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As much as I think Scouts, Inc. sucks, I still like to read it...
Why To Watch
Bears coach Lovie Smith's No. 1 goal every year is beating the rival Green Bay Packers. His defending NFC North Champions head back to the Lambeau Field to attempt to achieve that goal, repeat as division winners and then win in the playoffs aiming at Super Bowl XLI in Miami.
The No. 1 nemesis working to not let that happen will be Brett Favre. The Packers will truly have a home-field advantage with a sold-out crowd of Cheeseheads screaming for an upset. Anything is possible when Favre has the football.
When the Bears have the ball
Rushing: Chicago has decided to start the extremely productive Thomas Jones (1,335 rushing yards in 2005) over the potentially productive Cedric Benson. Both have been hampered by injuries and attitude problems this preseason. Jones came into training camp disgruntled about the Bears' brass desire to anoint Benson, last year's first-round pick, as the starter. Benson injured his shoulder after being tackled by Brian Urlacher early in camp and remains questionable for the opener. Benson has also shown signs of being high maintenance, leaving the field during a preseason game with the Chargers as well as missing a team meeting.
The odd man out in this little backfield drama is the talented Adrian Peterson. The offensive line should match up well running the ball versus a Packers defense with smaller, speed rush-type defensive ends like Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and the always overachieving Aaron Kampman. Conversely, with speed and effort on the edges, Green Bay can make the Bears' running attack more lateral, allowing the talented linebackers, Nick Barnett along with rookies A.J. Hawk and Abdul Hodge, to run and make tackles.
Passing: Once thought to be the quarterback of the future, Rex Grossman must first establish himself as the quarterback of the present. Having twice suffered season-ending injuries, Grossman has been incredibly streaky and inconsistent when healthy. Waiting in the wings with the experience and ability to successfully lead an NFL offense will be Brian Griese. As much as Lovie Smith wants Grossman to be the man, don't think he will wait too long should Grossman struggle moving the ball.
The success of the Chicago passing game is based on establishing a rushing attack. When the Bears take to the air, Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian will be the main targets outside. Both these receivers should be well covered by talented Packers corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson, allowing the athletic Packers linebackers to provide additional pressure or cover TE Desmond Clark or FB Jason McKie. The Packers have a talented corps of linebackers and a veteran secondary with excellent cover skills that could frustrate the erratic Grossman into some turnovers when he is forced to pass.
When the Packers have the ball
Rushing: With star running back Ahman Green returning from a serious quadriceps surgery, the Packers must be anxious about their running game. Often-injured Najeh Davenport was cut, leaving Samkon Gado and Noah Herron to step in if Green can't go. Gado must prove that last year's success was no fluke, while Herron is a versatile player who will fill several special teams' roles until called upon on offense.
All of the problems in the backfield don't even address the fact that there are two rookies starting on the offensive line about to line up against the Bears' outstanding front seven. These are the types of challenging match-up scenarios that give coaches gray hair and sleepless nights. The Bears' front seven is arguably the NFL's best in and should dominate the Packers' offensive line. Unless Green is completely healthy, Green Bay doesn't have a running back special enough to produce big yards, especially against a defensive front this formidable.
Passing: New offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodinski has been challenging Brett Favre all summer, trying to cut down on the quarterback's number of forced passes and critical turnovers. Favre is the son of a coach and appreciates honest coaching from Jagodinski, so look for Favre to be more patient rather than forcing passes against this outstanding defense. Look for big rookie Greg Jennings and Donald Driver to be Favre's downfield targets, but most of the passes will be dished off underneath to TEs Bubba Franks, David Martin and even Donald Lee as well as William Henderson out of the backfield.
Favre is savvy enough to work his team methodically down the field. However, if he is taking a lot of hits early look for him to lose his patience and go back to his gun-slinging ways, which is exactly what Brian Urlacher and his defensive mates would love to see.
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Not bad.
Why To Watch
Bears coach Lovie Smith's No. 1 goal every year is beating the rival Green Bay Packers. His defending NFC North Champions head back to the Lambeau Field to attempt to achieve that goal, repeat as division winners and then win in the playoffs aiming at Super Bowl XLI in Miami.
The No. 1 nemesis working to not let that happen will be Brett Favre. The Packers will truly have a home-field advantage with a sold-out crowd of Cheeseheads screaming for an upset. Anything is possible when Favre has the football.
When the Bears have the ball
Rushing: Chicago has decided to start the extremely productive Thomas Jones (1,335 rushing yards in 2005) over the potentially productive Cedric Benson. Both have been hampered by injuries and attitude problems this preseason. Jones came into training camp disgruntled about the Bears' brass desire to anoint Benson, last year's first-round pick, as the starter. Benson injured his shoulder after being tackled by Brian Urlacher early in camp and remains questionable for the opener. Benson has also shown signs of being high maintenance, leaving the field during a preseason game with the Chargers as well as missing a team meeting.
The odd man out in this little backfield drama is the talented Adrian Peterson. The offensive line should match up well running the ball versus a Packers defense with smaller, speed rush-type defensive ends like Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and the always overachieving Aaron Kampman. Conversely, with speed and effort on the edges, Green Bay can make the Bears' running attack more lateral, allowing the talented linebackers, Nick Barnett along with rookies A.J. Hawk and Abdul Hodge, to run and make tackles.
Passing: Once thought to be the quarterback of the future, Rex Grossman must first establish himself as the quarterback of the present. Having twice suffered season-ending injuries, Grossman has been incredibly streaky and inconsistent when healthy. Waiting in the wings with the experience and ability to successfully lead an NFL offense will be Brian Griese. As much as Lovie Smith wants Grossman to be the man, don't think he will wait too long should Grossman struggle moving the ball.
The success of the Chicago passing game is based on establishing a rushing attack. When the Bears take to the air, Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian will be the main targets outside. Both these receivers should be well covered by talented Packers corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson, allowing the athletic Packers linebackers to provide additional pressure or cover TE Desmond Clark or FB Jason McKie. The Packers have a talented corps of linebackers and a veteran secondary with excellent cover skills that could frustrate the erratic Grossman into some turnovers when he is forced to pass.
When the Packers have the ball
Rushing: With star running back Ahman Green returning from a serious quadriceps surgery, the Packers must be anxious about their running game. Often-injured Najeh Davenport was cut, leaving Samkon Gado and Noah Herron to step in if Green can't go. Gado must prove that last year's success was no fluke, while Herron is a versatile player who will fill several special teams' roles until called upon on offense.
All of the problems in the backfield don't even address the fact that there are two rookies starting on the offensive line about to line up against the Bears' outstanding front seven. These are the types of challenging match-up scenarios that give coaches gray hair and sleepless nights. The Bears' front seven is arguably the NFL's best in and should dominate the Packers' offensive line. Unless Green is completely healthy, Green Bay doesn't have a running back special enough to produce big yards, especially against a defensive front this formidable.
Passing: New offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodinski has been challenging Brett Favre all summer, trying to cut down on the quarterback's number of forced passes and critical turnovers. Favre is the son of a coach and appreciates honest coaching from Jagodinski, so look for Favre to be more patient rather than forcing passes against this outstanding defense. Look for big rookie Greg Jennings and Donald Driver to be Favre's downfield targets, but most of the passes will be dished off underneath to TEs Bubba Franks, David Martin and even Donald Lee as well as William Henderson out of the backfield.
Favre is savvy enough to work his team methodically down the field. However, if he is taking a lot of hits early look for him to lose his patience and go back to his gun-slinging ways, which is exactly what Brian Urlacher and his defensive mates would love to see.
---
Not bad.
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