greylion

Training Camp Preview: Defense
Brian Urlacher leads the defensive charge.

Date: Jul 18, 2006
The Bears defense topped the league rankings for most of last season, but faltered when it mattered the most. The unit should be as good, if not better this year. Take a position-by-position look at each area of the defense.


DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LE Adewale Ogunleye, LT Tommie Harris, RT Ian Scott, RE Alex Brown. Backups -- T Tank Johnson, E-T Israel Idonije, T Alfonso Boone, T Dusty Dvoracek, E-T Michael Haynes, E Mark Anderson.

Like every NFL team, the Bears could use another big-time pass rusher, but otherwise it's a deep and talented group. Ogunleye had 10 sacks, while Brown had six. Both were Pro Bowl alternates. Haynes, the 14th overall pick in 2003, fell behind free agent Idonije on the depth chart and could be moved to tackle or become a utility player. Idonije can play inside or outside and has shown potential and enough athleticism to be effective on special teams. Inside, Harris made his first Pro Bowl and is a disruptive force capable of beating double teams with quickness at the three technique. Scott does the dirty work and is a solid run stuffer. Johnson (five sacks) and Boone play in the four-man tackle rotation as backups, and Johnson is effective in the nickel package. Rookie Dvoracek, a third-rounder, could play a key role if Johnson's torn hamstring isn't completely healed by training camp. Anderson is strictly an extra pass rusher at this point.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- WLB Lance Briggs, MLB Brian Urlacher, SLB Hunter Hillenmeyer. Backups -- WLB Leon Joe, MLB Jamar Williams, LB Brendon Ayanbadejo, LB Jeremy Cain.

Urlacher went back to Hawaii for the fifth time after a one-year hiatus. He gives the Bears another pass rusher and makes highlight plays sideline to sideline. Briggs had 170 tackles, one less than Urlacher, and he's in a contract year unless the Bears unexpectedly get him re-signed before the end of the season. Briggs is almost as active as Urlacher but doesn't make as many big plays. On the strong side, smart and steady Hillenmeyer has become a solid starter, although he comes off the field in passing situations. There isn't much depth, but fourth-rounder Williams has the versatility to play all three positions.

SECONDARY: Starters -- LCB Charles Tillman, RCB Nate Vasher, SS Mike Brown, FS Chris Harris. Backups -- CB Ricky Manning Jr., S Danieal Manning, CB Dante Wesley, CB Devin Hester, S Todd Johnson. Vasher went to the Pro Bowl on the strength of eight interceptions and 145 return yards. But big, physical Tillman was inconsistent for the second straight year. They are a complementary couple because Vasher is undersized but a great ball athlete, while Tillman can match up with the biggest wideouts. The secondary was torched by Steve Smith in the playoff loss, giving the group something to prove this season. The group is better and deeper with the addition of restricted free agent Manning Jr., who got a five-year deal worth as much as $21 million to fill the void at nickel corner left by Jerry Azumah's retirement. Manning is an upgrade who could start in a pinch. When the tough, heady Brown is healthy, the Bears' defense plays much better as a whole because he quarterbacks the secondary. But he's missed 18 starts in the past two seasons. Harris played well for a sixth-round pick as a rookie in '05, but he could be replaced by Danieal Manning, who was chosen 42nd overall and has impressive talent but is raw.


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If you can't break your nose at it, it ain't a sport.

imported_Hawaiian54

I so cannot wait for this season to start.

GO BEARS!!

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When I hit someone, I don't wanna hurt'em...I wanna take their SOUL. - Ray Lewis

imported_PeanutTillman

I really didnt like rich text editor. I dont even know why

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Bye NFL-Fans

WaltsOrangeCBears

Bears are gonna kick some *** Baby.
GO BEARS GO BEARS.

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cheers Megatron

http://www.freewebs.com/waltsorangecbears/
My Bears Website please check it out.

Duds47

For the first time in a LOOOONG time, I won't scoff at bear fans throwing the S-word around.


Superbowl....

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Quote by Moe Syzlak: May 23, 2005

dabayrz

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PeanutTillman @ Jul 18th ) [snapback]1629170[/snapback]</div>the more you post...I wonder what you like...

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bMaGs

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Duds47 @ Jul 18th ) [snapback]1629230[/snapback]</div>**** **** ****

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Big Africa)</div>

imported_PeanutTillman

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dabayrz @ Jul 18th ) [snapback]1629433[/snapback]</div>Ask, and you shall recieve.

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Bye NFL-Fans

greylion

Training Camp Preview: Special Teams
Devin Hester

Date: Jul 19, 2006
The Bears will have to rely on strong special teams play to help put points on the board and keep the opposition at bay. Take an in depth look at the kicking game as well as the top candidates to handle kicks and punts.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Starters -- PK Robbie Gould, P Brad Maynard, LS Patrick Mannelly, PR Devin Hester, KR Rashied Davis. Backups KR Danieal Manning, K Josh Huston, P Joel Stelly.

Gould (21 of 27 FG attempts) was a pleasant surprise last season as a rookie, and he has a much stronger leg than veteran Doug Brien or Paul Edinger, who preceded him. Still, the majority of his misses came from 40 yards and beyond. His accuracy from long range will have to improve for him to keep the job.

The team wants to push Gould and signed Huston as an undrafted free agent Josh out of Ohio State. Huston spent most of his time behind current Jets kicker Mike Nugent until his final year at school. He converted 22 of 28 field goals, but connected on just 5 of 10 attempts from beyond 40 yards. He did lead the nation with 49 touchbacks. In his career, 54 of his 77 kickoffs went for touchbacks, and he had one stretch of 18 straight touchbacks in 2005.

Normally reliable Maynard had a sub-par season, but he has a strong leg and generally can place his kicks with great accuracy. His net average dropped by 3.4 yards per attempt from 2004 to 2005. He also placed just 24 punts inside the 20 compared to 11 touchbacks.

The low point came in the playoff loss to Carolina, when Maynard had two attempts go less than 20 yards. Management was openly critical of him in the off-season and vowed to find someone to push the 10-year veteran in training camp.

Stelly averaged 44.6 per punt at Louisiana Monroe. The undrafted free agent is also capable of kicking off, as 23 of his 44 kickoffs went for touchbacks last year. He has shown the ability to boom the ball in his brief stint with the Bears, but his accuracy and consistency leave something to be desired. The six-foot-1, 221-pounder will have to prove he can be counted on under pressure in order to beat out Maynard. Finding reliable return men was a season-long problem that appears to have been solved with the selection of Manning and Hester. Both scored six times on special teams in college and are legitimate home run threats. However, it will likely be Hester who handles punts and possibly kickoffs. Davis is somewhat undersized but has the toughness to compete. Mannelly is one of the most reliable long snappers in the business.


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__________________
If you can't break your nose at it, it ain't a sport.

bMaGs

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PeanutTillman @ Jul 18th ) [snapback]1629730[/snapback]</div>i didn't really like crede until september of last year.

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Big Africa)</div>