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SEAHAWKS PREVIEW

Do the Bears stand a chance on the road against defending NFC champs?

4

IS SKY FALLING AT HALAS?

Because expectations were so low, the answer is no, Bob Legere writes

LYNCH VS. FORTE TWO OF THE NFL’S TOP BACKS BRING THEIR DIFFERENT RUNNING STYLES TO SUNDAY’S MATCHUP IN SEATTLE 10

9

TAKE 2

Arthur Arkush, Patrick Finley channel their inner Neil Young: Bears ‘D’ just ‘Helpless’ 15

Are Bears the worst team in the NFL? So it has come to this. National media outlets including USA Today, Sports Illustrated and ESPN are lining up to rank the Bears 32nd among the NFL’s 32 teams through two weeks of the season.

With Jay Cutler injured and out of the lineup at quarterback, it’s hard to argue they’re not right.

For all the damage and destruction that Phil Emery and Marc Trestman wrought, the Bears were still a notch above the bottom-feeders at the end of last season.

So how did we get here, and can these Bears be better by the end of this season?

Much like judging the results of an NFL Draft in less than two or three seasons, it would be inaccurate, uninformed and wildly unfair to suggest this is rookie general manager Ryan Pace’s fault and/or that he is a bad hire.

We knew Pace needed to rebuild. And in the NFL, digging a new foundation is impossible in one offseason.

At the same time, Pace obvious-

FROM THE EDITOR

By HUB

ARKUSH

harkush@chicagofootball.com @Hub_Arkush

ly hasn’t been perfect. There are a few mistakes I haven’t understood since the moment they were made.

As I wrote at the time their signings were announced, I don’t get why Jimmy Clausen, Vladimir Ducasse and Alan Ball are here.

Clausen and Ducasse are in their sixth NFL seasons, Ball in his eighth, and there is nothing

in any of their career arcs to suggest you’d ever want any of them starting for your team and plenty to tell you why you wouldn’t.

You don’t bring in backups unless you believe they can start if they have to.

It would be fascinating to know how much of their signings were Pace’s convictions and how hard he was lobbied by John Fox and his staff.

Jerry Angelo didn’t fail here because of his scouting ability.

He failed because of the amount of input on personnel matters he gave Lovie Smith during the second half of their tenures.

On the flip side, Pace’s first draft already is interesting even without Kevin White, as Eddie Goldman, Adrian Amos and Jeremy Langford are Day One contributors.

Are the Bears’ warts just a lack of talent and a few rookie GM mistakes, or is coaching an issue, too?

The team was extremely well prepared for the Packers and

looked in good shape against Arizona until Cutler went down.

But why it took until five days before the opener to Bears GM move Kyle Long to Ryan Pace tackle and the continuing love affair with Shea McClellin at the ‘Mike’ linebacker are a couple of the coaching moves to date earning close scrutiny.

The Bears need more good football players ... a lot more before they’re ready to contend again.

That will take time.

But once Cutler is back, players like Patrick Omameh and Terrance Mitchell start to get serious looks at guard and cornerback, and this brand new coaching staff has all of its players including the five first-year Bears currently starting with four or five more games of reps under their belts, I don’t believe they’ll still be the worst team in the league, either.

BY THE

NUMB3RS

6-10

The Bears all-time record against the Seahawks, including 2-0 in the playoffs.

35-24

Final score of the Bears’ last win over Seattle, on Jan. 16, 2011, in an NFC divisionalround playoff game.

2002

The last time the Seahawks started a season 0-3.

After losses to the Rams and Packers to open this season, Seattle is 0-2 as it heads into its home opener Sunday versus the Bears.

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 24, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

2

Martellus Bennett

3. THE FULLERS

Martellus Bennett isn’t the only Bear with an NFL-playing brother By

BEN GARTLAND

bgartland@chicagofootball.com @BenG_Sports

Sunday’s showdown between the Bears and Seahawks will be the third time the Bennett brothers – Chicago’s Martellus and Seattle’s Michael – face each other.

The Houston natives followed similar career arcs, playing for Alief Taylor High School and then for Texas A&M. Martellus Bennett, 28, played three seasons for the Aggies before declaring for the 2008 NFL draft, when he was taken in the second round by the Cowboys. Michael Bennett, 29, played all four years for Texas A&M before going undrafted.

He was signed, however, by the Seahawks in April 2009. He had a

three-year stint with Tampa Bay before returning to Seattle in 2013.

Martellus Bennett jumped from the Cowboys to the Giants for one year in 2012 and has been with the Bears since 2013. Here are four other Bears players who have brothers also playing in the NFL:

1. THE VEREENS Chicago safety Brock Vereen is in the middle of his second season in the NFL as his older brother, New York Giants running back Shane Vereen, begins his first season in New York after four seasons with New England.

The brothers hail from Valencia, Calif., where they both were stars for Valencia High School. Shane Vereen stayed home for college,

H. Rick Bamman - Shaw Media

going to California, and entered the 2011 NFL draft as a junior, while Brock went to Minnesota and played all four years before being drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 draft.

ever since, while former guard and now right tackle Kyle Long, 26, was selected by the Bears in 2013. The two brothers played for St. Anne’s-Belfield in Charlottesville, Va., but diverged from there. Chris Long stayed home to play for Virginia for four years while Kyle Long started at Florida State in 2009 but left for academic reasons. After one season with Saddleback College, he transferred to Oregon in 2011 and played two years for the Ducks.

2. THE LONGS Not only are Kyle and Chris Long brothers, they’re both first round draft picks. Defensive end Chris Long, 30, was taken second overall by St. Louis in 2008 and has remained there

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The Acho brothers had similar pre-NFL careers. The Dallas natives went to St. Mark’s High School, with Sam playing as a senior when Emmanuel was a freshman. Then, they both played college ball at Texas. Sam Acho played four years and was taken in the fourth round of the 2011 draft by the Cardinals. Emmanuel was taken in the sixth round of the 2012 draft by the Browns. Emmanuel is currently a free agent.

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Bears’ cornerback Kyle Fuller has not one, but two brothers who have played in the NFL. His oldest brother, Vincent, 33, retired in 2011 after six seasons as a professional. Another of his older brothers, Corey, 25, is a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, where he’s played since 2013.

The Fullers have another brother playing football, Kendall Fuller, who is a junior cornerback for the alma mater of every Fuller brother: Virginia Tech. All four played high school ball in Baltimore.

3

GAME PREVIEW WK 3

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, September 24, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

4

Seahawks

VS.

Bears

GAMEDAY: 3:25 P.M. SUNDAY, SEPT. 27, 2015 / CENTURYLINK FIELD, SEATTLE By

KEVIN FISHBAIN

Jimmy Clausen

kfishbain@chicagofootball.com @kfishbain

BEARS RUSHING OFFENSE vs SEAHAWKS RUN DEFENSE

Even though they have allowed 203 rushing yards in two games, the Seahawks are holding opposing backs to 3.7 yards a carry and they have two forced fumbles. Middle linebacker Bobby Wagner keys the fast-flowing run defense, along with outside linebacker K.J. Wright. That front is allowing 2.1 yards per carry on 15 run plays up the middle, good for third-best in the league. Matt Forte will need to try to bounce it outside and attack the defensive ends known more for their pass rushing than run stopping. The Cardinals are similarly an attacking defense, and they held Forte to 61 yards on 15 carries. Jeremy Langford had some success on his drive, and with a big concern at the quarterback position, this could be a spot to use both backs to try and stress Seattle’s ‘D’. Even if Jay Cutler were playing, the Bears still would try to use this matchup as a way to win the game – keep Seattle’s secondary from making impact plays and prevent the Seahawks’ offense from controlling time of possession. With Jimmy Clausen under center, it gives Seattle more reason to stack the box, and unlike the Packers, who tried to do the same, the Seahawks have the personnel to stop Forte.

two games, with Nick Foles and Aaron Rodgers combining for a 116.4 passer rating. If Jeffery plays, he won’t be at 100 percent, Richard Sherman the EDGE SEAHAWKS giving clear advantage in that potential matchup. Seattle has formidaBEARS PASSING ble, quick-twitch pass rushers in OFFENSE vs SEAHAWKS Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Bruce Irvin, and the front can PASS DEFENSE If Cutler, Alshon Jeffery and get pressure without blitzing, alKevin White were all playing, lowing for better coverage. The this would still swing toward loss of Kam Chancellor has hurt the Seahawks, even though the back end, but Earl Thomas they’ve been shaky through is still quite the ball hawk. Now

H. Rick Bamman – Shaw Media

combine all that with the fact that Clausen will be starting at quarterback, and this is a lopsided situation. Clausen should be much better prepared than he was in relief last Sunday, having a full week of practice with the first team under his belt, but having to play in the noise in Seattle against an aggressive pass defense is a nightmare scenario for a quarterback with a career 60.0 passer rating.

EDGE SEAHAWKS

ran it well against Vic Fangio’s undermanned 49ers ‘D’ last season and was only truly bottled up by that group once in 2011.

Marshawn Lynch struggled Russell Wilson’s ability as a runagainst a Packers’ defense that ner could cause problems for a Forte ran over with ease. A hard- group that struggled mightily to-bring-down, physical back last year against any misdirecwith speed when he gets to day- tion in the backfield. Fred Jacklight, Lynch will stress a Bears son is an elusive, crafty, veteran linebacking group that has left back who offers Seattle a change plenty to be desired. Lynch run- of pace runner. The Bears’ dening downhill at inside lineback- fense, statistically, has been OK ers Shea McClellin and Christian against the run. They haven’t Jones is not an ideal scenario. He allowed a 20-yard run and have

SEAHAWKS RUSHING OFFENSE vs BEARS RUN DEFENSE

Russell Wilson

THIS WEEK IN THE NFL

AP file photo

WASHINGTON @ GIANTS 7:25 p.m. Thursday, CBS

Noon Sunday, FOX

Big Blue fourth-quarter woes continued; Washington gets to .500 with physical formula.

Jameis nabbed first NFL win with clean outing; Mallet attempting 58 passes as troubling as Hoyer’s quick hook.

FALCONS @ COWBOYS

AP file photo

shown more issues against the pass than the run. Lynch is the best back they will have faced and a D-line that is without Jeremiah Ratliff – and potentially Ego Ferguson – will need big games from Eddie Goldman and Jarvis Jenkins. The middle of this defense isn’t good enough to slow a back like Lynch.

EDGE SEAHAWKS

SEAHAWKS PASSING OFFENSE vs BEARS PASS DEFENSE

This might have been an area the Bears would try to spark an upset – you know, if the pass rush was making any sort of impact and if the cornerbacks were playing well. Instead, the Bears have zero sacks, their corners have been torched, and even an average passing attack will win this matchup. Russell Wilson had a bad interception last week against Green Bay, but has completed 71.8 percent of his passes this season. He’s efficient, can move the pocket, and has the arm to beat defenses deep. The Seahawks use the run to set up the pass, and Wilson is sound in the play-action game. Kyle Fuller, supposedly the

Bears’ best player on defense, was benched on Sunday. Alan Ball was beat for big plays in Week One and had a pass interference penalty against Arizona. The Bears’ outside linebackers have to contain Wilson in the pocket, and the defensive backs can’t lose Seattle’s receivers if Wilson extends the play. Jimmy Graham has yet to be an impact player on his new team, but that will certainly be a matchup the Seahawks try to exploit, especially if Jones or McClellin is on Graham.

EDGE SEAHAWKS

SUNDAY’S OVERALL EDGE

There’s never a good time to go play the two-time defending NFC champions in the most hostile environment for opposing teams in the NFL. Now go there and play an 0-2 Seahawks team desperate to get its first win and do it without Cutler, relying on Clausen to right the ship. John Fox, Vic Fangio and Adam Gase may be accomplished at what they do, but no scheming can overshadow the talent gap between these two teams.

EDGE SEAHAWKS

Noon Sunday, FOX

CHARGERS @ VIKINGS

It’s Brandon Weeden’s show in Dallas for at least next eight weeks; Julio Jones a showstopper in Atlanta.

Can A.P., Vikes win one for Norv?

Rivers ready to build on new franchise TD mark.

COLTS @ TITANS Noon Sunday, CBS

Top players OFFENSE / QB Russell Wilson, RB Marshawn Lynch, TE Jimmy Graham, WR Doug Baldwin, LT Russell Okung DEFENSE / DEs Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril, MLB Bobby Wagner, CB Richard Sherman, FS Earl Thomas

Schemes OFFENSE / Seattle paced the NFL in rushing attempts from 2012-14, utilizing a zone scheme that leans on the power of Lynch and athleticism of Wilson. But the run game has endured uncharacteristic struggles, with Lynch averaging just 3.5 yards per carry and failing to find the end zone, increasing the onus – and hits absorbed – on Wilson as a passer.

DEFENSE / Speed is the catalyst of Seattle’s Cover 3, as Wagner, Thomas and OLB K.J. Wright possess exceptional range. Yet the absence of holdout Kam Chancellor has left the middle of the field more inviting. Sherman is coming off a rare poor outing, as is the defense on whole – Seattle hasn’t surrendered 61 combined points in consecutive weeks since 2011.

Weaknesses O-line is a glaring issue for a club that for years has imposed its will on opponents. Despite the arrival of Graham (one catch last week), Seattle’s receiving corps lacks playmakers.

Last time they met 12/2/2012: Bears fell to Seattle, 27-23, at Soldier Field.

BUCCANEERS @ TEXANS

Only thing tough about preseason AFC favorites is hole they’ve dug; Mariota hype bit premature?

RAIDERS @ BROWNS Noon Sunday, CBS

Noon Sunday, CBS

STEELERS @ RAMS Noon Sunday, CBS

Le’Veon Bell debuts after suspension; Todd Gurley could also make his anticipated debut.

49ERS @ CARDINALS 3:05 Sunday, FOX

Derek Carr threw for 350; Johnny Manziel tossed 50, 60-yard TDs in first-ever win.

Division-leading Cardinals averaging NFL-best 39.5 points; Tomsula’s ‘D’ allowed 43 in Pittsburgh.

BENGALS @ RAVENS

BILLS @ DOLPHINS

Noon Sunday, CBS Bengals have won 4-of-5 in series; look to bury reeling Ravens.

JAGUARS @ PATRIOTS Noon Sunday, CBS Tom Brady and Pats are early-season MVP, Super Bowl favorites, respectively.

SAINTS @ PANTHERS Noon Sunday, FOX Saints’ faint postseason hopes end with Brees injury? Cam Newton, ‘D’ keep Panthers afloat.

EAGLES @ JETS Noon Sunday, FOX Chip Kelly scrutiny intensifies; Todd Bowles’ ‘D’ leads NFL in points, takeaways.

3:25 Sunday, CBS

Buffalo reached new low in Foxboro; Suh freelancing in Week Two?

BEARS @ SEAHAWKS 3:25 Sunday, CBS

Desperately needed get-well day for winless defending NFC champs against Clausen-led Bears.

BRONCOS @ LIONS 7:30 Sunday, NBC

Peyton isn’t done yet but Stafford, Megatron could be without prime-time upset.

CHIEFS @ PACKERS 7:30 Monday, ESPN

Packers exercised demons against Seattle; can Reid, Charles move on from fumbles against Denver?

CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, September 24, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

Brandon Marshall

5

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, September 24, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

6

BEARS

VS.

SEAHAWKS STAFF PREDICTIONS

Thursday spread: Bears +14½

Hub

Kevin

Arthur

Nate

Bob

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

Daily Herald

Bears 10 Seahawks 34 As the immortal Clubber Lang (aka Mr. T) said in Rocky III: “My prediction? Pain!”

Bears 10 Seahawks 24 I don’t see the Seahawks scoring a ton ... but way more than the Bears.

Bears 12 Seahawks 30 Can’t envision scenario where Clausen-led Bears stay close, much less produce big upset.

Bears 10 Seahawks 27 Without Chancellor, good passing teams can beat Seattle. Without Cutler, the Bears aren’t a good passing team.

Bears 13 Seahawks 31 Both teams are 0-2 and hungry for a win in Week 3 ... This will be a Seahawks feast.

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

Season Record: 2-0 Versus Spread: 1-1

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

Season Record: 2-0 Versus Spread: 2-0

Season Record: 2-0 Versus Spread: 2-0

Jon

Adam

Jay

Kyle

Wes

Northwest Herald

Chicago Sun-Times

Rockford Register-Star

Kankakee Daily Journal

Peoria Journal Star

Bears 17 Seahawks 28 In this battle of 0-2 teams, Seattle is simply better than the Bears.

Bears 13 Seahawks 31 The Jay Cutler-less Bears meet an angry 0-2 Seahawks team at a bad time.

Bears 23 Seahawks 26 Seattle also 0-2, and while some say that makes ’em hungry, I say it shows some flaws.

Bears 7 Seahawks 38 It’s too much to think that Jimmy Clausen can keep the Bears competitive at Seattle.

Bears 13 Seahawks 35 Chicago ends brutal stretch against maybe the NFC’s three most talented teams. Expect more misery.

Season Record: 2-0 Versus Spread: 2-0

Season Record: 1-1 Versus Spread: 0-2

Season Record: 2-0 Versus Spread: 2-0

Season Record: 2-0 Versus Spread: 1-1

Season Record: 2-0 Versus Spread: 2-0

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7

READ OPTIONS

THE WAY WE HEAR IT

Langford sees more touches in run game

By ADAM

JAHNS

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There was a wave at Soldier Field on Sunday and, thank goodness, it wasn’t in the stands. It was in the Bears’ backfield.

A noteworthy part of the Bears’ game plan against the Arizona Cardinals was to get rookie running back Jeremy Langford more involved, and it was compelling to see it unfold.

Matt Forte was spelled for an entire series that started late in the first and continued into the second quarter. His inaction led to questions about Forte’s health on social media.

But as Langford said after the game, it was part of the plan. As

expected, a John Fox-coached team is starting to feature a “wave” of running backs. What this means for Forte in the long run remains Jeremy to be seen. He still led the Bears with 15 Langford carries for 61 yards.

Langford, though, went from three offensive snaps in Week One to 13 in Week Two. All of Langford’s six carries came on his series, which he capped with his first career touchdown, a one-yard score.

“The coaches trust the other running backs in there, so whenever [Forte] needs a chance to come off, we have to continue to do the job like Matt’s in there,” Langford said. “Matt is a great player on and off the field.”

More than before, the Bears will lean on the run game with quarterback Jay Cutler injured.

Langford’s play calls could change, though. He and Cutler worked well together on zone-read option plays against the Cardinals. Jimmy Clausen isn’t as mobile. He can’t do the same.

“Regardless, I stay ready for anything,” Langford said. “[Clausen] does a great job of running the offense.”

defensive snaps, while Houston had 18, which was 14 more than he had in Week One. “I was glad to be back healthy and I was ready with whatever happened,” Acho said. “My goal and anybody’s goal on this defense is to make plays when you’re out there. I could have done a much better job of doing that.”

The Bears’ rotation at outside linebacker is now five deep with veteran Sam Acho healthy and back on the roster. It will be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Vic Fangio divides the snaps for them, considering they’ve combined for zero sacks over the first two weeks.

Only Pernell McPhee has been worth any extra playing time.

Acho actually saw action before Lamarr Houston against the Cardinals. Acho finished with 14

Penalties are absolutely destroying anything the Bears offense gets going, and the offensive line is to blame.

The line is responsible for 10 of the Bears’ 23 total penalties through two games, which includes an infuriating six false starts.

Right guard Vladimir Ducasse has three false starts and one holding call. Left tackle Jermon Bushrod has been penalized twice each for holding and false starts.

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| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

8

By Hub Arkush

Can things get worse for Kelly?

Of all the strange and interesting moves Kelly made with his Eagles roster during the offseason, certainly the biggest was the trade of LeSean “Shady” McCoy to Buffalo for Kiko Alonso.

Yes, things can get worse!

Alonso will miss the Eagles must-win, Week Three meeting with the Jets due to a strained ACL in his left knee. That’s the same ACL and knee that were rebuilt after a 2013 offseason workout injury. And there is a possibility Alonso will need more surgery.

Kelly’s second best linebacker, Mychal Kendricks, is questionable at best with a hamstring injury.

And the Eagles offense hasn’t been able to get anything going in three of the four halves of football they’ve played this season.

Yes, Kelly and his Eagles are in big trouble.

No high hopes, no sky to fall for Bears The sky is not falling at Halas Hall, and not just because Jared Allen says it isn’t.

The Bears are 0-2 and have the daunting prospect of a Week Three date with what should be a surly flock of Seahawks at CenturyLink Field, where the home team lost once last year.

“There’s nothing like a sense of panic or a ‘woe is us,’ or the sky is falling,” Allen said after the 48-23 Week Two loss to the Cardinals.

“It’s, ‘Quit doing dumb stuff, and get it corrected.’”

The Bears did a lot of dumb stuff in the loss to the Cardinals, and it resulted in the most points they’ve ever allowed in a game at Soldier Field. It’s still just one loss, though.

So, the Bears are 0-2. So are the Seahawks. So are the Colts, the Ravens, the Lions, the Saints, the Eagles, the Giants and the Texans.

The Colts (11-5), the Lions (11-5) and the Ravens (10-6) were all playoff teams last year, and the Eagles (10-6) just missed.

Even if the Bears get pounded again in Seattle to fall to 0-3, that’s

effectively, very few believed they would win any of their first three games.

Still, coach John Fox was already being asked, repeatedly, about his team’s morale after two losses – and the loss of quarterback Jay Cutler to what is believed to be a relatively minor hamstring injury.

Fox seemed a bit miffed when asked about the mood of his locker room, and rightfully so.

“We get paid to do this,” he said.

“We get compensated pretty OPINION well. Almost everybody in there By is classified as a professional, and rlegere@dailyherald.com that’s what professionals do. They @BobLeGere don’t worry about morale. We get paid to win.”

Fox and his qualified staff are where most realistic and astute most certainly getting paid to observers, and myself, figured win – eventually. Certainly not they’d be, taking into account this year and maybe not even next the brutal early schedule that year. included three teams that were a They have no pass rush, even combined 35-13 last season. with the five-year, $38.75 million Considering the Bears were in contract that brought Pernell the formative stages of switching McPhee in to be the linchpin of over to a 3-4 defense with inadethe new defense. quate personnel to run the scheme They have no shut-down cover

BOB LeGERE

corner, since 2014 first-round pick Kyle Fuller is not living up to his draft status, Alan Ball is playing like the 30-year-old he is, and Tracy Porter is still hurt, as he usually is.

The D-line hopes that the return of Jeremiah Ratliff after his three-game DUI suspension jumpstarts a tremendously unspectacular unit. But, really? Ratliff is 34, and this line needs Ratliff in his prime and then some.

The offense currently is operating with two of its most important players – Cutler and Pro Bowl wide receiver Alshon Jeffery – gimped up. The offensive line has too many holes to plug and only one Kyle Long. The two-time Pro Bowl guard struggled after being abruptly moved to right tackle, a position he had never played in a game. Long will be fine, and so will left guard Matt Slauson.

The rest of the line is either too old or too young or not very good.

So, since there are no high hopes, there is no sky to fall.

That can’t happen for another couple years.

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9 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, September 24, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

THE WAY WE HEAR IT

Matt Forte

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, September 24, 2015

MATT FORTE VS. MARSHAWN LYNCH

DIFFERENT

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

10

STROKES Two very different backs excel in two very different schemes.

What if they swapped places?

By

NATE ATKINS

natkins@chicagofootball.com

H. Rick Bamman – Shaw Media

Marshawn Lynch

AP file photo

I

t wasn’t the final drive of the Super Bowl, but fans were still baffled.

The Bears had four plays to call from the Packers’ 6-yard line, down eight in a game in which they’d run roughshod like they’d long said they’d wanted to. They went with four passes, the only completion going to Matt Forte. The last attempt sailed over Eddie Royal’s head and out of the back of the end zone.

The boos echoed in, and so did the tweets, and so would the calls to radio stations later: Why didn’t they hand the ball off to Forte, even just once?

This was the Bears’ version of the Super Bowl play from last year that nobody can forget, the 2nd-and-goal from the 1-yard line while down four scenario that multiplied Bears’ fans frustration by a million. Rather than hand it off to Marshawn Lynch, the NFL’s leader in yards after contact, the Seahawks decided to throw, and – well, you know the rest.

This was the Bears’ version because Matt Forte is their Marshawn Lynch.

On Sunday, the two will line up as the faces of their respective offenses, two feature backs in a league losing sight of the idea. Their paths to CenturyLink Field have been eerily similar.

They were born five months apart, 29 years ago. Lynch was a first-round pick in 2007, Forte a second-round pick in 2008. Since 2011, Lynch’s first full year with the Seahawks after a trade from the Bills the year before, the two have nearly matched each other in production to now, with Forte averaging 1,675 total yards

on 320 touches a season and Lynch 1,612 on 326.

They’re the only players who finished in the top five in rushing attempts each of the past two seasons. They’re the same, yet they’re also so, so different.

Forte is 6-feet-2 and 218 pounds, a scat back known for stretching runs and darting away from defenders, a passing-game threat who set an NFL running back record with 102 receptions last season.

Lynch is 5-feet-11 and 215 pounds, a short battering ram who thrives on contact, leading the league in yards after the first hit last season. And he normally gets the ball on the goal line: he’s led the league in rushing touchdowns the past two seasons, and his 56 scores since 2011 easily dwarf Forte’s 33.

The backs are different off the field, too.

Forte remains loyal to the only franchise he’s ever played for, the one that gave him the Brian Piccolo Award for character and service despite his mini-holdout over his contract this offseason. Lynch has had enough run-ins with his own, from his shutdown of NFL-required media obligations to a long and public contract dispute. Yet it’s Lynch, not Forte, who received the new deal he was looking for.

Eight years after they drafted him, the Bears are still trying to figure out who Forte is, or at least who he can be going forward in an offense built far more for a runner like Lynch.

From Day One, John Fox, Adam Gase and Bears players have said they were going to finally make this a run-first team, and the system of choice is Gase’s, a man-power blocking scheme that utilizes extra tight ends and runs between the tackles,

to have altered the offensive approach, as he’s been targeted just 10 times in two games, three fewer than Lynch.

And it’d be an especially effective scheme with a bursting lateral back like Forte. The Bears seemed to take note of that idea last week, with Cutler twice running the read-option with Forte and holding it himself for positive yards up the seam. It could have been the start of something, after Gase mentioned he wanted to take more advantage of Cutler’s mobility, but nobody will know until the quarterback is healthy again.

In the meantime, Forte – in the last year of his four-year, $30.4 million deal – should continue to get his load, starting on Sunday in Seattle. Over time, his production and contract situation will become a little easier for the Bears to evaluate. Through two weeks, he ranks third in the league among full-time backs with 202 yards, fourth with 5.2 yards per carry and tied for third with 39 attempts.

But entering his 30s, is he the best Gase and the Bears can do for this downhill scheme? And even if the answer is yes, will he be cost-effective enough to do it on a roster that has had more than enough holes shot into it through just two games?

After eight years, figuring out Forte is as hard as it’s ever been. But the Bears can start on Sunday by giving him the ball in the moments that matter most.

Hopefully, [the fans] can see that we’re making a conscious effort to play more smash-mouth football.

— KYLE LONG

As the Bears prepare for their third game, this one against the NFL’s eighthranked run defense in yards per carry through two games, they’ll watch plenty of film on Lynch and see what makes him special. They’ll see he isn’t Forte even a little bit, and the scheme he plays in isn’t the one they’d run here if Forte was.

Chicago doesn’t have a quarterback right now, let alone one with the skill set of Russell Wilson. He’s often the one who decides if Lynch gets the ball, reading the defensive end from shotgun to either send Lynch off one edge or to take it on his own up the other. Seattle led the league in rushing last year in

part because of Lynch but also because of Wilson, whose 849 yards on a gaudy 7.2-yards-per-carry average ranked 16 th in the league and were the best among quarterbacks.

It’s a scheme born in part out of necessity – the Seahawks lack the established receivers to want to throw the ball, and the absence of a respectable play-action vertical threat makes traditional handoffs that much harder to run consistently. And because of Wilson’s speed and Lynch’s ability to break tackles, it works so well that they see no reason to change.

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a scheme that reached its peak last season in Denver with a running back in C.J. Anderson that Gase called “chubby” at 5-8 and 224 pounds.

Can Matt Forte be like that? Can an old dog learn new tricks? Does he need to?

These are the questions of the time for the Bears, an 0-2 team in the right spot to figure it out. If reports by ESPN and NFL Network this week are correct in saying Jay Cutler will miss at least two weeks, Chicago will look to either Jimmy Clausen or practice-squad quarterback David Fales to throw to a receiving corps that has suffered its own share of recent injuries.

Since they fired Marc Trestman and his pass-heavy approach, the Bears have said they want to become a running team. Now, they don’t have much choice.

“Hopefully, [the fans] can see that we’re making a conscious effort to play more smashmouth football,” right tackle Kyle Long said after the first loss, 31-23 to Green Bay, when the Bears ran the ball 33 times for 189 yards, with Forte accounting for 24 and 141 of those, respectively.

“They kind of were expecting us to run it, I guess, which we didn’t care. We were trying to establish the run,” Forte said after the second loss, 48-23 to Arizona last Sunday, after he ran 15 times for 61 yards and the team 28 times for 109.

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, September 24, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

12

NFC NORTH REPORT By

ARTHUR ARKUSH

aarkush@chicagofootball.com @ArthurArkush

CHARGERS @ VIKINGS

Overview

The hesitance we saw from Adrian Peterson working out of shotgun, and from Norv Turner to involve his workhorse in San Francisco, turned to urgency in the Vikings’ home-opening 26-16 win versus the Lions.

With a more comfortable blend of I-formation and shotgun calls by Turner, Peterson had 119 of his 192 total yards and 17 of his 31 touches before intermission. Assuming he corrects two fumbles and a missed blocking assignment, Peterson likely gets this type of workload weekly. A greater sense of urgency also extended to Minnesota’s defense, which permitted the fewest rushing yards (38) of the Mike Zimmer era, and an offensive line that helped generate nearly 200 rushing yards and kept Teddy Bridgewater upright in an immensely improved showing for the sophomore signalcaller.

Matchup to watch

Chargers rookie RB Melvin Gordon piled up 99 total yards in the loss at Cincinnati, but receiving back Danny Woodhead is one of Philip Rivers’ most reliable targets. Covering Woodhead (5-8, 200) falls on SLB Anthony Barr (6-5, 255), a testament to the second-year linebacker’s rare athleticism. Barr’s 13 tackles trails only S Harrison Smith in Minnesota, while Woodhead’s 13 targets is second to WR Keenan Allen (21) in San Diego.

By the numbers

Peterson jolted San Diego for an NFL record 296 rushing yards in 2007.

BRONCOS @ LIONS

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Matchup to watch

Since the ‘D’ has failed to inspire confidence, it’s shaping up to be Stafford and Calvin Johnson who must attempt to save the season. It won’t be easy – Denver boasts perhaps the NFL’s best CB and rush tandems in Aqib Talib-Chris Harris and Von Miller-DeMarcus Ware, respectively. Stafford, Golden Tate and Eric Ebron must separate quickly and consistently, and maligned OTs Riley Reiff (left) and either Cornelius Lucas or LaAdrian Waddle have to improve greatly to give a hobbled Stafford a fighting chance against Denver’s relentless rush.

By the numbers

Detroit’s 31st-ranked run game was led by Stafford (20 rushing yards) last week.

Overview

It’s no surprise the Lions’ rebuilt fronts have struggled early, but it’s already getting late in Detroit after two consecutive road defeats in which Matthew Stafford has been pummeled and a ‘D’ that allowed fewer than 18 points per game in 2014 has surrendered 59 total.

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Now, the Lions host Denver, coming off an emotional 31-24 triumph with Peyton Manning showing he still has a few tricks up his sleeve, before visiting Seattle in a pair of prime-time affairs. They’ll be underdogs in both and, barring at least one win, the Lions’ bid for consecutive postseason berths for the first time in two decades could be stymied by the quarter pole.

CHIEFS @ PACKERS

Overview

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Jamaal Charles ground Denver for 125 rushing yards and a score last Thursday, but it was his two fumbles, the second coming in the final 30 seconds, that burned the Chiefs in a devastating loss.

But Charles surely will be Kansas City’s focal point against a Packers ‘D’ that already has permitted 308 rushing yards and is without suspended Letroy Guion and injured Josh Boyd.

Aaron Rodgers has thrown 41 touchdowns at Lambeau Field since his last interception, on Dec. 2, 2012.

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Carthy returns to his roots against the Chiefs, who gave him his first NFL coaching opportunity. (Coincidentally, Andy Reid received his NFL start in Green Bay as an offensive assistant in 1992, before McCarthy, in his first Packers stint, replaced Reid in 1999.)

Green Bay’s revenge over Seattle was somewhat bittersweet, as RB Eddie Lacy and WR Davante Adams suffered ankle injuries, jeopardizing their Week Three status. Capable backup James Starks knifed through Seattle for 108 total yards on 24 touches.

The Packers’ ‘D’ was stout up the middle, where McCarthy said B.J. Raji played his best NFL game, and Clay Matthews played exclusively inside against a powerful rushing club.

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FOOTBALL Enticing fantasy football matchups in Week 3 By

J.C. TALON

ChicagoFootball.com fantasy writer

Almost everything we thought we learned in Week One was pretty much reversed in Week Two. About all we really know is that the Patriots are pretty good and the Bears are very bad. Some other things we think we might know, but aren’t really sure …

Washington might not be all that bad, after all.

The Saints might be that bad.

Despite that Sports Illustrated cover, the Titans won’t be 16-0, and Marcus Mariota might not win this year’s MVP. The Rams’ defense might have been overrated.

The Jets’ defense might actually be underrated.

Chip Kelly might not be a revolutionary genius.

There just might be some good fantasy matchups this week.

MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT COLTS (@ TITANS) Noon Sunday Indy is 0-2 and coming off two consecutive dismal offensive performances. But those performances were against Buffalo and the Jets. Andrew Luck should do much better against a mediocre Tennessee defense. That’s not to say the Colts don’t have problems.

This is a poorly constructed team.

The GM has a bizarre fascination with stockpiling receivers, despite the fact that the team has severe needs at OL and DB. Luck owners have reason for concern, but in Week Three, the Colts offense should be OK. Must start: Luck Solid play: Frank Gore, T.Y. Hilton*, Donte Moncrief, Adam Vinatieri Worth a look: Coby Fleener (“solid play” if no Allen), Dwayne Allen* Last resort: Phillip Dorsett Stay away: Colts D/ST

PATRIOTS (vs. JAGUARS) Noon Sunday Pretty gutsy telling you to play your Patriots, don’t you think?

With apologies for a gimme putt, this matchup looks too good to be true. And that probably means the Pats are due for a letdown. But even if Tom Brady fails to equal his 466 yards from last week, it’s hard to imagine New England scoring less than 30 points.

Must start: Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Stephen Gostkowski Solid play: Julian Edelman, Patriots D/ST Worth a look: Aaron Dobson Last resort: Dion Lewis, Brandon Bolden, LeGarrette Blount, Danny Amendola, Scott Chandler

BROWNS (vs. RAIDERS) Noon Sunday OK, you want something a little less conventional? You could actually consider some Cleveland fantasy options this week. Oakland’s defense yielded 33 points in Week One and again in Week Two. The Browns are fresh off a win and the Cleveland crowd will be fired up for this game. Keep an eye on the QB situation: Johnny Manziel clearly has more fantasy upside than Josh McCown.

Solid play: Isaiah Crowell, Travis Benjamin Worth a look: Manziel (if starter), Travis Coons, Browns D/ST Last resort: Duke Johnson, Andrew Hawkins Stay away: McCown*

week. Despite their upset win in New Orleans, Tampa has a defense that is well below average.

Solid play: DeAndre Hopkins, Randy Bullock, Texans D/ST Worth a look: Mallett, Nate eventually wear them down.

Washington, C.J. Fiedorowicz Last resort: Jonathan Grimes, MATCHUPS TO AVOID Chris Polk, Cecil Shorts Stay away: Alfred Blue COWBOYS (vs. FALCONS)

SEAHAWKS (vs. BEARS) 3:25 p.m. Sunday Seattle could not ask for a better cure for their two consecutive tough road losses than playing at home and facing the Bears and their poor excuse for a defense.

While Chicago’s defense is horrendous, with Jimmy Clausen playing QB, their offense might be even worse. That ineptitude will lead to numerous scoring opportunities for Seattle.

Must start: Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Steven Hauschka, Seahawks D/ST Solid play: Doug Baldwin, Jimmy Graham Last resort: Fred Jackson, Jermaine Kearse, Luke Willson

ALSO CONSIDER BENGALS (@ RAVENS)

Noon Sunday In the first two weeks of the season, the Bengals have looked terrific, while Baltimore is floundering. In the wacky world of the NFL, things can change quickly.

That said, Baltimore just yielded 37 points to Oakland, so the Bengals offer intriguing fantasy opTEXANS (vs. BUCCANEERS) tions. Giovani Bernard made the Noon Sunday After facing two punishing de- most of his opportunities after fenses (K.C. and Carolina) to open Jeremy Hill (two fumbles) was the season, Houston finally gets benched. Look for Hill to ease a break. The Texans likely will back into that featured role. stick with Ryan Mallett at QB. He played better in the second half PACKERS (vs. CHIEFS) against Carolina. However, he fin- 7:30 p.m. Monday At present, there really isn’t ished the game with a 52.5 rating and does not project as much of a bad matchup for Green Bay’s a long-term fantasy option. Tony offense. They are just that good.

Romo owners, however, could K.C. is a better-than-average deconsider Mallett as a fill-in this fense, but Aaron Rodgers will

AP photo

EAGLES (@ JETS) Noon Sunday Perhaps we shouldn’t kick a team when it’s down, but Chip Kelly’s supposedly high-octane offense has looked anemic in three of the four halves they’ve played this season. Even when the Eagles are playing well offensively, they are a fantasy conundrum. They spread the ball around so much that only the QB and kicker are good bets. When Philadelphia is playing the way they are currently playing, there are no good bets. Question for DeMarco Murray owners: Which one of his 11 rushing yards this season is your favorite?

Anyone who watched the Monday Night game in Indy knows that Jets defense is the real deal.

They can possibly be had on the ground, but Philly – at present – has no running game.

Solid play: Jordan Matthews Worth a look: Murray Last resort: Darren Sproles, Zach Ertz, Eagles D/ST Stay away: Sam Bradford, Cody Parkey

Noon Sunday Talk about tough luck. Cowboys Dictator Jerry Jones already knee-capped the team when he let DeMarco Murray walk and failed to replace him with a competent back. In Week One, the Pokes lost starting receiver Dez Bryant. It was clear in Philadelphia how desperately Dallas needs Bryant.

And just when you thought things were at rock bottom, QB Tony Romo goes down for two months with a broken clavicle.

Listening to the various football talk shows, it seems that most experts feel the Cowboys will be “just fine” in the interim. That is a curious sentiment. Maybe we’re missing something, but it’s a little hard to get excited about Brandon Weeden handing off to Joseph Randle and throwing to Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley.

Worth a look: Randle, Cowboys D/ST Last resort: Lance Dunbar, Williams, Jason Witten* BEARS (@ SEAHAWKS) Stay away: Weeden 3:25 p.m. Sunday SAINTS (@ PANTHERS) With Jimmy Clausen starting Noon Sunday at QB for the injured Jay Cutler, Last week we told you to start it’s possible that the Bears will get your Saints. Oops. New Orleans shut out. Clausen has appeared in struggled at home against a Bucs 18 NFL games and his team has team that had just surrendered 48 lost 17 of those contests. Clausen points at home against the Titans. did not make a single NFL appearDrew Brees is banged up and may ance in 2011 or 2012, and was not not play. Regardless of the QB sit- on an NFL roster in 2013. If you’re uation, the Saints are facing one wondering why, be sure to watch of the league’s best defenses in this game.

Carolina.

Worth a look: Matt Forte, MarWorth a look: Brees*, Mark In- tellus Bennett gram, Brandin Cooks Last resort: Eddie Royal, Last resort: Ben Watson Alshon Jeffery* Stay away: C.J. Spiller*, Zach Stay away: Clausen, Robbie Hocker, Saints D/ST Gould, Bears D/ST

13 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, September 24, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

FANTASY

Andrew Luck

14

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, September 24, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

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PATRICK FINLEY

Bears ‘D’: ‘Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless’ In this week’s edition of Take 2, Patrick Finley and Arthur Arkush discuss whether a Bears defense that has allowed a leagueworst 79 combined points and a passer rating of 128.0 is any better than the past two seasons.

ARKUSH: A popular belief this offseason, including from yours truly, was that Chicago’s defense only had one way to go after what we presumed was rock bottom. The talent was supposed to be better and, paired with clear coaching upgrades, five wins was considered by many to be the floor. After watching the pass defense be targeted routinely by two sharp quarterbacks, my eyes clearly need to be flushed ... but are my only slightly heightened expectations in need of a different flushing?

FINLEY: You saw a lot of hits by the lakefront, Arthur, but they were the night

before the Bears game. Nothing that happened Sunday was nearly as good as Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl,” anyway. The Bears are giving up almost two points every three minutes. They still don’t have a sack.

Their starting cornerbacks combined for 80 penalty yards on two pass interference plays. We didn’t expect miracles, but we did think they’d post a better effort than this. So how does it change? Do they need to bench a guy or three?

ARKUSH: Young stuck mostly to his new material, Pat, but an oldie most befitting of these Bears might be “Helpless.” Yet credit John Fox for his willingness to shake things up. He wouldn’t call it a benching, but that’s what happened to Kyle Fuller in the fourth quarter, when he was replaced by Terrance Mitchell – a move Fox has to hope helps Fuller realize how far he’s fallen. But was it our first indication that draft status

15

Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller was benched in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s game against Arizona.

H. Rick Bamman –Shaw Media

way: the Bears’ schedule has been “Like a Hurricane” thus far, and won’t be any easier against the Seahawks, home of Hall of Famer “Cortez the Killer” Kennedy. No question: when the Bears go “Out on the Weekend” after Week 3, they’ll find the competition easier to handle. Arthur, you’re right that things can only go up after then, both because of the Bears’ schedule and the hope that their players will grow more comfortable in the new 3-4 scheme. But they still have a talent problem, and that won’t change in-season. The best the Bears can hope for is that their young players get better as the season trudges on. And that their defense, for the first time this season, gives them a fighting chance.

And finally, kudos to us for not discussing the Patriots’ “Needle and the Damage Done.” I’m proud of our self-restraint.

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CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, September 24, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

TAKE TWO

– especially guys not found by Fox or Ryan Pace – no longer matters around here? Can you think of any other former first-rounders who should be sent to timeout?

FINLEY: “Hey Hey, My My.” I see where you’re going there, but Shea McClellin isn’t atop my list of offenders. With better ball skills, the Bears’ corners might have prevented one, if not two, Packers touchdowns. And karate chopping receivers arms before the ball won’t lead Fuller’s highlight reel. The Bears might have some help in trainer’s-room regular Tracy Porter, but waiting on a 29-year-old for reinforcements is a bad sign. Jared Allen swears the sky isn’t falling at Halas Hall. Do you see any signs he’s right?

ARKUSH: Are you calling Porter an “Old Man?” Well, in NFL terms, you’d be right – and that’s the crux of the problem. Fox and Pace need an infusion of young talent throughout the unit. I believe they’re on the right path with Pernell McPhee and especially Eddie Goldman, but it’ll take several drafts to move the needle from all Phil Emery’s damage done. Fortunately, Allen is right when he says the sky isn’t falling like that impressive interception into his hands Sunday. After what I expect will be another ugly loss in Seattle, what falls is the level of competition on the Bears’ schedule.

Isn’t it reasonable to expect, then, the worst is nearly behind us, or am I again kidding myself?

FINLEY: OK, let’s get ’em all out of the

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Auto Headlamps/Entune Audio Plus Dual Zone Auto Climate Control MSRP: $33,730 Ken Nelson Discount: $30,650 Rebates: $2,000

NEW 2015

PRUIS

BUY NOW PRICE

20,580 22,721 28,650 29,759 $

#TF249

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#TTF250

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COROLLA

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$

#TF249

Rearview Camera/Entune App Suite Push Button Start/SIRIUS Satellite Radio MSRP: $26,815 Ken Nelson Discount: $25,221 Rebate: $2,500

NEW 2015

Moonroof/Navigation & App Suite Remote & Push Button Start MSRP: $23,075 Ken Nelson Discount: $21,580 Rebate: $1,000

AVALON

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NEW 2015

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1050 N. Galena - Dixon, IL - 815.288.4455 - www.KenNelsonAuto.com Warren Gridley Mike Freeman Rick Pontnak Brad Claussen Craig Buchanan General Manager General Manager

Sales Manager

Jeff Dewey Chad Conderman Thais Fazekas

Sales Manager

Sales Manager

Jamie Curia

Al Riley

Bob Pilling

Sales Manager

Rick Hauser

Sales Manager

Sherry Law

Brett Simpson Denny Bellows Ron Stephenitch

Joe Patzer

Mike Baker

Carl Buehler

Business Manager Business Manager Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional

Rusty Baker Clayton Bonnell Adam Chapman

Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional

Sally Deming Chase VanHolten Donielle Freytag Josh Vannoy

Sales Professional Sales Professional

Leon Mealing

Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional

*Prices do not include tax, title, license or doc fees. Not all buyers will qualify. Residency restrictions apply. See dealer for details. Must take retail delivery by 10/5/2015. ^With approved credit. Photos for illustration purposes only. Dealer not liable for errors.