Klein: Training Camp Position Battles (NFC North)

NFC North

Green Bay Packers- Don Hutson Center
The training wheels will come off some players this year at Packers training camp. WR James Jones (274 yards, 1 TD) and WR Jordy Nelson (366 yards, 2 TDs) will battle for the spot in the slot this August. The two speedy wide outs have great talent, but only one of them really fits in the slot. I see Jones as more of a #3 WR and Nelson as a guy who will split out wide when Driver or Jennings comes out. It was clear last year that Jones had game breaking speed and that is what makes him so fitting for the slot. His 6'1" structure makes him a small option for quick routes and easier flow in the offense. Nelson will probably get the nod at slot because of his higher level of talent but I don't think a 6'3" wide out with a 40 speed that has clocked in at anywhere between 4.5 and 4.6. Look for Nelson in the slot but Jones is the player that truly belongs there. Another battle will be found at the nose tackle position in Green Bay's 3-4 defense. This past April the Packers selected NT B.J. Raji, a monstrous run-stopping player who is perfect for Packers' DC Dom Capers. Right now he will battle with NT Ryan Pickett, a DL who is versatile enough to play NT and DE. Eventually Raji will take over the NT position because he is 10-times more athletic than Pickett. Expect to see the two line up next to each other to form the largest defensive line in the NFL. No one, and I repeat, no one will be running on this Packers' front 7.

NOTE: Doesn't Raji look so cute in that picture? He thinks he's a running back-haha.

BATTLES
3rd WR: James Jones vs. Jordy Nelson
Winner: Jordy Nelson (should be Jones)

Starting NT: Ryan Pickett vs. B.J. Raji
Winner: B.J. Raji

Minnesota Vikings- Minnesota State University
No Favre. No problem. Well, that is just in my eyes. The quarterback battle between QBs Sage Rosenfels and Tavaris Jackson is really starting to heat up in camp. You have already heard my feelings on Rosenfels before in my Fantasy Preview for QBs so I will make this short and sweet. If coach Brad Childress decided to act like an actual child then there may be a problem up in Minnesota. Childress invested years into Tavaris Jackson and his stubborn nature left him empty handed in his years as a head coach. The team spent a 2nd-round pick on the athletic quarterback out of Alabama State, but he never seemed to work out. Now that Favre is out of the picture my boy Sage can show what he has in him. The Vikings can benefit from a pocket passer like Rosenfels because of how much more it will open up the rest of the offense. Expect to see Peterson continue his immaculate career and players like Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian to excel with Sage under center. Watch Rosenfels lead this team to a division title. A huge but lesser known defensive battle is taking place this summer at their camp. The Vikes' defense calls for plenty of athletic defensive backs to play in their Nickel and Dime sets. On their defense, their Nickelback is just as important as their #1 CB. Teams are forced to abandon the run against Vikings due to their massive front 7 so they installed a nickel pass defense to shut down the pass as well. CBs Marcus McCauley, Charles Gordon, and Tyrell Johnson will battle it out for this entire month. Expect to see Gordon and Johnson getting the most time at this position due to McCauleys unsuccessful season last year at the position. The starter at the spot will most likely be ball-hawk Charles Gordon due to the fact that he is comfortable in the system and knows how to play the position the best. Johnson will get plenty of looks at the nickel spot, the Vikes did use a 2nd-round pick on him after all.

BATTLES
Starting QB: Sage Rosenfels vs. Tavaris Jackson
Winner: Sage Rosenfels

Nickback: Marcus McCauley vs. Charles Gordon vs. Tyrell Johnson
Winner: Charles Gordon

Chicago Bears- Olivet Nazarene University
The Bears defensive has always had a feared secondary but this year there is a huge void to fill at safety. The Bears parted ways with injury-prone SS Mike Brown so the two that will duel it out for his position are S Josh Bullocks, who was acquired in free agency, and S Craig Steltz, a stand-out at LSU. It is clear that Steltz has the edge for the fact that he wasn't cut by a team who has one of the worst secondaries in the league, the Saints. Then again, Steltz did have a huge problem filling in last year and making tackles on pivitol players. Regardless of who wins the spot, it still will be the weakest spot in their secondary. I personally think that Steltz will win it because of his athletic ability and his football smarts. Steltz has the capability of being a hard hitting safety that can captain a secondary with little leadership. Expect the 2nd-year boy to run the show for the Bears.

BATTLE
Starting SS: Craig Steltz vs. Josh Bullocks
Winner: Craig Steltz

Detroit Lions-Detroit Lions Training Facility
We all know what to keep an eye on at the Lions training camp, the quarterback competition. Who will it be? Veteran QB Daunte Culpepper, the man with something to prove, or rookie #1 pick QB Matt Stafford. Right now Culpepper is the front runner to start the season with a lighter frame and healthier body. The Lions brought in Scott Linehan to work with Culpepper (if you remember, Culpepper's best years were with Linehan) and to coach the offense. I expect the Lions to start Culpepper Week 1, but it won't be long until Stafford is off the pine. Stafford doesn't have enough under his belt to start right off the bat, but the preseason could change that. Another extremely interesting battle is on defense for the ILB position. The battle will be between second year man Jordon Dizon and recently acquired Larry Foote. Dizon was drafted last year but didn't do much in '08. His upside still keeps him as a candidate to start and it has been said that he was impressive in OTA's. His competitor, Foote, comes from the best to the worst team in the NFL (Steelers to the Lions...yea, that sucks), but his championship mentality will bring strength to this defense and will help plenty. I see Foote to win the job just because of his edge in experience during the playoffs and crucial games. Dizon will be a starter in future years and will get looks on 3rd downs this year as well. The linebacking core of Sims, Foote, and Peterson could be extremely strong in a weaker division like the North.


BATTLES
Starting QB: Matt Stafford vs. Daunte Culpepper
Winner: Daunte Culpepper

Starting ILB: Larry Foote vs. Jordon Dizon
Winner: Larry Foote