The Bears Den: October 19, 2012 - Week 7 News and Notes

Undisciplined Lions follow the lead of Schwartz - Steve Silverman: Schwartz’s Lions are about as undisciplined a team as you will find in the NFL. The Lions have trouble keeping their focus on the field and off the field.

Jerry Angelo deserves some credit for Bears current success - David Haugh: Deposed GM made many mistakes, including drafting Chris Williams, but don't forget the solid moves he made in fashioning current roster

Larry Mayer's Chalk Talk - How many defensive TDs did '85 Bears score? And how close is Lance Briggs to setting an all-time NFL record for pick-6s by a LB?

[Audio] Our own Steven Schweickert talks Bears on Making Sense with Mike and Tom - Relevant section is from 84 mins to the 100-min mark.

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Bears-Lions

Lions have been no match for Cutler - Brad Biggs: QB has had their number but realizes the challenge they present with tough DL and Louis Delmas back in the secondary.

Cutler-Marshall, Stafford-Johnson ready for face-off on Monday night - Adam L. Jahns: A baffling stat this season is that Johnson, despite 558 receiving yards and 35 catches, has only one touchdown.

Battle of tandems - Vaughn McClure: The showdown Monday night against the Lions might turn into a battle of tandems: Stafford and Johnson versus Cutler and Marshall.

What’s the better duo, Cutler-Marshall or Stafford-Johnson? - Moon Mullin breaks it down.

[Video] ESPN Hot Button - Lomas Brown gives his pick for the better QB-WR duo, Matthew Stafford-Calvin Johnson or Jay Cutler-Brandon Marshall.

Cutler, Marshall are Bears' dynamic duo Jon Greenberg: Cutler and Marshall have talent to be best, now they have to prove it. To the Bearcave!

Marshall enjoys MNF spotlight - “Not only do I study DBs, but I study receivers because I want to get better,” Marshall said. “There’s guys that do things differently and may do some things better than me.”

Jay Cutler hoping for 'clean game' vs. Lions - Fred Mitchell: Jay Cutler had his head handed to him last November by the Lions ... well, at least his headgear.

Mike Tice vows he won't abandon running game against Lions - Vaughn McClure: Bears OC says team has ironed out problems against 3-4 defenses it had earlier in the season. Plus, team news.

Devin Hester ready to break return drought Monday - Jesse Rogers: It’s been over 11 months since Devin Hester has returned a kick for a touchdown.

Tice expects Hester to play bigger role - Jeff Dickerson: Said the Bears have barely scratched the surface of the much talked about "Devin Hester package". Giggity.

Hester looking for that Monday Night magic - Peggy Kusinski: Devin Hester hasn't returned a punt or kickoff for a TD yet this year, but eight of 18 have come on Monday nights. Better yet, his last return for a score came against the Lions.

[Video] Moon Mullin's update - Looking ahead to Bears-Lions.

Lance Louis not fazed by Lions' DL - Michael C. Wright: Bears interior offensive linemen Lance Louis and Chilo Rachal shrugged off the suggestion the team could be under increased pressure when it faces a Lions DL that might be one of the league's best.

Bears defense leading the way - Kevin Seifert notes that minimal blitzes, maximal coverage is not only the Bears' preference but also the D that's giving Stafford the most problems.

Matt Bowen's playbook - How Bears can beat the Lions' blitz: Jay Cutler can target Brandon Marshall down the sideline if CB is guilty of poor Cover-1 technique.

For Bears, if not Jeffery, who? - Moon Mullin: With Alshon Jeffery out for Monday night and possibly more, the Bears will need someone to step up and fill his starting role -- but the team may not have that guy on their roster. Mike Tice: "We’re going to try to continue to grow (Hester's) package." Giggity.

No Olsen twin, but Kellen Davis rising - Sean Jensen: After a rough start with a couple of drops, Davis has been reliable during the Bears’ three-game winning streak. For the season, Davis has eight catches for 129 yards and one touchdown. Tice wants to get him more involved.

Injury report - Michael C. Wright: Bears held Devin Hester (quad) out of practice on Thursday.

Injury report - Moon Mullin: Alshon Jeffery's already been ruled out for Monday's matchup against the Lions, but what banged-up Bears will be returning to the field?

Four Downs - Are the Bears in for a letdown against the Lions? Will it be Urlacher's breakout game? Are Cutler-Marshall more dynamic than Stafford-Johnson? Will the NFCN come down to Bears-Packers?

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Knowing thy enemy a bit more

Know thy enemy - Moon Mullin: The Lions focused during their off week on playing with more restrained emotion, something that may or may not be seen Monday night when they take on the Bears.

Know thy enemy - Jeff Dickerson: Matthew Stafford says he has moved on from his incident with D.J. Moore.

Know thy enemy - Jeff Dickerson: Matthew Stafford's 4th-quarter pattern faces test against a Bears team which is outscoring opponents 102-31 in the second half and 65-25 in the fourth quarter behind Cutler.

Know thy enemy - Kevin Seifert: Lions re-signed Alphonso Smith for depth at CB.

Lions are the Bears’ real rivals - Rick Morrissey: The rivalry between Bears fans and Packers fans is more fun than fierce. But the Lions are a different story.

[Video] ESPN Hot Button - Lomas Brown gives an insider's perspective on the rivalry between the Lions and the Bears.

[Video] NFL Live - Schlereth picks Bears to beat inconsistent Lions.

[Video] 'Madden NFL 13' predicts - Bears win!

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Other Bears news

Bears' run game fuels play-action passes - Michael C. Wright: Cutler's passing numbers are better on play-action, so it’s clear opponents respect the team’s ability to run.

Jay Cutler won't change for prime time - Michael C. Wright: Cutler admitted all the criticisms concerning him are too much to individually address. Should he try, the distractions would take focus away from the end game: winning.

Seriously, the Cutler story is over, people - Adam Hoge: He’s not the greatest guy in the world, but that’s not what he’s paid to be. He’s paid to win football games for the Bears and his attitude is only a story when it prevents that from happening.

Tice laments Williams' bad breaks - Jeff Dickerson: Despite Tice's new title this season, he continues to oversee the club's offensive line and spent the last two-plus years working directly with Williams, who visited the Cardinals on Thursday.

DraftWatch: Bears and left tackles - Kevin Seifert with some LT prospects, should the Bears decide to look to upgrade in the draft.

PFF snapshot - Lance Briggs appears on the list of most efficient LBs by run stop percentage.

[Video] Pat Boyle podcast - Talking with Lance Briggs about switching to LB in college and his time with the Bears. Plus, Tom Thayer on college football.

Dionne Miller's 'Happenings at Halas' - October 18: Left tackle remains a huge need for the Bears and where Emery is looking to put his stamp on that O-line and consequently this franchise. It's the last solid missing piece.

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Everything else

Matt Bowen's game notes - Running game still sells in San Francisco, from the 49ers' 13-6 win over the Seahawks.

Tough schedules for Lions, Vikings - Kevin Seifert: NFCN teams have two of the top three most-difficult schedules for the remaining 11 weeks of the season, and all four rank in the top 10.

Well, let's play chess!