Darwin Walker was a solid acquisition for this time of the year to address an uncertain situation at a key spot within the Bears’ defense. 

The defensive tackle position is critical to the Bears’ defense in terms of getting pressure on the quarterback and creating some disruption in the gaps against the run.  The Bears have Tommie Harris coming back, but lost the other three components in their four-man rotation – Tank Johnson, Ian Scott, and Alfonso Boone – during the off-season. 

They signed former 49er Anthony Adams to help add experience within the rotation.  Adams plays with a lot of effort to disrupt gaps, but is undersized and can be pushed around.

The addition of Walker solidifies the rotation inside to complement Harris.  Walker has good quickness and can create interior pressure on the quarterback. On the downside, Walker fell out of favor in Philadelphia due to inconsistency – especially with his effort against the run.  He tends to lose focus at times on the field, which highlighted frustration from the coaches in Philadelphia.

Dolphins Add Anderson:  It wasn’t a bad move by the Dolphins to take a flier on former Raider tight end Courtney Anderson.  Anderson is a good athlete with speed to make plays in the passing game, but struggled last season with his hands.  One positive from last season was his development as a capable blocker. 

Cam Cameron’s offense relies heavily on production in the passing game from the tight end position.  Anderson provides that ability if he can regain consistency catching the ball.  They signed David Martin away from Green Bay this past spring.  Martin has the athleticism to create a lot of favorable matchups in the passing game.  Martin is coming off a productive year with the Packers and has the ability to make a lot of plays in Cameron’s offense, but has had a lot of durability problems over the years. 

The Chicago Bears have had an interesting spring away from the field, but remain a strong favorite in the NFC North.  One of the biggest changes will be at running back.  The Bears could miss the steadiness of Thomas Jones.  Cedric Benson has the power to take over games on the ground, but must prove he’s mentally tough enough to handle the responsibility.  Rex Grossman again faces a lot of pressure.  He plays with a lot of passion, but must protect the ball better and play within himself when under pressure.  Rookie Greg Olsen’s presence at tight end should help Grossman on third downs and within the red zone.  The biggest concern though for this offense is that they could age quickly at any point.  They have a handful of key players well into their 30s – especially along the offensive line.  Defense will again lead the Bears with their ability to make plays and create turnovers.  Mark Anderson has quickly emerged as a dangerous threat off the perimeter and they are deep at cornerback.  Teams must always account for Brian Urlacher at linebacker.  Having Tommie Harris healthy is also critical.  He’s disruptive inside and the lynchpin to their run defense.  But there’s a big drop in terms of depth along the interior line behind Harris.

Defense is the strength of the Green Bay Packers.  They have a strong front seven that can stop the run and get pressure on the quarterback.  The addition of rookie Justin Harrell bolsters a front four that could be at its strongest since the Mike Holmgren era.  A.J. Hawk is ready to evolve into a playmaker at linebacker.  They do need more stability in the secondary behind Al Harris and Charles Woodson.  Depth is very thin at cornerback.  They are struggling to find consistency at the safety spots.  Nick Collins is a nice athlete, but lacks natural instincts.  There are lots of concerns on the offensive side of the football.  Brett Favre remains effective, but can’t carry the offense these days.  They will miss the presence of Ahman Green in the backfield.  Rookie Brandon Jackson fits the scheme with his quickness, but it’s a lot asking a rookie coming off an ordinary college career to replace a productive runner like Green.  Donald Driver is the only true target in the passing game.  And the tight end position is a mess.  Bubba Franks looked old last season.  Donald Lee has athleticism, but isn’t reliable. 

The Detroit Lions finally have some direction under Rod Marinelli, but continue to face a long road.  They could win a few more games this season with their offense.  Mike Martz will be aggressive through the air.  Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson create a lot of matchup problems outside with Mike Furrey finding openings out of the slot.  A healthy Kevin Jones adds some balance at running back.  Jon Kitna doesn’t protect the ball very well and has too many limitations, but he does provide some veteran stability and leadership at the quarterback position.  The Lions will score points this season.  Unfortunately, they continue to have a lot of holes on defense.  Shaun Rogers and Cory Redding form a strong duo in the middle of their front seven.  Ernie Sims is a perfect fit at linebacker, but they still have a lot of problems upfront.  They need more linebackers who can get to the ball and a pass rusher.  Marinelli has confidence in former Buccaneer Dewayne White coming off the edge, but this is the first time he’s been in the position of being an opponent’s top priority in pass protection going into a NFL season.  In the secondary, they will be relying on two injury-prone cornerbacks in Fernando Bryant and former Ram Travis Fisher.  Stanley Wilson has progressed and will likely see a lot of time in the secondary. 

There’s been a lot of instability within the organization for the Minnesota Vikings the past few years.  So you can never know what to expect, but Brad Childress is trying to create a fresh culture.  Childress is doing this by connecting his future to the development of Tavaris Jackson at quarterback.  Jackson has taken a good approach to the game, but his inexperience will be a major factor.  And he won’t have much help in the passing game.  Troy Williamson has been more consistent catching the football this spring, but still must prove he’s not a track guy playing football.  Sidney Rice is a good athlete with size, but is raw and immature.  Bobby Wade adds some experience, but he’s nothing more than an adequate target out of the slot.  With a lot of questions in the passing game, expect Childress to build more around Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson on the ground.  The Vikings view Peterson as a true franchise back to build their offense around.  On the defensive side of the ball, they’ll be strong against the run game so long that Pat Williams and Kevin Williams stay healthy.  They will make some plays across the board in the secondary, but the pass rush remains a concern.  The Vikings lack a true perimeter threat that can disrupt the timing of an opponents’ passing game. 

Chicago Bears: The Bears are focused on winning now and the addition of Greg Olsen is a big step forward on the offensive side of the ball.  Olsen has the speed and athleticism to bring an added dimension to the passing game that was much needed.  The biggest question is whether he’ll quickly adjust to the physical side of the pro game. 

The Bears reached on value for Dan Buzuin and Michael Okwo.  Buzuin is a high motor defensive end who displays excellent toughness, but is limited as a pass rusher.  Okwo is being counted on eventually taking the weakside job – depending on the Lance Briggs situation.  Okwo is smart and athletic, but has a lot of durability questions with his size limitations.  Josh Beekman brings some youth to the offensive line, but has only limited upside as an interior player.  He could become a dependable starter who overachieves solely on toughness.  Kevin Payne will make an impact on special teams in 2007, but also has the tools to an eventual starter at one of the safety spots in the next couple years. 

Detroit Lions: Mike Martz is very excited with the addition of Calvin Johnson.  Johnson is not only the best player in the draft, but creates a lot of interesting possibilities within the passing game.  Opposing defensive coordinators will struggle to find ways to contain both Johnson and Roy Williams.  And let’s not forget the Lions also have Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald working out of the slot. 

Rod Marinelli has a new pet project in Ikaika Alama-Francis at defensive end.  He’s raw, but has all the attributes to become a productive pass rusher in the Lions’ scheme on defense.  Marinelli, who is also known as one of the top defensive line teachers in the game believes in his ability to mold Alama-Francis into an impact player off the perimeter. 

At quarterback, the Lions clearly had Drew Stanton graded higher than most teams.  Stanton has solid physical tools, but made bad decisions with the football in college and didn’t display much leadership.   Most teams also had Gerald Alexander graded lower than the Lions, but he does possess the smarts and physical tools to eventually become a fixture in their defense. 

Green Bay Packers: The Packers have a lot of questions on the offensive side of the ball.  They are in desperate need of playmakers, but Ted Thompson likes to build his team around defense.  If Justin Harrell stays healthy, he has the ability to create a strong presence inside against the run.  The Packers could be on the verge of having their most talented and deepest front four since the days of annual Super Bowl runs. 

The Packers don’t trust handing the run game to Vernand Morency.  That prompted the additions of Brandon Jackson and Deshawn Wynn.  Jackson is an instinctive runner with solid vision for the cutback lanes, but is on the small side.  Wynn has tremendous physical tools, but has a spotty track record in his approach to the game.  David Clowney and James Jones likely won’t make much of an impact at wide receiver, though Clowney does possess some downfield potential.  I don’t see any of these guys making major impacts in the run or pass game for the Packers.  And the tight end position remains a major concern. 

Minnesota Vikings: Passing on Brady Quinn again confirms Brad Childress commitment to building around Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback.  Adrian Peterson was a tremendous addition for the Vikings.  There are some who question his durability and upright running style, but this could be a special player.  Chester Taylor had a nice year in 2006, but there are long-term questions about his durability and lacks the skills of a special back.  And despite his background with Andy Reid in Philadelphia, Childress is committed to building a strong ground game in Minnesota. 

The Vikings addressed the need for numbers and athleticism at wide receiver with the additions of Sidney Rice and Aundrae Allison, but both are raw and carry somewhat of a bust factor.  Rice is very intriguing with his blend of size and athleticism, but there are concerns whether he’ll find a comfort level within the mental aspects of a pro scheme and beating press coverage off the line of scrimmage.  If Rice and Allison flop, this will be a significant setback in Childress’ blueprint. 

Marcus McCauley had a vanilla senior year, but was a good pickup in the third round as the Vikings needed to solidify their depth at cornerback.  He’s a good athlete who plays smart. 

Former 49ers’ defensive tackle Anthony Adams found the right fit by signing with the Bears.  Adams has been a misfit in Mike Nolan’s 3-4 system in San Francisco the past couple years. 

Adams has underrated strength and relies on good gap quickness to make some plays against the run.  Adams is also smart enough to read plays quickly and is active in pursuit within his range.  Since Adams has a small frame and lacks ideal top end quickness, he won’t contribute much as a pass rusher. 

This is a good move by the Bears as they adjust their depth to better fit Lovie Smith’s defensive philosophy.    

More Notes:

Cowboys Bolster Secondary: Ken Hamlin draws a lot of mixed reviews from scouts, but I believe he’ll be a solid fit in Wade Phillips’ defense with his range over the top.  Hamlin has the ability to step in front of plays and create turnovers, but is also very erratic.  He gave up a lot of plays last season with his tendency to gamble too often.  He also can hit in run support, but is very inconsistent in breaking down as a tackler.  Despite this inconsistency, Hamlin does stabilize the secondary at free safety and allows Roy Williams to concentrate at playing in the box. 

Wiggins Lands in Jacksonville: A lot of people talk about how the addition of Jermaine Wiggins replaces Kyle Brady at tight end.  Perhaps in terms of a roster spot, but not in skill set.  Brady was one of the league’s top in-line blockers in the run game and will be tough to replace in that aspect.  Wiggins is a non-factor in the run game.  His value will lie in the passing game, where Dirk Koetter will run a lot of multi tight end sets.  Wiggins will not create favorable matchups against opposing defenses, but knows how to set up over the middle and make tough grabs in traffic with his excellent hands.   His reliable presence as a check down option adds a degree of certainty in a passing game that is anything but certain with erratic play from their receivers.

Cardinals add leadership: Veteran fullback Terrelle Smith is an excellent fit for Ken Whisenhunt’s offense.  Smith is a tremendous lead blocker who knows how to finish plays and displays a lot of toughness.  He’s also very sound in pass protection, which will be a major asset behind a shaky line. 

Changing of the guard in Detroit: The Lions hope to reverse their fortunes at the guard spots with veterans Zach Piller and Edwin Mulitalo.  This probably means Damien Woody’s days are numbered in Detroit, where his lax mentality doesn’t fit Rod Marinelli’s aggressive direction.  With Piller and Mulitalo, the Lions now have two experienced guards who play with a lot of toughness and fit Marinelli’s desire to have strong run blockers upfront.  Unfortunately, both are aging and grade as backups.  Piller is tough and relies a lot on smarts to get the proper angles, but is stiff and can be exposed in space.  Mulitalo is a similar player with more size and massive strength, but wears down often and becomes vulnerable in pass protection.  Durability is often a concern since both ended last season on injured reserved.  The Lions must hope they could squeeze a season of these guys. 

This isn’t major headline news, but the Eagles made a solid move to bolster their depth along the defensive line with the addition of former Colt Monte Reagor. 

Reagor is coming off a season-ending head and facial injuries following a car accident last season, but the Eagles believe he’ll bounce back and strengthen the Eagles’ rotation inside at defensive tackle.  Reagor is small, but has deceptive strength and very good first step quickness.  He has a knack for shooting gaps very well against the run, but will take himself out of a lot of plays with his overaggressive play.  He won’t play much of a factor in the pass rush.  But Reagor is valued by the Eagles because he’s very smart on the field and works well with teammates on the field.  And he’s a great presence in the locker room.  This is a nice fit for the Eagles. 

More NFL Notes:

Bears acquire Adam Archuleta: Lovie Smith loves Archuleta from their days together in St. Louis and should play to Archuleta’s strengths after being miscast in Washington last season.  Archuleta is a very aggressive run support guy who attacks the line of scrimmage and has a knack for getting to the quarterback on the blitz.  Outside the box, he’s a liability when asked to do too much in open space, which was a problem with the Redskins.  With questions about Mike Brown’s Lisfranc injury looming, the Bears needed veteran insurance.  I believe Archuleta should fit very well in the culture of the Bears’ defense, but there’s a lot of questions whether he has a lot left in the tank due to the physical nature of his play.  Archuleta has a history of back problems.

Broncos secure more depth: Brandon Stokley was a nice gamble in the passing game – especially with medical questions surrounding Rod Smith.  Stokley is a spark plug out of the slot with his ability to make plays.  Stokley lacks ideal size and speed, but has the quickness and savvy to perform in the clutch.  Unfortunately, you never know what you’ll get from Stokley from year to year due to his medical track record.  Stokley suffered his latest injury last season when he ruptured his Achilles.  He’s expected to be ready for the season, but these injuries over the years will eventually cut his career short.  A healthy Stokley will bolster a Broncos’ passing game that is expected to feature a number of different targets in 2007.  And Mike Shanahan continues his yearly addition of depth along with defensive line with former Brown Alvin McKinley.  McKinley is an adequate two-down rotation player.  He’s strictly a guy who can occupy blockers within his limited range as the Broncos hope to become more effective at stopping the run next season from the interior line.