Smith has Bears primed for ‘statement’ game

By Paul Eide  |   Friday, September 29, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Chicago Bears
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If the Chicago Bears are serious contenders for Super Bowl XLI, this is the game to prove it. The Bears need a statement game, and Sunday night on national TV seems like the perfect setting.

For the Bears to remain undefeated, the following two things must happen:

1. Lovie Smith has to out-coach Mike Holmgren:

The highest scoring offense (28.5 ppg) from 2005 meets the defense that allowed the least amount of points (12.6 ppg) in '05. Holmgren is an offensive mastermind whose coaching success had a large hand in bringing the West Coast Offense to prominence in the NFL. He gained coaching notoriety by developing successful quarterbacks everywhere he has been, using the three- and five-step drop to perfect the ball-control passing game.

Lovie Smith has an aptitude for defense the way Holmgren does for offense. His belief in quick, aggressive defenders is the perfect adversary of Holmgren's quick, timing-based routes and passes. Smith will use the blitz to upset Matt Hasselbeck's timing, while Holmgren will try to out-quick the blitzes and burn the Bears deep.

Strategically, this could be the best coaching matchup the Bears see all season. Holmgren has already proven his system is a winner, while Smith is on the verge of doing so himself. Smith needs this game more than Holmgren to establish instant credibility and prove the Bears deserve the respect of the game's elite.

2. Bears secondary MUST outplay Seahawks "Big Four:"

The Seahawks are without their starting tight end, Jerramy Stevens, and MVP running back Shaun Alexander, but have amazing depth at wide receiver which they are almost forced to utilize in this game. Holmgren thinks his wideouts have the edge when matching up man-on-man against the Bears' secondary, and can't wait to do it. The Seahawks' third and fourth receivers, Nate Burleson and Bobby Engram, would be starters if they were on almost any other team.

The weakest link on the Bears' defense, exposed repeatedly by Steve Smith in last year's playoffs, is the secondary. Rookie safety Danieal Manning will be tested all day, as will nickel back Ricky Manning Jr. The Bears don't have a dime package, preferring to keep linebacker Lance Briggs on the field rather than replacing him with an extra DB, so expect the nickel in obvious passing situations. If the Bears' front four can effectively pressure Hasselbeck, the Seahawks forfeit their advantage in the passing game.

While this is far from a make-or-break game in terms of the standings or playoff contention, it is a defining moment for the Bears under Lovie Smith. Because they play in the meekly regarded NFC North, Chicago's 3-0 record isn't viewed as significant. To defeat the reigning NFC champion Seahawks would cement the Bears' status as the team to beat in the NFC.

Get more Chicago Bears coverage at RealFootball365.com
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