that when they used the ninth overall pick on Raji in April.
Minnesota: WR Percy Harvin
The issues surrounding the quarterback position in Minnesota are far from resolved, but the Vikings made a smart move by drafting Florida’s Percy Harvin in the first round — and that will add some creativity to an offense that has depended on the legs of running back Adrian Peterson.
The Vikings ranked 25th in the league last season in passing (184.8 ypg), and although I still believe that Peterson is the key to another division title, the addition of Harvin allows them to open up their offensive attack and count on some explosive plays in the passing game. Harvin is the type of player who can win when aligned in favorable match-ups, and he also allows WR Bernard Berrian to play the role that best suits him and this offense — as a deep-ball threat outside the numbers.
Harvin is only a rookie, but the Vikings will use him in a number of different ways to put the ball in his hands. Brett Favre or not, this offense will always be dependent on the production of its running back, but it has to give head coach Brad Childress a sense of comfort knowing that Harvin will allow him to expand his offensive scheme.
Next: The Impact Players of the AFC South.
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I'd like to see how A.J Hawk does in the new 3-4 defense this year. I think injuries affected him more than he let on last year, so it will be interesting to see how well he does if he stays healthy. He was drafted at #5 to be an impact player- it's time for him to step up his game.
Well, Raji does need to produce, that's for sure. We won't really see to much from him at that postition, though, obviously. At least not in the box-score.
Franklin,
I have to disagree... if you watch these teams play that is exactly who they are counting on to make plays this year.
Harvin is a key piece to the Vikes offense this season... he will be even better with Mr. Favre in town.
Vikes take the North again.
Have to agree with Matt on T Harris...
It is about time for him to start living up to that massive contract and give the secondary some chances to make plays.
I don't see Raji making an immediate impact. I think it will at least take him half the season to adjust to the pro game. This in turn is very bad for the Packer defense. I see the Pack finishing behind the Queens and the Bums.
Harvin will be hurt way too much to be an impact player. And there is no qb again in Minni.
Harris, like Raji, is the key to that defense. His ability to take double and triple teams, allows the other 3 on the line to be one on one.
Bryant Johnson and impact player? Not likely. It is Bryant Johnson. NUFF SAID.
I think the whole Packer Defense needs to step up and be the "impact player". The Packers have made the following changes ...
- Changed Defensive Coordinators 3 times in past 4 years.
- Made 4 first round choices in past 3 years as defensive selections
- Choose 2 1st rounders as defensive selections this year
- Switched from 4-3 to 3-4 this year
- Have only made 1 free agency defensive aquisition of any worth in past 4 years
Time for the defense to step up as a whole, lest TT and MC should be on the bubble.
What about the Packers OTHER #1 pick? No, not Clay Matthews. I'm talking about Justin Harrell! If you want to talk about potential impact players, let's go with Harrell.
Of course I'm intrigued to see the impact of Raji and Matthews, the recovery of Hawk, Barnett and Jenkins, the transition of Kampman...but no player on the Pack D has more questions to answer this year than Harrell. Can he stay healthy, and if so, how good he be?
Mark,
Harrell hasn't done anything in this league to even warrant a mention yet in my opinion...
How can he be an impact player if he can't stay healthy?
Rogue-
Thanks for the comments, but listing Bryant Johnson is the point of this post.
Players that need to produce for the benefit of the guys and the team around him.
Thanks.
Mark-
I think that question about Harrell is something everyone is wondering about, including Capers himself...
No one knows if he can produce or not yet at the NFL level.
Matt/NTom-
The many very legitimate questions about Harrell's health and production are *exactly* why he would be tops on my list in terms of impact guys.
Most people agree that Raji (and hopefully) Matthews will play and produce this year. If you add Harrell to that list, this Packer defense could be something quite special.
You're right on, Mark. If Harrell can "man up" and stay healthy, there will be one heck of a competition for playing time in that DL. Add to that Jenkins coming back strong and you truly have a special DL.
Something that gets lost in the equation with rookies is that linemen tend to be able to adjust to the pro game a lot faster than your skill position guys operating in the open field. It's not unusual at all for a rookie lineman to make a difference his first year. On the o-line, even late round picks occasionally start as rookies and do well (in GB, Timmerman and Tauscher come to mind).
For Detroit, I think Pettigrew is really the guy who is going to have to step up to the plate this year, especially if Stafford gets the call. He's going to be key in running, receiving and pass protection for that offense. If he does well, good things will happen there. If he struggles, I don't care WHAT Bryant Johnson does...
So many question marks, so many changes, lots of new blood... the Norris division is gonna be exciting this year, no matter what else happens. Can't wait!!
Maybe I misunderstood "impact player". I just read this: "players who need to produce this season to make their teams contenders" and thought there is no way the Vikings would be relying on a rookie receiver to make them a contender. Rookie receivers just can't be counted on to be consistent over the course of the season. I would think that a healthy Atari Bigby, who is able to move up and play in the box, as well as drop back into coverage effectively, would be more of an impact player than a 3-4 DE, which is where Raji is currently slotted.
Thoughts on Bigby, Matt?
ahh yes Urlacher, Briggs, and Tinoisamoa eating up Brett again and hmmm fresh meat with Harvin .. ohh yeah and those Lions .. Yep NFC North equals Bears and the rest of those guys
"I like the idea of the Lions playing Stafford as early as possible, depending on his ability to command the huddle and the offense at the pro level. But they need to give him as many weapons and as many outlets as possible in the passing game to ease his transition."
<<<AGREED. Let him be the star. Put those big guns at WR on the field and blow stuff up with it.
No way they can play 8 down to stop the run now. They have a TE big enough demand help against his blocking, and fast enough to split the middle deep, coverage can;t dictate things on this team.
The North is becoming a QB division, another reason the pressure is on to get someone in MN who can do something of that nature. They need a passer and a field leader.
Stafford and Cutler and Rodgers are all young guns. Would it take a crafty old gunslinger to try and play to that level for the Vikings?
Matt,
The guy on the Lions that I think should or needs to be an impact player is Daunte Culpepper. He is reunited with his former offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan, who he had his best years under. Culpepper has dropped weight and has more time wiht the rest of the offense. Bryan Johnson will never be an impact player. He had a chance to do that in San Fran, and failed. Nuff said.
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Jun 09, 2009
10:37 AM
2 rookies as "Impact Players", one a receiver?
Come on, Matt, you're slipping.