WHAT TO WATCH FOR
By Aaron Ziraks
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
I'm Angry, You're Angry....Who's Angrier?
Both teams got embarrassed last week and should come out
swinging this week. The only problem is the Bears will be swinging like
a 100-pound bully in first grade and the Browns may be throwing pebbles
and running for cover. Both teams have something to prove, but
only the Bears have something left to play for. At 1-6, the season is
all but lost for the Browns, so look for the Bears to take it to the
Browns in a statement game this week.
Browns LT John St. Clair vs. Bears LT Kevin Schaffer
Obviously, this will not be a one-on-one matchup, but these two teams essentially switched right tackles in the offseason.
The only difference is Chicago figured out they had a second-year guy from Vanderbilt that was good enough to play ahead of Schaffer. The Browns, well they stuck with Chicago's cast off. My guess is St. Clair has another St. Clair-type game acting much like an
orange construction barrel as opposed to a formidable right tackle.
Breaking Fantasy News!
For all of the fantasy football players out there who own Bears running back Matt
Forte and are upset because he has under performed, this is
going to be a good week for you. The Browns are giving up more than 170
yards per game. Do the math.
Baby Steps for DA
At this point, Anderson is a dead man walking. We are
simply using him because we have nothing better, So let's start with
some baby steps for him. How about 125 yards passing and completing 42 percent of his passes. You may say, "Aaron that is awful why not ask for more?"
Well, fine reader, because if Anderson pulled out that game it would be
better single game performance than his last three. So I'll take it.
Brian Daboll needs a CAT scan
Someone way smarter than myself once said, "Insanity is doing the
same thing over and over expecting a different result." So, by applying that to the Browns offense you have to believe trying to generate
a running game by pounding the ball with an aging Jamal Lewis is
insanity. How about we go back to using the Wildcat like we did against
the Steelers? It worked then and it puts Cribbs in position to make plays.
Why not give it another shot before I lose MY mind?
KEY MATCHUPS
By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer
Matt Forte vs. Browns run defense
Forte finished with more than 1,200 yards in his rookie season with the Bears in 2008. A sophomore slump has occurred. In six games, Forte has 318 yards and one touchdown on 92 carries. Last Sunday, Packers Ryan Grant broke out of his season-long slump and for the first time rushed for more than 100 yards. Grant finished 148 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown. There is a good chance Forte can have the same success as the Browns have shown their ability to allow opposing team's running backs to have career days.
Jay Cutler vs. Browns secondary
Cutler has 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. Cutler has five picks the last two games and four in the Bears opener. He's prone to sling the ball around the field in a careless manner. Can the Browns secondary take advantage? Maybe, but there has to be some pressure put on the Bears signal caller by the likes of Kamerion Wimbley and Shaun Rogers.
Browns wide receivers vs. Bears secondary
This, in no way, is taking Derek Anderson off the hook for his performance in recent weeks. But, if he is going to progress (and we'll get to that) his receivers need to help him out. Last week, Packers cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson needed no help in containing Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie. Those two need to get open. Last week, tight end Michael Gaines and running back Jerome Harrison were the top two receivers. When that occures, Anderson is not going to progress. Which brings us to...
(Command-C, Command-V) Derek Anderson vs. Himself
Sigh. Another week, another Key Matchup that is Anderson vs. Himself. Earlier this week, fellow staff writer Aaron Ziraks did Yeoman's work and looked up where Anderson ranks among his fellow quarterbacks in 2009.
ESPN ranks 35 quarterbacks and Anderson is overwhelmingly the worst statistically.
•QB Rating 40.6 = ranked 35 out of 35
•Passing Yards per Game 121 = ranked 34 out of 35 (Tampa Bay's Josh Johnson is 35th)
•Completion Percentage 43.8% = ranked 35 out of 35
•Touchdown passes 2 = ranked 35 out of 35
•Yards per Pass Attempt 4.42 = ranked 35 out of 35
So there is no where to go but up. Right? We hope so. Last week, Carson Palmer carved the Bears defense for five touchdown passes, but Cincinnati also established a running game. The Browns offense has been putrid. So at this point, progression from Anderson, or the running game or even the right tackle would be a bright spot.
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October 30, 2009 at 8:36 AM
Comments
I'd run the wildcat the entire game that way there is no way for Bad Derek to appear. Cribbs was college QB, I can't believe he can't make at least a few short passes to keep the Bears sort of honest. When I say run the wildcat, have it consist of more than just Cribbs running left or right, get Harrison, Jennings, Lewis and Vickers involved too.