Packers Headlines
Jrlombardi reviews Packers headlines & Bears game preview.
Packers headlines: Wilde writes OLB coach Greene shows the OLB‘s qualities that make for great pass rusher, QB Rodgers spreading the wealth, stopping Julius Peppers, and five things to watch this Monday night. Silverstein reports Matthews wants to redefine the linebacker position, McGinn talks about how Quarless may replace Donald Lee on the 45 man roster and the five things to watch for the game against the unbearable Bears. Polzin describes the match-up between Dom Capers and Mike Martz as a chess match between experts. Copeland writes CB Shields will be tested against the Bears, Vandermause claims Packers and Bears are acting too friendly with Rodgers and Cutler mutual admiration club, and Dougherty talks about Cutler and Martz seem to be a good fit and 3 keys to Bears game.
Source: AP.
Preview: When: 7:30 p.m. Monday. Where: Soldier Field. TV: Channel 12, ESPN. Radio: AM-620. Tickets: Sold out. Line: Packers by 3. Weather: 57, partly cloudy. Series: Bears lead, 90-82-6. Coaches: Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy (41-28) vs. Chicago’s Lovie Smith (56-46). NEW UNIFORM: This will be DE Julius Peppers’ sixth game against the Packers; the previous five were as a member of the Carolina Panthers. LT Chad Clifton has been on the field in all five of the games, and RT Mark Tauscher has been at his station in four. In all, Peppers has 27 tackles and three sacks. YOUNG VS. OLD: Clay Matthews probably will spend most of the game over RT Kevin Shaffer. Frank Omiyale, who started at RT in the first two games, moved to the left side in Dallas when Chris Williams pulled a hamstring. “Shaffer can get killed by Matthews,” one scout said. FEATURED BACK: Matt Forte will make his fifth start against the Packers. Forte has rushed 76 times for 243 yards, a 3.2-yard average and one touchdown. He also has caught 12 passes for 85 yards, a 7.1 average and no scores. VETERAN CORNER: CB Charles Tillman, 29, will be starting his 14th game against the Packers. Added one personnel man: “He can’t really run anymore. He fell down on some double moves in Dallas.” NOTHING YET: In two games, Cutler’s rating is at 121.1 after a sterling showing in Dallas. “I thought he looked very composed,” one scout said after watching the Cowboys-Bears tape. “They move the pocket. I’m expecting them to run some more move the pocket against Green Bay.”
Packers: Behind Enemy Lines
Jrlombardi–Bears writers’ questions and answers about Packers vs Bears game.
Behind Enemy Lines 1–Packers QB Rodgers: In a conference call with the Chicago media, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers praised the Bears defense as well as quarterback Jay Cutler. On the Bears defense: “I think they are playing very well. The addition of Peppers has obviously helped. Having Urlacher and Tinoisamoa be healthy has solidified that front seven. The back end is doing a nice job as well. They’re playing very well together. It’s going to be a tough challenge for us. They seem to be running their stuff a little bit better. Lovie has been fairly consistent the last number of years he’s been coaching. They are always adding new wrinkles. They’ve always played us very tough on defense. It will be important for us to keep the chains moving and take the crowd out of it early.” On being hurt by Ryan Grant’s injury: “That’s media talk. We always have felt like when someone goes down with an injury, the next person has to step up and make the plays. We’re very confident in Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn being able to take the load that Ryan carried. Obviously losing Ryan is difficult, not only from a production standpoint, but from a leadership standpoint. It’s going to be important for us to stay the course, stay balanced and try to get our backs in space.” On how the Packers have started: ”On our side we still need to find a little better rhythm. It wasn’t until the second half of the Buffalo game when we started clicking a little better. Hopefully we’ll be able to put our best product of the season on the field on Monday night.
On the Beat: Chicago Tribune Bears beat writer Brad Biggs graciously answered five questions about the Bears. What is the Bears’ biggest weakness on offense? It’s a work in progress along the line. The offensive line has questions including about former first-round draft pick Chris Williams. He’ll likely be sidelined with a pulled right hamstring. Frank Omiyale will take Williams’ spot at left tackle. Kevin Shaffer projects to fill in at right tackle Monday night. He’s a veteran with 91 career starts but will struggle athletically with outside linebacker Clay Matthews. What is the Bears’ biggest weakness on defense? After two games the secondary remains relatively untested. Questions remain about the safety position manned by veterans Chris Harris and Danieal Manning. The Bears are believed to have wanted Morgan Burnett with their top pick in the draft. They wound up with impressive Florida’s Major Wright but he has a significant hamstring injury have him sidelined. The Packers beat the Bears in Week 1 last year on a breakdown in the secondary and it’s expected Aaron Rodgers will put this group to the test. Bears win on Monday night if. The Bears are going to have to keep their defense fresh and be able to run the ball, something they’ve been unable to do through the first two games. It’s not because Mike Martz hasn’t tried, either. Keeping Rodgers and Co. on the sideline will only build the confidence for a young offense and take some of the pressure off Jay Cutler. Peppers and the pass rush will also have to be effective because otherwise the secondary could be exposed.
Packers vs Bears: Previews
Jrlombardi showcases Packers vs Bears preview.
Preview: AOL Fanhouse–TV’s NFL Two-a-Days answers,
“Can Packers stop Martz’s rejuvenated Bears offense?”
Packers Headlines
Jrlombardi reviews Packers headlines.
Rookie cornerback Shields to face real test against Bears: Green Bay Packers are off to a 2-0 start with an undrafted rookie starting in its most used defensive subpackage the nickel. Forget that he wasnt drafted, Sam Shields played cornerback only one year at the University of Miami.
Courtesy: Scott Boehm/Getty.
Notebook: Sore knee or no, LT Clifton listed as probable for Monday: Chad Clifton is a good bet to start at left tackle for the Packers on Monday night after going through a second straight day of practice Saturday on a sore knee.
Clifton, Colledge probable; Jones, Pickett questionable: Chad Clifton is a good bet to start at left tackle for the Packers on Monday night after going through a second straight day of practice Saturday on his sore knee. Clifton, who was pulled from last week’s game against Buffalo about halfway through the second quarter because the knee was hindering his play, returned to practice.
Clifton, Colledge practice: Left tackle Chad Clifton was able to practice for a second straight day, which suggests that there’s a good chance his injured knee will be strong enough for him to play Monday night at Chicago. Clifton has been bothered by a sore knee for four weeks.
Come out and talk Packers football on Sunday night in Chicago: If you’re a Packers fan in the Chicago area come to Will’s Northwoods Inn at around 8 p.m. on Sunday night and we’ll talk some Packers football in advance of the Monday night showdown at Soldier Field.
Playing time fading away for Packers veteran Lee: It has reached the point for Donald Lee in Green Bay that the veteran tight end can’t even be sure anymore if he’s going to be in uniform on game day.
Packers-Bears preview: 5 things to watch: We take a closer look at Monday night’s prime-time NFC North showdown between the Green Bay Packers (2-0) and Chicago Bears (2-0) at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Peppers presents protection problems: Julius Peppers’ only sack so far this season sideilned Detroit’s Matthew Stafford with a shoulder injury. The challenge Monday night for the Packers is to make sure Chicago’s $91.5 million defensive end doesn’t do the same thing to Aaron Rodgers.
Spreading the wealth: While his coaches say it’s a good problem to have, it’s not easy for Aaron Rodgers to keep all of his receivers happy these days. But the Packers quarterback vows he won’t change the way he plays — and doesn’t think his guys would want him to — to placate his many pass-catching weapons.
Packers Have High Hopes For Injured Trio: Halfway through their six-week sabbatical, the Green Bay Packers’ trio of rehabbing aspirants appear ready to be declared physically able to perform. Cornerback Al Harris, safety Atari Bigby and running back James Starks have been working off the grid since the season started, training in anonymity while their teammates prepare to play each week. All three are aiming to be 100% healthy Oct. 18, when they are eligible to come off the physically-unable-to-perform list. None has taken part in a single snap since training camp started because of injuries that resulted in them failing their physicals, but the club thought enough of their progress to keep them around.
Packers Headlines
Jrlombardi reviews Packers headlines.
Headlines: Wilde reports Bears’ Urlacher is back to himself, WR Nelson is on track to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season, and OT Clifton practiced but Daryn Colledge did not. Silverstein reports that the Pack must contain Peppers and Harris, Bigby, and Starks are making progress. Demovsky lists factors determining the final number of Matthews’ sack record and Bulaga may start at left tackle or left guard. Copeland writes CB Underwood should add more depth to pass defense.
Source: Getty Images.
