[CBFF] Bears' D-line is dominant, deep

[Adam Gold]

What about Tank?

-----Original Message-----
From: cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com
[mailto:cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com] On Behalf Of Jim Ferolie
Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 7:58 PM
To: post at chicagobearsfanforum.com
Subject: [CBFF] Bears' D-line is dominant, deep

I thought this made good inspirational reading. It reminds me of why the

defense was good last year. That front four is going to be the shit!

Ogunleye - J. Green
Harris      - Boone  - Haynes
Johnson   - Scott    -  Dvoracek
Brown     - Idonije

Nobody is getting tired in this group... I love it.

Bears' D-line is dominant, deep

August 2, 2006

BY BRAD BIGGS Staff Reporter


























BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- More than a week away from the first exhibition in
San 
Francisco, it's too early to begin paring down the Bears' roster, but
one 
area is sorting itself out quickly.

The defensive line, one of the strengths of last year's team, was
buttressed 
in the draft, and some players who might've wondered in the spring if
they'd 
be casualties of a deep group will find themselves in position to make
the 
53-man roster. That's going through the mind of coach Lovie Smith, who
said 
he's constantly formulating a 46-man game-day roster for the Sept. 10
opener 
at Lambeau Field.

It's not only a talented group, with Pro Bowl tackle Tommie Harris and
ends 
Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye, who were Pro Bowl alternates last
season, 
but it has depth -- and that's something the Bears require with as much 
rotating as they do. Smith says seven linemen are needed for the 46, so 
count on nine making the roster and possibly a 10th.

There are 13 on the roster, including newcomers in third-round tackle
Dusty 
Dvoracek and fifth-round end Mark Anderson, and tackle Tank Johnson,
whose 
health will go a long way toward deciding at least one cut.

Some were surprised general manager Jerry Angelo used two draft picks
for an 
area that already was a strength, and line coach Don Johnson admitted he

didn't think he would get a pair of newcomers. But the choices were made
for 
a couple of reasons. Smith's cover-2 scheme is predicated on a
consistent 
pass rush from the front four.

Dvoracek was insurance for Johnson, who tore a quad in February, and
keep in 
mind that starting tackle Ian Scott will be a free agent after the
season. 
The club has yet to approach him about a new contract. Remember, he was 
drafted when Dick Jauron was coach. Smith likes to say he can never have
too 
many edge rushers, and that's what Anderson, out with a hamstring pull,
does 
best.

Angelo and Smith believe a defense is built from the front and then 
backward, and the GM said it was important to make certain a strength 
remained a strength. He didn't want to be spread thin up front. In fact,

when all other factors are equal, Angelo says he'll go with a lineman
every 
time. Smith says the same policy can hold true for defensive backs.

On the ends, about $50 million are invested in Ogunleye and Brown, and
then 
there's Israel Idonije, former first-round pick Michael Haynes, now at 
tackle and veteran tackle Alfonso Boone, to go with end Jamaal Green,
tackle 
Antonio Garay and end Khari Long.

''This is a good problem to have,'' Ogunleye said. ''A lot of these guys
are 
not only playing for the Bears, they're playing for maybe another 31
teams. 
>From what I'm seeing, it's going to be a tough time deciding who's
going to 
be here and who's not.''

Complicated decisions could be made easier with Johnson a decent bet to
open 
the season on the non-football injury list, meaning he wouldn't be
eligible 
until after the sixth week of the season. Anderson's hamstring pull
isn't 
minor, and if he plays little or not at all in the preseason, the 
fifth-round pick is ensured of being put on injured reserve.

bbiggs at suntimes.com



BETS ON WHO'S IN ND WHO MIGHT BE OUT
LOCKS


a.. Alfonso Boone (DT, 6-4, 318, 6th season). The veteran doesn't say a 
whole lot; he just goes out and does his job. Getting rid of him would
be a 
gamble not worth making because he's such a steady contributor off the
bench 
and remains durable, having missed only four games in the last four
seasons. 
Coaches are already talking about his camp. The bet: Too good to cut
loose.

a.. Alex Brown (RDE, 6-3, 260, 5th season). Big sack numbers still elude

him, but there's no question he's the best end on the roster playing the
run 
and one of the better two-way ends in the NFC. He plays at a consistent 
level week in and week out. The bet: Plays well but still fights off 
unwarranted criticism about lack of sacks.

a.. Dusty Dvoracek (DT, 6-3, 303, rookie). An insurance plan for Tank 
Johnson, this guy could eventually be a replacement if he adjusts well.
His 
fiery demeanor was one thing the Bears liked, but he's also disruptive
in 
the backfield on a regular basis, fitting Smith's mold for tackles.
Plus, he 
already knows what it's like to play alongside Harris. The bet: Shows 
flashes from time to time.

a.. Tommie Harris (DT, 6-3, 295, 3rd season). After making his first Pro

Bowl in just his second season, he has emerged as an elite talent in a 
division with stud tackles like Detroit's Shaun Rogers and Minnesota's
Kevin 
Williams. With 61/2 sacks in his first two seasons, he could surpass
that 
total this season. The bet: Honolulu-bound.

a.. Israel Idonije (DL, 6-6, 270, 3rd season). It didn't take long for
the 
Bears to take a look at the offer sheet he signed with Buffalo and match
the 
$7.5 million deal. He could have started there. Here, he'll get time in
the 
rotation and is the only player who can play all four spots on the line,

including nose tackle. The bet: First man off the bench.

a.. Tank Johnson (DT, 6-3, 300, 3rd season). The club wants to see a
greater 
commitment from the former second-round pick because they know he has
the 
traits to excel after he notched five sacks in limited duty last season.
But 
whether he'll be able to contribute before midseason remains a question.
The 
bet: Opens year on non-football injury list.

a.. Adewale Ogunleye (LDE, 6-4, 260, 6th season). The Bears don't have
any 
doubts the trade of Marty Booker and a third-round pick for him almost
two 
years ago was a steal. Think Rick Spielman in Minnesota regrets it now? 
Smith made it clear he needed an elite rusher from the left end, and he
got 
one. Notice he doesn't mention his former pupil Leonard Little anymore.
The 
bet: Pro Bowl year.

a.. Ian Scott (DT, 6-3, 302, 4th season). He did a remarkable job
reshaping 
his body to fit Smith's defense two years ago but might not fit
long-range 
plans. The idea was to have Johnson battle him for a starting job before
he 
was injured. Still, Scott is one of the most intelligent and 
assignment-sound players on the roster. He's a consistent run-stuffer
who 
ultimately could be paid as a nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme elsewhere. The

bet: Earns himself a nice payday somewhere else.

BUBBLE


a.. Antonio Garay (DT, 6-3, 303, 2nd season). Tough-nosed guy was long
shot 
coming in, but has opened some coaches' eyes early on and might just
stick. 
The bet: Departs when Johnson is ready.

a.. Jamaal Green (DE, 6-2, 258, 2nd season). Looks lean. Turns the
corner 
quick and needs to make sure he can contribute on special teams. The
bet: 
Cause aided by Anderson's hamstring pull.

a.. Michael Haynes (DT, 6-4, 283, 4th season). The former first-round
pick 
didn't expect to be here, but he's working on a new lease having
converted 
inside from end. The club could finally get some value from him.
Remember, 
Angelo is very slow to give up on draft picks. The bet: Sticks for Year
4.

LONG SHOTS


a.. Mark Anderson (DE, 6-4, 255, rookie). He was a value pick in the
fifth 
round because of his off-the-charts vertical jump and 40 time. But with
the 
hamstring expected to keep him out of a good chunk of the preseason,
he's a 
luxury who might not be affordable at the cut-down date. The bet:
Consider 
it a redshirt season.

a.. Khari Long (DE, 6-4, 257, 2nd season). Has some of the traits Smith 
looks for in edge rushers but is awfully raw. The bet: A good preseason 
could land him on the practice squad.

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