NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers

Bears

“I need to be an excellent head coach,” Nagy said.. “In order to do that, the more manpower you have on that side of the ball—that can help get it going and can keep it together, and keep it detailed and overcommunicate clarity and still have beautiful ideas—the more of that we have, if done the right way, it can just take off. So what we’ve done with those three guys, we’ve explained their roles—who’s responsible for this, who’s responsible for that.”

“They’re all in. They all get it.”

Nagy referenced the Eagles’ coaching staff from a few years ago as an example of how this can be successful. 

“The way they had things in Philadelphia, with Frank Reich, (Doug) Pederson and Flip in 2017, that’s a pretty good deal there,” Nagy said. “And I think the quarterbacks in those rooms feel that. Now, the quarterbacks know too the structure of these things. So when you do that, and when you all speak the same language, which is what we’re doing right now, with us and the quarterbacks, that’s what we think can really help us improve in that room.”

Lions

• Per Justin Rogers of the Detroit News, new Lions DT Danny Shelton projects as a one-to-one replacement for DT Damon Harrison — a two-down run-stuffer. 
• New Lions CB Desmond Trufant should be capable of finding success in the Lions’ scheme, which calls for more man-to-man coverage than he played in Atlanta the past few seasons. (Rogers)

Packers

Packers LB Ty Summers carved out a prominent role as a rookie seventh-round pick — but not on defense. Summers led Green Bay with 311 special teams snaps and had zero snaps on defense despite injuries opening up an opportunity at inside linebacker. Now that Blake Martinez has moved on, there’s an even bigger opportunity at inside linebacker that Summers is looking to take advantage of in his second season. 

“Of course my goal is to go and be the starter — that’s anyone’s goal at this position,” Summers said via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I’m going to go out there and compete, give it all I got and ultimately the coaches decide. If my role is a starter, fantastic, I’m going to be the best starter I can be. If it’s a backup role, I’m going to be the best backup I can be; if it’s special teams I’m going to be the best special teams player I can be. I’m just excited to go out there and compete for the opportunity. It’s a dream come true to even to be here and to have the chance to actually play legitimate snaps on defense.”