Cutler, Other Chicago Bears On The Spot Vs. New York Giants
Published by Gene Chamberlain on August 22, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
It sounds like Bears coach Lovie Smith is planning anything but a vanilla run-of-the-mill preseason game for his players when they play Saturday night at Soldier Field against the New York Giants.
“We want to eliminate some of the mistakes we made, which you normally do,” Smith said at the close of Bourbonnais training camp. “We want to see the guys play with more energy.
“As much as anything we need to make more plays. We’re going to put the guys in some different situations, with some of the things that we’ll call to let them have an opportunity to prove what they can do.”
The team ran through a handful of trick offensive plays — reverses and wildcat formations — as well as a lot of deep passing off-play action this past week in practice.
On defense they could be looking to blitz more and play more man to man or else zone blitz instead of straight cover-2.
Everyone’s obvious concern, after quarterback Jay Cutler struggled in the first game, is whether he can get the passing game untracked this time just for confidence’s sake.
“Everyone’s saying, ‘Hey Jay Cutler’s here, all of a sudden we’re going to be the greatest offense in the history of football — let’s just roll the ball out and go play,’ ” offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. “And when we went three-and-out, everyone’s like, ‘Whoa, what happened?’
“I told (Cutler) that’s part of football. We’re going to have games where you’re going to struggle a little bit early and it takes a little while to get in rhythm and get in sync.”
Personnel-wise, the Bears will show off some starters for the first time, including tight end Greg Olsen, defensive tackle Tommie Harris and running back Matt Forte. How Harris’ knee and hamstring hold up under fire will be of particular concern.
“We’re excited about playing the Giants coming up,” Smith said. “They’re a great football team, good running game, they play hard-nosed defense. So it will be a good test for us.”
How tackles Chris Williams and Orlando Pace hold up against the Giants’ standout pass rushing ends will be interesting.
Cornerback Nate Vasher seemed to climb out of Smith’s doghouse by week’s end, but needs a good game to ensure he can keep the starting right cornerback spot when challenger Zack Bowman heals from a hamstring pull.
The starting nose tackle battle continues to rage with Anthony Adams still leading but not by much as both Dusty Dvoracek and Marcus Harrison had excellent weeks of practice.
The more pressing issues, however, involve backups looking for roster spots.
Coaches have a handful of questions about some players and in the third preseason game they’re unlikely to get those answered because that game is devoted to starters for three quarters.
So this game shapes up as the biggest preseason game for a handful of younger players trying to earn roster spots because some of them will be gone from the roster before the fourth preseason game and obviously won’t get much playing time in the third preseason game.
Here are a few players who might get challenged:
“We want to eliminate some of the mistakes we made, which you normally do,” Smith said at the close of Bourbonnais training camp. “We want to see the guys play with more energy.
“As much as anything we need to make more plays. We’re going to put the guys in some different situations, with some of the things that we’ll call to let them have an opportunity to prove what they can do.”
The team ran through a handful of trick offensive plays — reverses and wildcat formations — as well as a lot of deep passing off-play action this past week in practice.
On defense they could be looking to blitz more and play more man to man or else zone blitz instead of straight cover-2.
Everyone’s obvious concern, after quarterback Jay Cutler struggled in the first game, is whether he can get the passing game untracked this time just for confidence’s sake.
“Everyone’s saying, ‘Hey Jay Cutler’s here, all of a sudden we’re going to be the greatest offense in the history of football — let’s just roll the ball out and go play,’ ” offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. “And when we went three-and-out, everyone’s like, ‘Whoa, what happened?’
“I told (Cutler) that’s part of football. We’re going to have games where you’re going to struggle a little bit early and it takes a little while to get in rhythm and get in sync.”
Personnel-wise, the Bears will show off some starters for the first time, including tight end Greg Olsen, defensive tackle Tommie Harris and running back Matt Forte. How Harris’ knee and hamstring hold up under fire will be of particular concern.
“We’re excited about playing the Giants coming up,” Smith said. “They’re a great football team, good running game, they play hard-nosed defense. So it will be a good test for us.”
How tackles Chris Williams and Orlando Pace hold up against the Giants’ standout pass rushing ends will be interesting.
Cornerback Nate Vasher seemed to climb out of Smith’s doghouse by week’s end, but needs a good game to ensure he can keep the starting right cornerback spot when challenger Zack Bowman heals from a hamstring pull.
The starting nose tackle battle continues to rage with Anthony Adams still leading but not by much as both Dusty Dvoracek and Marcus Harrison had excellent weeks of practice.
The more pressing issues, however, involve backups looking for roster spots.
Coaches have a handful of questions about some players and in the third preseason game they’re unlikely to get those answered because that game is devoted to starters for three quarters.
So this game shapes up as the biggest preseason game for a handful of younger players trying to earn roster spots because some of them will be gone from the roster before the fourth preseason game and obviously won’t get much playing time in the third preseason game.
Here are a few players who might get challenged:
—Wide receivers Brandon Rideau and Devin Aromashodu. Neither of these players impressed in the first preseason game, although both have continued to make the most of chances in practice.
Rideau had a much better week of practice than Aromashodu and remains ahead of him on the depth chart. Both rookies Johnny Knox and Juaquin Iglesias have begun showing glimpses of the talent that made them draft picks. It’s time for Rideau and Aromashodu to show up when the pressure is on in game conditions this week.
—Third team quarterback Brett Basanez. The Bears have to decide whether they want to retain three quarterbacks or two for the roster. Basanez had a nightmare first game and Caleb Hanie put a stranglehold on the backup position with a strong game. Basanez cannot afford another stinker.
—Tight end Michael Gaines needs to make some gains on Kellen Davis. Each practice Davis has seemed to stand out more and more and almost seems capable of doing more than serving as a third tight end. Gaines has to prove he can help the offense and special teams to make the roster.
—Cornerback D.J. Moore needs to start showing play-making ability. He may be a fourth-round draft pick, but undrafted Woodny Turenne from Louisville has outplayed him throughout camp. Moore showed some nice moves on a punt return last week but has yet to stand out in pass defense. With Tillman, Bowman, Corey Graham, Trumaine McBride and Vasher all ahead of Turenne and Moore, the question is whether the Bears want to keep six or seven corners. Seven is a lot to retain.
—Safety Josh Bullocks needs to make some plays if he hopes to remain on the roster. Dumped from starter to second team and then third team, Craig Steltz responded last week with an interception and forced fumble. Bullocks was a free agent pickup with experience in New Orleans but can’t live on a past that didn’t include a lot of big plays.
Rideau had a much better week of practice than Aromashodu and remains ahead of him on the depth chart. Both rookies Johnny Knox and Juaquin Iglesias have begun showing glimpses of the talent that made them draft picks. It’s time for Rideau and Aromashodu to show up when the pressure is on in game conditions this week.
—Third team quarterback Brett Basanez. The Bears have to decide whether they want to retain three quarterbacks or two for the roster. Basanez had a nightmare first game and Caleb Hanie put a stranglehold on the backup position with a strong game. Basanez cannot afford another stinker.
—Tight end Michael Gaines needs to make some gains on Kellen Davis. Each practice Davis has seemed to stand out more and more and almost seems capable of doing more than serving as a third tight end. Gaines has to prove he can help the offense and special teams to make the roster.
—Cornerback D.J. Moore needs to start showing play-making ability. He may be a fourth-round draft pick, but undrafted Woodny Turenne from Louisville has outplayed him throughout camp. Moore showed some nice moves on a punt return last week but has yet to stand out in pass defense. With Tillman, Bowman, Corey Graham, Trumaine McBride and Vasher all ahead of Turenne and Moore, the question is whether the Bears want to keep six or seven corners. Seven is a lot to retain.
—Safety Josh Bullocks needs to make some plays if he hopes to remain on the roster. Dumped from starter to second team and then third team, Craig Steltz responded last week with an interception and forced fumble. Bullocks was a free agent pickup with experience in New Orleans but can’t live on a past that didn’t include a lot of big plays.
