ESPN Insider: Breakdown Chicago at Washington

[SkinsTillIDie]

I apologize if this was already posted... I scanned the board and didn't find anything...

http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfl/scouting?gameId=250911028

'Skins debut revamped offense

By Scouts, Inc.

Why To Watch

Both the Bears and Redskins enter the 2005 regular season with playoff-caliber defenses, but questions abound for both offenses. The Redskins hope upgrades on the offensive line, with the return of RT Jon Jansen, and in the receiving corp, with the additions of David Patten and Santana Moss, can jump start an offense that ranked 21st in rushing and 29th in passing last season.

For Chicago, new offensive coordinator Ron Turner must find a way to make rookie QB Kyle Orton an adequate replacement for the injured Rex Grossman. Muhsin Muhammad gives the Bears a legitimate No. 1 threat at wide receiver, and it will be interesting to see how the Redskins' secondary will match up. On the ground, RB Thomas Jones will carry the load to begin with, but the Bears expect first-round pick Cedric Benson to be the long-term answer.

When the Bears have the ball

Rushing: RB Jones will be the opening-day starter, with top pick Benson and fourth-year player Adrian Peterson working into the rotation. Jones set career highs with 240 carries, 948 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground last season. Jones, who also led the team with 56 catches, has shown big-play ability and he runs with a good, low center of gravity. Coordinator Ron Turner never had this much ability and production at the RB position in his previous stint with the Bears and went 9-7 with a rotational system.

The Bears will depend heavily on the running game to take the pressure off rookie QB Orton. Up front, the Bears have moved last year's starting RT John Tait over to the left side and inserted journeyman Fred Miller at RT. Look for the Bears to attack downhill behind Tait and LG Ruben Brown vs. Washington's RDT Joe Salave'a and RDE Phillip Daniels.

Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Williams uses an up-field, aggressive style that has his defenders attacking gaps on the move with the intent of distributing blocking patterns. Last season, the Redskins ranked in the top seven in every major category except sacks and interceptions. With the return of a healthy LaVar Arrington, look for Williams to stack the line of scrimmage with eight-man fronts and force the Bears to attack through the air.

Passing: Grossman suffered a fractured ankle in the second quarter of the second preseason game and is not expected back until late in the season, if at all. Orton, however, impressed coaches in practice and through limited exposure in the preseason and showed he has the ability to perform in Turner's version of the West Coast system.

When the Bears do throw, look for a conservative approach. Protection will be the main focus against the Redskins' attacking style and blitz packages. The Bears will need to limit Orton's options, which will allow him to identify the extra defender and throw hot in critical situations.

A critical match-up to watch on the outside will be WR Muhammad vs. DC Shawn Springs. Muhammad is a big, physical receiver who put up career numbers last season in Carolina. He is a No. 1 receiver who adds solid experience to a young, deep receiving core. Springs handled the challenge of replacing Champ Bailey as the Redskins No. 1 corner and played at a Pro-Bowl level. Look for Williams to put Springs on Muhammad throughout the game to limit his options in the passing game and use a lot of match-up zones to confuse Orton.

When the Redskins have the ball

Rushing: Coach Joe Gibbs always has loved operating in a one-back scheme with a power rushing attack. However, the Redskins are expected to run less motion and shifts and have tweaked certain blocking schemes to create better blocking angles on defenders. This will allow Gibbs to attack downhill and take advantage of RB Clinton Portis' explosive speed and quickness between the tackles.

With a healthy right tackle in Jansen, the addition of OC Casey Rabach and an offensive line that averages 314 pounds, look for the Redskins to pound the ball at an undersized Bears defensive line. Fortunately for the Bears, their defense has been impressive in the preseason, bolstered by the return of MLB Brian Urlacher.

Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera will add numerous wrinkles by mixing up fronts and forcing the Redskins to bounce plays to the outside, where the Bears can take advantage of their speed and quickness. SS Mike Brown, lost for the season in Week 2 with an Achilles injury a year ago, and sixth-year FS Mike Green must be disciplined in their reads and play with good control when forcing from an inside-out position. They must not allow Portis to make explosive plays in the running game.

Passing: The Redskins finished 29th in the NFL in passing offense in 2004, averaging a lowly 164.5 yards per game. In 2004, the passing game never really got into rhythm, lacked consistency and really struggled in its protection schemes. Look for the Redskins to run the ball to set up the pass to the take pressure off of QB Patrick Ramsey. Last year's starters Rod Gardner (Panthers) and Laveranues Coles (Jets) were traded and replaced by faster, smaller receivers in Moss (Jets) and Patten (Patriots). Both had fewer receptions combined last year than the guys they replaced, but they averaged more than 18 yards per catch.

Look for the Redskins to run play-action and try to get ball vertically down the seam and outside the numbers to either Moss or Patten. Also, keep in mind H-back Chris Cooley, who showed traffic hands and a nose for the end zone with six touchdowns among his 37 catches as a rookie in 2004.

The Bears have a chance to be very good vs. the pass, with their cover-2 concepts and their ability to pressure the quarterback with their front four while dropping seven into coverage. Two key match-ups to watch are LDE Adewale Ogunleye vs. RT Jansen and LC Charles Tillman vs. WR Moss. Look for the Bears to stack the line of scrimmage and force QB Ramsey to beat them throwing the ball.

[Fifty Gut]

gonna be a hard fought game :helmet:

[bulldog]

Most assessments of this game have given the Bears' offensive line too much credit. Fred Miller is on the downside of his career and I don't see the Bears being able to control the line of scrimmage against the Redskins' front seven.

Ultimately, that battle up front which to me favors the Redskins, will force Orton into mistakes and that is where the game will be won

Orton will get hit by the rush and will force the ball to the outside and the Skins should take advantage with turnovers.

The Redskins' offense will then join the party

[Phat Hog]

Hopefully, it will be all it's built up to be...though I wouldn't mind a Redskins blowout!

[Gallen5862]

I think the Redskins win the matchups and the game. They neglected special teams in their review as well.

[stoney26]

This could have been written before pre season.

[Destino]

When a DL described as "fast" meets a O-line known for it's size....there are going to be a lot of yards given up on the ground. Someone tell Portis to bring his championship belt.

[RVAbrendan]

The Bears will depend heavily on the running game to take the pressure off rookie QB Orton

Looks like Orton will be destroyed.

[bulldog]

The Redskins beat the Bears last year. The Redskins are a better team now, there is a question as to whether the Bears are a better overall team now with Orton at QB and Benson out of shape and in a limited role.

Is that backfield any better than the Craig Krenzel, Thomas Jones backfield we saw last year?

[marsbennett]

gonna be a hard fought game :helmet:

I think you are right. I've read some posts at DCC stating that the skins had an easy opener at home, but that Chicago defense is gonna prove to be a thorn in the side of Clinton Portis. You better hope your vaunted passing game takes flight.

[The Bounty Hunter #21]

Orton is gonna get torn apart

[goldenster95]

The Redskins beat the Bears last year. The Redskins are a better team now, there is a question as to whether the Bears are a better overall team now with Orton at QB and Benson out of shape and in a limited role.

Is that backfield any better than the Craig Krenzel, Thomas Jones backfield we saw last year?

Portis ran for 171 yards against them last year behind an o-line far less superior to that of this year's and a blocking scheme that was not suited to his running style than the blocking schemes of 2005. There has been talk about how the Bears have improved their defense. But I doubt that with the moves made by both teams, there'll be too much of a difference. If Portis gets his game on, Ramsey might not have to do anything.

Also, Gibbs loves to use big o-linemen to punish and wear down smaller d-linemen. Look for that to happen on Sunday.

[jtyler42]

This is going to be a good game one that should be dominated by our D, and controlled by our ground game...We dont want to pass alot against the Bears b/c they have alot of speed and good pass rushers in their front seven...

[jrockster21]

The Redskins offense just has to not lose the game, something it almost did last season. That game would have been at least a 17-3 blowout, potentially a 24-3 destruction if Brunell hadn't thrown that perfect touchdown pass to Azumah.

The Bears defense has improved, but I think that our offense has improved more. And I hope they stack the box and leave one of their corners on an island against two of the fastest receivers in the league! They won't be stacking the box for long, that's for sure.

One thing is certain....I CANNOT WAIT!!! REDSKINS FOOTBALL IS BACK, BABY!!!

[NoCalMike]

If the Bears are depending on a run game to bail out Orton, then they picked the wrong opponent to open up against.

[bearrock]

Also, keep in mind H-back Chris Cooley, who showed traffic hands and a nose for the end zone with six touchdowns among his 37 catches as a rookie in 2004.

I don't know if that is a typo or on purpose, but I like the phrase. Maybe the announcers can work that into the game: "Cooley uses his traffic hands to grab that touchdown away from the secondary"

[dchogs]

Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Williams uses an up-field, aggressive style that has his defenders attacking gaps on the move with the intent of distributing blocking patterns.

who edited this piece?

[Clinton Portis]

Woah, are they kidding?

Weren't we like...2nd against the run last year?

There is no way they can run the ball on us...period.

Maybe pass, a little.

But RUN!?!!?!?!!?

Can you say swarm? :laugh:

[Art]

I guess I just don't get how the Chicago defense is considered a playoff-level defense. They were 21st in the league in total defense. Yet, they are presumed to have a good defense where when our offense is described it almost always STARTS with descriptions of last year's lack of performance and the presumption it will carry to this year.

While we may struggle on offense we may also be a Top 10 offense. There's a great deal that can be done from a scheme standpoint to improve, especially with the superior speed at the skill positions this team has. I love this opener for us given the matchup advantages we have. Though, the Bears did have some success on the ground against us last year, so, they might have some this year.

[G-Prime]

I can't wait, it's almost here!

[TheGreek1973]

I guess I just don't get how the Chicago defense is considered a playoff-level defense. They were 21st in the league in total defense. Yet, they are presumed to have a good defense where when our offense is described it almost always STARTS with descriptions of last year's lack of performance and the presumption it will carry to this year.

While we may struggle on offense we may also be a Top 10 offense. There's a great deal that can be done from a scheme standpoint to improve, especially with the superior speed at the skill positions this team has. I love this opener for us given the matchup advantages we have. Though, the Bears did have some success on the ground against us last year, so, they might have some this year.

I totaly agree Art. I know they had some players hurt last year but we had Lavar, Bowen and Daniels out also and still finished 3rd in the league. If we don't have to worry about the pass that much their running game is going to sufer BIG TIME.

[G-Prime]

I guess I just don't get how the Chicago defense is considered a playoff-level defense. They were 21st in the league in total defense. Yet, they are presumed to have a good defense where when our offense is described it almost always STARTS with descriptions of last year's lack of performance and the presumption it will carry to this year.

While we may struggle on offense we may also be a Top 10 offense. There's a great deal that can be done from a scheme standpoint to improve, especially with the superior speed at the skill positions this team has. I love this opener for us given the matchup advantages we have. Though, the Bears did have some success on the ground against us last year, so, they might have some this year.

Ulacher.. That's all.. Media tends to latch on to names assuming units are as good as their best man. Last year he wasn't in the picture, this year he will be.. It's a mediot assumption.

[Prosperity]

We got 171 yards last year on the ground, this year we have a better oline and a better running scheme fitted for Portis. All things point to us running all over the Bears defense AND we won't be using Brunell this year. Like others said, our D will stifle their run, and a rookie QB won't be able to bail them out against a Gregg Williams D. This should be as easy of a win as we are going to get this year.

[Skins24]

We got 171 yards last year on the ground, this year we have a better oline and a better running scheme fitted for Portis.

We actually got 218. Portis got 171.

Look for similar numbers this time around....

[RedskinLifer]

Kyle Orton is a rookie QB who was pressed into action, and Gregg Williams has had over a week to prepare for him. That doesn't bode well for the Bears.

I can't hardly wait!

PREDICTION: Redskins 17, Bears 7