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Chris Conte

Chicago Bears: Week 3 Wrap-Up

by Chris Kazmierczak September 23, 2014

Tony – Flickr

The Chicago Bears have done it again. Last night Chicago went on the road to face the New York Jets and took home a second consecutive road victory. The Bears capitalized on New York’s mistakes to take an early lead and despite a rash of injuries, held on to secure the win, with the Jest driving in the final minutes. It wasn’t perfect and wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win. Here is the good and bad we saw last night.
Respect the D: It’s early but the Bears look to have a respectable defense again. The unit was hit hard by injuries leading in to and during the game but picked up right where they left off last week. On the second play of the game, Ryan Mundy set the tone when he picked off a Geno Smith pass and ran it back for six and an early lead the Bears would not relinquish. Kyle Fuller made his first start in place of Charles Tillman and looked a lot like “Peanut” while he did it. Fuller showed why he is a rising star by being around the ball all night finishing with 7-tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and a crucial interception in the end zone. This performance was aided by excellent line play across the board. Lamarr Houston, Jared Allen, and Willie Young, who got yet another sack this week, got to Smith early and often drawing attention away from Stephen Paea, who recorded his first sack this year, and the 2 rookies inside: Will Sutton and Ego Ferguson. The young duo, working to replace Jeremiah Ratliff, was impressive in their first extensive showing. By games end, Sutton had 3 solo stops and Ferguson had 2-tackles and a sack. Also in relief was Jon Bostic who filled in at Outside Linebacker, after Shea McClellin broke his hand during practice. The second-year-pro didn’t have a flawless game by any means, as he was caught out of position more than once. However, Bostic showed great mobility and alertness by deflecting 2-passes and leading the team with 13-tackles. Despite these standout performances and overall strong play the Jets still racked up 300-yards passing with another 114 on the ground. However, the Bears’ defense resilient, forcing them to settle for 4 field goals and only 1-touchdown as they went 1 for 6 in the red zone. Yards do not win games but points do, and the defense excelled in their role there by hanging tough when it mattered most, including a 4th and goal in the closing minutes.

Gritty O: The Bears’ offense wasn’t bad, but they weren’t great either. The running game stumbled in its second week without Matt Slauson or Roberto Garza and Matt Forte only gained 33-yards on 13-carries against the merciless front-7 of the Jets. The passing attack had a little more success but was not without problems of its own. Brandon Marshall tweaked his previously injured ankle and, though he returned in the second half, was obviously handicapped in his speed and maneuverability for the duration. While Marshall struggled with a single catch for only 6-yards, Alshon Jeffery flourished by making 8 grabs for 105-yards and 2-carries for 13. Martellus Bennett took advantage of Jeffery’s success, and the extra attention it gave him, to make 5-catches for 54-yards and 2 touchdowns. If the Bears won it also means Jay Cutler did well overall, especially considering he was sacked 3-times and had numerous passes tipped or disrupted by a hit. Rex Ryan threw every blitz he could probably conceive of, yet Cutler stayed composed, tough, and elusive. The Quarterback shook off hits, escaped sack attempts, and made good decisions with the football. He had accuracy problems and lost a fumble on one sack that should have gone for six the wrong way but overall a mature and gritty performance by the QB as well as the rest of the unit.

Special Forces: The specialty units have ranged from bad to terrible before this game but the group was somewhere between average and good in this one. Some new faces and a shuffling of duties led the unit to have its best game of 2014. Rookie Ahmad Dixon, aided by Senorise Perry, recovered a muffed punt early on and then proceeded to throttle the Jets’ returner immediately after he caught the next punt. Another rookie, Rashad Ross took over the kickoff return duties, previously held by Perry. Ross only averaged 21-yards per return but he showed his speed, vision, and quickness on each one and had a very promising debut overall. Finally, although no punts were blocked in this one, a few were too close for comfort. The group still has work to do but continuing this improvement is nothing but good news for the entire team.

The Bears played tough against a tough opponent for a hard fought victory. The bad part about a hard fought game like this is that neither team leaves unscathed. Aside from Marshall, the Bears had their fair share of injuries on Monday which may come back to haunt them. The Chicago Safety position was decimated as Mundy, Chris Conte, and Danny McCray all finished the game on the sideline leaving only 4th round pick Brock Vereen and Dixon to finish out the 4th quarter. The Chicago trainers will be working overtime in this short week but, if any of these require more than a few days, the Bears may have to go looking to the rookies because these kids can play. We’ll find out if this youth movement continues on Sunday when the Bears take on their arch rival the Green Bay Packers and renew the NFL’s oldest rivalry.

Chris Kazmierczak is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on twitter or Facebook.

September 23, 2014 0 comment

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Chicago Bears: Week 2 Wrap-Up

by Chris Kazmierczak September 15, 2014

written by Chris Kazmierczak

Tillman Jeffrey Beall-Flickr

After a disastrous Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Chicago Bears seem to have found themselves again. Last night’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers was not only much needed but full of excitement and reasons for optimism by both fans and the team alike. However, as impressive as it was, the game wasn’t without its problems either. So, without further delay, here’s what we saw:

Monsters Rising: Last night saw the Chicago defense make a giant step forward from Week 1. In their first game, they were crushed for almost 200-yards on the ground but last night they held Frank Gore to a mere 63-yards. Colin Kaepernick still grabbed another 66 on the ground but one step at a time here. The team struggled with the pass rush in the first game as well and that has changed too. Jared Allen, who was almost invisible in the first game, had off 3 solo tackles in addition to causing a big fumble. Willie Young continued his success grabbing 4 solo tackles and sacking the elusive Kaepernick twice, treating us to his fishing sack dance which may be the greatest celebration in the NFL. The linebackers stepped their game up as well, with Shea McClellin making major strides in his read option recognition as well as getting a sack for himself and Lance Briggs looking resurgent with 6 solo stops. All this improvement up front made life a little easier for a secondary that was hung out to dry against the Bills. Chris Conte came out of nowhere for his second interception in as many weeks, Charles Tillman had a pick that was later ruled a trap upon review, and 1st round draft pick Kyle Fuller made a huge splash taking 2 more from Kaepernick. The defense looked more like the Monster’s of the Midway we haven’t seen since Lovie Smith left and Brian Urlacher retired, which is a refreshing change for sure.

Return of Good Jay: Turnovers are something Jay Cutler knows about all too well. Bad Jay showed up against Buffalo throwing 2-interceptions which accounted for 10 of the Bills points in that game. However, the Good Jay was back against San Francisco. He played smartly and aggressively, completing 23 of 34 for 176-yards, 4-touchdowns, and zero-interceptions. While he played intelligently the entire game, though much of his success came after he took a nasty hit to the sternum with the crown of 49ers’ lineman Quinton Dial‘s helmet. Down 17 to nothing at the time, it was a defining victory for Jay Cutler, but he didn’t do it alone. Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery played injured and both looked a step or 2 slower on their routes struggling to draw focus away from healthy weapons Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett. However, on a late second quarter drive that resulted in the Bears first points of the game Marshall showed us why, even when injured, he’s still one of the best in the business by making a one-handed grab in the end zone for what has to be an early contender for catch of the year. Jeffery still managed 3 catches for 47-yards but it became obvious that he was having difficulty competing with the corners who could sit on him more often than not. During the second half, the coaches and players made a simple but brilliant adjustment. Instead of trying to hit the receivers in stride as usual, Marshall and Jeffery began using double moves, body position, and stops in their routes to out maneuver the Defensive backs. It seems like an obvious change but it shows an adaptability that really wasn’t present the week prior. Marshall finished with 2 more touchdowns and 48-yards but Forte and Bennett were not as lucky. Forte was constantly keyed on, only gaining 27 total yards and Bennett didn’t fare much better with 37-yards but did manage to grab a touchdown. Regardless, it was the improvement by Cutler that made it possible, and a come from behind victory against a quality team like San Francisco is one of the best of his career.

Far From Perfect: The game was not without blemishes. Personnel decisions have left the Bears without a fullback as they released Tony Fiametta whose presence could have made life a little easier for Forte last night. The Bears also cut Kelvin Hayden, for the second time this year, leaving only 4 Cornerbacks available. With Tillman being lost for the season, and possibly for good, following an injury to the same triceps that ended his 2013 campaign it leaves only Sherrick McManis, Tim Jennings and Fuller. With the NFL as pass happy as it is today more defensive backs is probably better and Chicago is going to have to make some smart decisions here. The other glaring issue is the once strong special teams unit which looked terrible and showed how badly it missed the veteran role players it lost this off season. The group was penalized on the opening kick return and buried the injury riddled offense deep in their own territory. After 3 plays that went nowhere the punt unit allowed a block that set up an easy opening score for 49ers. Senorise Perry hasn’t done much in the returner role either as the rookie is having trouble fielding kicks at times and not getting much support from the rest of the unit. All not only hurts the good field position that made the Chicago offense so dangerous in 2013 but could be a handicap if it doesn’t improve quickly. Chicago has until Monday to rest up and fix things before they face the New York Jets, who took the Green Bay Packers to the limit on Sunday.

Chris Kazmierczak is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on twitter or Facebook.

September 15, 2014 0 comment

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Chicago Bears: Keys for Week 2

by Chris Kazmierczak September 13, 2014

written by Chris Kazmierczak

John Martinez Pavliga-flickr

After a messy start to the season the NFC North is like Bizarro World. The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears are starting from the bottom of the division after their respective losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills. Meanwhile, the beleaguered Minnesota Vikings decimated the St Louis Rams on Sunday, and the Detroit Lions look ready to finally make the jump to playoff contender after drubbing the New York Giants on Monday. Looking ahead at Week 2, Chicago has a tough match-up to assert themselves in against the San Francisco 49ers. Here’s a some key points Sunday night’s prime time battle.

Be Smart: There’s no dancing around it, Chicago must be smarter on offense. The Bears turned the ball over 3 times against Buffalo and gave the middling Bills offense 13-points in the process. One was an uncharacteristic fumble by Brandon Marshall and can probably be dismissed, but 2 of those came off ugly interceptions that fall on Jay Cutler. Cutler made a lot of progress last season; he took what defense gave him and stayed calm under pressure, but he regressed last week trying to force plays under pressure. He needs to be smarter with the football this week, especially since they will not only be without starting Offensive-linemen Matt Slauson and Roberto Garza, but both Alshon Jeffery and Marshall may possibly be out as well. The dynamic receiving duo is listed as probable this week and will be a game time decision. If Marshall, Jeffery, or both are out, expect to see a lot of Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett in the passing game. Both had very good games against the Bills and are surely ready to take charge.

Be Ready: On the defensive side of the ball things don’t look much better for the Bears. The reconstructed front-7 were steamrolled for 193-yards on the ground against the Bills and the pass rush was practically nonexistent. Actually, aside from Willie Young and Jerimiah Ratliff the entire line was invisible. Highly touted free-agent acquisitions Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston accounted for a single tackle each and the rest weren’t much better. Also, the Safety position looks just as weak as it did in years before. Chris Conte and Ryan Mundy piled up tackles to lead the team in that category, and Conte even came up with a crucial interception that kept the Bears in the game. Unfortunately, more often than not, Conte and Mundy were both beaten on the throws in their direction. This was all against a Bills unit that is middle of the road at best. This week they will have to stop a much better group featuring a consistently great Running Back in Frank Gore, a group of recievers lead by Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree, one of the best in the business in Tight End Vernon Davis, and the dual threat of Colin Kapernick under center. Failure by the defense to show up a second consecutive week will spell disaster for the Chicago faithful early on against an offense with this many weapons.

Come Together: Tradition is not on Chicago’s side in this one. The Bears haven’t won in San Francisco since 1985. Fortunately, this isn’t Candlestick or San Francisco anymore; it is a new stadium in the midst of a new era for the Bears. Chicago certainly has the tools to win this one but they all need to be functioning correctly for it to happen. First and foremost, the Old Jay that showed up against the Bills needs to go back to wherever he came from. In Marc Trestman and Aaron Kromer’s offense, Cutler can have great success regardless of his options at Receiver, but he needs to play smart and make good decisions with the football. The defense has to show up and play like they are capable of playing as well. They won’t be the monsters that we used to see in the Lovie Smith era, but they are more talented than their pathetic showing thus far indicates. The Bears need to force Kapernick in to making mistakes and keep Gore in check by getting good penetration and controlling the gaps. I see Chicago either getting blown out or in a shootout on Sunday. Which one largely depends on how much they have corrected this week. We’ll see this Sunday Night if that is the case and I will be back here with the aftermath on Monday.

Chris Kazmierczak is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on twitter or Facebook.

September 13, 2014 0 comment

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Chicago Bears: Week 1 Wrap-up

by Chris Kazmierczak September 8, 2014

written by Chris Kazmierczak

Jason Thomas – Flickr

This week’s season opening game against the Buffalo Bills looked like a surefire Chicago Bears victory for exactly one series on either side of the ball. The game started off looking great. First, the new Bears defense took the field and held the Bills to a 3 and out. The Bears offense then took to the field and we saw a short run by Matt Forte, then 3 consecutive passes to Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, and Martellus Bennett for a quick score. After that it was pretty much all downhill. Why? Well, let’s take a look at the rest of this match-up and see what the heck happened out there.

Decisions, Decisions: A fumble by Marshall and 2 interceptions by Jay Cutler sealed the Bears fate in this one. To give credit where it’s due, the Bills have a very good defense that should likely be in the top 5 this year. However, while the fumble was a solid strip that we probably won’t see on Marshall again, the 2 interceptions both boil down to bad decisions by Cutler. The first one was a pass to Bennett, who wasn’t turned and had coverage up top with former Bear Corey Graham coming underneath. Whether it was bad route running or poor decision making is debatable but the second pick thrown was not. Rolling out to buy himself space and time Cutler threw the ball to the short middle into a sea of white shirts, where it became the 1st career interception of defensive tackle Kyle Williams. This again looked like Cutler forcing the ball where there’s no play to be made. Forcing the ball, in this game resulted in 10 of the Bills regulation points, with Marshall’s fumble accounting for another 3. Turnovers win games and, without those poor choices and mistakes, the game ends differently.

Defense: The new defense was hit and miss during this game. The Bears defense made a couple 3 and out stops, and Chris Conte even came away with a crucial pick that kept the Bears in the game. However, more often than not they were susceptible to big passes and unable to stop the run. CJ Spiller, Fred Jackson, Anthony Dixon, and EJ Manuel gashed the defense for 193 yards on the ground. Big free agency acquisitions, Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston, were almost non-existent accounting for only 1 tackle each. The only two people who really stood out was Willie Young, who got the team’s sole sack and 2 of their 3 tackles for loss; as well as, Conte’s interception. Buffalo does not have a great offense, and to say they are average may even be a bit generous. It can’t be certain whether it is growing pains from the transition to Mel Tucker’s scheme, unit cohesion, or just being out matched. Whatever it is, Chicago has one week to figure it out because the San Fransisco 49er’s will be a much tougher group to stop, and things won’t get any easier as the year rolls on.

Got Your Back: With the Bills defense focused on Jeffery, Marshall, Bennett, and Santonio Holmes in the passing attack, it left an opening for another head of the Chicago hydra, Matt Forte. Forte ran for 82 yards and caught another 87 in short passes and screens for 169 of Chicago’s 427 total yards. He has 18 games with over 150 yards from scrimmage, second to Walter Payton in Bears history and Sunday was his 7th highest total in his career. Forte truly was the one, consistent high spot for them this Sunday. Chicago’s offense is predicated on passing early and often, as evidenced by 49 passing attempts to 18 rush attempts. However, adaptability is the key too success when it comes to ensuring the Chicago Bears offense can receive those passes. And if it is not getting done by the quarter back, then he should have the ability to change it up. A balanced attack of run and passes are crucial to keeping a defense off guard and with a player like Forte it would not be wise to keep him sitting in your backfield.

Bottom Line: Matt Forte was very good; however, the entire Defense did not do very well through out the game. If the Bears want to succeed and move a head then they need to have a bigger presence on the ground. Even though Cutler threw 341 yards, they stalled out on the drives when they favored the pass too frequently. The Bears defense needs to show up during the game. Allen and Houston were the big names that were expected to do well this season; however, they have not demonstrated talent yet. The same can be said for most of the defense, safeties Conte and Ryan Mundy. Finally, Marc Trestman needs to sit Cutler down and get him back to where he was a year ago. Jay was making pretty sound decisions with the ball last season, taking what the defense gave and not forcing it.

September 8, 2014 0 comment

Buffalo Bills Chicago Bears NFL

Chicago Bears: 2014 Kickoff, Week 1 Preview

by Chris Kazmierczak September 4, 2014

written by Chris Kazmierczak

John Martinez Pavliga – FlickrChicago Bears

Finally, it is week one of a new NFL season, where hopes are high and we who love the sport finally have something of substance to talk about. The pointless speculation and preseason prognostication can finally be laid to rest and actual competition and performance can take over. The season officially kicks off Thursday with the Green Bay Packers facing off against the Seattle Seahawks. However, for Chicago Bears‘ fans, we’ll be waiting for Sunday when the Bears host the Buffalo Bills. Here are some of the key elements to look for in the season opener:

Defensive Debut: The Bills should be a good first test for the new and improved Bears’ defense. Buffalo has been mostly a running offense in the past with CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson coming out of the backfield, so Chicago’s defensive front should get plenty of opportunities to prove they are no longer the league’s worst run defense that stunk up stadiums all last season. The Bills aren’t a one trick offense anymore, though. With the 4th overall pick in the draft they added athletic wide receiver Sammy Watkins, whose play-making ability should make him a favorite target of EJ Manuel this Sunday and for the foreseeable future. Watkins is recovering from a preseason rib injury that may make him a little more cautious going for the risky one-handed grabs and jump balls that defined him in preseason. Manuel has been inconsistent thus far in his career as well, and if new defensive ends Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston can pressure him early then we could see the havoc wrecking, turnover causing, Bears of old show up.

Under Pressure: What the Bills may lack elsewhere, they make up for with a very good pass rush. Mario Williams had one of his best seasons last year with 13 sacks. He will mix in with the rest of the front 4, that consists of no slouches either. It could be a tough test for the Bears O-line to hold and control this group and keep Jay Cutler upright. Most under the spotlight will be second year right tackle Jordan Mills. Mills missed the entire preseason with an injured left foot, so he hasn’t played a game since the heartbreaking season finale against the Packers when he first fractured the foot. Mills is cleared for Sunday’s game but he’ll have to get back up to speed in hurry against this group. On the positive side, if Mills and the rest of the guys can control the line of scrimmage they don’t have to worry about the Bills leading tackler from last year, linebacker Kiko Alonso, who is out for the season after tearing his ACL during off-season workouts. Regardless, the key will be keeping Cutler protected and opening holes for Matt Forte to run through. If Chicago’s front 7 can do that, much like they did last season, then the Bills defense can be beaten readily.

Better Safe Than Sorry: Chicago looked all over for help at both safety positions this offseason, bringing in just about any free agent they could to upgrade the group. Coach Marc Trestman has announced he now plans to rotate Ryan Mundy, Danny McCray, and Chris Conte at both positions during the game, with rookie Brock Vereen expected to see some time as well. Mundy and McCray are listed as the starting strong and free safeties, respectively, but because they also have roles on special teams the rotation will be in effect in order to avoid overworking them. Conte is recovering from a concussion suffered during the preseason debacle against the Seahawks but should be cleared and ready to go on Sunday. The use of Conte and Vereen is going to be interesting with Conte’s experience and Vereen’s lack thereof, but depending on who makes the plays and shows overall consistency at the position, this rotation method may force the coaches to reevaluate moving forward or make changes to the depth chart accordingly.

Final Words: History tells us Chicago has the Bills number, especially at home, as the Bears lead the series 7-4 overall and are 5-0 at home. History is not a sole determinant of success though. Offensively, the Bears need to be strong up front. The Buffalo defense is tough all around so the offensive line needs to pick up where it left off in 2013 and give the playmakers time to do what they do best. Let Cutler take his time and make good choices and give Forte room to run. Defensively, while the safety rotation may be a questionable decision, a strong showing in the trenches may be able to cover for any inconsistencies resulting from the safety-by-committee. I fully expect the Bears to struggle a little but they should win this one handily.

September 4, 2014 0 comment

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Chicago Bears: Final Cuts

by Chris Kazmierczak August 28, 2014

written by Chris Kazmierczak

Brandon Zeman – Flickr

The Chicago Bears wrapped up the preseason with an exhibition game against the Cleveland Browns. Now that the game is over the final cut down of the roster from 75 to 53 begins. Some surprising cuts have taken place already though. Adrian Wilson proved he doesn’t have the speed to compete anymore and was released. Jordan Palmer started camp as Jay Cutler’s prime back-up but dropped behind Jimmy Clausen to third and is now enjoying life in sunny Buffalo. Eric Weems was a top candidate to replace Devin Hester on returns, but a poor showing at both receiver and on special teams against the Jacksonville Jaguars a few weeks ago led to his release. Last season’s Nickelback, Isaiah Frey, was cut favoring the move of Tim Jennings inside while rookie Kyle Fuller fills in at corner. Former special teamer and perennial back-up safety Craig Steltz was fighting for in a deep group of safety’s and the hard hitting back saw his time in Chicago come to a close as well. With some interesting cuts already, here are 5 players who are at risk of being cut this weekend.
1) Michael Spurlock WR/KR: Spurlock is currently atop the depth chart for returns, however he is a receiver as well. His prime competition is Chris Williams who’s shown some big play ability on offense and has been serviceable as a return man. If Spurlock can’t wow the coaches on returns or prove he can be a reliable back-up he may be looking for a job next week.
2) Chris Conte FS: Conte has been often criticized since he joined the Bears as a 3rd round draftee in 2011. Often times he’s looked lost or out matched by his opposition. After a 2013 run riddled with mistakes, Conte spent most of the off season recovering from shoulder surgery and then suffered a concussion in his preseason return against the Seattle Seahawks last week. He’s spent his last few seasons as a starter but is third on the depth chart behind Danny McCray and rookie Brock Vereen. If Conte plays, he’ll have to execute with precision in order to validate the Bears keeping him for the last year of his contract.
3) Senorise Perry RB: Perry is competing for a spot that just may not exist. As it stands now, the back-up for Matt Forte is Shaun Draughn and 4th round pick Ka’deem Carey. With Forte up front, a Running Back by committee situation isn’t happening in Chicago and 2 back-ups is plenty. Perry is in competition with the aforementioned Spurlock and Williams for the return gig. If Perry can prove his worth on special teams then he can possibly hold on to a spot. If not he may be a prime candidate for the practice squad.
4) Santonio Holmes WR: Even though Holmes came in late in the preseason, he’s still been outplayed by Josh Morgan as the number 3 receiver. The Bears probably won’t hold on to more than 6 recievers at the most. If Holmes plays like he used to then he will be a valuable member of a vicious passing attack with an opportunity to redeem himself after his less than spectacular run with the New York Jets. Otherwise, I expect to see him on the open market again.
5) Armanti Edwards WR/KR: This is, arguably, the safest bet to be cut on this list. Edwards is deep on the depth charts for both his positions. He has never been impressive at the professional level. His catches are few and his returns, while serviceable, are nothing special. Edwards will have to go above and beyond tonight in order to secure a position on this offense.
These five players have a big opportunity tonight. If they rise to the occasion then they can secure a spot. If not then they will fall by the wayside, left searching for reserve roles, filling in practice squads, and waiting for injuries to give them a role in the NFL this season.

Chris Kazmierczak is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on twitter or Facebook.

August 28, 2014 0 comment

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