Don't forget about Urlacher in Chicago

You are dead on about Urlacher here. He is "Lovie's boy," but it is time for him to play like a vet and make some plays when they count.

How many games will get that out of him? More, if you sacrifice some pass rush and have the line contantly step down or cross blocker's faces. This is going to be a very high maintenance version of T2. Maybe he's there for parts all games, maybe he's full speed over half the season?

He may have to change roles to some extent, with Hillenmeyer, have Hunter run with the seam and let Urlacher find the boundary landmarks. Hope to see him play faster, lighter once more, but he needed that bulk to take on blockers because it isn't unusual to see blockers get runthroughs to the second level when lackluster line play failed to secure gaps and let him spill action outside as part of that cover two drop.

That might involve a safety rotation weakside to give Hillenmeyer a straight track on his dropback when the matchup favors him against a runblocking end. That would mean an Eagle front(weakside overload, rotating the free safety weakside. Bringing a safety down can let you tag an outside linebacker with the cover two drop as well, all ways to try and change the angles and looks just enough to give your team an extra step to the ball against certain formations. All of these looks can be items which could still come down to them having a true corner able to shut down a number one, another issue for the team at this time.

Lovie Smith's defense has actually taken its share of measures to tweak and adjust the Dungy2 they love, in order to try and close down some of those throwing lanes and running gaps. They deserve a lot of credit for doing that, and the players on their team have shown a lot of effort and heart. The offense clearly has to give these guys something to work with on the scoreboard, and Chicago loves its Bears to be blue collar so their defensive effort can still be part of a winning plan.


That means the pressure is greater on offense, their signal caller has to answer that call and keep his game intact at times when he finds other parts of the Bears game plan are doing their job. Sometimes trying too much can take you off the field when being confident in team mates and packages of play calls in their sets can allow the rest of the team to enjoy the view of you distrubiting the ball. Yeah, a lot has to come together, that's the beauty of football.


The Windy City is a big town that loves team work. The Bears collectively have to step up, in a season where the NFC North is stepping up. Get better, that can be considered a mission statement. The Martz offense can do some things that take time for others to catch up with, but it also has a learn curve, and the protection issue is another story altogether.

How this market graph overlays the return of Urlacher and the defense playing best, and their maximum market value in the returns on special teams, well that's enough volatility to make the best Bears fan forego becoming irrationaly exhuberant. That doesn't mean you don't want to see these guys brawl, with big shoulders, for that same storied hundred yards of turf part and parcel of the Chicago City Proper. Get your tickets, for the game, and the transit authority, because it will be one of the greatest shows on....

The Tampa-2 isn't necessarily a bad defense, or even dying. But it takes a lot to work well and it has a high "chance" factor in the fact it relies so heavily on turnovers to be effective.

I think the fact most quarterbacks now have grown up studying and playing against the Tampa-2 (almost at every level since early 2000's) has helped offenses quite a bit. QB's are more patient attacking them. They understand they need to protect the ball and sustain long drives to beat them. Just a progression and evolution of the game.

Part of the problem in Chicago is more than scheme. The horses just haven't been there. The pass rush isn't always there. The DT's aren't getting the pressure. The MLB has been in/out a lot. The playmaking secondary personnel are in/out/missing. Kind of hard to play the Tampa-2 without all that working.

I think there will always be a place in the game for certain warm-weather teams that use fast, smaller defenses that excell in zone coverages and creating turnovers. Obviously it can't be as simple as Tampa-2 all the time, but that philosophy can work.

Urlacher's reputation has taken a hit, from the off-the-field buzz about him dating Paris Hilton and other celebrities, to having been injured and missing large chunks of the season. He also took some criticism last year when he called out Cutler's poor play. He's got the requisite material to formulate a rather large chip for his shoulder pads, so I'm expecting big performances from him this year.

So why is that Urlacher isnt the same player he once was? is it the fact he has missed 1 season outta the last 5? Urlacher has amassed 480 tackles 11 sacks 33 pass deflections 10 ints and a td.. so in four season he has SUCKED

Did I forget to mention that Urlacher should just retire? I mean only 500 tackles in 4 seasons he is garbage... Over the hill. and never was..

So why is that Urlacher isnt the same player he once was? is it the fact he has missed 1 season outta the last 5? Urlacher has amassed 480 tackles 11 sacks 33 pass deflections 10 ints and a td.. so in four season he has SUCKED

Did I forget to mention that Urlacher should just retire? I mean only 500 tackles in 4 seasons he is garbage... Over the hill. and never was..

Brian Urlacher, the clock is ticking.

Wasn't Urlacher supposed to be in "pheonmenal" shape last year due to rehabbing his back injury? Look where all that conditioning got him. He's been a pro bowl player for a while. he probably could be again if he stays healthy, but he takes as much abuse, if not more, than a running back, and he's getting up there in age. Odds certainly don't favor him playing a full season.

Uh, Bob, he broke a wrist last year. A freak accident. Don't think it had anything to do with "conditioning."

CW, I don't know where you live, but the Paris Hilton thing was about a million years ago. Real Bears fans don't care who he dates or what he said about Cutler. Even Cutler doesn't care. Everyone just wants this guy to make plays.

Mr. Murder:

Is NFP paying you under the table? Impressive stuff.

BearMarket - exactly my point. Doesn't matter how good of condition he's in. He's older, probably slower, and more susceptible to injury. You can talk "freak accident" all you want, but how come some guys seem to have them more than others? Urlacher didn't used to, but sure seems to of late....

Sure Paris Hilton is a skank....but if you had the opportunity, would you turn it down? IF she didn't talk, I'd be inclined to say let's go.

Deljcz wrote: "Part of the problem in Chicago is more than scheme. The horses just haven't been there. The pass rush isn't always there. The DT's aren't getting the pressure. The MLB has been in/out a lot. The playmaking secondary personnel are in/out/missing. Kind of hard to play the Tampa-2 without all that working"

Concur totally - love Da' Bears when they're competetive & believe The Prez (Cutler) will have if not a comeback of the year award season, very close to it, as he's going to thrive w/Martz's scheme - that being said, while Urlachers always been a freak of nature, the problem with that is when the gifts the god gave you get worn down then there's nothing there - there anymore...he's a vocal guy, plays with tons of emotion & passion and love his game, yet remember the guys a "natural safety" that's been bulked up to play mike in the NFL, eventually parts become damaged for any LB playing as long as Urlacher has at this level - and one wonders if he's at the crossroads this year - time will tell of course that story...

Urlacher is at the age, 32, when Bill Parcells says LBers are washed up. For what it's worth.

But the guy is NOT injury prone. The last time he missed significant action was Lovie's first year, '04.

He may have bought himself one more year since he didn't put on any miles last year.

bearmarket wrote: "He may have bought himself one more year since he didn't put on any miles last year. "

Would concur with that sentiment and agree in general with your parlance that the perception that Urlachers been damaged goods is a bit misguided; however, if another "freak" break like the wrist injury of last year occurs this year or the myriad of injuries that LB's accumulate take him off the field for significant playing time this year then it may be time to look ahead - went thru the same thing as a Donkeys fan with Al Wilson - the guy was there, dependable as a rock and then one year accumulated injuries just mounted onto his body so significantly that the neck caused him to retire...you just don't know with LB's and that's why Parcells has the expiration date label tattoo'd on the LB's hineys so he knows for sure when not to buy & btw Parcells was a LB so he loves the guys, it's just the way it is...and bearmarket when my donkeys finish 10-6 and the Bears finish 6 - 10 will give u the addy to send the UNO's original - oh yeah!!!

how do you want to define "injury prone"? If you're going to say that the guy didn't miss time, well that's part of it. The other part is how effective is he while playing with something nagging - like his arthritic back. Late in the season, all those guys have something nagging, it's just a question of what and how badly. I think it's hard to walk with a bad back. I can't imagine playing football with one. Would you suggest that Urlacher was a dominant LB in the 2008 season? I think he made the pro bowl, but that doesn't mean he had a good year. Lots of times get in based on past accomplishments.

For the money that guy makes, you want a perennial pro bowl performance. Sure injuries happen, but they tend to happen more to the older guys. All I'm saying is I don't see him getting any better or any more reliable.

@ Bob,

I never said he could "get any better," but now that you raise the point, I will address it. Can he play at the level when he was DPOY in '05? I doubt it. Can he play better than the years since? I honesstly don't know. I hope so, but who really knows? I know this: he doesn't have to be the DPOY to make a difference this year.

What does "more reliable" mean? Does he get injured? Yes. Does he play with injuries? Yes. Does he miss a lot of games? No. Those are the facts. You can look them up.

@ Matrixnov: I can't argue with anything you say, except, of course, the final record. LOL!

And what do I get if I win? Better NOT be a Tebow jersey. LMAO!

So the problem is not going to be whether or not Urlacher is healthy. It is going to be how much time he is on the field.

The offense will be put to the test week in and week out and with no viable receivers Cutler will be king of the INT pile again.

What does that all mean to Urlacher? Tons of field time which will translate into wear and tear on a guy that came back from a injury. Losses will pile up, fingers will be pointed. Urlacher and Cutler will get the worse of it. The bears will implode again and end up just above the Lions for the 2nd year in a row.

Urlacher used to be a brilliant general on D, he used to understand and predict exactly where the play is going. But now, older, less heart...playing with a QB that is nuttier than a payday candy bar...he will have some moments and try to show he still has tread on the tire but realistically the guy will be out on the field way too much.

If I'm GM, I'm already searching out Urlacher's replacement. I'd be really suprised if we get more than 8 games out of him this season- conditioning or no. He's all about winning, but he is not a Bears man. He doesn't buy into the tradition, he flaps his gums too much- and generally at his own teammates, and his play over the past 24 months has not bought him that much clout. I don't expect much out of the Bears front office, but they should "expect to replace" the MLB. Perhaps I'm just jaded from having Hall of Fame caliber LB's, like Butkis, Buffone and Singletary leading our beloved Bears Defenses. Each a Bear to their core.

If I'm GM, I'm already searching out Urlacher's replacement. I'd be really suprised if we get more than 8 games out of him this season- conditioning or no. He's all about winning, but he is not a Bears man. He doesn't buy into the tradition, he flaps his gums too much- and generally at his own teammates, and his play over the past 24 months has not bought him that much clout. I don't expect much out of the Bears front office, but they should "expect to replace" the MLB. Perhaps I'm just jaded from having Hall of Fame caliber LB's, like Butkis, Buffone and Singletary leading our beloved Bears Defenses. Each a Bear to their core.

good post!!Thanks for your suggestion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tired of hearing about the Cover 2 being a weak defensive scheme. Tired, tired, tired. *Any* scheme has its pros and cons if not executed. The Bears didn't have the pass rush or the 'backers to play it last year. Hillenmeyer is too unskilled and too small to play the mike and hopefully he's kept off the field completely this year. Urlacher has been playing with injuries in recent years. He's had a year to recuperate and come back stronger and less problem-prone due to his neck/back injuries. He will be a force to be reckoned with this season and will not allow the defense to repeat the disgraceful appearance it had last year. In front of him he'll have a Tommie Harris closer to his best, a certain Julius Peppers ... and then there's Marcus Harrison, Izzy and Mark Anderson running amok. The D is back.

Tired of hearing about the Cover 2 being a weak defensive scheme. Tired, tired, tired. *Any* scheme has its pros and cons if not executed. The Bears didn't have the pass rush or the 'backers to play it last year. Hillenmeyer is too unskilled and too small to play the mike and hopefully he's kept off the field completely this year. Urlacher has been playing with injuries in recent years. He's had a year to recuperate and come back stronger and less problem-prone due to his neck/back injuries. He will be a force to be reckoned with this season and will not allow the defense to repeat the disgraceful appearance it had last year. In front of him he'll have a Tommie Harris closer to his best, a certain Julius Peppers ... and then there's Marcus Harrison, Izzy and Mark Anderson running amok. The D is back.

To U URLACHER haters FUCk OFF FAGGoTS



~bears fan 4 life~