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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

THE LIST

We choose the 5 best 3-4 transitions of the past 15 years 3

GAME 2 PREVIEW

Bears host tough Cardinals defense 4

RUNNING THE BALL

Bears may have found right formula for long-term success 9

TAKE TWO

What have we learned about the Bears’ offense?

15

GOULD

STANDARD

BEARS KICKER CLOSING IN ON TEAM’S ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER RECORD 10

What if Emery hired Bruce Arians?

What if instead of hiring Marc Trestman to coach the Chicago Bears a little over 32 months ago, Phil Emery had chosen Bruce Arians?

Arians comes to town this week as the head coach of the 1-0 Arizona Cardinals, where in his two seasons there he’s 22-11 overall and 0-1 in the playoffs. He also won last year’s NFL Coach of the Year Award, his second in the past three seasons.

While it would be unfair and inaccurate to say the Cardinals were his second choice, it is well documented that Arians really wanted the Bears job before thensecond-year general manager Phil Emery chased him away.

Arians was reportedly turned off by Emery’s request that he stage a mock press conference as part of the interview process. He had just completed a season in which he went 9-3 as interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts during Chuck Pagano’s battle with leukemia and spent the entire year handling head coach’s press

FROM THE EDITOR

By HUB

ARKUSH

harkush@chicagofootball.com @Hub_Arkush

conferences.

He also had just had a press conference to accept his first Coach of the Year award, the only interim coach to ever win it.

Smooth move, Phil.

But that wasn’t the deal-breaker.

When Emery informed Arians that he’d expect him to retain defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, and that Emery would have input into the hiring of the rest of his

staff, Arians said no thanks and walked away.

(Marinelli quit anyway, accepting a demotion to defensive line coach in Dallas, when he learned the job had been given to Trestman instead of Arians, who he had strongly recommended to Emery.)

It is impossible to know what Emery could have been thinking.

Bears fans were told Trestman was an offensive guru credited with doing great things with Steve Young and Rich Gannon, although Young was on his way to the Hall of Fame before he ever met Trestman, and Gannon was really just, well, Rich Gannon.

On Arians’ résumé you will note he was Peyton Manning’s first coach in the NFL as quarterbacks coach with the Colts in Manning’s rookie and sophomore seasons.

He was the wide receivers coach in Pittsburgh but also a mentor to Ben Roethlisberger in 2005 when the Steelers won the Super Bowl, and he became offensive coordinator there in 2007 in large part at the urging of Roethlisberger. They

won another Super Bowl together in 2008.

Roethlisberger threatened revolt when Arians was Bruce Arians dismissed following the 2011 season.

Cardinals During his 2012 coach Coach of the Year season in Indianapolis, Arians was the personal tutor of rookie Andrew Luck.

It obviously is a bit more than tempting to suggest Jay Cutler would be a different quarterback today had Emery made the right choice.

But, of course, it isn’t that easy.

If Emery had put his personal concerns aside and hired Arians, how would they have coexisted?

What might Arians have been able to do with the challenged rosters and poor drafts Emery provided the past two seasons?

Obviously, we’ll never know, but it certainly does give one pause to wonder.

BY THE

NUMB3RS

58-27-6

The Bears’ all-time record vs. the Cardinals dating to 1920, when the Cardinals also played in Chicago.

6-2

Bears record vs. the Cardinals since the franchise moved to Arizona in 1988 after 28 years in St. Louis.

28-13

Final score the last time these two teams met, on Dec. 23, 2012, at University of Phoenix Stadium, a Bears victory.

Chicago Football Weekly is produced by Shaw Media, the Daily Herald Media Group and the Chicago Sun-Times in partnership with other Illinois daily newspapers.

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ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, September 17, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

2

3. NEW YORK JETS

The five best transitions from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense of past 15 years On Sunday, the Bears will play the Cardinals in a matchup of 3-4 defenses in very different states of experience, as the Cardinals are in their 12th year in the scheme and the Bears are brand new to it.

Here’s a look at the NFL’s five best 4-3 to 3-4 transitions from the past 15 years:

1. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Those Patriots defenses that keyed the last NFL dynasty in the mid-2000s featured several holdovers from a pretty strong 4-3 unit. Safety Lawyer Milloy, linebacker Teddy Bruschi, cornerback Ty Law and defensive end Willie McGinest each made that transition, which came with

Bill Belichick’s hire in 2000. The Patriots were mediocre in the first three years after the switch, ranking in the 20s of the league each year, but caught their stride during the second Super Bowl run in 2003, under defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. From 2003 to 2009, the Patriots finished in the top 11 every year but one behind the strength of those holdovers, plus big names at all levels in end Richard Seymour, safety Rodney Harrison and linebacker Mike Vrabel.

2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS There’s a reason John Fox agreed to move to the 3-4 with the hiring of Fangio this offseason. Fangio helped elevate the

Sarah Nader - Shaw Media

49ers’ 3-4 to the most consistently dominant unit of the past four seasons, ranking in the top four in yards each year. The 49ers’ transition came earlier under former head coach Mike Nolan, who was hired in 2005, but it was a gradual move from a hybrid look to the base, and it took time to flourish. Fangio’s defend-therun-first approach in 2011 elevated the entire defense to top-five levels, catapulting end Justin Smith’s career to a possible Hallof-Fame level and creating one

The Jets-Patriots angst that would culminate in accusations of Spygate was set into motion when New York plucked Eric Mangini from its division rival to be head coach in 2006. Mangini would only transition gradually and with modest success, but the unit took off under Rex Ryan in 2009, finishing No. 1 in defense. They’d hold a top-11 ranking for the entirety of Ryan’s six seasons after stocking the roster with Pro Bowl cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie and finding players from throughout the league, such as outside linebacker Calvin Pace and inside linebacker Bart Scott, to fill specific roles.

4. BALTIMORE RAVENS The Ravens have seemingly always had a great defense, and it’s difficult to adequately pinpoint when the switch from a 4-3

to a 3-4 came, because even today, they employ a high number of 4-3 packages. But the base is that pressure-heavy turnover-machine that long wrecked the NFL with future Hall-of-Famers Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and (potentially) Terrell Suggs. Nolan started and Rex Ryan continued a streak where Baltimore finished in the top 10 in defense every year from 2003 to 2010 and finishing with a Super Bowl victory in 2013.

5. GREEN BAY PACKERS The Bears’ biggest rivals made their switch in 2009, when they brought in a 3-4 legend in Dom Capers. After finishing 20th with a 4-3 in 2008, Capers’ Packers ascended to second in 2009 and fifth in 2010. The transition to Capers’ pressure-heavy scheme really aided the careers of veterans Charles Woodson and Cullen Jenkins, and it made its living with players it drafted, such as perennial Pro Bowl pass rusher Clay Matthews, as well as nose tackle B.J. Raji. The Packers have since fallen off in their defensive dominance, but not before winning the Super Bowl in 2011.

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of the best modern linebacking corps with names like Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith, who combine for 12 Pro Bowl appearances.

B.J. Raji sacks Jay Cutler

GAME PREVIEW WK 2

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, September 17, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

4

Cardinals

AT

Bears

GAMEDAY: NOON SUNDAY, SEPT. 20, 2015 / SOLDIER FIELD, CHICAGO, IL By

KEVIN FISHBAIN

Matt Forte

kfishbain@chicagofootball.com @kfishbain

BEARS RUSHING OFFENSE vs CARDINALS RUN DEFENSE

No team allowed fewer rushing yards than the Cardinals in Week One (54), and no team rushed for more yards than the Bears (189). Arizona’s 3-4 defense is an aggressive group that swarms to the football, and its front held Mark Ingram to 9 carries for a paltry 24 yards (2.7-yard average). Khiry Robinson didn’t do much better with 8 carries for 19 yards. Former Falcons inside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and 2013 second-rounder Kevin Minter handle the middle, and left defensive end Calais Campbell is one of the best in the business.

Matt Forte was sensational against the Packers, even when there was no secret the Bears would pound the rock. Jermon Bushrod and Matt Slauson created big holes off the left side for Forte, who had 144 yards rushing. Even though Kyle Long had a couple miscues in pass protection, he was his usual self as a run blocker at right tackle.

We’ll see if the Bears use Jeremy Langford more to counter the speed of the Cardinals’ run defense. This is a strength vs. strength matchup, and we’ll star in the back end as the Caravoid picking a side. This one dinals’ ball hawk, and Patrick Peterson vs. Alshon Jeffery is even.

EDGE DRAW is sure to be a great matchup.

Drew Brees completed 30-of-48 passes vs. the Cardinals with a BEARS PASSING heavy focus on using his backs OFFENSE vs CARDINALS – Ingram and Khiry Robinson PASS DEFENSE combined for 13 catches for Arizona was just ahead of 149 yards, something coach the Bears last year in passing Bruce Arians pointed out needs yards allowed per game (259.5), to be corrected. The Cardibut opposing quarterbacks car- nals will blitz from different ried only an 86.0 rating. Safety directions and can use CampTyrann Mathieu is a budding bell, veteran Lamarr Woodley

H. Rick Bamman – Shaw Media

and second-year linebacker Alex Okafor – who sacked Brees twice – to get to Jay Cutler. This group will stress the Bears’ O-line. As good as Cutler was on third down, he completed only 50 percent of his passes vs. Green Bay. Until we see the Bears’ air attack get into a rhythm, which may take some time in this new offense and until Jeffery gets back to closer to 100 percent, it’s hard to swing the pendulum in their

direction, especially against a strong defense.

PCL. Veteran Chris Johnson hasn’t been a threat to opposEDGE CARDINALS ing defenses consistently since 2013. The Bears’ biggest concern may actually be the Cardinals’ CARDINALS RUSHING rookie, David Johnson, who had OFFENSE vs BEARS RUN a 55-yard catch-and-run touchDEFENSE down, showing off his speed. ArChicago’s run defense got off izona’s offense won’t spread the to a decent start against Eddie Bears out as often as the PackLacy, who had 85 yards on 19 car- ers did, likely allowing them ries with no runs longer than 16 to stay in a 3-4 base defense yards. The Cardinals’ top back, with three defensive linemen Andre Ellington, is expected to more often. Jarvis Jenkins and miss the game with a sprained Eddie Goldman showed flash

Chris Johnson

THIS WEEK IN THE NFL

8G ]`c\ g_fkf

BRONCOS @ CHIEFS

TITANS @ BROWNS

7:25 p.m. Thursday, CBS

Noon Sunday, CBS

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TEXANS @ PANTHERS

FALCONS @ GIANTS

Noon Sunday, CBS 8G ]`c\ g_fkf

es vs. the Packers, and this will be an opportunity to see what Shea McClellin and Christian Jones are made of. The Cardinals’ line showed well in their opener, but it’s far from a bluechip group. The matchup is close, but the absence of Ellington ultimately goes Chicago’s way.

<;>< BEARS

CARDINALS PASSING OFFENSE vs BEARS PASS DEFENSE

On the opening drive against the Saints, Carson Palmer was 5-of-6 throwing for 62 yards and a touchdown. He looked like the Palmer of old, making quick decisions and torching the middle of the Saints’ defense with ease. For the game, Palmer threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns. He was sacked zero times, benefiting from better-than-expected pass protection. John Brown is his speed threat. Larry Fitzgerald is still as reliable as they come as a possession receiver. Michael Floyd can be dynamic and tight end Darren Fells had a big game. The Bears did little to stop Aaron Rodgers in Week One by tallying zero QB hits.

The corners had the coverage, but couldn’t make the play on the Packers’ biggest passing plays. Palmer, Brown and Fitz-

gerald don’t rival Rodgers, Randall Cobb and James Jones, but they were efficient running Arians’ offense against New Orleans. Unless the Bears’ pass rush improves greatly or a defensive back creates a turnover, Palmer and company should be able to do the same on Sunday.

<;>< CARDINALS

SUNDAY’S OVERALL EDGE

The loss to the Packers created some pleasant surprises for the Bears. The offense ran smoothly and the defense – well, it wasn’t nearly as bad as last year, so that’s ... something. The sentiment in the locker room focused on a performance that had positives to build on, but it was simply not good enough. The Cardinals, on the other hand, looked very good on both sides of the ball, albeit against a now-average Saints team. The Cardinals provide a tough matchup if their offense is as in-sync as it was in Week One, and a big reason for that was the pass protection. Arizona also won the special teams battle in its opener.

This is a game the Bears can certainly win, but based on the matchups, the Cardinals have the ultimate advantage heading into Sunday.

<;>< CARDINALS

Top players

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49ERS @ STEELERS

RAMS @ WASHINGTON

Noon Sunday, FOX :Xe A`d KfdjlcX Yl`c[ fe jlZZ\jj]lc [\Ylk6 B\`k_ 9lkc\iËj j\Zfe[Xip e\\[j i\Yl`c[`e^ X]k\i E\n <e^cXe[ [\jkilZk`fe%

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BUCCANEERS @ SAINTS

Schemes

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Noon Sunday, FOX

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Noon Sunday, FOX

LIONS @ VIKINGS Noon Sunday, FOX

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RAVENS @ RAIDERS 3:05 p.m. Sunday, CBS

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CARDINALS @ BEARS

COWBOYS @ EAGLES

DEFENSE / :ffi[`eXkfi AXd\j 9\kkZ_\i b\gk Kf[[ 9fnc\jË gi\jjli\ *$+% K_\ jki\e^k_ f] k_\ le`k `j X jkXi$cX[\e j\Zfe[Xip# c\[ Yp G\k\ijfe Xe[ DXk_`\l% K_\ cpeZ_g`e lg ]ifek# :XdgY\cc `j mXjkcp le[\iiXk\[% 8i`qfeX _\c[ k_\ JX`ekj kf aljk fe\ kflZ_[fne X n\\b X^f%

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Weaknesses

PATRIOTS @ BILLS

SEAHAWKS @ PACKERS

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CHARGERS @ BENGALS

3:25 p.m. Sunday, FOX

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Noon Sunday, CBS

JETS @ COLTS

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CHICAGO FOOTBALL. WEEKLY | K_lij[Xp# J\gk\dY\i (.# )'(, :_`ZX^f=ffkYXcc%Zfd

Adrian Peterson

5

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, September 17, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

6

BEARS

VS.

CARDINALS STAFF PREDICTIONS

Thursday spread: Bears +2

Hub

Kevin

Arthur

Nate

Bob

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

Daily Herald

Bears 26 Cardinals 24

Bears 20 Cardinals 21

Bears 23 Cardinals 21

Bears 20 Cardinals 27

Bears 19 Cardinals 24

Nope, not eating or smoking anything I shouldn’t, just hooked on a feeling!

The Fox/Fangio/Gase triumvirate is good enough to get the Bears a cover, but not an outright win.

They’ll pressure Carson Palmer and offset Arizona’s blitzing with quick passes to head to Seattle at .500.

The Bears’ running game keeps them in it, but no answer for Palmer’s and Arians’ passing game.

Again, the Bears show signs of improvement, but it’s not enough.

Season Record: 1-0 Versus Spread: 1-0

Season Record: 1-0 Versus Spread: 1-0

Season Record: 1-0 Versus Spread: 1-0

Season Record: 1-0 Versus Spread: 1-0

Season Record: 1-0 Versus Spread: 1-0

Jon

Adam

Jay

Kyle

Wes

Northwest Herald

Chicago Sun-Times

Rockford Register-Star

Kankakee Daily Journal

Peoria Journal Star

Bears 17 Cardinals 21

Bears 27 Cardinals 24

Bears 24 Cardinals 28

Bears 27 Cardinals 28

Bears 16 Cardinals 24

The Cardinals are a solid passing team, will expose issues in the Bears’ defensive backfield.

This is a game the Bears have to win sandwiched between the Packers and Seahawks.

Cards’ defense is great in the red zone, Bears’ offense is bad – not a good recipe for Chicago.

The Bears should take advantage of an Arizona pass defense that ranked near the bottom in 2014.

Bears continue to progress, but Cardinals are who we think they are: A playoff team with playmakers.

Season Record: 1-0 Versus Spread: 1-0

Season Record: 1-0 Versus Spread: 0-1

Season Record: 1-0 Versus Spread: 1-0

Season Record: 1-0 Versus Spread: 1-0

Season Record: 1-0 Versus Spread: 1-0

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| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

8

Bears’ passing game only can improve with time

By ADAM

JAHNS

ajahns@suntimes.com @adamjahns

One more week will do the Bears’ passing attack some good.

It has to because it was rather unimpressive in their Week One loss against the Green Bay Packers.

Quarterback Jay Cutler has a connection with Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson, but not being able to practice with all three of them for weeks and the uncertainty surrounding their respective availabilities certainly was a prohibitive factor.

The only constant of the Bears’ offense is change. That’s what coordinator Adam Gase does on a week-by-week basis based on

matchups, available players and opposing defenses.

And it’s coming as he finally gets a better grasp for what his top receivers, namely Jeffery, can do for him. Jeffery, who missed the entire preseason with a strained calf, played plenty against the Packers, making five catches for a team-best 78 yards.

But it was only a start.

“Hopefully, we can continue to grow on this and get him back to full time,” Cutler said.

The Bears ran the ball well against the Packers, but rarely used play action. According to Pro Football Focus, Cutler attempted only four play-action passes, completing one for six yards.

Here’s predicting that a very different attack is coming in Week Two against the Arizona Cardinals. “[The Packers game was]

THE WAY WE HEAR IT No “Deflategate” reruns coming soon!

Alshon Jeffery something we can build from and learn from,” Jeffery said. “I feel great about this team; I love this team.”

Defensive lineman Cornelius Washington is in the same camp as running back/special-teamer Senorise Perry. He’s a young player from the old regime that

the new regime seems to like enough to keep around.

Washington was placed on injured reserve this week because of a right quadriceps injury.

With a bag of ice wrapped around his thigh, Washingon told me at Soldier Field that he hoped it was minor.

It wasn’t.

But Washington can still call Halas Hall home just like Perry, who also is on IR. Washington, who was injured on his only defensive snap against the Packers, believes he’s earned a place as a situational rusher, creating mismatches against slower interior offensive lineman. He also can play on special teams.

“It’s going to work out well for me,” said Washington, who bulked up to 290 pounds. “It’s going to be good.”

It shouldn’t have surprised anyone that linebacker Lamin Barrow was promoted to the active roster after spending less than a week on the practice squad.

Barrow, a fifth-round pick last year by the Broncos, became an immediate contributor on special teams for coordinator Jeff Rodgers in Denver, and the Bears hope he’ll do the same here.

When he was released by the Broncos, the Bears became an ideal destination for him because of Rodgers and coach John Fox. “Seeing those guys leave last year, I knew I was going to miss them,” said Barrows, who was on the field for 15 special-teams plays in Week One. “When everything worked out the way it did and I had some options to choose from, I decided to come with coach Fox. I believed in him first.”

BY HUB ARKUSH

Peyton Manning little about Manning – appear to be pointing Cutler.

Through Week 13 of the 2014 NFL season, It seems what we all assumed was a likely Manning had thrown at least one touchdown scenario is already a fait accompli. pass in 51 straight games and was just one Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney season removed from his NFL-single-seaII confirmed early this week that internal son-record 55 touchdown passes. discussions have already begun on the ownBut the Broncos’ opener against Baltimore ership side about reopening the current Colmarked the third time in Manning’s last lective Bargaining Agreement and reworking five regular season games that he failed to the disciplinary procedures around violations throw a touchdown pass, and on the day he of the player conduct code. was just 24-of-40 for 175 yards – a 4.4-yard Rooney said that changes to the policy average per pass. and the relinquishing of the commissioner’s On the heels of his training camp admission sweeping powers as they currently exist will that there are days now when he has no have to be tied to an extension of the current feeling at all in the fingertips on his throwing Collective Bargaining Agreement, and he achand, likely a result of his multiple cervical knowledged that is not something the NFLPA spine surgeries, it seems logical Manning will and its executive director DeMaurice Smith play out his career trying to avoid mistakes, are likely to come to easily or quickly. move the chains and supplement the running Based on prior negotiations and debates Peyton Manning the game on which Gary Kubiak’s new Denver with Smith and the union, the process is offense will be built. new Jay Cutler? much more likely to take years rather than For those who agree that is exactly what Does that possibility make Bears fans happy months.

Cutler was doing against the Packers, and However, in the interim we have some early or cringe? doing it fairly well with the exception of the Here’s what we’re hearing and here’s where indications that the commissioner and his one very costly pick by Clay Matthews, who we’re going: While Manning is one of the troops are going to avoid stepping into the knew Manning and Cutler were destined to greatest players in the history of the game breach again at the risk of creating any new morph into the same guy? controversies to rival “Deflategate,” the Greg and one of the best at making the play to win AP file photo Oh, and by the way, if Manning is your fanthe game, that time may have passed.

Hardy, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice or “Bountasy QB this year, you should start scouring Manning today is becoming the NFL’s most to be exactly where John Fox and Adam tygate” fiascos. the waiver wire immediately.

Gase – two guys who know more than a expensive “game manager,” which appears It seems likely based on past history that had Ndamukong Suh kicked Alfred Morris in the head last season as he did in his first game as a Dolphin Sunday, a review of the incident would have been underway by Monday morning and Suh would have been suspended for some period of time by Tuesday.

When Adam “Pacman” Jones ripped off Amari Cooper’s helmet Sunday and then used it to smack Cooper’s head, it seemed certain Jones’ track record would have earned him a serious penalty.

The commissioner’s office announced quickly on Monday that neither incident would be reviewed and that neither player would be disciplined.

We’re hearing that Goodell and his minions will be avoiding any disciplinary hearings in the near future that would be likely to produce an appeal hearing.

The Bears losing again to the Packers in Week One – for the 10th time in the last 11 meetings – hardly qualifies as big news.

There remains a sizable talent gap between the two rosters, although the Bears avoided embarrassment this time, losing only 31-23. But the most important takeaway from the season opener is that John Fox and his staff have the blueprint to compete with their rivals to the north, which is something the Bears have been unable to do for most of the past decade.

By running the ball early and often – a practice that has worked in Chicago forever – the Bears had the ideal game plan for the Packers. Control the ball, run time off the clock and limit the amount of time that Aaron Rodgers has to abuse the defense.

Rodgers had a 140.5 passer rating and completed 18 for 23 with three touchdowns, but he had just 189 yards, down from the 315 he had in the last meet-

OPINION

By BOB

LeGERE

rlegere@dailyherald.com @BobLeGere

ing, along with six touchdowns – all in the first half.

“That’s what we want to do,” left tackle Jermon Bushrod said of running the ball and controlling the clock. “As an offensive lineman, that’s what we strive to do on a weekly basis and we were able to do that.”

The Bears had a nearly four-minute edge in time of

THE WAY WE HEAR IT

possession, 31:52-28:08.

It’s a plan that will work for every other opponent the Bears face in a season that will have significant growing pains but doesn’t have to include the frequent public humiliations that defined the 2014 season.

Led by 24 Matt Forte carries for 141 yards, the Bears ran the ball 33 times for 189 yards.

That’s not necessarily a major accomplishment against a Packers defense that ranked 23rd last year in rushing yards allowed. But it accomplished two very important goals: It kept Rodgers on the sidelines, and it gave the Bears the luxury of not having to rely on Jay Cutler to win the game – at least for a while.

When Cutler did need to make a play, he made a bad one, an interception for which he’s already been vilified. In truth, it was more a great play

by Packers Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews than a bad play

by Cutler.

Without the pick, Cutler’s

67.5 passer rating would have been 81.3, which the Bears can live with before they move in a different QB direction the day after the season ends.

By focusing on the ground game since the day he was hired in January, Fox has given the Bears a way to stay competitive, even in games in which they have inferior talent, which should be most of them.

On the second play of the new season, Forte burst through the line for 22 yards, equaling the number of 20-plusyard runs he had all of last year on 266 carries. Before halftime, he exceeded last year’s total in that category with a 23-yard run.

By halftime, Forte had 105 yards on 16 carries, a shade under the 16.6 carries he averaged per game last year.

What a novel idea! Put the ball in the hands of your best player a lot of times.

That concept was often lost last year on coach Marc Trestman and offensive coordinator

Aaron Kromer, who seemed to forget that just because you can throw the ball on every down doesn’t mean you should.

No offense gets very far without the big guys up front, and they love the aggressiveness of run blocking compared to the passivity of pass blocking.

“To have a coordinator that actually trusts us to run [is great],” left guard Matt Slauson said. “Because, in my mind, we have the best back in the game.”

Slauson says he expected the focus on running the ball because it was a priority all offseason.

“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Slauson said. “This is what we’ve been working toward since April. As an offensive line, we want it on our backs.

We want to put the ball in Matt’s hands, because he is the biggest beast that I’ve ever played with. So that’s what we’re working for, and now we have the correct staff for it.”

BY HUB ARKUSH

Did Falcons beat the Bears to the punch at tackle?

Immediately following their opening night upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the Atlanta Falcons signed far and away the best offensive lineman available, adding former All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long.

Long is returning from ACL reconstruction following the 2014 season but has been cleared by noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews and was available because waiting to sign him until after Week One saved the Falcons from having to guarantee his entire 2015 salary.

With 2014 first-round pick Jake Matthews at left tackle, the Falcons now have the option of flipping Matthews to the right side and inserting Long at left tackle or leaving Matthews where he is and trying Long on the right side.

Either way, the Falcons have turned an apparent weakness into a potential strength for a very small investment and change at the bottom of their roster.

Could the Bears have beat Atlanta to the punch, allowing them to keep Kyle Long at guard and potentially fielding one of the better offensive lines in football?

Yes. It’s not as if adding Long (Jake) would have blocked a promising young prospect or gotten in the way of the Bears’ rebuilding plan, and if he is able to stay healthy it would almost certainly have improved the Bears’ front wall

Marcell Dareus

AP file photo

this Sunday.

Rex kicked it off himself telling the Buffalo media he didn’t even know the name of New England’s starting running back vs. the Steelers, Dion Lewis.

It’s unclear whether that was meant as a Might the Bills want compliment or a slight. to put a muzzle on it?

But All-Pro defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, We all know that’s not likely to happen with who didn’t even participate in the Colts game Rex Ryan running the show, but it seems the because of a suspension, left no doubt when he Buffalo Bills – off the strength of one opening added, “Don’t nobody like the Patriots, let’s just day upset of the Indianapolis Colts – are going out of their way to set the record for opponent’s be honest about it now. Put it out there.”

My guess is there are plenty of Patriots fans bulletin board material as they prepare to host who would disagree, but Bills safety Aaron the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots

and aided the development of youngsters like Jeremy Langford and Marquess Wilson.

Whether they should have or not, only time will tell.

Williams is clearly on Dareus’ side, adding, “I don’t like New England so yeah, it’s definitely personal for me, that’s just the way I feel.

They’re a great football team. Don’t get that twisted at all. That’s why they’re the four-time NFL champs.”

So here’s something the Bills might want to consider before they have too much more to say.

The Patriots have beaten the Bills in six of their last seven and 21 of their last 23 meetings.

One of those Buffalo wins was in the second meeting between the two last year so New England may already have payback on their minds.

Why help them?

It is also worth noting the Patriots have won the AFC East in each of the past six seasons and 11 of the past 12 seasons while Buffalo last won the division 20 years ago in 1995.

In fact, the Bills’ last playoff appearance was 15 years ago following the 1999 season.

So if you’re wondering what Tom Brady has to say about all the jaw-jacking coming out of Buffalo, here you go.

On his weekly radio appearance in Boston, Brady replied when asked about the Bills’ comments, “Well, we’ll be there. If you love football, Sunday at 1:00 in Orchard Park will be a great place to be.”

The way we’re hearing that, Brady isn’t planning on showing up to get beat.

9 CHICAGO FOOTBALL. WEEKLY | Thursday, September 17, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

Bears may have found right formula: Run the ball

10

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, September 17, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

Bears kicker Robbie Gould watches his field goal in the first half against Green Bay on Sept. 13.

H. Rick Bamman - Shaw Media

ROCKIN’ ROBBIE Gould breaks Bears’ field goal record; scoring record a few kicks away

By

KYLE NABORS

Kankakee Daily Journal

R

obbie Gould couldn’t recall if he felt nervous flying into Chicago for the first time. He just tried to remain focused.

It was early October 2005 when the then-rookie kicker

received a tryout offer from the Bears.

Already released twice – first by New

England and then by Baltimore – after going undrafted that spring, Gould could only focus on his new opportunity as he left his construction job in Mill Hall, Pa., for his tryout at Halas Hall.

More than a decade later, the Bears’ current longest-tenured player sat in front of his locker as the franchise’s all-time leader in field goals made after passing Kevin Butler’s mark of 243 with his 28-yarder in the first quarter against

Green Bay. Sunday’s opener marked the start of his 11th season in Chicago – hard to fathom for a guy who was looking for one more chance to make it in the NFL. “Do the best you possibly can and take advantage of this opportunity,” the 33-year old recalled thinking before his tryout. “To say I thought it would last 11 years would be crazy. I was just trying to make the team.”

Gould arrived at Halas Hall that October morning as one of five placekickers vying for a job. Among those joining him at the tryout were established veterans such as Steve Christie, who kicked in two Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills, and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout Martin Gramatica.

The Bears were in desperate need of help at the position. The team had cut Paul Edinger following the 2004 season, and his replacement, veteran Doug Brien, missed three of four field goal attempts before being sidelined after Week Three with a back injury.

Patrick Mannelly, the Bears’ long snapper from 1998 through 2013, remembered the squad’s problems on special teams that fall.

“We were struggling pretty bad,” Mannelly said. “I don’t even remember

who we had at the time.”

Mannelly and punter Brad Maynard joined the team’s coaching staff and front office personnel at the tryout, when a little known kicker caught their eye with his consistent shots from beyond 40 yards.

“Robbie impressed us that day with his leg strength and the height on every kick he had,” Mannelly said. “You saw he had the raw ability at that time. You thought maybe he had the best potential out of all of that group.”

The Bears officially signed the 23-yearold the following day, and he connected for his first career field goal and extra point that Sunday against the Browns.

The Bears would lose the contest 20-10, and Gould missed a field goal as well, but he displayed enough potential for the team to release Brien the next week.

In Week Five, Gould hit all four extra-point attempts as the Bears started an eight-game winning streak. His first game-winner came in Week Nine on a 28-yard field goal to secure a 20-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Gould finished a successful rookie campaign with 21 field goals in 27 attempts, yet it would take a while for the

and sixth all-time in the category for the NFL. Butler’s franchise record for most field goals made fell Sunday, and Gould is quickly closing in on Butler as the Bears’ all-time leading scorer.

He entered the 2015 season just 36 points shy of Butler’s 1,116 mark before rattling off 11 more points against Green Bay. He likely will have the opportunity to establish a new record far beyond Butler’s with a four-year, $15 million contract that runs through the 2017 season; though, Gould knows nothing in the NFL is guaranteed.

“I’ve never taken it in my career that I’m going to be here,” Gould said. “I still take it that I have to do my job every day.

I’ve got to go out to practice every day with the goal of getting better and helping this team win.”

And he would gladly trade a few of the personal accolades for a few more of those wins, something that evaded the Bears in their season opener, a 31-23 loss to the Packers at Soldier Field.

“There are a lot of people who have put a lot of hard work, effort and energy over an 11-year career to be able to do some of these things,” Gould said after the game.

“But the records that matter are the wins and losses. And we didn’t win today. As great as some of those accomplishments may be, the only one I really care about is winning football games.”

To say I thought it would last 11 years would be crazy. I was just trying to make the team.

— ROBBIE GOULD

rates apart from everybody else and why he’s a Bears record holder is because of how he’s worked so darn hard,” Mannelly said. “We had a guy in the locker room in Olin Kreutz who you could not out-work.

As Robbie’s career went on, he tried his damnedest to.

“It’s honestly his work ethic. The guy is a tireless worker. If he’s not one of the hardest working guys in Halas Hall, he’s going somewhere else and doing something. He busts his butt all the time.”

Mannelly also said that Gould’s mental toughness, which he compared to former Bears kicker Jeff Jaeger, also has kept

Gould atop the NFL. “He had a hell of a career,” Mannelly said of Jaeger, who played for the Bears from 1996-1999. “Watching him on game day or during practice week, if he did miss a kick, his mentality was, ‘That’s all right.

I’ll make the next 10 in a row.’

“I told Robbie those stories when he was younger. I think he took that mentality and ran with it. It’s sort of the mentality he had anyway, but hearing that from another kicker who had success really helped.”

That ability has turned Gould into the franchise leader in field goal accuracy

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11 CHICAGO FOOTBALL. WEEKLY | Thursday, September 17, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

reality of his new career to set in.

“More toward the late part of my rookie year, I started grasping some things,” he said. “Luckily, I had a lot of good people who were willing to help me. I had some veterans in Patrick Mannelly and Brad Maynard who helped me a lot in the first seven, eight and nine years of my career.

It’s been pretty special to have those guys around.”

Attending high school in Mill Hall, Gould aspired to follow in his father Robert’s footsteps as a professional soccer player. Robert had helped Lock Haven University to a Division II national championship in 1980 and was later drafted by the St. Louis Steamers of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

But when Robbie’s young brother, Chris, showed an interest in placekicking, Robbie followed suit. He eventually enrolled at Penn State University where, under coach Joe Paterno, he would have a solid yet unheralded college career with a 63.9 field goal percentage.

Yet by the end of 2006 – Gould’s second season in Chicago – he had become one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL. Gould finished the season 32 of 36, including a streak of 26 consecutive makes on his way to a first-team All-Pro selection.

The reason for his success? An unbeatable will, according to Mannelly.

“There’s a lot of guys who make it to the NFL who have talent, but what sepa-

:_`ZX^f=ffkYXcc%Zfd K_lij[Xp# J\gk\dY\i (.# )'(,

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

12

NFC NORTH REPORT By

ARTHUR ARKUSH

XXiblj_7Z_`ZX^f]ffkYXcc%Zfd 78ik_li8iblj_

DETROIT @ MINNESTOA

Overview

Did all of the public’s offseason bouquet-tossing before the Vikings won anything get to their heads? Mike Zimmer inferred as much following his club’s 20-3 Monday-night clunker in San Francisco, where Teddy Bridgewater appeared to regress, as did a run defense that was below par last season. The Niners’ Carlos Hyde was the show stealer, not Adrian Peterson (10 carries for 31 yards) in his return from a 15-game suspension. Detroit might be wondering how it can steal Ndamukong Suh back from the Dolphins or several years from Father Time for its aging secondary after the defense, rather predictably, was a shadow of the NFL’s No. 2 scoring

helped the Lions permit only 3.2 rushing yards per tote to San Diego, yet the stakes are raised against Peterson.

rookie kickoff returner Ty Montgomery was electric (35.3 yard average) and the coverage units were strong.

By the numbers

Matchup to watch

Detroit logged 12 combined sacks of Bridgewater while holding the Vikings to 17 total points in a series sweep in 2014.

group in 2014 in a 33-28 loss to the CharSEATTLE @ GREEN BAY gers. An even bigger problem for Detroit might be another inconsistent outing for a talented offense that had too many last Overview year and is being counted on to pick up Coming off their season-opening 31the defense’s slack.

23 victory at Soldier Field, the Packers’ Mike McCarthy maintains this week’s Matchup to watch rematch with the Seahawks following Xavier Rhodes bested Calvin Johnson Green Bay’s stunning NFC Championlast December in his first opportunity ship meltdown in Seattle isn’t about reto be a lockdown shadow corner – and venge. However, the Seahawks will be that reunion should be worth the price looking to avenge their own shocking of admission. But given a week to stew overtime loss – 34-31 in St. Louis last over his lackluster return, Peterson Sunday – and avoid an 0-2 start in the against a run defense in transition – es- conference. The Packers’ offense was pecially given Bridgewater’s struggles humming by the second half against – likely will be the biggest determinant the Bears, as MVP Aaron Rodgers toyed in who wins Sunday. There were signs with Chicago’s cornerbacks, almost of the old Peterson, namely him drag- instantly renewed his chemistry with ging half of the Niners defense on his James Jones and made one “immacuback for one first down, but it was an late” throw after the next, according to odd sight seeing A.P. flanking Bridge- Bears safety Antrel Rolle. Special teams water out of shotgun – rather than his blunders cost the Pack a Super Bowl trip usual seven yards behind the line. New last January, but the offseason priority DTs Haloti Ngata and Tyrunn Walker of repairing those units paid dividends –

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Concerns regarding the impact of Jordy Nelson’s injury to the passing attack largely were quelled as Rodgers picked apart the Bears secondary and took a few downfield shots to Davante Adams. Yet a susceptible run defense still without suspended Letroy Guion and perhaps injured ILB Sam Barrington and S Morgan Burnett will be in Marshawn Lynch’s and Russell Wilson’s crosshairs after permitting nearly two hundreds yards on the ground in Chicago. Like the Bears, Seattle uses a lot of stretch running plays that gave the Packers fits. An issue against Matt Forte, Green Bay’s tackling will be further tested by the violence and elusiveness of Lynch, especially after he was stuffed on 4th and 1 in St. Louis on the game’s final play Sunday.

By the numbers

Rodgers has averaged only 196.7 yards and totaled two TD passes and three interceptions in three consecutive losses in Seattle. … Over that span, the Packers have permitted Lynch to rush for an average of 121.7 yards. Lynch also scored three touchdowns in those games.

FOOTBALL

Can Mariota produce big numbers all season?

By

J.C. TALON

ChicagoFootball.com fantasy writer

Simply put, Week One was ugly. Penalties, miscues and questionable coaching decisions made us wonder just what these teams had been doing during the preseason. The first week offered several surprises, most notably the play of Marcus Mariota. Will it continue?

We’re not drinking the Kool Aid just yet. Several matchups offer a great deal of fantasy potential, while others … not so much.

MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT SAINTS (VS. BUCCANEERS)

Vereen is worth a look in PPR leagues.

Must start: Beckham Solid play: Eli Manning, Jennings, Josh Brown Worth a look: Vereen, Larry Donnell Last resort: Rueben Randle Stay away: Giants D/ST

DOLPHINS (@ JAGUARS) 3:05 p.m. Sunday No one is going to confuse this offense with the Marino-led teams of the ’80s. However, this is a terrific matchup for a solid Dolphins offensive unit. Look for Lamar Miller to get going in this contest.

In a sloppy game in Washington, he ran for 53 yards on 13 carries and caught one pass for 22 yards. He should get more touches this week. Jarvis Landry was clearly QB Ryan Tannehill’s No. 1 target in Washington. It will be interesting to see if that trend continues.

Solid play: Miller, Jordan Cameron, Andrew Franks, Dolphins D/ST Worth a look: Tannehill, Landry Last resort: Greg Jennings, Rishard Matthews

Noon Sunday Tampa Bay yielded 42 points in Week One to a rookie quarterback. Drew Brees threw for 355 yards against a Cardinals defense that is significantly better than Tampa’s. The Saints’ offense might not be what it once was, but it’ll be more than enough to win this one.

Must start: Brees Solid play: Mark Ingram, Brandin Cooks, Zach Hocker Worth a look: Khiry Robinson, Saints D/ST Last resort: Marques Colston, Brandon Coleman, Benjamin EAGLES (VS. COWBOYS) 3:25 p.m. Sunday Watson Chip Kelly’s much-hyped offense looked absolutely brutal GIANTS (VS. FALCONS) in the first half in Atlanta. The Noon Sunday New York comes off a devas- Eagles looked like a completely tating loss in Dallas. Atlanta’s de- different team in the second half. fense looked great in the first half In fact, they were nearly unstopagainst Philadelphia, but then pable. QB Sam Bradford shook off reverted back to being the Atlan- the rust after a long absence and ta defense. This is an important finished the game 36 of 52 for 336 bounce-back opportunity for the yards and a touchdown.

Fantasy owners who draftGiants. As long as Rashad Jennings can stay healthy – always a ed DeMarco Murray in the first dicey proposition – he looks like a round have reason for concern.

Although he scored twice (once decent fantasy option.

He ran 13 times for 52 yards, on a reception), he managed just while backup Andre Williams nine yards rushing on eight carmanaged just 14 yards on six car- ries. Perhaps that situation imries. New York will look for ways, proves as the season goes on, but early and often, to get the ball to after one game, he looks like a super stud Odell Beckham. Shane square peg in a round hole.

Solid play: Bradford, Murray, Matthews, Zach Ertz, Cody Parkey Worth a look: Darren Sproles, Ryan Mathews RAVENS (AT RAIDERS) Last resort: Eagles D/ST Stay away: Nelson Agholor, Ri- 3:05 p.m. Sunday Baltimore produced just 173 toley Cooper, Miles Austin tal yards and 100 net yards passing in their loss Sunday at Denver. Is PACKERS (VS. SEAHAWKS) the Denver defense that good, or is 7:30 p.m. Sunday It seems amazing that Aaron OC Marc Trestman just that bad?

Rodgers was held to 189 yards We’ll lean toward the first one, but passing against the Bears last we’re less than confident in that Sunday. Truth be told, it was ac- assessment. tually the Bears’ rushing attack that limited Rodgers’ output. The COWBOYS (AT EAGLES) Bears were determined to gain 3:25 p.m. Sunday The loss of Dez Bryant for 4-6 yards on the ground and chew up clock, thus limiting Green Bay’s weeks should mean big things for opportunities. Still, Rodgers Terrance Williams, although it threw for three TDs and the Pack- will probably diminish Tony Roers dominated in the second half. mo’s production. DeMarco MurGreen Bay will face a much ray’s move to Philadelphia looks better defense this week at home like a “lose-lose” for both clubs. against Seattle. But we like this matchup. Seattle’s defense is MATCHUPS TO AVOID down a bit right now. They yielded 297 yards last week to Nick BRONCOS (@ CHIEFS) Foles, and nobody is going to con- Noon Sunday fuse Nick Foles with Rodgers.

“Hi I’m first half of 2014 Peyton The wounds of last year’s Manning and I threw for 29 touchgut-wrenching loss to the Sea- downs … And I’m second half of hawks in the NFC Championship 2014 Peyton Manning. I threw only are still fresh in Green Bay. Their 10 touchdowns and I played like fans will be frenzied and the Uncle Rico’s backup.” Guess who Packers will be looking to make showed up in Week One? Don’t be a statement. that Peyton Manning.

Must start: Rodgers, Eddie Lacy Must start: Demaryius Thomas Solid play: Cobb, Adams, Mason Solid play: Emmanuel Sanders, Crosby Broncos D/ST Worth a look: James Jones, RichWorth a look: Manning, C.J. Anard Rodgers derson Stay away: Packers D/ST Last resort: Ronnie Hillman, Owen Daniels

ALSO CONSIDER FALCONS (@ GIANTS)

Noon Sunday Based on their Monday Night performance, the Falcons’ offense looks to be back on track. If Julio Jones stays healthy, he just might be the No. 1 fantasy receiver in the game. Tevin Coleman appears to be “the guy” in the Falcons’ backfield.

BEARS (VS. CARDINALS) Noon Sunday Chicago perhaps looked a bit better than expected against Green Bay last Sunday. If so, it’s only because expectations for this squad were so modest. Jay Cutler was inaccurate, clearly trying to avoid any risky throws. Of course, in crunch time when he could no longer remain ultra-conservative, he

AP file photo

threw a typical backbreaking interception. Arizona now has plenty of game tape on the Bears and they will load up to stop the run.

The Cardinals held the Saints to 54 rushing yards.

Must start: Matt Forte Solid play: Martellus Bennett Worth a look: Alshon Jeffery Last resort: Jay Cutler, Eddie Royal*, Marquess Wilson Stay away: Bears D/ST

TEXANS (@ PANTHERS) Noon Sunday Fresh off a disappointing performance at home against the Chiefs, and awash in a QB controversy, Houston travels to Carolina to face one of the NFL’s toughest defenses. This figures to be one of the week’s lowest-scoring games.

Solid play: Texans D/ST Worth a look: DeAndre Hopkins, Nate Washington Last resort: Alfred Blue, Cecil Shorts Stay away: Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett

ALSO BEWARE BUCCANEERS (@ SAINTS) Noon Sunday Jameis Winston might fare better than he did in Week One (it would be hard to do much worse), but he has a long way to go before he offers fantasy owners much value. Doug Martin and Austin Seferian-Jenkins are both worth a look.

TITANS (@ BROWNS) Noon Sunday Call it a hunch, but don’t look for four first-half touchdowns from Marcus Mariota this week. The Browns play pretty good pass defense, and the Titans might be due for a letdown. *Check injury status

13 CHICAGO FOOTBALL. WEEKLY | Thursday, September 17, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

FANTASY

Marcus Mariota

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, September 17, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

14

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PATRICK FINLEY

What did we learn about Bears’ offense?

In this week’s edition of Take 2, Patrick Finley and Kevin Fishbain try to decide what, if anything, we learned about the Bears’ offense in their 2015 season opener, and what it means heading into Sunday’s game against Arizona.

FISHBAIN: OK, Pat, let’s over-react. Jay Cutler is the same old quarterback! The defense still can’t stop Aaron Rodgers!

The offense is nothing without Matt Forte! Believe it or not, I didn’t see a ton of that on the social media the kids use these days. And, frankly, I was pleasantly surprised by some of what we saw from the Bears. Specifically on offense, I think we learned that this style of play is going to work for Cutler. I’m just trying to figure out where the big plays will come from, and how long he can stay within Adam Gase’s playbook like

he did on Sunday.

FINLEY: Don’t kiss up to the Twitter people, Fish. No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of social media. I thought Cutler was actually pretty good, 67.5 passer rating be damned.

He orchestrated the Bears’ offense, often in a no huddle, and showed some great athleticism when he had to run for his life – which was often. On third down, he went 8-for-10 for 123 yards and seven first downs, per STATS. All encouraging stuff, but sustainable? Adam Gase showed great creativity Sunday, both in personnel groupings and formations. Is this some next-level stuff, or what?

FISHBAIN: If you thought Marc Trestman was, er, one level, this is definitely ... well, another level. That was the most polite way to put it. The Cardinals’ defense will give it another test. Let’s stick with the

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Offensive coordinator Adam Gase and the Chicago Bears offense were competent against the Packers. Can they beat the Cardinals?

Shaw Media file photo

you put stuff on tape first, though. After a clever first game, the Bears’ offense might have what it takes to beat the Cardinals.

If so, Gase’s second act will have to be just as compelling as his first.

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CHICAGO FOOTBALL. WEEKLY | Thursday, September 17, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

TAKE TWO

offense – I didn’t glean a ton from Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defense because Aaron Rodgers did Aaron Rodgers things. Gase is sort of a wunderkind, right? Now we will see what he does against an Arizona defense that held the Saints to 57 rushing yards.

What will happen when he needs to have Jay Cutler throw it to win it?

FINLEY: That’s the $126.7 million question, isn’t it? Cutler will make his mistakes, but he’ll make some throws, too.

The key is to use Matt Forte to give them shorter third downs and fewer obvious pass situations. Before the garbage time final drive Sunday, Cutler was 14 for 30 for 168 yards and a passer rating of 50.4.

That would have been worse than Blake Bortles’ game Sunday. We can only assume his chemistry with Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson will be better in Week Two. Still, someone’s gotta pass block for the man, right?

FISHBAIN: I can’t block for him, that’s for sure, and Kyle Long will only get better.

Jermon Bushrod was impressive in the opener considering his back troubles. The Cardinals are a formidable pass-rushing group and will come after Cutler often, which of course begs the final question, will we have this same, “Oh, this offense seems to work” sentiment next week?

FINLEY: Maybe? The Bears benefited in Week One from the soft bigotry of low expectations. They were competent, and it was refreshing. Offense is harder when

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