Good News; Chris Harris Likely to Play Monday Night............

Lions likely to get dose of Bears safety Chris Harris BY MARK POTASH mpotash@suntimes.com October October 7, 2011 11:08PM Updated: October 8, 2011 12:51AM


Bears starting strong safety Chris Harris practiced on a limited basis Friday, but coach Lovie Smith expects him to play Monday against the Detroit Lions.

Harris has missed the Bears’ last three games with a hamstring injury. The Bears have dropped from fourth in the NFL in points allowed (12.0) to a tie for 20th (24.5) and from 22nd in yards allowed (386) to 31st (426) since his injury.

‘‘He had a good day today. We think he’s good to go,’’ Smith said. ‘‘We need him. We’ve missed him back there. We’ll need all our horses this week.’’

Brandon Meriweather, who has started the last three games at free safety, is likely to start there again Monday, with Major Wright backing up Harris. (I'd rather see Harris at FS. Meriweather lacks discipline. At least this gets Wright back in a rotation with vets again. Hopefully that will help his game)

Stopping ‘Megatron’:

Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson has caught two touchdown passes in all four games this season. Johnson has 21 receptions for 330 yards (15.7 yards per catch) and two touchdowns in eight games against the Bears.

He had 14 catches for 219 yards against them in the two meetings in 2009. ‘‘I think we have to be physical with him,’’ Harris said. ‘‘That’s one thing I do is try to be physical. He’s a big body [6-5, 236]. I can’t allow him free releases [off the line of scrimmage]. I want to try and throw off the timing routes.’’ (Maybe Jennings should jump on his shoulders and ride him)

Wootton out again:

Defensive end Corey Wootton, whose season can’t seem to get started, missed practice with a hand injury Friday. He missed most of the preseason and the first three regular-season games with a knee injury. He played on special teams last week. (Jeezus they put him on ST in a meaningless preseason game and get him hurt and now he gets hurt again? This just seems like plain bad luck to me. Somebody must have taken his place while he was out so don't put him back on ST again)

I'm anxious to see whether Wootton is back to where he was in camp. He said he'd gotten his burst back and I wonder if he's 100% there yet. Having Harris back will help a lot. Hopefully he's not pushing that hammy too fast and risking reinjuring it,

Finally some good news! Go #46!

need him badly...

Yeah we do do. No doubt about it.
Bears' safeties will have their hands full Monday

There is no game plan designed to limit a receiver like Lions' Johnson

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/...0/65307701.jpg Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson makes a touchdown reception over Dallas' Terence Newman late in the fourth quarter at Cowboys Stadium. (Khampha Bouaphanh, McClatchy-Tribune / October 2, 2011)

Matt Bowen Scouting the Bears 8:21 p.m. CDT, October 9, 2011


There is a moment when the panic sets in. A false step, slight hesitation or a bad angle to the ball.

You know you are beat

I experienced it firsthand vs. Randy Moss, when he was wearing the silver and black of the Raiders.

It was a sun-splashed fall day in Washington. I was playing safety for the Redskins. A late-afternoon kickoff, shadows creeping over the field early in the second quarter. The ball was just shy of midfield, first-and-10 for the Raiders. A perfect spot for the offense to take a shot to Moss.

I played deep in Cover-2, almost 18 yards off the ball, and worked my way to 20 at the snap. Moss released inside, then vertically up the field to get free of the cornerback.

I looked back inside (for what felt like a second) at the tight end and then turned my head back to Moss.

He was 10 yards behind me.

My feet — now tangled — couldn't move quickly enough to turn and run. I was stuck. The quarterback gave Moss a look and then ultimately checked it down to avoid pressure off the edge.

I was saved from the embarrassment of the nightly highlight reel. But I still couldn't get over how fast Moss sucked up the 20 yards of cushion I had given myself.

At Ford Field on "Monday Night Football," the Bears' safeties will experience the same situation against Calvin Johnson, a receiver who runs like Moss did but with more power, strength and size at the point of attack.

There is no game plan designed to limit a player like Johnson. He can beat man coverage and blow the top off of Cover-2 — whenever he wants. Eight touchdowns in four weeks tells everyone that.

The Bears' defensive philosophy under Lovie Smith is designed to force the ball to go underneath with the two deep safeties acting as the last line of defense. A solid scheme to take away the deep ball.

However, verses Johnson, the safeties now become targets to exploit. Depth is key, footwork is crucial and the ability to turn and run becomes a game-saver.

You can't see it in practice playing against the scout team or in the game plan that breaks down offensive tendencies. Nothing can prepare you for the speed or the instant offense Johnson can provide with one throw.

Players who dictate the flow of the game from an offensive perspective don't come around very often in this league. X's and O's just don't apply to them.

No defensive back is perfect with technique. The ability to recover often saves you as a Cover-2 safety.

Not Monday. Because like that day back at FedEx Field verses Moss, you don't recover against top-tier receivers when you are beat in the deep half.

Special contributor Matt Bowen, who played at Glenbard West and Iowa, spent seven seasons in the NFL as a strong safety. You also can find his work at nationalfootballpost.com.

The thought ( for this thread ) was in the right place absolutely ..... but he totally sucked tonight.

I heard people at 1/2 time talking about the game on the score, and they made it sound like he was playing like he was still injured. Does that sound right; or was he just bad?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Riczaj01

I heard people at 1/2 time talking about the game on the score, and they made it sound like he was playing like he was still injured. Does that sound right; or was he just bad?

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Sounds like a bunch of excuse making to me ..... he wasn't just bad , he was brutal.

It's bad when a fan like me thinks Conte and Steltz should start after seeing this

Merriweather missed a few key tackles. He sucks beyond belief. He is like a Mike Brown that cant tackle.