Bears Take MASH Unit to Detroit

by WCG on Sep 26, 2007 7:29 AM CDT in News Comment 10 comments

The one thing GM Jerry Angelo did manage to do this off season is increase the depth of this team. It will now be tested....EVERYWHERE.

We have already lost Tommie Harris for this Sunday's game and potentially for a month. Now going to the new and improved Detroit Lions aerial assault, we will be without our two starting cornerbacks.

Both Nathan Vashar and Charles Tillman will be unavailable to play.

This will move Ricky Manning to fill in for Vashar. Rookie Trumaine McBride will likely fill in the void where Tillman was.

Brandon McGowan has some experience covering the slot, so he might see some time there as well.

Oh, wait, it gets better. Safety Adam Archuleta will be playing with a broken hand.

Other names that might see some time are Corey Graham, Ade Jimoh and Greg Fassitt.

The Bears, I hope, are looking at the free agent listings to see if anybody with some game experience.

To recap:

Out
Lance Briggs
Tommie Harris
Nathan Vashar
Charles Tillman
Mike Brown (season)
Dusty Dvoracek (season)

Regardless if Brian Griese can change around this offense, if our defense can barely field a squad with our next three games against division foes, the Bears could be in bad shape by the time they start getting players back.

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Depth

I think it's obvious that Harris is the biggest loss, then Briggs. I guess we get to see what the LB corps would have been like if Briggs had held out. The coaches seemed high on Williams and Okwo . . . we'll see how good they are. Clearly, the LB corp is in the best shape. I guess we'll likely feel the hit more on the D-line, as Harris is considered one of the best at his position in the league, which will then expose the db's. The d-back situation really scares me, especially going up against the Detriot receivers, although I know that C. Johnson is questionable. Remeber, the 2005 playoff game vs. Carolina and how Steve Smith schooled our starting and backup db's. If you have a Detroit wr on your fantasy team, play him!

We'll also see a lot of Payne at safety, he's a big hitter, but I don't know much more about him.

by MO Cubs Fan on Sep 26, 2007 9:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yay! Planning for next year!!!

j/k What a sad site it is. I think Detroit might score a lot. In a twist of irony, if we had Grossman starting, I'd feel really good about the team's chances in a shoot-out. Detroit's secondary is so awful, and Grossman has shown that he had big-play ability (at least at one point), it could be fun. Griese might have that ability, but I haven't watched the pre-season, so I'm not convinced. A game manager would be awesome if we had a great D, but for this week, it might not be enough.

That said, I'm glad they aren't starting Rex because he would have a good game and get us (others, anyway) all giddy again. If the Griese-led offense can't score 24, I might have to give up on football for the season.

by tyger1147 on Sep 26, 2007 9:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

sources?

The Trib this morning said that Briggs was expected to play, and that they were hopeful about Harris playing.

visit the mindful mission.

by big_lowitzki on Sep 26, 2007 11:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It was from an article I read yesterday, but

since then I have read he might be available.

Later this week we will have a better idea.

by WCG on Sep 26, 2007 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

From the Trib...

From here:

As for Tommie Harris, an MRI on Monday revealed he had sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. The Bears hold out hope that Harris, a quick healer, will play against the Lions.
...
Also, a source said linebacker Lance Briggs was fine and ready to go after a groin injury knocked him out the Dallas game.

And:

Guard Ruben Brown (ankle), tackle Fred Miller (knee), cornerback Charles Tillman (ankle), defensive end Adewale Ogunleye (hip pointer) and nose tackle Darwin Walker (quad) are on the mend as well.

So it looks like Briggs, Harris, and the rest could play, and they are at least not getting rules out at this point.

visit the mindful mission.

by big_lowitzki on Sep 26, 2007 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

tillman being out for a few games

was from vasher's agent. so that may or may not be the case. briggs seems more likely to play, based on what's been written. but it seems vasher's going to be out for a while.

by guy incognito on Sep 26, 2007 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

BTW...

With the (possible) cornerback injuries, what are the chances Hester ends up playing defense soon, specially considering that he isn't getting involved much on offense?

visit the mindful mission.

by big_lowitzki on Sep 26, 2007 12:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I asusme it is a possiblity in emergency

but every thing I have read has never mentioned his name. They are even talking about brining people up from the practice squad, but I have not heard his naem.

by WCG on Sep 26, 2007 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We're so fucked

this week.

Visit The Cub Reporter (mvn.com/mlb-cubs)

by thecubreporter on Sep 26, 2007 3:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Depth? Maybe on Defense

Sure we've got a lot of depth on the D, but what about the guys who are hurt on the o-line? This unit has already played so poorly and they don't have any real legit back-ups. Even if the D survives the injuries and holds Detroit to under 28pts, they won't be able to run the ball or control the game on offense so none of it will matter.

They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. *That's* the *Chicago* way!

by 2ndcitydiehard on Sep 27, 2007 12:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs