Much has been made about coach Mike McCarthy’s decision to switch from a 4-3 base defense to a 3-4 this off-season. Did it have to do with the available defensive coordinators (Gregg Williams, Mike Nolan, the eventual “winner” in Dom Capers)? Did McCarthy think his linebacking crew wasn’t fit to run a 4-3? Did he believe his aging starters at CB could benefit from a fundamental shift in philosophy? Are Ted Thompson and McCarthy drinking on the job? And so on.

I’m here to tell you that – at least in the forseeable future – it won’t matter, not as long as Green Bay has such a measurable advantage at the quarterback position in its division. Outside of Aaron Rodgers, the NFC North is bereft of anything remotely resembling a franchise quarterback.

Chicago will once again resume its Shakespearean-inspired indecision over whether to start Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton. Early indications suggest Orton and not Grossman, the former first-round pick, will be at the helm week 1. That’s akin to trading in your Gremlin for a Geo Storm – still not enough hoss to throw down.

Minnesota hangs its hat on Tavaris Jackson, an uncanny decision unparalleled in the league. The Vikes have the league’s top young running back, an incredibly stout run defense, and a manageable receiving corps, yet they fiddle about at the game’s most integral position. Imagine Schindler’s List with Gary Busey instead of Liam Neeson, and that’s what you’re getting with this year’s Vikings crew. Don’t even get me started about the acquisition of Sage Rosenfels to compete, as if it means anything. I saw that helicopter dive he took against the Colts last year, and he ain’t no John Elway.

And Detroit is, well, Detroit, and that should say enough. Daunte Culpepper is a locust shell and only a stop-gap until the next young quarterback the Motor City Kitties can ruin (see: Harrington, Joey). Poor Matthew Stafford has no idea what he’s getting into.

So there you have it – almost by default, Rodgers is the best quarterback in the NFC North. Let’s not belittle his accomplishments simply because of his associates, though. How about a 28:13 TD:INT split with over 4,000 yard passing in his first season as starter, taking over for a first-ballot HOFer? Pretty striking. Yes, the Packers lost a lot of close games in the 4th quarter (games that, some argue, would have been won by Mr. Favre), but that has more to do with the collapse of the defense than by Rodgers’ arm.

So, Cheeseheads, welcome the 3-4 defense. If it can help a young quarterback win games, embrace a little change. It’s not like Green Bay could finish any worse than they did last year.

Imperative update:
I originally wrote this entry a week ago, prior to the Cutler trade that sent shockwaves through the league. Cutler is now clearly the most established QB in the division. He’s got the Pro Bowl pedigree–as much as that means anymore in an era diluted by withdrawals from American pro sports’ most meaningless game–and he’s got a cannon arm.

But he’s also got a 17-20 lifetime record. And he has a grand total of 0 playoff wins. Is he an improvement over the Orton/Grossman/Cade McNown/Steve DeBerg sampler pack in Chicago? Markedly. And might he be the Windy City’s answer to Brett Favre, a free-wheeling emotionally-charged quarterback? Yes, that’s certainly possible.
I was skeptical of Cutler in Denver, and I’ll be disinclined to believe in his ability with a marginal receiving corps until he proves he can reach his massive potential.
One thing’s for sure: that opening Sunday night matchup between Chicago and Green Bay got a little drama injected into it.