The Bears Den: October 05, 2012 - Week 5 News and Notes

Division leaders proving the run is still important - Steve Silverman: Instead of merely being a passing league in which the team that can light up the scoreboard with the most prolific offense is the most dangerous team in the league, teams seem to be getting back to the running game.

Jennings tabbed NFC Defensive Player of Month - Larry Mayer: Jennings has already set a career-high with four interceptions. He also has recorded 18 tackles and six pass breakups, two of which resulted in interceptions by Bears teammates.

Bears team report - The Bears won't be battling just the Jaguars on Sunday afternoon at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.

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Bears-Jaguars

Jaguars wary of Hester's return game - As the Jaguars try to create a positive pulse going into their bye week, the last thing they need is a field-flipping or game-turning play by Hester.

Joniak’s keys to the game - Snap-by-snap improvement on offense; stop MJD; ST consistency; keep scoring!

As always, defense will focus on stopping run first - Larry Mayer: "Our No. 1 goal every week is to stop the run, make a team one-dimensional and let our pass rushers get after the quarterback," said Brian Urlacher.

Jaguars removing tarp to sell more tickets for Bears game - Brad Biggs: Tickets have been a tough sell for the Jaguars but that is not the case this week with the Bears coming to town.

Jaguars will test Bears' run defense - Dan McNeil: Lovie Smith's club will enter its off week with a 4-1 record after a laugher.

Briggs jumps at chance to stop Jaguars - Brad Biggs: Lance Briggs says it’s not going to be difficult for the Bears defense to get up for a meeting Sunday with the NFL’s worst-ranked offense.

Weird things can happen between Chicago and Jacksonville - Moon Mullin: On and off the field, the Bears and Jaguars have had a strange history together, from player personnel moves to failed trades and actual action.

Jones-Drew turns a 'weakness' into a true strength - Moon Mullin: Maurice Jones-Drew is short in stature but there's nothing small about the way he plays.

Know thy enemy - Maggie Hendricks: The Bears are facing an unfamiliar foe this weekend as they face the Jaguars.

[Video] Moon Mullin's update - Previewing Bears-Jaguars, the Bears' schedule, and the state of the team.

[Video] NFL Live - Mark Schlereth and Jerry Rice make their picks for Bears-Jaguars.

Injury report - Jeff Dickerson: Urlacher and Peppers were rested on Thursday, plus news on Rodriguez, Forte, Bennett.

The heat will be on the Bears again - Jeff Dickerson: The Bears had to deal with two adversaries last Monday night in Dallas: the Cowboys and the climate. And the forecast Sunday for Jacksonville, Fla. is 85.

Game picks - The CBSChicago crew unanimously expect the Bears to win on Sunday. Even Hub.

Adam Podlesh excited for return to Jacksonville - Jeff Dickerson: The Jaguars' fourth-round pick in the 2007 NFL draft (No. 101 overall), Podlesh kicked in 59 games for Jacksonville and established a franchise record with a 39.2-yard net average in 2010.

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Defense

Jennings earns defensive player of the month honors - Moon Mullin: League-leading four interceptions and nine pass break-ups in September.

Tim Jennings has shut opponents down - Kevin Seifert: Has played lights-out in all phases of pass defense during the Bears' 3-1 start.

Ball hawk Tim Jennings beats expectations - Peggy Kusinski: Five years ago, when Jennings played for the Colts, he was mentioned as one of the worst CBs in the league.

Tim Jennings named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September - Brad Biggs: Plus, Melton not credited with sack on Briggs score; Rodriguez unlikely to return against Jaguars.

Safeties improving with experience - Kip Lewis: Major Wright and Chris Conte have combined for four interceptions and are holding down the Bears' secondary through the season's first quarter.

Bears may have found a perfect safety match - Vaughn McClure: Conte and Wright are showing some of the skills the Bears haven't seen at the position since the heyday of Mike Brown.

Durkin’s Playbook - Major Wright’s improved technique and discipline is paying dividends.

Despite great start, Marinelli isn’t satisfied - Mark Potash: Despite give INTs, two returned for TDs, Stephen Paea couldn’t help but notice that Rod Marinelli still wasn’t happy.

Paea hopes to rebound againsts Jaguars - Michael C. Wright: Matter-of-factly called Monday night’s win over the Dallas Cowboys “my worst performance of the season.”

Bears Flex-ing muscle on defensive line - Moon Mullin: Bears are getting tricky with first-round draft pick Shea McClellin as part of their Flex defense.

Bears' defense improving with age - Michael C. Wright: Seemingly every year when Chicago’s defense performs at a high level, the players find themselves dismissing the notion they’re getting older.

Urlacher: Cover-2 'not fun' but it works - Remarkably perhaps, Brian Urlacher has toiled the majority of distinguished his career in a defensive scheme he doesn’t particularly care for.

Reluctantly, Brian Urlacher embraces Cover 2 - Michael C. Wright: Brian Urlacher refuses to hide disdain for playing in Cover 2 when the Bears call that defense. At the same time, he can’t deny the coverage’s efficacy.

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Offense & team news

Matt Spaeth playing role in improved protection - Jeff Dickerson: Spaeth clearly has value to Mike Tice, who himself spent 14 years in the league as primarily a blocking TE.

Cutler, Tice praise Matt Spaeth - Has earned a reputation as a good run blocker, and has yet to allow a sack or even a QB hurry through four games.

Jaws' QB rankings - Kevin Seifert: Cutler's inconsistency drops him down Ron Jaworski's QB rankings.

Cutler has run-in with a replacement ref - Maggie Hendricks: If you hadn't guessed it from lip-reading his words while on the field, it turns out our QB has quite the potty mouth.

Embattled Cutler deserves better - Marshall from How I Met Your Mother Peter Schrager speaks out in favour of our QB.

Four Downs - Whose play is more concerning, Webb or Carimi? Is the D as good as the 2006 version? Does Hester need more touches? Are the Bears the NFCN favo(u)rites?

Dionne Miller's 'Happenings at Halas' - October 04: Lovie has said Jennings was one of those guys who took what they told him after last season, and found a way to get better.

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Everything else

Know thy enemy - Kevin Seifert reviews the Detroit Lions at their bye: It makes perfect sense for opponents to employ a deep zone defense, rather than man-to-man, against Johnson and the rest of the Lions' passing game. There is no way the Lions should be averaging 3.6 yards per carry against deep zones.

Know thy enemy - Lions hoping for return of their only good DB after bye week.

Matt Bowen's game notes - X & Os from TNF's Rams victory over the Cardinals.

Matt Bowen's playbook - Using the “All-22” film to break down the Texans’ pressure scheme and get into some coaching points on throwing the “sight-adjust” vs. a blitz look.

The inaugural Presidential Quarterback Debate - Dan Bernstein presents a fluff piece about Tebow v. Cutler.

Tall and tan and young and lovely...