Tag: Chicago Bears (Page 48 of 49)

      Fantasy Fallout, Week 1: Bears/Colts

      September 7, 2008 /

      Bears 29 @ Colts 13
      The Bears surprised the Colts with an effective running game and good defense…Rookie Matt Forte (26 touches, 141 yards, 1 TD) had a terrific debut and flashed breakaway speed that many didn’t think he had. Chicago will face better rush defenses than the Colts, but Forte still looks like the real deal…Unsurprisingly, the Bears’ tight ends, Desmond Clark (2-46) and Greg Olsen (2-36), led the team in receiving…Devin Hester’s debut as a full-time wideout (1-7) was disappointing…Peyton Manning (257 passing yards, 1 TD) finished with pretty good numbers, but he was inaccurate early, and that got the Colts in a hole…Marvin Harrison was solid (8-76) in his return, and after a slow start, Reggie Wayne had a big game (10-86-1)…Dallas Clark (1-8) left the game with an injury and did not return…Anthony Gonzalez was very involved, catching five passes for 48 yards…Joseph Addai (13 touches, 47 yards) was bottled up all game, and had to leave in the second half with a head injury.

      Photo courtesy of the AP.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      NFL Week 1: 5 Things to Watch

      September 7, 2008 /

      1.Peyton Manning’s bursa sac/Colts’ offensive line play without Jeff Saturday. Manning had a bursa sac removed in one of his knees and might not be 100% by Sunday night when the Colts take on the Bears. Saturday is dealing with his own knee problems and will miss up to the first six weeks of the season. Chicago blitzes well, so it’ll be interesting to see how Manning moves in the pocket and if his timing will be off in the first quarter or half.

      2. Ricky Williams. The Dolphins host the Jets on Sunday, a team that didn’t play well against the run last year. Williams looked good in preseason and might be a candidate to win the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year.

      3. Tom Brady’s foot. Does he have a broken bone in his foot or not? The Patriots won’t tell, but it should be obvious if Brady looks hampered. He practiced all week and was taken off New England’s injury report so all indications are that he’s healthy. The Chiefs’ secondary is weak, but they do have a decent pass rush and could give Brady and the Pats some trouble.

      4. Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco’s debuts. Forget about previous history – the Falcons and Ravens don’t care. They’re starting rookie quarterbacks and they’re ready to sink or swim with their young signal callers. Neither rookie QB plays a tough defense on Sunday (Ryan and the Falcons host Detroit, while Flacco and the Ravens host the Bengals) so maybe they could build some confidence in their first career starts.

      5. Shawne Merriman’s knee. Merriman will play with a brace for most, if not all of the season because of ligament damage in one of his knees. One hit could end his season (and possibly his career), but assuming he stays upright it’ll be interesting to see how well he moves with a brace on.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Week 1 NFL Primer

      September 5, 2008 /

      Derek AndersonSunday’s Best: Cowboys at Browns, 4:15pm ET
      Without a doubt, this is the best matchup on the Week 1 schedule. The Cowboys have the best overall talent in the NFC and the Browns are hoping to prove that 2007 wasn’t a fluke. It’ll be interesting to see how Derek Anderson plays after suffering a concussion in preseason. Some in Cleveland think Brady Quinn should be the starter and Romeo Crennel might feel the same way if Anderson struggles in the first couple of weeks. The Browns spent the offseason rebuilding their defense, especially on the line where they added former Lions’ DT Shaun Rogers and former Packers’ end Corey Williams. The Browns defense will need to get pressure throughout the game or else Tony Romo and his plethora of weapons could pick apart a young, inexperienced Cleveland secondary. Dallas is a 6-point road favorite.

      Upset Watch: Texans at Steelers, 1:00pm ET
      The Steelers have been one of the toughest teams to beat at home over the years. But their offensive line is a huge question mark this season and the Texans have built one of the better pass-rushing lines in the AFC. If the front seven can stop Willie Parker and the rest of the Steelers’ running game, youngsters Mario Williams and Amobi Okoye might be able to get a good push and put pressure on Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh defense will still be tough to score on (especially if Houston has no running game), but Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are healthy and they could strike for some big plays. Even if they don’t win the Texans should be able to keep the game close throughout. Pittsburgh is a 6.5-point favorite.

      Brett FavreIntriguing Matchup: Jets at Dolphins, 1:00pm ET
      Brett Favre makes his Jets’ debut while Chad Pennington looks to exact revenge on his former team. The Jets are legitimate playoff contenders now with Favre under center, but it’ll be interesting to see if all the offseason shenanigans took their toll on the former Packer great. The Dolphins are void of talent on defense and if Jets’ RB Thomas Jones can get going in the running game and keep New York balanced offensively, Favre might torch Miami’s secondary. The Jets are currently 3-point road favorites.

      Other Notable Games:
      Jaguars at Titans, 1:00pm ET
      Can the Jaguars put their recent off field troubles behind them and prove that they’re Super Bowl contenders?

      Bears at Colts, 8:15pm ET
      It’s a Super Bowl rematch as the Colts open up their new home digs. Is Peyton Manning healthy?

      Bucs at Saints, 1:00pm ET
      These two teams might battle it out all season for the NFC South crown.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Breaking down the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates

      August 28, 2008 /

      Adrian PetersonAdrian Peterson certainly made it easy on voters last year. After rushing for 1,341 yards, 12 touchdowns and a 5.6-yard per carry average, Peterson was an easy choice for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

      So who is this year’s Adrian Peterson? Despite popular belief, the OROY doesn’t have to lead his team to the playoffs, as Peterson proved last year. He just has to stand out from the rest of the pack – easy, right?

      Below is a look at the OROY candidates for the 2008 NFL Season. I’ve ranked the top 10 candidates based on their chances along with reasons why (and why they won’t) win the award.

      1. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
      Ryan earned the starting quarterback job after a solid preseason, including completing 15 of 21 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ 17-3 win over Tennessee. Forget the huge contract and the fact that Atlanta wants to erase the thought of Michael Vick – Ryan can play. He looked comfortable, poised and completely in control running the Falcons’ offense and has enough weapons in Michael Turner, Jerious Norwood and Roddy White to be effective. As long as the offensive line gives him protection like it did this preseason, Ryan might be the best bet to win OROY honors. It also doesn’t hurt that he plays the quarterback position and will likely receive a ton of media attention.

      2. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers
      Stewart has run very well so far in preseason. He rushed 10 times for 100 yards in the Panthers’ third exhibition game and even had a fantastic 50-yard touchdown run that highlighted both his power and breakaway speed. Defenses contained Carolina’s ground attack last year, but that was largely due to ineffective quarterback play. Teams knew that the Panthers were going to try and run the football and often played with eight men in the box. But now that QB Jake Delhomme is healthy again, the Panthers’ offense should be more balanced and thus defenses will have to respect both the run and the pass. He’ll split time with DeAngelo Williams, but Stewart is going to get plenty of opportunities to make plays this season. Not only that, but he looks like a solid overall player.

      3. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears
      The Bears parted with twinkle-toes Cedric Benson this offseason after multiple off-field incidents. The team drafted Forte in the second round and after Benson was released, and the rookie immediately became the starter. Forte has good size, runs hard between the tackles and shows some decent burst when he gets into the open field. But Chicago’s line has to hold up. Center Olin Kreutz, right guard Roberto Garza and right tackle John St. Clair are all decent run blockers, but there are major question marks on the left side of the line. Even so, Forte is going to have plenty of opportunities to make plays this season, especially if backup Kevin Jones can’t stay healthy.

      Darren McFadden4. Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders
      McFadden has loads of playmaking ability, but it seems that people are getting too caught up with his potential and not looking at the facts. The Raiders don’t have a great offensive line and Justin Fargas is still expected to get most of the carries in the run game. McFadden will get his opportunities to make plays (especially in the passing game), but despite many considering him the favorite to win OROY, it looks like there will be a ceiling on his production this year. Still, there is a lot to like about McFadden’s potential.

      5. Kevin Smith, RB, Detroit Lions
      Tatum Bell has been a massive dud since arriving in Detroit last year as part of the Dre’ Bly trade, so Smith will get the starting nod this season in the Lions’ backfield. The rookie has shown potential in preseason, but the offensive line is brutal so Smith might not see a ton of running room. Still, he flashed incredible potential and with nobody behind him to steal carries, Smith is going to be the focus of the Lions’ offense this season.

      6. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
      It didn’t help Mendenhall that he fumbled twice in the Steelers’ last preseason game, but he’s still expected to see plenty of carries this season as a rookie. He’ll split time with Willie Parker and will probably be used in short yardage situations and around the goal line. Pittsburgh’s line isn’t what it used to be, so expecting Mendenhall to put up huge numbers is probably unrealistic. But if Parker suffers a setback, the rookie will become the Steelers’ main back and thus his opportunities will skyrocket.

      Chris Johnson7. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans
      If the preseason was any indication, the Titans are going to find ways to use the explosive running back. Johnson has looked good running between the tackles (not usually his forte) in preseason and flashed the type of game-breaking speed that made him a first round pick. The Titans have a crowded backfield, but expect Johnson to get opportunities to make plays this year, especially in the passing game. He’s likely to split carries with LenDale White, which doesn’t hurt his chances because White often likes to fix himself a bed in Jeff Fisher’s doghouse.

      8. Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens
      With Willis McGahee still unable to jog after having a “clean out” procedure done to his knee this offseason, Rice is the current starting running back for the Ravens. Rice isn’t the biggest guy in the league at 5’8” and 205 pounds, but that didn’t slow him down in college. Despite his size, he’s proven he can run between the tackles and has often demonstrated explosiveness when he reaches open field. Once McGahee returns, Rice will be bumped to No. 2 so his chances of winning OROY are slim. But if he proves himself while McGahee is out, the Ravens will no doubt find a role for him in their offense.

      9. DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
      Anyone who watched the Eagles’ third preseason game against the Patriots saw what Jackson can bring to the field. The rookie was Philly’s leading receiving with four catches for 67 yards, but he did most of his damage on special teams, returning a punt 76 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the second quarter. With the Eagles starving for playmakers at receiver, Jackson could wind up being the sleeper for OROY, even though he’s currently not listed as a starter. Another thing to note is that Donovan McNabb likes to spread the ball around and Brian Westbrook is still going to get a ton of passes out of the backfield.

      10. Felix Jones, RB, Dallas Cowboys
      One would assume that Jones will step into the role once held by Julius Jones and complement Marion Barber in the Cowboys’ offense. But the rookie doesn’t appear to have a significant role in the offense yet. He’s expected to return kicks, so he might not see a ton of opportunities in Dallas’s backfield, at least not initially. Eventually he’ll probably see a 60-40 split in carries with Barber, but as of right now Jones looks like one of the long shots to win OROY.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Jay Mariotti rips Bears’ GM Jerry Angelo

      August 26, 2008 /

      Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti recently took aim at Bears’ GM Jerry Angelo, ripping him for drafting OT Chris Williams in the first round of April’s draft when he knew he had a herniated disc in his back.

      Now, Jackhammer Jerry is embarrassing himself publicly and making me wonder if the clock has started ticking on his Halas Hall employment. Sunday, he hastily summoned reporters for a conference call that turned into a mass scolding of the media, always the first sign that a sports executive is feeling heat. Never mind that he is the one who drafted left tackle Chris Williams in the first round while knowing the player had a herniated disc in his back, not the kind of injury risk worth taking when: (a) the Bears have an offensive line constructed from dental floss and marshmallow treats; and (b) Angelo has a woeful record of drafting during his seven years in power.

      Jerry Angelo, you are ridiculous. What happened is that the Bears fell in love with Williams, who filled a desperate need, while underplaying the possibility that a herniated disc could burn them. Sure enough, they were scorched on the second day of training camp, when Williams suffered a new injury to the same disc. It led to surgery that will sideline him for most, if not all, of his first season. Granted, anyone who suggests Angelo wasn’t aware of the injury isn’t being fair. On draft day, he pointed out that the team’s medical staff examined the back “once, twice and a third time’…”But where Angelo blew it is when he shrugged off those three examinations as if they were frivolous when, in fact, the necessity of three exams only screamed potential trouble.

      Point is, Angelo never has manufactured enough credibility as a drafter to allow himself the benefit of doubt to gamble. When Williams finally spoke up the other day about the injury, and delivered the news with matter-of-fact bluntness, it exposed the Bears as having taken a nonchalant risk. “I had a herniated disc before I got here,” Williams said. “We knew that. Everyone knew that…

      Mariotti is right. Angelo screwed the pooch this offseason when he didn’t at least make an attempt at free agent offensive linemen Alan Faneca, Justin Smiley, Jake Scott or Travelle Wharton. He pigeonholed himself into taking Williams in the first round because of his inactivity during the offseason. Not only that, but Williams was a reach considering Branden Albert and Jeff Otah (two linemen rated higher than Williams) were still available. The Bears’ offensive line looks like a mess.

      It might be a long season in Chi-Town.

      NFL

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑