Still looking for answers
Grossman-Orton among many questions facing Lovie
August 16, 2008
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
SEATTLE -- All eyes will be on the quarterbacks tonight as the Bears look for a clue as to who will be named the starter in the next week or so.
If only it were that simple.
After a lackluster performance against the Chiefs, Bears linebacker Lance Briggs looks to improve.
(Sun-Times)
The Bears have so many moving parts right now that coach Lovie Smith has said the starters could play into the third quarter, territory they usually don't reach until the standard dress rehearsal in the third preseason game. With Smith possibly not choosing between tonight's starter, Rex Grossman, and Kyle Orton until after Thursday's game against San Francisco at Soldier Field, there's even a chance the first team will get an extended look in the preseason finale Aug. 28 at Cleveland.
''We're keeping all options open,'' Smith said. ''That's our standard answer. This year is a totally different thing. We're not going with the traditional first-game, second-game, third-game routine.''[/b]
It would seem risky, bordering on foolish, to expose any starters against the Browns. Tight end Greg Olsen sprained his left knee in the final minutes of the first half of last year's preseason finale and missed the first two games and most of the next two. In 2003, guard Rex Tucker tore a tendon in his right ankle in the final preseason game, costing him the entire season.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Tonight, the Bears face the injury-depleted Seahawks at Qwest Field. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is not expected to play, and if you think the Bears have a muddled situation at wide receiver, check out the Seahawks' mess after ex-Bear Bobby Engram went out with a fractured shoulder. Pro Bowl defensive end Patrick Kerney also will sit out.
Bears wide receivers coach Darryl Drake said he wants to get an extended look at Marty Booker and Devin Hester. Booker didn't have a catch against Kansas City and didn't show a lot in training camp. That's not alarming because his M.O. always has been that he shows up on game day and isn't a great practice player. Hester still needs all the work he can get.
''Coming into camp, we talked about him as a returner that a lot of people thought could play receiver,'' Smith said. ''Now, it's safe to say that he's a receiver. He's doing all the things that we've asked him to do. I still make the same statement: He can be a one- or two-type receiver in the league.''
Here are four other players to keep an eye on when you're not fixated on the quarterbacks:
Left tackle John St. Clair
The coaching staff was about as ecstatic as it can be with the play of the offensive line in the preseason opener last week. St. Clair needs to make sure that feel-good buzz remains, or the scrutiny the team found so annoying about flip-flopping St. Clair and right tackle John Tait will return. In a hurry.
Strong safety Kevin Payne
There are concerns about the depth at safety, which makes Payne's opportunity in the absence of Brandon McGowan (sprained right ankle) a good thing. General manager Jerry Angelo is aware of what the shortcomings in the secondary did to the defense last season and knows he is another injury or two away from potentially being in the same place.
Payne is one of the hardest hitters on the roster but must show he has a handle on the scheme. Rookie Craig Steltz didn't show the speed in camp you want to see from a safety playing the deep post, and the Bears need to see more at the position or consider an addition on cutdown weekend.
Reserve tackle Kirk Barton
The offensive line is one injury away from having to throw the seventh-round pick into the starting lineup. Barton has benefitted from a lot of work in camp and probably will spell Tait in the second quarter. The coaching staff is going to have to see a lot from him not to consider a move in the coming weeks -- either the return of Fred Miller or a look through the discard pile after cuts.
Weak-side linebacker Lance Briggs
The Chiefs' opening 16-play drive last week was not the fault of any one player, but Briggs had his share of errors. He missed running back Jamaal Charles in the flat on a check down, and on Larry Johnson's six-yard touchdown run, he was taken clean out of the play by tight end Tony Gonzalez, who isn't known for his blocking prowess.
Briggs has been a big playmaker his entire career, and the $36 million contract his reward. It was also a reason to expect more.
Grossman-Orton among many questions facing Lovie
August 16, 2008
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
SEATTLE -- All eyes will be on the quarterbacks tonight as the Bears look for a clue as to who will be named the starter in the next week or so.
If only it were that simple.
After a lackluster performance against the Chiefs, Bears linebacker Lance Briggs looks to improve.
(Sun-Times)
The Bears have so many moving parts right now that coach Lovie Smith has said the starters could play into the third quarter, territory they usually don't reach until the standard dress rehearsal in the third preseason game. With Smith possibly not choosing between tonight's starter, Rex Grossman, and Kyle Orton until after Thursday's game against San Francisco at Soldier Field, there's even a chance the first team will get an extended look in the preseason finale Aug. 28 at Cleveland.
''We're keeping all options open,'' Smith said. ''That's our standard answer. This year is a totally different thing. We're not going with the traditional first-game, second-game, third-game routine.''[/b]
It would seem risky, bordering on foolish, to expose any starters against the Browns. Tight end Greg Olsen sprained his left knee in the final minutes of the first half of last year's preseason finale and missed the first two games and most of the next two. In 2003, guard Rex Tucker tore a tendon in his right ankle in the final preseason game, costing him the entire season.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Tonight, the Bears face the injury-depleted Seahawks at Qwest Field. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is not expected to play, and if you think the Bears have a muddled situation at wide receiver, check out the Seahawks' mess after ex-Bear Bobby Engram went out with a fractured shoulder. Pro Bowl defensive end Patrick Kerney also will sit out.
Bears wide receivers coach Darryl Drake said he wants to get an extended look at Marty Booker and Devin Hester. Booker didn't have a catch against Kansas City and didn't show a lot in training camp. That's not alarming because his M.O. always has been that he shows up on game day and isn't a great practice player. Hester still needs all the work he can get.
''Coming into camp, we talked about him as a returner that a lot of people thought could play receiver,'' Smith said. ''Now, it's safe to say that he's a receiver. He's doing all the things that we've asked him to do. I still make the same statement: He can be a one- or two-type receiver in the league.''
Here are four other players to keep an eye on when you're not fixated on the quarterbacks:
Left tackle John St. Clair
The coaching staff was about as ecstatic as it can be with the play of the offensive line in the preseason opener last week. St. Clair needs to make sure that feel-good buzz remains, or the scrutiny the team found so annoying about flip-flopping St. Clair and right tackle John Tait will return. In a hurry.
Strong safety Kevin Payne
There are concerns about the depth at safety, which makes Payne's opportunity in the absence of Brandon McGowan (sprained right ankle) a good thing. General manager Jerry Angelo is aware of what the shortcomings in the secondary did to the defense last season and knows he is another injury or two away from potentially being in the same place.
Payne is one of the hardest hitters on the roster but must show he has a handle on the scheme. Rookie Craig Steltz didn't show the speed in camp you want to see from a safety playing the deep post, and the Bears need to see more at the position or consider an addition on cutdown weekend.
Reserve tackle Kirk Barton
The offensive line is one injury away from having to throw the seventh-round pick into the starting lineup. Barton has benefitted from a lot of work in camp and probably will spell Tait in the second quarter. The coaching staff is going to have to see a lot from him not to consider a move in the coming weeks -- either the return of Fred Miller or a look through the discard pile after cuts.
Weak-side linebacker Lance Briggs
The Chiefs' opening 16-play drive last week was not the fault of any one player, but Briggs had his share of errors. He missed running back Jamaal Charles in the flat on a check down, and on Larry Johnson's six-yard touchdown run, he was taken clean out of the play by tight end Tony Gonzalez, who isn't known for his blocking prowess.
Briggs has been a big playmaker his entire career, and the $36 million contract his reward. It was also a reason to expect more.
