–The Bears didn’t view Tampa Bay’s quarterback situation as a dilemma, from either team’s standpoint. It’s Ryan Fitzpatrick, the only quarterback to throw for 400 yards three straight weeks, or Jameis Winston, who authored routs of the Bears each of the last two seasons.
Pick your poison.
“We have to be prepared for whatever comes,” Chicago rookie linebacker Roquan Smith said.
The perception is one quarterback is mobile and the other passer is a pocket thrower, but Smith isn’t sure there is a big difference in their styles after studying film.
“I think at the end of the day they’re both pocket passers,” Smith said. “Winston, when he does get out of the pocket, he can make a few things happen but he’s not like some electric runner or anything. But he is a good runner. He’d prefer to be in the pocket.”
Khalil Mack saw another difference.
“You can see the experience on Fitzpatrick, his control at the line of scrimmage,” Mack said. “Jameis, I played him two years ago, I feel like. But he has some of the same intangibles.”
So is the burden of preparing for both too great while the Bucs refused to announce a starter?
“Man, that’s the whole point in playing in the NFL,” Mack said. “You have to be prepared. You get paid to go out and be able to know. No matter who it is, you’ve got to be prepared. That’s going to be a challenge. You’re ready to meet the challenge.”
–Nagy’s respect for Fitzpatrick’s toughness grew while he watched the Pittsburgh Steelers’ pass rush Monday night.
“I was really impressed with him to throw those interceptions, one being a pick-6, and to have pressure on him, he was getting hit pretty hard back there and he never blinked,” Nagy said. “He never blinked. He just continued to keep chucking it and throwing it.
“I think that’s a testament to who he is and where he’s at right now as a player in this league.”
–Nagy looked at the Bucs offense and saw nothing but playmakers at receiver, including DeSean Jackson, whom he got to know while both were with the Eagles.
“He’s underrated as a route runner, he’s a phenomenal route runner,” Nagy said. “And then you’ve got Mike Evans, he’s so big he can beat you with his physical size but yet you saw he can go downfield and his ball skills are amazing. He can make great catches. And that’s been like that since Texas A&M.”
Although Tampa Bay’s defense has surrendered points, Nagy saw a reason to fear that side of the ball, especially linebackers Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David.
“Those linebackers, in my opinion, are probably two of the best most complete linebackers in the game,” Nagy said. “They can thump you in the run game, they can cover you in the pass game, and they have experience. So tons of respect there.”
–Rookie Bears cornerback Kevin Toliver had his baptism by fire last week when Prince Amukamara suffered a pulled hamstring, and the injury likely will mean Toliver playing at least in passing situations against the Bucs.
The Cardinals picked on Toliver and he was burned on one double-move. He anticipates being picked on again.
“Yeah, they’ll do that,” Toliver said. “If I was at any team, as long as I’m out there I know they’re going to throw my way. I just have to be ready, be prepared.
“I embrace that challenge. I love that challenge. I love this stage of my career. Just guys trying me. Got to make a name for myself.”
And the double move?
“Just can’t let it happen again,” he said. “Gotta learn from it.”
–Team matriarch Virginia McCaskey not only made a speaking appearance at halftime of Brian Urlacher’s induction into the team Ring of Honor, but also had a few words for the current players on the Monday prior to the opener.
“One of the things Mrs. McCaskey came in and said to us was that teams that won a lot of games around here were the most confident,” defensive lineman Akiem Hicks said. “That’s one thing I’ve stuck with my entire career — you never let anybody steal your confidence.
“I think that if we can pull this together and keep rolling the way we are, everyone’s going to be a little more confident heading into the bye week (next week).”
Having the 95-year-old owner and daughter of team founder George Halas talk inspired players.
“She believes in us,” Hicks said. “That’s something we carry with us every time we step on the field.”
–With the Bears looking for a third straight win, guard Kyle Long started to think back over his career and the past four last-place seasons to recall when it last happened.
“I remember my first year (2013), we won our first three games. But other than that, I don’t know,” Long said. “I kind of had a false sense of security with the NFL and the reality of how tough each win is. I mean, we won three in a row my rookie year. I can’t remember the last time, though.”
He just did.
It last happened in the first three games of the 2013 season, when Long was a rookie.
BY THE NUMBERS: 15 — The longest run allowed by the Bears’ defense to date. Every other defense in the NFL has allowed a run longer.
