Bennett provides 'security blanket' for Bears' offense

Earl Bennett has moved into second place on the Bears with 39 receptions and 457 yards after piling up a career-best 104 receiving yards Sunday at Detroit and tying his personal best with 7 catches.

Four of Bennett's receptions came on third down and all 4 resulted in first downs.

“He's a security blanket, I guess you could say,” coach Lovie Smith said. “He's reliable with where he'll be, and of course just making the catches. Earl has definitely taken advantage of his opportunities.”

Bennett missed all of the preseason and the regular-season opener because of hamstring injury, but he has 26 catches for 377 yards in the last seven games, quickly reuniting with quarterback Jay Cutler.

When Bennett was a freshman at Vanderbilt, he caught 79 passes from Cutler for 876 yards.

“The Commodore Connection,” Smith said. “We're definitely seeing results from it. Earl played a great game again. Just look how far he's come, starting off a little bit slower, but he's really picking up steam lately, just like our football team. He's becoming one of the go-to guys.”

Next man up:

Strongside linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa is expected back on the field soon after arthroscopic knee surgery, but not this week.

The Bears' sixth-leading tackler tried to play through the injury but missed two of the past three games, including Sunday at Detroit.

“He had a minor scope; hopefully we'll get him back before long,” coach Lovie Smith said. “He needed it done right now.

“He had been trying to play through the pain, but the doctors felt like, and Pisa felt like, this was the time to do it, and we'll always do it that way.”

Nick Roach started in place of Tinoisamoa but suffered a hip injury in the first quarter and did not return.

Rod Wilson filled in, seeing his first extended activity of the season. Wilson is listed as the Bears' No. 2 middle linebacker on the depth chart, and Brian Iwuh started Game 7 at weakside linebacker when Lance Briggs sat out with an ankle injury.

Smith said both are versatile.

“He definitely can play either the Will (weak side) or the Sam (strongside) position,” Smith said of Iwuh. “Rod can do the same. It's the same type of athlete we're dealing with. They both can play out in space and make tackles.”

Coming up huge:

After coaches' review of the game film, middle linebacker Brian Urlacher was credited with 19 tackles Sunday, a team best this season, topping the 16 Lance Briggs had in the opener.

“Brian Urlacher was outstanding,” coach Lovie Smith said. “That's the way he's played all year.”

It was the most tackles in a game for Urlacher since he had 25 against the Cardinals in Arizona on Oct. 16, 2006, and tied for the third-highest single-game total in his 11-year career.

Sounding off:

Safety Chris Harris estimated the volume of coach Lovie Smith's voice at halftime Sunday as a 9, way above normal.

Smith was displeased that the defense had allowed 253 yards in the first two quarters, including 91 on a 2-play touchdown drive at the end of the half.

“We weren't happy with how we played the first half,” Smith said. “Guys realize that. I'm a 5 most of the time (I) try to be.”