Giants pose big challenge for Bears’ O-line
The Bears’ offense, especially the line, couldn’t ask for a tougher test than the Super Bowl-champion Giants will provide in Friday night’s third preseason game at MetLife Stadium.
New York’s trio of defensive ends — Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck — are the envy of every NFL team. Pierre-Paul had 16½ sacks last season; Umenyiora had 9 in 2011 and has 61 over the past six seasons.
“We’re playing some real men this week,” offensive coordinator Mike Tice said, “so we’ll see how it goes.”
The last time the Giants faced the Bears on their home turf, it was beyond ugly. Quarterback Jay Cutler was sacked nine times … before halftime.
“I don’t think anyone in the league has five, six guys they can rotate in that front four that can play like those guys,” Cutler said. “It’s going to be a tough test for (the offensive line).
“We’re going to try to help them out as much as possible. At the end of the game, we’ll have a pretty good idea what we have up front.”
It won’t be easy for any of the Bears’ offensive linemen, but Tice appreciates the challenge the Giants’ defense presents.
“You would rather see this than The Little Sisters of the Poor,” he said. “You want to go out there and play against the best because it calluses you. It makes you tough, not only physically but mentally.
“You really get a chance to evaluate your players and see where you’re at. You want to see (your tackles) against some really large, athletic, strong defensive ends, and then see where you’re at.”
Cutler wasn’t sacked last week during his four possessions, although he scrambled away from the rush on a couple of occasions.
Backup Jason Campbell was sacked three times in the second quarter.
The challenge will be more difficult for the line this week, as both teams are expected to play their starters at least through halftime.
“Those front four that they have are some of the best in the league,” Cutler said. “They’re really long, they’re fast, they can bull rush, and they can speed rush. It’s going to be a challenge for (our) guys.”
Left tackle J’Marcus Webb lost some first-team reps Saturday to challenger Chris Williams after a lackluster preseason opener. But he showed improvement in Week 2 and will start vs. the Giants. Bears quarterbacks threw for 334 yards vs. Washington.
“There was nothing in the passing game I didn’t like,” Tice said. “I thought pass-protection wise we were really good. In the run game, we knew going in it was going to be hard to run against that (3-4) front. They’re playing an eight-man box the whole game.”
The Bears rushed 22 times and managed 82 yards for a modest 3.7-yard average, still a major upgrade over the 36 yards on 21 carries they had in the preseason opener.
“Tackle-wise there was not a lot to beat up,” said Tice, who added that Webb would start over Williams on the left side. Chris Spencer will start at left guard after Chilo Rachal got some first-team reps there last week.
“Spencer bounced back (Saturday), but he wasn’t stellar in the opener. We just want to make sure that we give everybody an opportunity and at the end of the day make sure we put the right five guys in there to go out and challenge Indianapolis.”
Friday night’s performance will determine who starts the regular-season opener against the Colts on Sept. 9.
“Let’s face it,” Tice said, “this is going to be the week. We’ll all know (who the starter is) when we watch the game.”
rlegere@dailyherald.com