[CBFF] ESPN: Dominant D Line

[Steve Behrens]

((Could someone post the rest og this article from ESPN subscriber
service??  That would be great, Thanks!))


 Bears' front four looking dominant

by: Keith Kidd
posted: *Thursday, August 23, 2007*

If you're trying to gauge which teams across the league have a good chance
of playing deep into January, be sure to take into account talent and depth
along the defensive line. Controlling the line of scrimmage is a big factor
in making the postseason and winning once you get there. When looking around
the league no team has a front four with as many good players as the Chicago
Bears <http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=chi>.

The defensive tackle position relies on speed and quickness when attacking
upfield gaps, and the Bears are loaded there. Left tackle Tommie
Harris<http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6773>is
one of the best in the NFL at his position, and when he is fully
healthy
his explosiveness must be accounted for on every snap. Second-year man Dusty
Dvoracek <http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7822> has
assumed the starting nose tackle spot and is reminiscent of a young Chris
Hovan <http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5054>.
Backups Darwin
Walker <http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5100>, Anthony
Adams <http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6393> and Antonio
Garay <http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6531> are also
excellent tackles in their own right.

At end, starters Adewale
Ogunleye<http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5768><http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5768>and
Mark
Anderson <http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7908><http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7908>are
explosive pass rushers who provide a lot of speed off the edge and
allow
Chicago to pressure the quarterback with just a four-man rush. Alex
Brown<http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5990><http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5990>was
a starter last season and is extremely valuable because he's versatile
enough to be a three-down player and is also effective against the run. The
Bears also used a second-round draft pick on Daniel
Bazuin<http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=8316>of
Central Michigan, who is a perfect fit in head coach Lovie Smith's
one-gap scheme.

(Cont)