Vasher out a month, Tillman out 2 games (1 Viewer)

[Anthony Borbely]

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Vasher, Tillman out against pass-happy Lions

DEPLETED 'D' | CBs Vasher, Tillman out against pass-happy Lions

September 26, 2007

BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com

Brian Griese isn't the only player who'll make his first start for the Bears on Sunday.

There will be considerably more turnover on defense. A short-handed situation in the secondary, after Nathan Vasher went down Sunday with a partially torn groin muscle, has grown worse with the news that Charles Tillman also is injured. Rookie Trumaine McBride, a seventh-round draft pick, is expected to start in his place.

The Bears will face the pass-happy Detroit Lions, and quite possibly Brett Favre and the undefeated Green Bay Packers the next week, without the cornerback tandem they signed to contract extensions totaling $69.5 million in the offseason. Vasher will be out at least a month, and Tillman is likely to miss two games with a sprained right ankle, which was retaped on the sideline Sunday night against Dallas. A source close to McBride said he's expected to be the first member of the 2007 draft class to start.

Ricky Manning Jr. already was slated to take over for Vasher, and strong safety Adam Archuleta will play with a broken right hand, meaning the entire starting secondary from Week 1 is now injured. Free safety Mike Brown (torn left ACL) is out for the season, and the depleted Bears also could be without defensive tackle Tommie Harris (left knee) and linebacker Lance Briggs (groin) this week.

There are other options in the secondary, but rookie fifth-round pick Corey Graham was not in uniform for the first three games, and veteran Ade Jimoh has participated in only five practices, having been bounced in and out to make room for emergency punter Dirk Johnson. The Bears are considering promoting cornerback Greg Fassitt from the practice squad. A source close to Fassitt said Tuesday evening it was ''50-50'' that the undrafted free agent from Grambling will be signed to a contract.

Backup safety Brandon McGowan has experience covering the slot in the nickel defense. He was guilty of letting Chargers tight end Antonio Gates free for a touchdown on the halfback pass by LaDainian Tomlinson in Week 1. The Bears figure to be in their nickel defense often Sunday. The Lions have five receivers with 10 or more catches, and their pass-to-run ratio is nearly 3 to 1 with Mike Martz at the controls.

''The injuries did pile up, but we still feel like we have some good backups, and we just need to make sure we go out there and play at a high level,'' defensive coordinator Bob Babich said after the game Sunday. ''Whatever happens, we just have to deal with it and go from there.''

 

[Rozelle]

Hate to see Tillman out this week, ah well ... looks like I have go with Cedric Griffin. Thanks for the heads up AB

 

[Tenacious D]

I kind of like Manning Jr. this week. He's a gambler, which is bad in real football terms but great for fantasy, and you know Detroit is going to sling it around. I also like Mark Anderson with Backus hurting or out.

I think Vasher and Harris are going to miss a handful, but for the Bears D, but doesn't really impact their LBs. If Briggs is out, Jamar Williams looks viable. He had double-digit tackles in basically a half Sunday night.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

i know briggs would be in the bears nickel, does anyone know if jamar would be if briggs can't play? if jamar doesn't play in the nickel i don't see him playing much. they pass all the time with 3-4WRsets 80%+ of the time and with the bears DB's a mess they will pass even more. if calvin can't go the lions will just stick in another WR and keep chucking it

 

[Jene Bramel]

i know briggs would be in the bears nickel, does anyone know if jamar would be if briggs can't play? if jamar doesn't play in the nickel i don't see him playing much. they pass all the time with 3-4WRsets 80%+ of the time and with the bears DB's a mess they will pass even more. if calvin can't go the lions will just stick in another WR and keep chucking it

Hard to say. The Bears barely lined up in the nickel after Briggs left and I don't remember who played with Urlacher. Hillenmeyer is underrated in coverage, although more man than zone. I'd suggest that you might see a lot of dime, but the the Bears barely have 5 DBs right now.Looks like Briggs practiced today, though, so it's probably a moot point for now. My guess would be that the Bears would want the WLB to be the second nickel backer in the long-term.

 

[Jestefarean]

I wonder how this will effect the game. I was assuming this was a bad matchup for Detroit...considering how good the bears D is, but with the Lions recievers, a potential chip on their shoulders from last weeks beating, and the Bears down their top corners it could be interesting.

Any thoughts on how the IDP's will do on the bears down corners? Should we stay away from Urlacher (and Briggs if healthy) considering (LB's havent done well against the Lions) or would you play them on the basis that someone has to make a tackle?

 

[Jene Bramel]

I wonder how this will effect the game. I was assuming this was a bad matchup for Detroit...considering how good the bears D is, but with the Lions recievers, a potential chip on their shoulders from last weeks beating, and the Bears down their top corners it could be interesting.Any thoughts on how the IDP's will do on the bears down corners? Should we stay away from Urlacher (and Briggs if healthy) considering (LB's havent done well against the Lions) or would you play them on the basis that someone has to make a tackle?

We just discussed this on the podcast. Norton (and I) were considering recommending benching Urlacher this week, but I think both he and Briggs do well, especially given the potential for pass rush with Urlacher and the benefits of playing Tampa-2 against a passing offense. You have to think that the Bears are going to more Tampa-2 than they've been to keep that offense in front of them.

 

[ditka85]

l wouldn't be surprised to see the Bears blitz alot this game. Urlacher has been blitzing more than usual this year to begin with. Nothing helps a depleted secondary more than sacks and pressure on the QB.

 

[WhoDat]

Lions win

As a Lions fan, I do not get to say that often...enough...especially after a Bears game.

It is amazing how good Harris really is. I do not think the average football type realizes how vital a DT, like Harris, is to a defense. Despite missing players in the secondary the Bears gave the Lions all they could handle the entire game...thanks to the Sooner.