The Bears Den: October 25, 2012 - Week 8 News and Notes

Cutler bounces back from injuries, but he’s not at his best right away - Mark Potash: Cutler's toughness shouldn't be in question but when he’s dinged a bit, his competitiveness sometimes writes checks his arm can’t cash.

Jay Cutler proved nothing against the Lions - Lester A. Wiltfong, Jr: If up until Monday Night you doubted Jay Cutler’s toughness, but now you’re sold on the fact that he’s tough, then you are an idiot.

Team report - Looking ahead to Bears-Panthers.

Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Subscribed to').

----------

Offense

Gruden puts blame on Bears' OL for Suh hit - From the perspective of a former offensive coach, Jon Gruden had less of a problem with Ndamukong Suh's hit on Jay Cutler on Monday night than he had with what led to the vicious sack.

Mike Tice: We need to settle down Gabe Carimi - Jeff Dickerson: Says Carimi's struggles stem from over-aggressive play.

Bears OL getting nasty – too nasty? - Moon Mullin: Through six games, the much-maligned unit is ranked 22nd in the league and has room for improvement.

[Video] Jay Cutler with Waddle & Silvy - The Bears QB talks about taking a tough hit from Ndamukong Suh on Monday Night Football.

Cutler ribs sore, but QB set to face Panthers - Fred Mitchell: Jay Cutler said he still was a little sore Wednesday and will continue to wear rib pads as the Bears prepare to face the Panthers on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Cutler plays like leader, QB team needs, but we have seen him do this before - We've said this before: Greg Couch is a terrible, terrible excuse for a sports journalist waste of oxygen.

Want to protect Cutler? Run the stinkin' ball - Rosenbloom: Cutler’s near-Super-Bowl-dream-ending injury might finally force the Bears to get off the bus running.

Bears’ ground game finally getting on track - Bob LeGere: Improved ground attack can be a formidable asset when combined with the league’s No. 1 defense. Monday night was a prime example, as the Bears held a commanding 34:35-25:25 advantage in TOP, keeping the Lions’ offense off the field.

Jeffery injury opens door for Hester, Bennett - Vaughn McClure: Lovie Smith indicated Wednesday the team is unlikely to see rookie WR Alshon Jeffery on the field any time soon.

[Video] ESPN Hot Button - Silvy breaks down whether Brandon Marshall is better on the field or off the field and stares unblinkingly at the camera.

How Brandon Marshall helped Bears shut down Calvin Johnson - Maggie Hendricks shares a revelation that everyone else realised in training camp.

Happy days for Bears offense - Brad Biggs: Things are finishing well for the offense, but everyone knows there's still much progress to be made.

PFF's 32 Observations - Week 7: Although he has played only 38 snaps this season, Evan Rodriguez (4-111) has the second-highest blocking grade of all fullbacks at +5.0.

PFF's "Had a Bad Day" Team - Week 7: Tight End: Kellen Davis, CHI (-5.1). While the dropped pass didn’t help his grade, it was the abysmal run blocking that earned Kellen Davis a spot in this team.

----------

Defense

Tillman claims another player of week award - Larry Mayer: Charles Tillman has been rewarded for his performance in Monday night's 13-7 win over the Lions by being selected the NFC defensive player of the week for the second straight game.

Tillman wins NFC defensive honors again - Charles Tillman won defensive player of the week -- without recording an interception -- due to his shutdown performance on Lions WR Calvin Johnson on Monday night.

Tillman on course for NFL defensive player of the year? - Moon Mullin weighs up Peanut's chances.

Tillman (+3.4) also makes PFF's Defensive Team of the Week.

Charles Tillman worth the trip for ‘Street Tweets” participants - Sean Jensen: Tillman was warmly greeted by Bears fans at Fiat, Nike and Forever Yogurt. #33 settled into a Fiat car and reveled in having a yogurt flavor — ‘‘The Peanut Tillman’’ — named after him.

Larry and Lovie - Larry Mayer: Lovie pleased how defense responded to challenge.

Rivera: This year’s Bears will be better than 2006 Super Bowl team - As Rivera's Panthers prepare to take on the Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday, the head coach knows just how good the 2012 Bears can be. He even said he wants his team to emulate the style of play the Bears employ.

Newton pretty good but Bears have "a few good athletes" too - Moon Mullin: Lovie Smith spoke Wednesday about the team's upcoming matchup. And while Cam Newton will be a tough opponent to face, Smith is feeling confident in his team.

Bonus pic - Hires version of today's Den phot; hamsters everywhere rejoice!

----------

Other Bears news

Chicago Bears Stock Watch - Michael C. Wright looks at which Bears are rising and falling.

Dan Pompei's Bears mailbag - Could Bears trade Jason Campbell for draft picks? And more reader questions.

Dionne Miller's 'Happenings at Halas' - October 24: Ndamukong Suh's sack of Jay Cutler left the Bears QB with bruised ribs and did nothing to improve Suh's national perception.

Bears not looking past Panthers, Smith - Jesse Rogers: Sometimes a head coach of a 5-1 team has to invent ways to keep his team focused for a contest against a 1-5 squad. Lovie Smith just needs to point to last year’s game against the Panthers to keep his players interested.

[Video] Game preview - Tom Waddle shares his X-factor for the Bears' clash with the Carolina Panthers.

[Video] Game preview - John Jurkovic looks back at the Bears' 13-7 win over the Lions and ahead to their matchup Sunday with the Panthers.

Know thy enemy - Dan Durkin: Rarely does a 6-10 season inspire confidence among a franchise, but that's exactly what happened to the Carolina Panthers. (Remember the full-page ad guaranteeing a Super Bowl? That worked out well! - Den)

In the sulking dept., Newton has supplanted Cutler - Rick Morrissey: On Sunday Cutler will be playing against Carolina’s Cam Newton, who has passed him, if for the moment, in the Bad Body Language rankings.

Lovie Smith feels for his ex-coordinator Ron Rivera - Michael C. Wright: Former Bears DC appears to be on shaky ground after his team's 1-5 start culminating in the firing Monday of GM Marty Hurney.

Brandon Marshall speaking his mind - David Haugh: Whether it's sticking up for Jay Cutler or promoting mental health issues, the receiver is mindful of platform he has with the Chicago Bears.

Brandon Marshall aims to transform critics, too - Peggy Kusinski: While Brandon Marshall is peforming on the field, he's still fighting critics who believe his mental health disorder of borderline personality disorder is simply an excuse for past behavior.

----------

Polish sausage

Matt Bowen's playbook - 'All-22' breakdown of Semi-Curl vs. 'Slice' look that the Giants' Victor Cruz's used to beat the Redskins.

Matt Bowen's playbook - All-22 breakdown of Chris Johnson's 83-yard TD vs. the Bills' 8-Man front. And after the Bills forked over all that money in the offseason, too.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Kevin Seifert: Vikings trending away from the blitz.

Who are the NFL's Bottom of the Barrel and Cream of the Crop? The latter now with added ursine properties... - Gilbert and Wiltfong do The Mikado their thing.

GMs are under more pressure now - Don Banks: The Panthers giving the boot to their longtime GM just six games into the season serves as a fresh reminder of how the position has become more of a death-defying high-wire act every year.

If only Mama Roethlisberger had told him...