Bears look to redeem themselves against St. Louis
By Cheryl Raye-Stout

Bears look to redeem themselves against St. Louis
By Cheryl Raye-StoutThere has been enough talk and enough written about a football game that was played over a week ago. The Bears losing to Green Bay isn’t the end of the world, despite how much the fans and media want to dissect every play in agonizing detail. Right now, the next game against the St. Louis Rams at Soldier Field is all that matters.

While that change was made, the left tackle will not be altered. For the time being the Bears will stick with Jay Cutler’s favorite “punching bag,” J’Marcus Webb, at left tackle. Doesn’t this problem seem redundant by now? It also speaks volumes of their lack of depth on the roster — or the lack of trust in Webb’s back-up, Chris Williams. Either that or the Bears staff wants to give Webb another opportunity against the Rams. Maybe the Bears coaching staff will change some of the schemes to help Webb protect Cutler. They will have their hands full keeping St. Louis ends Robert Quinn and Chris Long away from the Jay.
Sunday’s game is an opportunity for Cutler to rebound and play as he did in the season opener. He shouldn’t (and probably doesn’t) care what the nation and local fans and media think about his actions in Green Bay. But he had better care what his teammates think about him as their leader on offense. You lose your teammates respect and you will lose in the long run.

It seems very doubtful that Matt Forte will be lining up at the tailback spot. At least his ankle sprain in Green Bay isn’t as bad as first thought. Expect to see Michael Bush get most of the carries — the Rams give up yards on the ground.
Jeff Fisher, the experienced head coach leading this brash, young team into the season, is a former Chicago Bear who spent 17 (mostly successful) years with Houston/Tennessee. He has a young quarterback, Sam Bradford, who is coming off a 310 yards passing game with 3 TDs in last week’s victory against Washington. Bradford’s favorite target is wide receiver Danny Amendola; he caught 15 receptions in that win. Three-time Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson keys the ground attack.

Fisher has a solid defensive resume and he does have players that can mix it up on the field. Brandon Marshall expects some activity after the whistle, especially with Pro-Bowl corner Cortland Finnegan. Marshall said this Ram defense “has taken on the character of their leader,” i.e. Finnegan. The Bears need to get the ball to their big wide-out and Marshall has to catch the ball in the end zone when Cutler puts it in reach.
A win for the Bears will go a long way to silence the critics for a week. A loss would be unbearable. Don’t forget, Bear fans, to be quiet when Jay and the Bears offense are in the red zone. You may not like him, but he is the Bear quarterback good, bad – or indifferent.