Injury Report & Implications: TB @ CHI

[Noots]

INJURY REPORT AND IMPLICATIONS

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) at Chicago Bears (1-1)

By

Michael Nudo

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Defensive end Gaines Adams’ status bears watching (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay).

BEARS OFFENSEcolor> vs. BUCCANEERS DEFENSEcolor>

Wide receiver/return specialist Devin Hester left last week’s game with a rib injury. His absence would mean more reps for Marty Booker at receiver and the possible game day activation of rookie Earl Bennett. Cornerback Nate Vasher returned punts and nickel back Danieal Manning returned kickoffs during last week’s contest after the injury.

Linebacker Derrick Brooks has been nursing a sore hamstring and as a consequence has not been quite himself these first two weeks. Cornerback Elbert Mack has been suspended by the league for illegal hits on quarterbacks. Defensive back Aqib Talib is having hamstring issues. If he misses time, the depth in the Bucs’ secondary and ability to match up against multiple receiver sets will be vastly limited. Last week, the Bucs’ defense sacked rookie Matt Ryan four times and forced two interceptions. They also held Michael Turner under 50 yards rushing. They did this with pressure from their front four, especially ends Greg White and Gaines Adams. Adams shows up on the report this week (abdomen). His status bears watching, because losing him would make it much easier to add pass protection help to just one edge of the line.

The Bears would do well to run 3 and 4 wide receiver sets against the depleted Bucs’ secondary. In the least, the Bucs would spread their defense and allow them to run Matt Forte at them. Tampa has seen the tape of the Bears’ offense. If the Bears want to split them out wide, so be it. Until Kyle Orton proves he can take advantage of single coverage to pick up medium and long range passes, opposing defenses will be less likely to take an extra safety out of the box.

BUCCANEERS OFFENSEcolor> vs. BEARS DEFENSEcolor>

Former Bear Brian Griese is set to start his second straight game in relief of Jeff Garcia. Garcia was given the quick hook after an ineffective opener. Many people thought the Bucs were finished last year when Cadillac Williams went down. Earnest Graham stepped in and has quietly been one of the most productive backs in the league ever since. Graham has rushed for 992 yards and 9 touchdowns in his last 12 starts. Wide receiver Joey Galloway has a leg injury and may miss the game. If he can’t play, the Bucs will share the load among Michael Clayton, Dexter Jackson, Maurice Stovall and Antonio Bryant. Offensive guard Davin Joseph (foot) missed last week’s contest. With versatile rookie Jeremy Zuttah starting in his stead, the Bucs rushed for 164 yards against the Falcons.

Nickel back Brandon McGowan (ankle) is out for the season. Danieal Manning will pick up the slack there as well. Manning should be busy with that responsibility in addition to kickoff returns. Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee, ankle) appears to have been affected by his assorted bumps and bruises. He has amassed only two tackles through the first two games, in spite of seeing a starter’s share of the reps in the defensive tackle rotation.

Tampa Bay has been extremely effective with a balanced attack. Their running game has been a huge part of that success. If they can successfully run against the Bears, they’ll force a commitment from the safeties, which will improve Tampa’s ability to go deep as well as hit the tight end.

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[Pixote]

I have to believe the Bears Defense should be able to shut down TBs offense, which certainly does notimpress me at all. I would not be surprised at a shut out. If they score my guess is it would be from D/ST.

 

Now how the Bears do offensively, well, that is the question in most of our minds. We thought Forte would struggle against Carolina but did quite well. Why not against TB? I think Carolina has the better defense of the two teams.

 

Hopefully we see some groth out of Orton and his pack of WRs.

[DABEARSDABOMB]

This game is going to come down to coaching and execution. I expect a low scoring game in which the team that does the little things wins the game. That doesn't bode well for the Bears who tend to make a lot of "mistakes". I like Lovie's ability to motivate and do a lot of things but I have not seen him be the type of coach that is able to get his playes to play "clean" games.

 

Clean in the sense of cutting out stupid penalties, making bonehead mistakes. Hopefully the Bears players can go out and play a good game.

[Bears4Ever_34]

This game is going to come down to coaching and execution. I expect a low scoring game in which the team that does the little things wins the game. That doesn't bode well for the Bears who tend to make a lot of "mistakes". I like Lovie's ability to motivate and do a lot of things but I have not seen him be the type of coach that is able to get his playes to play "clean" games.

 

Clean in the sense of cutting out stupid penalties, making bonehead mistakes. Hopefully the Bears players can go out and play a good game.

 

Yep, you got that right! Lovie gets outcoached for the second straight week in a row.