View topic - Week #2 Match up - Stillers vs. Bears

[Pump-N-Iron Profile]

I tried to send this to Mill for the front page, but I kept getting an error, so...

Week #2 Match up - Stillers vs. Bears

This week the 1-0 Stillers, fresh from squeaking out a W over Tennessee in OT, travel to Chi-town to meet the 0-1 Bears, who managed to squeeze a L from the tightly puckered sphincter of one Jay Cutler in his first start since his departure from Denver.

When we are on Offense

PGH O-Line vs CHI Front 7 - The shortcomings of this rendition of the Stillers Offensive Line are well documented on this site. The match up to watch here is #93 Ogunleye vs The Colon. If the Colon blows, BR7 is in for a long and painful day. The other 3 DL, Harris, Adams, and Brown, while solid, are not the type to strike fear in opposing offenses. With Urlacher out, Lance Briggs is the only linebacker with any pedigree worth mentioning. He's been to 4 straight Pro-Bowls and is an all around solid linebacker. Taking Urlacher's spot in the middle is Hunter Hillenmeyer... a special teams guy who gets to play with the big boys for a change. If the O-Line can manage a stalemate here, there is a good chance for some holes to open up in the running game. Only time will tell if FWP and Mendy can hit those holes before they close. The Bears do not rely heavily on blitzing to get QB pressure. Instead, they tend to run more stunts along the line. This, as we know, tends to leave the O-line more confused than a pimple-faced 14 yr old trying to undo his first bra strap. Ever wonder how our O-line looks so much better in the no-huddle... it's because the Def. Coord. can't call D-Line stunts. If Arians can manage to go No Huddle when it is NOT expected, we should produce points. Advantage Bears

PGH WR & TE vs CHI Secondary - The Bears play a lot of Cover-2. From watching them play vs the Packers last week, they tend to allow receivers to get open deep more often than most Cover-2 teams. Expect to see BR7 using the same number of pump fakes this week to try to get people open deep. I really like Wallace's chance of snagging a big play in this manner. The Bears get Zack Bowman back into the starting lineup for the first time since October last year. He showed promise as a rookie only to end up on IR in his 1st and only game. They are starting a rookie in Afalava at SS. This gives them 2 starters who are making their 2nd NFL start. They need to be attacked early and often. They should not be allowed to get into the flow of the game or feel comfortable at any point. Heath Miller needs to be used as more than Tackle Eligible in the pass game, as he was last week. Advantage Stillers

When we are on Defense

CHI O-Line vs PGH Front 7 - Olin Kreutz anchors an average O-line that also includes the likes of Orlando Pace. These guys struggled to open holes against Green Bay, who are in their 1st season of switching to the 3-4 defense. It stands to reason that they won't get any better at blocking a 3-4 front in 7 days, especially an established 3-4. Matt Forte is no slouch at RB. We must tackle him well to prevent yards after contact. Likewise, in the passing game, this same front line had even more trouble. Heavy pressure on Cutler force several bad throws and 4 picks. On one 3 play stretch, Cutler's first 2 tosses should have been picked, and the last was picked. All were the result of quick pressure. Bottom line here is that Cutler does not like to be hit. Please Dick, no velcro blitzes. Defense needs to be aware of screens and reverses in an attempt to get Hester and Forte out in space. Advantage Stillers

CHI WR & TE vs PGH Secondary - The Bears have quite possibly the least respected starting WR tandem in the league. Devon Hester is a beast in the return game but has never proven himself as a reliable threat on offense. Earl Bennett is Dallas Baker of the Bears, with the only difference being that he starts. The real threat here is the TE Olsen. He is Cutler's security blanket and should NOT be allowed to roam free in the secondary. This should be a light day for the Stillers secondary, especially if Cutler is NOT permitted to set his feet and survey the field. Ty Carter needs to be a Ball Hawk this week in Polamalu’s absence. Advantage Stillers

Special Teams

Stefan Logan & Daniel Sepulveda give the Stillers the edge in the field position game if the offenses are both out to lunch this week. As much as Reed gets credit for being the best kicker at the Heinz cow pasture, Robbie Gould deserves serious props for being the all time best kicker at Soldier Field. The real threat here, as mentioned above is Devon Hester. He must be contained in every kicking situation. Sepulveda should be pinning him to a sideline on every kick. If possible, Reed needs to kick away from him or squib it. These tactics may seem cheap, but if we kick it down the middle, he is a serious threat to take one to the house. PUSH

Keys to Victory

1. Keep Pressure on Cutler - If the D shows up nasty, aggressive and hungry, we should have 5+ sacks or 2+ INTs and a victory.
2. Kick Away from Devon Hester - As mentioned above, he must not be allowed the opportunity to beat us in the return game.
3. Attack the Chicago Secondary – Pump fakes and PAP should bait these young DBs into some bad plays. Attack early and often.


Prediction – Stillers 27, Bears 13

[thesteelhammer Profile]

Nice write up.

liking that result too.

Pittsburgh Steelers CB Ike Taylor (rest) did not participate in practice Friday, Sept. 18. He is listed as probable for Week 2 and is expected to play.

Pittsburgh Steelers LB Lawrence Timmons (ankle) participated in practice Friday, Sept. 18. He is listed as probable for Week 2 and is expected to play.

Gerry Dulac, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports Pittsburgh Steelers WR Shaun McDonald will be the No. 4 receiver in the team's Week 2 game. He will also see time as the third receiver in certain packages.

Gerry Dulac, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports Pittsburgh Steelers WR Limas Sweed (foot) did not participate in practice Friday, Sept. 18, and will not play in Week 2.

Gerry Dulac, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports Pittsburgh Steelers Lawrence Timmons (ankle) participated in practice Friday, Sept. 18, and will play in Week 2. It is not known if Timmons will be in the starting lineup or LB Keyaron Fox will start at middle linebacker.


Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Bears CB Nate Vasher will be the nickel back in the team's Week 2 game.

Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Bears CB Zackary Bowman will start at right cornerback in the team's Week 2 game.

Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Bears LB Nick Roach and LB Jamar Williams will split time at strongside linebacker during the team's Week 2 game.

Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Bears DT Tommie Harris (knee) participated in practice Friday, Sept. 18. He is expected to play in the team's Week 2 game.

Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Bears DE Mark Anderson (toe), FS Danieal Manning (back), OG Frank Omiyale (ankle) and SS Al Afalava (shoulder) participated in practice Friday, Sept. 18. They are listed as probable for the team's Week 2 game and are expected to play.

Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Bears TE Desmond Clark (ribs) and LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) have been ruled out of the team's Week 2 game.

Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Bears FS Danieal Manning will start at free safety in the team's Week 2 game.

[StillMill Profile]

Well done, Pump. I just scraped yer article off the message board and pub'd it on the front page.

I never did get this via email from you.....and I'm not sure what the glitch is. Did ya use the correct addy? (stillmill@stillers.com) I just got an email message from a dude I know who is in Iraq, for pete's sake, so I'm fairly sure my email is working.

I like Dulac's report on Timmons -- "Gerry Dulac, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports Pittsburgh Steelers Lawrence Timmons (ankle) participated in practice Friday, Sept. 18, and will play in Week 2. It is not known if Timmons will be in the starting lineup or LB Keyaron Fox will start at middle linebacker."

What a tool !! Maybe Gerry The Ferry can explain how there is a MIDDLE linebacker in the 3-4 defense....

[Pump-N-Iron Profile]

Yeah... I was trying to submit it through the 'Contact us' Link... I will use your regular email next time.

[Lake37 Profile]

Good work Pump, glad to see game previews back.

I'm really glad we have Sepulveda kicking to Hester than Mitch Berger. Sepulveda is one of the best directional punters in the league and I would have to imagine there will be a major emphasis on pinning them to the sidelines like you said.