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spt_Bears_Defense_SB.appFooter = "Source: Steve Silverman, MSNBC.com";
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spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","","Bears linebackers Brian Urlacher, left, and Lance Briggs tackle Bucs running back Carenll Williams.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070125/070125_brigg_hmed_2p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Jonathan Daniel", "Getty Images file", "273", "406", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i-1].body = "The Bears have been something of a soap opera this year, with storylines including Good Rex and Bad Rex, the battle at running back between Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson, and the many great returns and goofs of record-setting rookie Devin Hester.However, the backbone of the team is its defense. Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is the headliner, with speed, quickness and concussive hitting ability. Urlacher is far from a one-man gang and the Colts will learn this first hand in Super Bowl XLI. Chicago ranked 5th in total defense and was 1st in fewest yards allowed per pass. The Bears were the 2nd best defense in the league in 3rd-down situations and registered a league-best 44 takeaways.
In order to slow down the Colts’ explosive offense (1st in passing yards per attempt), the defense will have to be at its best. Here’s a look at the 11 starters and two key role players Lovie Smith and defensive coordinator Ron Rivera will be relying on to stop the Colts.";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","DE Adewale Ogunleye","Saints quarterback Drew Brees is sacked by Adewale Ogunleye.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/getty/72993514cc070_nfc_champions.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Al Bello", "Getty Images", "273", "391", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i-1].body = "
If the Bears are going to put pressure on Peyton Manning, they will need left end Ogunleye (6-foot-4, 260 pounds) to have a solid game against powerful Colt right tackle Ryan Diem. Ogunleye has an excellent first step and the quickness to disrupt the passing game. Diem has the strength to stop Ogunleye if he can get his hands on him, but Ogunleye has plenty of counter moves that should allow him to get away.
Ogunleye was somewhat disappointing during the regular season with 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks, but he had a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery in a key second-half play against Drew Brees in the NFC championship game.";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","DT Ian Scott","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/apmegasports/200701251324482483630-pf.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Nam Y. Huh", "AP", "267", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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A dependable defensive tackle who has done a nice job filling in for starter Tommie Harris, who was placed on the IR list after suffering a groin injury. Scott (6-3, 302) does not have Harris’s versatility or excellent first step and is usually not much of a factor while rushing the passer. However, he has great instincts against the run and will fight through the final whistle. Scott finished the season with 22 tackles, 6 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Scott has not recorded a sack since the 2004 season.
Scott will find himself engaged with veteran Colt C Jeff Saturday, who is one of the best at his position in the league. This matchup won’t get many headlines, but the success or failure of the Colts running game could be determined by who wins this battle.";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","DT Tank Johnson","Bears defensive tackle closes in on Saints quarterback Drew Brees.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070121/070121_bears_defense_vlg4p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Jamie Squire", "Getty Images", "243", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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In the headlines for all the wrong reasons in December, the Bears decided to bring the troubled defensive right tackle back in the fold because he is a productive football player. While he can’t seem to stay out of trouble, Johnson (6-3, 300) is an excellent football player and his talent level is the primary reason the Bears chose to welcome him back after a suspension rather than give him the tough love that comes with parting company.
Johnson plays with a mean streak and can win the physical battle at the line of scrimmage. Johnson has quickness and can disrupt the passing game as well as do the job as a run stuffer. Colt left guard Ryan Lilja is solid and productive, so this should be one of the key battles in the trenches.";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","DE Alex Brown","Alex Brown, right, hugs cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. after an interception.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/061203/061203_bears_vlrg_2p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Nam Y. Huh", "AP", "286", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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Jerry Angelo drafted Brown (6-3, 260) in 2002 because of his speed and potential and not because of his inconsistent effort as a college player at Florida. Brown immediately improved his conditioning and displayed the kind of hunger that the Bear coaching staff was looking for in a pass rusher. Just like Ogunleye at the other defensive end position, Brown has first-rate speed at his position and his 7 sacks show he can cause havoc. Brown can be susceptible against the run because he will often leave a large gap in the line when he takes an outside route to the quarterback.
Brown will have a very difficult time going up outstanding left tackle Tarik Glenn, who combines size and strength with excellent instincts. Brown will play hard on every down, but he is generally more effective when he has some early success in the game.";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","DE Mark Anderson","Saints quarterback Drew Brees fumbles the ball as he is hit by Chicago's Mark Anderson.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070121/070121_celizicBears_hmed9p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "John Gress", "Reuters", "261", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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The backup end may be 15 pounds less than his listed weight of 258 pounds, but the rookie from Alabama is clearly an impact player already. He is Rivera’s designated pass rusher and shocked scouts all over the league by recording 12 sacks this season.
Anderson runs more like a wide receiver than he does a defensive lineman. He was drafted in the fifth round, but it’s clear that Anderson is a difference maker who has Pro Bowl potential";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","OLB Hunter Hillenmeyer","Hunter Hillenmeyer, left, and Nathan Vasher tackle Vikings receiver Marcus Robinson.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/getty/71465441jd018_minnesota_vik.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Jonathan Daniel", "Getty Images", "211", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i-1].body = "
The most consistent aspect of the Bear defense is the linebacking crew. Hillenmeyer may not be in the category of Urlacher or Lance Briggs, but he is a very sharp all-around player that finds a way to get to the right place at the right time. The Vanderbilt grad has excellent instincts and the guts to throw his body in any situation and remains calm enough to make big plays.
Hillenmeyer (6-4, 238) is excellent at fighting through the trash and tackling the running back. He had 48 tackles, 2 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. If rookie running back Joe Addai or backup Dominic Rhodes have good games against the Bears that means Hillenmeyer will have struggled.";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","MLB Brian Urlacher","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070125/070125_urlacher_vmed_12p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Nam Y. Huh", "AP file", "261", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i-1].body = "
The Bears have had incredible tradition at the position throughout their history, and Urlacher deserves to be ranked with Bill George, Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary, all Hall of Famers. Urlacher (6-4, 258) is the best athlete of that foursome and is the leader of the Bear defense. He had a monstrous season with 141 tackles, 3 interceptions, 6 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.
Urlacher runs the Bear defense and positions his teammates as they get ready for the snap. He will want to get inside the head of Peyton Manning and make him fear that he will get destroyed by a huge hit. Urlacher knows the mental and psychological part of the game well, but that’s a difficult battle to win against Manning. Urlacher will need some early pressure and perhaps an interception in order to get Manning to second-guess himself.";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","OLB Lance Briggs","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/apmegasports/200701251324482543633-pf.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Nam Y. Huh", "AP", "273", "383", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i-1].body = "
A remarkable player in his own right. Briggs had 130 tackles, defended 8 passes and forced 4 fumbles. The weak-side linebacker (6-1, 240) is a punishing tackler who takes great angles to the football. He may find himself double-teamed quite a bit of the time as Colt offensive coordinator Tom Moore will shift tight ends Dallas Clark and Ben Utecht to his side of the field throughout the game.
The game is hugely important to Briggs because he will be a restricted free agent once the game is over. If he makes several game-altering plays, he will almost certainly get a huge offer on the free-agent market unless the Bears decide to make him a franchise player.";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","CB Charles Tillman","Bears cornerback Charles Tillman tackles Saints receiver Marques Colston.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/apmegasports/200701211427520309121-pf.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Alex Brandon", "AP", "244", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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Tillman (6-1, 196) is a solid fundamental cornerback who has been a consistent player throughout his first four years. In the Bears Tampa 2 defense, he should get plenty of deep help from Bear safeties Chris Harris and Danieal Manning when Manning wants to go deep to Reggie Wayne or Marvin Harrison, but Tillman will have to handle the coverage on short- and medium-range passes on plays at his left cornerback position.
Tillman has fine all-around skills. He had 80 tackles, 5 interceptions, 9 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery this season. However, he has had problems against upper-echelon receivers. Harrison and Wayne both fit into that category.";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","CB Nathan Vasher","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/apmegasports/200701251324482463629-pf.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Nam Y. Huh", "AP", "269", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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One of the best ball athletes in the league. Vasher (5-10, 183) wants to make big plays every time a quarterback launches a pass his way and he has been quite successful. Vasher understands how an opposing receiver will try to set him up, so he may allow two or three receptions in a possession before swooping in and making the pick.
Vasher has excellent speed and that should help him out against the Colts’ outstanding WR duo. He had 45 tackles, 3 interceptions and 5 passes defensed. He is somewhat inconsistent as a tackler when he finds himself forced to make a play against the run.";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","CB Ricky Manning Jr.","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/getty/72946665pm021_nfc_divisiona.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Jonathan Daniel", "Getty Images", "283", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i-1].body = "
A playmaker who usually comes up big in big games. Since the Colts have so many weapons that can hurt the Bears -- Harrison, Wayne, Aaron Moorehead, Dallas Clark and Ben Utecht -- Manning Jr. will be involved quite a bit.
Manning Jr. (5-8, 185) is a fearless player who is not afraid to gamble. Peyton Manning will try to take advantage of that gambling nature because Harrison and Wayne excel at making the double moves that give the Bears’ nickelback so much trouble. Manning Jr. had 53 tackles, 5 interceptions, 5 passes defensed and 1 forced fumble.";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","FS Danieal Manning","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/apmegasports/200701251325483273639-pf.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Nam Y. Huh", "AP", "298", "197", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i-1].body = "
Many long-time draft observers were befuddled when Bears GM drafted Manning with his first pick in last year’s draft. First they were surprised he went with a defensive player and they were shocked that it was this unknown from Abilene Christian. However, the Bears’ scouts had done an outstanding job at finding an athlete and a solid all-around player who had the intelligence and courage to step in and make a contribution as a rookie.
Manning (5-11, 210) has excellent instincts and will throw his body around in order to make a tackle. He had 67 tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 passes defensed and an eye-catching 4 forced fumbles as a rookie. He is a solid player, but going up against the best group of receivers in the league as well as the top quarterback will be a major test.";
spt_Bears_Defense_SB[i++] = new Array("","SS Chris Harris","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/getty/72993514mh022_nfc_champions.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Jamie Squire", "Getty Images", "273", "410", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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A solid backup who stepped in after Mike Brown’s shoulder injury finished his season in October. Harris is not a special player, but he can punish opposing ball carriers when he gets a chance to line them up. Harris (6-0, 205) had 54 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 2 interceptions this year.
Harris plays with effort and tries hard, but he can be vulnerable and the Colts will test him throughout the game. If the Colts can isolate him and put him in 1-on-1 coverage situations, Harris can be exploited."; // END editorial data