Bears Fri Oct 22 2010

Footballic Ramblings: McNabb Looks to McBurn The McBears

By Brian Lauvray

A week after the horrible threats and visions of those oh-so-burnable Bears secondaries of seasons past returned against the flaccid Seattle passing game. Gulp. The mighty Donovan McNabb comes to Soldier Field eager to pick apart a suddenly susceptible secondary in the Second City. The good news? Lance Briggs is back. Better news? Washington is tied for fourth-most sacks allowed in the league. More bad news? The Bears are numero uno in sacks allowed. What I'm trying to say is expect a lot of bruised and battered quarterbacks trying to find cracks in the opposition's secondary.

Unfortunately, this game "football" has other means of offense. Something called the running game, wherein a "running back" is handed the ball and he then runs on the field rather than lofting the ball into the heavens for a receiver to catch it. Mike Martz, Chicago's offensive coordinator, either considers this running game merely a hypothetical or is so absorbed with his own ego, offensive plans and passing schemes that the Bears rush attack is sorely lacking. However, the Washington Redskins do believe in the ground game and have a very capable running back named Ryan Torain who will test the teeth of the Bears defense. Torain is a monstrously oversized running back (dude's 6-1, which is ripe for injury size, but still, for now he's a battering ram) who has very ably taken over for the injured Clinton Portis.

Torain will be punishing the Bears interior lineman and linebackers and on passing plays can fall back as an extra blocker for McNabb and he very well could be the difference maker. Not necessarily on a dramatic 75-yard gallop; but more likely by forcing Chicago's secondary to creep up and keep an eye on the young bronco as a sly veteran receiver such as Santana Moss sneaks by for a perfectly timed McNabb bomb.

Meanwhile when the Bears have the ball we can all expect more Cutler hits. Hopefully, the week of practice has allowed Cutler to get back on the same (approx.) page as his receiving corp. We all know the Bears need to at least pretend to run the ball and we all know that Mike Martz probably isn't going to do that. The offensive line is still a soggy, toilet paper-weak mess so, I don't know, maybe short slant routes? Rediscover Greg Olsen as a viable target for Cutler? Integrate Matt Forte and Chester Taylor as safety valve options and let them improv and romp their collective way to a decent yardage total? Maybe a touchdown between the two of them? Martz should know, but will probably ignore, the fact that Washington's rush defense is awful and is giving up a downright charitable 120+ yards per game on the ground. Of course he'll still try passing the ball, but, well, you're allowed to hope, Bears fans.

Game starts at noon. Soldier Field. FOX 32. High of 72 with a chance of scattered thunderstorms. Not a bad Sunday, people.