Durkin's Preview: Bears-Bucs
By Dan Durkin-
(CBS) Considering both of these teams have a mere six combined wins in 20 combined games, it's remarkable how many storylines have surfaced during the week leading up to Sunday's matchup between the Bears and Buccaneers. By now, you've been inundated with reminders of the myriad links between the two clubs and are ready for some actual football.
Not to blow out of proportion the magnitude of a game between two underachieving clubs or undermine the importance of winning every game, but in this particular case, there's one person who has a lot riding on the outcome of Sunday's contest -- Chicago general manager Phil Emery.
On one sideline, Emery's hand-picked coach (Marc Trestman) and franchise quarterback (Jay Cutler) have come under scrutiny this season for falling woefully short -- thus far -- of the expectations the team created for itself. The Bears have an opportunity to inch closer to a .500 record and win back-to-back games for the first time since September.
On the opposing sideline, Lovie Smith, the man whom Emery sent packing after winning 10 games in the 2012 season, leads a team triggered by ex-Bears backup quarterback Josh McCown, a player who won the hearts and minds of Bears fans with his 109 passer-efficiency rating over five games (third-best in the league) in Cutler's stead.
Sunday's weather forecast calls for wet conditions, so ball security will be at a premium for both teams. Even though the Bucs haven't consistently translated Smith's ball-hawking teaching methods to the field, ranking 16th in the league with 15 takeaways, they did force three turnovers in last week's 27-7 win over Washington. Accordingly, the Bears' offense must stick to what works best -- making running back Matt Forte the centerpiece of the offense.
This season, Forte has accounted for 33 percent of the Bears' total yardage.
Last week against the Vikings, he had 175 yards from scrimmage and his 26 carries were the second-highest of his career and the most he's had since 2009. By feeding Forte, the Bears can force the Bucs out of their comfortable two-high safety shell which will open up the play-action passing game and create single-coverage opportunities down the field for wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery.
Smith has been playing more man-to-man coverage this season than he has in the past, but he still favors split-safety coverage, which has given the Bears fits this season. Teams have effectively "zoned out" the Bears and tested their ability to string together long drives without making a mistake on third down or turning the ball over. Earlier in the week, Forte talked about the Bears not getting anxious, as it plays into the hand of Smith's scheme.
"It's going to be hard on everybody, the players and play-calling and coaches, to be patient enough to chunk your way down the field, that's what the defense is designed to do," Forte said. "We don't want to get anxious — you get turnovers that way."
Feeding Forte and keeping the pocket moving for Cutler will be key. The Bucs have only 20 sacks on the season, but defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has generated nearly a third of them on his own (6.5). McCoy is one of the league's most disruptive three-techniques. Cutler said earlier in the week that a good three-technique can "wreck your day," so it's vital that the Bears change up Cutler's launch point in the passing game.
The interior of the Bears' offensive line must be assignment sound as they focus on neutralizing McCoy. One of the players who will frequently face off with McCoy, left guard Brian de la Puente, spoke highly of McCoy, but is confident in the Bears' plan.
"He's an explosive, game-changing player," de la Puente said. "He's a stud, and we're going to have our hands full. I like our plan. We're just going to have to match his intensity. It's going to be a dog fight."
Defensively, the Bears must have a plan to slow down Bucs rookie wide receiver Mike Evans. Over the past three games, Evans has 458 receiving yards, five touchdowns and last Sunday became the youngest player in league history to have a 200-plus receiving yard game.
Against Carolina, the Bears played matchup with rookie Kyle Fuller against fellow rookie Kelvin Benjamin, a matchup that Fuller won. Will they replicate that plan on Sunday? Or will they remain tied to their static cornerback looks? If they choose not to play matchup against Evans, look for the Bucs to isolate him on Tim Jennings so he can take advantage of his size.
When Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford was put on indefinite leave, stemming from a heart procedure, the play calling duties were handed over to quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo. The results haven't been good.
The Bucs offense lacks creativity, ranking 25th (19) in points scored and 28th (313) in total yards. They've cycled through three running backs this season, but rookie Charles Sims appears to be taking over as the team's lead back.
Prior to McCown's two touchdown and no interception performance last week, he had thrown more interceptions than touchdowns and had a lowly 64 passer rating. The Bucs' offensive line has given up 27 sacks and is vulnerable up the middle.
Emotions will be high on both sides of the field, so who will maintain their composure and protect the football?
Last week the Bears took care of business in an unconvincing fashion, but they beat an inferior team at home. Beating their former head coach would simply be added bonus, as the real goal is stacking wins. A real test of where the Bears are at awaits next Thursday when they travel to Detroit to play the Lions on Thanksgiving. But looking past the Bucs could be disastrous for the organization, particularly Emery.