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

[Jim Ferolie]

Is there another Tank on the team besides Johnson?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Adam Gold" <adam.gold3 at verizon.net>


> What about Tank?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com
> 
> 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.