ESPN.com - NFL - Take 2: 49ers vs. Bears Friday, October 29, 2004
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the 49ers and Bears. Now they're back with a second
look.
RB Kevan Barlow could be in for a big game if he can get to the second
level quickly. The Bears play a one-gap penetrating style with very little
read and reac" techniques and a cover-2 behind it. However, because of
injuries at cornerback the Bears' safeties are more involved in pass
coverage than they are in run support. This opens up room to run in the
middle for Barlow.
Both Craig Krenzel and Jonathan Quinn are lucky to have jobs in the NFL
and have no business starting games. Chad Hutchinson is not close to being
ready and is starting to look like an all-time bust. Tim Couch has worked
out but has not signed. This begs the question of why this organization
did not have a better backup plan for young Rex Grossman. This is easily
the worst quarterback situation in the league.
The 49ers, by nature, like to blitz and play aggressive defense, but they
have been forced into more conservative schemes because of injuries and
are often playing from behind early. As a result they have had to sit back
and play vanilla schemes, even though it prohibits them from generating
much of a pass rush without blitzing. The upside is they don't give up a
lot of big plays.
A matchup to watch will be 49ers LOT Kwame Harris vs. Bears RDE Alex
Brown. Harris is struggling versus speed rushers off the edge and the last
thing that QB Tim Rattay wants to do is have to scramble. The 49ers do not
want to have to leave a back or tight end in to help on Brown.
WR Brandon Lloyd is beginning to emerge as the go-to-guy and his
success is directly tied to TE Eric Johnson. Johnson leads the team with
45 receptions and is seeing more double coverage due to his ability to
stretch the field. Lloyd is getting more single coverage man-to-man
matchups and is taking advantage of it.
The Bears are so predictable and "non-threatening" in the passing game
that defenses are loading up with eight defenders in the box to stop RB
Thomas Jones. The 49ers' conservative schemes that limit blitzing should
still have success because the Bears can't make plays, blitz or no blitz.
MLB Brian Urlacher is struggling in coverage situations and was beaten for
a big play last week by Tampa Bay RB Michael Pittman. If Eric Johnson can
get Urlacher in a one-on-one matchup, he can take him deep and make
Urlacher very uncomfortable.
Bears CB Jerry Azumah is a huge factor for the improving secondary.
His return from injury makes them a better matchup group, as Azumah has
worked his way back into the starting role after spending time as the
nickel back.
Although Barlow is a big, physical back, he is not breaking tackles like
he did last year. He averages only 3.7 yards per rush. As a result, the
49ers will promote Maurice Hicks into a change-of-pace role to try and add
some more explosiveness. In fairness to Barlow, he has been playing with a
sore shoulder.
Third down is a big problem for the Bears. Offensively they are terrible
on third-down conversions, they can't sustain drives and have too many
three-and-outs. As a result, it affects them defensively because they are
on the field too much and wear down late in games. It is a vicious cycle
the Bears can't seem to get out of.
Special Teams
Bears PK Paul Edinger has been anything but consistent -- streaky is more
the word. He finished 2003 missing six of his last 11 kicks and then
missed his first two attempts this year. Since then he has made five of
his last six attempts. He should get plenty of attempts each week with a
struggling offense, but the offense needs to be rewarded with at least
three points when it can to improve the confidence of the unit.
Prediction: 49ers 17, Bears 13
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the 49ers and Bears. Now they're back with a second
look.
RB Kevan Barlow could be in for a big game if he can get to the second
level quickly. The Bears play a one-gap penetrating style with very little
read and reac" techniques and a cover-2 behind it. However, because of
injuries at cornerback the Bears' safeties are more involved in pass
coverage than they are in run support. This opens up room to run in the
middle for Barlow.
Both Craig Krenzel and Jonathan Quinn are lucky to have jobs in the NFL
and have no business starting games. Chad Hutchinson is not close to being
ready and is starting to look like an all-time bust. Tim Couch has worked
out but has not signed. This begs the question of why this organization
did not have a better backup plan for young Rex Grossman. This is easily
the worst quarterback situation in the league.
The 49ers, by nature, like to blitz and play aggressive defense, but they
have been forced into more conservative schemes because of injuries and
are often playing from behind early. As a result they have had to sit back
and play vanilla schemes, even though it prohibits them from generating
much of a pass rush without blitzing. The upside is they don't give up a
lot of big plays.
A matchup to watch will be 49ers LOT Kwame Harris vs. Bears RDE Alex
Brown. Harris is struggling versus speed rushers off the edge and the last
thing that QB Tim Rattay wants to do is have to scramble. The 49ers do not
want to have to leave a back or tight end in to help on Brown.
WR Brandon Lloyd is beginning to emerge as the go-to-guy and his
success is directly tied to TE Eric Johnson. Johnson leads the team with
45 receptions and is seeing more double coverage due to his ability to
stretch the field. Lloyd is getting more single coverage man-to-man
matchups and is taking advantage of it.
The Bears are so predictable and "non-threatening" in the passing game
that defenses are loading up with eight defenders in the box to stop RB
Thomas Jones. The 49ers' conservative schemes that limit blitzing should
still have success because the Bears can't make plays, blitz or no blitz.
MLB Brian Urlacher is struggling in coverage situations and was beaten for
a big play last week by Tampa Bay RB Michael Pittman. If Eric Johnson can
get Urlacher in a one-on-one matchup, he can take him deep and make
Urlacher very uncomfortable.
Bears CB Jerry Azumah is a huge factor for the improving secondary.
His return from injury makes them a better matchup group, as Azumah has
worked his way back into the starting role after spending time as the
nickel back.
Although Barlow is a big, physical back, he is not breaking tackles like
he did last year. He averages only 3.7 yards per rush. As a result, the
49ers will promote Maurice Hicks into a change-of-pace role to try and add
some more explosiveness. In fairness to Barlow, he has been playing with a
sore shoulder.
Third down is a big problem for the Bears. Offensively they are terrible
on third-down conversions, they can't sustain drives and have too many
three-and-outs. As a result, it affects them defensively because they are
on the field too much and wear down late in games. It is a vicious cycle
the Bears can't seem to get out of.
Special Teams
Bears PK Paul Edinger has been anything but consistent -- streaky is more
the word. He finished 2003 missing six of his last 11 kicks and then
missed his first two attempts this year. Since then he has made five of
his last six attempts. He should get plenty of attempts each week with a
struggling offense, but the offense needs to be rewarded with at least
three points when it can to improve the confidence of the unit.
Prediction: 49ers 17, Bears 13
