Joniak's Journal: John Fox Would Love Bears To Beat His Former Team
By Jeff Joniak–
(CBS) The Bears (4-5) host the Broncos (7-2) on Sunday at noon at Soldier Field. Here are my observations heading into the game.
First impression
Bears coach John Fox isn't taking the bait with a fair volume of questions about the "meaning" of facing the Broncos team he took to a Super Bowl and won four consecutive division titles with. But that doesn't mean it hasn't been a game he's circled since the schedule came out.
It's human nature. You know Fox wants this, but he wants it for his players more. Fox respects how this group works and cares about winning.
This win would get the Bears back to .500, with six to go. Fox's Bears are poised to make some noise -- they just have to execute, with poise and passion and think big.
Second thought
Waived by Denver on Sept. 5, Chicago signed linebacker Lamin (pronounced "la-MEAN") Barrow to the practice squad and activated him in time for the opener against Green Bay.
Barrow's looking forward to proving himself against the team that cut him.
"I plan on attacking that team," Barrow said. "If there is such a thing as giving 110 percent, I'm trying to give it. I'm excited. I can't even get the words out of my mouth."
Barrow's focus is on the chance to be 5-5 against a quality opponent, one with Super Bowl aspirations.
"It's the Broncos," Barrow said. "It's the Broncos. You can see it in our eyes. You can see the passion if you walk around this locker room. Everyone's coming with the mentality that we're going to come out and win this game. Who else better to do it against than a great team like Denver?"
You can hear more about Barrow in Sunday's second hour of the "Countdown to Kickoff" on WBBM in the audio version of Joniak's Journal.
Third degree
Keep an eye on the development and playing time of undrafted rookie free agents or young players claimed by the Bears off waivers or practice squads in the coming weeks. Fox is fond of these types of players, unknowns kicked to the curb in some form or fashion and with something to prove.
Denver starts two perfect examples in star cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and linebacker Brandon Marshall. They both are gritty, smart and coachable -- and in Harris' case, no longer cash-poor after a $42-million extension.
The Bears' sub packages on defense now feature linebacker Jonathan Anderson, who was undrafted out of TCU and who plays with an attitude and with fire. The new nickel cornerback is Bryce Callahan, also undrafted out of Rice.
"This is my first year playing nickel," Callahan said. "I had to get my feet wet and got done up a few times, but I'm getting used to it. I'm feeling more comfortable, but you just need experience to get comfortable, and this is only my fourth game starting at it."
All true, but Callahan is winning more battles than not. He's a feisty defender, fearless and willing to get his hands dirty playing one of the most difficult positions on the field.
St. Rita product Bruce Gaston, the former Green Bay Packer and Purdue Boilermaker, had some productive reps in the defensive line rotation last week, and he's a first-year player. Barrow fits the same description on special teams. Safety Harold Jones-Quartey filled in as a two-game starter and flashed some physicality.
Undrafted rookie corner Jacoby Glenn moved up to the active roster this week from the practice squad, likely earning the promotion because of how he's practicing. I don't know if he will be active against the Broncos, but we've learned this coaching staff isn't shy about playing those who've earned the snaps.
Fourth-and-short
Here's more evidence of an offense moving in the right direction under the leadership of coordinator Adam Gase and the play of quarterback Jay Cutler.
If the Bears started a drive inside their own 20 in 2014, they were dead. It happened 53 times, third-most in the league. They scored a league-worst 21 points on those drives, including only two touchdowns, while turning it over 10 times.
Through nine games of 2015, the Bears have started inside their own 20-yard line 27 times. They have five touchdowns and 46 points with just two turnovers in such circumstances.
Another weapon for the Bears has been the 10-play drive. They have cobbled together the second-most 10-play drives in the league, with 21, and have scored nine touchdowns and rank fifth in points with 89.
In 2014, they only had 28 10-play drives, with 10 touchdowns, ranking 30th in scoring efficiency, producing only 94 points.
Gase and Cutler are offensive partnership paying dividends.
Jeff Joniak is the play-by-play announcer for the Bears broadcasts on WBBM Newsradio 780. Follow him on Twitter @JeffJoniak.
