Grab Bag of Bears News, Thoughts, Previews and Recaps

The Bears had a huge win last week against Indy. After amassing a huge following of doubters throughout the preseason, the Bears showed the country why they are still a team to be feared on Sunday night. The keys to the win were numerous, but personally I believe that Babich was the difference. If you all remember last year Babich took over and decided to completely abandon the blitz. He argued that our front four was so dominant that they could get pressure on the opposing quarterback without any help from blitzing linebackers or DBs. While I do have faith in our front four, injuries and perhaps down years contributed to the inability of last year's team to really disrupt opposing offenses the way they had in the magical season of 2006. Well Babich appears to have left that non-blitzing strategy in the dust this season. He didn't let anyone see too much of it in the preseason, where he only blitzed minimally. This made it a complete surprise to see the blitz coming from everywhere on Sunday night. This defense depends on creating turnovers, but what quarterback will create a turnover without being rushed or pressured or even sacked? If they can sit back in the pocket all day, they are less likely to be hurried into a mistake that will cause a turnover. It all starts with pressuring the quarterback, and that is what Babich finally realized this year.



Which brings me to this week's game. The Panthers have given us all kinds of trouble in the past. When Delhomme has had time to make good throws, he's torched us. The difference is that his number 1 target, Steve Smith, is suspended for the game. If our defense can continue its harassment of the quarterback this week, Delhomme could be in a lot of trouble without his favorite target. We all know Coach Fox loves to run the ball, and the Bears were able to completely stuff the run against Indy. If they force Delhomme to drop back and throw like they did to Peyton, it's going to be a long day for the Panthers. What concerns me is the Panthers run defense, which is actually pretty good as well. I think this game is going to be a very physical, grind it out kind of game, which seems to favor the Bears a bit. If I was making the defensive gameplan, I would put Vasher and Tillman out in single coverage on what's left of the Panthers receivers and just stack everyone else in the box. If Babich agrees with me, we could see a lot of Cover 1 tomorrow. Anyways, the Bears should win this in a close one.



Quick Notes:

• Watch out for this Dante Rosario at TE for the Panthers. If Briggs is slowed down or even out with that ankle problem this guy could tear us up across the middle
• We need Matt Forte to pound the ball and the o-line to give him holes
• Look for both defenses to stack it up against the run and force the qbs to air it out. Orton needs to be careful not to make mistakes against a decent Carolina secondary
• Chris Harris, former Bear, will be looking for revenge. Watch out, he hits hard.
• Josh Beekman, rookie left guard, looked very good last week. The o-line needs to protect Orton, and Beekman will be a key to that.

Brian Urlacher's take on the Panthers: He thinks if the offense can get a lot of 3rd and shorts, they will be in good shape. He also offers a lot of other interesting thoughts on the Panthers.


Injury Report for this week:
BEARS:
Probable-->Vasher-shoulder; Hester-foot
Questionable-->T. Harris-ankle; Tait-groin; Briggs-ankle
Out-->C. Williams-back

PANTHERS:
Questionable-->Diggs-shoulder; Gamble-upper arm; Robinson-knee; Rosario-foot
Doubtful-->Wharton-knee
Out-->Carter-knee
Retarded and Angry-->Steve Smith

Stormin Norman's Prediction: Bears 20-Panthers 13

GO BEARS!