Author: David Shama

In an NFC North team-by-team ranking of quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, special teams and coaches, former Minnesota Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton designated the Chicago Bears No. 1 five times, while the Vikings were first four times.  The Vikings, though, received only one No. 2 ranking, and were labeled with two No. 3 rankings and two No. 4 designations.  

Dalton, who now studies the NFL as a  pro football expert for local and national media, believes the Vikings will have an 8-8 record, improving on last season’s 6-10 but will finish in third place in the division behind the Bears (12-4 , Green Bay Packers (9-7) and just ahead of the fast improving Detroit Lions (7-9).  

Here’s a capsule look at Dalton’s comments about offenses, defenses, special teams and coaches: 

Quarterbacks: “Brett Favre is still the best quarterback in the NFC North and (rates) in the upper echelon in the NFL,” Dalton told Sports Headliners.  After Green Bay’s Favre, Chicago ranked No. 2 in the division followed by Detroit and Minnesota.  Tarvaris Jackson has played in four NFL games for the Vikings while Brooks Bollinger’s NFL career with two teams during four years adds up to nine starts.  Another backup, Drew Henson, has started one game in three seasons with two teams.  “That’s a total youth movement that’s completely unproven,” Dalton said. 

Running backs:  Dalton believes “Minnesota adding Adrian Peterson gives them a game breaking, game changing talent to an already very talented group of running backs….”  Chicago, led by Cedric Benson, rates No. 2 with Dalton, followed by Detroit and Green Bay.  Dalton thinks rookie Brandon Jackson could be a key to the Packer season and may become a starter. 

Wide receivers and tight ends:  Dalton said Chicago has a “little bit of everything” including depth.  He likes the potential of rookie tight end Greg Olsen who will provide a vertical threat to the offense.  Detroit, Green Bay and the Vikings rank two, three and four.  Dalton said Minnesota draws a “lot of question marks across the board.”  

Offensive line: Although Dalton thinks Chicago had the best line in the division last year, the Bears have some aging players and he ranks their unit No. 2 behind Minnesota but ahead of Green Bay and Detroit.  The Vikings have a talented offensive line led by center Matt Birk and guard Steve Hutchinson but the unit must improve after a disappointing season in 2006. 

Defensive line:  The Vikings led the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed per game last season (61.6).  “Minnesota’s two tackles are a dominant duo in Pat Williams and Kevin Williams and they virtually locked down opponents’ running games (last year).  The question mark for the Vikings will be the health of Erasmus James. …”   James is recovering from a left knee injury and if healthy could give the Vikings the speed rushing defensive end they want.  Still, Dalton ranks Minnesota’s line first in the division, followed by Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay. 

Linebackers:  The Bears, led by Brian Urlacher, perhaps the best middle linebacker in the NFL, rank No. 1.   Dalton said “as a group they are tremendously productive and the class of the NFC North. …”  Next are Green Bay, Minnesota and Detroit.  He likes the Packers young linebackers including A.J. Hawk, a rookie last season who “did a phenomenal job of living up to his billing and potential.” 

Secondary:  Dalton said it’s a close call but he rates Minnesota ahead of Chicago, followed by Green Bay and Detroit.  “Even though the Vikings physically gave up a lot of (passing) yardage (last season),  I think they have the most talented foursome in the NFC North with Antoine Winfield being the best tackling corner in the league, …” Dalton said.  He rates Cedric Griffin “an upgrade” over the now departed Fred Smoot at the other corner back spot.  Minnesota has veteran safeties in Darren Sharper and Dwight Smith.  Plus, Dalton said quality depth is what separates Minnesota’s secondary from division rivals. 

Special teams:  “Clearly the Bears are the best in almost all phases of special teams,” Dalton said.  Dalton described Devin Hester, who produced five touchdowns last season as a rookie returning punts and kickoffs, as “an explosive, dynamic player.”   He said Robbie Gould, 32-36 on field goals last year, is a “terrific kicker.”  Dalton added that the Bears draft players for their kickoff and punt coverage needs. Minnesota, Detroit and Green Bay rank two, three and four in special teams.  

Coaching: Dalton’s rationale for ranking the coaching staffs is to use the order of last season’s division standings, Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota and Detroit.  His logic is coaches are judged on results and that’s how the teams finished last year. “Clearly the best of the bunch is Lovie Smith and his staff,” Dalton said.  He admires the improvement the Bears’ staff has made since Smith began there in 2004.  He also noted that Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy, Minnesota’s Brad Childress and Detroit’s Rod Marinelli were all first year coaches.

Dalton described the Vikings as “a winning program” when Childress took over and noted that Minnesota won four of its first six games.  But the Vikings lost their last three games and finished 6-10, the franchise’s worst record since 2002.  “We saw this group regress,” Dalton said.  “On the surface that’s a bad trend going into the off-season. … They’ve gone through a shuffling of personnel and they’re in a rebuilding mode now with a lot of young players in a lot of positions.”

Vikings head coach Brad Childress is back from vacationing on the New Jersey Shore and in Aruba. 

Wild president and general manager Doug Risebrough talking about re-signing Derek Boogaard, 25, to a new multi-year contract earlier this week:  “Derek’s development is a testament to his dedication, discipline and the emphasis he places on team above individual.  Through his style of play and his personality he has made himself a valued player and person in the organization.”   (The 6-foot-7, 254-pound forward led the Wild in penalty minutes for a second consecutive season).

Starting next week the Wild will hold a seven day development camp in the Twin Cities for 31 of its prospects with participants including No. 1 draft choices from 2007 (Colton Gillies), 2006 (James Sheppard) and 2005 (Benoit Pouliot).

When Minnesota goes to Saint John’s in Collegeville next month for several days of pre-season practice, head coach Tim Brewster will have legendary Johnnies coach John Gagliardi, college football’s all-time winningest coach, talk to the Gophers.

Michael Cuddyer tied a career high with four hits last night in the Twins’ 3-2 loss to Detroit. Relief pitcher Pat Neshek hasn’t allowed a run in 36 of his last 40 appearances.  He struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning last night and now has 58 strikeouts in 47.1 innings.

Former Minnesota Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton now follows the NFL while working for national and local media.  In an interview with Sports Headliners, he predicted the 2007 Vikings will have an 8-8 record, improving on last season’s 6-10 but will finish in third place in the NFC North behind the Chicago Bears (12-4), Green Bay Packers (9-7) and just ahead of the fast improving Detroit Lions (7-9).   Last season the records of those teams were 13-3, 8-8 and 3-13.

The Bears, who lost to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl, are superior or compare favorably to their division rivals in all elements that make up a football team, including coaching, according to Dalton.  Questions about running backs, defensive line and special teams moderate optimism about the Packers who did close the season with momentum winning four straight games.  Dalton likes a lot of the Vikings personnel but has concerns about the quarterbacks and wide receivers.  He likes the Lions’ wide receivers and the potential of the defensive line, sees Detroit as on “the bubble” for a winning season and closing the gap between themselves, the Packers and Vikings.

Although the NFC North is certainly not the best of the NFL’s divisions, and the Bears are the “class of the North,” according to Dalton, the competition will be intense.  Dalton identified potential key developments important to the success of the division’s four teams.

With a new defensive coordinator in Bob Babich and an off-season contract hassle involving linebacker Lance Briggs, Dalton will watch the Bears’ defense to see if it continues the high level of play that helped Chicago rank fifth in fewest NFL yards per game.  Then, too, there is the “erratic play” of quarterback Rex Grossman.  “The Bears don’t need him to win games,” Dalton said. “They just need him not to put them in bad positions.  He has the capability of being a playmaker at the quarterback position but he’s also showed a lot of inexperience and poor decision making last year that cost his team. ….” 

The Vikings? “The key is going to be the maturation and productivity of Tarvaris Jackson, without a doubt,” Dalton answered.  Jackson will be in his second season having played in four late games in 2006.  His numbers looked like this: 81 pass attempts, 47 completions, two touchdown passes and four interceptions.  

Dalton is an admirer of rookie running back Adrian Peterson and expects him to “help take pressure off” Jackson, allowing the young quarterback not to be responsible for so much of the team’s offensive production.  Dalton also said the“talented offensive line” needs to be “much better” in pass protection and run blocking.

Rookie running back Brandon Jackson could be a key to the Packer season.  He will compete with Vernand Morency to replace the now departed Ahman Green.  Dalton said the Packers need to run the ball effectively to complement the team’s No. 1 asset, the passing and leadership of quarterback Brett Favre.

Wide receiver Calvin Johnson was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and is expected to perform spectacularly for the Lions.  However, Dalton said the key to the team’s offensive production will also be the line “which was horrific last year.”   A better performance by the line will also help another need area, the running game, according to Dalton.

Dalton was asked who he believes are the most valuable players on each of the division’s teams.   He said the Bears’ Brian Urlacher is “arguably the best middle linebacker” in the NFL and his choice as Chicago’s MVP.  No surprise either is Dalton’s pick in Green Bay, Favre.  “How Favre goes, so go the Packers, and he should have an improved year,” Dalton said. “His line will be much better. …”

Kevin Williams, 26, has emerged as one of the two or three best defensive tackles in the NFL, according to Dalton.  He had a major impact last season as the Vikings performed as the best defense against the run in the league.  Dalton describes the 6-5, 311 pound Williams as a “force” inside.

Detroit’s Mike Furrey, a converted safety, is an interesting choice as team MVP.  He emerged as a productive wide receiver last year catching six touchdown passes and Dalton sees important work ahead for the 30-year-old journeyman.  “He will be a big contributor to helping Calvin Johnson, their new top draft pick who they want to be the franchise MVP,” Dalton said. “By Furrey being so productive it opened things up for wide receiver Roy Williams on the other side last year.“

Dalton will detail NFC North team-by-team ranking of quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, special teams and coaches in the next Sports Headliners.