Start Tying your Shufflin Shoelaces
Ok, maybe this is a tad bit premature, but I am getting excited to watch that little game that takes place in Miami this coming Februrary. You know the one, big rediculous opening acts before the game and extravagent Halftime shows. It's kind of a big deal, theres all sorts of funny commericals that go along with it too. Yes, it is too early to start talking Super Bowl, but that doesn't mean that I can't dream about it.
Entering this Bears season I heard the Super Bowl talk and thought, "wow, this is great, the team needs to be positive and focused like this, I'm excited," but then it just became too much. Experts were pointing out that we still didn't have enough offense to be true Super Bowl contenders and you know what? I actually believed them.
I am not going to lie, I was scared to watch that first game in Green Bay. I was afraid of what might happen if we, gasp...actually lost.
Well my fellow Shufflers, those days are over. I was confident leading up to the Lions game, even though I thought it may be more of a fight than it actually was and I am confident headed into the Vikings game.
If we are truly Super Bowl contenders, then we will march into Minnesota and claim our rightful spot at the head of the division. If this Bears team really is ready to step it up and flex its muscles then beating a Minnesota team with the oldest quarterback in the NFL and a team that has never been able to run the ball should not be difficult. Minnesota has one true deep threat, last years 11th overal pick Troy Williamson, who, if anyone was watching that first Monday night game two weeks ago, has no idea how to catch a ball. Marcus Robinson...yes the ex-Bear ageless wonder...is a nice posession receiver but should never beat this team deep.
If I am Lovie Smith I would shake things up on the defense a little bit this Sunday. I know, dont fix it if it 'aint broke but I would much rather see number one corner Peanut Tillman line up across from the bigger Marcus Robinson and jam his aging butt at that line of scrimage. Tillman is a big guy, with ok speed, but as we saw against Carolina in the playoffs, he is no match for a true speed reciever like Williamson is. I would line up Ricky Manning across from Williamson because he is the quickest of our corner backs, not counting the Windy City Flyer Devin Hester.
Other than that, there are two players I would really like to see more of this game: Tank Johnson #99 and Mark Anderson #97 (no, that is not a much slimmer Michael Haynes out there, Haynes got cut and Mark stole his number). Tank recorded five sacks in limited playing time last year, that really is an amazing stat. He also forced the John Kitna fumble at the Lion's three yard line last week and is a force to be reconned with coming through that line. I would love to see him put some pressure on the old and slow Brad Johnson and see how he reacts. Mark Anderson is a our fifth round pick out of Arkansas and was really the steal of the draft so far for us. He was ranked a lot higher than a fifth rounder and they say he was still left on the board because he was kind of a tweener, as in, he did not have a true position coming into the NFL. At 6' 5" 250 lbs he was a little large for a linebacker but a little small for a defensive end. However, knowing Lovie Smith he is the perfect fit in this Bears defensive scheme because Lovie loves those quick pash rushers off the end. Mark has fit in beautifully, spelling Alex Brown from time to time and has two sacks in two games to show for it.
I think this game will come down to one thing, our defensive line play, and that has me excited. If the D-Line can stop Chester Taylor and shut down the running game early then Brad Johnson is going to be forced to pass and will be a sitting duck in the pocket. If the line can get the kind of pressure it did last week then Johnson will not have much time to throw the ball deep and his lack of mobility will hopefully force him into some difficult throws. If the Vikings can run the ball this could be a long hard fought game because with a balanced offense Brad Johnson is a good quarterback. The Viking defense is not bad, with a decent secondary and a couple playmakers in the front seven in Udezi the end and at linebacker. Normally one would say the Bears need to have a good running game but they really havent had to the last two games. If our defense is not as stout though as the last two weeks, running the ball will become key to take some pressure off Grossman and give him time to make those crisp throws. The O-Line has been amazing so far and if they continue there strong play I expect at least a six point Bears win. I'll say final score Bears 17 Vikings 10.
Entering this Bears season I heard the Super Bowl talk and thought, "wow, this is great, the team needs to be positive and focused like this, I'm excited," but then it just became too much. Experts were pointing out that we still didn't have enough offense to be true Super Bowl contenders and you know what? I actually believed them.
I am not going to lie, I was scared to watch that first game in Green Bay. I was afraid of what might happen if we, gasp...actually lost.
Well my fellow Shufflers, those days are over. I was confident leading up to the Lions game, even though I thought it may be more of a fight than it actually was and I am confident headed into the Vikings game.
If we are truly Super Bowl contenders, then we will march into Minnesota and claim our rightful spot at the head of the division. If this Bears team really is ready to step it up and flex its muscles then beating a Minnesota team with the oldest quarterback in the NFL and a team that has never been able to run the ball should not be difficult. Minnesota has one true deep threat, last years 11th overal pick Troy Williamson, who, if anyone was watching that first Monday night game two weeks ago, has no idea how to catch a ball. Marcus Robinson...yes the ex-Bear ageless wonder...is a nice posession receiver but should never beat this team deep.
If I am Lovie Smith I would shake things up on the defense a little bit this Sunday. I know, dont fix it if it 'aint broke but I would much rather see number one corner Peanut Tillman line up across from the bigger Marcus Robinson and jam his aging butt at that line of scrimage. Tillman is a big guy, with ok speed, but as we saw against Carolina in the playoffs, he is no match for a true speed reciever like Williamson is. I would line up Ricky Manning across from Williamson because he is the quickest of our corner backs, not counting the Windy City Flyer Devin Hester.
Other than that, there are two players I would really like to see more of this game: Tank Johnson #99 and Mark Anderson #97 (no, that is not a much slimmer Michael Haynes out there, Haynes got cut and Mark stole his number). Tank recorded five sacks in limited playing time last year, that really is an amazing stat. He also forced the John Kitna fumble at the Lion's three yard line last week and is a force to be reconned with coming through that line. I would love to see him put some pressure on the old and slow Brad Johnson and see how he reacts. Mark Anderson is a our fifth round pick out of Arkansas and was really the steal of the draft so far for us. He was ranked a lot higher than a fifth rounder and they say he was still left on the board because he was kind of a tweener, as in, he did not have a true position coming into the NFL. At 6' 5" 250 lbs he was a little large for a linebacker but a little small for a defensive end. However, knowing Lovie Smith he is the perfect fit in this Bears defensive scheme because Lovie loves those quick pash rushers off the end. Mark has fit in beautifully, spelling Alex Brown from time to time and has two sacks in two games to show for it.
I think this game will come down to one thing, our defensive line play, and that has me excited. If the D-Line can stop Chester Taylor and shut down the running game early then Brad Johnson is going to be forced to pass and will be a sitting duck in the pocket. If the line can get the kind of pressure it did last week then Johnson will not have much time to throw the ball deep and his lack of mobility will hopefully force him into some difficult throws. If the Vikings can run the ball this could be a long hard fought game because with a balanced offense Brad Johnson is a good quarterback. The Viking defense is not bad, with a decent secondary and a couple playmakers in the front seven in Udezi the end and at linebacker. Normally one would say the Bears need to have a good running game but they really havent had to the last two games. If our defense is not as stout though as the last two weeks, running the ball will become key to take some pressure off Grossman and give him time to make those crisp throws. The O-Line has been amazing so far and if they continue there strong play I expect at least a six point Bears win. I'll say final score Bears 17 Vikings 10.
posted by Kyle Johansen at 9:37 AM
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