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Week 5: Bears (2-2) @ Panthers (2-2) Noon Fox/780

UMFan83

By UMFan83,
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rawaction Chicago Cubs

rawaction

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This is a pretty interesting game on paper. And a big game, especially for the Bears. The Bears will take the field essentially 1.5 games out of first due to the loss to GB.

 

A lot of people look at the Panthers and see an injury report full of RBs, a rookie WR leading them and a 1-dimensional TE. But despite their lack of weapons, Carolina has been a very efficient and effective offense thru the air. They are 13th in the league in passing offense, despite starting Derek Anderson in the opener. Newton and Anderson also have yet to throw an interception, the only team in the league not to do so. Carolina just has 1 lone special teams fumble. So, the Bears probably aren't going to be able to count on the formula they used for their previous 2 road wins. Speaking of road wins, 3 wins away from home is almost a solid season's worth. A lot of really good teams don't win much more than 3 on the road. So, if the Bears win this, I'm sure they aren't done winning away from home, so we could be looking at a solid season if they turn it around at home, which they obviously will.

 

The Panthers have probably the worst OL the Bears will see this year. Newton is getting sacked 3 times per game this year, and those sacks have gone for about 8 yards lost a pop. With Newton hurting, he hasn't run very much (only 8 carries) and they really don't want him taking many hits. So, I expect them to really try to get rid of the ball quickly against the Bears D with a lot of 3 step drops. They will use Benjamin's size on slants, especially when matched up on Jennings (which will happen a lot). They will test Bostic in pass coverage quickly with Olsen and use his size advantage. I don't think they will be able to run very much, though they will try early to establish something. If the Bears don't get pressure again, they will be picked apart again. Can't count on a turnover, especially without pressure. And Newton completes a decent 64%. 3rd and less than 5, they'll convert a lot, so gotta keep them in 3rd and long situations by getting in the backfield on early downs. One interesting stat is that Jerricho Cotchery has caught every pass thrown to him. 13-13. So, this is not just a 2-man receiving corps.

 

For all the crap the defense caught last week by not forcing a single punt, the offense has been pretty lackluster. A of 500 yard offensive games have yielded a total of 37 points between them, including a 3 and 0 point half in those games. A team that averaged 28 per game last year, has only put up over 20 this year when getting short fields or a defensive TD. The defense is pretty much what you can hope for: stopping the run, geting turnovers, struggling without a consistent pass rush. But if you told me before the season the Bears would be 20th in total yards and 18th in points, I would have called this season a failure considering all 11 starters returned. I know they haven't been together or 100% much, but they have to get it going ASAP. The Bears skilled players should be as healthy as they've been since Week 1. Marshall with a full week of practice. Forte had some success in the run game. Jeffery coming off his best game. Bennett becoming a 3rd go-to guy. Cutler has to be mistake free, because can't count on the defense bailing him out by making a stop or getting a turnover.

 

The Panthers have been very poor on run D, but I don't expect that to continue to the extent it has been. The Bears shouldn't be completely shut down in the run game, but they won't get anywhere near the performance they got vs. Green Bay. They are going to have to take advantage of the Panthers thru the air. Their back 4 isn't very impressive. Lost in their run D troubles is the fact that they've given up 72% completions, 5 TDs, 5 pass interference penalties, and haven't had an INT in the last 2 weeks. The Bears combo of Marshall, Jeffery, Bennett, and even Forte should have over 250 yards between them thru the air, along with a couple penalties forced.

 

This is a battle of a 2013 playoff team vs a trendy 2014 playoff pick. Both teams have been very inconsistent to start. Bears with a pair of turnover prone games with points left on the board and a shaky defense. And a couple games where the defense was strong and the offense maximized its output on the scoreboard. The Panthers allowed 21 points thru the first 2 weeks (14 of those points in garbage time in the opener) and then back-to-back 30 burgers. The cliche is "depends on which team shows up", but I have to believe these teams are trending in the opposite way. Carolina's losses of edge rushers and changes in the defensive backfield are catching up to them, while the Bears should be getting healthier at the skilled positions and were able to practice in full as a unit for the first time since before the season. Not sure if the string of 30 point games continue, but I look for the Bears to get after the QB some this week by forcing things if they have to. And the offense should have their most complete game of the season, despite replacing its LT.

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Bears will have scouts at Baylor-Texas and Stanford-Notre Dame today.

 

Three top players: Baylor (QB Bryce Petty, DE Shawn Oakman, WR Antwan Goodley); Texas (DE Cedric Reed, LB Jordan Hicks, DL Malcom Brown).

 

Three top players: Stanford (OL Andrus Peat, WR Ty Montgomery, OL Kyle Murphy); Notre Dame (DL Sheldon Day, QB Everett Golson, LB Jaylon Smith).

 

Reading through some archives, their scouts were also credentialed at Clemson-FSU and South Carolina-Vanderbilt on September 20th:

 

Three top players involved: Clemson (defensive end Vic Beasley, linebacker Stephone Anthony, defensive lineman Grady Jarrett); FSU (tackle Cameron Erving, cornerback P.J. Williams, defensive end Mario Edwards).

 

South Carolina (tackle Corey Robinson, running back Mike Davis, guard A.J. Cann); Vanderbilt (linebacker Caleb Azubike, linebacker Kyle Woestmann, defensive lineman Vince Taylor).
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Why is it that such weird things continue to happen to the bears causing them to lose?
rawaction Chicago Cubs

rawaction

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Bears will have scouts at Baylor-Texas and Stanford-Notre Dame today.

 

Three top players: Baylor (QB Bryce Petty, DE Shawn Oakman, WR Antwan Goodley); Texas (DE Cedric Reed, LB Jordan Hicks, DL Malcom Brown).

 

Three top players: Stanford (OL Andrus Peat, WR Ty Montgomery, OL Kyle Murphy); Notre Dame (DL Sheldon Day, QB Everett Golson, LB Jaylon Smith).

 

Reading through some archives, their scouts were also credentialed at Clemson-FSU and South Carolina-Vanderbilt on September 20th:

 

Three top players involved: Clemson (defensive end Vic Beasley, linebacker Stephone Anthony, defensive lineman Grady Jarrett); FSU (tackle Cameron Erving, cornerback P.J. Williams, defensive end Mario Edwards).

 

South Carolina (tackle Corey Robinson, running back Mike Davis, guard A.J. Cann); Vanderbilt (linebacker Caleb Azubike, linebacker Kyle Woestmann, defensive lineman Vince Taylor).

 

Oakman please! I also think Reed is a player that could interest the Bears. Jaylon Smith is not draft eligible.

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Bears will have scouts at Baylor-Texas and Stanford-Notre Dame today.

 

Three top players: Baylor (QB Bryce Petty, DE Shawn Oakman, WR Antwan Goodley); Texas (DE Cedric Reed, LB Jordan Hicks, DL Malcom Brown).

 

Three top players: Stanford (OL Andrus Peat, WR Ty Montgomery, OL Kyle Murphy); Notre Dame (DL Sheldon Day, QB Everett Golson, LB Jaylon Smith).

 

Reading through some archives, their scouts were also credentialed at Clemson-FSU and South Carolina-Vanderbilt on September 20th:

 

Three top players involved: Clemson (defensive end Vic Beasley, linebacker Stephone Anthony, defensive lineman Grady Jarrett); FSU (tackle Cameron Erving, cornerback P.J. Williams, defensive end Mario Edwards).

 

South Carolina (tackle Corey Robinson, running back Mike Davis, guard A.J. Cann); Vanderbilt (linebacker Caleb Azubike, linebacker Kyle Woestmann, defensive lineman Vince Taylor).

 

Oakman please! I also think Reed is a player that could interest the Bears. Jaylon Smith is not draft eligible.

 

Yeah, I took the list of top players from the link mentioning where various NFL team were scouting and they listed other non-draft eligible players like Myles Jack and the Ole Miss sophomores.

 

I haven't seen Oakman yet but 6'9" DEs sound promising. I like Reed, PJ Williams and AJ Cann but am nervous of Vic Beasley (chalk it up to possibly unfair Shea McClellin fatigue).

rawaction Chicago Cubs

rawaction

Old-Timey Member
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Bears will have scouts at Baylor-Texas and Stanford-Notre Dame today.

 

Three top players: Baylor (QB Bryce Petty, DE Shawn Oakman, WR Antwan Goodley); Texas (DE Cedric Reed, LB Jordan Hicks, DL Malcom Brown).

 

Three top players: Stanford (OL Andrus Peat, WR Ty Montgomery, OL Kyle Murphy); Notre Dame (DL Sheldon Day, QB Everett Golson, LB Jaylon Smith).

 

Reading through some archives, their scouts were also credentialed at Clemson-FSU and South Carolina-Vanderbilt on September 20th:

 

Three top players involved: Clemson (defensive end Vic Beasley, linebacker Stephone Anthony, defensive lineman Grady Jarrett); FSU (tackle Cameron Erving, cornerback P.J. Williams, defensive end Mario Edwards).

 

South Carolina (tackle Corey Robinson, running back Mike Davis, guard A.J. Cann); Vanderbilt (linebacker Caleb Azubike, linebacker Kyle Woestmann, defensive lineman Vince Taylor).

 

Oakman please! I also think Reed is a player that could interest the Bears. Jaylon Smith is not draft eligible.

 

Yeah, I took the list of top players from the link mentioning where various NFL team were scouting and they listed other non-draft eligible players like Myles Jack and the Ole Miss sophomores.

 

I haven't seen Oakman yet but 6'9" DEs sound promising. I like Reed, PJ Williams and AJ Cann but am nervous of Vic Beasley (chalk it up to possibly unfair Shea McClellin fatigue).

 

Oakman's just fun. Its fun to think what he could be. He's been called "LeBron James in football pads". Got that type of athletic build and great natural ability. Excellent edge speed. Freakishly long arms, that he doesn't completely know how to use. As you can imagine with someone that tall, whether or not he has success is almost completely dependent on him coming off the ball low. Can get high when he's tired. Hope is he could be a Michael Johnson type in the 4-3 or a Calais Campbell type in the 3-4, both at end.

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It sucks being stuck in Cincinnati for the weekend. The only redeeming feature is that Fox is showing the BEARS game here.

Cincy is a very blah city.

UMFan83 GOAT

UMFan83

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It sucks being stuck in Cincinnati for the weekend. The only redeeming feature is that Fox is showing the BEARS game here.

Cincy is a very blah city.

 

The epitome of a blah city.

Andy GOAT

Andy

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Maybe if Carolina just started the backups, THEY'D all get injured and the starters could actually play a game.

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