More Top Picks Best Vibration Plates For Weight Loss
player ready...Tribune staff reporter John Mullin analyzes the matchups when the Bears are on offense:
RUNNING GAME
The Bears did not overly rely on Rex Grossman’s arm against the Seattle Seahawks and they will plan to do the same against New Orleans. Chicago’s only losses all season were to teams ranked in the top 12 against the run (Green Bay, Miami, New England). New Orleans is 23rd in yardage allowed and 31st in rushing average at 4.9 yards per carry; only the Indianapolis Colts were worse despite their late-season improvement.
Cedric Benson and Thomas Jones have combined for only one fumble in 486 carries. The Bears were right on their average with 120 rushing yards against Seattle. And their 34 rushing attempts moved them to 11-1 this season in games when they run the ball at least 30 times. Their 503 attempts for the season are the most among the four remaining playoff teams, edging the Patriots’ 499.
The Saints escaped with the win over Philadelphia in spite of Brian Westbrook rushing for 116 yards on 13 attempts including TDs of 62 and 1 yard. The Bears were able to run over the Saints when they met in 2005 in Baton Rouge, La., with 183 yards on 32 carries, led by Benson’s 14 for 79 yards and Adrian Peterson’s six for 58. Jones was nicked up. However, it still required a Robbie Gould field goal with six seconds left to pull out a 20-17 win.
PASSING GAME
Rex Grossman answered his critics with a solid performance against Seattle, throwing 38 times, completing 21 and gaining 282 yards for a passer rating of 76.9. Not spectacular, but it was what teammates wanted. His 68-yard strike to Bernard Berrian for the second score was an early confidence-builder. Seattle did get a fumble on a blitz by Julian Peterson, but Grossman’s one interception was a ball that bounced off Muhsin Muhammad deep in Seattle territory.
New Orleans ranked 19th in passing yards allowed but the Saints are capable of pressure, ranking ninth in sack percentage despite a modest total of 38. Their secondary had only 11 interceptions and gave up 26 passing touchdowns vs. 10 to the run. The only Saints sack in the win over the Eagles was by linebacker Scott Shanle, New Orleans’ leading tackler.
The Bears were able to balance their offense against Seattle. Coordinator Ron Turner called 34 runs and 41 pass plays, and Grossman made the offense click by distributing his 21 completions among nine receivers, including at least one to each running back and two of three tight ends.
BEARS OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
QB Rex Grossman
Grossman is in the unfortunate situation of needing to win the Super Bowl to temper criticism. No matter how well he plays, the first bad game–or even bad turnover–will ignite the chorus of “We told you so!” The key: He and his teammates aren’t concerned about the criticism. They are 14-3 in his starts and his performance against Seattle was strong and fearless when he needed it to be. He took the deep shot when it was there and checked down to his underneath options when it wasn’t.
SKILL PLAYERS
RB Thomas Jones
FB Jason McKie
WR M. Muhammad
WR Bernard Berrian
TE Desmond Clark
Berrian led the offense with five catches and 105 yards against Seattle and rocked the Seahawks with a 68-yard TD on the third series. The dagger was nickel receiver Rashied Davis, who had two catches of at least 30 yards. Muhammad is the veteran presence but the threat from Clark and the run blocking of the whole corps are serious factors in the Bears’ offensive scheme and philosophy.
UP FRONT
LT John Tait
LG Ruben Brown
C Olin Kreutz
RG Roberto Garza
RT Fred Miller
The front had its hands full against the speed-based Seattle front seven. The Bears are not physically overpowering inside but confirmed themselves to be one of the NFL’s best mix of run and pass blockers. Olin Kreutz was key in sorting out the Seattle blitz assault. The Saints will have to prove they can control the line for four quarters to shut down the Bears’ offense.
SAINTS DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
More Top Picks Best Ice Cleats
DE Charles Grant
DT Hollis Thomas
DT Brian Yound
DE Will Smith
New Orleans has size up front, particularly on the edges with Grant at 290 pounds and Smith at 282. Ex-NIU Huskie Thomas was suspended for the final four games for a substance issue but is one of the best run-stuffers the Bears face this season. Thomas can get push inside if not a lot of sacks (3.5) and he is playoff-proven from his years in Philadelphia. Smith is a playmaker with 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and three pass deflections. Grant had six sacks and is strong against the run.
LINEBACKERS
OLB Scott Fujita
MLB Mark Simoneau
OLB Scott Shanle
Saints are big at linebacker and are generally stronger against the run than in coverage. Shanle (98) and Fujita (96) were the Saints’ leading tacklers and Shanle, at 245 pounds, had four sacks and is a blitz threat; not bad for a seventh-round draft choice cut by the Rams and traded by Dallas. Simoneau was the oh-and-him-too part of the trade that sent wide receiver Donte Stallworth to Philadelphia. Simoneau is still playing; Stallworth is home.
SECONDARY
CB Mike McKenzie
CB Fred Thomas
SS Jay Bellamy
FS Josh Bullocks
Secondary is long on experience, with all but Bullocks 30 or older. Thomas has struggled at times with speed receivers and nickel back Jason Craft, another 30-something DB, had just one interception. McKenzie saw enough of the Bears while with Green Bay and is still an impact player who broke up 10 passes and intercepted two. The Bears’ speed could give Grossman opportunities downfield.
– – –
KEY MATCHUP
Ts Fred Miller and John Tait vs. DEs Charles Grant and Will Smith
Grant and Smith combined for 16.5 sacks while being forces against the run. Miller and Tait are veterans who had solid seasons taking care of Rex Grossman as well as being keys to the Bears averaging 4.1 yards per carry. Since Thomas will be extremely difficult to run against inside, winning on the edges will be pivotal. Grant and Smith have ability both to hold at the point of attack as well as squeeze down and force runs back inside. Want to know why OT and DE are the highest-paid line positions? These four will show you.