Bears Injured Secondary vs Brett Favre

[CaliforniaCheez]

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/huddleup/2007/10/tillman-briggs-.html

The Chicago Tribune says:

Sorry Bears fans. Your team is still banged up.

Charles Tillman (ankle) and Lance Briggs (hamstring) ran sprints on the side while the rest of the team practiced Tuesday. And neither player looked great running, although Tillman was a little more fluid with his motion than Briggs.

Nathan Vasher (groin) continues to sit out practice, but the surprise addition to the no-practice list was safety Brandon McGowan. It's unclear when McGowan got hurt, but he played a lot against Detroit this past weekend. The Bears already lost two safeties for the season in Mike Brown (ACL) and Kevin Payne (broken arm), and a third -- Adam Archuleta -- is practicing with a broken right hand.

Tommie Harris (knee) was on the practice field but his participation was limited through the first 15 minutes.

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Running Game?? We don't need no stinkin' running game!!

[Freak Out]

Air M3 baby. Let er' rip #4.

[retailguy]

With Briggs hurt, and the Packers throwing it 45 times a game, do you think the Bears use a nickel or dime defense as base?

any benefit to that for the Bears, or, are they so banged up that they don't have the personnel to run it effectively and for the majority of the game?

Also, anyone see an opportunity for the bears to run a cover 3 to try to stop the intermediate pass and get the receivers out of the seam?

Thoughts?

[CaliforniaCheez]

With Briggs hurt, and the Packers throwing it 45 times a game, do you think the Bears use a nickel or dime defense as base?

any benefit to that for the Bears, or, are they so banged up that they don't have the personnel to run it effectively and for the majority of the game?

Also, anyone see an opportunity for the bears to run a cover 3 to try to stop the intermediate pass and get the receivers out of the seam?

Thoughts?

I think the opposite will happen. With the top 2 safeties and at least one CB out, I think the Bears have to go to blitz mode on most downs. You can't just lay back in coverage with backups in the secondary against Brett Favre.

I see the the less injured DL and LB's going after Brett.

[RashanGary]

I see the Packers finding a way to score points and win. 5-0!!

[RIPackerFan]

I was wondering whether they had enough personnel to play a nickel D. Last week, in the 4qtr of the game vs. the Lions, the Bears had to play their base D since they ran out of D-backs. I have a feeling that may be the case this week.

I agree with Cali - I see them doing full out blitzes, while having their corners mug our recievers - thus disrupting their routes for a split second - and if they can get to Favre - its a sack.

However, this approach is high risk/high reward - if they don't get to Favre - the recievers will have something open down the field - if the CBs don't get a good hit against the recievers - same thing.

We can try to run them out of it - but you have to pick the right hole to run through - and then block it effectively.

[retailguy]

I see the Packers finding a way to score points and win. 5-0!!

Well, truthfully, so do I, but I also have a lot of respect for Lovie, and know that if anyone can take that patchwork injured defense and make it work, he can. So, I'm just speculating.

The whole blitz idea though, I find really interesting. I guess to a certain point, I can see it, but, I still wonder what he'll try. I don't think Lovie's odds of success are high, but he'll be as prepared as he is capable of being, and the Bears should overachieve a bit in this one, I'd think.

[RIPackerFan]

I just can't imagine the D only sending 4 and letting Favre sit back and light them up. With the injuries to Harris and Briggs - either preventing them from being 100% or not playing, I just do see them getting to Favre consistently with only 4 rushing.

From what I have read - they will try to re-establish the run against us - I hope the MM is getting our guys ready.

[Noodle]

The run is their only chance. They have to keep the Pack off the field and their Defense fresh.

Then I expect them to send 4, maybe 5 at times, but with lots of stunting and having different guys rush, with DEs dropping in to seams to disrupt crossing routes. If they play vanilla, Favre will kill them, unless he gets too greedy.

It hurts them big time to have no safeties. Can't really do a cover 3 with no safeties, can you, unless Urlacher drops deep?

[3irty1]

They have been blitzing a lot more this year. They have been sending LBs and stuff so I'm sure we'll see it but I expect we'll spread them out pretty good with 4 receiver sets and move the ball no matter what. Big day from Martin.

[run pMc]

It's a big rivalry game and I don't think CHI wants to lose an important division game and go 1-4 this early in the season. That makes this a must-win game for them...and CHI a desperate and thus very dangerous team. I wouldn't be surprised if most of these guys suit up on Sun and play. The question is how much and how effectively.

Lovie will come up with something clever on D, and they will try to take the air out of the ball by running Benson & Peterson, but GB has to be favored in this game. CHI is really beat up.

[mmmdk]

It's a big rivalry game and I don't think CHI wants to lose an important division game and go 1-4 this early in the season. That makes this a must-win game for them...and CHI a desperate and thus very dangerous team. I wouldn't be surprised if most of these guys suit up on Sun and play. The question is how much and how effectively.

Lovie will come up with something clever on D, and they will try to take the air out of the ball by running Benson & Peterson, but GB has to be favored in this game. CHI is really beat up.

I couldn't agree more. It's do or die for the Bears.

Furthermore, Favre & WR corp is red hot and Packers D is solid. I think STs will decide this one. Stop Hester! Lastly, if there's a coach that, recently, have had a great gameplan for the Packers - It's been Lovie. Forget the 4-0 & 1-3 records - it will be brutal (hopefully for the Bears).

[Tarlam!]

I couldn't agree more. It's do or die for the Bears.

Very extreme view, IMHO.

I remember last year when we were pipped by tie breaker after starting pretty dismally.

If the Bears get beat and go to 1-4, they need the same type of performance the Packers had in 2004, I believe, to make the play offs.

[Freak Out]

It's a big rivalry game and I don't think CHI wants to lose an important division game and go 1-4 this early in the season. That makes this a must-win game for them...and CHI a desperate and thus very dangerous team. I wouldn't be surprised if most of these guys suit up on Sun and play. The question is how much and how effectively.

Lovie will come up with something clever on D, and they will try to take the air out of the ball by running Benson & Peterson, but GB has to be favored in this game. CHI is really beat up.

I couldn't agree more. It's do or die for the Bears.

Furthermore, Favre & WR corp is red hot and Packers D is solid. I think STs will decide this one. Stop Hester! Lastly, if there's a coach that, recently, have had a great gameplan for the Packers - It's been Lovie. Forget the 4-0 & 1-3 records - it will be brutal (hopefully for the Bears).

Do NOT kick the ball to Hester please. I can see Urlacher back in pass D more than he normally is and Lovie sending a load against #4 to force him into mistakes.[/b]

[Partial]

Crosby has got the boot. I would say sacrifice some hang time for a deep kickoff into the end-zone.