Super Bowl XLI: Bears vs. Colts, Sun 2/4, 5:30 pm CT

[Brian]

For those going out Sunday evening in Chicago, the predicted low for Sunday now is around -3. According to the NWS, this weekend is supposed to be the coldest in Chicago during February in 10 years and the low wind chills are supposed to be 20 or 30 below zero from Friday night through Monday.

 

Man. Throw out the idea of having the game being shown on giant projection screens at Soldier Field.

 

NFL already nixed that, that because it would take away from the ratings.

[NCCubFan]

NFL Network is showing a series called America's Game, where they're counting down the top 20 Super Bowl teams of all time. #3, which I believe is slated to air Friday evening, is the 1985 Bears. The first showing is scheduled for 8:30 P.M. Eastern time, but it is repeated several times.

[da bears]

Its Tuesday and I'm beginning to get nervous.

 

It's really amazing. You follow a team from day 1 and now they're 1 game away from winning it all.

 

Is this how it feels?

 

Not a familiar site for a Cubs fan.

 

Yeah for real. I worked as a painter this summer and I remember listening to the radio, with all the talk from Training Camp, from the TJ Ced Benson contreversy, to all the talk about Super Bowl or bust. And its all paid off right now. A great, great feeling.

 

Exactly. I remember them talking about how Briggs was demoted to second string after skipping voluntary workouts, and then Vasher threatened to hold out if he didn't get a contract extension. Seems like so long ago...

 

Man I completely forgot about those situations. The whole Vasher and Briggs situations were so stupid at the time and now they even more trivial. How far we've come.

[CP_414]

NFL Network is showing a series called America's Game, where they're counting down the top 20 Super Bowl teams of all time. #3, which I believe is slated to air Friday evening, is the 1985 Bears. The first showing is scheduled for 8:30 P.M. Eastern time, but it is repeated several times.

 

#3! Absurd.

[NCCubFan]

NFL Network is showing a series called America's Game, where they're counting down the top 20 Super Bowl teams of all time. #3, which I believe is slated to air Friday evening, is the 1985 Bears. The first showing is scheduled for 8:30 P.M. Eastern time, but it is repeated several times.

 

#3! Absurd.

They're conducting fan voting on their web site, and last I checked the 85 Bears were #1 according to the fan voting.

[CubColtPacer]

An interesting thing that hasn't been brought up, but I want Bears fans opinions on:

 

The Colts will not allow the Bears defense to substitute often. The Colts substitute somewhat infrequently, and if the Bears try to substitute, the Colts will just go and snap the ball and take the penalthy. So-with that in mind, what defense do you think the Bears should try to stay in? A base defense, some sort of nickel, or what?

[Chris]

An interesting thing that hasn't been brought up, but I want Bears fans opinions on:

 

The Colts will not allow the Bears defense to substitute often. The Colts substitute somewhat infrequently, and if the Bears try to substitute, the Colts will just go and snap the ball and take the penalthy. So-with that in mind, what defense do you think the Bears should try to stay in? A base defense, some sort of nickel, or what?

 

Good point.

 

I didn't realize until SC tonight that nobody asked Peyton about his thumb. I guess they're cool with what was said last week, despite the fact that they weren't cool with the fact that their Monday departure from Indy was announced last week as well.

[CP_414]

An interesting thing that hasn't been brought up, but I want Bears fans opinions on:

 

The Colts will not allow the Bears defense to substitute often. The Colts substitute somewhat infrequently, and if the Bears try to substitute, the Colts will just go and snap the ball and take the penalthy. So-with that in mind, what defense do you think the Bears should try to stay in? A base defense, some sort of nickel, or what?

 

Didn't the Jets get into some kind of trouble this season because they ran the no-huddle without allowing the defense to sub. I think every time the offense subs someone in they have to allow time for the D to do the same.

 

I imagine the Bears will be in the nickle a lot with Manning, Jr. on the field.

[CubColtPacer]

An interesting thing that hasn't been brought up, but I want Bears fans opinions on:

 

The Colts will not allow the Bears defense to substitute often. The Colts substitute somewhat infrequently, and if the Bears try to substitute, the Colts will just go and snap the ball and take the penalthy. So-with that in mind, what defense do you think the Bears should try to stay in? A base defense, some sort of nickel, or what?

 

Didn't the Jets get into some kind of trouble this season because they ran the no-huddle without allowing the defense to sub. I think every time the offense subs someone in they have to allow time for the D to do the same.

 

I imagine the Bears will be in the nickle a lot with Manning, Jr. on the field.

 

Yes, every time the offense subs in they have to allow time for the defense to sub, and yes, the Jets almost got in trouble this year because they didn't allow the Colts time (in fact, the Colts demanded to know if what the Jets did was legal-because if it was, they promised to wreak havoc on the league using that particular rule :D).

 

Like I said though, the Colts don't usually sub, so the Bears won't be able to either. With Stokely gone, most of the the time the Colts will be 2 tight ends, 2 wide receivers, 1 RB. Even when they go to 3 WR's, probably 3/4 of the time they shift one of the tight ends (Clark) out there, so no subbing there. So they really only sub when they either are putting their goal line package in, changing running backs (which they don't do more than once a drive usually at most), or occasionally using Moorehead as the 3rd reciever and putting Wayne into the slot, which they won't do much of if Utecht is healthy.

 

Which way the Bears choose will probably influence the Colts game plan. If the Bears go to nickel most of the time, the Colts will bring Dallas Clark back to the line, and they'll run a large amount of the time. If the Bears play base defense, the Colts will try to exploit the passing game a little bit more, and will have an easier time picking up 3rd downs then if the Bears were constantly in nickel. The Eagles ran nickel all game, and the Colts ran it down their throats, but obviously the Bears have a much better run defense-so it should be an interesting situation to watch.

[CP_414]

An interesting thing that hasn't been brought up, but I want Bears fans opinions on:

 

The Colts will not allow the Bears defense to substitute often. The Colts substitute somewhat infrequently, and if the Bears try to substitute, the Colts will just go and snap the ball and take the penalthy. So-with that in mind, what defense do you think the Bears should try to stay in? A base defense, some sort of nickel, or what?

 

Didn't the Jets get into some kind of trouble this season because they ran the no-huddle without allowing the defense to sub. I think every time the offense subs someone in they have to allow time for the D to do the same.

 

I imagine the Bears will be in the nickle a lot with Manning, Jr. on the field.

 

Yes, every time the offense subs in they have to allow time for the defense to sub, and yes, the Jets almost got in trouble this year because they didn't allow the Colts time (in fact, the Colts demanded to know if what the Jets did was legal-because if it was, they promised to wreak havoc on the league using that particular rule :D).

 

Like I said though, the Colts don't usually sub, so the Bears won't be able to either. With Stokely gone, most of the the time the Colts will be 2 tight ends, 2 wide receivers, 1 RB. Even when they go to 3 WR's, probably 3/4 of the time they shift one of the tight ends (Clark) out there, so no subbing there. So they really only sub when they either are putting their goal line package in, changing running backs (which they don't do more than once a drive usually at most), or occasionally using Moorehead as the 3rd reciever and putting Wayne into the slot, which they won't do much of if Utecht is healthy.

 

Which way the Bears choose will probably influence the Colts game plan. If the Bears go to nickel most of the time, the Colts will bring Dallas Clark back to the line, and they'll run a large amount of the time. If the Bears play base defense, the Colts will try to exploit the passing game a little bit more, and will have an easier time picking up 3rd downs then if the Bears were constantly in nickel. The Eagles ran nickel all game, and the Colts ran it down their throats, but obviously the Bears have a much better run defense-so it should be an interesting situation to watch.

 

I suspect the Bears will do everything they can to force Manning to hand the ball off as much as possible. You don't want Michael Jordan to be the guy to beat you, you want to force BJ Armstrong to beat you if you can.

[NCCubFan]

So they really only sub when they either are putting their goal line package in, changing running backs (which they don't do more than once a drive usually at most), or occasionally using Moorehead as the 3rd reciever and putting Wayne into the slot, which they won't do much of if Utecht is healthy.

Interesting link to Super Bowl XX: Moorehead's father, Emery Moorehead, was the Bears' starting tight end on that team.

[soccer10k]

What was the deal with those fools singing take me out to the ballgame to Rex? They didn't look like reporters to me. Looked like Colts fans trying to get into Rex's head.

 

In Bill Simmons' column today (well, it's not a column but rather just a bunch of photos) he made a comment about how easy it is to get a pass for media day. He said that Jimmy Kimmel live decided to send a couple of the American Idol rejects to media day. Simmons didn't say anything about them singing with Rex Grossman but he said they forced Adam Vinatieri sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" with them.

[Soul]

What was the deal with those fools singing take me out to the ballgame to Rex? They didn't look like reporters to me. Looked like Colts fans trying to get into Rex's head.

 

In Bill Simmons' column today (well, it's not a column but rather just a bunch of photos) he made a comment about how easy it is to get a pass for media day. He said that Jimmy Kimmel live decided to send a couple of the American Idol rejects to media day. Simmons didn't say anything about them singing with Rex Grossman but he said they forced Adam Vinatieri sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" with them.

 

I see. Kimmel's resorting to "Howard Stern" type tactics now. Lame.

[Soul]

BTW, if you woke up and turned on your usual TV channel to get your Today show fix or Good Morning America, you missed a bunch of live Bears interviews on NFL Network. Lovie, Grossman, Urlacher, and Moose were all on-----this time I think it was largely sports media because the questions at least made sense.

 

Nice way to wake up before work 8-)

[Brian]

wow Jemele Hill from ESPN just WOW.

 

Johnson admonished the media for labeling him a thug, even though he wore dark sunglasses, a wave cap and a diamond earring to media day.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/070130&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

 

Dark Sunglasses? in Miami? what was he thinking!?

A wave cap? Unless it had "Thug Life" printed on it or a place to hide a gun, i'm not sure I see the connection

A Diamond Earring? pleeaaaase

 

I'd say she pretty much just accused him of being black and black=thug, but she is a black woman so I don't know the proper way to call out that ridiculous statement.

[CubmanPi]

wow Jemele Hill from ESPN just WOW.

 

Johnson admonished the media for labeling him a thug, even though he wore dark sunglasses, a wave cap and a diamond earring to media day.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/070130&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

 

Dark Sunglasses? in Miami? what was he thinking!?

A wave cap? Unless it had "Thug Life" printed on it or a place to hide a gun, i'm not sure I see the connection

A Diamond Earring? pleeaaaase

 

I'd say she pretty much just accused him of being black and black=thug, but she is a black woman so I don't know the proper way to call out that ridiculous statement.

She's also the one who described it as an inescapable coincidence to realize that all the players who have been killed and arrested this year are black, so this isn't new for her.

[CubsLadyinSTL]

Am I the only one who thinks that these comments from anyone of any color is disgusting?? SO ridiculous.

[CubmanPi]

In the article I was referring to that she did before, her whole point was to try and point out how black pop culture was self-destructive, and the money and status that pro athletes attain isn't lifting them above the cycle, so they're part of the problem rather than the solution. It's hard to say how right she was (I didn't disagree with most of it), but this most recent article seems much more stereotype-based and ridiculous.

[CubColtPacer]

An interesting thing that hasn't been brought up, but I want Bears fans opinions on:

 

The Colts will not allow the Bears defense to substitute often. The Colts substitute somewhat infrequently, and if the Bears try to substitute, the Colts will just go and snap the ball and take the penalthy. So-with that in mind, what defense do you think the Bears should try to stay in? A base defense, some sort of nickel, or what?

 

I'm going to shamlessly bump my own post, only because I was silly enough to post it at 1:30 in the morning, and don't want it to get buried with only 1 or 2 responses. I really would like to know what defensive alignment Bears fans think they should stay in most of the time, and how they match up with the Colts in that particular alignment.

[da bears]

John Ritchie-officially a moron. "The Bears offense just doesn't score. And its because of Rex. He doesnt know how to read the defense. The only reason they score is Devin Hester miracles and the defense." Congratulations on making all your observations based on the Arizona game idiot. Seriously, how can ESPN employ guys so stupid?

[Soul]

In the article I was referring to that she did before, her whole point was to try and point out how black pop culture was self-destructive, and the money and status that pro athletes attain isn't lifting them above the cycle, so they're part of the problem rather than the solution. It's hard to say how right she was (I didn't disagree with most of it), but this most recent article seems much more stereotype-based and ridiculous.

 

And so she takes this non-football related social agenda of hers, and heads for Miami to push it on everyone else, and we don't care.

 

Lame.

 

Reporters who make themselves and their agendas the story: LAME.

[Soul]

An interesting thing that hasn't been brought up, but I want Bears fans opinions on:

 

The Colts will not allow the Bears defense to substitute often. The Colts substitute somewhat infrequently, and if the Bears try to substitute, the Colts will just go and snap the ball and take the penalthy. So-with that in mind, what defense do you think the Bears should try to stay in? A base defense, some sort of nickel, or what?

 

I'm going to shamlessly bump my own post, only because I was silly enough to post it at 1:30 in the morning, and don't want it to get buried with only 1 or 2 responses. I really would like to know what defensive alignment Bears fans think they should stay in most of the time, and how they match up with the Colts in that particular alignment.

 

The Colts don't allow anyone to substitute often. But the Bears really don't play that way anyway. We stick with our base defenses, or just run nickel, and then key off that for everything else.

 

The Bears are fairly equal in effectiveness between their nickel and base packages. The only difference you will see personnel-wise is, in nickel Ricky Manning Jr. will be on the field, and the base package has Hunter Hillenmeyer.

 

RMJ is basically a rough-guy, not a real good cover CB (that's why he's nickel) but he hits very hard. Hillenmeyer isn't the toughest linebacker, but his coverage is alright. Either way, we can key off those packages and run whatever we want, so I'm not sure this is the key you are thinking it is.

 

Here's the key in my view: our safeties suck. Sometimes they do alright, but alot of times they're late in over-the-top coverage, and they don't stick in run support all that well (that's why the dropoff in defensive efficiency can be traced to Mike Brown's injury more than Tommie Harris). I think if Manning can call the plays that exploit our weakness at safety, he can get us going backwards. If he can't, I don't think the nickel vs. base package is going to help all that much.

[goonys evil twin]

The Bears do rotate their DTackles, but my guess is they'll just do so a little less frequently. If Indy is in 3 wide, they'll be in nickel, if a RB lines up wide, they won't hesitate letting a LB cover him.

[Soul]

You're right. I forgot about the DLine rotation because it doesn't seem to be tied to nickel vs. base.

 

I imagine they'll start with the standard package Ogun-Tank-Scott-Brown, and then sub in Mark Anderson on certain drives along with Boone. The one thing I could see happening is, if Indy limits our ability to sub on the fly you might not see Idonije in the game at all.

[CubColtPacer]

The Bears do rotate their DTackles, but my guess is they'll just do so a little less frequently. If Indy is in 3 wide, they'll be in nickel, if a RB lines up wide, they won't hesitate letting a LB cover him.

 

So if Dallas Clark goes in the slot, who would be assigned to cover him?