NFC North Notes: Bears, Packers, Vikings

Bears

 

• Albert Breer writes that new Bears offensive coordinator Bill Lazor has built past offenses meshes nicely with Mitchell Trubisky’s needs at quarterback.
• According to Breer, Lazor is known for simplifying and weaponizing his plays to get players to play fast.
• Beyond that, new QBs coach John DeFilippo should bring some creativity after helping to develop Gardner Minshew in Jacksonville last season.
• Per the Maven’s Rick Gosselin, the Bears’ special teams unit finished 2019 ranked 23rd in the league. 

Packers

• Per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Sentinel-Journal, Packers CB Jaire Alexander broke his thumb in Sunday’s NFC Championship game, but won’t have surgery: “Even if I do (need it), I’m not having it.”
• According to the Maven’s Rick Gosselin, the Packers’ special teams unit finished 2019 ranked 26th in the league. 
• An emotional Packers LB Blake Martinez wasn’t sure if he would be back with the team in 2020: “You never know what’s going to happen. It’s kind of a waiting game to see what they want to do… I’d love to be back. I love this place. Whatever they want to get done, they want to get done.” (Ryan Wood)
• Packers TE Marcedes Lewis said he would be open to returning to Green Bay in 2020: “Mentally and physically, I was in a really good place this year. … I’d love to come back. When I wake up in the morning, I still love it.” (Wes Hodkiewicz)
• Packers K Mason Crosby would also like to return to Green Bay in 2020. He’s slated for free agency this offseason: “I’m hopeful. It’s hard when the season ends and all these things start becoming real.” (Bill Huber)
• Packers DT Kenny Clark said he’s still waiting for extension talks between him and the team to start. He’s hoping to avoid a holdout: “Hopefully, I don’t’ have to do anything like that. I’m not that kind of guy. I don’t think it will come to that.” (Silverstein)
• As he enters the final year of his deal, Clark is confident that an extension is just a matter of time: “I think they’re going to want me here for a long time. I think I’m a core player here. I think they want me to be here and they’re going to try to do everything they can to keep me here.” (Silverstein)

Vikings

 

• Albert Breer thinks it’s safe to assume the Vikings will want to stick with their “Shanahan-style offense” in 2020.
• While the Vikings could promote Gary Kubiak to offensive coordinator, Breer hears that Kubiak really did enjoy not being quite as involved on an hours-worked basis this year.
• Breer tosses out OL coach Rick Dennison and former Broncos OC Rich Scangarello as potential coordinator options for Minnesota.
• Per the Maven’s Rick Gosselin, the Vikings’ special teams unit finished 2019 ranked 17th in the league.