Defensive line prepped to take corrective action

Paea thinks he and teammates can rectify errors in pass rush against Vikings

By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter

7:36 p.m. CST, November 23, 2012

Nose tackle Stephen Paea understands the mistakes the defensive line made in Monday night's 32-7 loss to the 49ers. Paea doesn't expect those to happen again.

"We just have to play our keys and do our jobs,'' Paea said. "I felt like the pass rush wasn't there the last game. We gave them too much time in the backfield. We just have to do a better job of getting to the quarterback.''

Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli put an extra emphasis on his defensive line stopping the run going into the 49ers game. The line accounted for just one sack on a combined effort of defensive ends Corey Wootton and Israel Idonije. The Bears had just two sacks in the game, total.

Sunday's emphasis again will be stopping the run. This time it's Vikings star Adrian Peterson, the league's leading rusher. Peterson rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns at Soldier Field as a rookie in 2007.

But the Bears can't forget to pressure quarterback Christian Ponder, who has been sacked 25 times this season — nine fewer than Bears quarterbacks have endured.

"Looking back, running wasn't what won the game for (the 49ers),'' Paea said. "They threw the ball a lot. That backup quarterback (Colin Kaepernick) came in and did well against us. If we would have stopped the pass, we would have had a chance to win. We just got out-performed.

"We just have to get our mindset right and do our job.''

The Bears have 28 sacks this season, led by Julius Peppers' six. Peppers has eight sacks in nine career games against the Vikings.

On the mend: While the Bears await word on Jay Cutler getting full clearance from a concussion, another member of the offense also is questionable for Sunday's game. Tight end Kellen Davis continues to recover from an ankle injury. He didn't practice Thursday and was limited Friday.

Receiver Alshon Jeffery will miss the Vikings' game after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. He is expected to be out two to four weeks.

Eight players nursing injuries are all probable for the Bears, including quarterback Jason Campbell (ribs), receiver Brandon Marshall (shoulder) and defensive end Shea McClellin (concussion).

Extra points: Safety Chris Conte did not get fined for his hit on 49ers receiver Mario Manningham Monday night. Conte, who was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play, said he simply tried to make sure Manningham wouldn't get up and run because he was untouched. … Vikings receiver/returner Percy Harvin is not expected to play Sunday as he continues to nurse a sprained left ankle. He is listed as a doubtful. Two players are questionable for the Vikings: Starting left guard Charlie Johnson (toe) and starting nose tackle Letroy Guion (foot).


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