Bears To Face Air McNabb This Sunday

by WCG on Sep 26, 2008 8:23 AM CDT Comment 11 comments

When the Bears and Eagles collide this Sunday, the Eagles' Brian Westbrook will be playing hurt, so the Eagles will be relying more on the arm of QB Donovan McNabb.

This is both good and bad for the Bears. Anytime you come into an important game like this if a team is not coming in full strength or are missing one of their legs it is a good thing. However, if the the team they are coming in against is the Bears who just gave up a 0 sack and 400+ performance to Brian Griese that might not be a good thing.

The Bears are playing well against the run and might prefer that Westbrook was healthy and the Eagles kept it on the ground. There is a big difference between Brian Griese and Michael Clayton than Donovan McNabb and DeSean Jackson.

The Bears, who have one of the league's better run defenses after three weeks, have been daring opponents to drop back that often. Their strategy to walk up linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher to the line of scrimmage has closed gaps and invited teams to throw.

This is all well and good. I'm glad to see the Bears getting a little creative and trying to cause some confusion, but to go along with it the Bears have to be able to back it up. The Bears need to create pressure with their front four. If they can't and have to consistently bring cornerbacks and linebackers in to create the pressure and with the ability of McNabb to get the ball down field it will leave the Bears with space in the secondary.

Other Bears News and Notes:

Cedric Benson has been cleared of all chareges following two arrests during the off season.

Mike Brown, Lance Briggs, Marty Booker and Brian Urlacher all returned to practice on Thursday. Nathan Vasher, Chris Williams, Devin Hester and Alex Brown all had limited participation in practice.

The Bears offense is more than aware of what they are up against with the Philly D.

Poll

Do the Bears have the personnel to keep Kyle Orton standing?

Yes, but they will have to be perfect and use a lot of max protect

31 votes

No, Kyle Orton will be eating grass all day

59 votes

Orton won't be sacked a alot, but will be under pressure all game

60 votes

150 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

This would be a great game for the TE's to show up

Getting Olson/Clark into open spots plus Forte out of the backfield will likely be Orton’s saving grace Sun night

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Sep 26, 2008 9:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts exactly.

There should be plenty of opportunity for the TE’s to get open with the Eagles all-out blitzing. I would think that passes to the TEs and screen passes would work well against that crazy blitz.

by Subotai on Sep 26, 2008 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

You kill a pass rush w/ a short passing game.

Too bad we’ve executed one good screen play in the last 3 years. Now would be a good time to get that going.

There's magic in the ivy...

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 26, 2008 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

see example of Orton to Gaines Adams…

by Subotai on Sep 26, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OTOH, it's Turner.

And he might take “extra pressure” to mean “extra blockers”.

by tyger1147 on Sep 26, 2008 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's hope he realizes sending out 2 WR's, espcially the quality of which the Bears employ,

against the Eagles secondary will only result in lots of balls thrown away, interceptions, and coverage aided sacks.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Sep 26, 2008 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eagles fan here

We have had trouble stopping the TEs. So you guys are right, some quick throws to the TE would work well against us.

We have been real stout against the run, sothe real question is are the WRs going to be able to beat our short coverage…dallas was able to, pitt was not.

Mcnabb was throwing terrible after he got injured so I think our offense is going to be hampered…. a lot.

Either way this is going to be a close game.

by Joe_D on Sep 26, 2008 10:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

one more thing

If bears lack pass rush… and our line HAS been playing great thus far, the Eagles should have no problem with our speedy WRs getting open. but like i said, if mcnabb can’t get good passes off being sore that could affect us big time.

by Joe_D on Sep 26, 2008 10:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Bears need to surprise the Eagle’s offense by showing a different front this game.
With McNabb’s ability to move, injured or not, keeping the LBs back rather than
fake blitzing might take away short passes. Hillenmeyer needs to be replaced
by nickel d or by Jamar Williams. I’d like to see Williams at least get a few chances
because Hillenmeyer is showing a lack of pass coverage skills, which
has been one of the biggest exploits in three weeks.

Keeping the LBs underneath would allow our CBs to play deeper and
play more man. Basically would like to see more man zone with Mike
Brown shadowing McNabb. Or switch it up and have Manning shadow
Westbrook.

by ethan a on Sep 26, 2008 4:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

oh

And DeSean Jackson is fast, but our DBs are veterans. Most of the time they are getting caught playing too far off and allowing WRs short catches. If the CBs play deep and the LBs can play in the 10 yard zone we’re good.

Urlacher’s doing a good job helping pressure the line, but I’d rather see his paws free and roaming the underneath stuff.

by ethan a on Sep 26, 2008 4:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Defensive Fat Cats Need to Go on Bear Mauling Attack

Say what the critics will about our offense, somehow they have found a way to give this all pro caliber defense a double digit lead in all 3 games. Somehow the defense blew it in 2 of the 3. I feel that if there is any part of the team that should bear the brunt of winning the game, it is the defense. They have the talent to do it, and they certainly have the salaries that say they are the most important part of this team. In the last two seasons, the message has been clear, we rely on our defense to win. Uhrlacher, Alex Brown, Lance Briggs, Nathan Vasher, Charles Tillman, TOMMIE HARRIS, all got very generous contract renewals and extensions. Mike Brown has been given the starting safety position even though he hasn’t finished a season in recent memory. What this tells me is that there should be no reason whatsoever that we should doubt this defensive talent or ability. If these guys don’t make big plays Sunday night, we are toast. If they don’t stand out as the guys who won the game, we are not going to win. Orton has showed he can hit Forte, Olson, Clark, and now Lloyd with his passing game, even though its not a fantasy passing game. Both Forte and offensive line have proven they can execute one of the NFL’s best running games. Orton is actually doing more than we expected him to do, even though we are still witnessing some of the growing pains. This season is on the defense. All the money is on the defense. McNabb needs to get pounded and chased by armored trucks loaded with millions of dollars….because if he’s not……then all that money on them trucks should be burned!

by Oso Monstar of Midway on Sep 26, 2008 4:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs