I did a little Q&A session with Jonathan Carroll of rantsports.com to uncover a little bit more about the Bears and get his thoughts about the upcoming game. Make sure you hook him up with some love and follow him on twitter at ChicagoBearJew.
He also interviewed me for my thoughts on the game which you can CHECK OUT HERE.
Here’s my Q&A with him:
Saints Nation: Give me the inside scoop, what’s going on with Urlacher? What’s the deal with his family issue? Is there any chance he misses this game (please say yes)?
Rant Sports: Brian Urlacher lost his mother on Monday and his currently with his family in Texas dealing with his tragic loss. As of right now, there’s no word on whether he will play or not, but one of the local reporters is claiming that he will be back at practice tomorrow. If you asked me my gut reaction, I would say Urlacher will play. But there’s things much more important than football so I wouldn’t be totally shocked if he doesn’t suit up. Depends on his state of mind.
Saints Nation: I’m sure you felt confident the Bears could beat the Falcons week 1 at home, but that was a real statement win. They took them to the woodshed. Did that surprise you? Are you more optimistic about this season after that game?
Rant Sports: I have been very optimistic about the Chicago Bears since the season started last week. I thought the Bears would beat Atlanta by 10 but not anything like we saw last weekend. I think the Chicago Bears can be a Super Bowl team. There’s a lot of talent on this team. I am excited about this season.
Saints Nation: How do Bears fans feel about Jay Cutler? Do you really feel like he’s the long term answer and a guy that can win a Super Bowl for you?
Rant Sports: Hell yes…Cutler is a winner and can lead the Chicago Bears to bigger and better things. He got the Bears to the NFC Title game in his second season, and now has a little more experience with this group. The national and local perspectives on Cutler differ…Bears fans want him here and rally behind him.
Saints Nation: Talk about the Saints-Bears matchup. Where can the Saints hurt the Bears? What area can the Saints exploit to maximize their chances of winning this game? If you’re coaching the Saints, how do you attack the Bears?
Rant Sports: This will be the second difficult challenge for the Chicago Bears before this team plays Green Bay at home next week. Obviously the Saints took advantage of a defense in Green Bay that is supposed to be good. The Bears do give up yards and you can throw underneath on the Bears. But the front four of the Chicago Bears is as good as I’ve seen it since 1985, so expect some serious pressure on Brees. Plus, Olin Kreutz is way past his prime as you learned last week when your boys couldn’t gain a yard in HUGE situations.
That being said, if Urlacher doesn’t play on Sunday, look out. This could be ugly. If Urlacher does play, the Saints need to take what the Chicago Bears give them and deal with quarterback pressure. Brees is a stud, so he’s used to being attacked. Throw the ball underneath and do not go for the big play. Control the clock and you have a shot. On defense, the Saints need to attack the Chicago Bears. Get after Cutler and try to make him beat himself. He’s gotten better, but that’s the book on the Chicago Bears until proven otherwise.
One other area is the turnover battle. The Chicago Bears cause turnovers. The Saints need to protect the football. If you do not, the Bears will get it.
Saints Nation: How do you feel about the game going into New Orleans? Do you expect the Bears to pick up where they left off against the Falcons or do you feel like they are in for a tougher game?
Rant Sports: Anytime you play on the road in a dome, it’s a challenge. The Saints are probably a little pissed after last week, so I can them coming out with snot in their noses. The Chicago Bears are a fast team, and playing on turf may actually play to their advantage. There’s some real talent on this Bears team (guys you do not even expect). Look for the Chicago Bears to try and play fast. If that happens, you will see a Chicago team ready for blood. That’s why the Saints must control the clock, hold onto the football and pressure Cutler. The Falcons didn’t do it and look at the results.
Saints Nation: Score prediction?
Rant Sports: Before the season, I had this game circled as a loss. After last week, I think the Chicago Bears are that good. I will say the Bears win 24-13 with Urlacher…and 28-24 without him. How do you like them apples?
Thanks again to Jonathan for taking the time!
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