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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

GAME 1 PREVIEW Shea McClellin (left) and Aaron Rodgers

Bears face tough matchup vs. Packers 4

OFFENSIVE SHUFFLE

Kyle Long move right decision, bad timing 9

RIVALRY RENEWED CAN BEARS’ NEW DEFENSE SLOW RODGERS, GREEN BAY?

MOLDING 3-4 DEFENSE

Hub Arkush analyzes the new Bears ‘D’ 10

NFC NORTH REPORT

Lions, Vikings begin 2015 on West Coast 12

Thursday, September 10, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL.COM

2

Nothing like Bears vs. Packers rivalry What better way could there be to kick off our brand new ChicagoFootball.com weekly newspaper magazine than to preview the NFL’s oldest and best rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears?

The Bears were conceived as the Decatur Staleys in 1919, the same year the Packers were born in Green Bay. In 1920, 14 teams including the Staleys and the Chicago Cardinals, the only two remaining original members of the NFL, formed the American Professional Football Association, renamed the National Football League in 1922.

The Packers joined the APFA in 1921 as the Staleys moved to Chicago, and in ’22, while the APFA was renamed NFL, the Staleys became the Bears.

Not only have the Packers and Bears been around the longest, they are the two most successful franchises in the history of the league.

The Packers own more NFL

FROM THE EDITOR

By HUB

ARKUSH

harkush@chicagofootball.com @Hub_Arkush

Championships than any other franchise with 12; the Bears are second with nine.

The Bears have more Hall of Famers than any other team in the league, 30. The New York Giants are second with 29, the Packers third with 28.

Bears founder George Halas is the second winningest coach in NFL history with 324 victories.

Packers founder Earl “Curly”

Lambeau is fourth with 229.

Sadly, the Packers’ 33-28, last-second victory in the final game of the 2013 season to claim the NFC North title, and Green Bay’s 21-14 victory over the Bears in the 2010 NFC title game are the only recent examples of meaningful and competitive games.

Other than that, it’s been one-sided streaks in the modern era, with Green Bay having won nine of the past 10 meetings.

The Bears won six out of eight meetings from 2004-2007; Green Bay was 20-4 between 1992 and 2003, which followed a stretch in which the Bears were 13-3 from 1984-1991.

Over the entire history of the rivalry, the two sides barely could be more even.

The Bears and Packers have met 190 times with the Bears holding a 92-90-6 regular season edge. They are 1-1 in the playoffs.

Most remarkably over those 190 meetings, the Bears have scored 3,207 points to 3,200 for the Packers.

Only seven points separate these two historic franchises over 95 years.

While it is the NFL’s oldest rivalry, Bears vs. Packers is not the longest most continuous. They did not meet in 1982 due to the 56day players strike.

That streak goes to the Packers and Lions, who have met every year since 1932. Oddly, the Bears and Lions would tie that streak, but they failed to meet in 1987 due to another work stoppage.

Finally, there is the 3½ hour ride from Soldier Field to Lambeau and the legions of Bears fans in Wisconsin and Packers fans in northern Illinois.

The only two NFL teams closer are the Jets and Giants, who share MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, but only meet once every four seasons.

Whether it’s the storied histories of the two franchises or the backyard brawl between feuding neighbors, when it comes to great sports rivalries, there is nothing quite like Packers versus Bears.

BY THE

NUMB3RS

1-9

Bears record vs. the Packers in their last 10 meetings

22

Number of interceptions Jay Cutler has thrown in 12 career games vs. Green Bay

93

Number of combined points the Bears gave up to the Packers last season

2007

The last time the Bears swept the season series vs. the Packers

6-4

Bears record in season openers dating to 2005

8-2

Bears record in home openers dating to 2005

7-9

ChicagoFootball.com writers’ projected 2015 Bears record

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2007

The Bears are 1-9 vs. the Packers in their past 10 games, 2-11 in the past 13. The last time the Bears won two in a row against their rivals was 2007. Here are five memorable moments from the past five Bears wins over the Packers, dating to that 2007 season sweep: BRIAN GRIESE KEYS SECOND-HALF COMEBACK

At just 1-3 coming in and facing a 17-7 deficit at halftime, the Bears put their faith in Brian Griese, making just his second

URLACHER’S FIRST CAREER RETURN TD SPARKS A WHIPPING

The 2007 Packers lost the NFC Championship Game in overtime, and the Bears finished 7-9 and out of the playoffs, but the two games between them were no indication. The second was a real Bears romp, a 35-7 win in snowy conditions that denied the Packers the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The win was fueled by Brian Urlach-

Brian Urlacher AP file photo

er jumping on a Brett Favre pass across the middle and taking it 85 yards for a touchdown, the first such score of the linebacker’s career.

ALEX BROWN SAVES BEARS ON MONDAY NIGHT

It was a Monday night Bears-Packers game late in the year at Soldier Field. Sounds dramatic enough, right? But then the Packers lined up for a game-winning field goal with 18 seconds

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left, a 38-yarder well within Mason Crosby’s range, and Alex Brown burst through the center of the unit and blocked the kick, sending the Chicago crowd into a frenzy and the game into overtime, where Robbie Gould was money on his game-winning attempt – also from 38 yards out – in a 20-17 victory.

2010

natkins@chicagofootball.com @NateAtkinsCF

start of the season. But he momentarily became a hero, tossing two second-half touchdown passes in the 27-20 win, including the winner on a play-action deep seam to Desmond Clark on 3rdand-2 for a 34-yard score.

2008

NATE ATKINS

2007

By

2013

Memorable moments from Bears last five victories over the Packers

URLACHER’S FORCED FUMBLE PUTS BEARS IN POSITION TO WIN

Maybe some year, we’ll make

BEARS KNOCK OUT RODGERS, PULL UPSET AT LAMBEAU

The Bears’ struggles to defend Rodgers are well-documented, so it’s fitting that their last win over the Packers came when they knocked the perennial Pro Bowler out of the game. Shea McClellin rushed hard downfield on the right tackle, forcing Rodgers to scramble up and to the right before McClellin drove him into the ground for a sack and an injured non-throwing shoulder.

Facing a limited Seneca Wallace, the Bears went on to win 27-20 behind Josh McCown, making this moment easily the most impactful contribution McClellin has made in a Bears uniform.

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a list just of Urlacher’s great plays against the Packers since he’s had so many. In this one, the Packers were driving to break a 17-all tie when Aaron Rodgers hit James Jones on a pass near midfield and Urlacher swatted it out of his arms. Another Bear known for his turnovers – Tim Jennings – pounced on the fumble at the 46, setting the Bears up for a drive that would end in another Gould game-winner and a 20-17 victory.

GAME PREVIEW WK 1

Thursday, September 10, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL.COM

4

Packers

AT

Bears

GAMEDAY: NOON / SUNDAY, SEPT. 13 / SOLDIER FIELD, CHICAGO, IL By

KEVIN FISHBAIN

kfishbain@chicagofootball.com @kfishbain

BEARS RUSHING OFFENSE vs PACKERS RUN DEFENSE

Get used to the following line this season – this is the Bears’ strength, and if they’re going to pull the upset, it’ll be because of a dominant run game that keeps the opposing offense off the field. Matt Forte has had plenty of success against the Packers. He rushed for a season-best 122 yards against them at Soldier Field in Week Four in 2014. This is a Bears team that should be able to run-block better than pass-protect, and we know that John Fox and Adam Gase want to run the ball in waves, maybe even unleashing speedy rookie Jeremy Langford in the opener.

The Packers will be without defensive linemen Letroy Guion and Datone Jones due to suspensions and were 23rd in the league against the run in 2014. They have two new inside linebackers starting compared to last season. Will Green Bay stuff the box because of the Bears’ lack of depth at wideout?

That may be part of Dom Capers’ plan, and it would help the Packers in this matchup, but as long as Forte appears to be in shape as one of the league’s best backs, again, this is an area of the game the Bears should win, and they’ll need to for surprise ‘W’.

Jay Cutler AP file photo

Eddie Royal and Marquess Wil-

tive, especially facing a talented runs behind two very good guards in T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton, plus James Starks is a more-than-capaEDGE PACKERS ble No. 2 running back. With such a focus on Aaron Rodgers, defenses tend to be susceptible to Lacy’s PACKERS RUSHING runs. It’s unfair to compare this OFFENSE vs BEARS Bears defense to the ones that were RUN DEFENSE miserable against the run the past Eddie Lacy has established two seasons, but this unit has work himself as one of the league’s best to do. We’re not going to sit here backs with his combination of size, and look at how last year’s defense strength and elusiveness, and he couldn’t stop the run in Green

rookies Damarious Randall, EDGE BEARS on Quinten Rollins and Ladarius son coming off injuries, Cutler’s Packers ‘D’.

BEARS PASSING OFFENSE vs PACKERS PASS DEFENSE

Green Bay lost Tramon Williams and Davon House to free agency, but the secondary doesn’t look like it’ll drop off much with returning DBs Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Morgan Burnett. Keep an eye

Gunter, who have impressed all summer. Combine that with edge rushers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers going against a left tackle who is not at 100 percent (Jermon Bushrod) and likely a right tackle making his first NFL start at the position (Kyle Long), and Jay Cutler will need to get rid of the ball quickly. With Alshon Jeffery’s status up in the air,

regular-season debut in this new offense against Capers’ defense which has given Cutler fits over the years - has all kinds of concerns. Expect lots of check-downs and use of Forte, Royal and Martellus Bennett, at least until Jeffery is up to speed. The Bears’ passing attack should be more efficient than last season, but it may take time for it to be produc-

THIS WEEK IN THE NFL

Kyle Fuller AP file photo

7:30 p.m. Thursday, NBC Like the NFL, Pittsburgh’s revamped secondary can’t stop Tom Brady from playing – and likely playing well.

DOLPHINS @ WASHINGTON Noon Sunday, CBS After Dan Snyder-esque spending spree, Miami shows off shiny new toys, Ndamukong Suh, DeVante Parker.

COLTS @ BILLS Noon Sunday, CBS Indy will quickly learn if it added toughness against Rex’s groundand-pound offense, formidable ‘D.’

Bay, and Vic Fangio’s scheme should make a difference, but the personnel is not up to par yet. It’ll be without Jeremiah Ratliff, which means a rookie will be starting at nose tackle, plus the Bears have two inside linebackers making their first career NFL starts at the position. The Bears appear better against the run than the pass at this point, but not good enough to stop Lacy consistently.

EDGE PACKERS

PACKERS PASSING OFFENSE vs BEARS PASS DEFENSE

Aaron Rodgers. Need we say more? Even if Fangio’s unit looked like world beaters (which it hasn’t), it wouldn’t mean much against Rodgers. Now, Green Bay has been known to get off to slow starts, and Rodgers will be without Jordy Nelson … but he’s still Aaron Rodgers.

He’s got Randall Cobb and Davante Adams to go along with younger receivers champing at the bit for their opportunity.

The Bears’ secondary is littered with question marks, including supposed lockdown second-year corner Kyle Fuller, who struggled against his teammate, Jeffery, in training camp, and T.Y. Hilton of the Colts. He’ll have Alan Ball starting opposite, and Ball barely played this summer coming off injury. Sherrick McManis had a stellar preseason, but he is known for his special

teams more than his cover abilities. Oh, and the Bears will be starting a fifth-round rookie at safety next to a 32-year-old safety. Rodgers should be feasting on this unit. The pass rush will have to get home to at least make this matchup more competitive, which puts the onus on Jared Allen, Pernell McPhee and Lamarr Houston. It’s hard to find any reason to think that Rodgers won’t be productive and efficient.

EDGE PACKERS

SUNDAY’S OVERALL EDGE

In addition to getting an early glimpse at what the 2015 Bears will be on the field, we’ll get to see what kind of impact a veteran and well-respected coaching staff will have on a team lacking in personnel. This is a giant challenge, so the Bears will have to rely on some advantages with their schemes, and Fox, Fangio and Gase give them the right combination to do that, but it’s asking a lot to have a game plan to make up for the difference in talent on the field against the reigning MVP. Green Bay is the favorite in the division and the conference, and while the hope at Halas Hall is that the FoxPace regime will one day get the Bears back to the top of the division, that time is not Sunday.

EDGE PACKERS

BROWNS @ JETS Noon Sunday, CBS

Top players

OFFENSE / QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Eddie Lacy, WR Randall Cobb, OLG Josh Sitton, ORG T.J. Lang DEFENSE / OLB Clay Matthews, OLB Julius Peppers, CB Sam Shields, S Morgan Burnett, DE Mike Daniels

Schemes

OFFENSE / How different will the Packers’ offense look with a new play-caller, Tom Clements, who is taking over from Mike McCarthy? We’ll get our first look at Soldier Field. However, this remains Rodgers’ offense, which means it is a balanced attack that will spread out defenses and stress them with speed and an up-tempo style.

Rodgers hits his receivers quickly and in stride.

DEFENSE / Veteran coordinator Dom Capers’ 3-4 defense relies on pass rushers Julius Peppers (off the edge) and Clay Matthews, who will spend approximately half his snaps inside. Capers’ secondary can man up receivers with its personnel. Look for the Packers to show different fronts to confuse Jay Cutler. They’ll be aggressive, take chances with blitzing, and rely on a secondary to take advantage.

Weaknesses Green Bay’s weaknesses are similar to last year – run defense and pass protection, though sometimes both are a moot point.

When the Packers get ahead, it doesn’t matter that they aren’t as stout against opposing ball carriers, and when Rodgers throws the ball within seconds of taking the snap, it doesn’t make a difference that there’s a big question mark at left tackle.

The Bears need to try to make those weaknesses have an impact on the result.

Last time they met 11/9/2014: Packers beat the Bears 55-14 at Lambeau Field.

Defenses likely to reign supreme in lackluster quarterback matchup between Josh McCown and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

CHIEFS @ TEXANS Noon Sunday, CBS Will Alex Smith have time to find Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce with J.J. Watt looming?

PANTHERS @ JAGUARS Noon Sunday, FOX After strong preseason, Blake Bortles gets stiff first test against Luke Kuechly and Co.

SEAHAWKS @ RAMS Noon Sunday, FOX Seattle opens NFC title defense against club that always gives them fight, has entered win-now mode.

PACKERS @ BEARS Noon Sunday, FOX Aaron Rodgers’ Pack put up 93 combined points on Bears, leading to wholesale changes for Chicago.

LIONS @ CHARGERS 3:05 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Tom Brady AP file photo

RAVENS @ BRONCOS 3:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS How do Peyton, young O-line hold up in first significant challenge in AFC heavyweight bout?

BENGALS @ RAIDERS 3:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS Hue Jackson returns to Oakland with powerful, run-first outfit to attack NFL’s worst scoring defense.

TITANS @ BUCCANEERS 3:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS The first battle for bragging rights between top picks, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota

GIANTS @ COWBOYS 7:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC Eli Manning-Odell Beckham and Tony Romo-Dez Bryant clash in NFC East fireworks display.

EAGLES @ FALCONS 6:10 p.m. Monday, ESPN

Do Bolts stay in San Diego beyond 2015, and does Suh-less Lions ‘D’ remain dominant?

After bold offseason, are Kelly’s Eagles ready to fly? Can Bradley’s D progress from worst to first in Atlanta?

SAINTS AT CARDINALS

VIKINGS @ 49ERS

3:05 p.m. Sunday, FOX

9:20 p.m. Monday, ESPN

Drew Brees, new supporting cast open against No. 5 scoring ‘D’ that saw myriad offseason turnover.

Unlike most of stalwart 49ers, Adrian Peterson is back, leading Vikings’ push back to postseason.

CHICAGOFOOTBALL.COM | Thursday, September 10, 2015

STEELERS @ PATRIOTS

5

Thursday, September 10, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL.COM

6

BEARS

VS.

PACKERS STAFF PREDICTIONS

Hub

Kevin

Arthur

Nate

Bob

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

Daily Herald

Bears 17 Packers 37 I could be wrong, but the middle of the Bears 3-4 defense looks as soft as a grape right now.

Bears 23 Packers 31 Bears have homefield advantage, and it’s early in the season, but the Packers have Aaron Rodgers.

Bears 20 Packers 31 Vic Fangio’s success against Aaron Rodgers is irrelevant. Too much Eddie Lacy, inexperience in middle of Bears’ ‘D.’

Bears 10 Packers 34 Injuries, new systems and a likely Kyle Long position switch. Week One will be rough.

Bears 16 Packers 27 Green Bay Packers should have little trouble against a Bears defense that is in transition.

Season Record: 0-0 Versus Spread: 0-0

Season Record: 0-0 Versus Spread: 0-0

Season Record: 0-0 Versus Spread: 0-0

Season Record: 0-0 Versus Spread: 0-0

Season Record: 0-0 Versus Spread: 0-0

Jon

Adam

Jay

Kyle

Wes

Northwest Herald

Chicago Sun-Times

Rockford Register-Star

Kankakee Daily Journal

Peoria Journal Star

Bears 10 Packers 28 While Bears vs.

Packers seems like a mismatch, the result usually is less lopsided than we imagine.

Bears 23 Packers 27 Crazy things happen all the time in the NFL, but Aaron Rodgers won’t let an upset happen in Week One.

Bears 17 Packers 32 Jay Cutler is 1-11 against the Green Bay Packers in his career.

Better make that 1-12.

Bears 14 Packers 38 The Bears will need to put pressure on Aaron Rodgers or things will get ugly quickly.

Bears 13 Packers 31 Injury woes for both, but Green Bay has talent to spare. Bears’ talent deficit will be exposed early.

Season Record: 0-0 Versus Spread: 0-0

Season Record: 0-0 Versus Spread: 0-0

Season Record: 0-0 Versus Spread: 0-0

Season Record: 0-0 Versus Spread: 0-0

Season Record: 0-0 Versus Spread: 0-0

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More focused under Fox, Bennett poised for big year Martellus Bennett played catch with Marc Trestman a lot.

The gregarious tight end and the soft-spoken former Bears coach would often grab a football after practice and throw it around, smiling, chatting and so on.

They seemed like an odd but good fit for each other.

But the sense I get is that Bennett, who is coming off a season full of career highs, is in a better spot under coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace.

Bennett seems to be a more focused player, and Fox would seemingly have a lot to do with it.

Bennett did miss the voluntary portions of the offseason program in his pursuit of a new contract, but he’s been lockstep with everyone else since his return.

This could be a big year for Bennett individually, and Bennett knows it. He loves the adaptable ways of coordinator Adam Gase’s offense. He feels empowered and super confident (his words).

“I always want to be faster and stronger and better than I was physically, but mentally I’m on a

more so than reacting.”

By ADAM

JAHNS

ajahns@suntimes.com @adamjahns

different level now,” Bennett said.

“I’m super-confident. When I’m out on the field, it’s a different feel where I’m the guy and not one of the guys.

“I feel like it’s usually, ‘Oh what are they trying to do to me?’

But now I dictate, like, ‘OK, who is covering me? Why is he out here?’ It’s instead of being like, ‘Who do I have to study?’ I still study all my opponents, but now I feel like I’m going to attack it

Don’t shrug off quarterback David Fales’ success against the Browns in the preseason finale as a case of backup beating backups.

It was a performance that kept Zac Dysert, a favorite of Gase’s from Denver, off the 53-man roster.

And it should put Jimmy Clausen, who is coming off a concussion, on notice to be better.

“I feel like that’s me when I’m comfortable and understanding everything and just playing,” said Fales, who had a 134.0 passer rating and two touchdown passes against the Browns. “I felt back to normal.”

It’s worth remembering that the Patriots did try signing Fales off the Bears’ practice squad last year.

The Bears moved him to the active roster to protect him.

Fales is fully recovered from the illness that slowed him at training camp and offseason shoulder surgery.

“I feel like I’m in a good spot,” Fales said. “I’m glad I’m here.”

It was a good move by the Bears to keep running back Ka’Deem Carey, a 2014 draft pick. Carey was never really given a chance last year in Trestman’s offense.

“It was definitely frustrating,” Carey said. “My main goal going into this preseason was just to show what I was doing in college and that I was still capable of doing that.”

He succeeded.

Carey may be behind No. 2 back Jacquizz Rodgers, but his running style may prove to be just as effective as rookie Jeremy Langford’s in Gase’s offense.

Kudos to Pace for signing linebacker Lamin Barrow to the Bears’ practice squad. Barrow might just be a steal.

Fox and the Broncos drafted him in the fifth round last year out of LSU, so there already is a comfort level. Barrow was active every week as a rookie last season and played on all special teams.

THE WAY WE HEAR IT Six coaches already on the bubble Life isn’t fair.

If you think it is, just ask Tom Coughlin, Jay Gruden, Joe Philbin, Mike Pettine, Gus Bradley and Jim Tomsula what they think.

According to our sources, all six are facing win-or-gohome seasons.

Coughlin needs to prove he can still compete in today’s NFL, while the perception in Miami is Philbin’s been given everything he needs – now it’s time to get to the playoffs.

After two years, patience will wear thin in Jacksonville if Bradley doesn’t double his win total, while Pettine and Gruden battle dysfunctional ownership with high expectations.

Tomsula probably just needs to prove he can compete in San Francisco, but there are already early concerns he can’t.

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8

Roger Goodell facing changes

Contrary to what many would like to believe, Goodell’s job is not now nor has it ever been in jeopardy. Quite simply, he makes the 32 NFL owners too much money for them to can him. But enough owners are tired of being embarrassed and some have begun to realize there could be value in Goodell’s blunders.

Look for the owners to propose a swap with the NFL Players Association, a new independent arbitration panel to police player conduct in exchange for an 18-game regular season and two-game preseason.

Jake Long to the rescue?

Rumors abound that the former All-Pro left tackle could be the most sought after street free agent in the game now that noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews has cleared his damaged knees. The Falcons and Giants are thought to be his chief suitors.

Timing wrong on offensive line shuffle Seven days before their season opener against the Packers, the Bears cut starting right tackle Jordan Mills, and a day later moved two-time Pro Bowl right guard Kyle Long to right tackle – we think.

We don’t know because competitive balance would be thrown out of whack if coach John Fox let the Packers know in advance where any of his offensive linemen were going to line up. Or so Fox says.

To confuse the Packers, Fox might want to have 185-pound kicker Robbie Gould line up at nose tackle for a couple practice snaps and let the info leak out.

But, assuming the Long shift happens, that and the Mills cut were the right moves. The problem is with the timing.

It was a switch that should have been made eight months ago, or as soon as Fox and his staff were able to watch film of Mills’ struggles last season. Not to bad-rap Mills.

He’s a hard-working player who is considered a great teammate. He was scooped up by the Cowboys almost immediately and could still have an NFL career if he regains

OPINION

By BOB

LeGERE

rlegere@dailyherald.com @BobLeGere

his confidence.

Mills started 16 games as a rookie after the Bears drafted him in the fifth round out of Louisiana Tech in 2013. That O-line paved the way for an offense that established a franchise record for total yards.

But the more Mills played, the more he was exposed as a player who lacked something as a starter, most notably the athleticism to handle top-notch pass rushers.

Fox has been praised for putting

together an accomplished coaching staff of proven winners. But it took them an entire off-season program, two minicamps, 10 OTAs, 19 days of training camp and four preseason games to pull the trigger and move Long. He didn’t take one snap in a preseason game at the position he will be playing in Week One, a position he’s never played in any NFL game.

There’s little doubt that Long eventually will excel at right tackle, just as he has at right guard. But even a player as gifted as Long will experience an adjustment period.

He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie after starting just five games at Oregon, so it’s assumed that Long will be way ahead of the normal learning curve again. But that isn’t the point. Had Long been given several months to work at tackle, he already could be comfortable and dominant at the new position.

An even bigger issue is the dysfunction that can be expected from an O-line that will have new starters at two positions.

Getting the new right guard up to speed with the rest of the line

is a much bigger problem than moving Long. Six-year veteran Vlad Ducasse is the expected fill-in between Long and center Will Montgomery. But the coaching staff is hardly committed to Ducasse, a 2010 second-round pick who has never lived up to his draft status and has started just 11 games.

How do we know that?Because on the same day Mills was bid adieu, the Bears acquired former Bucs guard Patrick Omameh, a 16-game starter last season, who was waived

by Tampa.

“I view the claiming deadline like another draft,” Fox said. “We’ve got some rookies playing. A lot was made of [fifth-round safety Adrian] Amos being on the first team.

[Sixth-round offensive tackle] Tayo [Fabuluje] has improved a whole lot as we’ve gone through.

“So that’s what young players and new players do. You coach them up, get them ready and hopefully you get better for it.”

But when a coaching staff waits until a week before the season opener to juggle the offensive line, it doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.

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9 CHICAGOFOOTBALL.COM | Thursday, September 10, 2015

THE WAY WE HEAR IT

BEARS 3-4

Thursday, September 10, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL.COM

10

A WORK IN PROGRESS Sam Acho AP file photo

By

HUB ARKUSH

harkush@chicagofootball.com @Hub_Arkush

A

s I get close to wrapping my fourth decade on the Chicago Bears beat, I can’t escape the feeling that Bears fans have been yearning for a switch from the 4-3 to a 3-4 defense for at least the past 20 years.

When the dust settled after the complete housecleaning at Halas Hall last January and John Fox was introduced as the new head coach, most assumed he would bring with him the version of the 4-3 he used at Denver the last four seasons.

Then came the news so many Bears fans hoped for: Vic Fangio would be Fox’s defensive coordinator.

The cries of joy weren’t over the fact that Fangio has been among the top coordinators in football over the last four seasons. They were because Fangio is a 3-4 guy.

Now it is time to ask the question no one wants to have to answer: Will the Bears’ new 3-4 scheme be a classic example of “be careful what you wish for,” or can it be just what the doctor ordered?

What we know so far is that it’s not coming easily. It is very much still a work in progress.

It was just two days into training camp at Bourbonnais when the Bears’ top pass rusher, 4-3 defensive end Willie Young, went nuts over the suggestion that there is anything in his experiences playing the 4-3 that he can bring to his new role as an outside linebacker in the 3-4.

“Heck no! No! Not even close!” he said. “I might’ve had two things to worry about at defensive end regardless of how far out I was, keying the ball and getting the strength call from a linebacker. That ain’t so much the case no more.

“I’ve got to give a call, take a call, listen for a call and watch out for a call and also key the ball. So, depending on what you consider different.”

So much for the smooth, easy transition.

There are two basic differences

Just trust in one another. Trusting one another, trusting teammates, putting good things on film, working hard at it and translating it from the practice field to the game field. So you know as we do that, as any team does that, we’ll get more comfortable, our identity will start to form and we’ll grow into that.”

— SHERRICK McMANIS

between the 4-3 and 3-4, and then, of course, dozens of different ways a coach can manipulate the differences.

In a 4-3, defensive linemen can be lighter, more athletic and faster, and are expected to make plays against the run at and behind the line of scrimmage by penetrating or shedding blockers.

In a traditional 3-4, the three guys up front tend to be much larger, bulkier and stronger than 4-3 linemen and are asked to fill two gaps at the line and absorb blockers, freeing the linebackers to run to the ball and make stops in the running game.

The other difference is that in the 4-3, your ends and three-technique tackle are the primary pass rushers, with an occasional blitz from a linebacker or defensive back.

It’s really on first and second down, depending on how some opponents play, then it’s AP file photo just on first down that they would be in a 2-point.”

Allen hasn’t been as frustrated as Young, but he does acknowledge one very big difference from playing end.

“Drops. [Pass protection] drops are way better than they were the first day,” he said in Bourbonnais. “And at some point you can’t let it be too big. It’s still football. I’m just lining up in a slightly different spot and I’ve got some slightly different responsibilities.

“You still have to understand the game of football and, again, you still have to understand you’re either going to get a run block, pass block and your key is going to tell you, you have to do something.

“So it’s how fast do you recognize that key, how fast do you react to that key and get in the right areas and then let your ability take over.”

The transitions on the outside appear to be going more smoothly than it has for McClellin and Jones inside. And while the defensive front is still undersized and undermanned, it could get a boost from the way Fangio likes to run his 3-4, which is not Fox downplays the difficulty of the posi- always traditional. tion switch on his outside linebackers, sayWatch some tape of Fangio’s 49ers teams ing, “So much of that depends on whether and you’ll note that he doesn’t always play a we’re in base defense or sub [nickel] defense. two-gap scheme up front. He has used small“In sub defense, it’s pretty much the er, more mobile linemen like Ray McDonald same. They do have their hand in the dirt. – who he tried to bring here from San Fran-

cisco – with his inside linebackers having some one-gap responsibility as well.

In fact, Ego Ferguson, a former defense tackle but now a five technique, was one of the few guys the Bears had who seemed to fit the traditional five-technique mold, and Fangio had him drop 15 pounds to be quicker and more agile.

Ferguson says the whole filling-two-gaps notion is overrated.

“I feel like people sometimes think a 3-4 is a sit-back defense, but you can get off the ball a little bit,” he said. “You’ve just got to be able to control your gap. As long as you can control your gap, you can get off the ball.”

As for the secondary, there is really very little that’s been changed.

Because there always is a blitzing linebacker, the Bears’ defensive backs will play more man and a little less zone than they have in the past, but that’s really about the only change.

Sherrick McManis, who went into training camp as a special teams ace and emerged as the starting nickel in this new 3-4, sums it up this way: “Just trust in one another,” he said.

“Trusting one another, trusting teammates, putting good things on film, working hard at it and translating it from the practice field to the game field. So you know as we do that, as any team does that, we’ll get more comfortable, our identity will start to form and we’ll grow into that.”

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In the 3-4, the outside linebackers are the primary pass rushers with the inside ‘backers occasionally blitzing as well.

Generally, the front seven in the two schemes require two distinctly different types of athletes. Having been strictly a 4-3 team, the Bears had very few players that were natural fits in a front seven in a 3-4 scheme.

It appears the Bears will approach that two ways.

The first was to add free agents out of 3-4 schemes, such as Pernell McPhee and Sam Acho, and to draft a true nose tackle in Eddie Goldman.

The other is to take 4-3 defensive linemen like Shea McClellin, Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston and Willie Young and make them 3-4 linebackers, a much trickier proposition than just acquiring new players.

Fangio referred to it as a jigsaw puzzle and said the key to it all is McClellin.

“Well, I think the jigsaw part of the puzzle came early on, once we decided to put McClellin inside, Jones inside and then we knew who the outside ’backers were, so I think that was done early,” he said.

McClellin’s play has been less than stellar through the preseason, but Fangio is preaching patience.

“I think he’s found a home in there and it’s going to be a growing process,” Fangio said. “It’s a position that relies a lot on experience, instincts, play recognition, and I think he’s getting better and better at that.”

Thursday, September 10, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL.COM

12

NFC NORTH REPORT Vikings, Lions begin season on West Coast By

ARTHUR ARKUSH

aarkush@chicagofootball.com @ArthurArkush

DETROIT @ SAN DIEGO

Overview

The Lions’ quest for consecutive postseason bids for the first time in 20 years begins in San Diego, where they’re winless in four career trips. The NFL’s No. 1 run ‘D’ and second-ranked scoring unit in 2014, Detroit must forge a new identity after Ndamukong Suh and its other three defensive tackles left via free agency, replaced by five-time Pro Bowler Haloti Ngata and a trio of youngsters. With the Lions’ defense likely to regress, the offense’s three-headed monster – Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate – must improve on a No. 22 overall scoring finish. The Chargers, perhaps in their final season in San

Diego, averaged less than 10 points in three December losses to finish at 9-7 and out of the playoffs

Matchup to watch

All eyes will be on Ngata, who missed camp with a hamstring injury and is being asked to replace arguably the NFL’s most feared interior defender not named J.J. Watt. Unlike the Lions, who weren’t willing to invest in Suh and Nick Fairley to maintain their dominant run ‘D,’ the Bolts dedicated huge resources to bolster their running game in first-round RB Melvin Gordon and free-agent LG Orlando Franklin. Dilapidated Qualcomm Stadium might crumble when Ngata (6-4, 340) and Franklin (6-7, 320) clash, but Detroit will get a good gauge of where it stands against a Mike McCoy offense that strives to grind clock behind Gordon, Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver. The Bolts hope the electrifying backs provide an immediate

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spark to a 30th-ranked ground game marred by injuries. With Caraun Reid (high ankle sprain) out, Detroit will need Tyrunn Walker and rookie Gabe Wright to be stout alongside Ngata, and MLB Stephen Tulloch to resume thumping less than 12 months removed from a torn ACL.

Matchup to watch

A strength during San Francisco’s sensational three-year NFC Championship run, the offensive line is in tatters with three new starters expected – C Marcus Martin, RG Jordan Devey and RT Erik Pears. Their first test comes from one of the NFL’s better pass-rushing units (41 sacks, tied for ninth). From sack leader Everson Griffen to improving Sharrif Floyd to Zimmer’s myriad double A-gap blitz packages and rotational D-line options, the Vikings can apply pressure in waves – and they’ll regularly test the Niners’ green right side.

That will likely spell trouble for Colin Kaepernick, whose arrested development in terms of pocket presence and field reading elicited Kurt Warner’s helping hand this offseason. Kaepernick’s best weapon remains his legs, and while the Vikings defense boasts plenty of team speed, it’ll have to stay disciplined and keep contain to prevent Kaepernick from doing damage as a runner.

By the numbers

Tate, not Johnson, paced Detroit in receptions (99) and yards (1,331), the first time Megatron hasn’t been the Lions’ leading receiver since his rookie season in 2007.

MINNESOTA @ SAN FRAN

Overview

Could these two teams’ offseasons be more different? The Vikings are a chic wild-card pick after the return of Adrian Peterson and arrival of Mike Wallace gives Teddy Bridgewater and Norv Turner the power and speed elements to make this offense formidable. The NFL’s most improved ‘D’ a season ago under Mike Zimmer added explosive depth (first-rounder Trae Waynes, third-rounder Danielle Hunter) and potential starters (Terrance Newman and Eric Kendricks).

Meanwhile, 49ers brass oddly envisioned addition by subtraction in jettisoning Jim Harbaugh for Jim Tomsula, but what followed was an unprecedented list of abrupt retirements (Patrick Willis, Anthony Da-

By the numbers

In 45 career meetings, the Vikings and 49ers each have 22 victories (they played to a tie in 1966), but Minnesota has dropped eight of nine in San Francisco.

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FOOTBALL

Matchups to exploit, avoid in NFL Week One By

J.C. TALON

ChicagoFootball.com fantasy writer

Week One is always a bit of a crapshoot in terms of fantasy projections. Injury reports are sketchy and a few backfield situations are still being worked out. With that in mind, several teams have what looks to be favorable matchups to open the 2015 campaign.

MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT PACKERS (AT BEARS) Sunday, noon

The Bears were atrocious on defense last season; only the Falcons and Saints gave up more yards per game, and only the Raiders yielded more points.

Thank goodness new GM Ryan Pace came in and overhauled the defensive personnel during the offseason. And for those of you a little slower on the draw, that was sarcasm. Other than former Baltimore role player Pernell McPhee, the Bears’ defense isn’t much different from last year. Yes, there is a new 3-4 scheme and a new coordinator (Vic Fangio), but as long as Shea McClellin is in the lineup (prepared to fail miserably at a third position), you know that Chicago has a long way to go in its defensive rebuilding efforts. In their Week Three preseason game in Cincinnati, the Bears defense showed absolutely no improvement from its pathetic 2014 form.

Aaron Rodgers traditionally has carved up the Bears. In two games vs. Chicago last season, Rodgers threw for 617 yards and 10 touchdowns … 10! The only downside for owners of Rodgers is the virtual certainty that this one gets out of hand early and the Packers take their foot off the gas. But even if Green Bay stops throwing the ball in the fourth quarter, Rodgers should be good for at least 300 yards and three scores. The loss of Jordy Nelson could slow the Green Bay attack in future games, but they’ll

be just fine in this one.

Must start: Rodgers, Eddie Lacy, Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby Solid play: Davante Adams, Packers D/ST Worth a look: Richard Rodgers, James Starks (in potential mop-up duty) Last resort: Jeff Janis, James Jones

DOLPHINS (AT WASHINGTON) Sunday, noon

Who yielded more points last season: Tennessee or Washington? Sorry, it’s a trick question.

Both teams let up 438 points in 2014, an average of 27.4 per game.

There is no reason to think Washington improved this offseason, but Miami’s offense has improved in three straight seasons. Lamar Miller could be poised to become a top-10 fantasy RB. Rookie wideout DeVante Parker should be able to play.

Must start: Miller Solid play: Ryan Tannehill, Jordan Cameron, Andrew Franks, Dolphins D/ST Worth a look: Jarvis Landry Last resort: Greg Jennings, Parker

CARDINALS (VS. SAINTS) Sunday, 3:05

Despite fielding the league’s second-worst defense in 2014, Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan returns for another season. Bruce Arians and the Cardinals will look to take advantage of New Orleans’ poor judgment. Arizona drafted running back David Johnson and added veteran Chris Johnson, but Andre Ellington starts the season as the go-to back. There are no “must-starts” for Arizona, but this is an excellent matchup for them.

Each Cardinal player’s fantasy stock goes up a bit this week.

Solid play: Ellington, Chandler Catanzaro Worth a look: Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown Last resort: Michael Floyd*

Cowboys (vs. Giants) Sunday, 7:30

In 2014, the Giants’ defense ranked in the bottom third of nearly every meaningful category. Even if they’ve improved a bit, this should be a high-scoring game.

These two teams seem to bring out the best in each other, especially on national TV. The over/under is tracking around 51, meaning it is expected to be the second-highest scoring game of Week One. The big fantasy question in this game is who will emerge in the Cowboys backfield. Newly acquired Christine Michael could factor into the equation down the road, but probably not in this game.

Must start: Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Dan Bailey Solid play: Terrance Williams, Jason Witten Worth a look: Darren McFadden, Joseph Randle Last resort: Cole Beasley Stay away: Cowboys D/ST

GIANTS (AT COWBOYS) Sunday, 7:30

Expect New York to put up roughly half of those 51 points. Eli Manning began to play well once Odell Beckham emerged. Now, Manning finds himself in a contract year.

Must start: Beckham Solid play: Manning, Rueben Randle, Josh Brown Worth a look: Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams, Larry Donnell Last resort: Shane Vereen, Victor Cruz* Stay away: Giants D/ST

EAGLES (AT FALCONS) Monday, 6:10

Hovering around 55 points, this game features the highest over/ under of the week. Despite playing on the road, Philadelphia is favored by three. Based on the line, the Eagles are expected to score about 29 points. We think they’ll score at least that many. Due to a lack of meaningful evidence, Sam

Bradford is listed as a “solid play.”

However, unless you have Aaron Rodgers on your team, it would be hard to sit Bradford this week. The Falcons ranked dead last in pass defense last season.

Must Start: DeMarco Murray, Cody Parkey Solid play: Bradford, Jordan Matthews, Zach Ertz Worth a look: Ryan Mathews, Nelson Agholor, Brent Celek Last resort: Josh Huff, Riley Cooper Stay away: Eagles D/ST

ALSO CONSIDER COLTS (AT BILLS) Sunday, noon

The Bills had an excellent defense in 2014 and should be good again this year. However, it’s hard to imagine them completely shutting down Andrew Luck & Co., especially this early in the season.

BENGALS (AT RAIDERS) Sunday, 3:25

The Raiders should be improved this year, but Cincinnati has made the playoffs in four consecutive seasons and should be solid again in 2015. Expect a big game from RB Jeremy Hill.

MATCHUPS TO AVOID BEARS (AT PACKERS) Sunday, noon

No one knows exactly what to expect from the Bears in this game, but it is unlikely they will score more than 20 points. As of Tuesday, WR Alshon Jeffery had not practiced or played in well over three weeks. Only the most optimistic (and perhaps delusional) of Bears fans would expect to see him on the field this weekend.

Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett could have nice fantasy seasons,

and you pretty much have to start them this week. Don’t be surprised, however, if it takes them a few games to hit their stride in Adam Gase’s new offense. If Jeffery plays, he’s a “solid play” if relatively healthy, but only “worth a look” if he’s less than, say, 90 percent.

Solid play: Forte, Bennett Worth a look: Eddie Royal* Last resort: Marquess Wilson*, Robbie Gould Stay away: Bears D/ST

CHIEFS (AT TEXANS) Sunday, noon

If you drafted Jamaal Charles, you might have to wait until next Thursday (home against Denver) to see his full potential. Houston was ranked No. 10 last season against the run and should be better this year. Of course, Charles remains a “must-start,” but this is not a great matchup for him or his KC teammates. The over/under in this game is about 40.5. It’s also not a great matchup for Houston’s offense.

Must start: Charles Solid play: Jeremy Maclin, Travis Kelce* Worth a look: Chiefs D/ST Last resort: Alex Smith Stay away: Albert Wilson, Cairo Santos

JETS (VS. BROWNS) Sunday, noon

At 40 points, or slightly under, this game features the lowest over/ under of the week. We’d also advise you not to start any Browns, but we figure you don’t have any on your team anyway.

Solid play: Chris Ivory, Jets D/ST Worth a look: Brandon Marshall Last resort: Eric Decker, Jeff Cumberland Stay away: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Nick Folk *Check injury status

13 CHICAGOFOOTBALL.COM | Thursday, September 10, 2015

FANTASY

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Thursday, September 10, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL.COM

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PATRICK FINLEY

MARK POTASH

Don’t nap on these Bears ... not yet, anyway Chicago Sun-Times Bears reporters Mark Potash and Patrick Finley discuss how to gauge success in the first year of the John Fox-Ryan Pace era in Chicago.

FINLEY: Potsie, if expectations around the Bears’ season were any lower, they’d start taking on water from the Lakefront.

Not to get too philosophical here, but how should the Bears define success this year?

POTASH: The only thing I am certain about this team and this season is that there is one definition of success – the Bears need to finish better than they start and probably beat a team they shouldn’t beat. That’s all. The schedule – on paper, at least – is set up for that, with a difficult first half and a very playable second half.

That said, all expectations are fluid – if the Bears get off to a good start, Bears fans should expect more. I think this coaching

staff is more than capable of achieving that goal, don’t you?

FINLEY: No question. The hiring of John Fox and two other NFL head-coaching finalists, coordinators Adam Gase and Vic Fangio, were the Bears’ best signings of the offseason – especially compared to the staff Marc Trestman created. But they’ll only be able to cook with the ingredients Ryan Pace buys, and the GM has created a roster that reeks of rebuilding. By keeping young guys and jettisoning veterans Tim Jennings, Dante Rosario and Mason Foster, is Pace making life tougher on those coaches?

POTASH: On the contrary. I think Pace and Fox are on the same page with how they want to go about rebuilding the Bears. It’s not like Fox needs to win this year while Pace is more interested in building a foundation of youth for the

in the ’90s.

FINLEY: The Dome Patrol! They needed a better nickname. (The Dome Rangers?

The Dome Wreckers?). Which brings me back to my original question, Potsie.

Fangio is 57, defensive backs coach Ed Donatell is 58 and Fox is 60. These guys didn’t come to Chicago to spend the next three years rebuilding.

POTASH: You kids kill me! I’ve got news for you, son – 57-60 is not old. Marv Levy would be the sharpest guy at Halas Hall today – and he’s 90! Pete Carroll is 63 and he could kick your butt. Pete, by the way, took over a 5-11 Seahawks team at 58 in 2010 and went 7-9 his first two seasons before building a Super Bowl powerhouse.

John Fox took over a 4-12 Broncos team at 56 in 2011 and went 8-8 before building a Super Bowl contender. Point is, they have enough time to tear down the Bears this year and put them in playoff contention before they’re ready for the old-folks home.

And here’s some sage advice from an old-timer who covered his first NFL team in 1979, before you were even born: Never underestimate the mediocrity of the NFL. You can make the playoffs at 8-8 or worse if things break right – both Fox (with the 8-8 Broncos) and Carroll (with the 7-9 Seahawks) proved it.

Sorry to end this enlightening conversation abruptly, Pat. But I’m 56 years old and it’s time for my afternoon nap!

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15 CHICAGOFOOTBALL.COM | Thursday, September 10, 2015

TAKE TWO

future. Jennings, Rosario and Foster were unlikely to be impact players on this team. I’d rather have Fangio taking a shot on developing a Terrance Mitchell or John Timu than trying to retro-fit veterans on a rebuilding defense.

Fangio’s strength is linebacker development. Under current Bears linebackers coach Glenn Pires, the Falcons’ Paul Worrilow went from an undrafted free agent to a productive starter. This season is about player development. And staying healthy. At this point, that’s the biggest issue facing the Bears, don’t you think, Pat? FINLEY: The Bears are walking a thin line – as are about 20 other teams that can’t afford to have their seasons hijacked by injury. They don’t have the depth to feel comfortable if Alshon Jeffery fails to stay healthy, or if Jermon Bushrod’s back keeps acting up.

POTASH: Actually, Pat, all 32 NFL teams can have their season hijacked by injury.

The Patriots lost Tom Brady and didn’t even make the playoffs in 2008. Be that as it may, I’m eager to see Eddie Goldman make an impact, just so we can get some kind of measurement of Ryan Pace’s ability to identify talent somewhere near the top of the draft. Most of all, I’ll be eager to see Fangio’s impact (or not). With the 49ers, relatively unheralded players became playmakers. He’s been doing that since he was the Saints’ linebackers coach

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