Thread: Bears 17, panthers 3.. Game preview and who ya got???

ago at Carolina

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Week 5 NFL tip sheet

Personnel, notes, my top teams and all the Week 5 picks. Matt Bowen

Todd Collins, Bears: Chicago made the right call shutting down QB Jay Cutler after the concussion Sunday night, but what do we expect to see from Collins? If I am Mike Martz, I start to limit those 7-step drops and multiple breaking routes. Use Collins in the 3-step passing game and find a way to help him with production out of the backfield.

The Bears’ O-Line: We will know early in the game if they made the proper corrections after the beating in New York. Martz can help out as well by altering that game plan.

Notes…
Carolina: No Steve Smith at WR is really going to limit the options for rookie QB Jimmy Clausen against the Bears Cover 2 defense. Expect plenty of handoffs to RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart—forcing the Bears to play some Cover 1 and Cover 3, bringing that strong safety down into the box. Don’t want your rookie QB in 3rd and long situations against a defense dropping seven into coverage.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/...tip-sheet.html

Sporting news:

Upset of the Week

Carolina over Chicago (-2 1/2), Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
The Panthers' defense will be motivated by the return of former teammate Julius Peppers, and desperation will turn into an ugly first win for Carolina. Panthers 16, Bears 14

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed...-chiefs#subnav

Week 5 matchup: Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers

Do I know you? The Panthers will see several familiar faces on the other sideline, but they can’t get sentimental. They have to find their own identity before it’s too late this season, assuming it’s not already too late. Carolina needs something good to happen — and fast — or it’s going to turn ugly this season.

Can anyone protect? The Bears gave up nine sacks in the first half against the Giants last week, and the Panthers couldn’t give rookie QB Jimmy Clausen enough time in the loss at New Orleans. There are small signs Clausen is learning, but he needs to put it together. With Jay Cutler out with a concussion, the Bears’ protection will have to be a lot better to keep journeyman Todd Collins, 38, off the ground.

Who can be special? The Bears have a big-time returner in Devin Hester, but the Panthers’ coverage units have improved steadily. On the other side, Panthers KR Mike Goodson is on the verge of becoming a playmaker himself. The Panthers want to incorporate Goodson into the offense, like the Bears have with Hester.

Three key Bears

DE Julius Peppers. Do you think he has something to prove Sunday? He played eight seasons with the Panthers, but he wanted to get out his last couple of years in Carolina — and he eventually succeeded. Now with his chosen team, he’s playing as well as he ever has. Look for him to show off in Charlotte.

SS Chris Harris. Speaking of guys with something to prove, the Panthers sent Harris back to the Bears after three years because they thought he was too old and too expensive. Though he’s not a great player in coverage anymore, he can still be very good in run support, and that will be a huge factor in this game.

QB Todd Collins. With Cutler out, the Bears need Collins to run Mike Martz’s downfield passing offense. Most important, they need him to avoid turnovers. The guess is the Bears will rein in the offense and try to run. That would be a smart approach because the Panthers will struggle to score with a rookie quarterback and perhaps the worst receiving unit in the league.

Three key Panthers
WR David Gettis. With WR Steve Smith (high ankle sprain) out and Dwayne Jarrett gone, Gettis is suddenly the Panthers’ go-to receiver. A big target who can run, Gettis has been the best of the three wideouts the Panthers drafted this year. But how much can be expected of a rookie sixth-round pick?

RB DeAngelo Williams. He needs to be the Panthers’ bell cow, but he hasn’t gotten enough touches to be a big factor so far. The Panthers have to give him the ball consistently, so he can display what he — and this offense — is all about.

DT Ed Johnson. Johnson has been surprisingly solid after barely playing the past two years with the Colts. He has been stout inside, even if he’s not getting much push as a pass rusher. He will have a key role Sunday because the Bears will try to establish the running game so they can use play-action to help protect Collins.


Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed...#ixzz11lxwZkoy

21The Bears looked terrible at New York last week and now must go on the road again against a Carolina team that is playing better. The Chicago offensive line was horrible against the Giants and will face more pressure here. How effective can Jay Cutler be against this rush? The Panthers will pound their backs at the Bears to get just enough offense. The Panthers also get their first victory.17

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/feature...co/picks/week5

BTW why they will go with Collins over hanie:

Hanie has better mobility -- a key factor considering the Bears allowed 10 sacks last week -- but Collins' experience made the difference.

''But that's not to say we don't like Caleb,'' Smith said. ''Caleb is capable of playing good football for us. But right now, Todd is the next guy up.''

It says all you need to know about the Bears' predicament without Cutler that they're turning to an ''experienced'' quarterback with 20 career NFL starts -- only three since 1997.

But Collins has plenty of practice experience in a Mike Martz-like system during five seasons with the Chiefs, where Al Saunders, a Martz disciple, was the offensive coordinator.

The timing and familiarity elements of Martz's system would seem to be a detriment to a quick change at quarterback.

But when the Rams were past their prime in 2004, 39-year-old Chris Chandler threw six interceptions and was sacked three times as a sub quarterback in a 20-7 loss at Carolina.

''It's pretty complex,'' Collins said of the Martz offense. ''I have some background in it, and I don't think it's anything insurmountable. It helps that I have some experience in it -- all the different shifts and formations, so we're going to take advantage of that.''

Chicago Bears (3-1) at Carolina Panthers (0-4)
Line: Panthers by 1. Total: 33.
Walt's Projected Line (Before Week 4): Bears -3.
Walt's Projected Line (After Week 4): Bears -3.
Sunday, Oct. 10, 1:00 ET
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The Game. Edge: Bears.

In addition to an E-mail of the Week, I'm also going to post a Video of the Week. Last week I posted two clips from two old-school game shows, Nick Arcade and Legends of the Hidden Temple. Here's one you may not be familiar with. It's an old British game show, and it's basically the cheesiest piece of crap ever put on TV. This is the second half of the review of Knightmare (the first half is kind of boring), so check it out to see how amazingly stupid some of these kids are. Thanks to Wraith for pointing this out to me.

CHICAGO OFFENSE: I don't get it. Why does everyone say that the Bears-Giants game was excruciating to watch? I found it highly amusing. I was praying for the Bears to get the ball as much as possible so the sack total could keep rising. I hoped the Giants could break the single-game record of 12, but they unfortunately fell short.

The Giants simply matched up too well with the Bears. The downfall of Mike Martz's offense occurs whenever his teams play a defense capable of rushing the passer without blitzing. Eight of Jay Cutler's nine sacks took place when New York sent only its four linemen.

Cutler is expected to play in this contest, which is why Vegas posted a line Tuesday morning. I'm not even sure if Cutler suffered a concussion on Sunday night, but that's irrelevant here; the fact of the matter is that Carolina is incapable of putting pressure on the quarterback without blitzing. The Panthers have just four sacks on the year, though Everette Brown had a solid game at New Orleans last week. Still, just one pass-rushing presence won't be enough.

CAROLINA OFFENSE: While one team gets its star player back from "injury," the other will be without its stud play-maker. Steve Smith suffered a high ankle sprain at New Orleans, and will be out until at least Week 7.

I don't have to tell you that this isn't good for the Panthers. With Smith out, Jimmy Clausen's top receiving options are the unknown David Gettis, crappy David Clowney and drop-happy Brandon LaFell. As if playing Chicago's 12th-ranked pass defense amid poor pass protection wasn't enough.

The Panthers will need to establish their ground attack if they want to keep Clausen from getting killed. The problem is that Carolina hasn't been able to run the ball effectively with right tackle Jeff Otah out with a knee injury. The Bears are 10th versus the rush anyway.

RECAP: The Panthers shocked everyone by nearly knocking off the Saints in the Superdome. They gave it their all, but fell short in the final few seconds. I don't know how Carolina can possibly get up for the Bears, who looked pathetic on Sunday night.

Chicago, meanwhile, may have something to prove to all of the naysayers who are now stating that their 3-0 start was a fluke. The Bears embarrassed themselves in front of a national audience and will be seeking redemption.

JAY CUTLER UPDATE: Cutler has been ruled out with a concussion, and Todd Collins will start. I've moved this up from three to four units; with Cutler out, Chicago's defense knows it'll have to step up to win this game. I like the Bears now for the same reason I went five units with the Steelers over the Falcons in Week 1.


The Psychology. Edge: Bears.
The Panthers played their hearts out in New Orleans, but came up short. They won't be 100 percent for this matchup after seeing the Bears suck on national TV.


The Vegas. Edge: Panthers.
Two-thirds action on the Bears.
Percentage of money on Chicago: 66% (10,000 bets)


The Trends. Edge: TBA. Zero Heroes: 0-4 teams are 22-8 ATS since 2000.
Panthers are 35-25 ATS as an underdog the previous 59 instances.
Panthers are 23-33 ATS at home since 2003.
Opening Line: Bears -3.
Opening Total: 36.
Weather: .


Week 5 NFL Pick: Bears 20, Panthers 10
Bears +1 (4 Units)
Under 36 (0 Units)

http://www.walterfootball.com/nflpicks2010_05early.php