Chicitysports – Chicago Sports News Site
  • BEARS
    • Chicago Bears News
    • Chicago Bears Rumors
    • Caleb Williams news
  • BULLS
    • Michael Jordan News
    • Chicago Bulls News
    • Chicago Bulls Rumors
  • BLACKHAWKS
    • Connor Bedard News
    • Chicago Blackhawks News
    • Chicago Blackhawks Rumors
  • CUBS
    • Chicago Cubs Prospects
    • Chicago Cubs News
    • Chicago Cubs Rumors
  • WHITE SOX
    • Chicago White Sox Prospects
    • Chicago White Sox News
    • Chicago White Sox Rumors
  • SKY
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Navigation
  • About Us
  • About Us
  • Author Page Template
  • Chicago Sports News
  • Chicago Sports Podcasts
  • ChiCity+
  • Editorial policy
  • Editorial team
  • email test
  • Get In Touch
  • homepage
  • homepage
  • Join Our Group
  • Meet the team
  • Newsletter
  • Our Writers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Push notifications
  • Social Media
  • test
  • Test page
  • Testing
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Chicago Cubs manager adjusts his lineup ahead of the All-Star break: Report
  • Chicago Cubs reaping benefits of ‘afterthought’ free agent acquisition
  • Yankees’ Cody Bellinger sent Chicago Cubs a message after 3-home run performance
  • Chicago Cubs: 5 contingency plans for possible disasters
  • Chicago Bulls rookie struggles in his first NBA contest
  • A selection of NBA heroes from the Chicago area
  • Chicago White Sox first baseman leaves today’s game with a concerning injury
  • Chicago Bears fans react to Ryan Poles’ 5-year contract extension
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Chicitysports – Chicago Sports News SiteChicitysports – Chicago Sports News Site
WANT FREE UPDATES?
  • BEARS
    • Chicago Bears News
    • Chicago Bears Rumors
    • Caleb Williams news
  • BULLS
    • Michael Jordan News
    • Chicago Bulls News
    • Chicago Bulls Rumors
  • BLACKHAWKS
    • Connor Bedard News
    • Chicago Blackhawks News
    • Chicago Blackhawks Rumors
  • CUBS
    • Chicago Cubs Prospects
    • Chicago Cubs News
    • Chicago Cubs Rumors
  • WHITE SOX
    • Chicago White Sox Prospects
    • Chicago White Sox News
    • Chicago White Sox Rumors
  • SKY
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Chicitysports – Chicago Sports News Site
Home»Bears»Marquee Match-Up of the Week: MJD and the 4-3
Bears

Marquee Match-Up of the Week: MJD and the 4-3

Zack PearsonBy Zack PearsonOctober 6, 20124 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Email
dm 120822 nfl ot jonesdrew
dm 120822 nfl ot jonesdrew
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Coming off of last week’s Monday night win in Dallas, the Bears confidence has to be sky high. However, that’s what it was coming off of the week one victory over the Colts, and look what happened the next game.

Fortunately for them, they get to travel to Northern Florida to face the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Of course, there is the whole “any given Sunday” mantra, and the Bears will have to come to play to win. Still, it will be a game that the Bears should win pretty comfortably.

With that said, there are still some match-ups on both sides of the ball that I’ll be playing close attention to on Sunday.

When the Bears have the ball: Mike Tice vs. the 4-3 defense

In a mid-week press conference, Mike Tice talked about how tough it is to practice for a 3-4 defense and how much better he likes when the Bears play against a 4-3 defense. Well, Tice will get his wish on Sunday, as the Bears will face a basic 4-3 Jaguars defense.

The Bears have a 4-3 defense in just one game this season: week three against St. Louis. In that game, the Bears came out with a very vanilla offensive gameplan. It could be because Matt Forte was injured. It could be because the Bears were coming off of the offensive debacle in Green Bay where nothing went right. Whatever the case may be, the Bears certainly did not try to take many shots down the field in that contest.

If Tice really does mean what he says, he probably will really open up the playbook Sunday and try to let the offense loose. However, like we’ve said, he didn’t do that in the Rams game. I’ll be intrigued to see how Tice calls plays in this one. Will he loosen the reins on the offense and let them loose against the 4-3, or will he play it safe like he did in the Rams game and really play “not to lose” instead of “to win?”

When the Bears have the ball: Maurice Jones-Drew vs. the Bears Front Four

While they faced a tough, physical running back in week three in Steven Jackson, Maurice Jones-Drew is a notch ahead of him and is a notch healthier than him. He will be the best running back the Bears have faced thus far this season.

The Bears defensive line has been probably the biggest key to the defense’s resurgence thus far this season, putting more pressure on the quarterback than they have since the 2006 season. However, it remains to be seen how good this unit is at controlling the line of scrimmage on run plays. They will be tested going up against a physical running back in MJD and against a very good run blocking Jags offensive line. The Jaguars have a lot of weaknesses, but the interior of their offensive line is not one of them, as experienced players Eben Britton, Brad Meester and Uche Nwaneri are a big reason why Jones-Drew has had success in his career.

We know the Bears love to rotate their defensive lineman, and I would expect to see even more of that Sunday. Lovie Smith usually elects to dress seven defensive lineman, but given the physicality expected up front, I wouldn’t be shocked if they dressed eight. Matt Toeania was inactive on Monday night, and with him being more of a run stopper than a pass rusher, he’s a logical choice to be active and get more than a few snaps. This could be the first time we see Nate Collins active this year as well. In a game like this, fresh bodies up front will be important.

ACL’s Week 5 Matchup Preview: Bears@Jaguars

ACL’s Week 5 Matchup Preview: Bears@Jaguars

Read More

For More Great Chicago Sports Content

Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

3-4 defense 4-3 defense Chicago Bears defensive line FEATURED Jacksonville Jaguars Maurice Jones-Drew Mike Tice NFL
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
Author Image
BY Zack Pearson

Journalist

Related Posts

Cubs July 12, 2025

Yankees’ Cody Bellinger sent Chicago Cubs a message after 3-home run performance

Bears July 11, 2025

Chicago Bears fans react to Ryan Poles’ 5-year contract extension

Bears July 11, 2025

Chicago Bears make crucial long-term Ryan Poles decision

Bears July 11, 2025

Ben Johnson targeted Chicago Bears linebacker for key 2024 play

Bears July 11, 2025

Another Chicago Bears player drops insight on what went wrong with Matt Eberflus

Bears July 11, 2025

Matt Nagy relives Chicago Bears’ Double Doink catastrophe

Leave A Reply

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
  • Home
  • Message Board
  • About Us
  • Editorial policy
  • Contact Us
  • Our Writers
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 ChiCitySports. Designed by Dope Guys Who Run ChiCitySports

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.