Week 14 at Bears pre-game analysis, keys, opinions

[jmt57]

Some articles from Pro Football Weekly:


ProFootballWeekly.com - Patriots-Bears matchup of the day: Wednesday

Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz vs. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick

Jay Cutler has been sacked a league-high 41 times, but the Martz offense is starting to flow. During the current five-game winning streak, Cutler has thrown 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. On Sunday, Cutler and Martz get to scheme to attack one of the league's worst passing defenses.

But Belichick has made his group thrive during the Patriots' current four-game winning streak. They constantly blitzed Ben Roethlisberger leading to a big win in Pittsburgh. The next week, the Patriots used disguises at the line to confuse Peyton Manning into throwing three picks. The opportunistic defense came up big against the Lions on Thanksgiving Day and then completely rattled Mark Sanchez on "Monday Night Football." As we wrote Tuesday, Belichick likely will attack the Bears' weakness and blitz often to get to Cutler.

Both units are clicking at the right time, the question is who will get the upper hand. Martz might have the better players. Speedy receivers Johnny Knox and Devin Hester could give the Patriots' corners problems while Earl Bennett has come on of late. And Matt Forté is a force running and catching the ball, another tough weapon for the Patriots to cover. Belichick's schemes have been working, but how many games can they come up with that big interception, something that saved them from a collapse against Indy? Expect a dose of blitzing and intriguing coverages that will attempt to dupe Cutler into throwing the ball away, something he is prone to do.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Bears will give Belichick another test

But can it continue? Can Belichick keep outfoxing opposing coaches? Can he get his team as prepared and fired up for a game as he did for Monday night's most-hyped game of the season against the Jets?

The Bears will give Belichick a stiff challenge on Sunday. He will face a respected offensive mind in Mike Martz who will be ready for whatever the Patriots throw at him. And Belichick's high-powered offense will face one of the league's best defenses.

It was easy to get up for the Jets. The Patriots already had seen the Jets and lost to them, so revenge was a factor. They had a couple extra days to prepare and Rex Ryan provides plenty of motivation. Belichick doesn't have those intangibles leading into Sunday's game at Soldier Field. Sure, it's a huge game against a likely playoff team on the road and a win makes the Patriots almost a lock for home-field advantage in the AFC, barring a collapse, but this week of practice doesn't have the excitement and drama that Jets week had.

Here you go, Belichick. Can you continue defying the odds and win games with the league's youngest defense that has allowed more passing yards per game than any other team not named the Texans? Can your offense that was shut down by the Browns, of all teams, keep scoring at will, even against the Bears?

ProFootballWeekly.com - They said it: Patriots Wednesday edition

Belichick on the Bears' defense: "(They're) a really good defensive football team. Pretty much everything, any way you want to measure them statistically is real good: points, third down, red area, pressures, forced fumbles. You name it, they're good at all that. [Their] front is very disruptive. They cause a lot of negative plays. They're hard to block. They move a lot. They're quick; they're powerful. [Their] linebackers are very active — (Lance) Briggs, (Brian) Urlacher — it's an impressive group. (They're) good in the secondary, ball-hawking type of team; they turn the ball over a lot. You have to really protect it against them."

Belichick on how he can replicate Bears QB Jay Cutler's arm strength in practice: "The JUGS machine."

Belichick on where he sees Bears offensive coordiantor Mike Martz's impact on the offense: "Everywhere. The way they break the huddle. From there on, it's Mike Martz. They shift. They motion. They use a lot of different formations. They run the concepts that he's always coached — the passing concepts, the running-game concepts they have. Mike has a great set of complementary plays so if you stop one thing, then he's got the complementary play. If you're stopping one, then you're really not going to be able to stop the other."

ProFootballWeekly.com - Five questions with Patriots OL Dan Connolly

From what you have seen on film with the Bears' defense, what makes them and DE Julius Peppers so good?

Connolly: They're a very disciplined front. They're very tough and play hard for 60 minutes. It's going to be expected out of us to match their enthusiasm and effort for 60 minutes. (Peppers) is a great athlete. He's been doing it for years. We just need to up to play that effort and that ability and do the best we can.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Patriots-Bears matchup of the day: Thursday

Patriots WR Wes Welker vs. Bears nickel back D.J. Moore

The Bears' nickel package should get plenty of work against the Patriots, who frequently spread the field with their deep crop of weapons at receiver and tight end. Moore has shown a knack for making big plays, but he still has only 15 games under his belt, and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick could be tempted to test Moore by designing plays to get Welker matched up against him.

QB Tom Brady looks for Welker on short-to-intermediate routes, and Welker is in the midst of his most productive stretch of the season. He has averaged more than 11 yards per catch in each of the past four games and scored four of his seven touchdowns in the past three contests.

Moore typically is smaller than the receiver he's covering, but he will not be at a size disadvantage against Welker, who is listed at the same height as Moore (5-9). Welker is a quick, disciplined route runner, and Moore has to react quickly to keep Welker from finding open space. If he loses Welker when Brady eludes the pass rush and creates extra time to throw, the Patriots will capitalize.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Patriots-Bears matchup of the day: Friday

Patriots RBs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead vs. Bears run defense

The Pats are a pass-first team, and a big reason for their success this season has been because of QB Tom Brady's MVP-like play. But what makes them so dynamic is the ability to run the football to change the pace. The Patriots have failed to rush for 100 yards three times this season and lost two of those games.

They average 111.5 yards on the ground and 4.2 yard per carry behind two undrafted backs, Green-Ellis and Woodhead. Green-Ellis is their first- and second-down back, as well as the go-to guy on the goal line. The Law Firm has 11 rushing touchdowns this season. Woodhead is the third-down back and a weapon as a receiver. He has 355 rushing yards and 334 receiving yards with four total touchdowns.

The two backs find their success going behind OLG Logan Mankins and veteran TE Alge Crumpler. Because of the success of the passing game, both RBs have had big seasons. But they face their stiffest test since the Steelers in Week 10 — the Bears' run "D."

Led by LBs Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, the Bears are allowing just 84.9 yards per game on the ground, but the most notable stat is turnovers. The Bears have forced a league-high 11 fumbles. Urlacher and Briggs are tremendous at fighting through blockers and getting backs wrapped up as Bears defenders swarm and try to rip the ball out. They will have a tough time getting a fumble from Green-Ellis. The third-year player has never coughed up the ball in 263 career carries. Woodhead also does not have a fumble in the NFL.

The Bears have held seven opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards and have won all of those games.

With cold, windy weather forecast at Soldier Field Sunday, the Patriots will want to get a run game going, but the Bears will make it tough. If Green-Ellis and Woodhead can find room to run like they have this season, that will open up the passing game for Brady and it would mean problems for Chicago's defense. But making the Patriots one-dimensional by shutting down the run could give the Bears a needed advantage in Sunday's big game.

 

[sieglo]

Common theme is that the Pats D sucks. But I think the statistics are lying. Hopefully the Bears come in expecting to play the league's worst defense and get a nasty surprise.

 

[BSR]

Is it crazy to think that Spikes being out might not make that much of a difference? With the receiving threat Forte represents would we maybe better off with Guyton/Fletcher out there?

 

[jmt57]

Pats' bad on D? Don't believe the hype - Chicago Bears Blog - ESPN Chicago

"No, they're not a bad defense at all. Their front is very good; linebackers -- 51 [Jerod Mayo] -- has terrific speed. love their rookie corner [Devin McCourty]," Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz said. "I think what happens to a team like that, [is] when they score a lot of points on offense, teams will go into a two-minute mode. That's kind of what happened to them a little bit. [The defense being bad], that's not the case at all."

It's true the Patriots rank 31st in total defense and sit in the same spot in defending the pass, giving up an average of 276.8 yards. The club is also 19th against the run, 19th in rush defense (114.1-yard average) and the worst in the league at defending on third down.

But really, there's actually some substance to Martz's theory. New England's offense has been so dominant that in six of the club's 10 wins, the Patriots jumped out to sizeable leads that forced the opposition into catch-up mode.

In the opener against Cincinnati, the Patriots led 24-0 in the second quarter. One minute into the third quarter of an Oct. 4 win at Miami, the Patriots led 34-14. In Week 7, the Patriots jumped out to a 21-3 edge after three quarters in a win over the Chargers. In back-to-back victories over Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, the Patriots took 23-3 and 14-0 advantages.

Coming off a 45-3 bashing of the New Jets, in which they limited Mark Sanchez to 164 yards passing while picking him off three times, the Patriots rank second in the NFL with 18 interceptions, and have 23 total takeaways, just three fewer than the 26 gobbled up by the Bears.

The Patriots are 9-0 this season when they win the turnover battle, and 79-3 since 2001 under Belichick in those circumstances.

"Defensively, I know their stats don't put them up at the top of the league," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "But they have done a good job of taking the ball away."

Interestingly, the Bears lost earlier this season to the two teams -- Seattle and Washington -- ranked above and below the Patriots in team defense. So it's not a given that Cutler and Chicago's offense will light up the Patriots, who are expected to utilize multiple looks and pressure packages designed to confuse the quarterback into making mistakes.

 

[jmt57]

I don't think I'm buying into what she's selling:

Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler has physical skills similar to New England Patriots QB Tom Brady's. What seperates the two QBs? - ESPN Chicago

Can Cutler be the next Brady? Sure, if he follows these not-so-simple steps.

It's not as absurd as it sounds.

Jay Cutler could be Tom Brady.

Of course, every quarterback with a functioning arm who has played during the Brady era has probably had the same thoughts at one time or the other of the 199th pick in 2000 out of Michigan.

But Cutler?

"No doubt about it," said Cutler's backup, Caleb Hanie. "Jay has as good a set of tools as anyone in the league, if not the best set of tools. He can run, he's a big guy, he throws the ball extremely well, he's accurate, strong arm and smart guy. He gets the ball out quick.

"Things kind of fell into place perfectly for Tom out in New England."

So what does Cutler have to do to approach the same stratosphere as the certain Hall of Famer?

 

[jmt57]

Urlacher makes pitch for Julius Peppers - chicagotribune.com

Forget all the Clay Matthews talk. There's another player in the NFC North who deserves serious consideration for defensive player of the year, if you ask Brian Urlacher.

And the Bears linebacker isn't referring to himself.

"Julius Peppers is the league's defensive player of the year. Write that,'' Urlacher said. "You look at Pep, I mean maybe the sacks aren't all the way there yet, but he has the numbers. He gets double-teamed every play. He doesn't have as many sacks as (Matthews) does, but I think he's the guy.''

Peppers, the NFC's defensive player of the month for November, is tied with Israel Idonije for the team lead with seven sacks — 4 1/2 fewer than Matthews. But one could argue Peppers has had just as much of an impact, if not more, with his relentless rushes and ability to sprint down the field to make tackles.

Over the last three games, Peppers has five sacks compared to Matthews' one, although Matthews, the NFC's defensive player of the month in September, has battled a shin injury.

Chicago Bear Chris Harris says beating Patriots won't sway skeptics - chicagotribune.com

The national perception is that the 9-3 Bears have been fortunate to have such a lofty record. The reality is that the Bears lead the NFC North.

Would an upset victory over the 10-2 Patriots change the minds of skeptics?

"I doubt it very seriously," Bears safety Chris Harris said before Wednesday's practice at Halas Hall. "If we win it will just be another win in a 16-game season. … But I don't think it will change anyone's perception. Who cares?"

Cutler performing at elite level during win streak

Statistically, a case can be made that Jay Cutler is playing the best football of his life. The past two weeks the Bears quarterback has set career highs with a 146.2 passer rating in a win over the Eagles and an 80.8 completion percentage in a victory over the Lions.

“He’s playing good,” said offensive coordinator Mike Martz. “He’s getting better. I think he can get a lot better. We’re getting closer. We still made too mistakes in that game [last Sunday in Detroit]. But each week we inch closer to our goal and where we want to be, and he is included in that.”

Cutler has helped the Bears (9-3) surge into first place in the NFC North. After throwing one touchdown pass and five interceptions with a 58.2 passer rating in losing three straight starts, he has tossed 10 TD passes and three interceptions with a 104.3 passer rating during the five-game winning streak.

Operating a more balanced attack, Cutler has not thrown an interception in back-to-back games for the first time in his two seasons with the Bears. He has thrown 57 passes since being picked off late in the first half Nov. 18 in a 16-0 road win over the Miami Dolphins.

“The last two or three games have been fun offensively for us because you can really tell the guys are understanding what we’re doing,” Cutler said. “They’re playing fast. They know exactly when they make mistakes. They know exactly whenever we miss opportunities. I think that’s the good part about it.

“Guys come back to the huddle and they’re aware that we just missed a big one. It’s getting fun. We’re able to put more and more in. We’re able to challenge guys a little bit more. It’s been a fun run here.”

Martz, Cutler present challenge for Pats' Belichick - Chicago Breaking Sports

Belichick also is impressed with linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher. During a conference call with the Chicago media Wednesday morning, Belichick lauded the play of Briggs and Urlacher in the Bears' 4-3 scheme.

"Well, they're outstanding players," Belichick said. "They complement each other well. They run well. They're smart, instinctive guys that make a lot of plays in the running game. Hard to block. Good tacklers. And really have a nose for the ball."

In three career games vs. the Patriots, Urlacher has 36 tackles and one interception. Briggs had 14 tackles and two forced fumbles in the Bears' 17-13 loss at New England in 2006 -- the last time the teams met.

This season, Urlacher leads the team with 107 tackles (by coaches review), and Briggs is second with 92.

"They do a good job in that scheme for coach Smith and coach (Rod) Marinelli," Belichick said. "Tough guys to get blocked or to throw around. Whatever the play is, they factor into a lot of plays."

Bears' Martz on the deep ball: 'It will happen' - Chicago Breaking Sports

There were T-shirts during the Rex Grossman era that, loosely translated, included the slogan, "To heck with it, I'm going deep!"

The deep ball isn't dead: In fact, offensive coordinator Mike Martz promised it will return for the Bears.

They certainly didn't get to it last Sunday against a downtrodden Detroit Lions secondary. Earl Bennett had a 33-yard reception, but he dragged defenders for about half of that. Quarterback Jay Cutler had a 20-yard completion to Matt Forte and a 20-yard completion to Johnny Knox, hardly the kind of passes that stretch a defense.

As Dan Pompei wrote last month, the vertical passing game has been the one thing missing from the offense. Obviously, the elimination of a lot of the seven-step drops from the playbook has curtailed many of the deep options. The Bears have been forced to adjust to what the offensive line does well.

"We'll get to it," offensive coordinator Mike Martz vowed. "We've tried to throw the ball down the field here a little bit. It will come more often. It's something that will materialize, I promise. We'll just kind of see how it goes.

"As long as we're converting third downs and scoring in the red zone, that's the priority right now. The deep ball, those things will come, and we've got the capability to do that. It will happen."

Chicago Bears: Mike Martz vs. Bill Belichick - chicagotribune.com

Sunday's game at Soldier Field between the Bears (9-3) and Patriots (10-2) marks the fourth time Martz has met Belichick since the Super Bowl. He has lost all three games, one with the Rams and once each while the offensive coordinator for the Lions and 49ers. But now he is on his best team — by far — since they were opposing head coaches vying for the Lombardi Trophy.

The Bears offensive coordinator is considered one of the most innovative offensive minds in the game. Belichick is credited with being one of the finest defensive gurus, a coach who constantly is evolving. They speak of one another with great respect.

Bears coach Lovie Smith was the defensive coordinator for Martz when the Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17 on Adam Vinatieri's field goal to end the game on Feb. 4, 2002. According to reports before their first rematch in the middle of the 2004 season, it took Martz 2 1/2 years to turn to the game film.

The Patriots had determined that stopping running back Marshall Faulk — not quarterback Kurt Warner — was the key. They mugged the receivers, too, gambling officials wouldn't litter the Superdome with flags in the sport's marquee game. It worked. But Martz doesn't dwell on the strategy.

"We moved the ball exceptionally well (427 yards). But we turned the ball over three times and they got 17 points off of those.

"They were a great team, obviously. I am not taking anything away from that. But it was more about (giving them) those great opportunities than anything else."

Here's the real clash: Martz vs. Belichick - Chicago Sun-Times

During a conference call Wednesday, Belichick highlighted Martz’s “passing concepts, which are difficult to defend.”

“If you stop one,” Belichick said, “then that opens up something else.

“He’s a hard guy to defend,” Belichick said later of Martz. “His teams are always very creative, and they give you a lot of things to worry about.”

And what does Belichick do well?

“He’ll study everything that you’ve done, take it apart piece-by-piece,” Martz said. “He’ll identify what your strengths are, and he’ll try to eliminate your strengths. And he won’t do anything to radically change his defense, but he will make you adjust.

“There’s no question, he will make you adjust.”

Brady and the Patriots’ suddenly scary offense aren’t Martz’s problem; those headaches are defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli’s concern. But Belichick may concoct creative ways to pressure Cutler, whose offensive line has had its share of problems this season, or he may use the strategy that worked so well against the Rams in the Super Bowl: Flood the coverage and force the quarterback to make difficult throws.

 

[Deus Irae]

I don't think I'm buying into what she's selling:

Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler has physical skills similar to New England Patriots QB Tom Brady's. What seperates the two QBs? - ESPN Chicago

So what does Cutler have to do to approach the same stratosphere as the certain Hall of Famer?

Brain transplant.....

 

[jmt57]

Brain transplant.....

And a heart transplant too.

 

[jmt57]

Patriots focused, but not on the playoffs - Mary Paoletti - CSNNE

The Bears? Oh, yeah. A team off the map for many Patriots fans for a couple of reasons. "Out of sight, out of mind" is one of them. Sunday's game in Chicago will be the first time these two teams have met since 2006. And they've clashed just 11 times over 37 years. Series record? 7-4 in New England's favor, at least in regular-season games. Chicago does have that 1985 Super Bowl to brag about, but that was before Belichick became HC of the NEP, and most in the Northeast prefer life in the Hoodie Era.

Besides, a 9-3 record and Number Two seat in the NFC still can't seem to earn the Bears respect. Nobody's been afraid of the Big Bad Bears for a few years now, not since a non-competitive 2006 Super Bowl rollover and the middling 7-9 / 9-7 / 7-9 seasons that have followed.

That's all peripheral to the Patriots, though. All the bells and whistles attached to meeting the Jets as Monday Night Football's headliner only announced more loudly that New England is working a short week right now. The fact that Chicago is a relative stranger, well, it certainly doesn't make things easier.

"We're not too familiar with them and we're kind of behind the ball with the Monday night game,'' corner Kyle Arrington said. "So we really have to kind of scramble around, cram a lot in. We're getting prepared though."

Arrington went on to call Chicago a "tough, physical team." He's not kidding. The Bears are backed by a wicked defense. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, New England's top rusher by a mile (163 carries, 699 yards, 11 touchdowns), has been doing his homework, too.

"They'll create a lot of problems for us,'' said Green-Ellis. "Their defense is at the top of the league in almost every statistical category. We've got to come out on Sunday do the things that we need to do to win. Execute."

Best of luck, BenJarvus. To put numbers to his estimations: Chicago is second in the NFL in rush 'D' (84.9 yards allowed), and third in both total defense (300.3 yards allowed) and points allowed per game (16.0).

Rob Ninkovich goes home - BostonHerald.com

Rob Ninkovich grew up in the Chicago suburbs, just 45 minutes from venerable Soldier Field. No wonder he speaks of the venue with such reverence.

For the first time on Sunday, the Patriots [team stats] linebacker will have the enviable opportunity to actually play in the stadium where he attended games with his father.

“People want to just go and touch the grass,” Ninkovich said. “People are crazy about Soldier Field and the fans are pretty rowdy. I told my mom, ‘You really don’t have to wear all the Patriots gear. Don’t want to get heckled too bad.’ ”

Why Martz has adapted his play calling in Chicago | National Football Post

The Bears’ offense under Mike Martz has changed since the start of the season—even going back to training camp in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The seven-step drops, the multiple breaking routes, etc. That was Martz’s calling card. Use five-man protection and get five receivers out into the route scheme. Opportunities for big plays—with some big risk attached to the back end.

The results? Below average football in Chicago. Protection schemes broke down, the running game vanished and we saw QB Jay Cutler making poor decisions with the football. Not conducive to the Bears’ personnel.

The Bears are now a more controlled offense under Martz.
However, Chicago’s offensive coordinator has adapted his play calling, his game plan and the way he approaches Sundays from my perspective. Now we are seeing Cutler make quick, easy reads. Three-step routes that get the ball out of his hands. WR Earl Bennett (7 receptions, 104-yards in win over Detroit) has become a top target because he can run the slant, the option route and work against a defender in space. From that inside alignment, Bennett can win at the line of scrimmage, run away from a defender’s leverage and produce after the catch.

Martz will still use multiple looks, personnel and alignments. Plus, we will see the shifting and pre-snap movement that becomes added window dressing to this offense. But the Bears have become a more controlled, balanced offense. And that includes the production from running back Matt Forte (748-yards, 4.2 yards per carry). Use an extra TE in the backfield to create those two-back power looks and run the basic off-tackle plays that we see in every playbook from high school to the NFL. Good, solid football that has helped the Bears to a 9-3 team atop the NFC North when we add the top tier defense of Lovie Smith and what I think is the best special teams unit in the league.

 

[mgcolby]

Is it crazy to think that Spikes being out might not make that much of a difference? With the receiving threat Forte represents would we maybe better off with Guyton/Fletcher out there?

Yes, you are correct. The Bears don't really present much of a threat running between the tackles. They like the stretch run and hitting Forte out of the backfield. I think Fletcher will have a huge impact in this game in both stuffing the run on 1st and 2nd down as well as spying on Forte out of the backfield.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

It's funny that the writer linked above says the Patriots "Pats can't run the ball effectively". I've seen that from fans and writers of opposing teams on a weekly basis this year. I blame the misconception on fantasy football; the Patriots don't have any fantasy football studs other than Brady, so too many people fall into the trap of assuming everyone else is mediocre.

The guy who wrote that should have spent two minutes in research before hitting the submit button. The Patriots are averaging 4.2 yards per carry; slightly above average (13th) - while the Bears are a below average 23rd with 3.9 yards per carry. The Pats are 13th in the NFL with 111.5 rushing yards per game; the Bears are 22nd with 102.9. And the Patriots are second in the NFL with 15 rushing touchdowns; the Bears are 24th with only 7.

If the Pats "can't run the ball effectively", what does that say about the Bears' running game?



Similarly, the writer - just like we have seen every week for a while now - trots out the 'Pats don't have a deep threat since Moss was traded, that makes them easier to defend' line. I can completely understand people saying that when the trade first occurred - but you're still saying that now? That's just plain dumb.


Someone in the comment section - 99% of which is a waste of time - suggested that the Bears leave their linebackers in coverage because that is where they are best. I'll admit I have not watched the Bears much, but it seems to me from watching the Pats all season that is a matchup that has favored the Pats all year long; players like Hernandez and Woodhead will leave linebackers in the dust.

Actually if you're in a deep league BJGE and Woody have tremendous value. Particularly as waiver wire pickups. But I agree with your overall points, the writer is a moron.

 

[jmt57]

A few columns on Sunday's game from Comcast Sports Net New England.



Tom Curran has a preview of Sunday's game with sections on Pats O vs Bears D, Bears O vs Pats D, special teams, and much more.
PATRIOTS PREVIEW: Week 14 at Chicago | Comcast SportsNet - CSNNE.com

PATRIOTS GOTTA STOP

Julius Peppers. New England's faced the disruptive defensive end several times and has had success in holding him down. Left tackle Matt Light, who'll be matched up with Peppers, has had a very good season in 2010 and he's faced some top-tier guys. The length, strength and speed of Peppers is unique, he's Seymourian (Richard). He's got seven sacks this year. The Patriots have had success in the past running right at him. They may try the same tack again Sunday.

Pats have seen Bears' 'Tampa 2' defense before - Danny Picard - CSNNE.com
There's also a video in which Mike Giardi speaks with CSNChicago's John Mullen about Sunday's game.

The Patriots have seen the "Tampa 2" defensive strategy before. They've seen it with Mike Martz' St. Louis Rams. They've seen it with Tony Dungy's Indianapolis Colts. And on Sunday, they'll see it with Lovie Smith's Chicago Bears.

Smith was Dungy's linebackers coach in Tampa Bay from 1996-2000, where Dungy (head coach of the Buccaneers from 1996-2001) implemented the now-popular Tampa 2 defense, which plays like a Cover 2 out of a 4-3 alignment except the middle linebacker drops in a deep middle coverage.

Patriots know Cutler comes well-armed - Tom E Curran - CSNNE.com

How do you coach the defense differently against a guy like Cutler?

"The ball doesn't stay in the air long and he's got a very quick release ...you have to understand with him that you have to be on [receivers] real tight because he can laser it in there," said Bill Belichick

As Meriweather alluded to, it isn't only the speed of the football but the speed of Cutler's feet that makes him a handful. He throws hard and accurate on the move as well.

"He can move around in the pocket and throws from some odd positions and he's very accurate, really," Belichick explained. "I've really been impressed with his passing accuracy and skill under pressure."

The Patriots have played several "throw-first" quarterbacks who also have good mobility since October: Joe Flacco, Colt McCoy, Roethlisberger, Shaun Hill and Mark Sanchez. But Cutler has the most impressive combination of foot speed and arm strength of that group.

New England tends to give a pretty generous cushion on wideouts, preferring to see a quarterback earn his way down the field rather than pick up yards in fat chunks. We'll see if that cushion is erased on Sunday to mitigate Cutler's gun.

 

[jmt57]

Greg Bedard comes through with another good preview of this game:

Patriots must bear down against this line - The Boston Globe

It will all be on the lines when the Patriots travel to Chicago Sunday to take on the Bears.

“The Patriots’ offensive line better come to play in this one,’’ said a personnel executive for a recent Bears foe. “That Bears defensive line is tough to handle for anybody. They destroyed the Eagles two weeks ago.’’

Considering the state of the Eagles’ offensive line, that’s no great feat. But when you factor in Michael Vick at quarterback, it was an impressive performance.

Not even the NFL’s fastest quarterback could get away from the Bears’ relentless pass rush. The total damage: four sacks, eight tackles for losses, and 10 quarterback hits/pressures.

It’s no surprise that the Bears’ defense ranks third overall, second against the run, and third in points allowed.

On the flip side, the Bears might have the worst offensive line in the league. They have allowed a league-leading 45 sacks.

“If it wasn’t for Jay Cutler and the way he can improvise, they might have 70 by now,’’ the executive said. “They’re that bad.’’

Bedard's 3 keys to beating the Bears - Extra Points - Boston.com
1. Patriots must disguise coverages and confuse Bears QB Jay Cutler
2. Stay balanced on offense
3. Contain game-breaker Devin Hester



Reiss' key matchup for Pats-Bears - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

“It’s the defense against quarterback Jay Cutler. He has 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on the season and as of late he’s been playing mistake-free football. This Patriots defense is one that thrives on turnovers. New England is 9-0 this season when on the plus-side of the turnover differential.

“So it at the end of the day it comes down to this: Can the Patriots defense turn Cutler into the Cutler of old, the one who would make a lot of mistakes?”

NFL.com news: McClain-MJD one of several pivotal battles in Week 14 | Gil Brandt

Patriots at Bears: Tom Brady vs. Rod Marinelli

Brady has great leadership qualities and has really taken control of the team's young receivers and running backs. Brady will have his work cut out for him, however, with the Patriots facing a short week on the road and his young teammates being praised at every turn. The Bears are good enough defensively that the Patriots have to be at their peak. Brady has been carrying the Patriots recently, and his great work habits rub off on the entire team. He understands where pressure is coming from and is hard to fool with coverages and schemes, but Marinelli relies mostly on his base Tampa 2 defense. Marinelli is a great motivator, who will have his players excited to face the Patriots. Rather than employ any exotic blitzes or formations, Marinelli teaches the Tampa 2 and counts on precise execution. To win, the Bears must handle the Patriots' tight ends and force turnovers.

Why Martz has adapted his play calling in Chicago | National Football Post | Matt Bowen

Now we are seeing Cutler make quick, easy reads. Three-step routes that get the ball out of his hands. WR Earl Bennett (7 receptions, 104-yards in win over Detroit) has become a top target because he can run the slant, the option route and work against a defender in space. From that inside alignment, Bennett can win at the line of scrimmage, run away from a defender’s leverage and produce after the catch.

Martz will still use multiple looks, personnel and alignments. Plus, we will see the shifting and pre-snap movement that becomes added window dressing to this offense. But the Bears have become a more controlled, balanced offense. And that includes the production from running back Matt Forte (748-yards, 4.2 yards per carry). Use an extra TE in the backfield to create those two-back power looks and run the basic off-tackle plays that we see in every playbook from high school to the NFL. Good, solid football that has helped the Bears to a 9-3 team atop the NFC North when we add the top tier defense of Lovie Smith and what I think is the best special teams unit in the league.

 

[jmt57]

Brady's fake and shake is on Urlacher's menu - Chicago Sun-Times

“[Brady’s] the best,” Urlacher said. “He knows what to do with the football. If you play zone, he throws the check downs. If you put seven in the box, he runs it. He just knows where to go with the football every time. You’re not going to trick him. You may get pressure on him, you may hurt him a little bit, but he’s smart. He has a great arm. He knows everything. Big challenge for us.

“And he runs fast, too. I remember he’s really fast. Good runner.”

Urlacher was chuckling while referring to the key play in the Patriots’ 17-13 win over the Bears in 2006, when Brady faked him out and picked up a critical first down during the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.

“I’m pretty sure Brian slipped on that,” Lance Briggs said. “I’m pretty sure he won’t be slipping this week.”

“That’s not how I remember it, but that was nice of him to say that,” Urlacher said when told Briggs’ version of events. “I remember me going this way and [Brady] going that way. That’s how I remember it. First down.”

Here’s what Brady said at the time: ‘‘That was pretty cool. At least I can tell my kids one day that I shook Brian Urlacher. They probably won’t believe me.”

Tom Brady vs. Brian Urlacher puts Patriots-Bears game in national spotlight - chicagotribune.com

Asked if Belichick is "in his head,'' Martz scoffed.

"Oh, God, no,'' Martz said, laughing. "You've got to be kidding me. Come on. Serious?''

Yes, the reporter, veteran Bears observer John Mullin of CSNChicago.com, was serious. He had good reason, too, considering Martz's recent history of straying from conservative game plans to the Bears' detriment.

"No … I don't think like that, I don't live like that,'' Martz said. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, those things don't happen to me. I guess I am screwed up. That stuff doesn't happen to me. Appreciate your question.''

It didn't sound like Martz appreciated it at all. Somebody struck a nerve still raw a decade later.

The more Martz can get the Bears offense to spread the ball around efficiently and without error and take what the defense gives it the way Brady does — The Patriot Way — the closer Sunday's game will be.

Likewise, the more a vulnerable Patriots defense resembles the Bears unit led by Urlacher, the harder it will be for Cutler to stay on the field as long as he needs.

Indeed the specter of Urlacher versus Brady gives this game national cachet and provides potential material for a time capsule in Canton. But truth is, it's the performance of the units neither superstar belongs to — the Bears offense, the Patriots defense — that will determine how memorable or meaningful Sunday becomes for their respective teams.

Hybrid FB-TE Brandon Manumaleuna giving Bears best of both worlds | Chicago Tribune | Dan Pompei

It is Brandon Manumaleuna's ability to defy characterization that makes him unusual, gives him value and provides the Bears offense with an element of unpredictability.

We call him a tight end, but he is so much more.

He is a player who won the NFL's punt, pass and kick competition at 11, went to college as a defensive lineman and now plays about 65 percent of his snaps at fullback.

But he's really a glorified offensive lineman.

And, not surprisingly, there isn't another player like him in the NFL. That's why Mike Martz drafted him when he was the coach of the Rams in 2001 and why the Bears offensive coordinator led the charge for the club to sign him to a free-agent deal worth a potential $15 million over five years.

Manumaleuna is to Martz what a high quality multi-purpose kitchen tool is to a serious chef.

When Patriots QB Brady gave Urlacher the slip - Chicago Breaking Sports

"I am pretty sure Brian slipped on that one. And I am pretty sure he won't be slipping this week," said Bears linebacker Lance Briggs in defense of his teammate.

"That's not how I remember it," said Urlacher with a good-natured smile. "I remember me going this way and (Brady) going that way. That's how I remember it. First down, first-and-goal."

YouTube Video: Brady jukes Urlacher

 

[unpreDITKAble]

Cutler is not a good QB.

No offense, but please learn to give credit where credit is due. I understand you guys have a future HOF QB and compare everything to him, but he is in a RARE and i mean very RARE situation. First he was drafted 199th overrall, he's arguably the best to ever play the position, he has 3 rings, he can win with basically nothing (i even think he has nothing except welker right now), he can make ANYONE on your offense look good, and he can decipher any defense on the planet. Cutler is still very young and definitely has talent to be elite. I understand he gets compared to your buddy Mark Sanchez (especially in the interception column), but lets get real Mark Sanchez is no where near as talented as Jay Cutler. Jay Cutler does not have a line let alone WRs, leads the league in sacks, and is adjusting to a new offense this year.. yet he still is producing decent numbers. Just like how your defense needed time to gel, same with him. If you judge a guy's talent by stats then Just look at the numbers he put up in Denver.

» He guided the second-ranked offense in the NFL

» He was No. 1 in fewest percentage of sacks, with 11 in 627 pass plays. That equates to one sack every 57 pass attempts.

» He was No. 3 in the NFL in third-down efficiency, the "money" down. The average NFL team converted 39.5 percent of its third downs; Cutler converted 47.5 percent

» He was No. 3 in the AFC in yards per pass @ 7.3

» He threw for more yards than Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Donovan McNabb, Philip Rivers, Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger, to name a few

» He had just two 100-yard rushing days from a running back all season: Peyton Hillis (129 against the Jets) and Michael Pittman (109 against the Jacksonville Jaguars).

» He had eight games of 300-plus passing yards (five of those at 350 or more), connecting for 15 touchdowns in those contests.

» He threw 18 interceptions that season, which is unacceptable, but his ratio of picks to attempts was 1:34, which tells a slightly different story. That season, Brees had an interception every 37 pass attempts. Favre's ratio was 1:23, and Roethlisberger's was 1:31. Cutler's career ratio at Denver was 1:33.

So for what I can see with a team to actually back this kid up; He's definitely got the potential to be elite; if not at worst Good.

...I saw on a Bears' fan site that some there thought their Tampa 2 was the perfect defense to neutralize the Pats' offense. I don't really follow that line of reasoning, but perhaps one of the guys here who understands and can communicate X's and O's better than I do can elaborate on how the Pats offense matches up against their style of defense.

When did the "Tampa 2" become such a problem even when we had Moss? Seems that Moss never had any problem against Indy....
Perhaps one of the Bear's visitors can provide some personnel groupings to handle certain situations.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but...

Brady typically chews up Cover 2. Typically. I believe the Giants were a playing a lot of cover-2 when they knocked us off in the game that should not be mentioned....
But if you can pressure with 4, like the Giants did, then you can slow down Brady and this offense.

Well I think whoever argued Cover2/Tampa2 is good against moss is because one of the philosophies of it is to elimate the big play/deep pass, but why some can argue against that is because also one of it's biggest weaknesses is that perfect zone gap between the CB and the Safety (if of course your QB can hit it perfectly - Too early and it will probably be picked off;too late and your WR will be punished).

Now JMT I can see why fan's and even myself is arguing its a good defensive scheme, but for people to say its the best against Brady? I think they're going off the Giants in the SB playing mainly Cover 2 (as mentioned by BradyManny). Let's put this out here first before I begin.. Tom Brady is like i've mentioned plenty of times.. a Future HOF, a rare rare QB, and just overrall aware of every situation/down/play. He is almost perfect in a sense of any category especially statistically. The 'only' defensive scheme that seems to work against him is a Cover 2 not mainly due to the game plan, but due to Cover 2's with players with EXTREME athletic ability. Pen and paper does not show atheltic ability - enough said. Not degrading the atheltic ability of the Pats, but just saying I think we have some pretty athletic LB's and Lineman in our defense, which is why the Cover 2 scheme is so effective for us.

Here's the philosophy of Cover 2..
The Works:
You will first NEED 4 men who can get pressure on just a 4 man rush without this Cover 2 is absolutely useless. It's a zone defense there's going to be holes if the QB has time to sit and wait. The MLB then will either decide depending on the play either to sit at the line of scrimmage or drop deeep into coverage, which then leads into the OLBs. The OLB's need to fill in the crossing lanes which the MLB left open or be athletic enough to rally to the line of scrimmage. Now the CB's job is to jam up with the WR as soon as possible and disrupt their route. The reason for this is it 'passes' the Wide out to the safeties and enables them to react to the play. The Safeties must be quick/smart/physical enough to know exactly when to break on the ball or to just create an extremely violent collision. All in all, the point of this defense is to stress on the athelticism/smarts of our defensive players inorder to force the QB to throw for the short underneath route or to take a chance and throw into very very tight window.

Now for the Bad:
If the team is successful in the run game; It makes a safety illegible to play Cover 2. It will force one of the safeties closer to the line of scrimmage causing the gaps between the safety and the CB a lot bigger making the window of opportunity a lot bigger than it should be. Another huge weakness is this.. if you do protect Brady we will be in for a long long day.. like i've said before it's a zone defense and gaps will appear. With Brady under center if he has time he will spot out the small window and make a great accurate throw normally between the CB and the safety or in the middle if he chooses to challenge Urlacher (hopefully the weather will help this out loll). This all leads into the final weakness of what your offense is so goddam capable of.. BEING ahead. If you are ahead by a good margain of points then Cover 2 basically becomes utterly useless. Cover 2 thrives off challenging the QB into a methodical 10 play 80 yard score; opposed to a 3 play 80 yard score. This of course chews up a hella lot of time off the clock, which if any team is down is not what they wouldn't want at all..

With all this mentioned I hope you can see the point to why some fans argue that Cover 2 (especially our cover 2 with Peppers/Idonije/Briggs/Urlacher/even Moore) can be good against Brady. Would I say its the best defensive scheme against Brady? Hells no I think he rapes Cover 2 Defenses - let alone any defense, but with our group of guys I think he'll be in for a pleasant surprise.

...
Rodgers 34-45/316/1/1 with 0 sacks (pick was a Hail Mary)
Vick 29-44/333/2/1 with 4 sacks (pick was from the Bears 4 yd line)

Both close home wins for the Bears. The Pack missed a short FG and fumbled late with the score tied. The Eagles had 10 drives, 7 of which ended inside the Bears 30. Key turnovers. Settling for FGs in the red zone....

I understand you guys are very very heavy on stats and thats great. Especially how Brady runs up the score and gains more stats than idk.. (I'm not taking anything away from Brady) but you guys during the Jets game had a 4 and 1 with I think the score was like 35-3 and went for it instead of a field goal.. I understand it was to embarrass them, but nonetheless it adds to the stats/ego factor than what 99% of the league would've done differently.

Anyways, um yes I will admit the Bears vs Packers game was a close one.. but did you bother watching either game? The Packers "missed" a short FG because Julius Peppers got his hand on it - technically its not missed it was blocked. Yes James Jones fumbled the ball, but due to Urlacher and Briggs getting a great angle and just an extremely physical play when they hit him.

The Eagles settling for FG's in the end zone isn't a case of good defense? Man no wonder the bears will NEVER receive credit for anything.. If you watched that game you would of saw how the bears dominated most of it. If not the entire time. Andy Reid isn't stupid and he saw how the game was going and opted to kick a lot of field goals instead of going for it like Belichick did against the Jets. They just weren't converting in the red zone period. As for Vick's stats against the bears.. once again if you actually watched the entire game (which i doubt) you would see that the bears specifically played cover 2 defense towards the end to kill the clock and literally allowed the middle of the field to be open so they couldn't stop the clock with outside routes. It was strategy that added meaningless yards and a meaningless 2 minute TD which made the game seeem WAYYY closer than it was. Like i've said before on paper everything looks different. I am not taking anything away from Vick, but if you've watched that game maybe you would give some credit to the bears instead of reading all this media bull. We won that game because Asante Samuel was out and the turf is why they lost... wahh wahh. We play on the same turf big deal. I just hope IF the bears win its not discredited because rookie Spikes is out

Cheers to a hard hitting/injury-free game. :rocker:

 

[jmt57]

Jeff Joniak's Keys to the Game | ChicagoBears.com
Chicago sports radio guy gives his keys to the game: Bears must control the clock on offense, tackling and stripping the ball on defense, avoiding negative plays on offense, and more.



The Tribune's Brad Biggs and David Haugh preview the Bears-Patriots game -- chicagotribune.com
Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs and David Haugh preview the game in this 3:15 preview. They note that after Bob Kraft commented that the Pats-Jets game was the biggest regular season game in Pats history, Sunday's game may be the biggest game for the Bears since they played in the Super Bowl.

Nice to see someone outside of New England not only recognize the Pats offense has improved since trading Randy Moss, but also give some loved to the Pats running backs.



Bears must generate consistent pass rush Sunday | ChicagoBears.com

Pressuring Patriots quarterback Tom Brady Sunday at Soldier Field will be paramount for the Bears defense, which has recorded 14 sacks during the team’s current five-game winning streak.

“It’s critical,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said Thursday. “That’s just how we’re built. Up front we’ve got to be able to create the pressure consistently, and we’re working at that. We’re blitzing better right now. We’re hitting it with more speed. So we’ve got to continually work at what we do.”

The Bears’ 14 sacks in their last five games are the third most in the NFL during that span. Eight different players have at least half a sack in those contests, led by defensive end Julius Peppers, who has five.

Peppers and fellow defensive end Israel Idonije share the Bears lead with seven sacks this season. They’re one of only six duos in the NFL to each have at least seven sacks.

Brady has only been sacked 18 times this year. The future Hall of Famer rarely makes poor decisions, even when under pressure. “That’s why he has the Super Bowl rings,” Marinelli said. “He doesn’t make too many mistakes.”

Briggs, Urlacher a pair of aces - Chicago Sun-Times

Bill Belichick sees what every other coach sees when he studies the Bears’ defense. The greatest coaching mind of his generation speaks glowingly about Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, who not only are playing side by side at an elite level but are playing as well together as few that have come before.

“They’re outstanding players,” Belichick said. “They really complement each other well. They run well. They are smart, instinctive guys that make a lot of plays in the running game [and] passing game. They are hard to block, good tacklers and they really have a nose for the ball. They have great anticipation.

“They do a great job in that scheme for coach [Lovie] Smith and coach [Rod] Marinelli. They are tough guys to get blocked or to throw around, whatever the play is. They factor into a lot of plays.”

Urlacher and Briggs might have enjoyed better seasons individually but never might have played as well together as they have this season. What the Bears have in their two franchise cornerstones is extremely rare, and what they are accomplishing is rarer still in an era that is not kind to linebackers.

Not even in a city where dominant linebackers long have been part of the landscape do Urlacher and Briggs always get the appreciation they deserve.

 

[jmt57]

From our friends at Patriots Daily:


Worry Wart - Game Thirteen at Bears | Chris Warner

Tom Tom Club: Sign us up. Tom Brady has played at an amazing level these past few weeks. Monday night, he threw for 326 yards and four touchdowns against one of the better defenses in the league. We have to wonder (and worry) how he’ll do in the Chicago elements vs. a Bears team ranked third in overall defense.

Assault And Peppers: Chicago’s pass rush gets a huge boost from one Julius Peppers, the monstrous defensive end whom New England showed interest in signing this past off-season. The 6-foot-7, 283-pound behemoth has seven sacks so far this year.

Sharp Cutler, He: When he’s bad, he’s bad. But when he’s good, quarterback Jay Cutler ranks among the best. A quick review of Cutler’s game-by-game stats reveals a recent upswing from a mid-season lull. Can a Patriots’ pass defense that bends like a flexi-straw continue to come up with timely turnovers, or will Cutler slice it up?
Speaking of weapons…

Hard Knox: With speedy receivers like Johnny Knox and Devin Hester on the field, New England’s defense will get stretched more than a track star’s hamstring. The Pats need lots of contact off the line, lots of deep safeties, and lots of pressure on the QB (that third thing’s the charm).

First Impressions – Chicago Bears | Greg Doyle

This coincided with Hester getting more time at a position the Bears worked on converting him to, wide receiver. And he’s done decently there as well. The past three years including this season he’s had 57, 51 and 32 catches. And finally, he’s broken back through for 2 punt returns for touchdowns this year. Hester on offense is essentially a third receiver who plays the slot for the Bears. They actually don’t use him much downfield, despite his speed, but he’s dangerous on slip screens and short routes where he can get in space. As a kick returner, the Bears only use Hester very occasionally, but as a punt returner he’s having a good season with over 15 yards per return in regular duty there and the two touchdowns. Not letting him do damge will be challenging for the Patriots and they’ll need punter Zoltan Mesko to be as good as he has been of late.

Israel Idonije (#71), Defensive End: I felt it necessary to mention Idonije because he is an unsung, unknown NFL player who is also quite good. He plays the opposite end from Peppers. Idonije has an interesting story. Born in Nigeria, he went with his family to Canada as a child and grew up there. Eventually, he played football in college in Canada after taking it up for the first time as a senior in high school. He bounced around for a few years after college on the Cleveland and Chicago practice squads. He’s been with the Bears regular roster since 2004 as a reserve defensive lineman and special teams player. In 2007, he blocked either field goals or extra points in three consecutive games. This year, he has finally become a full time starter and is having a good year with 37 tackles and 7 sacks. Teams generally focus extra protection on Peppers and this allows Idonije to beat one-on-one blocking. And that is something he is more than capable of doing that as he is a very good pass rusher. The Patriots really need to watch protection this game as this is one of the more dangerous pass rushing teams they’ve faced. Idonije is not only a nice underdog story, but a big part of that pass rush as well.

And even a suggestion on what to eat and drink during the game:
Patriots Buffet Table – Patriots at Chicago Bears

Another division leader on the schedule for the Patriots. If only the Bears were quarterbacked by a guy prone to boneheaded interceptions. That would be just the type of guy the Patriots newly ballhawking defense would light up.

What to Eat?

Italian style beef is a Chicago area favorite. It’s not from Italy. It’s a regional version of a French Dip sandwich .. which of course isn’t from in France.

Take a beef roast and slow cook it over beef broth, oregano and Italian spices. Maybe some red chili flakes. Dip the rolls in the same cooking liquid and top the whole thing with spicy oil marinated vegetables. And that is the Italian Beef sandwich.

 

[Nikolai]

So for what I can see with a team to actually back this kid up; He's definitely got the potential to be elite; if not at worst Good.

First of all, great post. THIS is good stuff.

To the point of Cutler; yes, he's going to get flak here because we're going to compare him to TFB. It's probably unfair, I will admit, but that's how it is, for better or worse. I haven't personally seen a lot of comparisons to Sanchez from Pats fans. I think their styles are different. Sanchez doesn't have much of an arm, really, and relies on the running game and short passing game to get going and open up those 20-yarders he likes to throw up the seams. To me, Cutler seems to have the arm and mentality of the gunslinger type. My criticism of Cutler comes in his decision making. He's got the talent to do some great things and lives up to it on occasion, but he seems reliable for at least a couple head-scratching plays in every game. You nailed it when you said he has potential. I agree. The danger with any gunslinging QB with legs is that the line between success and mediocrity is razor thin. Right now, I'd compare Jay Cutler to Aaron Brooks.

As for the Cover 2, it will come down to execution. Brady has shown he can blow up zone defense, and I'm not 100% convinced that a successful four-man rush is all that's needed to jar Brady. It certainly was a factor during the Moss Offense, but we don't really know what will happen with the Pats now relying on TEs and screens.

I just hope IF the bears win its not discredited because rookie Spikes is out

I honestly don't think it will have a tremendous impact. Guyton is a pretty serviceable LB.

Cheers to a hard hitting/injury-free game. :rocker:

:eat3:

 

[SuperPatsFan]

<snip>

Wow, what a great post. You should stick around after the Bears game IMHO.

Cheers to you sir... :eat2:

 

[unpreDITKAble]

First of all, great post. THIS is good stuff.

...To me, Cutler seems to have the arm and mentality of the gunslinger type. My criticism of Cutler comes in his decision making. He's got the talent to do some great things and lives up to it on occasion, but he seems reliable for at least a couple head-scratching plays in every game. You nailed it when you said he has potential. I agree. The danger with any gunslinging QB with legs is that the line between success and mediocrity is razor thin. Right now, I'd compare Jay Cutler to Aaron Brooks.

As for the Cover 2, it will come down to execution. Brady has shown he can blow up zone defense, and I'm not 100% convinced that a successful four-man rush is all that's needed to jar Brady. It certainly was a factor during the Moss Offense, but we don't really know what will happen with the Pats now relying on TEs and screens.

Thank you. Cutler will always take heavy criticism soley being the franchise QB for the bears. We're notorious for unsuccessful QB's (heavily due to Jerry Angelo's idiotic drafting skills; our o-line hasn't been addressed for years and years now). You hit the nail on the coffin with Cutler being a gunslinger.. Gunslingers are what the NFC north dwells on.. Look at Brett Favre (when he was on the packers or even the vikes last year) for god sakes.. He is going to go down as one of the best gunslingers of all time. Now I'm not comparing Brett Favre to Cutler but they have similar mentalities (meaning the general set of a gunslinger - trusting their arm trying to throw into windows that exist for either half a second or end up not existing at all.. *cough* interceptions). It's like you play with tons of risk.. If it pays off it pays off well, but if it fails it can cost you everything.. Guess It's the whole bigger the risk, bigger the reward factor. Unfortunately, like you've said there the consistency is definitely lacking and I understand why critics dont see us as a contender or him as a 'good' quarterback.

I'm glad you get the point of Cover 2 relies HEAVILY on the quarterback being able to execute. For all the stat heads - *There's a reason why the Bears have kept opposing passers to a 71.1 QB Rating (second best) and only New Orleans has allowed fewer passing touchdowns. And no team in the league allows fewer yards per attempt (6.2). The thing is I'm not saying it will jar Brady.. to be honest I dont think ANYTHING can - That's just the brutal truth. I dont remember the last time Brady got shut out.. I'm just saying I think a 4 man pass rush and dropping everyone else into coverage slows down/gives the team the BEST shot at beating him. Plain and Simple. Nothing else really to it.

*(Information Courtesy of - Tom Brady of Patriots likely to struggle against Bears' defense - SI.com - Fantasy)

Wow, what a great post. You should stick around after the Bears game IMHO.

Cheers to you sir... :eat2:

Thanks, I am just trying to defend my team in a logical sense & hear what Pat's fans have to say rather than just trolling.
We'll see.. Unfortunately we only play the Pats every 4-6 years, but goddam does this website have 2832398471 people trafficing in and out.. it's quite impressive.