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Vasher, Tillman out against pass-happy Lions
DEPLETED 'D' | CBs Vasher, Tillman out against pass-happy Lions
September 26, 2007
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
Brian Griese isn't the only player who'll make his first start for the Bears on Sunday.
There will be considerably more turnover on defense. A short-handed situation in the secondary, after Nathan Vasher went down Sunday with a partially torn groin muscle, has grown worse with the news that Charles Tillman also is injured. Rookie Trumaine McBride, a seventh-round draft pick, is expected to start in his place.
The Bears will face the pass-happy Detroit Lions, and quite possibly Brett Favre and the undefeated Green Bay Packers the next week, without the cornerback tandem they signed to contract extensions totaling $69.5 million in the offseason. Vasher will be out at least a month, and Tillman is likely to miss two games with a sprained right ankle, which was retaped on the sideline Sunday night against Dallas. A source close to McBride said he's expected to be the first member of the 2007 draft class to start.
Ricky Manning Jr. already was slated to take over for Vasher, and strong safety Adam Archuleta will play with a broken right hand, meaning the entire starting secondary from Week 1 is now injured. Free safety Mike Brown (torn left ACL) is out for the season, and the depleted Bears also could be without defensive tackle Tommie Harris (left knee) and linebacker Lance Briggs (groin) this week.
There are other options in the secondary, but rookie fifth-round pick Corey Graham was not in uniform for the first three games, and veteran Ade Jimoh has participated in only five practices, having been bounced in and out to make room for emergency punter Dirk Johnson. The Bears are considering promoting cornerback Greg Fassitt from the practice squad. A source close to Fassitt said Tuesday evening it was ''50-50'' that the undrafted free agent from Grambling will be signed to a contract.
Backup safety Brandon McGowan has experience covering the slot in the nickel defense. He was guilty of letting Chargers tight end Antonio Gates free for a touchdown on the halfback pass by LaDainian Tomlinson in Week 1. The Bears figure to be in their nickel defense often Sunday. The Lions have five receivers with 10 or more catches, and their pass-to-run ratio is nearly 3 to 1 with Mike Martz at the controls.
''The injuries did pile up, but we still feel like we have some good backups, and we just need to make sure we go out there and play at a high level,'' defensive coordinator Bob Babich said after the game Sunday. ''Whatever happens, we just have to deal with it and go from there.''
DEPLETED 'D' | CBs Vasher, Tillman out against pass-happy Lions
September 26, 2007
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
Brian Griese isn't the only player who'll make his first start for the Bears on Sunday.
There will be considerably more turnover on defense. A short-handed situation in the secondary, after Nathan Vasher went down Sunday with a partially torn groin muscle, has grown worse with the news that Charles Tillman also is injured. Rookie Trumaine McBride, a seventh-round draft pick, is expected to start in his place.
The Bears will face the pass-happy Detroit Lions, and quite possibly Brett Favre and the undefeated Green Bay Packers the next week, without the cornerback tandem they signed to contract extensions totaling $69.5 million in the offseason. Vasher will be out at least a month, and Tillman is likely to miss two games with a sprained right ankle, which was retaped on the sideline Sunday night against Dallas. A source close to McBride said he's expected to be the first member of the 2007 draft class to start.
Ricky Manning Jr. already was slated to take over for Vasher, and strong safety Adam Archuleta will play with a broken right hand, meaning the entire starting secondary from Week 1 is now injured. Free safety Mike Brown (torn left ACL) is out for the season, and the depleted Bears also could be without defensive tackle Tommie Harris (left knee) and linebacker Lance Briggs (groin) this week.
There are other options in the secondary, but rookie fifth-round pick Corey Graham was not in uniform for the first three games, and veteran Ade Jimoh has participated in only five practices, having been bounced in and out to make room for emergency punter Dirk Johnson. The Bears are considering promoting cornerback Greg Fassitt from the practice squad. A source close to Fassitt said Tuesday evening it was ''50-50'' that the undrafted free agent from Grambling will be signed to a contract.
Backup safety Brandon McGowan has experience covering the slot in the nickel defense. He was guilty of letting Chargers tight end Antonio Gates free for a touchdown on the halfback pass by LaDainian Tomlinson in Week 1. The Bears figure to be in their nickel defense often Sunday. The Lions have five receivers with 10 or more catches, and their pass-to-run ratio is nearly 3 to 1 with Mike Martz at the controls.
''The injuries did pile up, but we still feel like we have some good backups, and we just need to make sure we go out there and play at a high level,'' defensive coordinator Bob Babich said after the game Sunday. ''Whatever happens, we just have to deal with it and go from there.''
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