August 15, 2009
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
Coach Lovie Smith has mentioned it more than a few times leading up to tonight's preseason opener at Buffalo: The Bears don't tackle in training camp -- heck, they don't really hit much, for that matter -- and against the Bills, they'll get an idea where they're at when it comes to finishing plays.
The excitement level is raised with quarterback Jay Cutler making his debut. Smith said the starters likely will play into the second quarter, a little longer than he usually would use them, but it's about the number of snaps they get, not the time spent on the field.
ยป Click to enlarge image
The Bears kick off the preseason against the Buffalo Bills tonight.
(Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)
RELATED STORIES
Kyle Orton flops in Denver debut
Despite the relaxed camp, the Bears will be without three starters on defense, and there's some good competition in the works, meaning there will be plenty to watch. Preseason isn't about wins and losses but rather the evaluation that comes after players execute at full speed.
Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (left knee, hamstring) isn't expected to play, and free safety Danieal Manning (hamstring) and cornerback Charles Tillman (back) are sidelined. At this point, it's looking like Manning, who spent the entire offseason working at nickel back, will have a difficult time securing the free-safety job he was moved to a week before camp. He's expected to be shut down awhile with the recurring hamstring injury.
Smith downplayed it Thursday, but the Bears need Manning at nickel and on kickoff returns and must have him 100 percent. He can't settle in at free safety if he's not practicing.
Chances are high for another flip-flop in the secondary, with Kevin Payne moving to free safety and rookie sixth-round pick Al Afalava getting a shot at strong safety. Pisa Tinoisamoa and Nick Roach will battle at strong-side linebacker, where the Bears list Jamar Williams in the mix even though the other two have been splitting the first-team reps. Anthony Adams is working to hold off Marcus Harrison and Dusty Dvoracek at nose tackle.
''You would like for there to be a lot of competition every year, but it seems like we have some legitimate battles going on this training camp, and that is what makes it fun every day,'' Smith said. ''Competition takes everything up a notch, and guys are ready to compete for those roster spots. We have a lot of guys here, but they know 53 stay, and every time you get a chance, you need to prove you belong.''
Expectations are that the offense will be more productive this season. The Bears are counting on turning around the defense with the same players, the same scheme and new coaches.
Here are three areas to watch:
1. Pass rush. Smith said he'll keep it vanilla like he usually does in preseason, and that means there probably won't be a lot of blitzes. That's fine because one of the tenets of the Tampa-2 scheme is that the pass rush must come from the four linemen. Harris is the key to that, but the coaches have been raving about Mark Anderson, who has been listed as a co-starter at both end positions. If Anderson has rediscovered his form -- he had 12 sacks in his rookie season in 2006, then five in 2007 and just one last season -- it's going to help considerably.
2. The Interceptor. Trumaine McBride and Corey Graham will fill in at left cornerback with the hope that neither is needed there when the regular season begins. The Bears will be keeping an eye on Nathan Vasher on the opposite side against a Bills offense that will be without Terrell Owens (sprained toe) and might only use its starters for two series. Vasher hasn't made a lot of plays on the ball in camp, so this will be an opportunity for him to show he's one answer in a secondary full of questions.
3. Third amigo. Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer has been the familiar face alongside Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs since 2004, but that's changing. Tinoisamoa was thought to be the shoo-in here, but nothing's ever handed out to the free agents. Tinoisamoa was a productive tackler for the St.Louis Rams last year, but he didn't make a lot of plays at the point of attack. If he's going to nudge Roach aside, he has to prove he's a fit in his old scheme.
BEARS AT BILLS
PRESEASON OPENER
6 TONIGHT, FOX-32, 780-AM
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
Coach Lovie Smith has mentioned it more than a few times leading up to tonight's preseason opener at Buffalo: The Bears don't tackle in training camp -- heck, they don't really hit much, for that matter -- and against the Bills, they'll get an idea where they're at when it comes to finishing plays.
The excitement level is raised with quarterback Jay Cutler making his debut. Smith said the starters likely will play into the second quarter, a little longer than he usually would use them, but it's about the number of snaps they get, not the time spent on the field.
ยป Click to enlarge image
The Bears kick off the preseason against the Buffalo Bills tonight. (Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)
RELATED STORIES
Kyle Orton flops in Denver debut
Despite the relaxed camp, the Bears will be without three starters on defense, and there's some good competition in the works, meaning there will be plenty to watch. Preseason isn't about wins and losses but rather the evaluation that comes after players execute at full speed.
Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (left knee, hamstring) isn't expected to play, and free safety Danieal Manning (hamstring) and cornerback Charles Tillman (back) are sidelined. At this point, it's looking like Manning, who spent the entire offseason working at nickel back, will have a difficult time securing the free-safety job he was moved to a week before camp. He's expected to be shut down awhile with the recurring hamstring injury.
Smith downplayed it Thursday, but the Bears need Manning at nickel and on kickoff returns and must have him 100 percent. He can't settle in at free safety if he's not practicing.
Chances are high for another flip-flop in the secondary, with Kevin Payne moving to free safety and rookie sixth-round pick Al Afalava getting a shot at strong safety. Pisa Tinoisamoa and Nick Roach will battle at strong-side linebacker, where the Bears list Jamar Williams in the mix even though the other two have been splitting the first-team reps. Anthony Adams is working to hold off Marcus Harrison and Dusty Dvoracek at nose tackle.
''You would like for there to be a lot of competition every year, but it seems like we have some legitimate battles going on this training camp, and that is what makes it fun every day,'' Smith said. ''Competition takes everything up a notch, and guys are ready to compete for those roster spots. We have a lot of guys here, but they know 53 stay, and every time you get a chance, you need to prove you belong.''
Expectations are that the offense will be more productive this season. The Bears are counting on turning around the defense with the same players, the same scheme and new coaches.
Here are three areas to watch:
1. Pass rush. Smith said he'll keep it vanilla like he usually does in preseason, and that means there probably won't be a lot of blitzes. That's fine because one of the tenets of the Tampa-2 scheme is that the pass rush must come from the four linemen. Harris is the key to that, but the coaches have been raving about Mark Anderson, who has been listed as a co-starter at both end positions. If Anderson has rediscovered his form -- he had 12 sacks in his rookie season in 2006, then five in 2007 and just one last season -- it's going to help considerably.
2. The Interceptor. Trumaine McBride and Corey Graham will fill in at left cornerback with the hope that neither is needed there when the regular season begins. The Bears will be keeping an eye on Nathan Vasher on the opposite side against a Bills offense that will be without Terrell Owens (sprained toe) and might only use its starters for two series. Vasher hasn't made a lot of plays on the ball in camp, so this will be an opportunity for him to show he's one answer in a secondary full of questions.
3. Third amigo. Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer has been the familiar face alongside Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs since 2004, but that's changing. Tinoisamoa was thought to be the shoo-in here, but nothing's ever handed out to the free agents. Tinoisamoa was a productive tackler for the St.Louis Rams last year, but he didn't make a lot of plays at the point of attack. If he's going to nudge Roach aside, he has to prove he's a fit in his old scheme.
BEARS AT BILLS
PRESEASON OPENER
6 TONIGHT, FOX-32, 780-AM
