Young goes back to the beginning
Bears LB enjoys returning to NFL roots in Detroit
Willie Young likes going to Detroit.
“Time to go back and reflect on where I came from, where I started at, what I was able to accomplish there,” he said.
It won’t all be warm feelings. The Bears outside linebacker, who spent his first four years with the Lions, said the matchup even makes him dislike his friend.
“I can’t even stand [ defensive end] Ziggy Ansah right now,” said Young, in his second season with the Bears. “And then we’ll laugh and joke and talk trash about it.”
While we wonder whose smack is best, here are 10 more question marks:
1. Why is John Fox connecting with his players?
“When you say good [ stuff],” tight end Martellus Bennett said, “people listen.”
Perhaps referencing last year’s staff, Bennett said that players know when coaches are sugarcoating things—“You don’t have to put sprinkles on a cupcake,” he said— and don’t respond well.
“When coaches are direct— they’re straight to the point, they tell you what they want, what they want to see— you know how to go out there and perform,” he said.
2. Who’s fumbling Sunday?
No team has more fumbles than the Lions’ eight. Only five players — all quarterbacks— have more fumbles than rookie running back Ameer Abdullah’s three.
“If they’re having an issue with fumbling, that’s what we’ve got to focus on: knocking that ball out and trying to get turnovers,” defensive end Jarvis Jenkins said.
3. Can Alan Ball help cover Calvin Johnson?
Probably. At 6- 2, the Bears’ No. 3 cornerback was signed to stop tall receivers. Still, coordinator Vic Fangio made it seem unlikely the Bears would chase Megatron with the same cornerback.
“They’ve got Golden Tate, too, who’s such a good receiver,” Fangio said. “So probably not.”
Ball said the Bears are worried about more than just Johnson.
“We got a great game plan going in for all their guys,” he said.
4. Is the NFC North settled?
Vegas thinks so. According to Bovada, the Packers are a stunning 1/ 40 favorites to win the division. The Vikings are 15/ 2, the Bears 66/ 1 and Lions 150/ 1.
5. Why does Antone Smith have a cult following?
The Bears’ newest running back has seven career touchdowns, all from 35 yards or longer. The average length is 49 yards. With the Falcons last year, he took a 41- yard screen pass down the right side for a score against the Bears.
“Offensively, they put me in situations to make those plays,” Smith said.
Smith likely won’t be a big part of the offense Sunday— he still is learning the Bears’ play- calling verbiage after coming from a numbers- based system— but plans to play special teams.
6. Was Pernell McPhee always a leader?
Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata saw traits when the two played for the Ravens.
“He’s got that kind of presence,” he said. “There’s no question about that. He’s tough, hard- nosed, loves to play the game.”
7. Howcan the Lions believe in themselves when they’re 0- 5?
“You practice well enough to build confidence,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “And then you’ve got to be able to show that in the game. Take the small successes and build upon them.”
8. Who represents Chicago wearing Honolulu blue?
Lane Tech grad Laken Tomlinson, a rookie from Duke, has started at left guard in three games, including all 98 offensive snaps against
the Cardinals last week.
9. Does anyone in Detroit have insight into the Bears?
Former Bears tackle Jordan Mills is on the Lions’ practice squad, having signed lastmonth after a brief stint with the Cowboys.
10. Howdid Adam Gase handle the Chiefs’ last drive Sunday?
“I didn’t watch,” he said. He started that during close finishes with the Broncos in 2011.
“I would just kind of do my own thing and watch the clock go and not really pay attention,” he said.