Former Vikings defensive end Carl Eller’s recent induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame reminded the NFC North–formerly the Central, formerly the Black and Blue Division–of its roots.
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The Vikings, Packers, Bears and Lions are usually only as good as their defensive lines. The division flourished when its front fours flourished. Recently it has failed because its defensive lines have failed.
The Packers were the last division team to reach the Super Bowl, in 1996-97, when they had Reggie White to anchor a front that also included Santana Dotson, Gilbert Brown and Sean Jones the year they won.
They have been trying to replace them ever since, striking out with ex-Saint Joe Johnson and draft choice Vonnie Holliday.
The Packers also were the first to play in Super Bowls, when their front four included Hall of Famers Willie Davis and Henry Jordan.
With Eller, fellow Hall of Famer Alan Page and the great Jim Marshall, the Vikings’ “Purple People Eaters” went to four Super Bowls.
When the Bears went to their only Super Bowl, it was largely on the backs of a great front of Richard Dent, Steve McMichael, William Perry and Dan Hampton, along with veteran Mike Hartenstine.
One of the reasons the Lions never have been to a Super Bowl is they haven’t been able to assemble a top-tier front four, despite the presence of some good defensive linemen over the years: Robert Porcher, Doug English, Al Baker and Herb Orvis.
When the Lions had Alex Karras, Roger Brown and Darris McCord on the same line, they challenged the mighty Packers in the ’60s.
The Vikings had the No. 1 offense in the NFL last season, and the Packers have Brett Favre. But until somebody comes up with a front four that stops the run and pressures the passer, the playoffs are for other teams.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, division members for a time, won the 2002 Super Bowl only after adding pass rusher Simeon Rice to a defensive line that featured Warren Sapp.
In 2004, the NFC North is a division with defensive lines in a construction zone.
The Vikings added first-round draft choice Kenechi Udeze, a pass-rusher, to last year’s first-round pick, Kevin Williams, who had 10.5 sacks as a rookie. Williams switched between end and tackle and should have been defensive rookie of the year.
The Lions believed they had the 2001 rookie of the year in tackle Shaun Rogers, who led all interior linemen in tackles. Last season they rejuvenated the career of Dan Wilkinson, the league’s first-round draft pick in 1994. Side by side they give Detroit defensive coordinator Dick Jauron the kind of middle he enjoyed with Ted Washington and Keith Traylor when the Bears were 13-3 in 2001.
The Packers brought in big Grady Jackson halfway through last season and hope he lasts long enough for Cletidus Hunt and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and third-round draft choices of the last two years, Donnell Washington and Kenny Peterson, to blossom around him. Jackson struck out in Oakland and New Orleans and remains a risk.
The Bears hope their twin rookie defensive tackles, Tommie Harris and Tank Johnson, can play as well right away as Williams played in Minnesota and Rogers played in Detroit as rookies.
They also are counting on last year’s No. 1, Michael Haynes, and 2002 pick Alex Brown to develop fast.
As for defensive-line breakthroughs, the Vikings believe they have made bigger strides than anyone else in the division. They drafted Ohio State’s Darrion Scott in the third round. They added big veteran free agent Steve Martin to back up Williams and Chris Hovan inside. Last year they signed Billy Lyon from Green Bay. Their second four consists of Lyon, Martin, Chuck Wiley and Lance Johnstone, all veterans.
They figure they need the depth because starting left end Kenny Mixon faces a suspension for substance abuse and top pick Udeze has a rotator cuff injury that caused other teams to pass on him in the draft. So far it’s holding up.
“You build your organization from the front back,” Vikings coach Mike Tice said. “You take the better big guy over the better little guy. If you’re going to win consistently, you have to have good players on the offensive line and defensive line.
“I grew up a Giants fan and I remember those defensive lines they had.”
Eller brought back memories, too, of a division trying to relive better times.
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