Youth Movements- NFC North

Even the most casual NFL fan is more than aware of the young superstars like Desean Jackson and Chris Johnson. These players have dominated both opposing teams and post game highlight reels very early in their careers. These superstars are not the only young players that are changing games on Sundays, however. The NFL is a rich with young talent, and much of goes largely unnoticed.

For the next few weeks, we’ll be writing about the top young talent that you may or may not have heard of in each division. The focus is going to be on players that under 26 years old, and haven’t yet been named to the Pro Bowl, though many have developed into Pro Bowl level talents.

Home of the reigning Super Bowl Champions, the NFC North is  a division that is in large part playing catch up to the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay has drafted masterfully in the last several years, setting the foundation for their 2010 Super Bowl run. It’s clear the Packers have a head start in gathering young talent, but can their divisional foes close the gap in 2011?

1. RB Matt Forte, Chicago– The Bears made a wise investment when they drafted Forte in 2008. He’s started all 48 games since being drafted, and has put over 1,300 hundred yards in each of his first three years. Forte has largely flown under the radar for Chicago and has yet to receive the attention he deserves. In an offense that still is lacking in firepower on the outside, Forte has a chance to gain that attention in 2011.

2. TE Jermichael Finley, Green Bay– Lost in the Packers’ Super Bowl run was that they did it without one of their primary playmakers. Finely was off to a sizzling start in 2010, averaging over 14 yards per catch before a knee injury knock him out for the rest of the year. Finley should return with a clean bill of health in 2011, and will be yet another weapon for Aaron Rodger to utilize in an already powerful offense.

3. DT BJ Raji, Green Bay– Raji came into his own in 2010, becoming the anchor of Green Bay’s defense and one of the elite nose tackles in the NFL. Raji wasn’t just a run stopper, but was able to get to the QB as well, sacking them 6.5 times in 16 starts. Raji will give the Packers defense stability up front for years to come.

4.  QB Matt Stafford, Detroit- After a promising rookie season was cut short by injuries, the Lions’ young signal caller went into 2010 with high expectations. And for the three weeks he was healthy in 2010, Stafford was having a great year, turning in a passer rating of 91.3. Unfortunately, he missed another 13 games this season and now huge question marks surround his ability to stay on the field. He claims the injuries have been a freak occurrence, and with what figures to be a strong running game in 2011 he should have a better chance of staying healthy. Detroit certainly hopes so.
 
5. RB Jahvid Best, Detroit- The speedy RB had a solid rookie season for the Lions, starting nine games and amassing over 1,000 yards of total offense. He was largely hampered by two turf toe injuries during the season, and due to concerns about his ability to stay healthy, the Lions drafted the bruising Mikel LeShore to help shoulder the work load. With LeShore wearing down defenses, Best will be able to exploit worn down defenses and create big plays in 2011.

6. OT Bryan Bulaga, Green Bay– As the Packers’ first round pick in 2010, Bulaga was expected to find a spot on the offensive line and contribute immediately. He spent training camp playing on the left side of the line, but was moved to right tackle when the season began. It took him some time to adjust to the move, but he had a great postseason run. Whether he is at the right guard or tackle spot, the Packers found a long term starter in Buluga.

7. TE Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit– An ACL injury cut short his rookie year, but that didn’t keep Pettigrew from putting up great numbers in 2010. Critics will say his numbers were inflated due to the Lion’s QB situation, but nearly anytime a TE puts up 700+ receiving yards it’s a pretty good season. He isn’t extremely athletic, and has plenty to improve upon, but Pettigrew is a good young TE who figures to only get better.

8. WR Earl Bennett, Chicago– After 15 starts and 700 receiving yards in 2009, Bennett took a step back in 2010, only logging three starts and 561 receiving yards. Bears’ offensive coordinator has been adamant that Bennett will be featured more in 2011, and even has the chance to earn a starting spot opposite of Johnny Knox. As he is in his final year of his current contract, Bennett has to hope he can rekindle the connection he had in college at Vanderbilt University with QB Jay Cutler.

9. CB Asher Allen, Minnesota– One of the youngest Vikings, Allen has already tallied 12 starts at CB in two years.  He’s been quite inconsistent, showing flashes of brilliance and then plays that make you scratch your head. He’s still young enough to develop, and in the worst case scenario Allen will be a solid nickel back for Minnesota.

10.  QB Matt Flynn, Green Bay– It’s hard to put a ton of stock in just one start, but Flynn’s 2010 performance against New England was certainly a strong showing. He threw for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns, nearly upsetting the Patriots. While it was only one game, it was enough to generate lots of interest from teams looking for a QB heading into 2011.

Honorable Mention:
RB Toby Gerhart, Minnesota
QB Joe Webb, Minnesota
WR Jordy Nelson, Green Bay
OL Chris Williams, Chicago