Archives for September 6, 2014

‘As shown here, the Bills have their Posse/11 personnel on the field (three wide receivers, one tight end, one running back) in a Doubles Slot formation (3 by 1). The Bears counter by playing Cover-2 out of their nickel sub package (five defensive backs). Based on quarterback EJ Manuel’s initial reads, the Bills can run the inside zone or target the bubble screen and tight end seam off the backfield mesh point action.’

‘And scariest for the Bears? If they get behind or into too many obvious passing situations and Bills defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz can fully utilize his “Wide 9” alignment, Williams will have a chance to spread out, pin his ears back and go after Jay Cutler at full throttle. “You have to be more patient,” Mills said. “When he’s wider, he has more space to work with. And by the time he gets to you, he’s at top speed.”‘

‘”He’s a huge guy, an athletic freak,” said Mills, who started all 16 games as a rookie last season. “He has speed and power. He works his hands real well. He was the No. 1 [overall] draft pick in 2006 for a reason. It’s going to be a good game. He’s a great player. I can’t wait for Sunday.”‘

‘The Bears’ beleaguered run defense – last in the NFL in 2013, allowing 161 yards per game – will be tested right off the bat by the Bills’ excellent RB tandem of C.J. Spiller (933 yards, 4.6 ypc in 2013) and Fred Jackson (890 yards, 4.3 ypc).’

‘”You don’t see too many 6-7, 300 pound D-ends that can move like him,” he said. “The other one I know of is Julius Peppers, and going against him in practice last year gave me a great look from what I can remember and watching film.”‘

Bears’ Jared Allen not planning to reduce workload (Chicago Tribune)

Do Bears have enough of a “team” to win? (Chicago Tribune)

Bears scouting report: Bills WR Sammy Watkins (Chicago Tribune)

Everything you need to know about the Bears-Bills game (Chicago Tribune)

Containing Bills’ packaged plays critical for Bears (Chicago Tribune)

Bears will name their 5 captains game by game (Chicago Tribune)

Bears’ plan to rotate safeties is unconventional (Chicago Tribune)

Huddle up: Micheal Spurlock must produce quickly (Chicago Tribune)

Assignment: Bills defensive end Mario Williams (Chicago Tribune)

Mel Tucker won’t be thinking about legendary Bears defenses or last year’s lousy one (Chicago Sun Times)

Long snapper Jeremy Cain took long road back to Bears (Chicago Sun Times)

Bears’ Jordan Mills eager to face Bills ‘athletic freak’ Mario Williams (Chicago Sun Times)

Bears question marks: Chris Conte doesn’t expect much crowd support (Chicago Sun Times)

Breaking down Bears-Bills matchups (Chicago Sun Times)

Four downs with Ditka (Chicago Sun Times)

Despite questions, Trestman rarin’ to go (Arlington Heights Daily Herald)

Bills game a must-win (Northwest Herald)

Mills welcomes challenge of blocking Williams (Northwest Herald)

Take 2: Previewing Bears vs. Bills (Northwest Herald)

Chicago Football’s Picks: Bears vs. Bills (Northwest Herald)

Beware big-yardage game (CSN Chicago)

Bears running backs Skip to their Peete (CSN Chicago)

Looking for a fast-start from Cutler (CSN Chicago)

Mills ready for Buffalo stampede? (CSN Chicago)

Forte, Carey keys to success (CSN Chicago)

Sick bay: Bears’ Conte probable after full practice (CSN Chicago)

Despite Missing Preseason, Jordan Mills All Set For Sunday (WSCR-AM)

Conte, de la Puente Listed As Probable (WSCR-AM)

8-8 Is In Bears’ Future (WSCR-AM)

Keys To Bears-Bills (WSCR-AM)

5 Matchups To Watch (WSCR-AM)

Time for Bears ‘D’ to deliver starts with Bills (AP)

Bears to unveil prized free agents (ChicagoBears.com)

The Pick is In: Bears-Bills (ChicagoBears.com)

Players to watch: Bears vs. Bills (ChicagoBears.com)

‘The incident began with Marrone, who sources said has had a strained relationship with director of player personnel Jim Monos from their time together in New Orleans, getting into a loud exchange with Monos in which the men were cursing at each other to the point where others noticed (“they were more or less MFing each other,” is how one source put it). General manager Doug Whaley then intervened. The expletives continued and finally team president and acting owner Russ Brandon tried to defuse the situation by getting involved in an attempt to get all parties to “shut up,” as one source put it. But that too escalated into more yelling and hollering, with Brandon and Marrone ultimately separated by their peers and Marrone, in earshot of players, making remarks along the lines of “go ahead and fire me,” before order was restored and the team took the field for practice.’

‘”I’m not going into the season worrying about my contract situation,” Spiller said. “I’m looking forward to those guys trying to work something out that both parties can be happy with.”‘

‘Gilmore along with backup running back Anthony Dixon (hamstring) are listed as questionable on the Bills’ injury report released Friday. Gilmore is a two-year starter and his injury is of significant concern because of the Bears’ potent receiving group led by Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery.’

‘Starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore is questionable with a groin injury, despite practicing all week with the last two days being a full practice.’

‘”The main reason I came over here is because I always thought highly of those guys on that side of the ball, just from watching them compete against the Patriots offense. I came here because I knew they had a lot of playmakers and I could just come and do whatever they needed me to do and just fit right in because those guys are very, very disruptive and the sky’s the limit. I think if we could get on the same page and execute and communicate, that’s the biggest thing.”

‘Hey, did we have a discussion? Absolutely. I confirm that absolutely. Are we great? We talk every day, three times a day. We talk about a lot of things. We’re competitive and I couldn’t be happier with those guys, I really couldn’t. And then the thing about Jim [Monos] is great, too, because I was one of the ones that recommended Jim to come here. So there’s a lot of things in that that I think I’ll probably catch a lot of heat on from my friends because it’s just not true.’

‘There is still some doubt with Gilmore and Dixon, but less exists with the team’s first-round pick. The Bills will likely have wide receiver Sammy Watkins for the regular season opener after the rookie practiced in full for the entire week. Watkins injured his ribs during the team’s preseason finale and did not return to the game.’

‘The Bears were the number two scoring team in the league last season averaging just under 28 points per game (27.8). Chicago was also ranked sixth in red zone touchdown efficiency in 2013 finding the end zone better than 58 percent of the time. Buffalo’s red zone defense was stout in its own right ranking sixth in the league last year (47.1%). The Bills defense will need to have that kind of success Sunday holding Chicago to less than a 50 percent success rate if and when they crack Buffalo’s 20-yard line.’

‘”It’s not like I’m going out there for vacation to see my family,” said Bryant. “Of course I’ll see them after the game. Once we get there, it’s all locked in trying to get the first victory of the year.”‘