Donald Driver was added to the Packers’ injury report on Thursday due to a problem with his quad, but Mike McCarthy says he would be shocked if his starting receiver doesn’t play in the Super Bowl.

I’d also be shocked if Driver doesn’t play, as the injury doesn’t sound serious enough to hold him out. That said, how effective will he be? If he’s being held out of practice (even for precautionary measures), then it stands to reason that he’s not at full strength. Will his injury have an effect on the Packers’ passing game?

It’ll be interesting to see what coverages Dick LeBeau uses on Sunday. The Steelers run mostly a cover-2 like the Bears, although LeBeau knows that his corners will also have to man-up in certain situations, which may be a problem seeing as how Bryant McFadden is dealing with an abdominal injury.

With Driver hurt, will LeBeau use Ike Taylor on Greg Jennings and take his chances with McFadden on Driver? Or will he want Taylor to take away Driver and have McFadden cover Jennings with safety help over the top?

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pittsburgh go to their nickel or even dime package plenty of times throughout the night. But LeBeau wants to avoid the dime as much as possible because that means Lawrence Timmons, a good cover linebacker, comes off the field in favor of Anthony Madison. That’s an advantage for the Packers, just as it was when the Patriots crushed Pittsburgh 39-26 back in November when the Steelers used a lot of dime.

Assuming Driver’s injury isn’t a major concern, the Packers must get the Steelers out of their base defense as much as possible. Again, it’s a major advantage to them to face Pittsburgh’s nickel and dime units because it limits what LeBeau can do with his front seven.

In our final sponsored post for T.G.I. Friday’s, here are five questions surrounding the Packers and Steelers as they prepare for Super Bowl XLV.

1. Can the Steelers’ O-line hold up?
While the team hasn’t officially ruled him out, it appears as though center Maurkice Pouncey won’t play on Sunday. That means Doug Legursky will once again take his place, just as he did in the AFC title game when Pouncey first suffered the high ankle sprain. Legursky could probably start for many teams around the league, but he’s not the same player Pouncey is. He’s not as strong at the point of attack and he isn’t the mauler Pouncey is in the running game. There’s no doubt Legursky will have his hands full against Packers’ NT B.J. Raji, who has had quite the postseason so far. Of course, Legursky might not be the Steelers’ biggest problem along their offensive line. People forget that they’re starting two backup offensive tackles in Flozell Adams and Jonathan Scott, and the latter could have a ton of problems with Clay Matthews. Granted, the Steelers have averaged nearly four touchdowns thus far in the postseason, so clearly they’ve been able to mask their weaknesses. That said, whether or not their O-line can hold up against the Packers’ stout pass-rush is arguably the biggest question surrounding their chances of winning.

2. Will the Packers be able to slow Mendenhall?
When Rashard Mendenhall rushed for over 80 yards this season (including in the playoffs), the Steelers were 6-1. The Packers had trouble this year with power rushing attacks. When teams were patient with the running game and kept pounding the edges of Green Bay’s defense, they had a fair amount of success. The Packers yielded 4.5 yards per carry this season, which was among the worst in the NFL in that category. If the Steelers can get Mendenhall going early, they’ll accomplish a couple of things in the process. For starters, they’ll leave Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay’s high-powered passing game on the sidelines. The Steelers will also be able to control the tempo of the game and if Green Bay’s safeties have to come up and play run support, then Pittsburgh could open up the play action pass. The Packers must stop Mendenhall.

3. Can the Steelers’ corners match up?
Ike Taylor isn’t a playmaker in the sense that he’ll record a ton of interceptions every year, but he’s as steady as they come in coverage. He certainly has his work cut out for him this Sunday when he lines up opposite Greg Jennings, but the Steelers don’t have to worry much about Taylor. The same can’t be said on the other side, where Bryant McFadden has been dealing with an abdominal injury. He says he’s 100%, but we’ll find out whether that’s true or not on Sunday. Either way, expect Green Bay to attack both McFadden and nickel back William Gay early and often. The Packers want to be able to spread the field against the Steelers and keep Gay in the game as much as possible. Pittsburgh does its most damage when it can keep its base defense on the field and use linebackers LaMarr Woodley and/or James Harrison as pass-rushers. Whether or not Taylor, McFadden and Gay can be physical with Jennings, Donald Driver and James Jones is the question. Teams like the Eagles and Falcons couldn’t, which is why they’ll be at home this Sunday.

4. Can McCarthy avoid being conservative?
Mike McCarthy has a habit of sitting on leads after his team builds them. He did it against the Eagles in the Wildcard Round and it almost cost his team a victory. The following week, he stayed aggressive with his playcalling and decision-making against the Falcons and Green Bay won by nearly four touchdowns. He tried to stay aggressive against the Bears in the second half, but to Chicago’s credit, its defense played great. How will McCarthy handle coaching in his first Super Bowl? Mike Tomlin has more experience and already has a ring, so the pressure is on McCarthy in his first go-around. If the Packers are able to build a lead, will he play conservative or will he keep his foot on the gas? Pittsburgh has a habit of winning close games in the final minutes, so it would be best if Green Bay avoided having the outcome be decided on the final drive.

When I saw that oddsmakers had made the Packers 2.5-point favorites for Super Bowl XLV, my immediate reaction was: “Pittsburgh’s an underdog? Ha! Give me the Steelers…you’re welcome.”

Why wouldn’t you take the Steelers on Sunday? They’ve played in two Super Bowls the past six years and won them both. They have a more experienced head coach who oversees a more experienced quarterback. Ben Roethlisberger is 2-0 in the “big one” and thanks to Dick LeBeau’s guidance, Pittsburgh’s defense often resembles an immovable force.

But then I got to thinking: Tom Brady lost in the Super Bowl, as did Peyton Manning and Brett Favre. Bill Belichick has lost in the championship, as has Mike Holmgren, Bill Cowher and even Tom Landry.

Experience flies out the window once that ball has been kicked off the tee at the start of the game. What football essentially comes down to is execution, avoiding mistakes and beating the guy across from you.

Both of these teams can execute. Both of these teams can limit mistakes and both of these teams have the players on each side of the ball that can win individual battles. Which team will accomplish those three feats on Sunday is anyone’s guess, and that’s the great thing about this particular matchup – it’s so even.

But when you get down to the brass tacks, the Steelers have a big problem along their offensive line. Losing Maurkice Pouncey hurts, but having two offensive tackles that are below average pass-blockers is a bigger problem when you consider the Packers finished second in the league in sacks. Granted, Pittsburgh finished first in that category but I have more faith in Green Bay’s O-line protecting Aaron Rodgers than I do the Steelers’ front five protecting Big Ben.

The Steelers can be had through the air, too. The Packers will have their hands full with LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison, but Rodgers is skilled at recognizing where the pressure is coming from and getting the ball out of his hand quickly. He can pick a defense apart whether he has time or not, which is something Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez can’t do.

If the Packers can get the Steelers’ base defense off the field by spreading them out with four-or-five receiver sets, then Green Bay will have an advantage. Trying to run the ball against Pittsburgh is often a losing proposition. But attacking guys like Bryant McFadden and William Gay isn’t, especially when a team like Green Bay employs receivers as skilled as Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and James Jones.

Granted, for Green Bay to win it must stop Rashard Mendenhall. The Packers have had trouble with power running games this year and the Steelers are 6-1 when Mendenhall rushes for over 80 yards. They can’t allow Pittsburgh to control the tempo of the game and leave the Packers’ offense on the sidelines. Limiting Mendenhall’s production will be key.

But with all of that in mind, strengths on strengths I like the Packers and their weaknesses scare me much less than Pittsburgh’s. I like B.J. Raji over Doug Legursky. I like Clay Matthews over Jonathan Scott and/or Flozell Adams. I like Mike McCarthy over Mike Tom…ok no, I don’t like McCarthy over Tomlin. Quite frankly, McCarthy scares me. But the man has put together some fantastic game plans over the past couple of weeks so as long as we don’t see Mr. Conservative on Sunday, then I like the Pack.

Packers 24, Steelers 20.

Quick, name the conference that will have the second most representatives at this year’s Super Bowl.

The MAC? Damn. You read the title didn’t you? You little title reader, you…

That’s right, the MAC, with its 15 players, is second only to the SEC (18) in terms of representatives at Super Bowl XLV. According to Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun writer and fellow TSR contributor Drew Ellis, the Packers have nine former MAC players on their roster, including Central Michigan’s Cullen Jenkins, Frank Zombo and Josh Gordy, Western Michigan’s Greg Jennings, Buffalo running back James Starks, Miami of Ohio’s Tom Crabtree, offensive lineman T.J. Lang of Eastern Michigan, safety Atari Bigby of Central Florida and linebacker Diyral Briggs of Bowling Green.

Of course, the most recognizable name to come out of the MAC is Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who played at Miami. Pittsburgh also rosters former MAC players Antonio Brown (CMU), linebacker James Harrison (Kent State), quarterbacks Charlie Batch (Eastern Michigan) and Byron Leftwich (Marshall), as well kicker Shaun Suisham (BGSU).

According to a former MAC player, it is the constant disrespect the conference gets on a national stage that could lead to the players succeeding in the NFL.

“It really speaks volumes about the conference,” former CMU quarterback and teammate of Zombo, Brown, and Gordy, Brian Brunner, said. “This conference used to be know for being a quarterback-conference, but it has really become much more. National pundits may dog the MAC but when you see numbers like these you realize that a lot of MAC players that get a chance to play in the NFL, they come into the league with a chip on their shoulder and they are going work hard and push themselves and prove they belong.”

Obviously the number of players that represent a conference in the Super Bowl doesn’t reflect its status in college football. I hardly doubt we’ll hear anyone campaign for Northern Illinois to play in next year’s BCS title game if the Huskies go 11-0 and the MAC won’t suddenly be viewed as an elite conference.

But it’s nevertheless interesting to see that the little ol’ MAC – not the Big 12, Big Ten or ACC – has only three fewer players at this year’s title game than the SEC. It just goes to show you that talent is talent.

About the only thing that is going right for the Packers today is that the Bears have no desire to beat the Patriots, because Green Bay’s season is currently hanging in the balance at Solider Field right now.

The Packers had a disastrous day in Detroit on Sunday, losing 7-3 to a Lions team that picked up its first divisional win in 19 straight tries. Things got started when Greg Jennings had a potential touchdown pass go off his hands in the first quarter and into the waiting arms of a Detroit defender, then quarterback Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the game with a concussion in the second.

Things only got worse as Matt Flynn struggled to move the ball against Ndamukong Suh (otherwise known as the Detroit Lions defense) and even when he did, he threw an interception to linebacker DeAndre Levy in the end zone late in the third quarter to kill a potential scoring drive. (He also overthrew Greg Jennings on a 4th-and-1 at the Detroit 31-yard line to put the final nail in the coffin.)

But the Packers can’t pin the loss entirely on Flynn because the Packers didn’t produce any points when Rodgers was in either. And some of the blame for that falls on Mike McCarthy and his coaching staff, which decided to run the ball early and often instead of attacking the league’s worst secondary. I’m not sure what the Packers’ game plan was, but it clearly wasn’t to go after the Lions’ weakness.

Now Green Bay must hope Chicago loses to New England so that they don’t face a two-game deficit in the NFC North by the end of the day. As of this writing, the Bears are trailing the Patriots 21-0 and look completely hopeless, so the Packers’ season is still very much alive.

That said, they travel to New England next Sunday and there’s a good chance that Rodgers won’t be medically cleared to play. Unless Flynn can produce a miracle, the Packers will probably be home when the postseason starts.

But first things first: Chicago must lose to New England.

Packers (8-4) @ Lions (2-10), 1:00PM ET
With all the bad weather going around this Sunday in the NFL, if you’re going to take an over it better be in a dome. The over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings between these two teams and 7-3 in the last 10 games in Detroit. The combination of Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings has nearly been unstoppable over the past month and I don’t see Chris Houston and the rest of Detroit’s suspect secondary slowing the pair down. Drew Stanton gave the Lions’ offense a lift last week and if Jahvid Best can get it going against an inconsistent Green Bay run defense, then Detroit should be able to move the ball somewhat. I like the over.
THE PICK: OVER 46.5

Dolphins (6-6) @ Jets (9-3), 4:15PM ET
The Jets should play much better Sunday than they did in New England on Monday, but I’m still confused as to why they’re a 5-point favorite. The Dolphins have struggled with New York over the years but they’re 5-1 on the road this season and covered in five of those six games. They’re also fighting for their playoff lives and bad weather is expected in the New Jersey area, which could make for a tight game. With how bad the Jets’ defense looked on Monday, it’s hard to like them giving up this many points. Chad Henne needs to play with more consistency and it would be nice if Brandon Marshall were available for this game, but I like Miami anyway. Their defense should keep Mark Sanchez and the Jets’ running game in check.
THE PICK: DOLPHINS +5

Patriots (10-2) @ Bears (9-3), 4:15PM ET
A snowstorm supposedly hit Chicago Saturday night and the wind could reach up to 30mph by game time. But the bad weather shouldn’t be a factor for the Patriots, who are used to snow and wind at this time of year. That said, I think the Bears are being undervalued here. They’ve played extremely well over the past month and they love playing the role of underdogs – especially at home. If Mike Martz doesn’t try to get cute with his playcalling (i.e. calling a bunch of vertical passes in bad weather with Jay Cutler as his quarterback), then I like the Bears to win outright. Cutler has been excellent at the short-to-medium-range passes this year so Martz needs to keep it there. The Pats have scored 45 points the past two weeks, but that trend stops today.
THE PICK: BEARS +3

Falcons (10-2) @ Panthers (1-11), 1:00PM ET
I hate this line and it has almost caused me to move off the Falcons several times throughout the week. And the Titans’ fluke backdoor cover (perhaps the worst backdoor cover in the history of backdoor covers) on Thursday night against the Colts doesn’t help matters. That said, this is the biggest mismatch on the board and seeing as how the Falcons came awfully close to losing to the Bucs last week and forking over their one-game lead in the NFC South, I think we’ll see a focused Atlanta team on Sunday. Matt Ryan won’t throw two picks like he did last weekend and Carolina can expect a heavy dose of Michael Turner. It’s high-time the Falcons’ defense steps up again and turns in a solid performance. Again, the backdoor cover scares me but the Falcons can beat the Panthers by a touchdown and a field goal right? Right?!
THE PICK: FALCONS –7.5

Season Record: 22-25-1

2010 NFL Division Previews & Predictions: AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | 2010 Question Marks Series

The NFC North will challenge the NFC East this year for being the toughest division in the conference. Three of the four teams are legit playoff contenders, while the Lions only continue to improve as a whole.

Here’s how I see things shaking out in the NFC North in 2010. Be sure to check out the link entitled “2010 Question Mark” under each team’s preview, which is a breakdown of one or two potential weaknesses that could derail that squad’s hopes this season.

1. Packers

What to Like: Given how well he played last year, Aaron Rodgers should be considered a MVP candidate this season. The fact that he was able to throw for 4,434 yards and compile a 103.2 QB rating despite constantly being under pressure is rather amazing. Just think about what he could accomplish this year if the O-line gave him even a fraction of a second more time to throw. Rodgers will lead a passing attack that racked up 261.3 yards per game last season, which was good for seventh in the NFL. He also has an assortment of weapons to throw to, namely receivers Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, as well as rising talent Jermichael Finley. In the backfield, Ryan Grant continues to be underrated and is coming off a 1,253-yard, 11-touchdown season. Defensively, Dom Capers was a miracle worker in his first year, as Green Bay led the NFC in total defense despite switching to the 3-4 (most first-year 3-4 teams struggle). Rookie Clay Matthews turned out to be a phenomenal pass-rusher and Nick Barnett was outstanding in the middle, both against the run and in coverage. Despite his age, Charles Woodson (33) continues to play at an elite level.
What Not to Like: The offensive line was a disaster at times last year, save for the play of right guard Josh Sitton. If Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher can make it through an entire season without suffering injuries, this will be a much-improved unit and then Rodgers won’t have to spend most Sunday afternoons running for his life. But both tackles are in their 30s and injuries always seem to be an issue. At left guard, Daryn Colledge struggled, although it’s only fair to point out that he was out of position subbing at tackle. While Tramon Williams is more than capable of handling the starting corner position opposite Woodson, losing Al Harris (knee surgery) was a huge blow to Green Bay’s depth at secondary. The concern is that given Harris’ age (35) and the nature of his injury, he may never play again. The other potential issue on defense is whether or not B.J. Raji can handle playing nose tackle after a lackluster 2009 season as a 3-4 end. All good 3-4 teams have a stout nose tackle to eat up space and if Raji isn’t up for the task, it will certainly have an effect on the linebackers.
Keep Your Eye On: Jermichael Finley
Finley put himself on the map last season by catching 55 passes for 676 yards and five touchdowns in just 13 games. He finished the year by hauling in six passes for 159 yards in Green Bay’s loss to the Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs, leading to high expectations this year. If he can stay focused (which is the biggest concern with this youngster), he could put up fantastic numbers in the Packers’ explosive passing attack this season.
The Final Word: Expectations are high for the Packers this year, as well they should be. If the offensive line can stay healthy then this is the team to beat in the NFC North. The great thing is that Ted Thompson spent his first round draft pick on tackle/guard Bryan Bulaga, meaning Green Bay now has depth in case injuries do start to mount. Rodgers is the real deal and could lead the Pack deep into the playoffs if his O-line doesn’t get him killed first. Defensively, there are some concerns but Capers will make up for them by being aggressive. If the Packers can win the division and force opponents to come to Green Bay come January, then this will be a legitimate Super Bowl contender this season. The pieces are in place for this team to make a serious run.

Green Bay Packers 2010 Question Mark: Offensive Line

2. Vikings

What to Like: After a playing a rousing game of “Who can be more annoying?” with head coach Brad Childress, Lord Favre has decided to return for another year. (As if anyone had any doubts.) That’s good news given that a) Favre led the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game last season and b) he’s a significantly better option at quarterback than Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. Adrian Peterson will once again join Favre in Minnesota’s backfield and as long as the fourth year back can cut down on the fumbles, he’ll punish opposing defenses on a weekly basis. Assuming migraines don’t hamper him like they did in training camp, Percy Harvin should continue to produce as one of the team’s top playmakers. He was highly impressive as a rookie last year and he’ll get even more opportunities to make plays now that Sidney Rice (hip surgery) will miss at least the first six weeks of the season. Defensively, the strength of the unit remains the front four thanks to massive DTs Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, as well as outstanding pass-rushers Jared Allen and Ray Edwards. E.J. Henderson returns in the middle after missing the team’s final four regular season games and all of the playoffs due to an injury.
What Not to Like: Although the man has never missed a game in his professional career, injuries are always a concern with the 192-year-old Favre. It remains to be seen if his surgically repaired ankle will hold up for an entire season so that he can lead the Vikings back into the playoffs. As previously mentioned, fumbles are a concern with AP, as is the O-line’s ability to open up running lanes, believe it or not. Steve Hutchinson struggled mightily in the running game, presumably because of lingering back and shoulder issues, as did Bryant McKinnie, who also dealt with plantar facilities in his feet. Phil Loadholt was a nice surprise, but even he had problems in the run-blocking department, as did center John Sullivan. Defensively, the secondary is a huge question mark, especially when you consider Cedric Griffin is likely to miss a lot of time due to the ACL injury he suffered in last year’s NFC title game. Lito Sheppard is coming off a decent year with the Jets, but he’s inconsistent and it remains to be seen whether rookie Chris Cook (who has impressed this offseason) and/or Asher Allen can be starters. Safeties Madieu Williams and Tyrell Johnson only add to the coverage concerns.
Keep Your Eye On: Percy Harvin
While the receiving corps shouldn’t be a concern this season, not having Rice will be. Rice really came into his own last season with Favre’s help and now that he’ll be out for most the year that means Harvin will be counted on even more than he was last year. Again, if migraines don’t slow him down, Harvin could be in store for a huge 2010.
The Final Word: I’m going with my gut here and predicting a major step back for the Vikings this season. There seems to be a different feel to this team this year, even with the return of Favre. I don’t think he’ll capture the magic he did last year and the defense (save for the line) could struggle because of its secondary. That said, this is still a winning team – I just don’t know how far they’ll go in the playoffs, or if they’ll even make the postseason. They play eight (count ‘em – eight!) playoff teams from a year ago and I have little to no faith in Childress over the course of an entire season. I think the Vikes come up short this year.

Minnesota Vikings 2010 Question Mark: Secondary

3. Bears

What to Like: Adding a skilled pass-rusher like Julius Peppers was a major coup for the Bears, who paid dearly for his services. Even though he has a tendency to take plays off, he has the ability to make the rest of the defense better around him and don’t forget he’s so athletic that new DC Rod Marinelli can use him in coverage to free up a linebacker to rush. I’ve never bought into the idea that Brian Urlacher (who missed virtually the entire 2009 season because of a wrist injury) was/is overrated. He’s not a dominant run-stuffer, but you saw what happened to Chicago’s defense last year when Nick Roach and Jamar Williams were manning the middle. One guy who will love having Urlacher back in the middle is Lance Briggs, whose play fell off a cliff last year because of Urlacher’s absence. Offensively, the hiring of Mike Martz will turn out to be a boom or bust decision for this team. Jay Cutler could wind up leading the league in passing touchdowns or set a new record for interceptions thrown in a single season. The good thing is that he’ll be throwing to a couple of receivers on the rise in Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashodu.
What Not to Like: For the second straight offseason, GM Jerry Angelo failed to upgrade the offensive line. Right guard Lance Louis may be an intriguing player, but he’s inexperienced and he’ll be playing next to a guy in Frank Omiyale that can’t seem to cut down on the penalties and mental errors. The Bears better hope that center Olin Kreutz can play as well as he did last year, and that third-year player Chris Williams can build off his decent second-half performance, or else Cutler will see a ton of pressure again this year. Defensively, whether it’s because of injuries, lack of focus and/or motivation, Tommie Harris hasn’t played well in two years. And if he doesn’t snap out of it, then the Bears are going to be thin on talent up the middle. The secondary is also a massive concern, as Charles Tillman was highly inconsistent last year and who knows what the team can expect out of other corner Zackary Bowman. Chris Harris was a good add this offseason, but the bottom line is that the entire unit has to play better or else the addition of Peppers and the re-addition of Urlacher will mean nothing.
Keep Your Eye On: Johnny Knox
Knox is the perfect fit at receiver in Martz’s offense and is already drawing comparisons to Torry Holt in terms of his route running. Whether or not he’ll become the playmaker Holt was is uncertain, but considering how good he has looked this offseason, there’s a good chance Knox will shine.
The Final Word: If the offensive line can’t open any holes for Matt Forte (who struggled last year in his sophomore season) and Chester Taylor, then the offense will become too one-dimensional and the passing game could suffer. Of course, thanks to Martz the offense will probably be one-dimensional anyway. One of the biggest complaints about Martz is that he’s too quick to ditch the running game and because he often uses three and four-receiver sets, that leaves one less blocker in to protect the quarterback. That doesn’t bode well for Cutler, who had a habit of chucking passes into coverage last season just to avoid taking sacks. Defensively, obviously Peppers and Urlacher are going to help, but the secondary is a massive concern. How will Marinelli fair in his first year as a defensive coordinator? Is Lovie Smith the answer at head coach? A lot of people love the Bears to make the playoffs this year and potentially be a sleeper in the NFC, but I see this team being no better than 8-8 with their O-line and defensive backfield concerns.

Chicago Bears 2010 Question Mark: Offensive Line

4. Lions

What to Like: Believe it or not, the offensive line became one of the Lions’ strengths in 2009. Before suffering a season-ending injury, right guard Stephen Peterman was playing great football and even Jeff Backus played more consistently. Center Dominic Railoa was solid as usual and there were signs that former first round pick Gosder Cherilus was starting to get it. Adding Rob Sims will only make this unit better, which is great news for young quarterback Matthew Stafford. And speaking of the young signal caller, he should make strides in his second year and he’ll have a couple of new weapons to throw to in Nate Burleson and Bryant Johnson, although Calvin Johnson will still receive the bulk of Stafford’s looks in the passing game. The defensive tackle issue has also been addressed thanks to Ndamukong Suh, who has already proved in preseason that he’s going to be one hell of a player. Bringing in Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch were solid moves to improve the defensive line, which is easily the strength of the defense. (Aside from free safety Louis Delmas, who is a rising star.)
What Not to Like: The secondary is a major concern for this team. Chris Houston (trade/Falcons) has all the athletic talent in the world, but he can’t seem to put it all together. He usually puts himself in position to make plays and then just can’t, as evidenced of the 66% of passes that were completed on him last season. On the other side, the Rams had an opportunity to re-sign restricted free agent Jonathan Wade on the cheap and decided to let him walk. Now the Lions are counting on him as a starter, which is troubling to say the least. The addition of C.C. Brown only compounds the team’s pass defense issues. And does this team have enough overall talent at linebacker?
Keep Your Eye On: Ndamukong Suh
I know you were already going to keep your eye on Suh, but I’ll remind you in case he gets lost in the shuffle of another losing season in Detroit. Most defensive tackles don’t make an impact until their third years, but Suh has the makings of something special. He’s a physical specimen at 6’4” and 307 pounds, one that can be a force against the run as well as a pass rusher. He’s going to beat slower offensive linemen at the snap and create a ton of havoc in opponents’ backfields. I can’t wait to see what this kid does on Sundays.
The Final Word: There’s no question that GM Martin Mayhew and head coach Jim Schwartz have this team moving in the right direction, but it’s still going to take some time. Mayhew knew when he took over last year that it would take a couple of years before he could field a roster that could compete and that hasn’t changed. The roster is still devoid of overall talent, even though players like Johnson, Stafford, Suh and Delmas have Detroit fans excited for the future. The Lions are the Ly-Downs no longer and will certainly give teams trouble this year, but a fourth place finish is probably on the horizon yet again.

Detroit Lions 2010 Question Mark: Pass Defense