PLAYER NOTES
–G/T Bryan Witzmann was signed after the Bears put injured linebacker Sam Acho (torn pectoral muscle) on injured reserve. Witzmann started 13 games last year for the Chiefs, and is familiar with head coach Matt Nagy’s offense. He was released in September this season, before being picked up by the Vikings. He was then cut by the Vikings after he lost a battle for the starting left guard spot to Cameron Erving. Witzmann is 6-foot-8, 313 pounds and played at South Dakota State. The Bears’ interest in Witzmann is for depth, especially at tackle where Bradley Sowell is their only experienced reserve.
–CB Prince Amukamara (hamstring) practiced Wednesday for the first time since suffering the injury Sept. 23, but his status for Sunday’s game with Miami is uncertain. The Bears used Bryce Callahan at his spot against the Bucs, and then moved Callahan to his usual nickel spot in the slot in passing situations while putting rookie cornerback Kevin Toliver on the field.
–CB Marcus Cooper (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday and has been out since Sept. 20.
–G Eric Kush (neck) practiced Wednesday on a limited basis and is expected to be available for Sunday’s game.
–WR Anthony Miller (shoulder) practiced Wednesday. It was his first full practice since suffering a dislocated shoulder against Arizona Sept. 23. He is expected to be available to play against Miami.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: S Eddie Jackson. The second-year starter has interceptions in each of the last two games, equaling his total for all of his rookie season. Jackson comes in with 11 tackles and a forced fumble, and has three passes defended. The former Alabama player’s development has included being more physical in his second year, and he’s showing a better ability to hawk the ball with the front seven applying more pressure. His gaffe in coverage cost the Bears the winning points against Green Bay in the opener but overall his progress since last season with better knowledge of Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme is obvious.
GAME PLAN: The Bears’ defense has to come ready to defend the run, and a passing game that will test the outside with quick screens to wide receivers at the line, or the changeup with occasional deeper sideline routes. Adam Gase’s blocking scheme will use both man and the inside zone/outside zone schemes popular in the league. Sometimes they’ll vary it with straight-ahead blocking or a power style with guards and tackles pulling off the opposite edge to block the opposite side. The idea will be to run Frank Gore and Kenyan Drake to keep Bears pass rushers at bay, and then go to play-action passes. The defense will have to be patient, stay home and rely on a bull rush to force the pocket back into quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s face. The edge rush of Khalil Mack may be slowed early in the game because of this. And the Bears also have to be wary of Tannehill’s running ability.
The offense has a clear opportunity to get the inside run going for the first time since Week 1 with Jordan Howard. The Dolphins utilize the wide-nine technique and often have their defensive linemen spaced far apart. It’s a strong pass-rush formation, but the Dolphins have often been victimized by running teams or teams willing to pass in the middle. Quick passes to the outside can be very risky against the wide-nine since the linemen could get penetration and pick off throws or bat them down. Passes anywhere against Miami are risky as they lead the league with 10 interceptions. Shovel passes that are run inside to Trey Burton or Taylor Gabriel could work against this type of scheme and are plays the Bears have run effectively.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Bears LT Charles Leno Jr., who has allowed two sacks on the year, vs. Dolphins DRE Robert Quinn, who has one sack. It’s been slow going for all Miami sack-happy rush men like Quinn or Cameron Wake. The scheme seems ideally suited for them, and if the Bears get pressed into a situation where they trail and Mitchell Trubisky is throwing, Leno could have trouble. Quinn hasn’t had a double-digit sack season since 2014. In the only matchup against Leno in 2015, the Bears won easily, 37-13, and Quinn didn’t have a sack.
–Bears OLB Khalil Mack, who has five sacks in four games, vs. Dolphins RT Ja’Wuan James, who was pulled two weeks ago. James came back with a solid start against Cincinnati last week after being benched against the Patriots. But it quickly degenerated into another long day for Ryan Tannehill. No one has stopped Mack and it’s likely Miami will have to send a tight end or running back to help James cope with a player who has been wrecking offenses. The Dolphins did hold Mack without a sack in their matchup with Oakland last year, so head coach Adam Gase may know something about how to stop Mack.
–Bears TE Dion Sims, who hasn’t had a catch since Week 1, vs. Dolphins SLB Jerome Baker, who has two sacks. Sims didn’t start the last two games as head coach Matt Nagy started out in formations with multiple wide receivers. Sims is going up against his old team and his threat is not necessarily as a receiver, but as a key blocker against Baker, who has 33 tackles this season. If Sims is blocking well, the Bears’ zone blocking scheme has an extra punch to get Jordan Howard rolling.