Nice surprises this year
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:00 pm
We obviously wouldn't be 3-0 without a lot of nice surprises. Perhaps the best surprise is how effective we've been offensively under Martz, but Cliff Levingston would like to focus on the players; guys you've seen a lot more out of than expected.
1. Greg Olsen. Cliff Levingston basically gave up on him, especially considering Martz's offense and the tight end. Thing is, they've used him like a slot receiver for the most part, not a tight end, and that's made the difference. Olsen has made some really big, tough catches and will go over the middle and get hit even though he's not the most elusive guy.
2. Frank Omiyale. He's not spectacular, but he's been worlds better than last year at guard. He's held his own on both sides of the line, and it says a lot for him that he could switch sides mid-game and not get killed every play. And after the false start concerns in training camp, Cliff Levingston doesn't think he has even one through 3 games.
3. Brian Urlacher. You knew he'd be good, but he looks like the Urlacher of old. That wrist injury was a blessing in disguise. It gave him another year to heal up all his nagging injuries and come back fresh. He's making plays all over the field and resuming as the leader of a pretty fierce defense.
4. Julius Peppers. You expect stellar play from a guy making $20 million, but maybe it's just that we haven't had a dominant defensive end in Cliff Levingston's Bears football watching lifetime. This dude is an absolute nightmare for opposing offenses against both the run and the pass, and he's the single biggest difference on this defense this year.
Thoughts? Yours?
1. Greg Olsen. Cliff Levingston basically gave up on him, especially considering Martz's offense and the tight end. Thing is, they've used him like a slot receiver for the most part, not a tight end, and that's made the difference. Olsen has made some really big, tough catches and will go over the middle and get hit even though he's not the most elusive guy.
2. Frank Omiyale. He's not spectacular, but he's been worlds better than last year at guard. He's held his own on both sides of the line, and it says a lot for him that he could switch sides mid-game and not get killed every play. And after the false start concerns in training camp, Cliff Levingston doesn't think he has even one through 3 games.
3. Brian Urlacher. You knew he'd be good, but he looks like the Urlacher of old. That wrist injury was a blessing in disguise. It gave him another year to heal up all his nagging injuries and come back fresh. He's making plays all over the field and resuming as the leader of a pretty fierce defense.
4. Julius Peppers. You expect stellar play from a guy making $20 million, but maybe it's just that we haven't had a dominant defensive end in Cliff Levingston's Bears football watching lifetime. This dude is an absolute nightmare for opposing offenses against both the run and the pass, and he's the single biggest difference on this defense this year.
Thoughts? Yours?