Bears guard's Long's injury against Bucs last season still smarts
Last year's trip to Tampa resulted in a 36-10 Bears loss.
It was even worse for three-time Pro Bowler Kyle Long, who suffered the most serious injury of his life - an ankle injury that required surgery.
"I've never really been through anything that required time away," said Long, who did not travel to Tampa with the team on Saturday, but is back at practice on a limited basis and getting closer. "I've had shoulder (injuries), knee sprains, hip flexor … I've had everything. But I've never had anything that forced surgery and forced a recovery process like this.
"It's been a test of my character, and it's been something that's opened my eyes to the guys around me. The guys in my (offensive linemen) room that are very supportive, and just want to continue to support and see you get back out there."
Advantage, Bucs:
Because their season opener vs. the Dolphins in Miami was postponed by Hurricane Irma until Week 11, the Bucs are healthier than the Bears.
"I think the only advantage I could see is we've lost some players from last week (linebacker Jerrell Freeman and wide receiver Kevin White) that won't play, and they're pretty clean that way," Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "But when it's due to a hurricane, you don't really worry about that. You do what's best for everybody."
Doing it his way:
Quarterback Mike Glennon has pointed out in the past that he'll never be compared to the NFL's more mobile quarterbacks like Michael Vick.
"Mike is a timing and rhythm thrower," offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. "He's going to take advantage of what the defense does. If they're playing soft, he's going to take underneath throws. He's going to be aggressive when it's time to take his shots. It's important that we keep him clean in the pocket because he's not, in his words, a dual-threat quarterback.
"He's going to win before the snap. He's going to know what the coverage is, what the tells of the defense are, and those are his strengths."
Glennon was sacked 4 times for minus-37 yards in Week 1.
And his way:
Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston isn't much of a threat to run the ball, but he's adept at buying time while moving around in the pocket.
In last year's 36-10 victory over the Bears, Winston eluded three pass rushers in his own end zone before launching a 39-yard completion to wide receiver Mike Evans.
Though he's only 23, Winston will start his 33rd game Sunday - every one since he was drafted first overall in 2015. His physical skills are obvious, but he's more than that.
"His leadership, everybody talks about it - it's true," Evans said. "His leadership was nothing like I've ever seen before. He makes you want to play the game. He makes you want to practice. If you're feeling down or something that day, he's gonna have a motivational speech ready and get guys ready to go."