Bears Blitz

Published by John Rozum on August 15, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Brian Urlacher, as obvious as it sounds, has to be full go for the Chicago Bears to challenge for the NFC North title.

Unfortunately, Urlacher not only underwent knee surgery, but isn’t anticipating on being 100 percent during the season. According to the Associated Press via FOX Chicago News:

The Bears said that Urlacher had an arthroscopic debridement procedure on Tuesday morning to help relieve swelling in the knee and was back at training camp by 10 a.m. He missed the offseason training program after spraining the medial collateral ligament and partially spraining the posterior cruciate ligament in the final game last year against Minnesota.

Urlacher then stated in an interview with FOX Chicago News:

“I don’t see it getting any better during the season. We have to manage it, my reps in practice, and then get through Sunday.”

That’s certainly a concern for Bears fans and it’s not like Urlacher has another decade of pro football left in him. At age 34, Chicago has to simply keep Urlacher as healthy as possible for a chance to contend in the division and the NFC.

Here, we look at what’s in store for the Bears this season regarding Urlacher’s health cautions.

First Five Games Are Extremely Crucial

Every game on the schedule is important, but Chicago’s first five require more emphasis in 2012.

The Bears must be prepared to survive early on without Urlacher performing at the top of his game. In turn, he can then potentially be a little healthier to contribute at his expected level after the bye (Week 6).

Winnable games from the get-go come against Indianapolis, St. Louis and Jacksonville, whereas the tougher contests are against Green Bay and Dallas.

Don’t sleep on the Jaguars, though, as they present a top 10 defense and an improved offense. Afterwards, Chicago faces a grueling five-game stretch that begins with Detroit in Week 7 and ends with San Francisco in Week 11.

Sandwich between are Carolina, Tennessee and Houston.

Provided that the Bears are 3-2 at the bye, Detroit then becomes a slightly easier matchup courtesy of confidence and the extra time to rest. This Lions’ game is key because the momentum will roll into matchups with the Panthers and Titans.

Best-case scenario, Chicago can easily be 6-2 before facing Houston. Still, with Urlacher’s health, the Bears have to enter the bye week with a winning record.

Impact on Bears’ Pass Defense

Last season, Chicago’s inability to consistently defend well against the pass was costly.

The Bears ranked No. 28 against the pass and saw the second-most passes (631) attempted against them. It’s worth noting that the Bears were impressive when defending the pass in regards to yards per attempt allowed (6.8, ranked No. 7) and opposing quarterback rating (79.3, ranked No. 8).

That said, Urlacher also remains one of the NFL’s best pass-defending linebackers.

With seven passes defended and three picks a year ago (10 defended and one pick in 2010), this production can increase provided he is utilized properly early on. The NFC is a much more pass-happy conference than the AFC and Chicago faces the bulk of the work in its division.

Green Bay and Detroit remain pass-first offenses, but a healthy Urlacher will limit that explosiveness. Not to mention his instincts and game knowledge will pay dividends against other strong offenses like Dallas and Carolina.

And Down the Stretch They Come…

Sitting at 7-3 and riding a five-game win streak last season, the Bears crumbled down the stretch, namely because of injuries.

Looking ahead to the final six contests and Chicago has a unique opportunity.

All six games are against NFC teams and four are within the division. Getting Minnesota twice in Weeks 12 and 14  and Seattle in Week 13, a three-game win streak is possible going into the final stretch that includes the Packers, Cardinals and Lions—all of whom are postseason contenders (yes, including Arizona).

At this point, the Bears can realistically be sitting at 9-4 provided that Urlacher’s presence remains intact. If not, Chicago will be fighting with the Cardinals, Lions, Giants and Cowboys among a few for the NFC Wild Card.

The NFC is beginning to separate the great teams from the below average teams, and Chicago will get stuck between with Urlacher not impacting enough down the stretch. In short, the Bears would miss their second consecutive playoff opportunity, leading to another long offseason.

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