The Bear’s Den, September 10, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

It’s 60’s Pop Week here in the Den, so let’s bring on that Phil Spector Wall of Sound back when it was the newest, biggest thing with The Ronettes... True, Phil is a total creepoid but the dude could produce records...

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

Bears Set Course On Creating Balanced Offensive Identity - 670 The Score - Bears coach Matt Nagy left the disappointment of his team’s season in 2019 believing his offense lacked an identity. So the Bears set course with new plans for a more balanced attack on offense. How will it look in the season opener?

Tashaun Gipson Set As Starter In Bears’ Secondary - 670 The Score - Veteran safety Tashaun Gipson was named a starter in the Bears’ secondary and is set to play alongside Pro Bowl selection Eddie Jackson. Gipson is embracing the opportunity to fit in with Chicago’s defense.

Bernstein: Same Characters, Different Feel For These Bears - 670 The Score - So much was so different one year ago, as I write this from my home studio that is also a makeshift office, having not seen my regular workplace in six months.

Bears’ David Montgomery Trending Toward Playing In Opener - 670 The Score - Bears running back David Montgomery is working his way back from a groin injury that he suffered in August. While head coach Matt Nagy was mum on Montgomery’s status, running back Tarik Cohen revealed something more honest.

Chicago Bears S Tashaun Gipson Sr. ready to step up in starting role opposite Eddie Jackson - ChicagoBears.com - Veteran safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. is ready for the season to begin after winning the position battle to start opposite Pro Bowler Eddie Jackson in the Bears secondary.

DBB’s Staff Predicts the 2020 Bears Season - Da Bears Blog - It has been the strangest off-season in the history of the NFL. Now, the folks around here attempt to predict how the regular season will go. And there’s plenty of reason for optimism.

Bears injury report: David Montgomery limited ahead of Lions game | RSN - When David Montgomery slipped during practice Aug. 26, the initial thought was: Uh oh, did the Bears just lose their starting running back for the season?

Bears’ Robert Quinn misses practice with ankle injury - Chicago Sun-Times - Forced to put out an injury report for the first time Wednesday, the Bears said Quinn had an ankle injury. They had not offered that detail at any point during training camp.

Bears’ offense under the microscope vs. Lions - Chicago Sun-Times - After last year’s regression, the Bears have a good opportunity to show improvement against a Lions team that ranked 31st in total defense in 2019. "We can do a lot of things [better]," Matt Nagy said. But will they?

Bears coach Matt Nagy to stick with QB Mitch Trubisky for entire game vs. Lions - Chicago Sun-Times - "This is Mitch’s game," Nagy said when asked if he plans to have Nick Foles available if things go sideways. It’s the first step in a huge opportunity for Trubisky over the first month of the season.

Chicago Bears: Matt Nagy has confidence in his elite defense - Chicago Tribune - Bears coach Matt Nagy loves his defense and its current approach. "Physicality. Domination. There’s just a swag with it, a controlling energy where you’re just all the time in control of the aggressiveness. It’s ruthless, not reckless."

Chicago Bears: David Montgomery, Khalil Mack listed as limited - Chicago Tribune - David Montgomery, who is recovering from a groin injury, was listed as limited on the Bears' first injury report. He was joined by Khalil Mack and a number of others.

Chicago Bears Q&A with Brad Biggs - Chicago Tribune - With the Chicago Bears 2020 season opener against the Lions in Detroit just days away, the Tribune's Brad Biggs opens the weekly mailbag.

Khalil Mack Listed on First Bears Injury Report with Knee Issue - SI.com - Mack's injury hadn't previously been reported. It's possible it was a lingering condition from the past and trainers and coaches decided not to let him practice because the Bears were on artificial turf in the Walter Payton Center on a rainy Wednesday. Ken's Note: Mack DID practice on the individual drills, just not the full practice. Robert Quinn was held out completely.

Chicago Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky explains his changed mentality heading into 2020 season - ChicagoBears.com - Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky further detailed Wednesday how his mentality has changed, saying:

Quick Hits: Chicago Bears LB Robert Quinn did not practice Wednesday due to ankle injury - ChicagoBears.com - Outside linebacker Robert Quinn was the only Bears player who did not practice Wednesday in advance of Sunday's season opener in Detroit. Running back David Montgomery was among five Bears who were limited.

POLISH SAUSAGE

RB Index, Week 1: Predicting 2020's top 10 leading rushers - NFL.com - Who will lead the NFL in rushing in 2020? Maurice Jones-Drew makes his prediction. Plus, he ranks his top 15 running backs heading into Week 1.

2020 NFL season: Nine last-minute predictions before kickoff - NFL.com - Is CeeDee Lamb the Cowboys' WR1? Will Bill Belichick post his first non-winning season since 2000? Derek Carr, MVP candidate? Adam Schein has nine juicy takes.

WINDY CITY GRIDIRON MADDEN INVITATION

Do you want to do more officially sanctioned WCG Madden stuff? Or just enjoy the game?WCG now has an official Madden Discord server! Feel free to offer suggestions, updates, or anything to help the internet’s best Bears community have the best Madden community as well! Invite link is here.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears Injury Report: Mack limited, Quinn held out - Windy City Gridiron - With their opening game a mere four days away, the Chicago Bears revealed their first injury report of the 2020 season and it was a bit larger than hoped.

Mitchell: Positive Waves, Plus 5 Reasons To Be Excited About The 2020 Chicago Bears - Windy City Gridiron - Enough of the negative waves, it’s old, it’s boring and it’s been constant for a year now...

Leming's Week 1 Bears Mailbag: A possible Allen Robinson extension, veteran free agent fits and much more - Windy City Gridiron - Week 1 is finally here and this week’s mailbag is packed to the brim with questions! Only thing left to do is crack is open and let us give you some answers.

Berckes, Snyder & Wiltfong Present Bears Over Beers: The Big Season Preview with Lester Wiltfong - Windy City Gridiron - Lester joins the guys in a big season preview episode!

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.; EJ also co-hosts The Bootleg Football Podcast with Brett Kollmann; R. Schmitz has a film breakdown show on YouTube titled Run Pass Opinion; and Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert.

Click on our names to follow us on Twitter: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Ken Mitchell; Jack R Salo; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Schmitz; Robert Zeglinski; Bill Zimmerman; Like us on Facebook.