Yardbarker: Dusty Dvoracek

53-Shuffle: Bears Defensive Evaluation

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:43:22 -0500

Defensive Line: I understand the recent injuries of the defensive tackles, the inability to stop the run up the middle, and the lack of a second force inside next to Tommie Harris, but why keep a total of nine linemen on D - 2 more than on the offensive side of the ball? Overall, I [...]

NFL Punchlines: Shawne Merriman to Visit Dr. Andrews in Birmingham

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:47:39 -0500

We agree: Now that his holdout is over Steven Jackson needs to let his game on the field do the talking from now on. (Post-Dispatch)

Shawn Merriman is going to Birmingham to see (dun, dun, dun) Dr. James Andrews because of lingering pain in his knee. (Union Tribune)

How much money would you say the trio of 49ers QB's is worth? How does $11.6 million sound? (SacBee)

Don't worry that possibly your best receiver was hurt yesterday Eagles fans. Andy Reid says the fill-ins are adequate. (Philly Inquirer)

Toomer, Manningham, and Steve Smith all returned to Giants practice yesterday. (Newsday)

With a revamped offensive line and a better QB around him there is pressure on Thomas Jones to perform this season. (NY Daily News)

Giants and Jets fans now have a common enemy to rise up against: personal seat licenses. (NY Daily News)

Some good 'ol fashioned NFL rookie hazing. (Tennessean)

Five areas of concern for the Titans heading into the regular season opener and beyond. (Tennessean)

John David Booty is having a tough time adjusting to the NFL. Good thing he is on the Vikings. (Star Tribune)

The Dolphins traded Travis Daniels to the Browns for an undisclosed pick yesterday. (Miami Herald)

The Chiefs are looking for ways to replace the sacks that left when Jared Allen went to Minnesota. (KC Star)

With Tyjuan Hagler out with an injury until October the Colts hope Clint Session can step up and hold the fort down until he returns. (Indy Star)

Keep an eye on Lions RB Kevin Smith heading up to your fantasy draft. He could be the starter in Detroit or at least take some carries. (Detroit Free Press)

Has Tom Nalen reached the end of the road with the Broncos? (Denver Post)

The trio of RB's in Denver is confident they can keep the tradition of the Broncos solid running game going. (Denver Post)

After being injured for his first two seasons Dusty Dvoracek is ready to contribute this season in Chicago. (Chicago Trib)

Trent Edwards sat out practice yesterday with a leg injury and his status for Saturday's preseason game is still uncertain. (Buffalo News)

Switching from linebacker to tight end is not easy. (Baltimore Sun)

New Bears Season, Same Story

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:33:18 -0500

Some things change, but for the Chicago Bears, it appears that at least one thing stays the same. The Bears lost their second preseason game to the Seattle Seahawks and the game plan remains unchanged from the previous seasons under Lovie Smith. The offense was completely useless except in small

Preview Bears vs. Chiefs Preseason Game

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:25:16 -0500

Welcome back to football season Bears fans! That's right, tomorrow night will officially start Chicago Bears football again in the Windy City and not a moment too soon. I feel like I haven't watched a football game in forever and the Bears will be hosting the Kansas City Chiefs at home in Soldier Field tomorrow night. Of course my excitement is curbed by reality of this being an exhibition game. We'll like only see a quarter or half tops of good football and then the remainder of the game will feature the players fighting for a roster spot. The third and fourth string players certainly play with plenty of heart but they run around the field with a wild disregard that makes you wonder if they really know what play was just called in the huddle. For the Chicago Bears, the preseason holds an important test for several positions on the field. A season cannot be made or lost in a single preseason game, but tomorrow night's contest certainly holds the futures and opinions of my players in the balance. Without further delay, here are my players to watch tomorrow night. First Round Bench Warmers The Bears and Chiefs have a lot invested in the success of their first round picks, all of whom will not be dressing tomorrow. Bears first round pick, and hopeful for left tackle of the future, Chris Williams will not be playing due to a lingering back injury. He has missed significant practice time and is now reaching the point where coaches should be concerned if he will be ready for the actual season. Without Williams playing left tackle the Bears will be starting the season with a weak offensive line. The Chiefs will also be playing without their first rounders, Glenn Dorsey and Branden Albert. Both players need to get healthy and contribute to help the Chiefs rebuilding process begin. Matt Forte Show The Bears signed free agent running back Kevin Jones to help in the backfield but Jones is still coming back from his injury. He is almost ready to put on pads and get his first taste of game action but for tomorrow, it will be the Matt Forte show. There is no understatement in saying all eyes will be on his every move and touch of the ball. He should get about ten touches before being pulled for Adrian Peterson, but he needs to show some of the flashes coaches have been telling us about. Fans may extend a learning curve to the rookie, but I think everyone will feel better on Friday if Forte can show he can run the ball in the NFL. Wide Receiver Madness The Bears have a LOT of receivers to choose from and players need to stand out or find themselves at the bottom of a deep depth chart. Bears quarterbacks can throw to Marty Booker, Devin Hester, Brandon Lloyd, Rashied Davis, Mike Hass, Marcus Monk, Earl Bennett, Brandon Rideau, and Ryan Grice-Mullen. Every day I read articles from reporters at training camp and every day they seem to have a new favorite at the receiver position. The Bears appear committed to Booker, Hester, Lloyd and Davis as their starting four for the upcoming season. The remaining players will have to come up with big plays to earn a place among the top. Fan favorite Mike Hass is known for making spectacular catches but coaches are afraid he's too slow to put him on the field. Little has been said about rookie draft picks Bennett and Monk so any contribution will help get their names in the running. O-Line Disaster I've been talking all summer until blue in the face about the importance of the Bears to solidify the offensive line. First round pick and left tackle Chris Williams is out indefinately with back pain and Olin Kreutz missed practice time with injuries early in camp. More recently there have been troubles with the guard position and the Bears may be forced to start Josh Beekman. No one really knows if Beekman is good or bad because coaches have never opted to use him. Even last season when the offensive line was terrible, Beekman dressed but was never put into a game. That's not a good sign for things to come. I for one will be watching Beekman to see if he can step up with this opportunity. QB Coin Flip Coach Lovie Smith didn't rely on a coin flip to make his decision this time, but he did continue to flip. Kyle Orton will be the starter of tomorrow's game and Rex Grossman will the starter for next week's game. Grossman and Orton have been very close throughout training camp and game situations could prove to be the final test. Grossman has always given the Bears the better chance to win, but his failure to maintain his composure and mechanics have proven disasterous. If Orton shows he can stand in the pocket he may move ahead in the competition. Injury Bug Defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek is considered a possible key player for the defense at tackle but can't seem to stay healthy. For the third year in a row he has been injured and will force the Bears to find a new tackle to play alongside Tommie Harris. Rookie Marcus Harrison was ranked by many teams as a possible first round pick but passed on him because of character issues. Reports indicate he has been a model citizen in training camp and he may get a lot of activity tomorrow night. At the present moment he appears to be the best candidate for surprise draft pick if he can deliver. Roach Factor Nick Roach is a second year linebacker with the team that is getting a lot of attention. He recently moved up the depth chart ahead of Rod Wilson as backup middle linebacker to Brian Urlacher. I thougth highly enough of Wilson that I suggested last season the Bears should let Lance Briggs go and start him this season. If Roach is even better he may prove to be valuable addition to the defense. If he can make a big play Roach may see more significant playing time.

Camp’s Intriguing Open: Hester Holdout, QB Coin Toss, PUP List

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:19:50 -0500

Williams Delivers An Excitement & Eagerness for Start of Camp: While catching the "Breaking News" on one of our favorite contributing sites, ChicagoBears.com, the signing update of 1st round pick and franchise left tackle Chris Williams, an enthusiastic joy and thrill began to hit me, a sense of relief fell upon me for a short [...]

5 Questions Await Bears Entering Camp

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:40:09 -0500

Who will line up at Wide Receiver? I have read reports of all of the following being in the mix: Marty Booker, Devin Hester, Rashied Davis, and Brandon Lloyd. I think this is a fair group to choose from since they represent the players with the most NFL experience, which isn't saying much. I think the [...]

Bears go 1-15 in IGN's Madden '09 simulation

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:24:36 -0500

And no — suprisingly, they don't make the playoffs. Apparently, in the simulation, a preseason injury to Devin Hester sidelines the All-Pro for the entire regular season and is key to the Bears' struggles. . .

Starting to start to think about starters (and depth) Part Deuce

Sun, 11 May 2008 17:40:27 -0500

Remember way back when? The Bears were in the Super Bowl and their elite defense carried them there. It seems almost as long ago as the Cubs' last World Series win. Fortunately for us, it wasn't 1908 — it was 2006. Safety Chris Harris and any defensive tackle that bothered to line up next to Tommie Harris (Boonie, Ian Scott, Tank) are the most notable defensive absentees from our Super Bowl run. Sure, you could throw Todd Johnson and Cameron Worrell in for giggles, but the last three drafts and free agent signings have produced enough quality special teams players to keep that unit among the league's best for years to come. Barring injury, the Bears will have the best defense in the National Football League in 2008. Notice, I didn't say, "among the best" or "top 10". I'm talking about the absolute, hands-down, top defense in the entire mother-effin' NFL. On a side note, I apologize if the point was, in any way, diluted by use of the word "effin'." Left End Dan Bazuin has fully-recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of play in 2007. He is the type of high-motor, try-hard player that the Bears like. Draft pick Ervin Baldwin has drawn comparisons to Mark Anderson for his pass-rushing ability. Wale Ogunleye starts. Back-ups: Dan Bazuin, Ervin Baldwin. Right End Last year, Mark Anderson was given the starting job but a sprained knee put him on injured reserve as the regular season came to an end. Alex Brown was impressive in all the opportunities he received in the Bears' regular-rotation scheme. The Bears rewarded him with a new contract through 2011. Regardless of who starts, both men will see plenty of playing time. Brown starts. Back-up: Anderson. Tackle Tommie Harris is about to be uber-rich, son. The perennial Pro Bowler will be a mainstay in Chicago and if he can walk, he will start. Dusty Dvoracek has played in one of the 32 games since he's been a Chicago Bear. Now, my math ain't too good but dat must be somethin' like 3 %. The good news is he's healthy now. Izzy Idonije has made the permanent switch to tackle and third-rounder Marcus Harrison could make an immediate impact. Anthony Adams and Matt "Catch a tiger by its" Toeaina played relatively well last season. Harris and Harrison start. Back-ups: Dusty, Toeaina, Izzy and Adams. Weak-side Linebacker The biggest surprise of the offseason had to be the re-signing of Lance Briggs. I had emotionally detached myself from him in preparation for his departure. Had he gone, I might have crashed my 1997 Geo Prizm into a pole and left the scene. Luckily, no other team was biting and now Briggs is all ours once again. Jamar Williams played admirably in Briggs' absence last year. Briggs starts. Back-up: Williams and Okwo. Middle Linebacker Is he or isn't he hurt? This will be the big question about Urlacher's health going into the season. He underwent "minor" neck surgery and battled an arthritic back but says he's fine. I believe him, I think. Either way, he's the man. Urlacher starts. Back-up: I don't even know. Strong-side Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer has been solid, if not somewhat spectacular, over the course of the last few years. He's often lost in the shuffle with Briggs and Urlacher receiving the glory, but Hillenmeyer does a great job in doing what he's asked; taking on blocks, shedding blocks and redirecting the play to his more celebrated counterparts. Hillenmeyer starts. Back-ups: Williams and Okwo. Cornerback Ricky Manning, Jr. has less of a chance than the poor chap he pummeled in the Denny's parking lot of making it to the regular season. If his sub-par performance last year wasn't enough, the emergence of Trumaine McBride and drafting of Zack Bowman should be reason enough to say "don't let the door hit you in your ass on the way out." Corey Graham impressed enough as a special-teamer last year to stick. Peanut Tillman and Nate Vasher start. Back-up: McBride, Bowman and Graham. Free Safety If Mike Brown stays healthy he will (fill in the blank). Reasonable options that cross my mind include: have a Pro Bowl season, be all over the field, decimate receivers coming through the middle and my personal favorite; carry the Bears to the Super Bowl. Mike Brown starts. Back-up: Danieal Manning. Strong Safety I love Craig Steltz and we will be a much better team because of him. Will he start right away? He could. But he'll have to beat out Kevin Payne first. Payne played well in limited time and can contribute as a special-teamer, too. It's a coin toss but I gotta go with my gut. Steltz starts. Back-ups: Payne and Brandon McGowan. Gosh, did you really just sit through all of this bull? You deserve some kind of prize. Really, you do. Tell you what: I'm going to promise that "Blog Down, Chicago Bears" will continue to offer you the mother-effin' (second reference) best in Chicago Bears rumors, news, analysis and opinion as long as you leave a comment or two. Special Teams up next. Nah, fuck it: Gould, Maynard and Hester start.

Giving Back To Community Suits Former OU Football Players To A Tee

Sun, 04 May 2008 15:19:50 -0500

Teddy Lehman walked onto the first tee box and aligned the driver perfectly with the ball. He smoothly motioned the club back and then forward, whacking the ball all of about 2 inches. The second annual Tommie Harris Celebrity Classic didn't exactly woo Tiger Woods to Belmar Golf Club on Saturday. Still, the weekend's charity event featuring several ex-Sooners now in the NFL reeled in roughly $270,000 for both the Boys & Girls Club of America and the Tommie Harris Foundation, which raises funds to help prevent child abuse.

NFL Week 2 Review

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:10:38 -0500

Listen as T- Money presents another episode of Around the Spectrum: LIve. This show, T- Money goes over every Week 1 Match up in the NFL and went over the MLB Playoff Hunt as well.

Mike Brown Gone Again

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:59:52 -0500

Mike Brown gets injured once again and the Bears face another season of challenges on the defensive side of the ball.