Bears' starters to see more time, but outcome isn't all that important
The fact that Bears coach Lovie Smith alluded to the 41-21 butt-whipping that the Cardinals administered to his team last season for three straight days is evidence of the importance that he places on tonight's third preseason game.
As preseason games go, the third one is significant because the starters usually see their most extended playing time before the start of the regular season. Bears starters will play into the third quarter at 7:30 tonight at Soldier Field (Channel 32; WBBM 780-AM).
Still, defensive end Julius Peppers is quick to remind everyone that a 'W' doesn't really mean that much.
"Obviously you want to win the game because they keep score," Peppers said. "But it's not really a big deal. You want to win and you want to play better."
Coaches stress the importance of Game 3 in the preseason because it's as close as it gets to the real thing. Game 4 is usually little more than a dress rehearsal, where the emphasis is on not getting anyone hurt. Players try to convince themselves that Game 3 is critical, but for those with a starting job locked up, it's a tough sell.
"We try to psyche ourselves out and try to say we're going to approach it like a real game and all those types of things," Peppers said. "But really it's just another practice with the scoreboard on."
Preseason won-loss performance is rarely an accurate indicator of regular-season success. The Bears were 3-1 in the preseason last year and in 2007, and they finished 7-9 each of those years. The 2006 team went 2-2 in the preseason but reached the Super Bowl. The 2001 playoff team and the 1985 Super Bowl champions both went 1-3. That being said, there will be developments worth watching other than the final score.
"This week will tell us a little bit more about the improvements we think we're making," said Smith, whose team is coming off a pair of 15-point losses.
There has been some game-planning for tonight's matchup, but it's still more about what each team wants to accomplish rather than what the opponent will do.
"The issue is still what we do," defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. "More of it is who can adjust to the things we've added, the communication. At the end of the day it's, 'Are we getting better, are we improving?' Because the issue is us."
Individual evaluations have been difficult so far at safety, where only Al Afalava and Quentin Scott among the first seven haven't missed time because of injuries. The starters are Chris Harris and Danieal Manning, but Manning's spot isn't a lock.
Craig Steltz (ankle) and Major Wright (finger) won't play, but Josh Bullocks should return after missing most of the past two weeks with a quadriceps injury.
"The guys who haven't played for a while, it's important for them to get back out there," Smith said. " A player like Josh Bullocks needs to play. We need to see them."
Wright was challenging for a starting job before he underwent surgery, but he and Steltz might not be back until the season opener, leaving the competition wide open. Only five safeties were on the opening-day roster last year, so Bullocks, Afalava and Scott could be competing for one roster spot.
"First of all," Marinelli said, "you've got to see who's up and ready to run."
After that, coaches are looking for safeties who can tackle and also make plays on the ball, a combination that's been difficult to find the past six years when the Bears have made a combined total of 40 lineup changes at strong and free safety.
"You want to see guys get in position to make plays and see them be able to finish the job," Smith said. "We harp a lot about taking the ball away, and guys get in situations where they can make a big tackle in the open field, come up in run support or pick off the ball."