what the Bears are saying...

[USAFSkinFan]

Here's some clips from Bears camp... my question is are we, the fans and the team as well, already looking past the Bears? I have to admit, I'm a little guilty of it...

"Azumah hopes to be double trouble for Redskins in opener...
With a week of practice, Azumah is confident that he'll be able to both contribute on defense and return kicks against the Redskins"

"Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of e-mail questions from fans every day on ChicagoBears.com.

Larry: I'd like to know if the Bears' offensive coaches are having the offensive line and backfield really prepare and focus for what will seem to be a lot of blitzing from Washington's strong defense against a young Kyle Orton.

Raul B.
LaVerne, California

Raul: That's definitely one of the things the Bears are concentrating on this week. They know that Redskins defensive coach Gregg Williams leads an aggressive, blitzing unit that likely will try to disguise its looks in an effort to confuse rookie quarterback Kyle Orton. Orton doesn't seem to mind. He feels that facing a defense that blitzes a lot will give him and the Bears offense an opportunity to hit some big plays on Sunday. "

"Larry: Before Rex Grossman was injured you said that you felt the Bears would beat the Redskins. Do you still feel that way now?

Tommy D.
Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Tommy: Yes, I'll stick with my prediction that the Bears will beat the Redskins. I'll even go a step further: I'll say that they'll score 23 points on one touchdown by the offense, one score on either defense or special teams and three Doug Brien field goals."

[sch1977]

This guy needs to pass the bottle ! I think he has had enough

[Skin Diesel]

Name a rookie QB who has won a start in his first game on opening day. Although I'm sure it has happened, I can't remember any. Some rookies have won when they started their first game during the middle of the season, but I think it's a lot harder when a rookie QB starts on opening day.

If we lose to the Bears at home, then we're in big trouble this year.

[redskingush]

Going into this game it's not looking like the bears vs redskins it's looking like their defence vs ours. Who ever scores off the turnovers(that will happen) I don't imagine record offensive numbers going in the books.

[SkinsJock]

Going into this game...it's looking like their defence vs ours. I don't imagine record offensive numbers ...

I think this is why the odds for over/under are at something like 33! That is the lowest for the opening week!

[Chris Luva Luva]

The Bears offense will be shutdown and it'll be a tragic site for their fans.

[cvillehog]

What makes this guy think the bears will score 23? Based on what precident?

[PulpExposure]

Considering the Bears couldn't score on us last year, what makes him think they can do so this year?

Oh right. Kyle Orton is Peyton Manning.

[BringThePain!]

The only thing I can think of is he's basing it off of the big day Muhammad had off of us back in 2003.... but Carolina also had a better RB, and better QB when they faced us, than the Bears do today....

[SkinsJock]

cville! Admittedly this is Pre-season rankings BUT this from a guy whose team is ranked 23 in both offense and 23 in total defence! And they are ranked 21 in defensive turnovers! dreamer!

[Deadskins]

He's assuming that we will be giving the ball away on offense like we did last year (to the tune of about 1 defensive TD per game).

[cvillehog]

He's assuming that we will be giving the ball away on offense like we did last year (to the tune of about 1 defensive TD per game).

All the same, we still would've been a playoff team by merely scoring 21 points a game last year.

[trey53]

I think it will be a low scoring affair. They have a good defense and Ramsey is still getting his feet under him. I really think the X Factor, though, is Azumah. Our Special Teams hasn't been very good in preseason...as long as they contain him I think the Skins can win easy.

Ofcourse I also have a gut feeling that Portis will blow up this year...so my low scoring prediction may be wrong...I can only hope!

[sch1977]

Somehow I just cant get too worried about Da Bears, especially since Orton is the QB. Final score: Skins 24 Bears 10

[hkHog]

Orton doesn't seem to mind. He feels that facing a defense that blitzes a lot will give him and the Bears offense an opportunity to hit some big plays on Sunday. "

That's your first mistake Kyle...

This is the BIGGEST misconception about the Redskins defense. Certainly it SEEMS logical that blitzing defenses will give up a lot of big plays but when you actually examine our defense last year you quickly learn that this is the furthest thing from the truth.

Last year our defense gave up 34 passing plays of over 20 yds, third best in the NFL behind only Cleveland (31) and Pittsburgh (33). We only gave up seven rushing plays of over 20 yards too. When you combine those, our defense only gave up 41 plays of over 20 yards!!! That was second in the league behind Pittsburgh!!! What's more, we gave up the least amount of points in the NFL (tied with Pittsburgh).

So, I don't want to hear this crap anymore! It's the old cliche, blitzing leaves you open to big plays but it just isn't true anymore. If it was, then why did the two most blitzing teams in the league give up the least amount of big plays!?!?!?!?

I hope you're ready Kyle because they only big plays you'll be a part of when you're on the field are the ones that the 'Skins D are going to have against you.


BTW, this is another reason that I have stopped buying the whole "we need more pressure from our DEs" BS because the first reason people give for needing better DEs is so that we don't have to blitz so much and risk giving up big plays. It just isn't true.

[die cowboys die]

The only thing I can think of is he's basing it off of the big day Muhammad had off of us back in 2003.... but Carolina also had a better RB, and better QB when they faced us, than the Bears do today....

not to mention the fact that we didn't have any real coaches back then, and now we have the best.


hkhog, you make some great points, i had never seen those stats. wow!

[USAFSkinFan]

Somehow I just cant get too worried about Da Bears, especially since Orton is the QB. Final score: Skins 24 Bears 10

I hope the Redskins are taking the Bears more seriously than we are... for some reason I'm not at all worried going into this game... even though I have no recent history to base this confidence on, I'd be absolutely shocked if the 'Skins lost... I'm excited about this week, but all I can see is stars in week 2...

[ArizonaHOG]

On any given day....... We better be ready for the Bears and everyone else we play. There is a fine line bewtween winning and losing in the NFL. I think we will be VERY ready for the Bears and I look for the O-line and Portis to have a HUGE day. Redskins 24-10.

[redskingush]

I hope so, I got Portis in my Fantasy Team.

[Scottskins]

No worries, Gibbs won't let the guys overlook ANY team, even the Bears...

If we play as hard as we can, I don't see how the Bears can beat us other than the Any given sunday scenario...

[Steve Spurrier III]

Just a tidbit from ESPN Insider, "Scouting Mismatches: Week 1":

Chicago RG Terrence Metcalf vs. Washington DT Cornelius Griffin
Griffin led the defensive line last year in tackles with 70 and tied for the team lead with DC Shawn Springs in sacks with six. He has a combination of quickness, power and first-step explosion as a pass rusher and the size, strength and athleticism to be very active and productive as a one-gap player. He doesn't always play with good intensity, but he played at a Pro-Bowl level during the 2004 season.

The Bears will try to protect Metcalf by sliding the offensive line protections toward him with help from four-time Pro Bowler Olin Kreutz. However, this could be critical in how much they use RB Cedric Benson in sub situations -- his holdout could cause problems on the edge in pass protection.